It doesn't take a degree in rocket science to understand that Myrtle Beach SC and the Grand Strand areas combine to create one of the world's best Golf Vacation Destinations. Many of the public Myrtle Beach Golf Courses have received a plethora of honorable mentions and designations in various national and international golf and travel publications. It is no surprise then that it was in this area that the largest Golf Tournament for high school students in the country began. We figured since the upcoming Palmetto High School Golf Tournament, an annual South Carolina Golf Tournament that features a who's who among young golfers, is coming up from March 31st-April 3rd, we would include some information on the prestigious event and how it began. You can also find a schedule of events for the weekend.

The Palmetto High School Golf Championship began as a regional South Carolina Golf Tournament that included students from NC, as well. The first Palmetto Tournament was held at Bay Tree Golf Club in 1998. Event organizer Tracy Conner came up with the concept for the first event, and has helped organize it into the large-scale national tournament that it is today. During the first year, the event brought 30 teams to compete and was hosted at Myrtle Beach High School. Three years later, the event had grown in size and the number of teams participating had nearly doubled from the number who competed in the first Palmetto High School, SC Golf Tournament. After the third year, the event expanded to allow schools from around the country to participate and the name changed from the North-South High School Golf Tournament, to the Palmetto High School Golf Championship. Since then the event has seen competitors from states such as California, Nevada, Texas, and other states.

This year's event will bring more than 100 teams to some of the best courses in the country. Five of the Myrtle Beach SC Golf Courses have been ranked and named among "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses" by Golf Digest. The event kicks off with an 18-hole qualifying round after which players will be placed into four separate flights. Teams from last year's event went on to win big; 6 teams won state titles, 16 teams that participated finished in the Top 5 in the State Tournaments, and half of the teams that participated finished in the top 12 for their state tournament. This is a major high school golf tournament event. Here's the schedule of events.

Wednesday, March 31
• Early Registration at Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore (North Myrtle Beach)
Thursday, April 1
• 7:30 – 9:30 am – Qualifier Round morning group tee times, Barefoot Resort
• 11:00 – Boxed lunch available for students and coaches
• 12:15 – 2:15 – Qualifier Round afternoon group tee times, Barefoot Resort
• 8:45 – Coaches contacted with their flight assignment and Friday tee times

Friday, April 2
• 11:00 – Boxed lunch available, assigned golf course
• 12:00 – 2:00 – Round 1 tee times, assigned golf course (all south end courses will be used)

Saturday, April 3
• 6:00 – Breakfast available, Ocean Ridge Plantation (AKA Cat’s Courses)
• 7:15 – 9:30, Round 2 tee times, assigned golf course (courses located at same facility)
• 12:00 – Lunch served
• 2:30 – Awards ceremony (time could change based upon weather and pace of play)
Host Courses for The Palmetto High School Golf Championship:
Barefoot Resort and Golf (The Dye Club & Love Course):
888-250-1793

The Heritage Club
800-530-1875

Lion's Paw Golf Club
800-233-1801

Panthers Run Golf Links
800-233-1801

Pawley's Plantation Golf and Country Club
800-367-9959

Prestwick Country Club
843-293-4100

Tradition Golf Club
877-599-0888

Tigers Eye Golf Links
800-233-1801

True Blue Plantation
888-483-6801