Can't Afford At Trip Across The Pond? Check Out This Wee Bit Of Scotland In Myrtle Beach

Dreaming about teeing it up at The Royal & Ancient in St. Andrews, but coming up a little short on cash? So what if this isn't the year you can cross the big pond? It might surprise you to know that you can get a wee taste of Scotland in the most unlikely place — Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Legends Golf & Resort. Legendary. Memorable. And a whole lot of fun. Kind of a fantasy camp of Scottish golf.

The idea behind this entire resort is to look and feel like the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews, Scotland. And here's the kicker: it kinda does.

While the soil beneath the greens might not actually be Scottish, the views above them are so amazing that your senses can easily be tricked into thinking you've been transported to the British Isles. Driving into the complex, you burst out of some thick woods only to find a fortress-like clubhouse looming ahead of you. Stark and gray, it rises up out of a landscape of rolling heathlands and gorse-like grasses.

Off in the distance, there's a little Scottish village where you can bunk, so you can walk (or stumble) home from the Ailsa Pub.

Ah, the Ailsa Pub. First night in, hit the pub and soak up the atmosphere. After all, you wouldn't want to miss a place so authentic that Golf Digest named it one of the “50 Best 19th Holes.” IN. THE. WORLD.

What's not to love: a bar, fireplace, darts, more than a dozen flatscreen HD TVs, interactive trivia and video games, and a well-stocked cigar humidor. They'll even serve you dinner.

But don't stay out too late because you'll want to get up early. Why? You don't want to miss breakfast here. Up in the 40,000 square foot clubhouse, you can graze the massive buffet or custom-order from the waffle and omelet stations. No wonder this place is one of Golf Digest's “Top 150 Good Service Facilities.” Everybody who works here is just itching to help you have fun.

Belly full, it's time to hit the links. Or maybe warm up first on the range. Wow. That's what you'll say when you see this 30-acre gem. No flatland range here. This one mirrors the courses you'll actually play that day. (And for the real fanatics among us, it's lighted, so you can even get in a little post-round practice at night.) No wonder the Golf Range Association of America says it's one of the Top 100 Practice Facilities in the country.

On to the courses. Start with Heathland. Not that this Scottish doppleganger is any pushover.

The par 71 Heathland is the original, the first by now-famous architect Tom Doak. Even this early effort drew raves as one of Golf Magazine's “Top 10 New Resort Courses in the World” when it opened. Few trees. Panoramic views across multiple holes. Constant wind affecting play. Strategically-placed bunkers, gorse-like grasses and lush, deep rough are just out there waiting to swallow up your ball.

Warmed up, it's time to take on P. B. Dye's Moorland course. This is true “target” golf, a par 72 inspired by Pete Dye's legendary PGA West Stadium Course — a course that even the Pros can't tame. Golf Digest said Moorland was one of the “Top 5 New Courses In America” when it opened. You'll say it's scary looking when you look out over its huge hills, steep elevation changes, big, big sandy waste areas and huge lakes. This is also where you'll learn the true meaning of cavernous bunkers.

Okay, you can ease on back a bit at Parkland, a classic inland course molded in the image of British courses that run through both forests and fields. Think Augusta National or Riviera. Tree-lined fairways, deep-faced bunkers and massive, multi-level greens. A par 72, it caught the attention of Zagat's and got named one of “America's Top Courses.”

For less than $500, you can sample the delights of this cool resort for 3 days. And, trust me, that won't even get you a plane ticket to Scotland.