Anyone who’s played South Carolina’s Grand Strand during the escape-from-winter-up-North months – starting now and rolling into early spring – knows about golf packages. The area is renowned for offering deals to visitors who want to pack lots of golf and fun into a limited time frame. And this year is no different.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday – a cooperative of 79 courses, 99 golf package providers and five golf schools stretching along the Atlantic Ocean from the North Carolina line to Georgetown – has a lineup designed to suit all tastes and budgets, whether players desire to visit the north, central or south ends of the Strand, with courses designed by such names as Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Mike Strantz, Tom Doak and Tim Cate.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, founded in 1967, claims to have originated the “Stay and Play” golf package. Package prices per person include green and cart fees, lodging, taxes and surcharges. For visitors more interested in playing than planning, these deals can save not just money, but time. Here’s a sample of current options:

Pay For Three, Get Five Rounds Free – Play three of the Glens Group courses (the superb Glen Dornoch, sister Heather Glen, Shaftesbury Glen and Possum Trot) and get two additional rounds complimentary, as well as free pre-booked replays which can be secured in advance. This deal is available until Sept. 5.

Grande Collection Four-Round Special – Through June 3, play four Grande Collection courses and save 25 percent. Choose from nine courses including Grande Dunes, oldest-on-the-Grand Strand Pine Lakes and Tidewater. Packages including four nights’ accommodations (Myrtlewood Villas) and four rounds of golf begin at $249 per player.

Ambassador Golf & Beach Vacation’s Play Four, Get One Free – Play four rounds and a get a fifth round free on any of 14 layouts, including Aberdeen Country Club, Willbrook Plantation, Pawleys Plantation, Long Bay Club and Wachesaw East.

Other packages are also available for nearby North Carolina courses. For more information about these and other spring packages, go to www.GolfHoliday.com.