Myrtle Beach is preparing for inclement weather as Hurricane Matthew moves north toward the East Coast.

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley issued an evacuation order of Zone A in Horry County starting at noon Thursday. A “Zone A” evacuation would affect all homes and businesses, including hotels, east of U.S. 17 Business.

Hurricane Matthew is forecast to affect Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand area Friday through early Sunday as it passes off the coast and then turns east back out to sea. The Grand Strand is expected to get 12 inches or more of rain along with tropical storm-force winds.

Grand Strand golf courses are bracing for Hurricane Matthew, but in many cases they are also remaining open as long as possible Friday to accommodate booked golf package rounds and hope to reopen as early as Sunday afternoon.

Visiting golfers have no time for a hurricane.

Many of the Strand’s nearly 90 public courses in Georgetown, Horry and Brunswick counties are planning to remain open until mid-afternoon Friday to give those with morning tee times a chance to complete their rounds.

“We’re going to allow people to attempt to go out in the morning,” said Dave Genevro, general manager of the four-course Barefoot Resort. “So other than some rain, the wind is supposed to be pretty calm until late in the day. We’ll close after they get off the course.”

Course operators have an urgency to reopen as soon as possible considering they are in the midst of an important fall golf season that lasts approximately seven weeks through the third week of November.