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I have been going to Myrtle Beach for many years, for the past
several years twice a year. I put together the trip for 8 of us
hackers from the Nashua area each spring and then spend a week in
the summer with my 2 golfing sons. I now use one outfit in MB to
put together my packages which consist of condiminiums, green fees
on any of the courses with no surcharges except at the Dunes (can't
always get you on there), breakfast at any of 5 locations, daily
maid and linen service and the cute young lady that is the golf
director can do miracles with tee times. Any one wanting more
information of this outfit, just send me mail and I will forward it.
In answer of which courses to play, here is a description of the
Myrtle Beach Golf Courses as of this past summer. There are a
couple more under construction that I don't have in this list.
Please note that on cart rentals in Myrtle Beach, the charge is per
person, not per cart.
Arcadian Shores: Architect - Rees Jones. Bent greens, bermuda
fairways. Championship tees - 6969, regular - 6124 yds. Cart
required ($10). Well trapped (64 traps) with several lakes and
clusters of live oaks. Located 5 miles north of Myrtle Beach just
off highway 17 in the Arcadian section. Extra charge on most golf
packages. Bought by the Hilton Hotel a couple of years ago. One of
the better courses in MB, always in immaculate shape.
Azalea Sands: Architect - Gene Hamm. Tifton dwarf greens, 419
bermuda fairways. Championship tees - 6902, regular - 6287. Cart
required ($8) in March and April up until noon. You can walk the
rest of the time. Water on 9 of the 18 holes, but not heavily
trapped. Fairly difficult (course record 70 from the blues).
Located in the Crescent Beach section of North Myrtle Beach, just
off highway 17, adjacent to Beachwood and Possum Trot. Available on
most golf packages at no extra charge. Just an average MB golf
course.
Bay Tree: Large golf complex with thousands of condos and 3 18 hole
courses. Architects - George Fazio and Russell Breeden. Bent
greens, 419 bermuda fairways. Gold course: 6942 blue, 6390 white.
Green course: 7044, 6492. Silver course: 6871, 6363. Cart required
on gold and green ($9), but you can walk the silver. Numerous
tournaments have been held here, including the 1977 LPGA. The green
course is a real killer, gold fairly tough and silver average.
Located on highway 9 north of North MB. Available on most golf
packages at no extra charge, and offers 3 day memberships at a real
discount ($25 during the summer). Good, well maintained layouts.
Beachwood: Architect - Gene Hamm. Tifton dwarf greens and
fairways. Blue tees 6755, white 6202. Cart required ($9) during
March and April. Several Carolinas tournaments have been held here.
Another average MB golf course with 9 lakes, not many traps, fairly
wide open. Available on most packages at no extra charge. Located
in the Crescent section of North MB, near Azalea Sands and Possum
Trot.
Burning Ridge: Now has 2 18 hole courses. Architect - Gene Hamm.
Dwarf bermuda greens, 328 bermuda fairways. East course (new), blue
tees 6780, white 6237. West course, blue 6714, white 6237. Cart
not required ($9). Good challenging courses, but hotter than hades
in the summer because it is away from the coast and you don't get
the breeze. Lots of water, not much sand, loads of pine trees.
Available on most packages at no extra charge. Located west of MB
just off highway 501.
Carolina Shores: Architect - Tom Jackson. Hybrid bermuda greens
and fairways. Cart required ($9). Blue 6757, white 6147. Noted
for the many traps (around 100), and lots of trees. Start you off
right with a 567 yd par 5 to a green fronted by water. Good test of
golf on a well maintained layout. Available on most packages at no
extra charge, but I have seen it on some with a surcharge. Located
in Calabash, NC, about 10 miles north of North MB, in the same area
as Marsh Harbor and Oyster Bay.
Cypress Bay: Architect - Russell Breeden. Hybrid bermuda greens
and fairways. Cart required ($9). Blue 6674, white 6145. Same
management as Deer Track. Pretty wide open course, quite a bit of
water, very little sand. Another average MB golf course. Available
on most packages at no extra charge. Located north of North MB on
the way to Little River, just off highway 17.
Deer Track: Two 18 hole courses. Architects - Porter Gibson and
Bob Toski. Bent greens and bermuda fairways on the North, pencross
greens and bermuda fairways on the South. Cart required ($8.40).
North blue tees 7089, white 6428. South blue 6791, white 6126. Two
of the toughest courses, although fairly wide open, because of the
length. Same management as Cypress Bay. The drainage is not too
good, and I have seen the North closed after heavy rains. Available
on most packages at no extra charge. Located south of MB in the
Surfside area, just off highway 17.
The Dunes: Architect - Robert Trent Jones. The most famous and
most exclusive of the MB courses. Top 50 rating by Golf Digest.
About the only way to get on it is to stay at one of the 5 motels
that first offered golf packages years ago. The Dunes has allowed
them to keep their affiliation, but has taken on no new ones. They
are The Caravelle, Dunes Village, South Wind, Caribbean Quality Inn
and The Breakers. The outfit I use to schedule packages and tee
times can sometimes get you on, but not always. 328 bermuda greens,
419 bermuda fairways. Cart required ($12). Many tournaments held
here. Superb golf course. One of the few true seaside layouts in
MB. If you can find a way to get on, do it. Located on North Ocean
Blvd in MB.
Eagle Nest: Architect - Gene Hamm. Tifton dwarf greens and bermuda
fairways. Cart required ($9) during March and April only. Blue
tees 6950, white 6393. Claim to have the 3 toughest finishing holes
in MB, 449 par 4, 616 par 5 and 185 par 3, all with water, and 16
and 17 OB to the right. I tend to agree with them. Good tough golf
course. Available on most packages at no extra charge. Located
north of North MB in the Little River section.
Gator Hole: Architect - Rees Jones. 328 bermuda greens, 419
bermuda fairways. Blue tees 6015, white 5600 - par 70. Don't be
fooled by the distance. This course has 6 of the toughest par 3s
you will find, and lots of dogleg par 4s that you have to lay up on.
Terrain is more hilly than is normally found in MB, lots of trees,
premium on accuracy. Several tournaments have been held here.
Available on most packages at no extra charge. Their driving range
has lights so you can get in some night practice. There are real
gators here also. Located in North MB, right on highway 17.
Heather Glen: Architect - Tom Fazio. Bermuda greens and fairways.
Cart required ($9). Blue tees 7050, white 6500. New course just
opened, but was closed to rework some of the drainage the last time
I was there so I didn't get to play it. Interesting layout,
patterned after some of the links courses in Scotland. Located
north of MB and Little River on highway 17, just behind the SC
welcome sign.
Heritage Plantation: Architect - Dan Maples (of Marsh Harbor and
Oyster Bay fame). Same developer and management also. Fairly new
course. Bermuda greens and fairways. Cart required ($10). Blue
tees 6575, white 6100. Again, don't be fooled by the distance.
Toughest greens in MB. Even the practice green has 4 and 5 ft
swells in it. Loaded with unique holes, no 2 alike. Beautiful old
oak trees, some left right in the middle of the fairways, plenty of
water. Extra charge on most golf packages. One of my personal
favorites. Located south of MB, past Brookgreen Gardens, a few
miles off the right of highway 17 on some unnumbered road. Ask
directions before trying to find it.
Indian Wells: Architect - Gene Hamm. 328 bermuda greens, 419
bermuda fairways. Cart not required ($9). Blue tees 6630, white
6231. Water on half the holes, not much sand, pretty tough greens.
Opened in 84, but in good condition. Not too tough. Another
average MB golf course. Available on most packages at no extra
charge. Located on highway 17 bypass, south of 501.
Island Green: Architect - Bill Mooney. 328 bermuda greens, 419
bermuda fairways. Course has 3 9 hole layouts. Carts not required
($7). No matter which 18 you play, you average about 6725 from the
blue and 6250 from the white. Not particularly long, but demands
accuracy. Lots of trees, excellent greens, well kept layout. Gets
its name from the 340 par 4 9th on the Holly course with the green
in the middle of a pond. All in all, another average MB course.
Available on most packages at no extra charge. Located between
Socastee and Murrells inlet south of MB, on the west side of highway
707.
Litchfield Inn and Country Club: Architect - Willard Byrd. Tifton
dwarf greens, 419 bermuda fairways. Carts required ($8) until 3 PM.
Blue tees 6874, white 6200. Sister course to the River Club, same
management. Laid out between a lot private homes on an old
plantation, quite a few trees and lots of water. A little above the
average test. Available on most packages at no extra charge, but I
have seen it with a surcharge on some. If you are staying in North
MB, it is a long drive. Located south of MB and Brookgreen Gardens,
near Pawley's Island, just off highway 17.
Marsh Harbor: Architect - Dan Maples. Bermuda greens, tifton 419
bermuda fairways. Cart required ($10). Blue tees 6700, white 6010.
One of the most popular courses in the MB area. Book your tee times
a couple of months ahead for fall or spring, otherwise forget it.
Beautiful, well kept layout with a lot of holes that are really
unique. I like all 4 of this architect's courses (Oyster Bay,
Heritage Plantation, Sea Trail). He works every club in your bag.
You have to play 17 to believe it. Costs extra on most golf
packages. Located north of North MB, in Calabash, NC, across the
road from Carolina Shores.
Myrtle Beach National: This is a golf factory with 3 18 hole
courses. Architect - Frank Duane with Arnold Palmer consulting.
Carts required on North and West ($8.40). All 3 courses have bent
bermuda greens and 419 bermuda fairways. North course blue 6769,
white 6040. West blue 6900, white 6138. South blue 6264, white
5825. Lots of pine trees on all 3 courses, quite a bit of water on
North and West, and the bermuda rough sucks. South is too short to
be a real test of golf, best played on the first day after a long
lay-off just to get warmed up. North and West are fairly tough.
Interior courses with very little breeze, so hot in the summer.
Available on most packages at no extra charge. Located west of MB
on highway 501, about 10 miles out on the right.
Myrtlewood: Two 18 hole courses. Architects - Edmund Ault
(Palmetto) and George C. Cobb (Pines). Palmetto has bent greens and
419 bermuda fairways, Pines has bermuda and rye greens and 419
bermuda fairways. Cart required on the Palmetto ($9). Palmetto
blue tees 6957, white 6495. Pines blue 6609, white 6068. Palmetto
is much the tougher of the 2, although the Pines is older. Both are
well maintained layouts, bordering the Intracoastal Waterway, with
some fairly scenic holes. Available on most packages at no extra
charge. Located in MB on highway 17 bypass.
Oyster Bay: Architect - Dan Maples. Bent greens and tifton 419
bermuda fairways. Cart required ($10). Blue tees 6750, white 6123.
Probably the most scenic of the MB area courses. Superb shape.
Another one that you have to book months in advance during spring
and fall. Typical Maples course, each hole is different. Not
overly difficult but considered by most to be a must. As mentioned
earlier in this file, rather rude management. Extra charge on most
golf packages. Located in Sunset Beach, NC, well north of North MB.
Pine Lakes: Architect - Robert White (1st president of US PGA).
Cart required ($9). 328 bermuda greens, 419 bermuda fairways. Blue
tees 6609, white 6176. The oldest course in MB and affectionately
called "the Granddaddy". Play this one. Reasonably challenging,
but the ultimate in being pampered. They treat you like a king.
Right in the middle of MB, in one on the nicer residential areas.
Lots of water and very difficult rough that somehow finds its way
into the middle of the fairway on some holes. Immaculate condition.
Extra charge on most golf packages. Located on business highway 17
downtown.
p.s. One of the starters (Dominique) is a retiree of Italian
heritage from Methuen, MA, who looks funnier than hell in a kilt.
Possum Trot: Architect - Russell Breeden. Tifton dwarf greens and
328 bermuda fairways. Cart required during March and April before
noon ($9). Blue tees 6966, white 6388. Long but wide fairways,
reasonable amount of water and sand. They will bet you a beer you
don't par the 460 yd par 4 11th. Tough hole, guarded on the front
left by water. Available on most packages at no extra charge.
Located in the Crescent section of North MB, near Azalea Sands and
Beachwood, right off highway 17.
Quail Creek: Architect - Gene Hamm. Dwarf bermuda greens and 328
bermuda fairways. Carts not required ($9). Blue tees 6902, white
6288. Pretty wide fairways, lots of pine trees, some water.
Typical MB golf course, in very good condition. Away from the
beach, so no breeze in the summer. Available on most packages at no
extra charge. Located on highway 501, west of MB, across from the
Coastal Carolina Community College.
Raccoon Run: Architect - Gene Hamm. 428 bermuda greens and bermuda
fairways. No cart required ($7.35). Blue tees 7349, white 6799 -
par 73. The only par 73 in MB. Has been featured in Golf and Golf
Digest Magazines. Looonnnggg, but wide fairways. The 18th, par 4
450 yds is a killer. Unless you're 250 or 260 off the tee, the 2nd
shot is more than 200 over water. This is a tough golf course.
Available on most packages at no extra charge. Located between
Socastee and Murrells Inlet on the west side of highway 707.
The River Club: Architect - Tom Jackson. Tifton dwarf greens and
419 bermuda fairways. Cart required before 3 PM ($10). Blue tees
6669, white 6230. Sister course to Litchfield Inn and Country Club.
Wide fairways, rolling greens and tons of water. Very scenic
course. Available on most packages at no extra charge, but I have
seen it on some with a surcharge. Located south of MB, near
Pawley's Island, just left off of highway 17.
Robbers Roost: Architect - Russell Breeden. Bermuda dwarf greens
and bermuda fairways. Cart required ($9.45). Blue tees 7148, white
6356. One of the more challenging courses in MB. Water, trees,
sand - it has it all. Very good condition. If you want a
challenging round of golf, play this one. Available on most
packages at no extra charge. Located in the Ocean Drive section of
North MB, right on highway 17.
Sea Gull: Architect - Gene Hamm. Tifton dwarf greens and 328
bermuda fairways. Cart not required ($9). Blue tees 6910, white
6295. Wide fairways, big greens, lots of big sand traps. Not a
hard course. Typical Gene Hamm design (average MB type course).
Available on most packages at no extra charge. Located 20 mins
south of MB in the Pawley's Island section, just off highway 17.
Sea Trail: Architect - Dan Maples. Bent greens and bermuda
fairways. Cart not required ($9). Blue tees 6780, white 6075.
Same architect as Oyster Bay, Marsh Harbor and Heritage Plantation,
but different developer and management (much more friendly).
Typical Maples, with some holes you have never seen before. The
long par 5 with the 350 yd long "waste bunker" on the left will blow
your mind. This thing is hard sand that you can drive a cart on
without leaving tracks, and I have never played this hole without
being in it. Also, the best 19th hole in the MB area, run by 2
sisters that know every dirty joke ever told, and a piano player
starting at 4:30 PM that is bigger than the piano and can play
anything. Highly recommended. Located in Sunset Beach, NC, just up
the road from Oyster Bay.
Surf Golf and Beach Club: Architect - George C Cobb. Tifton
bermuda greens and bermuda fairways. Cart required in fall and
spring ($9). Blue tees 6859, white 6372. Site of many tournaments.
The best kept secret in MB. This is my favorite course in MB,
simply because of the way it is run. Absolutely the friendliest
people there. It is above average in difficulty, but by no means
the most challenging. The 3rd oldest course in MB, it rambles
through a very nice residential area in North MB. It has a lot of
local members, but treats every guest as if they were members.
Available on most packages at no extra charge. Located in the Ocean
Drive section of North MB, a few blocks off of highway 17.
Waterway Hills: Architect - Robert Trent Jones. Three 9 hole
layouts. Bermuda greens and fairways. Carts required in March and
April ($8.40). Blue tees average 6500, white 6000. Originally
called Skyway because you have to get to it with a cable car across
the Intracoastal Waterway, it was one of the best designed and worst
maintained courses in MB. The people that own MB National took it
over a couple of years ago, renamed it and spent megabucts getting
it back in shape. It is now an excellent golf course. Next to the
waterway, lots of trees and rolling terrain. Available on most
packages at no extra charge. Located on highway 17 just north of
MB.
There are some more courses farther south and north such as
Wedgefield and Winjah Bay in Georgetown, SC. and Bald Head Island in
NC, but I won't bother with these. MB has enough.
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