|
 Summers at the beach are filled with fun activities, but they are no longer limited to the beach and amusement parks. More and more families are making golf an integral part of their summer vacation, and why not? Summertime is a terrific time to experience some of the greatest golf in the world at some incredibly attractive prices.
To make it even more inviting, many Myrtle Beach area courses offer special discount programs to families, including free golf for junior golfers who are accompanied by an adult golfer, providing an ideal opportunity to introduce them to the game and fuel their passion for what many believe to be the greatest game ever invented.
The best way to get connected to all of the great deals and information is by logging on to their web site www.AmbassadorGolfVacations.com. Here you can book ALL Myrtle Beach area courses, view breathtaking photography and even watch great Myrtle Beach golf course videos. In addition, Ambassador offers visitors an insiders look at the Grand Strand with daily blogs that include course reviews, golf event details and where to go when you are at the beach.
 Among the local courses that offer special multi-round packages and programs for golf families are the Prime Times Signature Collection which is comprised of nine area golf courses designed by some of the greatest names in golf, including Palmer, Nicklaus, Jones, Maples and others.
Willbrook Plantation Golf Club, designed by noted architect Dan Maples, is located along the Southern Strand near Pawleys Island. It sits upon the former site of two colonial plantations. There are numerous markers posted around the course depicting historic facts and points of interest. Ancient oak trees and cypress trees stand as reminders of the how long ago this area was first settled. Today they provide challenges for golfers and habitat for a host of wildlife. In fact, the television show "Nature Scene" has featured Willbrook for its remarkable coexistence of man and nature. Protected wetlands provide habitat to a wide array of water fowl, along with deer, alligators and other indigenous species of plants and animals.
As a golf course, Willbrook Plantation has earned national acclaim for its design, condition and service. Golf Digest has awarded Willbrook 4 stars in its guide to the "Best Places to Play in America" and Golf for Women magazine has it ranked on their list of the "Top 50 in America." Maples has provided a player-friendly layout that is surrounded by beautiful scenery to create one of the most enjoyable golf experiences on the Grand Strand.
 Nearby, River Club at Litchfield is a more demanding layout. An abundance of water and sand on this course demand accuracy and nerve. The A-1 Bent greens are consistently among the best on the Strand, but they can be fast, thus requiring a soft touch. River Club features one great hole after the next, with none more exciting and rewarding than the par-5 18th. With two brave carries over water, the green is reachable in two, providing an excellent chance for birdie or eagle.
A third course at Litchfield, Litchfield Country Club, maintains a private membership, but does accept a limited amount of play from vacationing golfers. Built in the early '60s, Litchfield is one of the oldest courses at the beach, and provides a unique country club atmosphere. The course is a classic Willard Byrd layout that rewards accuracy over distance, with several tree-lined dogleg par-4s that require well-placed tee shots.
During the summer months, multiround specials are available that enable vacationing golfers to experience all three of these plantation courses for one great price. They also allow junior golfers to play for free when accompanied by adults.
FEATURED AMBASSADOR COURSES
If you are interested in experiencing the area's diversity of golf courses during your stay, check out some of the other great layouts, like the three Arnold Palmer signature courses at Myrtle Beach National, located off of Highway 501. King's North has been ranked among the "Top 100 You Can Play in America" and possesses some of the most memorable holes you'll ever encounter. The par-5, sixth hole is nicknamed "The Gambler" because it offers a couple of options. The par-3 12th features an island green will have your knees knocking. One of the best finishing holes around from the tee, the 18th is visually intimidating with 43 sand traps guarding the fairway and water by green. The other two courses at Myrtle Beach National, South Creek and The West, are a bit less demanding, but every bit as fun and always in pristine condition.
Just up Highway 17 is a course designed by one of the most celebrated architects in the history of American golf - Robert Trent Jones. Waterway Hills Golf Club features 27 holes, and the only way to get there is by taking an enclosed tram up and over the Intracoastal Waterway. It is one of the most unusual approaches in golf, and once you touch down, you'll enjoy a peaceful day of great golf - no houses, just you and nature.
 A bit further to the north, near the North Carolina border, is another 27-hole layout worth checking out. Aberdeen Country Club is a Tom Jackson design nestled against a protected area on the banks of the Waccamaw River. Each of the three nines is unique. One runs through an open meadow while another abuts a black-water swamp with beautiful moss-draped cypress trees. With 27 holes, you can often play an extra nine or eighteen at Aberdeen for a reduced rate, based on availability.
All of the courses mentioned offer multi-round specials during the summer months and kids play free when accompanied by a playing adult. Premium rental clubs are also available at each of the courses, and golf instruction is available at most.
For more information, or to make a tee time at any of these courses, call (843) 235-6092, or book your tee times online at www.AmbassadorGolfVacations.com.
|
