The Myrtle Beach summer golf season is now in full swing,
but it's not too late to piece together a spectacular trip to the "Golf Capital
of the World." Whether you're planning the latest incarnation of an annual
family tradition or looking for a place to host the ultimate guys weekend
highlighted by golf on some of the country's most pristine public courses, the
Grand Strand offers a host of activities and accommodations for everyone.
Championship-Caliber Golf Courses
The recently renovated Pine Lakes Country Club, which reopened this spring after a sweeping project restored Myrtle Beach's oldest golf course to its past glory, is a generating a considerable buzz in Myrtle Beach. If you're headed to the Grand Strand this summer, the "Granddaddy," as Pine Lakes is affectionately called, deserves a spot on your must-play list.
Pine Lakes is also home to the new Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame, a tribute to the men and women who have played significant roles in all aspects of the area's golf industry.
Pine Lakes is just one of many high-caliber courses managed by Burroughs & Chapin, a well-respected company with holdings in a variety of areas within the real estate development industry. The Grande Dunes Resort Course, featuring seven holes set along the Intracoastal Waterway, was named the 2009 National Golf Course Owner's Association Golf Course of the Year, while Meadowlands Golf Club continues to be a favorite among women.
The Founders Club at Pawleys Island played the role of Pine Lakes last summer. Created by Gary Player protégé Thomas Walker on the land formerly occupied by Sea Gull Golf Club, The Founders Club is one of the newest golf courses in Myrtle Beach. The course opened in the spring of 2008 and is enjoying its first full season. The Founders Club is a member of the Classic Golf Group along with Burning Ridge, Black Bear and Indian Wells.
A great way to add value to your golf vacation and convert travel time into an additional tee time is to focus your attention on one of Myrtle Beach's multi-course golf facilities. A number of golf clubs on the Grand Strand feature a collection of award-winning layouts in one convenient location.
Myrtle Beach National is a 54-hole golf complex with three sensational Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses - King's North, National West and Southcreek. Consistently mentioned among the most esteemed layouts in the state of South Carolina and the top public courses in the country, King's North is the crown jewel of MBN.
Located on the North end of Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Resort & Golf is one of the most notable golf facilities on the East Coast. Barefoot features four distinct 18-hole championship courses designed by Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio and Pete Dye.
On Aug. 27 Barefoot Resort & Golf will host a Pro-Am golf tournament to benefit residents who lost their homes in the April 23 wildfire. The event will be played on the Fazio Course.
Mystical Golf is behind three exceptional and visually dramatic golf courses. The Wizard, The Witch and Man O'War are all intriguing and often mesmerizing layouts that leave golfers wanting more. A number of package deals to experience this exceptional triple play are available.
Making a tee time in Myrtle Beach is made easier with TeeUpTomorrow.com, Myrtle Beach's best way to book great golf for less. For just $39.95, members of Tee Up Tomorrow will have instant access to the Grand Strand's only real time, online 48-hour tee time program. This service provides access to nearly all of the area's outstanding golf courses at the best rates available.
Stay and Play
Area golf courses and hotels have been harmonizing for decades to deliver the best possible combination of golf and accommodations. Visitors can choose from oceanfront hotels, golf course villas and sprawling family resorts when planning an excursion to Myrtle Beach. For golfers, it's best to bundle through facilities that specialize in both golf and overnight guests.
Spanning 2,200 acres and featuring a remarkable array of restaurants, shops and activities, the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes is the leading choice of Myrtle Beach luxury hotels. The resort offers a versatile combination of both oversized guest rooms and expansive suites to suit all occasions and needs.
The Marina Inn has a number of different golf packages that include breakfast each morning and the opportunity to play either the Grande Dunes Resort Club Course, the private Members Club Course, or any of the other challenging courses located nearby.
On the southern end of the Grand Strand the Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort is centrally located to serve the needs of golfers and families exploring the Litchfield Beach/Pawleys Island area. This secluded yet spectacular resort is convenient to the golf courses that comprise that Waccamaw Trail, as well as the fine shopping and dining that can be found at the historic Hammock Shops Village.
Golf Instruction
Golf is king in Myrtle Beach, so it's no surprise to find a slew of talented golf instructors ready and able to help players to progress to the next level.
The premier golf instruction school on the Grand Stand, the Steve Dresser Golf Academy boasts a team of talented PGA Professionals who are enthusiastically awaiting your arrival. Dresser's school has been hailed by a number of highly regarded publications as one of the nation's top golf schools. Last year Golf Magazine declared that the Steve Dresser Golf Academy was "One of 20 Schools in America we would recommend."
Featuring the latest technology and teaching aids, the Steve Dresser Golf Academy is located in Pawleys Island.
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is the single source for patrons planning a pilgrimage to the Grand Strand. Through the Golf Holiday Web site (www.golfholiday.com) visitors have direct access to 76 Myrtle Beach golf courses, 104 package and accommodation providers and four world-class golf schools.
Getting There
Only a day's drive from most locations on the East Coast, Myrtle Beach has always been a popular vacation destination for those traveling by car. But recently flying to Myrtle is becoming easier and more affordable with the introduction a number of non-stop flights and low fares being by Direct Air.
The air carrier now offers non-stop flights to Myrtle Beach from Niagara Falls, New York City (Newark), Pittsburgh, Montreal (Plattsburgh), Allentown, Columbus, Kalamazoo, Worcester , Springfield/Central IL, Chicago/ Rockford, and Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda.
Once you touch down at the Myrtle Beach International Airport, head to the U-Save Car & Truck Rental counter. U-Save provides discount car rentals ideal for large groups, families and corporate travelers. Car rental reservations can be made with U-Save's easy-to-use online reservation system.
Shopping and Dining
There are dozens of delectable fine dining establishments located throughout Myrtle Beach specializing in everything from fresh seafood to sushi. The newest addition to the restaurant scene on the Grand Strand is High Hammock Maverick Seaside Kitchen located at the legendary Hammock Shops Village.
High Hammock is the newest property of the award-winning, nationally recognized Maverick Southern Kitchens, a Charleston-based restaurant company known for fine cuisine, professional service, moderate prices, and warm hospitality.
The cuisine at High Hammock is pure Southern. Dishes are made with the freshest local ingredients all prepared with a Maverick twist.
A few other fine selections worth sampling include steakhouses such as Ruth's Chris Steak House and Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse, Emi Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar and Greg Norman's Australian Grille.
Pawleys Island is home to the quintessential shopping and dining experience of the Lowcountry. Hammock Shops Village is a collection of more than 20 delightfully different specialty shops and restaurants located on Highway 17 in Pawleys Island.
The village is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. The story that began in 1938 with a great hammock is now a great shopping adventure for everyone to enjoy on the southern end of the Grand Strand.
For additional information on golf courses, hotels, restaurants and golf schools in the Myrtle Beach area, as well as help planning a vacation or tee time, please visit myrtlebeach.golfersguide.com.