Myrtle Beach is one of those places that exists in pure dichotomy, where it seems you can be in two completely different places at the same time. On one hand, you have a jillion high-end golf courses to pick and choose from, most of which rival the best golf courses along the eastern seaboard. Several present not only a dazzling setting and an exciting challenge, but also a warm sense of southern hospitality, charm, class and sophistication. On the other hand, Myrtle Beach can be just as enticing off course, that is, if wearing a bib and chowing down on crabmeat or throwing back a pitcher of beer (or two) with your buddies is high on your list of things to do.
Put it this way: while other destinations prefer you freshen up after a round and change into a long-sleeved shirt and sportscoat for dinner, Myrtle Beach may be the only place in the country where you’re relegated to dressing down from a golf shirt and slacks to shorts, a T-shirt and sandals for a “classy” night on the town. You can literally play a nationally ranked golf course and settle bets in the company of local greenskeepers at the popular Caddyshack restaurant. Want entertainment? There’s plenty, ranging from the hoedown at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede to the big-name headliners at the Alabama Theatre. Hooters or Calabash, linksland or parkland golf, you name it–it’s here on the Grand Strand.
Maybe that’s one of the reasons why so many golfers love Myrtle Beach. It has all the great stuff golfers want–amazing weather, phenomenal golf courses with unbelievable values, friendly locals and just about anything you can imagine when it comes to food and entertainment. Better yet, that’s how the folks in Myrtle Beach want it to be. It’s relaxed, casual, and chock-full of some of the best golf deals this country has to offer.
After-Golf Activities
Myrtle Beach has every kind of diversion imaginable. One can start with Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium or Alligator Adventure. How about roller coasters, miniature golf or driving-simulated Formula F1 race cars on two NASCAR speedways? Then there are the horse shows, motorcycle expos, rodeos and the Dixie Stampede. Baseball fans can check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Atlanta Braves Class-A farm team.
For water-related activities, there are cruises and deep-sea fishing. The Gulf Stream is only 50 miles out, and the fish are always biting. For landlubbers, there’s always a tour of Southern mansions, parks and beautiful gardens, including the delightful 9,000-acre Brookgreen Gardens on the south end. For shopping, dining and nightlife, Broadway at the Beach is the place to be. This 350-acre, multipurpose mall has several restaurants, sports bars and specialty shops. On the north end, the sprawling complex at Barefoot Landing includes fine restaurants, Planet Hollywood, The House of Blues and a wildlife sanctuary. You may be surprised to learn that several big names pass through the area on various concert tours.
Of course, time spent in Myrtle Beach is best spent playing golf–many golfers find ways to squeeze in two rounds of golf each day they’re in town. And if 36 is too much, there’s nothing better than unfolding a chair and soaking up some beachside fun in the sun after a morning round of golf. Really, if you look beyond the fairways and neon, you’ll no doubt see that the town of Myrtle Beach is…well, still a beach!
Package Providers
Golf Holiday
Golf Holiday is a unified association of 80-plus golf courses throughout the area, dedicated to helping you find the perfect stay-and-play golf package. It makes the logistics easy, especially when it comes to scheduling 36 holes of golf a day and making sure your hotel, rental car or shuttle are always on time and ready for your next stop.
www.golfholiday.com
Condotels
If you plan to bring the whole family, renting a condo is easy with Condotels. With multiple destinations to choose from, Condotels also offers a wide array of golf packages for all golfers, whether it be those who wish to play 36 holes a day or a more leisurely and comfortable 18 holes a day.
www.condotels.com
Patricia Resorts
Mixing deluxe hotel accommodations with great golf courses has been a hallmark of Patricia Resorts for years now. With five oceanside resorts to choose from and a variety of packages ranging from value to premium, Patricia Resorts is the expert in making your stay a memorable one.
www.patriciaresorts.com
Ambassador Golf & Beach Vacations
Featuring a variety of golf packages with or without accommodations, Ambassador Golf & Beach Vacations allows you to build your own vacation with preferential tee times, advanced reservations and more. Visit online for the latest seasonal incentives.
www.ambassadorgolfspecials.com
Myrtle Beach Golf Trips
Would you believe a package deal that runs in the neighborhood of $35 a day? Myrtle Beach Golf Trips makes it possible, and does so on several of the best golf courses along the Grand Strand. Custom options are also available, as are a variety of large group packages for parties of 16 or more.
www.myrtlebeachgolfvacations.com
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| Golf Tips Must-Plays | _Ê |
 Tidewater GC and PlantationEvery hole is an absolute gem, leaving an indelible mark on your memory. www.tide-water.com |
 Barefoot Resort & GolfWith four courses designed by those known by one name (Love, Fazio, Norman and Dye), you can’t go wrong. www.barefootgolf.com |
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 Grande DunesA solid challenge for better players, this track is a true classic. www.grandedunes.com |
 The Dunes Golf & Beach ClubA championship venue that has hosted several championships. www.dunesgolfandbeach.com |
| Golf Tips Must-Plays (cont.) | _Ê |
 BlackmoorThink Bagger Vance, but in South Carolina, not Georgia. |
 Kings North at Myrtle Beach NationalA perfect blend of challenge and fairness with a breathtaking setting to boot. www.mbn.com |
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 Tiger’s Eye at Ocean Ridge PlantationElevation changes are rare in Myrtle Beach, but not at the spectacular Tiger’s Eye Golf Links. www.big-cats.com |
 World Tour Golf LinksPlay 27 holes inspired by several of the world’s most recognized holes. www.worldtourmb.com |
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 Pine Lakes InternationalThe Granddaddy of Myrtle Beach, this course should be on everyone’s must-play. www.pinelakes.com |
 Thistle Golf ClubExperience 27 holes of pure Scottish inspiration in Myrtle Beach. www.thistlegolf.com |
GOLFAPALOOZA
Come Masters’ weekend every year, the next-best place to Augusta is Myrtle Beach–at the annual Golfapalooza event. Golfers can take part in a huge golf-equipment demo session, compete for prizes and purchase great golf equipment, all in the company of live Jumbotron telecasts of the Masters. On the heels of Golfapalooza is the annual Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Charity Tournament, hosted by southern soul rockers, Hootie and the Blowfish. This star-studded event features an A-list roster of athletes and celebrities, including such names as Arnold Palmer, John Daly, Samuel L. Jackson, Dan Marino, Michael Waltrip, Peter Jacobson and more. For more information on the wild and crazy Golfapalooza and the Monday After the Masters festivities, log on to www.golfholiday.com/golfapalooza.cfm. _Ê_Ê_Ê _Ê
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More Info…
Myrtle Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau
www.myrtlebeachinfo.com
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World Amateur Handicap Championship
Itching for some serious amateur golf competition? The World Amateur Handicap Championship is as serious as it gets. Dubbed the “Mother of All Golf Tournaments,” the WAHC attracts almost 4,000 amateur players from all 50 states and more than 30 foreign nations for lots of fun, friendship and, most importantly, great golf excitement. The four-day competition takes place on more than 75 of the Myrtle Beach area’s bestchampionship courses, with each flight winner (and tie) competing in the Championship Round at the prestigious Dunes Club. Golfers not only have the chance to compete for more than $500,000 in prizes, but have the honor of being crowned the highly respected World Champion of Amateur Golf. For more information, visit www.worldamgolf.com.
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Focus On Georgetown County, S.C.
TPC Myrtle Beach
6,950 Yards, Par 72 | Architect: Tom Fazio | Greens Fees: $95-$155
(843) 357-3399 | www.tpc-mb.com
TPC Myrtle Beach is a visual masterpiece, carved through wetlands and enhanced by the obligatory TPC spectator-friendly mounding. Since it opened in 1999, TPC has hosted numerous high-profile tournaments, including the 2000 Senior Tour Championship. It’s also certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, an affiliation that ensures not only high environmental standards, but a maintained natural beauty that makes playing TPC Myrtle Beach a memorable experience.
Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club
7,026 Yards, Par 72 | Architect: Jack Nicklaus | Greens Fees: $77-135
(800) 367-9959 | www.pawleysplantation.com
One of the area’s best “inland” courses, Pawleys Plantation makes up for its lack of ocean views with plenty of lakes, marshes and old trees. Its four par-3s require forced carries over either man-made lakes or marshland. The 13th, a diminutive par-3, has been known to get under the skin of many a golfer. Not only does it feature a firm isthmus green that juts into the marshland, but it plays into the teeth of the prevailing headwinds. Another notable feature is the variety of trees and plant life, including coastal pines and moss-draped oaks. Nature lovers, be on the lookout for wildlife. A 600-acre nature preserve borders the course.
Willbrook Plantation Golf Club
6,704 Yards, Par 72 | Architect: Dan Maples | Greens Fees: $37-$97
(800) 882-3420
It’s as fun to play Willbrook, a favorite among women golfers, as it is to take in its setting. Built on a former rice and indigo plantation, Willbrook winds its way through a century-old oak forest and enjoys an abundance of wildlife. Look out for the beautiful, but devilish short par-4 5th. A lake bisects the fairway on both your tee and approach shots.
True Blue
7,062 Yards, Par 72 | Architect: Mike Strantz | Greens Fees: $85-$150
(888) 483-6800 | www.fishclub.com
As playable, player-friendly and easy-on-the-ego as Caledonia is, True Blue has a reputation for being the opposite. Since it was first built in 1998, True Blue has earned its fair share of compliments and criticism. Its challenging conditions were toned down recently (bunkers turned into grass, mounds leveled) so higher-handicappers wouldn’t feel like they’d just gone 10 rounds with Ali. It seems to have worked, and although True Blue is hardly a pushover, golfers are returning after its extreme makeover.
Caledonia Golf and Fish Club
6,526 Yards, Par 70 | Architect: Mike Strantz | Greens Fees: $95-$190
(800) 483-6800 | www.fishclub.com
If you’re inclined to believe the popular notion that Mother Nature is the best golf course architect, then Caledonia’s maverick designer Mike Strantz had a great collaborator. Strantz chose wisely for his first solo design back in 1995 when Caledonia first opened. By preserving the natural landscape (e.g., moving as little dirt as possible), Strantz maintained the one-time rice plantation’s natural beauty. Its name, Caledonia, is Latin for “Scotland” where Mother Nature designed her first courses.
Other Must-Plays
River Club: This 6,671-yard, par-72 Tom Jackson design features the only bent-grass greens in the Pawley’s Island area. There’s also lots of wet stuff. The River Club features water on 14 of its holes. (800) 882-3198 | www.mbngolf.com
Litchfield Country Club: A limited number of visitors can play this private club. It’s worth it. Litchfield is squeezed tight by narrow fairways, but makes up for its tough conditions with a beautiful natural landscape. Look for its trademark moss-draped oaks.
(800) 882-3198 | www.mbngolf.com
Greenlight Specials
The Tour Trio–Three-night stay, three rounds of golf and daily breakfast. Play TPC, Pawleys and Wachesaw East. Carts and range balls included.
$279-$534 | (800) 367-9959 | www.tourtriogolf.com
Best of the Beach–Play TPC, Caledonia and True Blue.
$226-$455 | (800) 642-3108 | www.golfdesk.com
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