Several Myrtle Beach Area Courses Make Improvements This Summer

Several Myrtle Beach area courses are making improvements this summer.

Sea Trail Resort - Willard Byrd Course: The Byrd course is renovating nine greens this summer. The greens on the front nine were renovated during the summer of 2008, and the back nine is getting the same treatment in 2009.

River's Edge: This Arnold Palmer design is undergoing major work on the greens to correct a long-standing problem. The course is closed for the summer to convert all greens to SeaDwarf Seashore Paspalum. This species of grass is very tolerant of salt. Seems like a great decision for River's Edge which is located along a saltwater marsh. I played on a course with "tee-to-green" Paspalum in Florida this past May, and the conditions of the fairways and greens were superb. Conditions were so good, that I actually thought the grass was artificial when I first stepped on the practice green. The green conditions at River's Edge always detracted from this scenic course, making it a hit or miss proposition. Hopefully, this will solve River's Edge's problem and the course will return to its previous high ranking.

Tidewater: One of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses (Golf Digest), Tidewater is closing for six weeks this summer to renovate tee-boxes and improve other areas of the course. A few months ago, the course removed numerous trees throughout the course which improved the look, feel and playability on some holes which had become overgrown.

Arrowhead and Sandpiper Bay: Both of these 27-hole complexes are converting all greens to Mini-Verde, a bermuda grass that is popular on the Grand Strand because of the way it tolerates heat. Both courses previously completed nine holes and are working on a second nine this summer. Sandpiper Bay will complete it's last nine during the summer of 2010, and Arrowhead will complete the project this year. Both courses have the luxury of doing this work while keeping 18-holes open for play.

8 Myrtle Beach Area Golf Courses Make Golfweek's List

Eight Myrtle Beach area golf courses appear on Golfweek's "Best Courses You Can Play 2009" list.
The list is broken down by state. Each state has at least 5 courses listed; most states have 10 courses; some states have as many as 15 or 20 courses.
North Carolina has 10 courses on the list. Two of the courses are on the Grand Strand: Leopard's Chase at Ocean Ridge Plantation in Sunset Beach (#4), and River's Edge in Shallotte (#10).
South Carolina also has 10 courses listed. Myrtle Beach area courses include: Caledonia Golf & Fish Club in Pawleys Island (#3), Dunes Golf & Beach Club in Myrtle Beach (#4), Tidewater Golf Club in North Myrtle Beach (#6), True Blue Plantation in Pawleys Island (#7), TPC Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet (#8), and Barefoot Resort and Golf's Love Course in Myrtle Beach (#10).

Pine Lakes CC (The Granddaddy) Reopens

Myrtle Beach's oldest golf course, Pine Lakes Country Club, reopened last week after a major renovation of the course and clubhouse. The restoration by owner Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc. took 20 months and $15 million.
Nicknamed "The Granddaddy," Pine Lakes was originally built in 1927, and opened under the name of the Ocean Forest Hotel and Country Club.
Designed by St. Andrews, Scotland native Robert White, the first president of the Professional Golf Association (PGA) of America, and a co-founder of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the course was built on natural dunes a half-mile from the ocean, and features numerous fresh-water lakes and rolling fairways.
The restoration has maintained the traditional course layout, while introducing a feeling of modern design. Most notable is the use of Sea Dwarf Paspalum, a new bermuda grass specifically developed for southeast coast courses. The grass is resistant to drought conditions and water with high salt content, and may be the future of things to come in the Myrtle Beach area.
We found the Par 70 course to be very enjoyable, with plenty of challenging holes. The course layout flows smoothly, with strategically-paced bunkers protecting large greens. The greens rolled smoothly and consistently, and the fairways were tight. The fairways were a bit rough in places, but as the course matures it will improve considerably.

Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation

Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation certainly lives up to its reputation as one of the finest golf courses in the U.S.
I had the pleasure of playing this 20-year old course on January 23, 2009. The greens and fairways were in excellent condition, especially considering the "winter" weather conditions.
This scenic course which features marsh and ocean views is a real challenge to golfers of all capabilities, especially when the wind is blowing. To earn a good score, the Par-3s require pin-point accurancy on tee-shots, and most Par-4s require length and accuracy in finding the fairways. The Par-5s also push you to make good shots from tee to green. The greens roll fast and true and feature undulations that can turn your score upside down real fast.
Holes #3, #4, #12, and #13 are among the finest, most scenic on the Grand Strand.
The course is in the process of removing about 70 trees to improve circulation around the tees and greens and "open" up the course a little bit.
If you are ready for a real challenge featuring stunning scenary, make sure you include Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation in your next Myrtle Beach golf package.

Direct Flights to Myrtle Beach

My last posting talked about Spirit Airlines adding direct flights between Chicago's O'Hare Airport (ORD) and Myrtle Beach (MYR).
Here is a listing of other cities and airlines offering direct flights to MYR.

· Atlanta, Georgia (ASA/Comair/Delta)
· Atlantic City, NJ (Spirit)
· Allentown, Pa (Direct Air)
· Boston, Massachusetts (US Airways, Spirit)
· Charlotte, North Carolina (US Airways)
· Chicago, Illinois (Spirit, as of March 1, 2009)
· Columbus Ohio (Direct Air)
· Detroit, Michigan (Northwest, Spirit)
· Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Spirit)
· Kalamazoo, Michigan (Direct Air)
· Newark, New Jersey (Continental, Direct Air)
· New York City - LaGuardia (Spirit)
· Niagara Falls, New York (Direct Air)
· Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (US Airways)
· Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Direct Air)
· Plattsburg, New York (Direct Air)
· Punta Gorda, Florida (Direct Air)
· Rockford, Illinois (Direct Air)
· Toledo, Ohio (Direct Air)
· Washington D.C. Dulles (United Express)
· Worchester, Massachusetts (Direct Air)

Direct Low-Cost Flights to Myrtle Beach from Chicago

Spirit Airlines announced on December 17 that it will begin seasonal service between Chicago and Myrtle Beach on March 1, 2009. The daily non-stop service will run through November 11. The flights will originate out of O’Hare Airport and provide a low-cost link between Myrtle Beach and one of the most golf-crazed cities in the U.S.
The Spirit flight will leave O’Hare at 2:15 CST each day. The return flight from Myrtle Beach will depart the Grand Strand at 11 a.m. EST. In May the flight from Chicago will leave earlier and the departure from Myrtle Beach will be pushed into the afternoon, more beneficial times for golfers. One of the nation’s premier low-cost air carriers, Spirit has a host of introductory rates to lure golfers from Chicago to Myrtle Beach this spring.
Direct Air will also be shuttling golfers from Rockford, Ill., just outside of Chicago, to Myrtle Beach, meaning it will be easier than ever for Windy City golfers to flock to the Grand Strand.

What To Know When Planning A Myrtle Beach Golf Package

So, you're trying to put together a golf trip to Myrtle Beach. With almost 100 golf courses and thousands of lodging options, the whole process can be pretty intimidating.
Using a golf package company can really help you pull it all together, but when you start looking for a package you'll find there are hundreds of companies providing this service.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you start working with a golf director at a package company.
1. Watch For Hidden Fees - Many Myrtle Beach golf packagers will quote a price that does not include all taxes and fees. Make sure you know if the price includes greens fees, cart fees, resort fees, taxes, and surcharges. Cart fees are around $25 per person per round, so if they are not included, you can expect to shell out a significant amount of money when you get to the course. Presently, lodging taxes are 11%. Find out if there are additional resort fees that will have to be paid when you check-out.
2. Driving Times - Have a good idea where your lodging is in relation to the courses you are playing. If you have limits on how far you are willing to drive each day, be sure to let your package company know.
3. Course Conditions - A knowledgeable golf director will have a good idea of which courses are typically in good condition. Conditions can go downhill pretty quickly at times, but someone who plays the courses and keeps in touch with the market will have a good idea about which courses are having problems, and which courses are in good shape. Also, Myrtle Beach area courses typically aerate their greens in the Spring and Fall, and they "over seed" the fairways in the Fall. Ask your golf director if the courses you want to play will be doing maintenance during the time you are planning to be in Myrtle Beach.
4. Best Deals - A well planned golf package will save you a good bit of money. A knowledgeable golf director will help you find the best values, and steer you away from the bad deals. Of course, this will depend on the information you provide when planning the trip. If you are fixed on your courses, your dates, and your lodging, you should still be able to save some money. But, if you are flexible in some of these areas, you should be able to get a good deal.
At Golf Packages of the Carolinas, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide our customers with the best value, the best advice and the best service. You will not be charged any extra fees after you book your package. We stay on top of course conditions to the best of our abilities, and as an independent company - we don't own any golf courses, condos or hotels - we will give you the best advice possible on where to stay and where to play.
Contact us today to get a free quote - absolutely no obligation - and you'll be on your way to a great time in Myrtle Beach.
Toll free 1-877-732-6999 or e-mail: info@seasidegolf.com