Golf Holiday Incredible Tales

LPGA Superstar Natalie Gulbis Is Coming to Myrtle Beach

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

A popular national golf magazine recently predicted that 2007 might be the best year ever for Natalie Gulbis. The native of Sacramento, California, Gulbis has earned more than two million dollars in prize winnings during her five-year professional career but is still chasing the elusive first tournament win. The 24-year-old is one of the most popular players on the LPGA with a calendar, a Web site and at least half-dozen product endorsements.

This spring, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Golf Channel have teamed up to reward a golfer and three friends with the opportunity to play a round of golf with Gulbis on one of the Grand Strand’s “Top 100” courses.

The “Ultimate Buddy Trip” Sweepstakes will reward one lucky golfer with four round trip airfares to Myrtle Beach where the group will enjoy four rounds of golf at premier Grand Strand courses, four nights’ accommodations, a $250 gift certificate to PGA TOUR Superstore, a daily breakfast buffet and car rental.

Golfers can register for the “Play a Round with Natalie Gulbis” sweepstakes on Golf Channel’s Web site, TheGolfChannel.com. The registration runs through May 31 and the trip will be fulfilled in the fall of 2007.

“We’re excited to partner with Golf Channel to reward one lucky golfer with a five-day and four-night “Ultimate Buddy Trip” to Myrtle Beach,” said Bill Golden, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday’s vice president and director of marketing. “Gulbis is one of the rising stars on the LPGA Tour and we’re happy to provide four golfers with the exclusive opportunity of playing a round with her. By winning the contest, the golfer will automatically become the most popular member of his golf circle with four all-expense paid trips to Myrtle Beach for three of his friends.”

Golf Holiday Celebrates 40 Years Of Providing The Best In Golf Packages

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

To celebrate their 40th anniversary this year, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday recently debuted the inaugural 2007 Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday Magazine which will serve as the ultimate source for both golfers new to the Grand Strand area and longtime guests.

Keeping information about Myrtle Beach golf courses, golf package providers and golf schools formerly found in the Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday Planning Guide, the size of the Magazine increased significantly as 10 golf and travel writers contributed an additional 28 pages of articles on golf tips, golf etiquette, area events and tournaments, area restaurants and attractions to enjoy and the history of Myrtle Beach. In 2007, 34 photographs of Grand Strand area courses were also added to help golfers picture the site of their next round. For the first time, market advertisers appear in the Magazine to reach Myrtle Beach’s avid golf audience.

“Golf Holiday is considered the predominant golf destination marketer in the world but we can’t be satisfied with our accomplishments. Almost four million rounds of golf are recorded along the Grand Strand each year and we are constantly striving for more effective methods to reach more golfers. With an unparallel nine “Top 100” golf courses located along the Grand Strand, no other golf destination in the United States can match the quality of golf found in Myrtle Beach.”

Golf Holiday was founded in 1967 and published its first guide that year with eight golf courses and 10 hotels featured and a distribution list of 20,000 golfers. Forty years later, the 2007 Magazine has grown to 128 pages with 77 golf courses and 72 golf package providers featured and 250,000 copies to be mailed to golfers around the world.”

To order your copy today, click here .

Luxurious, New Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, Open In November 2006, Features Championship Golf

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

Located along the Intracoastal Waterway in beautiful Grande Dunes, a 2200-acre community stretching from the ocean to beyond the Waterway, the extraordinary 230-grande guestroom and suite Marina Inn, marina and championship golf resort, is now home to an entirely new level of hospitality in Myrtle Beach.

From its classic and timeless Mediterranean-style architecture to exceptional amenities and European-style service, everything at this new member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World reflects a commitment to the highest standards of quality.

Enjoy two world-class golf courses designed by Nick Price and Roger Rulewich, tennis center, a variety of signature restaurants and lounges, fitness center, grande poolscape with outdoor hot tub, along with indoor pool that features two jet system swim-in-place stations, resort transportation to a private beach cabana and much, much more.

From elegant social events to conferences, Marina Inn is perfect for any event. More than 15,000 square feet of lavish function space features a 5,100-sq.-ft. Grande Ballroom. Eight flexible meeting rooms include two well-appointed conference rooms and an executive boardroom. A spacious pre-function area with a loggia, adjacent to the Inns Grande Lawn, creates an incomparable indoor/outdoor environment overlooking the Waterway. Stay and play soon at Marina Inn when only grande will do! To learn more click here.

First New Public Course Since 2001 Set to Open February, 2007

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

The newest Big Cat to premier at Ocean Ridge Plantation® is Leopard’s Chase Golf Club. The course is scheduled to open to the public February 15, 2007.

The newest addition to the Ocean Ridge Plantation “Big Cat” Family, Leopard’s Chase Golf Club will open for play on February 15, 2007, just in time for the spring golf season. The third Tim Cate course in the 72-hole Ocean Ridge Plantation community, Leopard’s Chase is the first Grand Strand public golf course to open in six years, since Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club, Farmstead Golf Links, Grande Dunes Resort Course and Crown Park Golf Club debuted in 2001.

Located just minutes from North Myrtle Beach in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, Leopard’s Chase complements the area’s natural coastal beauty with subtle elevation changes, undulating fairways and greens, undisturbed wetlands areas and native vegetation. The par 72, 7,200-yard layout is spread out among 220 acres and features TifSport Bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens. One of the many distinguishing features of Leopard’s Chase is the significant number of holes which require short carries over both water and wetlands and the numerous bunkers strategically placed throughout the 18 holes.

"Leopard’s Chase Golf Club is an exciting and highly-anticipated new addition to the family of Big-Cat courses,” stated Becky Noble, president of Ocean Ridge Golf. “It is another dazzling Tim Cate design which will contribute to the perfect golf experience here at Ocean Ridge Plantation.”

For tee times, call 800.233.1801 or visit the website at big-cats.com.

Exercises to Help You Survive 36 Holes in One Day

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

Believe it or not, three or more consecutive days of golf can be a shock to your body if it is accustomed to spending more time on the couch than on the course. Before you make your annual golf sojourn to Myrtle Beach, spend 10 minutes each day before the trip to prepare your body for the toil and stress of 36 holes a day.

Studies show that golfers who stretch and exercise certain areas of the body two weeks before their golf trip have better results on the course and don’t suffer from soreness or pain after the round.

My Hip Power and Posture exercises will help increase strength in the core muscles supporting the hips, challenge the golfer’s ability to maintain proper posture while executing the exercises and ensure that the average armchair golfer is ready for the best golf week of his or her life.

Hip Power and Posture
The following yoga poses will increase the strength in the muscles supporting the hips and will also challenge your ability to maintain proper posture while executing the exercises. When we work with amateur and professional golfers, I perform a 22 - point assessment program. During the assessment process we uncover mobility, stability, posture and coordination issues. The quality of the movement, the ability to maintain proper posture and core stability is often an indicator of the golfer’s ability to maintain posture during the dynamic phase of the golf swing.

While you practice this series of hip-strengthening poses, focus on your core stabilization and maintaining proper posture. Regarding posture, the shoulder blades should be moving together and “down the back,” shoulders are moving down and away from the ears and the mid-back (thoracic spine) is not rounded.

Standing Crescent Lunges with Arms over the Head
Begin by standing tall and engaging the navel towards the spine and lifting the ribcage off the waist. Lift the arms over the head, but do not “scrunch” the shoulders towards the ears. Inhale and lunge the right leg forward (maintain a 90-degree angle in the right knee). Hold this position and pulse the right leg up and down for a count of 10. Return to the starting position and switch sides. Repeat three times on each side.

Power Chair Pose
I demonstrate this pose using a balance ball, but feel free to incorporate a chair. The purpose of this pose is to activate the gluts, core and maintain your posture. Inhale and engage the core as you move the gluts towards the ball as if you were sitting in a chair. Do not allow the gluts to touch the ball. Hold for a count of five and repeat five to 10 times.

Locust Pose on the Ball or on the Floor
Place the ball under your hips or place your body on the floor. Draw the navel towards your spine and squeeze the gluts as tight as possible. On the exhalation slowly lift the legs off the floor. Hold for a count of three and repeat five times.

If you want to increase the intensity continue to lift the legs higher. Focus on the gluts and the lumbar spine.

About Katherine Roberts
Katherine Roberts is founder and president of Katherine Roberts Yoga for Golfers, a 10-year-old publishing and fitness consulting company based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As a fitness expert and a regular contributor to The Golf Channel, she has appeared on The Big Break, Makeover Challenge, Your Game Night and the PGA Merchandising Show Recap. Katherine is the producer of nine DVDs and author of the ground-breaking book “Yoga for Golfers” (McGraw-Hill). Roberts’ unique approach to golf conditioning is a hybrid of western biomechanical research and eastern mind/body conditioning for performance and has been profiled by USA TODAY, Pebble Beach Magazine, Golf for Women and GOLF Magazine. “Yoga for Golfers” is dedicated to helping people achieve balanced performance both on and off the course.

Women Tee-Off to Stay Young

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

Since 1991, every year a distinct collection of passionate golfers convert Myrtle Beach into their personal playground. Their goal in one week’s stay is simple. Competition on challenging layouts is a must. Stimulation by camaraderie and jesting is required. Relaxation poolside and in restaurants is mandatory. Fittingly, it’s an ideal golfing excursion for men. Could be, but not in this description. Take a gender mulligan.

This itinerary for fun belongs to the Swingbees, a party of female golfers, many residing in Michigan. In 2006, 14 Swingbees – denotes Sporting Women Interested in Golf Because Everything Else Sucks – made the annual visit to Myrtle Beach.

Their friendships began in the ’70s and ’80s through respective positions at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Mi. “One of my sisters and I started a golf league there,” recalls Christine Ford, “and from there on it branched out.” Perhaps their male equivalents can match the Swingbees’ exuberance. But, no men’s group surpasses their amount of fun. “If you want to go with the flow, you go with the flow. If not, you’re on your own. Most of the people…well women…like to see things already planned out from room assignments to whatever.”

Watch out, boys. Women are more than chipping in to the golf market. In a 2004 study by the National Golf Foundation, 2.5 million female golfers play eight or more rounds per year,joining 10.2 million avid male golfers.

Women’s groups are finding out Myrtle Beach is something more than 100+ golf courses. The sun, food and fun off the course keep them more than content until they tee it up all over again the next day.

The Swingbees take pleasure in trying different restaurants from Umbertos in North Myrtle Beach, Dockside in Murrells Inlet, to Thoroughbreds on Restaurant Row. They’ve tried dinner and a tournament at Medieval Times and to a North vs. South installment at Dixie Stampede. One year they all donned Masters-like green jackets and had their picture taken next to the Arnold Palmer statue at Myrtle Beach National.

“It’s time for women to get together and let their hair down,” Ford says. “We have a lot of responsibilities with marriage, kids and grandkids. We’ll go (to a sports bar to) watch the Red Wings. We do our own thing: the bachelorette thing.” When it comes to Myrtle Beach as a golf destination, what’s good for the guys is good for the Swingbees or any women’s group.

“When you stick four women together in a two-bedroom (facility), we’ll laugh the whole week,” says Marilyn Lange, 69, of Milwaukee, Wi., who enjoyed an “all-female” trip to Myrtle Beach with three friends in 2004. The age of Lange’s foursome ranged from late-60s to early-70s during a seven-day stay. Lange wonders aloud why they haven’t planned a second one.

“What was really great about being in Myrtle Beach is the fact that each day we could play a different course. A couple of us commented that we hadn’t laughed that much since we were teenagers. You know how women can be – well maybe you don’t know how women can be – they can get really silly when they know that there is no one critiquing them.”

Such good times aren’t confined to women’s groups in the United States. Female players from Canada are experiencing South Carolina’s links phenomenon.

In the spring of 2006, Canadian Joan Snyder, 55 and retired – she’s now “A lady of leisure on the golf course” – rented a van to transport her and three friends to a golf vacation in Myrtle Beach. They were guilty of being too eager to arrive to their destination. “We got a speeding ticket on U.S. 19 (near) Winston Salem,” Snyder confesses. “It was a $140 speeding ticket.”

Not withstanding the added expense and cool temperatures, Snyder said her group would book a second road trip to Myrtle Beach.

“(The best part) was all the laughs with the girls. We just had fun,” Snyder says. Word of mouth may soon add to the Grand Strand’s female golf boom. Snyder will spread the word about targeting Myrtle Beach as a spring or summer destination, not forgetting to warn of a certain speed trap in North Carolina.

During their first trip to Myrtle Beach, Ford’s Swingbees befriended a group of New York City’s finest and FBI agents who also were in Myrtle Beach to hit the links. All male police officers and FBI agents, mind you. At first, their male opponents couldn’t “believe you girls were golfing.” They did a double-take when some Swingbees teed their ball up from the men’s markers. “So they got kind of intimidated,” she says. “They were coming down here three years before us, and we thought they were all good golfers…they were kind of embarrassed that we were out-driving them.

“They said, ‘Boy, you girls really have it together.’ I said, ‘Come on, you guys should be taking lessons.’”

Their golf relationship continues every year in Myrtle Beach, and Ford says her husband, Jimmy, a fire chief at a Dearborn steel company and owner of a four handicap, supports her annual getaway with the girls. In fact, the two usually enjoy their own golf vacation together.

“I’m not dead yet, you know. I’m a 47-year-old with three grandkids. I’m not growing old. If I’m going to grow old, I’m going to do it gracefully.”

From the Guys Who Keep It Green

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

The Grand Strand market isn’t a place where golf course superintendents are green with envy. Never should they cling to the adage where the grass is always greener in someone else’s backyard.

Several experienced Grand Strand superintendents don’t see themselves going blade for blade with their peers.

It’s the opposite.

“People are more than willing to share what works,’’ says Randy Allen, longtime Myrtle Beach superintendent. “That’s one of the great things about this business - the cooperation you get between other guys. It’s unlike anything else I know. People who go into our end of the business, they don’t seem to be ‘me’ oriented.

“You are going to be perceived how you present yourself. The cooperation between superintendents is unbelievable. If you’re not in it, you can’t fathom it.’’

Allen watched this trust develop during 13 years as superintendent at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, former home to the Senior Tour Championship. Today, he’s director of golf course operations for Burroughs & Chapin, which oversees Grande Dunes, Myrtlewood, Farmstead, Meadowlands, Tidewater and Pine Lakes.

He says area superintendents are not afraid to call one another about new ideas to improve their respective course. “The guys here,’’ Allen admits, “share the knowledge.’’

No secrets to hide.

“We’re here to help each other out,’’ says Dave Downing of Rivers Edge Golf Club in Shallote, N.C. “We know we are dealing with Mother Nature. Sometimes you think she is throwing a left jab, and she throws you a right hook.’’

Being green isn’t easy if you’re a golf course on the Grand Strand.

Myrtle Beach superintendents must annually deal with a variety of issues. Perhaps they face more obstacles than their counterparts in hot spots like Florida, Nevada, Hawaii or Arizona. More so, too, than cool destinations, like New York, Connecticut or Michigan.

You want bentgrass greens? Come to Myrtle Beach.

You want Bermuda greens? Come to Myrtle Beach.

You want year-round play? Come to Myrtle Beach.

You want variety? Come to Myrtle Beach.

Slow Play- No Way!

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

It’s no secret that one of the most frequent complaints about golf is “slow play.” Most agree, the average round should take no more than 4.5 hours. And if you are on vacation and have scheduled a 36-hole day, there is a good chance you may not make your second tee time if you get trapped behind some slow golfers. So, for the benefit of all, here are a few thoughts and suggestions that should help everyone get around the course just a little bit faster.

Arrive at the course at least 30 minutes prior to your tee time to allow adequate time to check in and loosen up.
Each golfer should take responsibility for not slowing down the group.
Unless you’re playing a formal match, forget the honor system. Whoever gets to the tee first should plug a tee in the ground and fire away.
If unsure whether your ball is OB or may be lost, hit a provisional ball so that you won’t have to return to the spot to replay the shot.
If you are not driving the cart, get out and walk to your ball. Even if your ball is in front of another player, you can walk to your ball, get prepared and then move out of the way.
If using a cart on a cart-path-only day, take more than one club with you when you walk from the cart to your ball.
Use the time you spend getting to your ball to think about the next shot - the yardage, the club selection. When you reach your ball you’ll need less time to figure out the shot.
Begin reading the green and lining up putts as soon as you reach the green. Don’t wait until it’s your turn to putt to start the process.
Never delay making a stroke because you’re chatting with a playing partner. Put the conversation on hold, make your stroke, then pick up the conversation again.

A New Lifestyle in Myrtle Beach

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

Withers Preserve will feature Neo-traditional homes, beautiful green space, walking trails, canals and lakes adjacent to the Myrtle Beach Market Common, a 100-acre mix of upscale retail businesses such as Coldwater Creek and Chico’s, restaurants with creative cuisine, charming hotels and theatres. Withers Preserve is a renaissance in process. Neo-traditional homes nestled among acres of green space and ribbons of water are transforming a prime piece of landscape into a comfortable community with people at the forefront.

“The cornerstone of Withers Preserve is that every aspect works incredibly well for pedestrians,” said Scott Parker, RLA, ASLA and Partner in DesignWorks, the master planners of the new 560-acre community on the site of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.

Within the neighborhoods, it’s all about a people-friendly environment. “Our vision is based on two major components,” Mr. Parker explained. “High-quality infrastructure and high-quality public realm (including streets, parks and other public areas) will provide the backdrop to the lifestyle people want.”

The plan includes a beautifully functional series of linked canals and ponds, which will collect, retain, recharge and filter water through wetland vegetation, feeding into a 40-acre lake. The result of this state-of-the-art rainfall management will be an amenity for the community that is functional, appealing and environmentally friendly. “Parks are clearly identifiable as public spaces for everyone to gather and enjoy,” Mr. Parker said.

Fifteen hundred live oak trees line the 4.2 mile Farrow Parkway that is the major artery through the property. “There are walkways on both sides and a bikeway along one side, and it is simply a fabulous street,” he said, adding, “I am so confident that this community is going to have a tremendous, positive impact on the people who live and work here – it’s going to be envied, analyzed and copied for decades.”

The homes will follow the Neo-traditional, or New Urban style, with porches, facades fronting the street and garages served by alleys. “I am a firm believer that when you create the best physical environment, you create the lifestyle which appeals to most of us once we experience it,” Mr. Parker said, noting that the architecture will take its inspiration from traditional Lowcountry design, which evolved in the South to take advantage of a pleasant climate that invites outdoor enjoyment.

Withers Preserve is part of a celebrated master-planned community that is coming together under the auspices of the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Redevelopment Authority. This spectacular 3,970-acre parcel of land will become the new heart of the Grand Strand, an area named #1 on the 2005 list of 10 Most Desirable Second Home Markets, according to Escapehomes.com. Forbes Magazine ranks the Myrtle Beach area the 29th best location for business and careers (among 200 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas). The Grand Strand covers the coast of South Carolina from the North Carolina border, through Myrtle Beach and south to Georgetown.

Very near Withers Preserve is Myrtle Beach State Park, a 312-acre oceanfront park that preserves the natural heritage of the area, even as it invites visitors to swim in the mild Atlantic waters, fish from the pier or sunbathe on nearly a mile of sandy, wide beaches. (A nature trail provides the opportunity to enjoy one of the last stands of maritime forests in the region.)

Balmoral is the first neighborhood to open within Withers Preserve. Sixty single-family homes are planned for the first phase, all with three to four bedrooms, first-floor master bedroom and open floor plans (perfect for entertaining and staying in touch with family and friends). Construction details include ceramic tile, hardwood floors, large closets, spacious designer kitchens and those large porches so integral to both Lowcountry architecture and New Urbanism design. (Many of those porches will be used to enjoy the beautiful views of wetlands and surrounding lakes.)

For more information, go online at www.witherspreserve.com/golf or call 866-788-8620.

The World’s Largest Amateur Golf Event

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

In 1984, the Myrtle Beach area embarked on a journey to create the world’s largest amateur golf event. That first year, 684 golfers assembled in Myrtle Beach hailing from all corners of America. The first year was a tremendous test of patience and fortitude. Calculating the scores for so many golfers with handicaps, etc. was a challenge in itself. But at the end of the event, the participants and staff agreed it was a great time and consented to do it again the next year, and the next and the next. In 1986, DuPont signed on as the title sponsor and remained so for the following 20 years. Each year the number of participants grew, and fortunately, the number of Grand Strand golf courses increased, enabling the area to accommodate record numbers of golfers each August.

Today, the World Am continues its tradition as the world’s largest single-site amateur golf event and arguably the world’s largest 19th Hole. PGA TOUR Superstores is now the title sponsor, joined by numerous other companies who gather in Myrtle Beach during the last week of August to host more than 4,000 avid golfers from around the globe.

For more information, please click here

Monday After the Masters

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

A beautiful spring day coupled with a star-studded lineup headed by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer resulted in the first-ever sellout of The Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament fundraiser on April 10, 2006. The event was held for the fourth year at the spectacular Dye Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf in North Myrtle Beach.

“If you were to draw it up, this would be the perfect day,” said Bill Golden, vice president and director of marketing for Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, one of the hosts and sponsors along with Barefoot Resort & Golf.

Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish agreed. “First of all, golf is what Myrtle Beach is all about,” said Rucker. “There are great courses in Myrtle Beach like the one we are playing at Barefoot Resort & Golf. And, golf here is affordable. It has been one of our favorite stops since college.”

The band met while they were students at the University of South Carolina and often played in Myrtle Beach at The Afterdeck and the former Purple Gator nightclub. They also managed to play golf on a regular basis at Waterway Hills Golf Club on Restaurant Row.

Their familiarity with the area’s nightlife and golf helped make the decision to move The Monday After the Masters Tournament to Myrtle Beach an easy one. Rucker said a commitment from Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the country’s leader in promoting golf and golf package vacations, was what really sealed the deal.

“The real reason we came here is Golf Holiday,” said Rucker. “They approached us and showed us how they could help us. They have lots of experience in this area, and I can truthfully say everything about our move to Myrtle Beach has been great. Golf Holiday promised us they would do a lot for us, and they have fulfilled everything. We plan to stay.”

Prior to the tournament being hosted in the Myrtle Beach area, it was held in Columbia and Kiawah Island near Charleston. Rucker says the only thing that could improve on this year’s sellout with Arnold Palmer would be to raise more money and have another legend. He says they are working on both.

The 2006 Monday After the Masters was the most successful event in the 12-year history of the tournament. The tournament began with a live auction and Pairings Party at Myrtle Beach’s House of Blues. The auction raised more than $400,000 and helped this year’s event become the most successful tournament in its history.

During the last 12 years, the tournament has donated more than $3 million to the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation and the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of South Carolina.

The tournament is considered one of the most popular celebrity pro-ams in the country and attracts thousands of people who enjoy the music of the two-time Grammy award-winners, as well as the tournament itself. Monday After the Masters attracts many of golf’s top names and other celebrities, such as former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier.

Rucker, former Kentucky golfer J.B. Holmes and Marino led their six-person team to the 2006 championship with a score of 18-under par. Spurrier and former USC golfer Kyle Thompson were on the team that finished second at 17-under par, while Tom Kite and Jason Mraz’s team finished third at 16-under. “I had the experience of a lifetime playing in the same foursome with ‘The King’ Arnold Palmer,” said Mark Bryan of Hootie and the Blowfish. Having the opportunity to play next to Palmer is a memory I’ll never forget.”

Additional professional golfers who participated in the 2006 tournament included John Daly, Lee Elder, Rich Beem, Sean Fister, Brian Gay, Tim Petrovic, DJ Trahan, Bo Van Pelt and others. The list of celebrities included Gale Sayers, Dwight Clark, Marcus Allen and former USC stars George Rogers and Sterling Sharpe. Rock legend Meat Loaf and jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis also played along with ESPN host Stuart Scott and TV personality Mitch Laurance. “It’s not hard to get celebrities or sports stars to come here because the golf and nightlife are great,” said Rucker. “It’s two or three days of great golf and great fun.”

Donations From The Tournament

Donations from the 2005 tournament, held April 11, 2005, at Barefoot Resort & Golf in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., were distributed to the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation ($200,000), the South Carolina Junior Golf Association ($120,000), the First Tee Program of Spartanburg ($30,000), the South Carolina Juvenile Diabetes Foundation ($15,000), the Fishhouse Foundation of New Hampshire ($10,000) and $50,000 to the Charleston Junior Golf Facility planned for the future.

Many Great Choices Along the Grand Strand

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

The Grand Strand reaches along 60 miles of Carolina coastline, straddling the state line between North and South Carolina. As a golfer, if you know only one thing about the region, it’s probably this: There are more than 100 golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area. That’s a lot of golf.

In fact, that’s more than 2,000 separate golf holes by the time you factor in 27-hole layouts. If you’re lucky, that’s about 4,000 total putts, plus the roughly 4,000 swings that you’d need to reach all of those greens. If you played non-stop and finished every hole in 10 minutes, it would take you a little more than 333 consecutive hours or just shy of 14 whole days and nights without a break. That’s a lot of golf.

A recent inventory of guest accommodations along the Grand Strand puts the number at nearly 90,000. The choices range from oceanfront hotels and condominiums to fairway villas, beach houses and full-hook-up campsites for plush RVs. That’s a lot of accommodations.

When schools are out in the summertime, those rooms and suites and villas are full of vacationing families. During the other nine months of the year, they offer the same sweeping views of the Atlantic to golfers at big discounts. Since during the fall, winter and spring seasons in Myrtle Beach most golfers would rather spend their days on the golf course than actually swimming in the ocean, that deal works out pretty well for everyone. Many of the Grand Strand’s resorts offer heated pools, hot tubs and lazy rivers, so visiting golfers should pack their swimsuits for a Grand Strand trip - in any season.

Shopping and dining are also important considerations when choosing a vacation destination. Along the Grand Strand, you’ll find hundreds of great outlet stores, boutiques, antique shops and several of the largest golf stores in the nation. When you get hungry, more than 1,500 restaurants stand ready to satisfy your culinary cravings. Fresh seafood is plentiful, along with steaks, prime rib, sushi, barbeque ribs, duck, lamb and a variety of international dishes. If you want it, you can find it along the Grand Strand.

If you’ve never been to the Myrtle Beach area or haven’t been back to visit us in a while, that might even seem like too many choices - like getting a whole pie when you really just wanted a healthy slice. At Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, it’s our job to get you the information you need to plan a successful Grand Strand golf vacation, but we recognize that we’re serving up a lot for you to digest. So, we’re going to break it all down and let you in on something about the Myrtle Beach area that you probably didn’t know: The Grand Strand is actually four major golf destinations in one.

At just about any other major American golf destination, you might have 15 or 20 courses from which to choose, and those might be pretty spread out. Along the Grand Strand, we have four distinct regions that each have 20 or more courses.

Don’t think that you have to compromise golf quality for vacation efficiency. In each of the four Grand Strand regions, you’ll find one or more courses that appear on Golf Digest’s list of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” and at least seven rated at an “outstanding” four stars or above in “Best Places to Play 2005-2006.” That’s a lot of quality golf where your only short drives are to the next clubhouse.

Each of the four regional destinations on the Grand Strand has its own unique character and featured attractions. Pick the one that most appeals to you and your golfing companions. All four regions are easily accessible if you want to make a special trip to play a particular layout or visit an inviting attraction. And, that makes a lot of good sense.

The South Strand

Pawleys Island, Litchfield Beach, Murrells Inlet, Garden City and Surfside Beach are resort communities located on the South Strand, with more than twenty golf courses that include some of the Myrtle Beach area’s best. Pawleys and Litchfield are part of the historic Waccamaw Neck, a peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Waccamaw River that was known as America’s “Rice Empire” in the 18th and 19th centuries. Murrells Inlet has its own unique history that’s still tied to the bountiful sea, while Garden City and Surfside Beach are oceanfront communities with scores of low-rise condominium properties that are favorites for golf groups.

The pace of life is a bit slower on the South Strand, and the golf courses reflect that laid-back ambiance. Most could fairly be called “Lowcountry-style” layouts, a label that suggests generally flat, sea-level terrain with marshlands often in play and fairways lined with moss-draped hardwoods. Many of the South Strand courses are located on the sites of former rice plantations and are regarded among the top-ranked courses in America.

Brookgreen Gardens is home to America’s largest collection of outdoor sculptures in an awesomely beautiful setting complete with thousands of flowering plants. Murrells Inlet is “The Seafood Capital of South Carolina” with fresh fish arriving on its docks every day to be served up nightly in the many local eateries. Before or after your meal, take time to enjoy the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk, a boardwalk that skirts the shoreline overlooking the tidal creek. A number of additional fine-dining and casual restaurants are located from Pawleys Island to Surfside along U.S. 17 South and U.S. 17 Business. You’ll also find quaint specialty shops, fun miniature golf centers, large golf stores, arcades, full-service marinas and seaside fishing piers to complement your golf.

The Central Strand

The Central Strand region includes the famous oceanfront heart of the city of Myrtle Beach and the Highway 501 corridor, which runs toward Conway. The greatest number of our Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday resort members are found here along the beach, including high-rise hotels that feature sweeping ocean views and complete vacation hosts that have on-site dining and other great amenities. As a result, golfers who visit in the “off-season” between September and April find an astounding variety of lodging choices at prices to satisfy every taste and budget.

The Central Strand golf courses offer their own distinct variety. Dunes Golf and Beach Club and Pine Lakes are the most historic sites in Myrtle Beach golf history, but along nearby Highway 501 and U.S. 17 Bypass is a collection of more than 20 modern classics. Most have been built during the “modern era” of Grand Strand golf that began in the early 1980s, and many boast big-name architects who were given plenty of land to create their roomy designs. Some are “links-style” layouts with few trees and frequent mounding, while others could be called “parkland” courses because of the abundance of trees along the fairways.

In addition to the wonderfully old-fashioned arcades and novelty shops on Ocean Boulevard, the Central Strand region includes Broadway at the Beach, a complete entertainment complex that includes restaurants, nightclubs, retail stores, Hard Rock Café, Ripley’s Aquarium and an IMAX movie theater. There are also dozens of superb restaurants along U.S. 17, great shopping at the new Coastal Grand Mall and unbeatable deals at name-brand discount outlets and golf superstores. And, the big oceanfront fishing piers can hook you up with all the equipment you need to rent for a day of great fishing.

The North Strand

The growing city of North Myrtle Beach, which incorporates several seaside communities, plus the towns of Little River and Longs, makes up the North Strand area. The variety of available accommodations here ranges from oceanfront resorts and hotels to fully furnished and equipped high-rise condos by the sea to spacious golf villas and townhomes.

The North Strand golf courses are an inviting mix of old and new, including a number of classic resort layouts built in the 1970s that have been lovingly maintained ever since. You’ll also find several courses located right along the Intracoastal Waterway and a number of others with water-and-woodland settings that defy singular classification. Some are Scottish-style links, while others bear the signatures of the game’s most respected designers.

Restaurant Row is a highlight of any North Strand vacation with miles of sit-down and buffet-style restaurants that serve up hearty meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nearby Barefoot Landing has a large variety of restaurants, shops, nightclubs and entertainment theaters including the House of Blues and the Alabama Theatre. There are also designer outlets and big golf shops on the North Strand, plus a host of after-hours attractions and a year-round calendar of themed events. Several full-service marinas offer charter services for deep-sea fishing or coastal sightseeing. The Brunswick Isles, N.C.

Just north of the state line between the two Carolinas is Brunswick County, the “youngest” of the four Grand Strand golf regions - but by no means the least relevant. The friendly towns of Calabash and Shallotte are part of Brunswick County, as well as the oceanfront barrier island communities of Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle, Holden Beach and Bald Head Island. The quiet accommodations here include full-service golf resorts and large single-family homes.

Many of the best new Grand Strand golf courses are located in Brunswick County. Some feature countryside settings with a rural character, while a number of others are set in maritime forests that open up to spectacular waterfront views. Famous designers have left their marks in Brunswick, in addition to some of golf’s best young architects. Their natural styles are as varied as the terrain itself.

Calabash is Brunswick County’s “Seafood Town,” with a tempting host of restaurants lined up for your dining pleasure. But, while there has been some commercial development in recent years, including new movie theaters, restaurants and retail stores, Brunswick’s main attraction is the small-town lifestyle that the locals have worked hard to retain. So, if you want a choice of great golf courses without the arcades, nightclubs and tourist attractions, then a stay-and-play Brunswick vacation is a great option. Besides, the multitude of attractions and entertainments found in the Central and North Strand regions are just a short drive south if you want to enjoy a day trip or a big night on the town.

The Beauty of the Golf Package

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

With a choice of more than 100 golf courses and 90,000 accommodations, the Myrtle Beach area is the perfect spot for a golf vacation. The mild Carolina climate allows residents and visitors alike to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities almost any time of the year. And after your rounds, if you have the time and energy, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy, including shopping, sight-seeing, amusements and attractions.

While the Internet has made it considerably easier to gather information about the Myrtle Beach area, it takes substantial time and effort to become an expert on all there is to see and do. That’s why most visitors still rely on the experts at area package providers to help them arrange their golf vacations. Most area golf package providers maintain a staff of golf directors who are knowledgeable of the local courses and can assist you with your course and lodging selections based on ability, budget and location.

The concept of packaging golf with hotel accommodations was invented in Myrtle Beach more than 40 years ago. Since then, we have been steadily refining the process to provide golfers the ability to book an entire visit as easily and affordably as possible. The package providers and golf courses are networked together to allow the golf directors to quickly search and reserve tee times, up to a year in advance, at the very best rates available.

A great number of prestigious Myrtle Beach-area courses and package providers are members of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Myrtle Beach golf packages and assisting golfers around the world with planning their visit. It is working. Last year, more than one million golfers made Myrtle Beach their destination of choice, logging more than four million rounds of golf, and just as the area’s golf and hotel landscapes have changed, so have the packages offered by Golf Holiday’s members.

Today, Myrtle Beach golf has evolved from the traditional groups of four, eight or 12 guys coming to the beach for a few rounds. While that group still accounts for a large portion of the total rounds, couples, families, and groups of female golfers are increasingly common on the Myrtle Beach courses. Packages can be created to suit the needs of each group at some terrific values, often with reduced rates for golf early in the week (Sunday through Wednesday) or afternoon tee times.

Booking a package through a Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday member almost always results in preferred rates and tee times. Package providers and courses negotiate the very best rate for their guest at the time they desire to play. With a few less courses this year than last, the demand for available tee times is expected to increase significantly. A typical golf package includes lodging, breakfast, greens fees and a golf cart. If golf every day is not your cup of “tee,” your package can be adjusted accordingly. Likewise for those rabid golfers who crave 36 holes a day.

With leisure time at a premium, more and more visitors are placing a higher value on a well-planned vacation. An increase in the local population and the changing landscape of the Myrtle Beach area has seen a reduction in the availability of tee times. The myriad of accolades rewarded to area golf courses has also caused an increased demand for tee times, reinforcing the benefit to utilizing the convenience and affordability of the golf package for your next Myrtle Beach golf getaway.

Golfers Reel in a Different Round

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

With 4.1 million rounds of golf being played annually along the Grand Strand, it’s hard to imagine anything else more fun to do. Picture 60 miles of coastline, combined with numerous inlets and running creeks, and the idea of fishing will naturally peak your interest. Providing an enjoyable, rewarding alternative to a day on the links, fishing is quickly becoming a Grand Strand pastime.

Fishing can be as simple as casting a line in the surf, dropping a hook off the pier or heading out onto the ocean for a day of deep-sea fishing. Landing your own “catch of the day” doesn’t require experience, and you don’t even need to own a fishing rod. Fishing fleets, anchored at both ends of the beach, offer trips that include bait, tackle and instruction, making it carefree and fun. On a recent charter from the docks at the South Island ferry with Captain Rod Thomas from Captain Ponytail Guide Service, I saw first-hand why people are drawn to this captivating sport.

Thomas, a licensed Coast Guard captain, spends his days as a fishing guide in the Georgetown waters from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

During our trip, Thomas pointed out why every day on the water is an adventure. The purpose of this excursion in early June was to fish for Red Drum. That was accomplished. But, what happened before and after is not something most Myrtle Beach vacationers see.

Before we crossed Winyah Bay, located between Georgetown and Charleston, we were gliding along in about 10 feet of water, and two dolphins came within 20 feet of the 22-foot Triton boat. We cut the engines and just sat there.

Before long, the two dolphins turned into about 10, ranging in size from tiny two-footers to big males and females and all sizes in between.

We were just getting started. Before we reached our fishing destination behind North Inlet, we had seen alligators, bald eagles, ospreys and the most beautiful blue-green water rolling into snow-white sandy beaches. With the temperature near 85 degrees, the sun shining and natural beauty abound, we could have been in the Florida Keys.

According to Thomas, it’s not unusual to see large sea turtles and an assortment of fish on any given day on the water. That’s why he not only does fishing charters, but will take clients on sightseeing tours or a picnic on a remote beach accessible only by water.

Golfers are frequently among Thomas’ passengers. “After playing a few days, they decide to take a day off, or perhaps some members of the group don’t want to golf everyday,” Thomas said. “That’s where I come in.”

“This is the other Myrtle Beach sport,” he continued. “Most people have no idea of the beauty out here. Vacationers get caught up in all the obvious things to do and really miss out on the hidden beauty of our area.”

Most days, Thomas’ clients get all the fish they want. Even if they don’t, they get to see a side of the South Carolina coast they never would have imagined.

The Family Side of Myrtle

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

She’s a saucy Southern Belle whose middle name is Excitement. They call her Myrtle and 13 million people travel to her doorstep each year. Be it the golf adventure of a lifetime, a fabulous family excursion or a quest for scrumptious Lowcountry cuisine, Myrtle will treat you right every time.

Originally settled by Winyah and Waccamaw Indians, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that the area would see its first resort and golf course built; and there’s been no looking back.

Situated in the heart of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of beach from Georgetown, S.C., in the south to Brunswick County, N.C., in the north, Myrtle Beach is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States.

Widely regarded as the golf mecca of the world, the region is dotted with more than 100 skillfully sculptured courses from tracks built on the grounds of former plantations to layouts carved through natural wetlands.

Springtime is magical in Myrtle Beach, as hundreds of thousands make their annual trek to this golf wonderland. Stretching and practicing in a gentle morning mist with a warming sunrise as the backdrop, they welcome another day and the opportunity to drive the glistening fairways and putt for glory on greens manicured from Tif-Eagle Bermuda, L-93 Bentgrass, Tifdwarf Bermuda and A-1 Bentgrass, among others.

Myrtle Beach owes its wild popularity in the spring as much to its climate as the all-inclusive golf package it has managed to perfect.

Summertime is something else, as sun-seekers swarm the sizzling seaside sanctuary. It’s all about sand and surf – a Southern Shangri-La for beach-lovers.

Before the sun has fully breached the horizon, the beach is humming with activity as morning walkers and joggers leave their marks in the sand. Resort staff is already anchoring umbrellas and lounge chairs in anticipation of the daily rush by vacationers to stake claim to prime spots.

Out on the Atlantic Ocean, thrill-seekers on rented personal watercraft and banana boats are finding their groove. Overhead, parasailers glide gracefully. Closer to shore, boogie boarders catch some rolling waves and families frolic in the foam with its temperature averaging 75 degrees to 80 degrees from June to September.

On the greens, summertime means a host of some of the area’s greatest family-oriented golf tournaments, offering a diversion from the sand on the beach to the sand on the course. Throughout the summer, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday hosts daily scramble tournaments ideal for the family looking for something different during their vacation. Every day is “Kids Play Free Day,” as juniors 16 and under play free during hosted events. During the latter half of July, the annual Father & Son Team Classic presents three days of golf and a lifetime of memories.

Arguably, sun and surf were the impetus for a building boom that began in earnest in the 1950s, as Myrtle Beach set out to shed its sleepy resort town image. Today, the transformation is complete, as first-class resorts beckon travelers to this world-class destination. And, there’s no slowing down now.

Uniquely qualified to host families and cost-conscious consumers, many hotels now feature suites with standard amenities like kitchenettes with a stove and microwave, a range of cookware and utensils, washer/dryer combinations and dining sets. A little time and money saved only heightens vacation enjoyment.

A testament to the area’s desirability has been the influx of top-notch attractions to Myrtle Beach. Its strength is now found in year-round entertainment and attractions geared to all ages and genres.

In the heart of it all is Broadway at the Beach, a 350-acre complex built around a 23-acre lake complete with boardwalks, three hotels, 20 dining establishments, more than 100 shops and 10 nightclubs. Starring among the on-site attractions is Ripley’s Aquarium where visitors are surrounded on all sides by menacing 10-foot sharks as they travel through Dangerous Reef, a 750,000 gallon tank on the world’s longest (330-foot) moving glide path. On the southern flank of Broadway at the Beach is Coastal Federal Field, a modern-day, old-time baseball park, which is home to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, an Atlanta Braves farm team in the Coastal League. Tickets are affordable, the sightlines amazing and the game experience is fun for the whole family.

If fastballs don’t throw you for a curve, speed enthusiasts can crank it up a few notches at NASCAR SpeedPark, located on U.S. 17 Bypass, a thoroughfare linking the north and south ends of the Grand Strand. Here, racecar enthusiasts test their driving skills on seven go-kart and mini-car layouts.

Myrtle Beach is sometimes referred to as the “Branson of South Carolina” in recognition of its burgeoning entertainment scene. Musical productions, theatre and concerts of every genre are staged at engaging facilities like the Alabama Theatre, The Palace, Carolina Opry, Dixie Stampede and Barefoot Landing’s House of Blues.

On the quieter side, Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet is home to the world’s largest outdoor sculpture garden, treating visitors to more than 500 works by 241 American artists on the grounds of four colonial plantations. It also encompasses an ecologically sensitive, Lowcountry history and Wildlife Preserve on thousands of acres stocked with native plants and animals.

Myrtle is cookin’ at any time of the day and boasts a battery of cooking styles guaranteed to please any palate.

Pancake houses are the choice of most to start any day. you’ll find one on almost every block! Breakfast buffets abound - stocked with fresh fruit, waffles, sausages, bacon, biscuits and grits - and are found in most resorts.

As the ocean’s bounty arrives daily at docks in seaside hamlets like nearby Little River, Calabash or Murrells Inlet, visitors tempted to test their hotel kitchenettes stand side-by-side with locals to scoop the day’s catch.

Meanwhile, renowned seafood hotspots heat up for lunch and dinner crowds ready to sample savory local specialties, including She-Crab soup, cajun catfish, fried flounder and crawfish. Along the stretch of U.S. 17 known as Restaurant Row, business is bustling as crowds pack Calabash-style seafood buffet restaurants where crab is king. Families looking to save a few dollars can find money-saving coupons in a variety of booklets found at resorts and visitor stations.

Want to chase The Golden Bear?

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

The first step is learning how to improve your game from the man who is improving Tiger’s, Hank Haney. Eric Matson and three friends were able to do just this with a three hour lesson from Mr. Haney as the winners of a Golf Holiday and Golf Digest sweepstakes. In addition to the three hour lesson, Eric and his friends from Aurora, OH received oceanfront accommodations for four nights and three rounds of golf. Click here to read the Sun News article on Hank’s visit. Watch our website in the upcoming months to see what you new sweepstakes are being offered.

New Jersey Firefighter drives away with a custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the 9-11 FDNY Memorial Golf Outing

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

Craig Lauten of Paterson, New Jersey, came to the fifth annual FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing to enjoy time with his fellow firefighters and left Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as the new owner of a 2006 Harley-Davidson Firefighter “Special Edition Fat Boy” motorcycle. Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the fifth annual FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing was held May 21-24, with 1,000 firefighters from 27 states participating on eight golf courses along the Grand Strand. The world’s largest firefighter golf benefit, the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing has raised more than $60,000 for the families of fallen firefighters during the tournament’s four-year history. This year’s totals are still being tallied. At the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing Picnic and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, tournament director Kevin O’Brien pulled Lauten’s name out of the large container of entries and almost put the Long Branch Fire Department firefighter in shock. “I’ve been coming to the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing since year one and winning this special ‘Fat Boy’ Harley-Davidson is unreal,” said Lauten. “I’m still shaking from excitement. I have another motorcycle back home in New Jersey, but I can tell you right now that I’ll be selling that bike soon and keeping this one!” “Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson is proud to have partnered with the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing for the 2006 FDNY Harley Sweepstakes,” said Phil Schoonover, owner of Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson. “The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing is a great event that brings tourists to Myrtle Beach, and we look forward to continuing our long-term relationship with the Grand Strand golf community.” “The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing gets bigger and better every year, and there’s no reason why the tournament won’t grow even more in 2007,” said Bill Golden, vice president and director of marketing of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “These firefighters are an inspirational group of people to be around, and we are proud to be a part of what is one of the biggest events on the Myrtle Beach calendar.” Visit www.FDNYGolf.com for more information on the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf outing.

PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship to Partner With FINE LIVING TV NETWORK In The Search For The Next Wandering Golfer

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

The 23rd annual PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship and FINE LIVING TV NETWORK have teamed up to find the next Wandering Golfer. As a new supporting sponsor of the 2006 World Am, FINE LIVING will utilize the World Amateur to search for the next host of the network’s popular golf travel show, The Wandering Golfer. As part of the sponsorship package, World Am golfers can submit audition tapes beginning in mid-June. FINE LIVING will be on-site at the “World’s Largest 19th Hole” providing fun and entertainment for participants as well as taping auditions for the next Wandering Golfer search. In addition, Chad Maulsby, the Honorary Chairman of the 2006 World Am and current Wandering Golfer host, will participate in Thursday night’s closing ceremonies and the finals of the Centex Homes “Villa Quest.”

In the weekly The Wandering Golfer series that airs on FINE LIVING, Maulsby visits many of the world’s greatest golf destinations to explore golf’s history and culture and meet people from around the globe with a passion for the game. The new Wandering Golfer will host all 13 episodes of the show’s third season, tentatively slated to air in the spring of 2007.

“The PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is a perfect partner to assist FINE LIVING in our nationwide search for the next Wandering Golfer,” explained Chad Youngblood, general manager for FINE LIVING. “We are seeking a golfer with passion for the sport, travel, and life in general. We are confident that World Am participants possess all three of these qualities and are hopeful many of them will apply.”

FINE LIVING will accept video audition applications from World Am participants between now and September 15 with the new host announced on November 15. Golfers can find out more information about the search by visiting www.FineLiving.com/golf.

“We are excited to assist FINE LIVING in finding its next host,” said Steve Mays, tournament director for the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship. “Our annual tournament attracts avid and passionate golfers from around the world and the opportunity to be paid to travel the globe and play many of the game’s most revered courses is a ‘dream job’ for any of our golfers.”

World Amateur Gears Up For Its 23rd Year

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

Over 3,800 golfers from around the globe showed up in Myrtle Beach the last week of August 2005 to compete for the title of World Amateur Champion. Five days, 70 courses and countless cases of balls, beer and barbeque later, a champion was crowned. This past year’s event, however, may have been one of the most memorable.

The World’s Largest Amateur Golf Tournament grew bigger and better in 2005 as the World Amateur Handicap Championship celebrated its 22nd anniversary with a new title sponsor in the PGA TOUR Superstore here in Myrtle Beach.

Jerry Glenn of Pensacola, Florida walked away with a huge trophy and the title of World Champion.

The 23rd version of the tournament promises to be bigger and better with new sponsors such as Bobby Chan, Bridgestone, and Bite Golf. In addition, the World Am will again host the world’s largest 19th hole every evening after play ends at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The 19th hole will feature the latest in golf technology, food from 20 of the Grand Strand’s finest restaurants, and of course the Centex Homes Villa Quest. For those unfamiliar with the Villa Quest, it is Centex Homes’ annual putt-off for the keys to a brand new villa right here in Myrtle Beach.

The 2006 PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championshipreturns Aug. 28 – Sept. 1, 2006

Log on to www.WorldAmGolf.com today to learn all about this extraordinary event.

Nine Grand Strand Courses Named To Golf Digest’s List of 100 Greatest

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

Nine Myrtle Beach Grand Strand courses were named to Golf Digest’s list of “America’s Top 100 Greatest Public Courses” 2005–2006 – more golf courses than any other golf destination in the United States.

Barefoot Resort & Golf’s Davis Love III Course ranked highest at number 38. The Dunes Club is the next highest course from the Carolinas at number 39. Tiger’s Eye at Ocean Ridge Plantation is 41st on the list followed by Caledonia Golf and Fish Club at number 58, Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation at 67th. The Heritage Club, the first of three Grand Strand courses to be named to the 2005-2006 list and not on the 2003-2004 report, was ranked at number 78 followed by The Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf ranked at number 81. Rivers Edge was slotted at number 83 with True Blue Golf Plantation ranked 93rd

”The nine Grand Strand courses on Golf Digest’s list of “Top 100 Public Courses” is a huge testament to the quality of golf now available in the Myrtle Beach area,” said Bill Golden, V.P. and Director of Marketing of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday.

“We placed more golf courses on the list than any other destination in the nation. In fact, I am sure there are several additional Grand Strand courses that were in consideration to make the list.”

Established in 1966, Golf Digest’s survey of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses” remains the oldest and most respected golf course ranking. The rankings are based on extensive play and scrutiny of thousands of courses every two years by a panel of over 800 low handicap golfers.

The 2005–2006 ranking is the 21st edition of the ultimate honor paid to American golf course architecture.

The Grand Strand's Premier Architect

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

When it comes to showing off famous modern-day architects, the Grand Strand plays the name game as well as any other golf destination in the world. Pete Dye left his renowned signature of challenging courses at the Dye Course at Barefoot Resort and teamed with his son, P.B., to create Prestwick Country Club, and private DeBordieu Golf Club.

Tom Fazio, arguably today’s best-known course craftsman, designed the Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort, the Tournament Players Club at Myrtle Beach with 1977 PGA Championship winner Lanny Wadkins, and members-only course Wachesaw Plantation.

“U.S. Open’’ doctor Rees Jones created more for this area than Dye and Fazio, drafting blueprints for Arcadian Shores, Sea Trail Plantation’s Jones Course, and Wild Wing Plantation’s Falcon. He also designed Gator Hole and Belle Terre Golf Club’s championship and executive courses, all erased within the last six years in favor of development and road construction, respectively.

In 2003, Jones worked his renovation touch to upgrade the classic Dunes Golf & Beach Club. A labor of love because his father, Robert Trent Jones, designed this scenic ocean-side layout in the mid-1940s.

“When you have a lot of golf courses, no matter what the promotion is for these courses, the golfers can’t tell what they are going to be like,’’ Jones says. “But they have played courses by architects who are recognizable, that’s maybe why they pick those courses to play.

Last summer, cancer cruelly took away one of the golf’s top designers. The late Mike Strantz, a Fazio protégé, gave Pawleys Island two stunning and distinguished courses, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Plantation. PGA Tour’s major titleholders and nationally-recognized architects have contributed to Myrtle Beach’s 100+ courses.

Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Greg Norman are recognized for molding spectacular golf courses throughout the world. All four have their blueprints on the Myrtle Beach map. Nicklaus created some of the area’s best par-3s at both Pawleys Plantation and Long Bay. Palmer helped design and redesign King’s North, complete with the risk-reward par-5 “Gambler’’ and 40-plus bunker-laden home hole as well as Rivers Edge. Player designed Blackmoor and its distinctive double-fairway par-4. Within the last 10 years Norman developed the members-only Reserve Club on Pawleys Island that has played host to the Carolinas PGA events and his namesake course at Barefoot Resort.

The inception of the Dunes Club initially brought Jones to Myrtle Beach. During his pre-teen years he witnessed first-hand his father develop Myrtle Beach’s second golf course.

Rees later used Myrtle Beach as his family golf vacation. His wife’s sisters owned property on the Grand Strand, giving him a chance to play many courses other than his own, including two of his favorites, Dan Maples’ Marsh Harbour and Oyster Bay. His father died before he could see his son’s renovation to the Dunes Club.

“I made sure they didn’t even know I was there,’’ Jones recalls. “We did six greens over, but they still kept a lot of my father’s ideas.We just made them more comfortable, playable. We re-bunkered some holes. We’re going to continue to upgrade the course over the years, just to keep up with modern equipment. We have the flexibility, the elasticity to do that and keep it in the proper top 100 category.

“I was there when (my dad) was building it. I’ve played the Golf Writers (Association of America tournament) there for years. I just enjoy playing it. It’s a great place to play golf, great ambience and it’s a great examination … The Dunes Club is still the granddaddy of them all. It’s really the best course in that whole vicinity. It’s been there a long time and withstood the test of time.

“(My dad) probably wouldn’t even know I did anything. I like for people to say, ‘just what did you do?’’’ Jones never ranks his courses. But subtle hints reveal his favorite design in Myrtle Beach is Arcadian Shores.“Early on, they were getting so much play that they raised their fees above the (other) courses and more people played it,’’ Jones says. “They thought this was the best one if it was the most expensive … people are intrigued by it because of the greens angle, green contour, and the flow of the land.’’

“Those green contours are some of the best in the country. Arcadian Shores is like an old classic golf course. It’s been set for time.’’ Arcadian Shores opened in 1974, his first design with national honors. That year he also started his design corporation. “When I got to do Arcadian Shores, right down the road from The Dunes Club, it made the top 100,’’ Jones says. “It was a real feather in my cap and quite an achievement.’’

The Plane Truth

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

The foundation of my teaching is the swing plane. The swing plane by far is the most important element in the golf swing. That is because the angles on which the club shaft and clubface come into contact with the ball determine where the ball goes, how far it goes and the height it goes. It also determines how much ground you take and where you hit the ball on the clubface. So in essence the swing plane is everything.

First, the ball is always to the side of us, and as a result the club must swing on an arc that swings in behind you during the back swing, swings back out in front of you in the downswing and back in behind you on the through swing. Secondly, because the ball is on the ground the club must swing on an arc that goes up in the back swing, down to the ball in the down swing and back up on the through swing. The difficulty is to combine just the right amount of arc around your body with the correct amount of arc up and down. When you achieve that, you have the club swinging on plane.

The swing plane varies from golfer to golfer. It lies somewhere between horizontal and vertical. I say this because there is no one correct swing plane for every golfer. Generally tall people will have a more upright swing plane and short people will have a flatter swing plane. The key is that all golfers have a swing plane and you are either on it or off it at various times in your swing.

The swing plane is established by the angle of the club shaft at address. This is the angle you want to swing the club on.

The club should move across and through many planes during your swing. These planes are all parallel to one another, and all are at the same angle to the ground. That’s the thing to understand. The angle, or tilt, of these planes remains the same. There are many planes in a “on plane” golf swing, but only one plane angle.

This may sound a little confusing but it isn’t. Here is what you need to do. Swing the club on and above but parallel to the original angle of the club shaft at address. This will allow you to have the club, at impact on the same angle it was at address.

In order to improve your swing plane you need to know where you are right now. Too much under or over the plane at the beginning of your plane. Stand in front of a mirror and where you can see the angle of your club shaft at address.

Take the club back and watch in the mirror if the club goes too far inside or outside of this angle. Most of the golfers I work with swing the club back too low to the ground and inside the plane. If this is the case you need to work on cocking your wrists up to get the club more up on the plane. If you swing the club steeper than your plane then you need to swing it more around you like a baseball swing.

If you fix the beginning of your swing it will tend to fix things later in your swing. Golf is an action – reaction type of movement. Get it correct in the beginning and you will see better results at the end.

Brad Redding is the Director of Instruction at the Grande Dunes Golf Club & Academy.

Visit www.MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com for more information or call 843-315-0333.

Hitting the Fairway

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

For most weekend golfers the driver can be the most challenging golf club in the bag to hit consistently. You would think with the modern technology it would be the easiest due to the overall size of the club head versus the ball it’s a can’t miss.

What we must understand is that the driver has the least amount of loft on the clubface therefore making it the most challenging to control. More loft equals more control and less loft equals less control. The menace that stalks consistency with this club is over acceleration or simply put EGO. The driver is engineered to travel at the greatest speed of any club in your bag because it is the longest and the lightest. If the weekend golfer would learn to swing at no more than 80% of his maximum speed, his misses would get better and his good ones would be more often.

Keys for a successful day of driving are rhythm, tempo, and balance. Focus on soft arms, low and slow takeaway, and always swing to a balanced finish. Let damage control versus distance be your primary attention on the next tee.

Ted Frick is a Class A PGA Teaching Professional and Director of Schools for The Classic Swing Golf School. He can be reached by calling 1-800-827-2656 or by email at tfrick@classicswing.com.

The Greenside Bunker Shot

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

Okay gang, I promise you these are not as difficult as they seem. The first thing you need to decide is, “what is my goal?” Are you just trying to get it out? On the green? Six feet from the hole? The second decision needs to be whether or not your goal is realistic for your skill level. For example, it would be unrealistic for a 20+ handicapper to hit bunker shots to six feet every time. But perhaps a starting goal of on the green where you can have a nice easy two putt is more realistic. Now let’s be honest, how much do you practice your bunker play? Once a week? Never? Only when you are on the course? This also must factor in when setting your goal.

So let’s discuss the “guaranteed out in one” shot. Three set-up keys will help in your quest: 1. Your stance should be parallel to your target line, 2. Your clubface should be square, 3. Play the ball off your forward foot. Remember that you want to hit the sand first (approximately 1-2” behind the ball), so focus on a spot behind the ball. Take a full to three-quarter back swing and then FOLLOW-THROUGH. Hold your finish and look at it – did you really do a complete pivot? Is your torso facing the target? Did you shift your weight? If the answer is yes, then you probably got the ball out.

A great drill to help your greenside bunker skills: Draw a line in the sand with your club. Practice hitting the line and throwing sand out of the bunker. Work on a complete follow through – footwork included. This will help, I promise!

The Direct Approach Golf School, located on the south strand of Myrtle Beach, can help you with this and other parts of your game.

You can reach them at www.directapproachgolf.com or by calling 1-866-500-9599.

"Tin Cup" & "Be the Stick"

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

...are the titles of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday’s new television spots, now appearing on The Golf Channel and several other major sports networks. They're also making the rounds on the Internet, thanks in part to the humorous content. After all, isn’t that what a Myrtle Beach golf vacation is really about...a few days of fun with your pals? If you've not had a chance to view them, watch The Golf Channel. And if TGC is not available where you live, catch them right here!

Area Superintendents 'Talk Turf'

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

The Grand Strand market isn’t a place where golf course superintendents are green with envy. Never should they cling to the adage where the grass is always greener in someone else’s backyard.

Several experienced Grand Strand superintendents don’t see themselves going blade for blade with their peers.

It’s the opposite. “People are more than willing to share what works,’’ says Randy Allen, longtime Myrtle Beach superintendent. “That’s one of the great things about this business, the cooperation you get between other guys. It’s unlike anything else I know of. People who go into our end of the business, they don’t seem to be ‘me’ oriented.

Allen watched this trust develop during 13 years as superintendent at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, former home to the Senior Tour Championship. Today, he’s director of golf course operations for Burroughs & Chapin, which oversees Grand Dunes, Myrtlewood, Farmstead, Meadowlands and Tidewater.

He says area superintendents are not afraid to call one another about new ideas to improve their respective course.

“The guys here,’’ Allen admits, “share the knowledge.’’

No secrets to hide.

“You’ve got an area that has golf courses 80 years old and some that are brand new,’’ says Kevin Przybylski. “Obviously, there is going to be a difference in design, character and construction. That’s not to say one is worse than the other. There is a big difference between a course built 60, 50 years ago and a golf course designed today.

The learning curve for maintaining courses is arguably greater in the hectic Myrtle Beach golf market than anywhere else in the United States.

“We’ve seen about everything,’’ says Andy Apple, superintendent of the Witch, Man O’ War and Wizard. “We’ve seen hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, golfers driving across greens, people taking divots on greens, people playing golf in football cleats. We’ve pretty much seen it all.

Apple and his 30-person staff manage three distinctly different courses.

The Witch is carved amid a densely wooded area. Keeping Bermuda putting surfaces – prior to the Witch had bent greens – healthy in heavily shaded areas isn’t easy. From its teeing areas to large Penncross greens, Man O’ War’s is integrated with an enormous amount of water. And, the Wizard has G-2 bentgrass greens and an abundance of ornamental grasses and bushes to upkeep.

“The Witch is a pretty unique golf course and is secluded by itself,’’ Apple says. “It has a lot of wildlife. Man O’War and the Wizard are fun, good resort golf courses and are easy to get around.’’

Extreme heat to frost delays, excessive amounts of rain, hurricane season and higher expenses (last summer’s hike in fuel prices) are annual obstacles facing superintendents on the Grand Strand.

Excessive salt infecting irrigation systems is also a major problem. But an up and coming grass could rid Myrtle Beach courses of this headache.

Allen recently went to the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island to inspect a new Bermuda strand called paspalum, used in Florida and on a few low country courses in South Carolina.

“It can be watered with ocean water,’’ Allen says. “It’s really a pretty grass that is going to enter the market soon.

“The best case scenario (to use paspalum) is similar to Scotland, where it’s one grass that fits all. It can be cut down for greens. It can be a little higher for your fairways and tees and a little higher for your rough. It’s a one simple strand of grass. To me, it’s very attractive.’’

Throughout spring, early summer, and most of the fall superintendents are doing their best to perfect courses during busy seasons. More and more the Myrtle Beach market is trying to solidify itself as a year-round golf destination site.

Thus, attention to maintenance never takes a day off. When courses suffer poor playing conditions during any time, it doesn’t take long to spread.

Downing says word of mouth is “huge. If you’re at a restaurant you hear the golfers talking. You hear the good experiences they had and the bad experiences. The Internet, forums and chatboards have greatly added to the word of mouth about facilities.

Adds Allen: “It is a never ending cycle to figure out what will work best for you. Every single course, every single hole is different. Everything is different. So you’re always seeing what will work. That’s fun. You enjoy the challenge.’’

Nine Grand Strand Courses Named To Golf Digest’s List of 100 Greatest

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:59:05 EST

“The nine Grand Strand courses on Golf Digest’s list of “Top 100 Public Courses” is a huge testament to the quality of golf now available in the Myrtle Beach area,” said Bill Golden, V.P. and Director of Marketing of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday.

The 2005–2006 ranking is the 21st edition of the ultimate honor paid to American golf course architecture.