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Course Review: Blackmoor Provides Quality and Charm

2009-11-19T11:48:44Z

There is the eighth hole, which offers two distinctive paths to the green, the cemetery that runs alongside No. 13, and abundant wildlife that roams the property a thriving rice plantation used to call home. That’s just for starters.

In a Myrtle Beach golf market that features more than 100 courses, quality design work and a good piece of land have helped Blackmoor Golf Club standout.

The South Strand layout doesn’t enjoy the soaring national profile of some of its local brethren, but golfers that play Gary Player’s only Myrtle Beach golf course look forward to their next round at Blackmoor.

]]> Since its opening in 1990, Blackmoor has delivered excellent value and a challenging, yet exceedingly fair, test of golf. Player’s design philosophy is one that caters to the average golfer, and it is a core value that is apparent at Blackmoor.

The golf legend gives players of all skill levels a chance to succeed and provides a stern test for elite golfers from the back tees (6,614 yards).

Blackmoor’s playability isn’t defined by its length. The course has numerous doglegs but all but one play from left to right, the most common ball flight in the game. The majority of Blackmoor’s greens are open in the front, bringing one of Player’s favorite shots, the bump and run, into play.

Continuing along Player’s design philosophy of giving golfers a chance to score, Blackmoor’s greens, while quick, don’t have severe undulation.

“There are some subtle breaks, but there aren’t any elephants buried in the greens,” head pro Matt Daly said. “If you are rolling the ball, you will have the chance to make a few birdies or pars.”

Earning the opportunity for birdie attempts at Blackmoor requires intelligent play, particularly off the tee. The first six holes at Blackmoor are relatively narrow so finding the fairway is vital. If you are in the short grass, the approach shots are manageable.

“Your go to club off the tee from an accuracy standpoint, whether it’s a driver, 3-wood or hybrid (is vital),” Daly said. “If you keep the ball in play off the tee you can score low.”

Players also need to effectively manage Blackmoor’s doglegs, which typically means not getting greedy.

“I always tell people you want to play to the elbows of the doglegs and not try to cut corners,” Daly said.

The course begins to open up on the seventh hole and No. 8 is one of the most unique Myrtle Beach golf holes. By the scorecard, No. 8 is a 371-yard dogleg right, but Player cut an approximately 30-yard swath through the woods, knocking 100 yards off the length of the hole for those with gusto. Players that can’t keep their tee shot within the clearing face trouble, but the penalty for not reaching the green is negligible, as long you hit it straight.

If you aren’t the adventurous type, the eighth is a good dogleg.

The back nine allows players to gamble a little more and the character of the land shows through. Blackmoor is built on what used to be a thriving rice plantation and the property has native cypress and oak trees that predates its time as crop-producer.

The trees aren’t the only landmarks that recall a bygone era. Along the left side of the par 5, 13th hole is a cemetery, where John Green, one of Longwood Plantation’s original owners, is buried. The cemetery is a registered historic landmark, and it provides a unique dimension to an already memorable round. (Yes, you get a free drop if you hit into the cemetery)

Blackmoor offers an enjoyable round of golf and the kind take-home-memories demanded of a good destination golf course.

Par 3s
Blackmoor’s par 3s are an interesting collection of holes, challenging golfers with length, water and natural waste areas. On the front nine, No. 2 is the course’s longest par 3, playing 182 yards, but the length is somewhat mitigated by the ability to run the ball up on the green.

A large pond fronts the fourth green and a bunker runs along the left side, presenting challenges aplenty on the 162-yard hole. The green is one of the deepest on the course, so there is no excuse for coming up short.

At 166 yards, the 15th isn’t particularly long but three bunkers on the right and a relatively small green make it Blackmoor’s toughest par 3. The 17th is slightly longer at 174 yards but there are no hazards, making it one of the course’s easiest holes.

Par 4s
Blackmoor’s heart is in its par 4s, a collection of holes that offer great variety and character. The layout’s first dogleg right is the 376-yard fifth hole. No matter how tempting, don’t try to cut the corner on the fifth. Play to the elbow of the dogleg and try to get home in regulation.

Showcasing the variety that helps make the course so popular, the sixth is long (412 yards) and straight, but features a plateaued fairway. If you can hit the elevated left side, a couple additional yards of roll and a shorter approach await.

The eighth hole, with its classic risk-reward choice, is the course’s signature hole.

On the back nine, No. 10 is the only dogleg left and one of the layout’s toughest. The 411-yard hole has a kidney bean shaped green and if you can hit it and make par, you’ve done well.

The 11th is just 332 yards, the shortest two-shotter at Blackmoor, and it offers the opportunity to get a stroke back. The 14th and 16th holes are among the course’s prettiest. On a layout that rewards patience and accuracy, the dogleg right 14th is built for the gambler. Players that can hit the ball 240 yards or more can confidently attempt to cut the corner in search of a birdie.

The 16th features the course’s largest fairway, but water runs along the left side, tempting players to try and cut the corner on a dogleg right. Don’t make that mistake. Aim for the fat part of the fairway and play smart.

Par 5s
The front nine par 5s at Blackmoor are good golf holes. The 514-yard third offers the chance to go for the green in two but a waste area dissecting the fairway 300 yards from the tee means the second shot will be a long one.

The 544-yard seventh hole is long and straight with a bunker that runs along the last 80 yards of a fairway that gets increasingly narrow.

Among Blackmoor’s most memorable holes are its back nine par 5s. The 13th, with the cemetery along the left side, is a hole few forget.

At 509 yards, the par 5 18th is an outstanding way to finish a round. A good drive leaves players with the choice of going for the green in two, but water comes into play on the right side and the fairway tightens in the final 100 yards. It’s an outstanding match-play hole.

The Verdict: Good conditions, good value and a good layout lead to a great time. The course has ample diversity, and it requires players to hit nearly every club in the bag. Blackmoor is exceedingly playable for any level of player, which adds to its appeal. A round at Blackmoor will leave your group smiling.

Blackmoor's 3 Best Holes

2009-11-19T03:02:05Z

Golf legend Gary Player typically designs his courses with playability for the average golfer in mind, and he succeeded in a big way at Blackmoor Golf Club.

Whether you are a scratch golfer or a 25-handicap, the layout has many memorable holes, but with the help of the course’s esteemed head pro, Matt Daly, we’ve identified the three best. Without further ado, here are three holes you will be telling your friends about:

]]> No. 5, 376-yard, par 4: The first of Blackmoor’s doglegs, No. 5 is emblematic of everything the course has to offer. It challenges players, dares them to try and cut off the corner, and rewards intelligent play. One good piece of advice: don’t try and cut the dogleg. The landing area is narrow and a clear path to the green is difficult to find. Play to the elbow of the dogleg and be happy with par.

The long, narrow green is open in the front, allowing players the opportunity to bump and run the ball when the pin is up front.

“You’ve got hit a good tee shot,” Daly said. “It’s a fun second shot. You have to hit four really good shots to make par.”

No. 8, 371-yard, par 4: Blackmoor’s signature hole, the eighth is one of the most unique Myrtle Beach golf holes. The scorecard says it’s a 371-yard dogleg right, but Player left a chute straight through the woods that shortens the hole by 100 yards. The alley is approximately 30 yards wide with woods on the left and a hazard on the right.

But you don’t have to carry the ball 270 yards for the gamble to be a success. Normal rough is the only penalty for coming up short, assuming you hit it straight. Blackmoor rewards intelligent play, but you don’t come to Myrtle Beach to layup all the time, do you, Chip Beck? Take out the driver and give it a rip.

“If I’m giving someone a scouting report on the course, number eight is one hole I think the risk equals the reward,” Daly said

No. 18, 509-yard, par 5: The closing hole is a memorable one. Long hitters will have the opportunity to go for the green in two, but it’s a classic risk-reward decision. The fairway narrows considerably near the green and a watery grave awaits shots that drift to the right.

Even for players going for the green in regulation, the third shot can be daunting. The 18th has decided more than one bet, ahem, match during its time.

The closing hole provides a memorable to end to a very satisfying round of golf.

10 Things You Need To Know About Blackmoor

2009-11-19T02:06:27Z

Before striking your first shot at Blackmoor Golf Club, here are 10 things to know about the 20-year-old course. Some will help you with course management while others provide a little background on a layout that is full of character.

1. Hold On Tight: Don’t try to be a hero off the first tee. Blackmoor’s opening six holes represent the course’s most difficult stretch. The fairways are relatively narrow over the first third of the day, so play it safe and save your aggression.

2. If You Can Only Do One Thing: Make sure you get the ball in the fairway. If you hit a driver straight, great, but don’t be afraid to hit a 3-wood or hybrid off the tee. This isn’t a course where you can afford to spray the ball. Players that find the short grass have a chance to score.

]]> 3. Prepare: There are no elephants buried under the Blackmoor greens. If you are rolling the ball well, long putts are there to be made. If you spend a few extra minutes on the practice putting green, it should pay dividends.

4. If You Are Going to Make a Birdie: Blackmoor’s most vulnerable hole is the scenic but short 11th. The hole plays just 332 yards from the tips and there is no sand or water. Find the fairway off the tee and you’ve got a good shot at par or better.

5. You Won’t Take Advantage of ...: The fifth or sixth hole can make a claim to being the course’s toughest, but it says here No. 5 is slightly more daunting. It’s the first dogleg and players inevitably want to cut the corner, which leads to trouble. Play to the elbow of the dogleg and hope you can hit the narrow green on your approach.

6. The Hole You Will Tell Your Friends About: The eighth at Blackmoor is one of the most unique Myrtle Beach golf holes. The dogleg right plays 370 yards but Player carved a 30-yard wide swath through the woods, providing a straight shot to the green. Do you try to drive a green that is reachable from every set of tees or play it safe? It’s a decision everyone must confront and one you won’t forget.

7. It Makes Your Palms Sweaty and Your Knees Weak: The most anxiety producing shot on the course? The aforementioned tee shot on No. 8, of course. If you decide to cut the corner, and I’d highly recommend it, you’re margin for error isn’t great. Succeed and possible glory awaits; fail and it could turn into the longest 270 yards of the day.

8. It’s One of a Kind: Gary Player won 164 tournaments across the globe, securing his place among the game’s all-time greats. Blackmoor is his lone contribution to the Myrtle Beach golf scene and it’s a good one.

9. I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost: There is a pre-Civil War cemetery that sits alongside the 13th hole. The cemetery, which is fenced off, is part of the national historic registry. Players are provided free relief from the cemetery.

10. That Hole Used To Be: Blackmoor is built upon land that used to house the old Longwood Plantation, which was once a thriving rice plantation.

Photo Gallery: Blackmoor Golf Club

2009-11-19T01:52:14Z

Gary Player's only Myrtle Beach golf design, Blackmoor, is a beauty. The South Strand layout enjoys a devoted following. The course was built on the grounds of what used to be 19th century rice plantation, and Player maintained the property's charm while developing a golf course that is as scenic as it is playable.

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Myrtle Beach Golf Notebook: River Oaks Undergoes Renovations

2009-11-18T21:01:04Z

The first thing you notice on Otter Course at River Oaks Golf Plantation is the sunshine and space, lots more glorious space to spray the golf ball without being in the woods.

River Oaks, just 18 months removed from installing new Champion Ultradwarf Bermuda grass on the Otter and Fox nines, launched a renovation project that has brought a new look to the 27-hole facility. The Otter nine was the first beneficiary of the overhaul, which is being aided by Craig Schreiner, who received rave reviews for his work at Pine Lakes.

The Otter Course closed in June and reopened in mid-September with new irrigation heads, new drainage and new cart paths throughout. As noteworthy as what was added is what River Oaks subtracted. The Otter had 36 bunkers prior to the renovation but emerged with 17. The course also has 1,500 fewer trees.

]]> The reduction in trees had the greatest impact on players, even more than the new traps. What was once a narrow layout chocked full of pine trees is now a much more open and, crazy as it may sound, bright course. The loss of many soaring pine trees allows the morning sun to hit the course shortly after it peeks over the nearby Atlantic horizon.

The Otter’s routing is unchanged but the increased room makes it feel like a different course, and the additional sunlight enhances its visual appeal and conditioning, particularly around the greens.

“Everybody loves it,” Scott Clayton, River Oaks’ head pro, said of the new Otter. “It’s much prettier, it’s wide open, and the greens have never been better.”

Initially River Oaks planned to renovate one nine hole course per year, but based on the reception the work on the Otter received, the course owners, in consultation with Signature Golf, opted to expedite the work schedule on the Fox Course.

As soon as the Otter nine reopened, the Fox Course’s upgrade began. The renovation on the Fox, which should reopen by the first of the year, is similar to the work that occurred at the Otter. New irrigation and drainage are being installed, traps have been reduced from 38 to 19, new carts paths are being installed and more than 1,000 trees will be cut down.

“The Otter turned out so good, and we had such a positive response, we went ahead and pushed this,” Clayton said. “Next year in the spring, we will have two renovated nines.”

The work won’t end with the Otter. River Oaks is planning to upgrade its clubhouse, adding additional seating and enhancing the menu, among other things.

The Bear Course will also undergo a renovation, though a date for that work hasn’t been set.

One certainty is that golfers playing River Oaks will arrive at a course that has enjoyed a substantial upgrade, in both playability and conditioning, since the beginning of last summer.

Save The Dates: The 2010 World Amateur Handicap Championship, the world’s largest single site golf tournament, will again be held the week before Labor Day, taking place August 30 through September 3. The 72-hole event attracts more than 3,000 golfers from all 50 states and more than 25 foreign countries to Myrtle Beach.

The tournament, entering its 27th year in 2010, is played on more than 50 Myrtle Beach area courses.

The World Am is a 72-hole tournament that is open to all golfers – young and old, male and female – with a verifiable handicap. Players are separated by age and gender – there are six different divisions – and placed in tightly grouped flights based on the game’s most comprehensive and accurate handicap system.

Each flight, which includes approximately 48 players, plays a different Myrtle Beach area course everyday and after four rounds, all flight winners and ties advance to the World Championship Playoff at the famed Dunes Golf & Beach Club.

While competition is an integral component of the event, it’s far from the only attraction. Each night players gather at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center to enjoy the World’s Largest 19th Hole, the event’s social hub. The World’s Largest 19th Hole provides three hours of free food from the area’s finest restaurants, free top shelf drinks, live entertainment and a golf expo that features instructional clinics from the game’s leading names.

Nature Valley's Tip From the Pro: How to hit a Putt-Chip

2009-11-18T19:32:24Z

Former PGA Tour player Hugh Royer, the director of instruction at Champions Golf Academy, provides a tip gauranteed to improve your short game. Royer, who currently coaches Tour player Garrett Willis, goes over how to hit and effective "putt-chip" in this installment of Nature Valley's Tips From the Pro.

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Dan Hampton Leads Team To Chicago Cup Victory

2009-11-12T19:29:55Z

Don Arndt Jr., decked out in a short sleeve Chicago Bears shirt on an idyllic fall afternoon in early November, was taking pictures with his cell phone and sending them to his buddies at work, taunting them with images of a Myrtle Beach golf trip.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Hampton was battling his teammates to-be in a high stakes match on the Norman Course at Barefoot Resort.

Meanwhile, 670 The Score radio host Dan McNeil was broadcasting his radio show from Barefoot’s clubhouse deck.

That’s before the Chicago Cup got underway.

]]> Chicago sports radio station 670 The Score held a contest over the summer, giving away a pair of Myrtle Beach golf trips with the winners competing against each other for the Chicago Cup. Each trip winner got to bring two friends. One team was paired with Pro Football Hall of Famer and 670 personality Dan Hampton and the other teamed 670 host Dan McNeil.

Don Arndt Sr., who partnered with McNeil, and Jim O’Keefe, who played with Hampton, won the trips. The four-night vacation included direct air service from O’Hare to Myrtle Beach on Spirit Air, and accommodations and golf at Barefoot Resort, home to four elite courses.

“Winning the trip was beyond belief,” O’Keefe said.

While the trip was a contest prize, it played out like so many other Myrtle Beach golf junkets. O’Keefe brought Jim Abele and Mike Setze, guys he has known since he was seven and played golf with for 41 years. Arndt brought his son and one of his buddies.

The fact that the two groups competed for the Chicago Cup and free entry into the 2010 World Amateur Handicap Championship was almost secondary to the good times. With daytime highs in upper 60s and low 70s, average November temperatures along the Grand Strand, the Windy City area residents enjoyed a reprieve from Mother Nature.

“I think we have (Chicago) beat by a good 30 degrees,” Don Arndt Jr. said of the weather with a smile.

When the groups got down to the business of golf, they played the Norman Course on Friday and the Fazio Course, one of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, according to Golf Digest, on Saturday.

“The golf courses and the designers are great,” Setze said of Barefoot. “The conditions were fantastic.”

The experience extended beyond the course. Everyone stayed in a luxury condominium overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway at the Yacht Club.

“They are phenomenal,” Setze said of the accommodations. “The common living area was really nice. It’s great for a golf trip.”

Throw in dinner at Greg Norman’s Australian Grille and a couple nights on the town, and the Chicago Cup participants got a full taste of the Myrtle Beach golf experience.

“I love it,” O’Keefe said. “I can’t wait to come back.”

O’Keefe’s next trip to Myrtle Beach may coincide with the World Amateur because his squad pulled away on the back nine to secure the Cup.

When the Chicago Cup golfers take their next golf vacation, there is little doubt where they will go.

“If you are getting in an airplane, this is the place you want to come,” O’Keefe said. “You have courses at every level, you have food, accommodations, everything. It’s all here.”

With Spirit offering daily non-stop service from Chicago to Myrtle Beach from March through November, the Grand Strand is as easy to access as it is fun.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Tournament Begins

2009-11-09T16:45:10Z

Myrtle Beach will be full of law enforcement personnel this week. No, there isn’t trouble of any type along the Grand Strand.

Some of America’s finest are making the trek to Myrtle Beach for the same reason millions of other do – golf.

For the 10th consecutive year, Myrtle Beach is hosting the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Golf Classic. The event begins today with a practice round and more than 900 golfers from 35 states, Canada and Bermuda are participating.

The 54-hole, stroke play tournament begins tomorrow. Players, who compete for more than $350,000 in prizes, are separated into three divisions: Law Enforcement Officers – singles; Friends of Cops - singles and a team division for foursomes with at least one member of a law enforcement agency.

]]> Monday’s practice round and the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday tournament rounds will be played at 10 Myrtle Beach golf courses: Arcadian Shores Golf Club, Farmstead Golf Links, Myrtlewood Golf Club – the Palmetto Course and the PineHills Course, Pine Lakes Country Club, River Hills Golf & Country Club, The Resort Club at Grande Dunes, The Members Club at Grande Dunes, Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club and Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation. Accommodations will be provided by Dunes Village Resort, Myrtlewood Villas and The Marina Inn.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Golf Classic began in 1999 after retired New York police officer Dan Morphet, a new Myrtle Beach resident, visited Washington D.C. Memorial Walls that honor police officers killed in the line of duty. Morphet noticed several names of former police officers that he worked with on the wall and began to think about their families.

Inspired to help raise money and awareness for fallen police officers’ families, Morphet planned an annual golf tournament in Myrtle Beach that would raise money for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. He contacted the director of Washington’s Memorial Wall and told him of his plans to start the fundraising golf tournament. After several conversations, the plan was approved and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Golf Classic has grown into the world’s largest law enforcement tournament with more than $360,000 raised in nine years.

“I am a retired Rochester police officer who attended too many funerals during my 20-year career,” said Morphet. “Law enforcement personnel typically only get together during training sessions, funerals and disasters and I saw the need for an event where officers can get together to socialize, play golf and honor the 18,000 names on the Washington D.C. Memorial Wall. The annual event donates 100% of the proceeds to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, to help pay for the maintenance of the Memorial Wall, the addition of names to the Wall and provide assistance to the families of the fallen officers.”

For more information on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Golf Classic or to register, call 1-877-465-3467 or visit Nleomgc.com.

Top 5 List: Myrtle Beach's Best Wings

2009-11-03T16:25:21Z

In the not-so-distant past chicken wings were a blue collar bar food, a delicacy that lacked broad appeal. But chicken (or buffalo) wings have emerged from the culinary shadows.

Wings are now everywhere (even Dominos Pizza offers them!) and can be coated in almost any sauce imaginable. Long a Myrtle Beach golf favorite, wings are a popular post-round treat, and we are here to help you find the Grand Strand’s best.

The choices were many, but after consulting with a distinguished panel, we’ve come up with a list that has a decidedly local slant, with one very prominent exception. Without further ado, here are the best places in the Myrtle Beach area to get an order of wings.

]]> 1. The Original Fat Jack’s Wings & Things – Serving fresh wings, Fat Jack’s has been a Grand Strand institution since the 1970s. Now located in Surfside, Fat Jack’s offers 15 sauces and first rate customer service. If you want excellent wings in a good local establishment, Fat Jack’s is worth a stop, but keep in mind, it doesn’t open until 3 p.m.

2. Murphy’s Law – A local sports bar that caters to Pittsburgh fans of any stripe, Murphy’s has many options but their specialty is the hot wing. The hot wings at Murphy’s have the necessary kick but don’t exchange heat for flavor. You won’t go wrong at one of Murphy’s three Myrtle Beach area locations.

3. Wing Kings – The appropriately named Wing Kings is the area’s best kept secret. Located on Socastee Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, it’s a little off the beaten path but well worth finding. Wing Kings serves only fresh product – never pre-cooked, never frozen – and patrons are the beneficiary. The locally owned bar offers 20 different flavors ranging from lemon pepper to suicide wings. Here is personal endorsement for the parmeyaki wings, a delectable combination of teriyaki and parmesan.

4. Bully’s Pub – Located at Barefoot Landing, Bully’s is home to some of the area’s best wings. Bully’s doesn’t offer as many sauce selections as the others on the list, but what they do offer is exceedingly good. If you are looking for a non-traditional flavor, try the spicy ranch wings.

5. Hooter’s – Hooter’s is America’s most renowned franchises and its former owner, the late Bob Brooks, was a Horry County resident. With three Myrtle Beach area locations, a Hooters is easy to find and the food is a known quantity. Did I mention that you can’t beat the view?

We Want To Tell Your Story

2009-11-03T13:58:43Z

Myrtle Beach is home to some of game’s greatest courses, but it’s you, the traveling golfer, that has helped make the Grand Strand golf’s most popular destination, and we want to share your stories.

Is the excitement of your Myrtle Beach golf trip worth memorializing through photos, videos and the written word? GolfHoliday.com is going to start telling the stories of Myrtle Beach golfers and your group could be the first.

]]> If you would like your next trip to enjoy full coverage, email cking@golfholiday.com and tell us why your group is the one to choose.

The Longest Hole in One in Myrtle Beach Golf History?

2009-11-02T02:55:57Z

When Jay McAllister saw the group in front of him driving back towards the tee, his first thought was, “I must have hit somebody.”

The former Coastal Carolina University golfer had attempted to drive the green on the 335-yard, 4th hole – a dogleg left - on the Lakes Course at Arrowhead Country Club, and thought he had yanked the ball into an unsuspecting group.

As the group got closer, McAllister heard them yelling, but the shouts were of amazement, not anger.

]]> “They came back screaming, ‘It went right in the hole, it went right in the hole,’” McAllister, who was playing in charity tournament when he pulled off the unlikely feat, said. “We got up there and there was a ball mark the size of a cue ball. They said it rolled right in the center of the hole.”

While he is an accomplished golfer, it was McAllister’s first hole in one and possibly the longest in Myrtle Beach golf history.

He played Arrowhead numerous times in college but had never attempted to drive the green. When he sized up the shot, all he saw was trouble.

“Wow, I have to get this ball up pretty quick to clear these pine trees, then hope it cuts back so it doesn’t end up in someone’s kitchen,” McAllister said of what he was thinking on the tee. “It did. That’s one of the strengths my games, my distance and I hit the ball really high. It’s a tough shot to pull off and a lot of luck (is needed).”

Given that McAllister didn’t see the ball go in the hole, the reality of what he accomplished didn’t set in until he arrived on the par 3, fifth tee where he began to wonder if anyone had recorded back-to-back aces. It only took one swing of the club for that dream to die, but it hardly mattered.

Despite McAllister’s heroics, his team finished 2nd after shooting a 54 (it wasn’t a captain’s choice event). In case anyone was wondering, he didn’t buy everyone drinks.

“I told them that only applied to par 3s,” McAllister said with a laugh.

Nature Valley's Tips From the Pro: Find the Dirt

2009-11-01T17:03:00Z

In this week’s installment of Nature Valley’s Tips from the Pro, Ted Frick of the Classic Swing Golf School explains a key to getting spin on your iron shots. Hint: Soil conservation won’t help!

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Myrtle Beach Golf Takes the Fight to Prostate Cancer

2009-10-15T18:09:26Z

The Myrtle Beach golf community is taking its fight against prostate cancer to the course.

The Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer campaign, a Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday initiative, will be hosting closest to the pin contests each Saturday from October 17 through November 7. The contests will be held between 8 a.m. and noon on more than 20 courses along the Grand Strand.

Participation is $20 and all proceeds benefit Know Your Score. Each participant will receive a free sleeve of golf balls and be entered into a drawing for a Caribbean cruise, a 42-inch HDTV and a $250 gift certificate.

]]> The winner of the daily closest to the pin contest at each course will have their choice of a new putter or a new driver. If a player records a hole-in-one, he or she will win $1,000 in cash.

Participating Myrtle Beach area golf courses include Aberdeen Golf Club, Blackmoor Golf Club, Black Bear Golf Club, Burning Ridge Golf and Country Club, Brunswick Plantation and Golf Resort, Founders Club at Pawleys Island, Indian Wells Golf Club, Indigo Creek Golf Club, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, Litchfield Country Club, River’s Edge Golf Club, River Hills Golf & Country Club, Sandpiper Bay Golf Club, Shaftsbury Glen Golf & Fish Club, SouthCreek at Myrtle Beach National, The Long Bay Club, The Pearl, The Resort Club at the Grande Dunes, West Course at Myrtle Beach National, Wachesaw East, Waterway Hills Golf Club, Wicked Stick Golf Club and Willbrook Plantation.

The closest to the pin contests are another phase of the multi-faceted Know Your Score effort, which hopes to raise $250,000 to fight prostate cancer. Earlier this year, Know Your Score hosted its second annual celebrity golf tournament and gala, and regional tournaments were held in Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Pa., and Toronto, Canada.

Among the celebrities who traveled to Myrtle Beach to play in the celebrity event were Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, the charity’s national spokesman, actor Craig T. Nelson and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Hampton.

The most common non-skin cancer in America, prostate cancer afflicts 1 in 6 men, the majority of that total over the age of 40. As the world’s most popular golf destination, that demographic is Myrtle Beach’s core audience. As a result, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday teamed up with Zero: The Project to End Prostate Cancer to launch the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer campaign in 2008.

Money raised by Know Your Score is dedicated to improve research, early testing and education.

For more information on how to participate in the Know Your Score effort, go to www.KnowYourScoreMB.com.

Hot List: Myrtle Beach's 5 Longest Par 3s

2009-10-14T21:14:35Z

Par 3s are often about finesse and distance control, but not always. Myrtle Beach golf’s five longest par 3s require as much, if not more, brute strength than the longest of drives.

Unless you are a low single-digit handicap, you likely don’t play from the tips, but if you find yourself in the nether regions of the tee area, here are Myrtle Beach’s five longest par 3s. Bring everything you have.

]]> 1. Wicked Stick, No. 7, 265 yards – It’s only appropriate that the founding father of grip it and rip it golf, John Daly, sits atop this list. At 265 yards, this hole would test Long John himself. For some of us, 265 is a great drive. Swing from the heels and hope for the best. If a long par 3 isn’t enough, Wicked Stick also has one of the Grand Strand’s five longest par 5s.

Has anyone birdied No. 7 from the tips?

2. Burning Ridge, No. 12, 247 yards – Gene Hamm is one of the most prolific Myrtle Beach golf course architects with seven courses to his credit, and the 12th at Burning Ridge is among his most daunting creations. Burning Ridge isn’t extremely long - 6,780 yards from the tips – but this whopper requires every bit of swing speed and strength you have.

3. Prestwick, No. 8, 246 yards – This Pete and P.B. Dye inspired monster doesn’t have trouble around the green but merely reaching it is a herculean task. Golfers are best served to aim left, giving themselves the opportunity to run the ball up.

T-4. Moorland, No. 7, 245 yards – Moorland has been ranked among America’s most challenging golf courses and the seventh does little to discourage that notion. If you are playing a P.B. Dye layout, be ready for a challenge.

T-4 Dunes, No. 12, 245 yards – In addition to being one of the Grand Strand’s longest par 3s, it’s one of the prettiest. The Atlantic Ocean is nearby and a salt marsh comes into play on the right side. To think, when you walk off the 12th green Waterloo, the Grand Strand’s most famous par 5, awaits.

Have you played the Grand Strand’s longest par 3s and if so, how did you fair?

National Magazine Ranks 3 Myrtle Beach Golf Courses Among America's Top 50

2009-10-12T18:27:38Z

Golf World annually eschews the traditional practice of relying on formal “raters” to evaluate courses and instead polls its readers to determine the top 50 public, resort and private golf courses in America.

The game’s leading weekly publication recently released its 2010 rankings and not surprisingly, readers rated Myrtle Beach golf courses among the nation’s best. Golf World readers ranked Caledonia Golf & Fish Club as the 20th best public course in the nation and its sister course, True Blue, was ranked 26th among public facilities in America.

]]> On the resort side, Dunes Golf & Beach Club was ranked 42nd.

The Golf World honor tops off a banner year for Caledonia and Dunes Club, both which were also ranked among the Top 100 in the nation by Golf Digest, Golfweek and Golf Magazine in 2009.

True Blue has been ranked among Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Courses as well.

“It’s a great honor to have Golf World readers recognize three Myrtle Beach golf courses as being among the top 50 in the nation,” Bill Golden, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday’s president, said. “Caledonia, Dunes Club and True Blue have long been among the area’s most popular layouts, and it’s rewarding to have that popularity affirmed at the national level.”

Just as impressive as three Myrtle Beach golf courses being ranked among America’s 50 best were the number of layouts Golf World readers recognized as being worthy of consideration. Any course that received at least 75 points, earned a spot on Golf World’s Best in State list. Thirty-two Grand Strand golf course earned that distinction, a number that, while impressive, is artificially low because multi-course facilities like Ocean Ridge Plantation, Myrtle Beach National and Legends Resorts, were ranked as one property.

“Myrtle Beach is the world’s premier golf destination due to the quality and quantity of courses we offer,” Golden said. “The fact that 32 area courses were recognized as being among the ‘Best in State’ is further affirmation of the depth of the Myrtle Beach golf market.”

To put the number of Grand Strand golf courses that received a ‘Best in State’ ranking into perspective, only four states, including North Carolina and South Carolina, had more courses earn the designation. California had 39 courses earn Best in State honors and Florida had 35.

The Myrtle Beach area courses that earned Best in State honors were: Arrowhead Country Club, Barefoot Resort, Caledonia, Dunes Club, Glen Dornoch, Grande Dunes, Heather Glen, Heritage Club, International Club, The Legends, Litchfield Country Club, Long Bay Club, Man O’War, Myrtle Beach National, Myrtlewood, Pawleys Plantation, Pine Lakes, River Club, River Hills, Tidewater, TPC of Myrtle Beach, True Blue, Wachesaw Plantation East, Wild Wing, The Witch, The Wizard, Crow Creek, Ocean Ridge, Oyster Bay, Rivers Edge, Sea Trail and Thistle.

Nature Valley's Tips From The Pro: Putting Essentials

2009-10-12T14:46:55Z

Putting frustrates the best of golfers at one time or another (see Woods, Tiger at the 2009 U.S. Open). Blame is often placed on the flat stick itself - admit, your garage is full of putters! - but the problems are mostly mechanical.

Brad Redding, the director of instruction at the Grande Dunes Golf Academy and one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers, provides a tip on the essentials of succesful putting.

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Course Review: Tiger's Eye Continues to Roar

2009-10-07T21:13:53Z

Walking out of the double doors onto the Tiger’s Eye clubhouse deck, a panoramic shot of the course comes into focus. The view of the 9th and 18th greens, the 10th fairway and a large lake offer a stunning peak at the Tim Cate design.

The Ocean Ridge Plantation course has uncommon coastal elevation changes and rolling fairways carved into a pine forest. It’s a course of unquestioned quality and regarded by some as the finest of ORP’s four Big Cats.

]]> The Myrtle Beach golf market features some of the nation’s most respected courses, and Tiger’s Eye can comfortably take its spot alongside the best of them. Tiger’s Eye (official website) has been ranked among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest and is universally regarded as one of North Carolina’s best.

One of the most appealing aspects of Tiger’s Eye is its playability. Water is visible on nearly every hole and waste bunkers are nearly as abundant, presenting ample challenges. It’s cliché to say a course has a set of tee for everyone but in the case of Tiger’s Eye it's true.

Cate installed six sets of tees, including three that range from 6,120 yards to 7,014. If players check their ego at the door and play from the proper distance, an outstanding and imminently fair test of golf awaits.

Tiger’s Eye features bentgrass greens that are in impeccable condition. The greens are among the Grand Strand’s largest and have considerable undulation, making distance control pivotal to success. Players that can lag the first putt inside four to five feet can approach the next putt confident in the fact they will get a true roll.

Tiger’s Eye was the third course at Ocean Ridge Plantation, coming after Lion’s Paw and Panther’s Run and before the acclaimed Leopard’s Chase – and there are very few houses visible, adding to its appeal.

“It’s a stand-alone golf course,” assistant pro Patrick Holloman said. “When you are playing you feel like you are isolated from the rest of the world. There are very few houses.”

Cut into a pine forest, the course is a testament to the work of Cate, one of golf’s most underrated architects. Cate, who has Leopard’s Chase and The Thistle, among others, to his credit, uses waste bunkers, water and elevation changes of up to 60 feet to enhance the layout’s visual appeal and challenge.

Perhaps most unique components of Cate’s work at Tiger’s Eye is his use large coquina boulders. The giant stones were harvested locally and they form a bulkhead around practically every lake. It’s stunning to the eye and speaks to the commitment that was put into making Tiger’s Eye an elite layout.

“I’d definitely recommend this course,” Pennsylvanian Henry Garcia said.

Par 3s
Holloman believes the par 3s at Tiger’s Eye are as good as any on the Grand Strand and it’s not an unreasonable position to hold. All four holes provide great visuals and water is a factor on three of them.

The front side par 3s – No. 2 and No. 6 – are both excellent. The second is 190 yards and it plays uphill into a large two-tiered green. A forced carry over water is required but it’s not exceedingly long. Of greater concern are the two bunkers in front of the green. The hole plays longer than the card reads because of the elevation and greatest penalty is for coming up short. If there is any doubt, take an extra club.

The sixth is the only par 3 that doesn’t feature water but a waste bunker envelopes the green on three sides. The green features three different tiers, so finding the dance floor is no guarantee of par.

The 11th hole is one of the course’s prettiest and most popular. It is surrounded on three sides by water and the coquina boulders are at their most prominent. It’s the shortest par 3 at 165 yards, but the most difficult, according to the scorecard. The water is a daunting challenge on its own and the green is just 28 yards deep, the course’s second smallest. Don’t be a hero and go flag hunting. Find the middle of the green.

The 208-yard 17th hole has decided more than a few matches. Water creeps up to the left edge of the green and bunkers are on the right. The front of the green is narrow and trouble isn’t hard to find. The scorecard ranks No. 17 as the easiest hole on the backside, don’t believe it.

Par 4s
The par 4s at Tiger’s Eye offer great diversity. The holes range from 356 yards to a meaty 452, playing form the Saber Tooth (or back) tees. Players that choose the right set of tees will love the challenge of the par 4s at Tiger’s Eye.

The 422-yard fourth hole, with its double fairway, two large waste bunkers and a lake exemplifies the type of risk-reward challenges Cate presents to players. If you can successfully cut off the dogleg, a short approach and possible birdie await. A wayward tee shot could lead to a number you only want to see on the front of your balance statement.

Players that choose a more traditional route face a hole that is relatively long and challenging. The choice is yours.

The easiest hole on the course, according to Holloman, is the 377-yard first hole. The fairway is generous and the green large. It offers the opportunity for a nice start.

The 10th hole, which is visible from clubhouse deck, is the shortest par 4 at 356 yards. The hole rewards players who can hit the ball 250 yards+ with an extremely wide fairway and a good angle into the green.

The final two-shotter is the 447-yard 16th. The hole is straight as an arrow and a creek dissects the fairway 90 yards from the green. The fairway is relatively large but two bunkers on the right loom alongside the primary landing area 230 yards from the tee box. The creek shouldn’t come into play but two bunkers around an elevated green certainly can.

The Tiger’s Eye par 4s are challenging but very enjoyable.

Par 5s
At some layouts, par 5s offer the chance to pick up easy strokes. Tiger’s Eye isn’t one of those courses. The par 5s represent three of the course’s four hardest holes, according to the scorecard, and all of them measure at least 531 yards.

The opening par 5 is the 551-yard, third hole. It’s arrow straight but the fairway is narrow and a waste bunker on the right side is unrelenting. The third hole requires one of the course’s longest carries – approximately 230 yards from the back tees – though it’s not over water. The second shot can be equally hazardous as the fairway is at its narrowest point 125 yards from the green.

The seventh is 562 yards and has water menacing the right side that gives players the shakes. The fairway is a little more generous, but three fairway bunkers come into play. It’s a beautiful hole that ends with a green surrounded by three more bunkers.

The 531-yard 15th is the shortest par 5 and it offers the rare chance to go for the green in two, if you can bomb a 3-wood off the deck, but it’s not without risks. The hole is one of Holloman’s favorites. For players going for the green in two, the green is 42 yards deep, the course’s biggest.

Ironically, the longest par 5, the 592-yard 18th, is also the easiest. It plays from an elevated tee box down into the fairway. The final approach to the green, with a lake and the clubhouse serving as a backdrop, is stunning. It’s a picturesque way to finish a round.

The Verdict: Tiger’s Eye is an outstanding course. It offers challenge, scenery and conditions. You will remember numerous holes long after you’ve left the North Strand the layout. After the round, the clubhouse deck offers one of Myrtle Beach golf’s prettiest views. Enjoy the golf and a post-round drink. You won’t be disappointed.

3 Favorite Holes: Tiger's Eye

2009-10-07T19:32:22Z

Tiger’s Eye is one of the Grand Strand’s best and most memorable courses. Elevation changes, coquina boulders and the work of Tim Cate conspired to create a layout that many consider to be among the best Myrtle Beach golf courses.

If you are planning to play the Ocean Ridge Plantation course, enjoy a look at assistant pro Patrick Holloman three favorite holes at Tiger’s Eye.

]]> No. 4, 422-yard, par 4: The ultimate risk-reward hole. The fourth isn’t overwhelmingly long, but the dogleg left dares you to cut the corner in an attempt to make birdie. For those who tempt fat (in addition to a lake and waste bunkers), the hole can be shortened considerably. A drive that travels 270+ yards leaves an approach inside 100 yards but there are ample hazards that make the strategy risky.

The conventional play into the largest part of the fairway leaves an approach that could be in excess of 140 yards. That’s by no means unmanageable, but a large two-tiered green makes it challenging to get close.

No. 11, 165-yard, par 3: A beautiful hole that is surrounded by water on three sides. The course’s signature coquina boulders create a memorable bulkhead and add significantly to No. 11’s visual appeal. The green is the second smallest on the course, adding to the challenge of avoiding the water.

“A lot of times people tend to go flag hunting,” Holloman said. “If you are a little unsure about it, you need to go for the middle of the green. It usually plays into the wind so if anything, club up one and aim for the middle. “

No. 15, 531-yard, par 5: The most difficult hole on the back nine offers the opportunity for birdie or better, but you better be accurate. A long drive can leave 200-220 yards into the green, but the second shot is a nerve jangling one. Players that go for the green in two are forced to carry water almost the entire way and a large trap on the left swallows balls as well.

Laying up isn’t without peril. There is a lot of undulation in the fairway and you want to make it onto the upper shelf. Pay attention to the yardage book and know where you want to hit the ball. Don’t rely on your eye to gauge the length of the second shot.

“It’s a very unique hole,” Holloman said. “It gives a lot of people fits and it gives a lot of eagles and birdies. It’s a very reachable green (in two) for golfers that can carry a wood or else you have a tough layup.”

Sounds easy, huh?

Those are Holloman’s three favorite holes. What is the best at Tiger’s Eye in your opinion?

Photo Gallery: Tiger's Eye

2009-10-07T19:31:19Z

With its coquina boulders, undulating fairways and acres of water, Tiger's Eye is as beautiful as it's challenging. The Ocean Ridge Plantation layout is among the most popular Myrtle Beach golf courses. Enjoy a photo gallery that offers evidence as to why that's the case.

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40 Years, 40 Myrtle Beach Golf Trips

2009-10-07T19:18:20Z

It was 1970 and Ron Bingeman, Larry Spangler, Everett Cassel and Bob Hayes had just concluded their first Myrtle Beach golf trip. The group stayed at the Caravelle, played the Dunes Club, Pine Lakes and Litchfield Country Club, but when the trip ended, disappointment was the prevailing emotion.

“We came for four days the first time, and when we went home, we were sick,” Bingeman said. “We said we were never going to (come for only four days) again. We were going to have to get (our stay) up to a week.”

]]> That first trip launched a four-decade love affair with Myrtle Beach golf. Bingeman and his buddies made good on their word, staying for a week in 1971, and have come back every year since, recently enjoying their 40th consecutive trip to the area.

When the group began their annual pilgrimage, Richard Nixon was president, the average NFL player salary was $23,000, and there were barely enough Myrtle Beach golf courses to fill their itinerary. Much has obviously changed, but same experience they enjoyed in 1970 is what brings them back today.

“It’s is absolutely the highlight of the year,” Spangler said. “It’s like being back in college with the boys. It’s a real highlight. Good food, good golf and we get along really well.”

The trip has grown to nine days, but nature and fate have at various times attempted to keep them from coming. The closest the group came to missing the trip was 1989 when Hurricane Hugo slammed the South Carolina coast just days before their arrival.

The hotel they were slated to stay in had its first floor washed out and the area suffered extensive damage, but the suburban Philadelphia residents weren’t deterred. They called every hotel on the beach looking for a place to stay, eventually finding a condo at Oyster Bay in Brunswick County, N.C. The North Strand was spared the worst of the storm and the group forged on.

“There were enough courses open and they had dragged off the trees,” Spangler said. “We just owned the beach. It was so strange to see almost nobody down here. “

In the mid-1970s it was Cassel’s Volkswagen Van that attempted to throw a monkey wrench into their plans, but a mechanical problem stood no chance against the aspiring MacGyvers. The van’s accelerator cable snapped at night on I-95, leaving the foursome scrambling for transportation.

While Cassel was inspecting the situation, Bingeman found a blown out truck tire on the side of the road and wondered if the steel in the tire could be used to replace the cable. Cassel removed a knife from his toolbox, cut out the steel belting, spliced it together and ran it to the engine in the back. The van didn’t exceed 50 miles per hour the rest of the trip but it survived the journey (as a matter of fact, the rigged cable stayed on the van until December of that year).

“Instead of losing days, we lost about 30 minutes,” Bingeman said.

Other than those two incidents, the group hasn’t faced any substantial threats. They’ve always traveled between mid-September and October, and never had to worry about getting any grief from their spouses.

When Christmas time comes, all they request is a trip to Myrtle Beach.

Just as amazing as the length of time the group has been coming to Myrtle Beach is their continuity. Spangler, Cassel and Bingeman have made the jaunt every year. Hayes, who has since passed away, dropped out after the 1989 trip, but finding a replacement wasn’t difficult.

Bingeman worked with Craig Aiken and the two often played and talked about golf. When Hayes dropped out, Aiken seamlessly filled the void.

“He was always telling me about Myrtle Beach,” Aiken said. “Then one of the guys couldn’t go anymore and Ron suggested I might want to give it a try. Here I am 20 years later.”

On Aiken’s first trip, he was surprised to learn the group stopped somewhere between Philadelphia and Myrtle Beach to play 18 before finishing the journey, but approximately 10 years ago, they began flying. The group now takes a Spirit Air flight out of Atlantic City, allowing them to play the extra round on the Grand Strand.

After 40 years, they have played practically every course – they have the logoed golf balls to prove it – and have made friends along the Grand Strand, starting with Thistle head pro Gene Weldon. As they look forward to their fifth decade of Myrtle Beach golf, they have the knowledge of locals.

Each year they pick a different region of the Strand and concentrate on courses in that particular area. There is no bickering about course selection, restaurants or anything else, despite the fact they spend as much time lobbing verbal grenades as they do hitting the ball.

The Myrtle Beach golf community has changed considerably since 1970, but group’s passion for the game and the Grand Strand have been constants.

“As the new (courses were) developed, we tried to keep up with each one,” Bingeman said. “They just kept outdoing each other, getting better and better.”

Not coincidentally, the arc of their trip has traced that of Myrtle Beach as a golf destination, and they anticipate year number 41 being the best yet.

Nature Valley's Tips From the Pro: Ted Frick Teaches You How To Hit a 3-Wood

2009-10-06T19:41:42Z

Want to reach the green on a par 5 in two? Being able to hammer a 3-wood in the fairway is a virtual necissity, and in this week's installment of Nature Valley's Tips From the Pro, Ted Frick, the director of instruction at Classic Swing Golf School, tell you how to do it.

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Course Review: Customer Service, Conditions Define Indian Wells

2009-09-30T10:25:36Z

Walk the course with a VIRTUAL TOUR!

Pine trees line the fairway immediately off the first tee and a large lake looms in the distance, a combination of unmistakable scenery, challenge and danger. The view also provides an accurate barometer of what lies ahead at Indian Wells Golf Club.

The 25-year-old layout is a long-time Myrtle Beach golf favorite and that initial snapshot offers a clear understanding of why. Indian Wells features tight fairways and water on 15 holes, but it’s also impeccably maintained and the challenge is straight-forward.

]]> Indian Wells is the type of course that helped Myrtle Beach forge its reputation as golf’s premier value destination. With live oak trees draped in Spanish moss and abundant water, it offers an experience your home course likely can’t replicate.

The Gene Hamm design was popular upon its opening in 1984, but after undergoing a six-month renovation in 2002, Indian Wells secured its niche in the market. The Classic Golf Group facility installed new greens, remodeled the clubhouse and revamped the course. They also made the commitment to providing superior customer service and conditions.

While tight fairways and water conjure images of a difficult layout, Indian Wells (official website) is very playable. The course measures 6,624 yards from the tips and 6,225 yards from the white tees, so it’s manageable. Players aren’t required to bomb the ball off the tee to have a chance and the water, while ubiquitous, doesn’t require long, forced carries, particularly if you aren’t playing from the tips.

The longest par 4 is 430 yards from the back tees, and a driver isn’t a necessity on many holes. The big stick is arguably the right call off the tee on as few as eight holes.

“The driver is probably the least important club in the bag,” general manger Matt Hamrick said.

The course has 48 bunkers, so sand isn’t an overwhelming threat, either. Just as the fairways are thin, so are the greens. The greens complexes at Indian Wells are small, placing a premium on short game play.

“Chipping and putting (are the keys to success), because you aren’t going to hit every green,” Hamrick said. “If you are going to score well you are going to have to have a good chipping and putting day.”

Located in Garden City, Indian Wells, the 2004 Myrtle Beach Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year, is home to a surplus of wildlife, including a bald eagle. Over the last decade, Myrtle Beach’s reputation as a home to premier golf courses has rightfully grown, but value has long been at the heart of the area’s popularity, and Indian Wells is one of the reasons.

“Conditions are the biggest thing that keeps people coming back,” Hamrick said. “I believe we are one of the top conditioned golf courses on the beach … Overall, it’s just a very good challenge. It’s very fair. “

Par 3s
As a collection, the par 3s are the toughest group of holes at Indian Wells, though the first one is the easiest. The 167-yard sixth hole has two bunkers off the back but the green is 32 yards deep, among the course’s biggest.

The eighth is much more challenging. The hole plays 193 yards from the back tees to an elevated green that has two fairly large bunkers in the front. It’s easy to come up short on No. 8 and recovering is a challenge.

The 210-yard, 17th hole is the most difficult par 3. Water runs from tee to green and the prevailing wind is often in your face. Any player that walks off the 17th should rightfully feel good.

The 14th, a 167-yarder, offers sand on the right and water on the left, but there is plenty of room in between to find the green.

Par 4s
The par 4s at Indian Wells constitute some of the layout’s most interesting holes. On nine of the 10 par 4s, water comes into play, but there isn’t a long, forced carry in the bunch.

The longest carry is on the 355-yard third hole, which requires a 155-yard shot over water, but that is from the back tees. The hole offers long hitters a chance at birdie (if you drive it straight) but a three-wood or hybrid off the tee leaves a very manageable approach. That’s a strategic decision many par 4s at Indian Wells force players to make.

The fourth hole doesn’t require a decision on club selection. The course’s longest par 4 at 430 yards from the tips, No. 4 rewards a long tee shot. A bunker on the left side is a factor on the drive and the fairway narrows approximately 270 yards from the tee, so there is a premium on accuracy. The green is flanked by a bunker on each side. The fourth is the most difficult hole on the front side.

The ninth is among the front nine’s most interesting holes. It’s long at 420 yards from the tips, but a creek dissecting the fairways prevents players blasting away with the driver. The creek is 300 yards from the back tees and 281 from the white tees. That being said, players that layup to far back face a long approach to a narrow, well-bunkered green.

The backside at Indian Wells is where the course bears its teeth. Holes 16 and 18 are two of the most memorable par 4s and water looms on the left side of each. If your swing naturally produces a hook, don’t overdo it coming down the stretch.

The two holes represent different challenges. On a course that often rewards precision, No. 16 provides the opportunity for long-hitters to unleash. No matter how long the drive, precision on the approach is still demanded because the 16th green is the course’s second smallest.

Indian Wells most difficult hole is No. 18. It’s relatively long at 410 yards but accuracy is the most important factor in success. Water interrupts the fairways and a large tree 50 yards in front of the green, requires the tee shot land on the left side of the fairway.

It’s a beautiful hole but very challenging.

Par 5s
This where you have a chance to pick up a couple strokes. Three of Indian Wells’ four par 5s are less than 500 yards so even short hitters will have ample opportunity to score.

The first hole is regarded as the easiest on the course by Hamrick, and at 491 yards, it’s reachable in two. If you go for it in two and miss, a pair of bunkers and water that creeps into the fairway threaten. If played conservatively, there is no reason the average golfers can’t leave the first green with a par or better.

The fifth hole is the longest par 5, measuring a healthy 526 yards. The hole is straight, but the green is small and water runs near its right edge. The toughest of the par 5s.

The back nine par 5s are the shortest. The 13th hole is a 581-yard dogleg right. Players that can cut the corner set themselves up with a manageable second shot into the course’s smallest green.

Number 15 is marginally longer at 584 yards and it doglegs left but the opportunity to cut a corner isn’t there. The green is reachable in two but that means flirting with the narrowest part of the fairway, which is bordered by, you guessed it, water. The 15th green is a large one, but the smart play is to layback and position yourself to get close on third shot.

The Verdict: Indian Wells is a good course that is well conditioned. The greens are fast and true, the layout fair. The Classic Golf Group course is a good test of golf and they type of value that helps make Myrtle Beach golf’s leading destination.

3 Favorite Holes: Indian Wells

2009-09-29T20:50:09Z

Indian Wells features water on 15 holes, outstanding greens and great value, but which holes will you remember after you’ve left the course? We asked general manager Steve Hamrick to name his three favorite holes, and he gladly agreed.

]]> No. 1, 491-yard, par 5 – The relatively short opening hole gives players the opportunity for a good start, something Hamrick appreciates. Water runs along the entire left side so danger lurks. The green is reachable in two, but players must be careful, particularly when hitting driver off the tee. Any drive over 270 that leaks left has the potential of landing with a splash.

“It’s a risk-reward hole,” Hamrick said. “If you hit two good shots, you can hit the green, or there is room to layup. Starting out you have a chance to make birdie and that puts you in a good mood.”

No. 17, 210-yard, par 3 – The course’s longest par 3 by nearly 20 yards, the 17th can play even longer depending on the wind. Water runs the length of the hole on the left and its kidney-bean shaped green isn’t particularly large. The 17th isn’t an easy green to hit or hold, but it’s a great challenge and a beautiful hole.

No. 18, 410-yard par 4 – With bunkers on both sides and a fairway that ends at yet another lake, this is Indian Wells’ toughest hole. The water is just 272 yards from the back tees, so it’s a factor no matter where you are playing from. Throw in a large pine tree that sits between the fairway and the green and positioning off the tee is vital.

“You need to hit your tee shot down the left side,” Hamrick said. “If you are in the middle or right, the tree is in the way. If you play it (correctly), you will be left with 140 to 160 yards into a well-bunkered green.”

Players open a round at Indian Wells with one of the course’s easiest holes and close with the hardest. In between is a layout that offers a lot of fun.

What are your favorite holes at Indian Wells?

Photo Gallery: Indian Wells

2009-09-29T20:33:27Z

Great service and value were at the heart of Myrtle Beach's emergence as the nation's premier golf destination. Those qualities continue as the Grand Strand's calling card, and Indian Wells has an abundance of both. Enjoy a photo tour of Indian Wells.

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Nature Valley's Tips From Pro: Brad Redding on the Importance of Posture

2009-09-29T12:20:58Z

Looking for a quick tip to improve your game? Look no further. Brad Redding, the director of instruction at the Grande Dunes Golf Academy and one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 teachers, provides a quick lesson about how to make sure your posture is correct. Let us know if Redding's lesson helpsl

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Hot List: Top 5 Reasons To Take a Myrtle Beach Golf Trip

2009-09-29T11:37:42Z

After a summer that featured less than ideal weather in many parts of the nation, fall and winter are beginning to creep up on the horizon, a prospect that sends shivers down the spine of golfers not fortunate enough to live in a temperate location. But there is still plenty of golf to be played in Myrtle Beach this year and here are the top five reasons to take a trip to the Grand Strand this fall.

]]> 1.    Value is king in Myrtle Beach – Times are tight everywhere, a reality the Myrtle Beach golf community recognizes. As a result, the value of a Grand Strand golf vacation has never been better. Browse a list of packagers, checkout specials, and get a Quick Quote. There is a Myrtle Beach golf vacation for every budget.

2.    Weather – Fall is arguably the best time of year to play golf in Myrtle Beach. In October, the average temperature is 77 and in November it’s an equally appealing 69, ideal weather for golf. If you are in the Northeast or Midwest preparing to hunker down for a long winter, don’t miss the opportunity to experience the Golf Capital of the World at its most pleasant.

3.    Myrtle Beach Air Service – Getting to the Grand Strand has never been easier. Spirit, Direct Air, Allegiant Air, US Air, Delta, Continental and Northwest all service Myrtle Beach International Airport. Myrtle Beach is also fortunate to have direct flight service from more than 20 markets, including Chicago, New York, Boston and Washington, D.C.

4.    Great Golf – The weather is nice and direct air service is a boon, but ultimately what you are looking for is great golf, and Myrtle Beach has it The Grand Strand is home to seven of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses,” according to Golf Digest, a figure no other destination can match. The area’s strength is in its depth, a notion validated by the presence of more than 40 4-star courses.

5.    Myrtle Beach is a Great Time – The only thing that comes close to matching the golf Myrtle Beach offers is the experience it provides off the course. The last year has been stressful for everyone but with the economy recovering, a Myrtle Beach golf trip is a guaranteed good time (with the added bonus of not breaking the bank). No matter your agenda, if you can’t find something to do in Myrtle Beach, you aren’t looking.

Hot List: Myrtle Beach's Top 5 Sports Bars

2009-09-15T18:07:24Z

Your group has just concluded a day on the golf course and you are ready to have a couple cold drinks and watch the game of the week with the boys (you know, the type of thing that is difficult to do at home). The question becomes where to watch the game, and we have answers.

We polled some of Myrtle Beach’s most avid sports fans and bar aficionados and have come up with a list of the Grand Strand’s five best sports bars. If you are in search of a game, here are five places you don’t want to miss.

]]> 1.    Overtime Sports Café – In the case of Overtime, biggest does equal best. The North Myrtle Beach bar has 150 televisions, including a 12-foot video wall, and three 10-foot projection screens. If that’s not enough, trivia, putting contests and Karaoke will surely lure you in. As an added bonus, Overtime is a sand wedge from Possum Trot, Beachwood, Tidewater and a slew of North Strand layouts.

2.    Five O’Clock Somewhere – Named after the Alan Jackson /Jimmy Buffet tune, it is always happy hour at this sports fans paradise. Located on 17th Avenue in the heart of Myrtle Beach, Five O’Clock Somewhere has 72 televisions, including 60 high def models, surround sound and multiple bar areas. Throw in a full menu, every sports package the world has known, and free wifi, and it’s easy to see why this is at or near the top of many lists.

3.    Broadway Louie’s – Located at Broadway at the Beach, the epicenter of Myrtle Beach nightlife, Broadway Louie’s is home to a 27-foot projection screen, the area’s largest. That monster is flanked by five other large projection screens. Broadway Louie’s also offers the added benefit of being situated by 10 other nightclubs, providing plenty of postgame options.

4.    Oscar’s – Ninety-eight televisions, including a 6-foot projection screen, a collection of sports memorabilia and good food is a hard combination to beat. A warning (or a welcome head’s up depending upon your perspective), if you are coming for a NFL game, Oscar’s is a Pittsburgh Steelers bar. They’ve got the bobbleheads, pictures and a Steeler-themed motorcycle to prove it!

5.    Dagwood’s (South) – This South Strand gem isn’t a mega-sports-watching complex like the others on the list, but it offers an inviting atmosphere and superior food. If you have a large group, make sure you secure one of Dagwood’s large booths, where every seat is facing a wall of televisions. Literally, there isn’t a bad seat in the house and there isn’t a better sandwich on the Grand Strand. Dagwood’s sister restaurant, Bumstead’s is a quality establishment in Myrtle Beach, but we prefer the South Strand location for watching a game.

Establishments like Murphy’s Law, Jimmagan’s, Bully’s, Hanley’s and many more could’ve made the list, but we stopped at five. Where is your favorite place in the Myrtle Beach area to watch a game?

Linda Fuller Wins World Championship Playoff

2009-09-04T21:28:00Z

Linda Fuller of Richmond, Texas, shot a net 66 to win the World Championship Playoff at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club Friday afternoon. Fuller’s victory capped the 26th annual PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, an event that began with 3,060 people on Monday morning.

The World Championship Playoff consisted of all flight winners and ties, a total of 75 golfers. There was a three-way tie for second place. Treg Hallman, Jill Ford and Thomas Wagner all finished with a net 68. Full Leaderboard

]]> Fuller, the third consecutive woman to win the title, played to a 13 handicap in Friday’s round. Fuller’s husband, Roger, is one of 14 players to have played in all 26 World Amateurs.

“I’m pretty flabbergasted,” an emotional Fuller said. “It’s been a lot of fun. You like to have a goal and you work towards it. It’s the fulfillment of plan when it all comes together and it works.”

Phillip Sanders and Wayne Hudson shot a net 135 but were pushed to a sudden death playoff before winning the U.S. Qualifier for International Pairs Championship, and along with it a trip to St. Andrews, Scotland to compete in the IP World Championship.

Sanders and Hudson recorded a par and bogey on the Dunes Club’s famed 13th hole, while their opponents dunked the ball in Lake Singleton.

Fuller’s victory concluded a week that featured near perfect weather over the tournament’s last four days. Temperatures along the Gran d Strand never got above the low 80s as nearly 3,100 players from 49 states and 20 foreign countries participated in the 26th annual event.

26th Annual World Amateur Begins

2009-08-31T20:00:00Z

The 26th annual PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship teed off this morning at 32 Myrtle Beach area golf courses. More than 3,000 golfers from 49 states and 25 foreign countries came to the Grand Strand to compete in an event that has become known as the “Every Man’s Major.”

The World Am is a 72-hole tournament that is open to all golfers – young and old, male and female – with a verifiable handicap. Players are separated by age and gender – there are six different divisions – and placed in tightly grouped flights based on the game’s most comprehensive and accurate handicap system.

]]> Each flight, which includes approximately 48 players, plays a different Myrtle Beach area course everyday and after four rounds, all flight winners and ties advance to the World Championship Playoff on Friday at the famed Dunes Golf & Beach Club.

Thanks to its handicap system, the World Am provides players the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, something the list of past world champions bares out. Players with handicaps as low as two and has high as 34 have hoisted the trophy at the Dunes Club. Last year’s champion, Paula Morton, who delivered the most dramatic shot in tournament history, chipping in from 60 yards away to win by a stroke, will be back to defend her crown.

Part of the attraction for players is the quality of courses that host the event. A total of 51 Myrtle Beach golf courses will host at least one round, including six of Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Public Courses.” Among the Top 100 layouts hosting tournament rounds are Heritage Club, Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort, Dye Club at Barefoot Resort, Tidewater Golf Club, Grande Dunes Resort Course and Caledonia Golf & Fish Club.

Thirty-four of the 51 host courses earned at least 4 stars in Golf Digest’s prestigious “Best Place to Play Guide” as well.

While competition is an integral component of the event, it’s far from the only attraction. Each night players gather at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center to enjoy the World’s Largest 19th Hole, the event’s social hub. The World’s Largest 19th Hole provides three hours of free food from some of the area’s finest restaurants, free top shelf drinks, live entertainment and a golf expo that features instructional clinics from some of the game’s leading names.

To follow all of the tournament action, checkout the World Am Blog, which will feature photos, videos and stories.

Know Your Score Brings Celebrities To Myrtle Beach

2009-08-29T19:28:12Z

A sun-soaked afternoon, an outstanding golf course, big-name celebrities and a great cause made for a memorable day at the second annual Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament & Gala.

Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, Know Your Score’s national spokesman, actor Craig T. Nelson, NFL Hall of Famer Dan Hampton and former Major League Baseball All-Star Ken Griffey Sr. were just a few of the names that helped attract a full field to Long Bay Club, a 4.5-star Jack Nicklaus design.

Following the golf tournament, there was a silent auction and gala at Kingston Plantation. Proceeds from the day’s events aid the fight against prostate cancer.

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While talk of cancer generally elicits a somber response, the Know Your Score event was full of laughs. Participating celebrities and event participants had an equally good time, sharing laughs and a couple cold drinks on a warm Saturday in the Golf Capital of the World.

The captain’s choice event was won by team captained by Dan Hampton with a score of 52.

The most common non-skin cancer in America, prostate cancer afflicts 1 in 6 men, the majority of that total over the age of 40. As the world’s most popular golf destination, that demographic is Myrtle Beach’s core audience. As a result, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday teamed up with Zero: The Project to End Prostate Cancer to launch the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer campaign.

Know Your Score is a multifaceted effort that also includes closest-to-the-pin contests and out-of-market fundraising tournaments. Money raised by Know Your Score is dedicated to improve research, early testing and education.