Golf Holiday Latest News

Sports Illustrated Golf Group and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday Agree to Marketing Partnership

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:15:30 EST

December 16, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. — Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED GOLF GROUP today announced the formation of an integrated marketing and sales partnership as part of the SI Golf Group’s agreement to become the title sponsor of the “World’s Largest Single-Site Amateur Golf Tournament” which will now be called the “GOLF.COM WORLD AMATEUR HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP.” The 2010 tournament begins August 30.

In its role, the SI GOLF GROUP – comprised of GOLF MAGAZINE, SI GOLF PLUS and GOLF.COM – will immediately begin working with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday to develop marketing and sales opportunities to deliver a national client base. Concurrently, the SI GOLF GROUP will assist in developing social network and digital platforms to drive awareness and participation for the tournament. This is a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third.

“We are excited about working with our friends at Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday to take the GOLF.COM WORLD AMATEUR HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP to unprecedented heights,” said Dick Raskopf, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED GOLF GROUP Publisher. “This tournament is one of golf’s crown jewels, and the opportunity to bring SPORTS ILLUSTRATED back to Myrtle Beach where it all began is exciting.”

The SI GOLF GROUP is a unit within the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED GROUP. It is the No. 1 media company in golf with a combined audience of 12.6 million avid golfers and fans. GOLF.COM is the digital engine of the group and is the most visited website in the sport.

The relationship also brings SPORTS ILLUSTRATED back to its place of origin: Pine Lakes Country Club. Back in 1954, Time Inc. executives planned the concept of a national sports weekly magazine during a company outing at the club. Today, Pine Lakes commemorates the birthplace of SI with a plaque, pictures and articles inside the club.

Every August for the past 26 years, Myrtle Beach has been the site where 3,600 golfers from all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries gather to stake claim to the title of “World’s Amateur Golf Champion.” Only Myrtle Beach, a destination with 102 public golf courses, can host to the world’s largest single-site amateur tournament where a minimum of 50 golf courses are played daily during the 72-hole event.

“This partnership will be a mutually-beneficial relationship for both the World Am and GOLF.COM,” said Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday tournament division director Dave Macpherson. “Not only is this an opportunity to align with one of the biggest names in golf but the World Am participant’s experience will be enhanced by the GOLF.COM sponsors who will be introduced to the event. There is no other amateur golf tournament in the world like the World Am and this event will provide a new realm of story opportunities for GOLF.COM and its readers, in addition to advancing their goal of growing the game of golf.”

The Rawlings Golf Company was the title sponsor for the first two years of the event followed by a 19-year run with DuPont as the lead sponsor, and most recently with PGA TOUR Superstore, who served in that role for five years.

About the SI Golf Group
GOLF MAGAZINE is at the core of the most powerful media company in the game, the SI GOLF GROUP. The magazine, which delivers a circulation of 1.4 million golf enthusiasts with a readership of 6.1 Million, us golf’s most widely read publication and provides the best instruction, equipment reviews and travel coverage in the category. With the combined resources of GOLF, SI GOLF PLUS (the No. 1 golf weekly publication) and Golf.com (the highest trafficked golf website). The SI GOLF GROUP delivers a monthly audience of 12.6 million avid golfers and fans.

About the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship
Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship is considered to be the most comparable experience to the U.S. Open for the amateur golfer. Held the week before Labor Day, the event is open to all amateur golfers with a USGA handicap, or the foreign equivalent. The 2009 World Am hosted 3,060 golfers from 49 states and 20 countries at 51 area golf courses for the week-long battle to determine the “World’s Amateur Golf Champion.” Flighted according to their handicaps, golfers compete in four rounds with all flight winners and ties then advancing to the 18-hole world championship playoff at the renowned Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

The on-course competition is only half the fun. Each evening after tournament play, participants and their guests enjoy hospitality at the “World’s Largest 19th Hole,” also known as the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The 19th Hole features an extensive golf expo with equipment demos, entertainment, free food and drinks and jumbotron video boards to keep tabs on scores.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation.

Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Golf.com Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Photo Caption: Sports Illustrated Golf Group and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday Introduce GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship Partnership.

From left to right: Dave Macpherson, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday tournament division director; John Springs, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday chairman of the board; Dick Raskopf, Sports Illustrated Golf Group publisher; and Bill Golden, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday president.

Spirit Airlines to Offer Non-Stop Flights Between Myrtle Beach and Atlanta, Ga

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:25:40 EST

SPIRIT AIRLINES TO OFFER NON-STOP FLIGHTS BETWEEN MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. AND ATLANTA, GA., BEGINNING MAY 1, 2010

December 10, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Representatives from the Myrtle Beach International Airport, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce announced in a press conference earlier today that Spirit Airlines will begin daily non-stop flights between Myrtle Beach and Atlanta on May 1, 2010. The seasonal flights will end November 10, 2010, and resume in the spring of 2011.

Spirit’s 145-passenger Airbus will depart Hartsfield-Jackson Airport daily at 10:20 a.m. and arrive at Myrtle Beach International Airport at 11:40 a.m. The Atlanta-bound flights will leave Myrtle Beach International at 5:00 p.m. each day and arrive in Atlanta at 6:20 p.m.

    From:    To:    Leave:    Arrive:    Flight No.
    ATL    MYR    10:20 a.m.    11:40 a.m.    404

    From:    To:    Leave:    Arrive:    Flight No.
    MYR    ATL    5:00 p.m.    6:40 p.m.    403

To celebrate the new non-stop flights to Myrtle Beach, Spirit will offer $9 fares on December 10th and 11th that can be used during the first two weeks of May.

Providing non-stop service between the two cities addresses an important need as the Atlanta area has long been one of Myrtle Beach’s top vacation markets. With a population of 8.2 million in the 100-mile surrounding area, the Atlanta population has been projected to grow at more than twice that of the United States. Georgia annually ranks as one of the Grand Strand’s top 10 states of visitor origin and Atlanta leads the Peachtree State with the number of residents traveling to Myrtle Beach. Atlanta residents also enjoy playing golf while on vacation. According to a recent National Golf Foundation study, the Atlanta DMA ranks 11th among all 210 DMAs for rounds played on vacation.

“We’d like to thank the Myrtle Beach community for their support and we look forward to continuing to serve and grow the Myrtle Beach market with our $9 fares,” said Spirit’s Chief Marketing Officer Barry Biffle. “But if $9 is too much, you can visit 3freeflights.com and fly your family for free**.”

“We are pleased to be able to provide additional air service to the community,” said Lauren Morris, marketing manager, Myrtle Beach International Airport. “Our team is grateful for Spirit’s commitment to Myrtle Beach and we are eager for the opportunities that service to Atlanta will provide for tourism as well as for the residents of our region.”

“Passenger traffic to Myrtle Beach from Atlanta has declined significantly in recent years,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The addition of Spirit’s non-stop daily flight will provide Atlanta area residents affordable fares to visit Myrtle Beach, which will ultimately increase our market share of vacationing golfers significantly from the Atlanta market. The new Spirit flights will also satisfy the need of Myrtle Beach residents who travel to Atlanta regularly for business, attractions, sporting events and shopping.”

“Spirit Airlines has grown to become our largest carrier at Myrtle Beach International Airport,” said Brad Dean, president and CEO, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “Adding this direct, affordable air service to Atlanta, one of the largest U.S. metro markets, will help grow tourism in the Myrtle Beach area and will also benefit the entire region.”

The Myrtle Beach International Airport now offers direct service to26cities in the United States and Canada with Spirit offering non-stop flights between Myrtle Beach, S.C. and seven cities; Atlanta, Ga., Atlantic City, N.J., Boston, Mass., Chicago, Ill., Detroit, Mich., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and New York City, N.Y.

About Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines, Inc. (www.spiritair.com) is the largest Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) in the United States, Latin America and Caribbean. Its all-Airbus fleet, the youngest in the Americas, flies more than 150 daily flights to 40 destinations. The company is based in Miramar, Florida. Flights can be booked via www.spiritair.com or by calling 1-800-772-7117.

About the Myrtle Beach Area
The Myrtle Beach area, popularly known as the Grand Strand, stretches from Little River to Pawleys Island, comprising 12 distinct cities along the South Carolina coast. Home to world-class golf, 60 miles of sandy beaches, an assortment of entertainment and family attractions and Southern hospitality, the Myrtle Beach area presents the quintessential vacation experience.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation.

Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Golf Holiday, Former Bear Dan Hampton and Dan McNeil Bring Chicago Cup Challenge to Myrtle Beach

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:25:58 EST

November 2, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Chicago sports radio station, 670 The Score, will host the inaugural “Chicago Cup Team Challenge” in Myrtle Beach, November 5-8.

Don Arndt of Franklin Park, Illinois and Jim O’Keefe of Hoffman Estates, Illinois were named the winners of a four-day, three-night golf trip to Myrtle Beach for themselves and four friends where they will join Dan Hampton, former Chicago Bear and 2001 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and 25-year Chicago sports sradio personality Dan McNeil in a special Windy City golf challenge held in Myrtle Beach. On November 5th, O’Keefe and his two friends will team up with Hampton on the Northside team to battle Arndt and friends, who will be joined by McNeil on the Southside team.

To promote Spirit’s new direct flights between Chicago and Myrtle Beach that launched in March of 2009, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and 670 The Score conducted an online contest to award a Myrtle Beach golf vacation to two listeners. Arndt, O’Keefe and their friends will receive airfare courtesy of Spirit Airlines, golf at The Norman Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf and The Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf, accommodations at Myrtle Beach Yacht Club, a welcome reception and meals.

“I am excited and looking forward to the opportunity to go to Myrtle Beach with my son and his friend, to play golf together alongside Dan Hampton and Dan McNeil,” said Arndt. “I have played golf in Myrtle Beach annually for the past three years with my wife and friends, but this will be a new experience for me. We are big Chicago Bears fans and wish to Thank 670, The Score and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday for this opportunity of a lifetime.”

“We have enjoyed teaming up with 670 The Score to present ‘Chicago Cup Golf Challenge’ and welcome Arndt and O’Keefe and their friends to Myrtle Beach,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Spirit Airline’s Chicago to Myrtle Beach direct flight has become a popular choice for golfers wanting to experience Grand Strand golf and we look forward to more Windy City golfers visiting in 2010.”

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 115 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

34 Grand Strand Courses Recognized by Golf World

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:16:14 EST

October 12, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Thirty-four Grand Strand courses were honored in the 2010 Golf World Readers’ Choice Awards that recognized the best public, private and resort facilities in the country. The golf courses were recognized in three Top 50 categories, which featured the 50 top vote getters, and the Best-in-State category, which honored the courses that scored a minimum of 75 points. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club (No. 20) and True Blue Plantation (No. 26) were listed in the Top 50 Public Golf Facilities category while Dunes Golf and Beach Club (No. 42) was honored in the Top 50 Resorts category.

South Carolina led all states with 44 courses with 27 from the Myrtle Beach area. Seven additional courses, located in Brunswick County, N.C., were honored, and are considered a part of the Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch from Southport, N.C. to Georgetown, S.C. North Carolina was second with 41 courses with California third with 39.

The Myrtle Beach area Best-in-State courses included Arrowhead Country Club, Barefoot Resort & Golf, Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Link, The Resort Course at Grande Dunes, Heather Glen Golf Links, Heritage Club, The International Golf Club of Myrtle Beach, The Legends Resort, Litchfield Country Club, The Long Bay Club, Man O’War Golf, Myrtle Beach National Golf Club, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club, Pine Lakes Country Club, River Club, River Hills Golf & Country Club, Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation, TPC Myrtle Beach, Wachesaw Plantation Club, Wild Wing Plantation, The Witch, The Wizard and World Tour Golf Links.

The Brunswick County courses honored in the Best-in-State rankings included Crow Creek Golf Club, Ocean Ridge Plantation, Oyster Bay Golf Links, Rivers Edge Golf Club, Sea Trail Golf Resort and Thistle Golf Club.

Thirty-three of the 34 courses are Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday member courses with Wachesaw Plantation Club, a private golf club in Murrells Inlet, as the lone non-Golf Holiday member to be recognized.

“The Grand Strand is well known for having more Top 100 golf courses than any other destination and for providing the best value for the golfer,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Golf World’s Readers’ Choice Awards reports the opinions of the average golfer and we are honored that so many golfers selected many Grand Strand courses as their favorites in the state of South Carolina.”

The Readers' Choice Awards are based solely on reader input gathered by Golf Digest Publications' Research Resource Center via an online poll. Using a 10-point scale, readers graded facilities based on the 12 criteria which included quality of course; condition of course; reputation and prestige; golf practice facilities; speed of play; clubhouse/locker rooms; hotel accommodations; caddie program; golf pro shop; food/dining; off-course activities/amenities; service and overall value.

To arrive at an overall aggregate score for each facility, Golf World calculated the average ratings received in all applicable criteria. The raw scores were weighted to reflect different levels of significance for each of the criteria, with the formula varying based on the category. The overall total then was recalculated to a 100-point scale so a perfect score on every ballot yielded an aggregate of 100.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 115 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Myrtle Beach Area to Host Closest-to-the-Pin Contests in October and November

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:59:14 EST

October 12, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Twenty-six Myrtle Beach area golf courses will participate in closest-to-the-pin contests on four consecutive Saturdays, October 17th through November 7th, with all proceeds going to the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer campaign.

With a $20 contribution to Know Your Score, golfers can participate in the hole-in-one contest, receive a sleeve of golf balls and have a chance to win a Caribbean cruise, a 42” HDTV or a $250 Myrtle Beach Golf Shop gift certificate in a drawing to be held November 20th. The person who hits the closest shot of the day at each course will win their choice of a Nike or Wilson putter, valued at $120, or a Wilson driver, valued at $150, from the pro shop. If a golfer records a hole-in-one, he or she will win $1,000 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, Carolina National Golf Club, 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, Willbrook Plantation and Woodland Valley

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday recently announced that more than $65,000 was raised during the second annual Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament and Gala on August 29, 2009. Entertainment personalities and former professional athletes who attended the golf tournament and gala included honorary spokesperson, and Syracuse University head basketball coach, Jim Boeheim; actor Craig T. Nelson, well known for his role on the television show “Coach”; Bobby Cremins, current College of Charleston head basketball coach who also led the Georgia Tech program for 19 years; former member of the Big Red Machine and an 11-year Major League Baseball veteran, Doug Flynn; former Yankees catcher Rick Cerone; Dan Hampton, a 12-year member of the Chicago Bears and a 2001 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee; GOLF Channel personality Charlie Rymer; Ewa Mataya Laurance, 2008 World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; world-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis; Wes Matthews, a member of the 1986 and 1987 Los Angeles Lakers World Championship teams; and Tony Womack, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Championship team.

“We’ve raised more than $65,000 in donations for the Know Your Score campaign so far in 2009 and hope to reach the $100,000 mark with the October closest-to-the-pin contests,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The entire Myrtle Beach golf community has eagerly embraced the Know Your Score campaign and we look forward to continuing our work with ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer in 2010 to help educate the importance of early and frequent testing.”

About ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. Our name conveys what we stand for zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

As ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer, we commit ourselves not only to reduce prostate cancer or alleviate the pain from the disease but to end it. We see a future where all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys.

To accomplish our goal, we provide comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct free prostate cancer testing throughout the country. We increase research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and we fund research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information, go to ZeroCancer.org.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 115 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Douglasville, Ga. Resident Bill Sturm Named Ultimate Road Trip To Myrtle Beach Sweepstakes Winner

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:52:28 EST

September 30, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Bill Sturm has overcome many obstacles in his life; stage 4 bladder cancer, a shattered hip from a car accident and divorce but coordinating a tee time in Myrtle Beach will not be a problem for the Douglasville, Ga. resident.

Sturm won the six-day Ultimate Road Trip to Myrtle Beach vacation by entering Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday’s Ultimate Sweeps contest during the spring of 2009. As the winner of the sweepstakes, Sturm and three friends arrive in Myrtle Beach on Thursday, October 1 and will receive four nights of accommodations at Anderson Ocean Club; a half-day of instruction at Classic Swing Golf School, one of Golf Magazine’s “Top 25 Golf Schools in America;” customized golf clubs and a gift card from PGA TOUR Superstore; dinner and golf with GOLF CHANNEL personality Charlie Rymer; airfare; a rental car; meals and a spa treatment,

In addition, Strum’s group will play four rounds of golf at The Love Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf; Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue Plantation and Heritage Golf Club, all of which are ranked among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses,” by Golf Digest.

“I have played golf in Myrtle Beach probably one hundred times and can honestly say that Myrtle Beach is the best place in the country to go on a golf vacation,” said Sturm. “I am looking forward to the trip as I haven’t been to the area for a few years, due to health complications. I look forward to seeing old friends and playing with Charlie Rymer. Thank you Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday for this first-class sweepstakes.”

“We’re excited that Bill Sturm and his friends will be coming to Myrtle Beach as the winner of the Ultimate Road Trip to Myrtle Beach sweepstakes,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Sturm has faced adversity in his life and we’re happy that such an avid golfer is the recipient of the ultimate golf vacation in the ‘Golf Capital of the World.’”

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 115 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

2009 Know Your Score Raises $65,000

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:52:10 EST

September 24, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today that more than $65,000 was raised during the second annual Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament and Gala held August 29, 2009. Since starting the prostate education and research campaign in 2008, the Myrtle Beach golf community has helped raised more than $205,000 for the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer and ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer campaigns.

The day began with an 18-hole celebrity golf tournament at The Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. with each participant having the opportunity to play golf with one of the celebrities who traveled to Myrtle Beach to help fight prostate cancer. After golf, participants headed to Kingston Plantation in North Myrtle Beach for the Gala for dinner, entertainment and the opportunity to bid on sports memorabilia during a silent auction.

Honorary spokesperson, and Syracuse University head basketball coach, Jim Boeheim was on hand at the golf tournament and gala where he was joined by entertainment personalities and former professional athletes including actor Craig T. Nelson, well known for his role on the television show “Coach”; Bobby Cremins, current College of Charleston head basketball coach who also led the Georgia Tech program for 19 years; former member of the Big Red Machine and an 11-year Major League Baseball veteran, Doug Flynn; former Yankees catcher Rick Cerone; Dan Hampton, a 12-year member of the Chicago Bears and a 2001 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee; GOLF Channel personality Charlie Rymer; Ewa Mataya Laurance, 2008 World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; world-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis; Wes Matthews, a member of the 1986 and 1987 Los Angeles Lakers World Championship teams; and Tony Womack, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Championship team.

During the 2009 PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, held in Myrtle Beach during the week of August 31 - September 4, more than $4,500 was donated by participating golfers to benefit the prostate cancer campaigns. Each night at the World Am’s 19th Hole, golfers participated in closest-to-the pin simulator contests and purchased tickets to play billiards against World 9-Ball champion, Ewa Laurance. Golfers who defeated Laurance received PGA TOUR Superstore gift cards and were registered to free entry into the 2010 World Am with the winner will be announced later in the fall.

“The entire Myrtle Beach golf community has eagerly embraced the Know Your Score campaign to help raise money for prostate cancer research and spread the word about the importance of early detection,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “When we started working with ZERO in 2008, we set a goal of raising $250,000 for the battle against prostate cancer. We still have a few events planned in 2009 and hope to exceed our goal.”

"Many golfers are at risk for prostate cancer and are close to someone who has been impacted by the disease,” said Jamie Bearse, COO of ZERO. “That's why this partnership with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is so important. We're delighted and honored to work with Golf Holiday and other area partners on ending prostate cancer. MBGH has emerged as a national leader in this fight and countless loves have been saved because of their efforts."

About ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. Our name conveys what we stand for zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

As ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer, we commit ourselves not only to reduce prostate cancer or alleviate the pain from the disease but to end it. We see a future where all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys.

To accomplish our goal, we provide comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct free prostate cancer testing throughout the country. We increase research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and we fund research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information, go to ZeroCancer.org.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 115 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

2009 Know Your Score Tournament Raises More Than $65,000

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:32:18 EST

PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship Implements Twitter

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:20:10 EST

August 25, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Twitter, an increasingly popular social media platform, will be in widespread use during the 26th annual PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship. The World Am, which will be held August 31 through September 4, attracts 3,000 golfers from 45 states and more than 20 foreign countries to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

World Am participants are being encouraged to tweet about their experiences from the clubhouse to the World’s Largest 19th Hole, the event’s nightly party. The Twitter program will allow players to update friends, family and followers about their experiences during the week.

The World Am staff will utilize Twitter during the event to relay behind-the-scenes accounts of what is happening in the tournament office, at the 19th Hole and in the handicap room. Twitter will also be used to update players on breaking news throughout the event.

Players who don’t have a Twitter account will be able to get involved at the "Tweet Jockey" Twitter booth each night at the 19th Hole. Players and their guests will be able to submit tweets at the Tweet Jockey booth and see their comments displayed in a live stream on one of three huge JumboTron screens.

“To our knowledge, no one has attempted to use Twitter in this context, networking the many aspects of an athletic event of this size,” Dave Macpherson, the World Am’s tournament director, said. “The camaraderie among participants is one of the event’s primary strengths, and the use of Twitter should help strengthen that bond through online conversation.”

If not on Twitter already, participants or interested fans can visit Twitter.com/worldam to sign up for an account and receive current tournament news. Once signed up, players will be able to follow the official World Am Twitter feed and the tweets of other World Am golfers by searching #worldam.

Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, The PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole tournament with participants competing for the right to be crowned “World Amateur Golf Champion.” The world’s largest single-site amateur golf tournament attracts 3,000 golfers from 45 states and more than 20 foreign countries. Players are flighted according to their handicap and at the conclusion of the four rounds, flight winners advance to the 18-hole world championship playoff at the renowned Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

For more information or to register, call 1-800-833-8798 or visit www.WorldAmGolf.com/Twitter.

ABOUT PGA TOUR SUPERSTORES
PGA TOUR Superstores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc. (GTPS), headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. Each Superstore is dedicated to providing consumers with exceptional selection, services and prices within an entertaining, interactive store environment. GTPS is the PGA TOUR’s exclusive PGA TOUR partner for off-course/off-airport golf retailing.

Two Superstores operate as Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Other Superstores operate in the Atlanta area (Roswell, Kennesaw, Duluth, Buckhead), two stores operate in the Dallas, Texas area and two stores operate in Chandler and Scottsdale, Ariz. All Superstores are focused on game improvement in golf and tennis, as well as growing the games. Each store offers swing analysis, golf instruction by professional instructors, club fittings, indoor practice greens, and hitting nets, as well as golf and tennis apparel, golf-themed home furnishings, and a vast selection of golf and tennis equipment. The PGA TOUR Superstore’s Web site address is www.pgatoursuperstore.com.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation.

Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship Implements Twitter

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:18:48 EST

Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Announces Golf Tournament Sell Out

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:00:52 EST

August 18, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today that the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer 2009 Golf Tournament is a sell-out with 30 teams committed to play in the August 29th event at Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The second annual golf tournament to benefit ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer surpassed the inaugural year’s total of 24 foursomes in the Saturday golf tournament.

Those interested in helping raise money for prostate cancer education and research and meeting the participating sports and television celebrities can still purchase tickets for the Know Your Score Gala and Silent Auction, to be held later that night at Kingston Plantation. Individual tickets are $100 with a table of eight available for $750. To purchase tickets, visit knowyourscoremb.com or call (843) 477-8833, ext. 237.

The gala kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and bidding on silent auction items before the 7:30 p.m. dinner of filet mignon and crab cakes is served. After dinner, a “Locker Room Chat” will be hosted by ESPN personality Mitch Laurance.

Celebrities scheduled to participate in the second annual Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Golf Tournament and Gala include 2009 Know Your Score National Spokesperson and Syracuse University head basketball coach, Jim Boeheim; actor Craig T. Nelson, well known for his role on the television show “Coach”; Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore; Bobby Cremins, current College of Charleston head basketball coach who also led the Georgia Tech program for 19 years; former member of the Big Red Machine and an 11-year Major League Baseball veteran, Doug Flynn; 2008 Honorary Chairperson and former Cincinnati Red Ken Griffey, Sr.; Dan Hampton, a 12-year member of the Chicago Bear and a 2001 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame; GOLF Channel personality Charlie Rymer will be in attendance. Ewa Mataya Laurance, 2008 World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; world-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis; Wes Matthews, a member of the 1986 and 1987 Los Angeles Lakers World Championship teams; Tony Womack, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Championship team.

“We are thrilled that the Grand Strand community has embraced the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer campaign to help raise money for research and education,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “To sell out the golf tournament in just the second year is phenomenal and we have a goal of selling every seat at the Gala and Silent Auction.”

About ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. Our name conveys what we stand for zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

As ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer, we commit ourselves not only to reduce prostate cancer or alleviate the pain from the disease but to end it. We see a future where all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys.

To accomplish our goal, we provide comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct free prostate cancer testing throughout the country. We increase research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and we fund research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information, go to ZeroCancer.org.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand. In addition to hosting the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

D.J. Gregory to Appear at the 19th Hole of the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:41:41 EST

August 10, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Author D.J. Gregory, whose inspirational story has been featured on GOLF CHANNEL and ESPN, will be a featured guest at the 26th annual PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship. Gregory will participate in roundtable discussions and autograph copies of his book, “Walking With Friends – An Inspirational Year on the PGA TOUR.”

In his book, Gregory, who was told he would never walk after being born with cerebral palsy, recounts his journey walking all 3,256 holes of the 2008 PGA Tour season. Gregory traversed more than 988 miles from Maui to Orlando, developed lasting friendships and inspired the world’s best golfers with his determination.

Gregory endures feet that curl towards the instep (which he compares to a cramp in his book) and big toes that stack on top of his other toes. In order to walk any distance, much less navigate the frequently hilly topography on some golf courses, Gregory had to bandage each big toe and frequently wore five or six bandages at a time to cover the blisters and corns.

“Having D.J. Gregory visit the World Am will be a tremendous inspiration to our participants,” said Dave Macpherson, tournament director. “Walking four rounds each week for a 45-week season is tiring for any PGA TOUR golfer but D.J. saw this opportunity as the chance of a lifetime. He is a true golf fanatic and we welcome him as a new member of our avid golf family at the World Am.”

Gregory will appear at the “World’s Largest 19th Hole” on the nights of Monday, August 31 through Wednesday, September 2 at the 19th Hole. Also known as the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, the 19th Hole is the gathering spot after golf for World Am participants and features an extensive golf exposition, equipment demos, entertainment, open bars, concerts, prize drawings and food from 20 of Myrtle Beach’s best restaurants.

Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, The PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole tournament with participants competing for the right to be crowned “World Amateur Golf Champion.” The world’s largest single-site amateur golf tournament attracts 3,000 golfers from 45 states and more than 20 foreign countries. Players are flighted according to their handicap and at the conclusion of the four rounds, flight winners advance to the 18-hole world championship playoff at the renowned Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

For more information or to register, call 1-800-833-8798 or visit WorldAmGolf.com.

ABOUT PGA TOUR SUPERSTORES
PGA TOUR Superstores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc. (GTPS), headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. Each Superstore is dedicated to providing consumers with exceptional selection, services and prices within an entertaining, interactive store environment. GTPS is the PGA TOUR’s exclusive PGA TOUR partner for off-course/off-airport golf retailing.

Two Superstores operate as Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Other Superstores operate in the Atlanta area (Roswell, Kennesaw, Duluth, Buckhead), two stores operate in the Dallas, Texas area and two stores operate in Chandler and Scottsdale, Ariz. All Superstores are focused on game improvement in golf and tennis, as well as growing the games. Each store offers swing analysis, golf instruction by professional instructors, club fittings, indoor practice greens, and hitting nets, as well as golf and tennis apparel, golf-themed home furnishings, and a vast selection of golf and tennis equipment. The PGA TOUR Superstore’s Web site address is www.pgatoursuperstore.com.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation.

Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Craig T. Nelson and Dan Hampton Join Know Your Score Field

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 15:54:20 EST

August 4, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today that the celebrity field for the second annual Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Golf Tournament and Gala continues to grow as more celebrities have committed to the August 29th charity golf tournament at Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Actor Craig T. Nelson, well known for his role on the television show “Coach”; Dan Hampton, a 12-year member of the Chicago Bears, including the 1985 NFL Championship team; Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore; former member of the Big Red Machine and an 11-year Major League Baseball veteran, Doug Flynn; and GOLF Channel personality Charlie Rymer will be in attendance. Also scheduled to compete are three celebrities who participated in the inaugural tournament in 2008: Bobby Cremins, current College of Charleston head basketball coach who also led the Georgia Tech program for 19 years; Wes Matthews, a member of the 1986 and 1987 Los Angeles Lakers World Championship teams; and Tony Womack, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Championship team.

Previously-announced celebrities include 2009 Know Your Score National Spokesperson and Syracuse University head basketball coach, Jim Boeheim; 2008 Honorary Chairperson Ken Griffey, Sr.; world-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; and Ewa Mataya Laurance, 2008 World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion.

At the gala, cocktails and bidding on the silent auction items will begin at 6:30 p.m. with dinner to begin at 7:30 p.m. After dinner, a “Locker Room Chat” with Boeheim and the celebrities will be hosted by ESPN personality Mitch Laurance, and guests will have the opportunity to ask questions of some of their favorite celebrities.

Foursomes for the celebrity golf tournament and gala are still available by visiting KnowYourScoreMB.com or call (843) 477-8833, ext. 296. Golfers can purchase a foursome in the celebrity golf tournament with eight tickets to the gala with a $900 donation to the “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer” campaign. Participants can register a foursome in the golf tournament for $400 or purchase a table of eight at the gala for $750. Individuals seeking to join the fight against prostate cancer can buy a single ticket to the golf tournament or the gala for $100 each.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday also announced the launch of Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer’s redesigned Web site, knowyourscoremb.com. In 2008, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday teamed ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer up with the Myrtle Beach golf community to launch Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer, a national campaign to help raise money for prostate cancer research and awareness that men need to be tested regularly.

Golf Holiday began redesigning Know Your Score’s inaugural Web site in 2009 and improved the site with many new features. Site visitors can learn about the deadly threat of prostate cancer and the importance of early diagnosis; find out about 2009 Know Your Score events; read about national spokesperson Jim Boeheim’s personal battle with prostate cancer; review a gallery of photographs and videos of celebrity interviews and highlights from events; see the list of celebrities who participated in the 2008 Golf Tournament; find out how to volunteer in the fight against prostate cancer; and enter the 2009 Golf Tournament and Gala.

“Assisting ZERO in raising money for prostate cancer research and helping educate men of the importance of early detection is a cause that the entire Myrtle Beach golf community strongly supports,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The Grand Strand area hosts more golfers every year than any other golf destination in the world and the majority of those golfers are the ZERO target audience. If we can contribute and play a small role in preventing prostate cancer, we feel that we’ve succeeded. We are excited about the celebrities scheduled to visit next month and look forward to helping raise more money for ZERO.”

About ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. Our name conveys what we stand for zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

As ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer, we commit ourselves not only to reduce prostate cancer or alleviate the pain from the disease but to end it. We see a future where all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys.

To accomplish our goal, we provide comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct free prostate cancer testing throughout the country. We increase research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and we fund research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information, go to ZeroCancer.org.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand. In addition to hosting the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com

August 1 Entry Deadline Approaching for World Am

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:02:26 EST

July 24, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Golfers have until Saturday, August 1 to register for the 2009 PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, the “World’s Largest Single-Site Golf Tournament.” The 26th annual World Am will be held August 31 through September 4 with more than 3,000 golfers from 45 states and 20 countries converging on 51 Myrtle Beach area courses for the week.

Registration for the 72-hole tournament is $550 but new participants can save $50 with the use of the special World Am code “FRD-09” before the August 1 deadline. Entry into the tournament includes four rounds of golf and a goody bag containing a PGA TOUR Superstore gift card, a World Am Cutter & Buck shirt, a logoed shoe bag, a logoed Imperial hat, a sleeve of Bridgestone E6 golf balls, and MISSION Skincare sunscreen.

The entry fee also includes nightly admission for the golfer, and guest, into the “World’s Largest 19th Hole” at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center each evening after tournament play. The 19th Hole features an extensive golf exposition, equipment demos, entertainment, open bars, concerts, prize drawings and food from 20 of Myrtle Beach’s best restaurants.

The 19th Hole is also the site of the random prize drawings on Thursday night with more than $250,000 in prizes to be awarded in 2009. One lucky World Am golfer will walk away from the tournament with the 2009 grand prize - a Rolex watch. In addition to the Rolex, the World Am will be giving away a host of other gifts as random drawing prizes. Among the other giveaway items will be a VIP trip to the Players Championship, 10 sets of golf clubs and a trip to the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am.

Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, The PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole tournament with participants competing for the right to be crowned “World Amateur Golf Champion.” Players are flighted according to their handicap and at the conclusion of the four rounds, flight winners advance to the 18-hole world championship playoff at the renowned Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

The International Pairs Championship returns in 2009 and once again, a World Am duo has the opportunity to become the United States Qualifier and win an all-expense paid trip to St. Andrews to represent the United States in the 2010 International Pairs World Finals.

The 2009 World Am will mark the third year of the Cory Lemke Parent-Child Championship, a tournament for any combination of parent and child participating in the World Amateur. Registration for the Parent-Child Championship is limited to the first 150 teams with no additional entry fee. The event will be played in honor of Cory Lemke, who won his flight at the age of 15 in 2002 and played countless rounds of golf with his father, Mark Lemke, a 12-year tournament participant. Cory tragically lost his life in a 2006 motorcycle accident but his memory will live on through the Cory Lemke Parent-Child Championship.

The World Amateur’s newest competitive entry is the CEO Challenge, tournament within the World Am open only to CEO’s, presidents, partners and owners from the United States and Canada.

“The PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is considered the ‘Every Day Golfers' U.S. Open,’” said Dave Macpherson, tournament director of the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship. “Any amateur golfer with a United States Golf Association handicap index, or foreign equivalent, can register for the World Am and has a legitimate chance to be crowned as the ‘World Golf Champion.’ We’ve added a few special events in 2009 and look forward to the 26th year of the World Am.”

For more information or to register, call 1-800-833-8798 or visit WorldAmGolf.com.

ABOUT PGA TOUR SUPERSTORES
PGA TOUR Superstores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc. (GTPS), headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. Each Superstore is dedicated to providing consumers with exceptional selection, services and prices within an entertaining, interactive store environment. GTPS is the PGA TOUR’s exclusive PGA TOUR partner for off-course/off-airport golf retailing.

Two Superstores operate as Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Other Superstores operate in the Atlanta area (Roswell, Kennesaw, Duluth, Buckhead), two stores operate in the Dallas, Texas area and two stores operate in Chandler and Scottsdale, Ariz. All Superstores are focused on game improvement in golf and tennis, as well as growing the games. Each store offers swing analysis, golf instruction by professional instructors, club fittings, indoor practice greens, and hitting nets, as well as golf and tennis apparel, golf-themed home furnishings, and a vast selection of golf and tennis equipment. The PGA TOUR Superstore’s Web site address is www.pgatoursuperstore.com.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation.

Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Barefoot Resort & Golf to Host Golf Tournament to Benefit Fire Victims

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:16:31 EST

August 27 Tournament to Assist Barefoot Residents Left Homeless After the April 23 Wildfire

July 2, 2009, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Barefoot Resort & Golf announced today that they will host the Barefoot Resort & Golf Fire Victims Pro-Am Golf Tournament on Thursday, August 27 at the Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort.

All proceeds from the tournament will go to the Barefoot Resort & Golf Fire Victims Fund to help many of the 70 residents who lost their homes in the April 23 wildfire and did not have home owner’s or renter’s insurance.

The day will begin with a buffet breakfast at 8:00 a.m. in the Barefoot Clubhouse. After breakfast, a golf clinic will be held for all participants at the Barefoot Practice Facility. The 18-hole scramble tournament will begin at 10:00 a.m. with all teams partnered with a local head golf professional or celebrity.

Participants will attend the awards reception in the clubhouse after golf with dinner and drinks served. A silent auction will also be held during the reception with participants having the opportunity to bid on silent auction items.

Tournament entry fees are $125 per person or $500 per foursome with participants receiving the following: a tournament gift bag; pre-tournament breakfast; lunch; dinner and drinks during the awards ceremony and silent auction and the chance to participate in long drive and closest-to-the-pin contests. Hole sponsorships are also available to businesses.

“The April 23 wildfire that burned through northern Horry County impacted our entire Barefoot community,” said Mike Ross, head golf professional at Barefoot Resort & Golf. “We were fortunate to reopen the Love course on June 1 and the Fazio course reopened July 1, but many of our residents, whether owners or renters, have not been as lucky. Several did not have insurance, or enough insurance, and we hope to help the donations from the tournament helps replace their homes and personal belongings.”

One of Golf Digest’s “Top 100” course, The Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort lost two bridges during the fire that connected the 12^th, 13^th and 14^th holes. Trees and plants on the perimeter of the course experienced damage but the fairways or greens were unharmed.

For more information or to register, contact Nathan Humes, Barefoot Resort & Golf Tournament Director, at (843) 390-3200 or tournaments@barefootgolf.com.

About Barefoot Resort & Golf

Barefoot Resort & Golf is a 2,300-acre masterpiece, located across the Intracoastal Waterway and connected to North Myrtle Beach by a historic swing bridge that was built in the 1930's and relocated from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Designed with a vastly different approach than most resort developments, Barefoot Resort & Golf seeks to preserve the natural integrity of its coastal lands. Beautiful estate homes and waterfront villas blend flawlessly into the moss-draped oaks and wild magnolia of the Lowcountry. The community combines carefree living with an array of unparalleled amenities to meet your every need. You are invited to live among four signature championship golf courses designed by the greatest names in golf, Norman, Love, Fazio and Dye. Indulge in every modern amenity you could dream of while retaining the peace and beauty of such natural surroundings as pristine conservation areas and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The caliber of the community promises to set the new standard of golf course living on the East Coast. For more information, visit Barefootgolf.com.

Golf Holiday to Present Summer of Golf for Families and Juniors

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:41:20 EST

June 23, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday has designated the summer of 2009 as the season for families and junior golfers to learn how to play golf or to improve golf skills. With more than 100 public courses, the Myrtle Beach area’s enthusiasm for golf touches all ages, and no golf destination in the world offers more junior golf opportunities and kids play free programs. Starting in June, Golf Holiday is hosting three programs for golfers of all ages and skill levels; Golf Summer School, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments and Kids Play Free.

The Golf Summer School program will be taught at three of Myrtle Beach’s highly-acclaimed golf schools: the Hugh Royer Champions Golf Academy, Classic Swing Golf School and the Grande Dunes Golf Academy. Golfers can visit golfsummerschool.com to select the school that best fits their schedule and needs.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday tees off the 22nd year of Summer Family Golf Tournaments Wednesday, June 24, at Possum Trot Golf Club. Designed to bring families and kids together to enjoy the game of golf, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments will be held each Wednesday, June 11 – August 26 at select Myrtle Beach area golf courses.

Each junior golfer, 16 years of age and younger, plays for free at the weekly tournaments when accompanied by a paying adult. Participation in the two-person captain’s choice tournament costs $40 for adults (unless otherwise noted on the schedule) with the fee including a cart and closest-to-the-pin and long-drive contests. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. The Summer Family Golf Tournaments features three divisions – open, couples and adult/youth.

On Thursday, July 9, Wild Wing Plantation will host a special nine-hole shotgun Summer Family Golf Tournament. Lunch will be served to the participants with golf to follow. For more information on the weekly Summer Family Golf Tournaments, visit mbfamgolf.com.

The Grand Strand features 46 courses, including two Top 100 courses, that welcome junior golfers (16 and under) and allow them to play for free, when accompanied by a paying adult. Many other Myrtle Beach area courses provide deeply-discounted rates during the summer, and the entire year, to help grow the game of golf with junior golfers. For more information on the Kids Play Free programs, visit mbfamgolf.com.

“We want Moms and Dads to bring the entire family to Myrtle Beach where everyone can enjoy golf,’’ says Bill Golden, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday president. “This year we want to help families improve their games and their golf vacation to be filled with memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime.”

To find out more information on any of the summer golf opportunities hosted by Myrtle Beach Holiday, call 1-800-833-8798, or visit GolfHoliday.com.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Legends Golf Resort to Host Fundraiser for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:00:15 EST

June 17, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Legends Golf Resort announced today that it will host the inaugural Brian Lee Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday, July 4^th.

A frequent visitor to the Myrtle Beach area and a brother of Legends Resort director of marketing, Steve Lee, Brian Lee lost his battle with a brain tumor in July 2008 and all proceeds from the charity golf tournament will benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation located in Asheville, North Carolina.

The format of the tournament will be a captain’s choice scramble with a 9:00 a.m. start. All participants will receive a tournament gift bag and long drive and closest-to-the-pin contests to be held. After the tournament, golfers will be treated to a cookout lunch with additional tickets for purchase by friends and family. Items for silent auction include four round-trip tickets from Myrtle Beach Direct Air, gift certificates to local restaurants and other items.

Entry fees are $75 per player and $275 for a foursome with hole sponsorships available for $50 or $100.

“Legends Resort is honored to host the inaugural Brian Lee Memorial Golf Tournament and help raise money for children who are suffering from brain tumors. We look forward to helping this event grow each year.” said Steve Lee, director of marketing at Legends Golf Resort.

To register or for more information, contact Steve Lee at (843) 236-9318, ext. 2374.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday to Host Know Your Score Golf and Gala, August 29

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:27:47 EST

Proceeds to Benefit the “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer” Campaign and ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer

June 10, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Syracuse University head basketball coach Jim Boeheim, the 2009 Know Your Score national spokesperson, will host the second annual Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament and Gala on Saturday, August 29, 2009, with proceeds to benefit the “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer campaign and ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer.”

The day begins at 8:00 a.m. with the 18-hole celebrity golf tournament at The Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Each foursome will have the opportunity to have a celebrity from the sports and entertainment world. Celebrities expected to join Boeheim include 2008 Honorary Chairperson Ken Griffey, Sr.; world renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis; Wes Matthews, a member of the 1986 and 1987 Los Angeles Lakers World Championship teams; TNT’s Emmy-Award-winning golf reporter Jim Huber; Sam Jones, one of the key members of the 1950s and 1960s Boston Celtics that won 10 NBA Championships during his 12 years; Frank Viola, a member of the 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins; “Extreme Home Makeover” cast member Paul DiMeo; jazz musician Mike Phillips; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; and Ewa Mataya Laurance, 2008 World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion.

Each golfer will receive a gift bag, lunch and drinks and prizes will be given to long drive and the closest-to-the pin winners. After golf, participants proceed to Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach for the gala with cocktails and a silent auction of sports memorabilia beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.

“The ‘Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer’ campaign is a cause very near and dear to my heart as in 2001, I battled prostate cancer,” said Boeheim. “I am excited to serve as the campaign’s national spokesperson and host the celebrity golf tournament on August 29. I look forward to bringing a few of my celebrity friends to Myrtle Beach for golf and the gala to raise money for prostate cancer research.”

Golfers can purchase a foursome in the celebrity golf tournament with eight tickets to the gala with a $900 donation to the “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer” campaign. Participants can register a foursome in the golf tournament for $400 or purchase a table of eight at the gala for $750. Individuals seeking to join the fight against prostate cancer can buy a single ticket to the golf tournament or the gala for $100 each. For more information, visit KnowYourScoreMB.com or call (843) 477-8833, ext. 296.

In April of 2008, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday joined forces with ZERO and launched the annual campaign to fight prostate cancer. The “Know Your Score” campaign slogan refers to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test given to men 50 years of age or older to help detect prostate cancer. A low score on the PSA test is good news and is the best screening tool currently available when used with the physical prostate exam, according to Zero.

With the support of the entire Myrtle Beach golf community, more than $100,000 was raised in 2008 for prostate cancer research through closest-to-the-pin contests at area golf courses, a golf tournament and silent auction and fundraisers held at the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship. Zero brought their 40-foot “Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV” to Myrtle Beach twice in 2008 and provided free prostate screens, that normally cost $200 in a doctor’s office, to more than 750 men.

“Myrtle Beach is known as the ‘Golf Capital of the World’ and we see more than one million golfers per year here, most of which are the exact Zero demographic, men who are 45 years of age and older,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The tournament and gala was very successful last year in raising money and we look forward to a great event on August 29.”

About ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. Our name conveys what we stand for zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

As ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer, we commit ourselves not only to reduce prostate cancer or alleviate the pain from the disease but to end it. We see a future where all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys.

To accomplish our goal, we provide comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct free prostate cancer testing throughout the country. We increase research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and we fund research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information, go to ZeroCancer.org.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand. In addition to hosting the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Myrtle Beach Places Seven Courses on "America's Greatest 100 Public Golf Courses" Ranking

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:26:52 EST

April 30, 2009 Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Seven Myrtle Beach area golf courses were named to the 2009-2010 “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” list, just published in the May issue of Golf Digest. The Grand Strand placed more public golf courses on Golf Digest's list than any other golf destination in the country, with two area courses making their debut in the biennial ranking. The Pinehurst area was second with five public courses while Pebble Beach placed three courses on the “Top 100” ranking. South Carolina led all states with 11 public golf courses recognized, with seven of those located in the Myrtle Beach area.

At number 33, the Heritage Club was the highest-ranking Myrtle Beach area course on the “Top 100” list. The longest-running Myrtle Beach course to be honored by Golf Digest, Dunes Golf & Beach Club, was ranked 38th, followed by Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation at 41st. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club was the fastest moving Grand Strand area course on the “Top 100” as the Mike Strantz designed course jumped 20 positions from its 2007-2008 ranking of #86 to its current ranking of #66. The Resort Club at Grande Dunes, the 2009 National Golf Course of the Year according to the National Golf Course Owners Association, debuted on the biennial ranking at #77. Two Barefoot Resort & Golf courses were named to the prestigious ranking with the Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort selected at number 96 while The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort was the second Myrtle Beach area course to make its debut at 99th on the prestigious rankings.

“The fact that seven Myrtle Beach area courses made Golf Digest's list of the 2009-2010 ’America’s Top 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses’ is a testament to the quality of the golf experience that the Grand Strand provides,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Two Grand Strand area courses joined the ranking this time and there are probably 10 more courses worthy of consideration for the 2011-2012 listing.”

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 more than 900 low-handicap golfers. The 2009 – 2010 ranking is the 23rd edition of the ultimate honor paid to American golf course architecture. The courses were judged on various criteria: shot values, resistance to scoring, design variety, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning and ambience. After the panelists submitted their evaluations, Golf Digest averages the scores of the categories and totals the averages to determine the overall rankings. A course must be two years old to be considered for “America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses.”

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

###

Mark Bryan, Bill Murray And Woody Austin Capture 2009 Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:32:15 EST

April 13, 2009, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The six-person team led by Mark Bryan, Bill Murray and Woody Austin captured the 2009 Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament title with a score of 18-under-par. The team of Kris Blanks, Josh Kelley and George Rogers tied the team of Kris Cox and Mickey Tettleton for second place with scores of 17-under on the day.

For the fourth consecutive year, an estimated 6,000 golf fans packed The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf to see their favorite celebrities, athletes and musicians compete in the 15th annual Monday After The Masters Tournament in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The 2009 Monday After The Masters Tournament featured one of the deepest fields in tournament history with many of the biggest names in the music, television and movies, sports and the professional golf world. Headlining the 15th annual tournament were LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam; professional wrestling legend Ric Flair; actors Bill Murray and Samuel L. Jackson; former Pittsburgh Steeler running back Jerome Bettis; NASCAR driver Kyle Petty; PGA golfer John Daly; LPGA golfer and Myrtle Beach area native Kristy McPherson.

Representing the music world were Josh Kelley, recording artist and one of the stars of GOLF CHANNEL’s Road Trip: Myrtle Beach; his younger brother Charles Kelley, of the new country group, Lady Antebellum; R&B singer Javier Colon; pop rock performer Edwin McCain; musician Branford Marsalis; Alter Bridge drummer Scott Phillips; country singers Steve Azar and Johnny Lee; Andrew Copeland of Sister Hazel and Dan Tyminski of Union Station. Actors participating in the 2008 Monday After The Masters include Gary Valentine of “King of Queens”; and comedian Jackie Flynn.

Former NFL players Jim McMahon, George Rogers, Sterling Sharpe and Kordell Stewart competed, along with South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier. Former Major League Baseball stars Mickey Tettleton and Chuck Finley participated in the 15th annual celebrity golf tournament

The PGA was well represented by Woody Austin, Eric Axley, Ricky Barnes, Matt Bettencourt, Kris Blanks, Josh Broadaway, Kris Cox, Chris DiMarco, Ken Duke, Lee Elder, Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, Robert Gamez, Chad Ginn, Billy Kratzert, Spencer Levin, Mark Lye, Jim McGovern, David Mobley, Larry Rinker, Lee Rinker, Nicholas Thompson, Jim Thorpe and Re/Max WLD Champion Carl Wolter.

“All I can say is .. finally,” said Bryan. “This is my first win in the 15-year history of the Monday After The Masters and I am glad that my team won. I’d like to thank our PGA teammate, Woody Austin, for all of his great shots, especially when he jarred one in on hole number nine for the eagle. That is a shot that you only have the pleasure of seeing once in awhile and that really got us got us going. Playing with Bill Murray was one of the best experiences of my life. He is one of the funniest guys in the world.”

The 2009 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament kicked off Sunday night with a Live Auction and Pairings Party at the House of Blues. Every year, the Live Auction raises money for the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation which supports the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation and the educational needs of children in South Carolina. The total amount raised during the 2009 Monday After The Masters Tournament will be announced later in the year.

“The Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters continues to be one of the most popular events each year in the Myrtle Beach area,” said Bill Golden, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday President. It would not be a spring golf season here on the Grand Strand without the Monday After the Masters Tournament. Golf fans mark this event on their calendar every year and we look forward to continuing the relationship with the band.”

Anyone who could not attend this year’s tournament in “The Golf Capital of the World,” GOLF CHANNEL will broadcast a highlight show in May with interviews and footage from the 2009 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Tournament.

About the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament
One of the most popular celebrity pro-am golf tournaments in the country, the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament attracts thousands of people who enjoy the music of the two-time Grammy award winners as well as the friendly competition between the band and their celebrity and PGA professional friends. Over the past 14 years, the Monday After The Masters has donated more than $4 million to the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Myrtle Beach to Host US Airways Golfers

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 15:41:49 EST

April 9, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Three months after surviving a completely different type of water hazard, Jeff Kolodjay and his golf buddies will finally get to hit the links in the “Golf Capital of the World,” courtesy of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, Legends Resort, PGA TOUR Superstore and members of the Myrtle Beach golf community.

On January 15th, the US Airways flight headed for Charlotte hit a flock of birds, just three minutes after takeoff. The plane lost both engines and was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River. Thanks to the quick thinking of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, all 155 passengers survived but the luggage and golf clubs were lost. Kolodjay and his group were headed to Myrtle Beach for a five-day golf vacation but had to put the visit on hold.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday president Bill Golden learned of the crash while in an airport and instructed staff members to get in touch with Kolodjay and help them fulfill their visit to the Grand Strand area. Partnering with Legends Resort, PGA TOUR Superstore and members of the Myrtle Beach golf community, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday invited the golfers to come back to Myrtle Beach, whenever they were ready to fly again.

During their five-day visit, April 22 through April 26, the group will enjoy complimentary rounds of golf at three Legends Resort courses, True Blue Plantation, The Heritage Club, TPC of Myrtle Beach and Wild Wing Plantation. A three-bedroom condo was provided by Legends Resort and will serve as home during the visit. PGA TOUR Superstore will give each member of the group a $500 gift card, in addition to custom club-fitting.

The group consists of the Kolodjay family, and friends of the family; Jeff Kolodjay, the unofficial group spokesperson in the numerous national interviews and a resident of Norwalk, Connecticut; his father Rob Kolodjay, who lives in Chicopee, Massachusetts; cousin Jim Stefanik from Chicopee and Jeff’s college golf teammate at Central Connecticut State; Jorge Morgado, Jim’s brother-in-law and also a resident of Chicopee; Rick Delisle, a friend and former coworker of Rob’s in Chicopee; and Dave Carlos, a childhood friend of Jeff’s from Chicopee, and the only member not to have made any of the group’s annual golf trips to the Grand Strand area.

Although a few of the members have traveled by plane since January 15th, many still had reservations about boarding a plane to Myrtle Beach again. After a group meeting to discuss dates and plans, the group decided to travel together and make the 13-hour trip by car.

“On behalf of our group, I’d like to express our most sincere thanks to the Myrtle Beach community, Legends Resort, PGA TOUR Superstore, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, and the many other folks involved in making this return trip possible,” said Kolodjay. “We are extremely grateful for the overall generosity and cannot wait to hit the links in Myrtle Beach! On our last attempt down to the area, we hit a few birdies. This time we hope to make a few!”

“To say that there was an immediate mood change in the airport when the news was broadcast is an understatement,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, “When I heard that Kolodjay’s group was headed to Myrtle Beach to play golf, I knew that we needed to do something to help them. The entire Myrtle Beach golf community has stepped forward to welcome our guests back to the Grand Strand area.”

“Fortunately, this is a story with a happy ending, not only for the Kolodjay group, but everyone who was on the US Airways flight,” Larry Woodberry, Legends Resorts’ vice president of operations, said. “Jeff and his group are repeat guests and therefore part of our extended Legends family. When we heard they wanted to return this spring, we wanted to make sure they were able to experience their trip as it was originally planned.”

"When we heard the guys were headed to Myrtle Beach for a golf vacation and had lost all their golf gear, Martin's PGA TOUR Superstore wanted to provide them with a way to still have the vacation, and not break the bank replacing their equipment," said Bobby Pearson, general manager, Martin's PGA TOUR Superstore. "We hope the $500 gift cards we've provided as well as the club fitting with a Certified Fitting Professional will help them, not only enjoy their vacation, but improve their skills while playing all the great golf courses the Grand Strand has to offer."

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Paula Creamer, Kyle Petty and Samuel L. Jackson Join Monday After the Masters Field

Tue, 7 Apr 2009 12:26:18 EST

April 7, 2009, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament officials announced today that LPGA star Paula Creamer and popular NASCAR driver Kyle Petty headline the latest celebrities to join the field at the 2009 Monday After the Masters Tournament. Actor Samuel L. Jackson and PGA favorite John Daly have also joined the list of professional athletes, celebrities, actors and musicians scheduled to participate next Monday.

After finishing one stroke shy of capturing her first LPGA Major at the Kraft Nabisco Championship Sunday, Kristy McPherson will make her first appearance in the annual celebrity tournament held in North Myrtle Beach, near her hometown of Conway. Fellow Gamecock golfer Kyle Thompson helps provide the South Carolina professional golf connections at the 2009 Monday After the Masters Tournament as he returns to the event.

Former NFL players Jim McMahon, George Rogers, Sterling Sharpe and Kordell Stewart will participate, along with South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier. Former Major League Baseball stars Mickey Tettleton and Chuck Finley will also compete in the 15th annual celebrity golf tournament

Representing the music world are recording artist, and one of the stars of GOLF CHANNEL’s Road Trip: Myrtle Beach Josh Kelley; his younger brother Charles Kelley, of the new country group, Lady Antebellum; R&B singer Javier Colon; pop rock performer Edwin McCain; musician Branford Marsalis; Alter Bridge drummer Scott Phillips; country singers Steve Azar and Johnny Lee; Andrew Copeland of Sister Hazel and Dan Tyminski of Union Station. Actors participating in the 2008 Monday After The Masters include Gary Valentine of “King of Queens”; and comedian Jackie Flynn.

The professional golf field is once again loaded with talent including Woody Austin, Eric Axley, Ricky Barnes, Matt Bettencourt, Kris Blanks, Josh Broadaway, Kris Cox, Chris DiMarco, Ken Duke, Lee Elder, Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, Robert Gamez, Chad Ginn, Billy Kratzert, Spencer Levin, Mark Lye, Jim McGovern, David Mobley, Larry Rinker, Lee Rinker, Nicholas Thompson and Jim Thorpe will participate. Re/Max WLD Champion Carl Wolter is also scheduled to appear.

In February, tournament organizers announced that three sports legends will participate in the 15th annual charity tournament; LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, professional wrestling legend Ric Flair and former Pittsburgh Steeler running back Jerome Bettis.

“We’ve been looking forward to this year’s tournament for awhile and are excited about the great field of professional athletes and celebrities who will us join us next Monday,” said Darius Rucker of Hootie & The Blowfish. “Myrtle Beach is the ‘Golf Capital of the World’ and is the perfect site for our tournament. We hope to see a lot of our friends and fans out at The Dye Club next Monday.”

Monday After The Masters Tournament officials also announced today that a limited number of tickets are still available and can be purchased at the House of Blues, the Barefoot Resort & Golf pro shops, all Ticketmaster outlets or at the Alabama Theatre on April 13th. Tickets are $15 with children 12 years of age and younger admitted free. Children 12 years of age and younger will be admitted free but must pick up a complimentary ticket on the day of the event from the Barefoot Landing general parking area, near the Alabama Theatre. All minors must be escorted by an adult who previously purchased a ticket before the day of the tournament.

All ticket proceeds benefit the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of children in South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation. Last year, the tournament raised $460,000 for the charities.

About the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament
One of the most popular celebrity pro-am golf tournaments in the country, the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament attracts thousands of people who enjoy the music of the two-time Grammy award winners as well as the friendly competition between the band and their celebrity and PGA professional friends. Over the past 14 years, the Monday After The Masters has donated more than $4 million to the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Coach Jim Boeheim to Serve as National Spokesman of Know Your Score Campaign

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:57:36 EST

March 31, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer announced today that Syracuse University head basketball coach Jim Boeheim will serve as the 2009 national spokesman of the “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer” campaign. Boeheim will help spread awareness about prostate cancer research and the importance of regular screening through national and regional interviews, and participate in Myrtle Beach’s “Know Your Score” Celebrity Golf Invitational in August.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer in December of 2001, Boeheim underwent surgery at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, and returned to coaching after missing only three games during the 2001-2002 season. In 2003, he guided the Orange to the 2003 NCAA Championship. Boeheim was the 2005 recipient of the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center’s Inspiration Award for his efforts to raise awareness about prostate cancer and support cancer prevention education. Past Inspiration Award recipients include retired U.S. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and figure skater Scott Hamilton. Boeheim is also one of the leaders of the national Coaches vs. Cancer program, a cooperative fund-raising program of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, Boeheim entered the 2008-2009 season with a career coaching record of 771-278 at his alma mater. During his 33 years of coaching, the New York native has captured a national title, seven Big East regular season titles and five Big East Tournament titles. In 2008, he served as an assistant coach on the USA Basketball Team that captured the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He ranks tenth among active Division I coaches in winning percentage and fifth in victories.

“I am thrilled to join the ‘Know Your Score’ team to help raise money for prostate cancer research,” said Boeheim. “I’ve been involved in athletics all my life and know that teams that are united have better chances of defeating their opponent. Prostate cancer is definitely one of the most difficult challenges that I’ve faced and I look forward to working with the strong team of Zero and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday to help raise money and awareness of the number one health threat to men.”

In April of 2008, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday joined forces with Zero and launched the annual campaign to fight prostate cancer. The “Know Your Score” campaign slogan refers to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test given to men 50 years of age or older to help detect prostate cancer. A low score on the PSA test is good news and is the best screening tool currently available when used with the physical prostate exam, according to Zero.

With the support of the entire Myrtle Beach golf community, more than $100,000 was raised in 2008 for prostate cancer research through closest-to-the-pin contests at area golf courses, a golf tournament and silent auction and fundraisers held at the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship. Zero brought their 40-foot “Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV” to Myrtle Beach twice in 2008 and provided free prostate screens, that normally cost $200 in a doctor’s office, to more than 750 men.

“Jim Boeheim is a Hall of Fame basketball coach and we are honored he will be working with us as the national spokesman of the ‘Know Your Score’ campaign to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer early detection and research,” said Jamie Bearse, COO of ZERO. “As a prostate cancer survivor, Coach Boeheim is uniquely equipped to deliver the message of prostate cancer awareness and early detection. Here’s a man who’s not only a class-act individual but a man who beat cancer and went on to win the NCAA Championship – he’s an inspiration to thousands because of that.”

“We are excited about starting the second year of the ‘Know Your Score’ campaign and look forward to building on our success from the inaugural year,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Myrtle Beach is known as the ‘Golf Capital of the World’ and we see more than one million golfers per year here, most of which are the exact Zero demographic, men who are 45 years of age and older. The entire Myrtle Beach golf community has made a long-term commitment to raise awareness of the dangers of prostate cancer and we believe that Coach Boeheim will convey that message to be screened early and often.

For more information on the campaign, visit KnowYourScoreMB.com or call 1-800-833-8798.

About Zero-the Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. The name conveys what Zero stands for – zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

Zero is committed not only to reducing prostate cancer or alleviating the pain from the disease but to end it. Zero set a goal that all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys. To accomplish this goal, Zero provides comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct more free screenings than ever before. Zero increases research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and assist in the funding for research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information about Zero, visit FightProstateCancer.org.

Palmetto Deadline Approaching

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:06:50 EST

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday to Offer Tournament Footage and Interviews of Hometown Golf Teams to Media

March 20, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Team entries for the 12th annual Spring Palmetto High School Golf Championship, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious junior golf tournaments, will be accepted through Monday, March 23rd.

The 54-hole tournament will be held April 9-11, 2009, at Founders Club at Pawleys Island, Lion’s Paw Golf Links at Ocean Ridge Plantation, Panther’s Run Golf Links at Ocean Ridge Plantation, Prestwick Country Club, Sea Trail Golf Resort – Jones and Byrd courses, Tiger’s Eye Golf Links at Ocean Ridge Plantation, Tradition Golf Club and True Blue Plantation. For the first time in the event’s 11-year history, all final rounds will be played at one facility, Ocean Ridge Plantation, which has three courses participating.

Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the Spring Palmetto High School Golf Championship will welcome more than 70 teams from 12 states and Canada, including Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

The tournament kicks off the first day with a qualifying round to flight each squad and teams then participate in the two-day championship within their flight. In addition to the team competition, medals are awarded to the top individual performers in each flight. By using this qualifying method, the Palmetto High School Golf Championship ensures that teams of all skill levels enjoy a competitive experience.

The Palmetto High School Golf Championships will once again team up with the National High School Golf Coaches Association (NHSGCA) for the annual spring championship.. The NHSGCA is the only national association for high school golf coaches and through the partnership, the Palmetto High School Golf Championships reaches high school golf coaches across the country seeking tournaments for their teams. The NHSGCA also sponsors the Palmetto All-Tournament Team.

Media members interested in obtaining video footage and interviews, for use online or on television, of their hometown golf teams can contact Chris King (cking@golfholiday.com)with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday prior to the tournament.

“The Palmetto High School Golf Championships is one of the most competitive high school team tournaments in the nation,” said Dave Macpherson, Palmetto High School Golf Championships tournament coordinator. “The spring tournament hosted more than 60 teams from 10 states in 2008, and with the assistance of the National High School Golf Coaches Association, we expect a deep field again in April.”

The cost for the three-day tournament is $200 per person with a minimum of four golfers per team. For more information about the 2009 Palmetto High School Golf Championships or to coordinate video, call 1-800-833-8798 or visit PalmettoGolfChampionship.com.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest amateur golf tournament, the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, the Veterans Golf Classic, the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing and the Summer Family Golf Tournaments,. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

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Allegiant Air Adds Nonstop Service Between Allentown, Pa. and Myrtle Beach

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 10:01:25 EST

(ALLENTOWN, Pa.)---Lehigh Valley scores a hole-in-one with Allegiant Air as the low-cost airline announces new, nonstop flights to Myrtle Beach, S.C. from Allentown, Pa. beginning May 3. The low-fare carrier will celebrate the convenient new service to the premier golf and beach destination with introductory fares as low as $49* each way.

“We are extremely pleased to again expand the Allegiant brand of low-fare, nonstop jet service to the Lehigh Valley,” Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., president, CEO and chairman for Allegiant Air, said. “Based on our experience and success within the market, Allentown was chosen as one of only two airports to receive the new service. This is an exciting new addition for our airline and our customers as we launch Allegiant’s unique brand of service between Allentown and Myrtle Beach.”

The self-proclaimed “Official Airline for Sunshine” will launch the new scheduled service from Lehigh Valley International Airport to Myrtle Beach International Airport with two flights weekly. With service Thursday and Sunday, flights will depart Lehigh Valley at 10:55 a.m. arriving in Myrtle Beach at 12:30 p.m. Flights leaving Myrtle Beach will depart at 11:30 a.m. arriving in Lehigh Valley at 1:05 p.m. (all flight times are local.) Allegiant will utilize 150-seat, MD-80 series, jet-aircraft on the route. Allegiant Air also offers low-cost, nonstop service to two other destinations from the Lehigh Valley with nonstop service Orlando, Fla. and the Tampa Bay area.

“The addition of nonstop service to Myrtle Beach from Allegiant Air is another sign of their commitment to the Lehigh Valley region,” Glenn R. Walbert, chairman of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, said. “This announcement comes at a time when most carriers are cutting back on capacity. We hope that golfers and families will take advantage of this new service to a great destination.”

"We look forward to working with Allegiant Air to provide affordable air service from Allentown, Pa. to Myrtle Beach," said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. "This is a great opportunity for Myrtle Beach, as a destination, as we will start with summer service to and from Allentown and grow from there. We are excited to provide a quicker travel method for golfers from Pennsylvania to get to Myrtle Beach and get out on the golf courses."

“We’re excited to see Allegiant add air service to Myrtle Beach,” said Brad Dean, president and CEO, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “Allegiant specializes in package offers, which is a good fit for our destination. Travel packages are a powerful incentive with Myrtle Beach visitors.”

On Tuesday, Allegiant Air announced that it will begin low-fare, nonstop jet service to Myrtle Beach International Airport from Huntington, West Virginia, beginning April 30. The new flights between Myrtle Beach and Huntington will operate twice weekly, with service Thursday and Sunday. Flights leaving Huntington will depart at 9:30 a.m., arriving in Myrtle Beach at 10:50 a.m. Flights will depart Myrtle Beach International Airport at 1:10 p.m., arriving in Tri-State Airport at 2:30 p.m. (all flight times are local.) Allegiant will utilize 150-seat, MD-80 series, jet-aircraft on the route.

Known as the “Golf Capital of the World,” Myrtle Beach offers endless world-class golf and 60 miles of soft, sandy beaches. Recognized as the “World’s Best Beach” and one of the “Top 10 places for Families to Visit in the U.S.” by Yahoo! Travel, the Grand Strand has something for everyone. With more than 100 golf courses to choose from, Myrtle Beach boasts many of the world’s most challenging courses, personally designed by golf greats like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Family fun begins at the beach, inviting visitors to make a splash at any of the many water parks or embark on numerous aquatic adventures like deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, boat rides and jet skiing. The city’s shopping is an adventure all its own featuring fashion, from couture boutiques to flea market districts. Visitors can indulge in the city’s culture by watching award-winning, live entertainment or sampling an assortment of delicious, world cuisine--all while enjoying the ocean view.

The Allegiant Vacations division of the company will offer low-cost packages with many of Myrtle Beach's most exciting hotel properties, including: Bay View Resort, Breaker Resort, Caribbean Resort & Villas, Compass Cove Resort, Dunes Village Resort, Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort, Long Bay Resort and Ocean Reef Resort. The company will provide low-cost car rental service through its partnership with Alamo Rent a Car.

Allegiant’s $49* one-way fares are limited, not available on all flights and must be purchased by March 28, 2009 for complete travel by Sept. 30, 2009. After the introductory fare period, regular one-way fares start as low as $69 one-way. Reservations may be made through the company’s website at www.allegiantair.com, the airline’s Reservations Center at 702-505-8888 or professional travel agents.

About the $49* offer:
*Seats are limited and fares are not available on all flights. All fares are one-way. Must be purchased by March 28, 2009 for travel to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Offer not available: May 22-25, 2009 and July 2-6, 2009. Prices do not include PFC, segment tax or Sept. 11 security fee of up to $10.60 per segment. A segment is one take-off and one landing. A convenience fee of $13.50 per passenger will apply when booked on allegiantair.com. A convenience fee of $13.50 per passenger, plus $10 per segment, will apply when purchased through Allegiant Air call center. Purchases made at any Allegiant Air Airport Ticket Office will not incur a convenience or call-center fee. When purchased at time of booking, a fee of $15 for first checked bag and $25 for second checked bag will apply per person, per segment. If purchased at flight check-in, a fee of $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag per person, per segment will apply. In all cases additional higher fees will apply for three or more checked bags. Fare rules, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Restrictions apply.

About Allegiant Air
Las Vegas based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Orlando, Fla., Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla., Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz., Los Angeles, Calif. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the Company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel related services.

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Allegiant Air Announces New Nonstop Service to Myrtle Beach

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 17:48:58 EST

(March 3, 2009 - MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.)--- Low-cost airline, Allegiant Air, LLC, a subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company (Nasdaq: ALGT) today announced it will begin low-fare, nonstop jet service to Myrtle Beach International Airport from two Allegiant-served markets. The company announced low-cost flights to Huntington, W.V. will begin April 30 and the airline will celebrate the convenient new service to the Tri-State with introductory fares as low as $39* one-way.

“We’re extremely pleased to add Myrtle Beach to our growing roster of world-class leisure destinations,” Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., president, CEO and chairman for Allegiant, said. “This is an exciting new market for our airline and our customers. We look forward to a successful relationship with Myrtle Beach community leaders, Horry County Department of Airports, the local communities and all of our customers.”

The new flights to Huntington will operate twice weekly, with service Thursday and Sunday. Flights leaving Huntington will depart at 9:30 a.m. arriving in Myrtle Beach at 10:50 a.m. Flights will depart Myrtle Beach International Airport at 1:10 p.m. arriving in Tri-State Airport at 2:30 p.m. (all flight times are local.) Allegiant will utilize 150-seat, MD-80 series, jet-aircraft on the route.

"We look forward to working with Allegiant Air to provide affordable air service from Huntington, West Virginia to Myrtle Beach," said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. "This is a great opportunity for Myrtle Beach, as a destination, as we will start with summer service to and from Huntington and grow from there. The West Virginia market is one of our most popular markets and we are excited to provide a quicker travel method for golfers to get to Myrtle Beach and get out on the golf courses."

“The flight to Huntington from Myrtle Beach will connect two great destinations.” Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, said. “Airlines continue to see the value of adding service from West Virginia, and I know this flight will be a success. Access to Myrtle Beach will also promote tourism and economic development in the state. I commend Allegiant Air for choosing Huntington, and I commend the community for making existing air service so successful.”

The company commented that market research and input from local community leaders indicate Myrtle Beach and the Huntington markets will welcome the value and convenience of flying nonstop to/from Myrtle Beach International Airport as an alternative to long drives and connecting flights through congested airports.

Allegiant’s $39* one-way introductory fare to/from Huntington are limited, not available on all flights and must be purchased by March 28, 2009 for complete travel by Sept. 30, 2009. After the introductory fare period, regular one-way fares to/from Huntington start as low as $59 one-way. Reservations may be made through the company’s website at www.allegiantair.com, the airline’s Reservations Center at 702-505-8888 or professional travel agents.

About the offer:
*Seats are limited and fares are not available on all flights. All fares are one-way. Must be purchased by March 28, 2009 for travel to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Offer not available: May 22-25, 2009 and July 2-6, 2009. Prices do not include PFC, segment tax or Sept. 11 security fee of up to $10.60 per segment. A segment is one take-off and one landing. A convenience fee of $13.50 per passenger will apply when booked on allegiantair.com. A convenience fee of $13.50 per passenger, plus $10 per segment, will apply when purchased through Allegiant Air call center. Purchases made at any Allegiant Air Airport Ticket Office will not incur a convenience or call-center fee. When purchased at time of booking, a fee of $15 for first checked bag and $25 for second checked bag will apply per person, per segment. If purchased at flight check-in, a fee of $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag per person, per segment will apply. In all cases additional higher fees will apply for three or more checked bags. Fare rules, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Restrictions apply.

About Allegiant Air
Las Vegas based Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Orlando, Fla. and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the Company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel related services.

Three Sports Legends to Appear at 2009 Monday After the Masters

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 17:46:28 EST

February 23, 2009, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament organizers announced today that LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, professional wrestling legend Ric Flair and former Pittsburgh Steeler running back Jerome Bettis will participate in this year’s event to be held April 13 at The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Sorenstam retired from the LPGA TOUR in 2008 after a storied 14-year professional golf career, and still holds LPGA records with 70 tournament victories, 10 Majors championships and more than $20 million in career earnings. Sorenstam was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame and the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2003.

Known to wrestling fans as “The Nature Boy,” Flair has been one of wrestling’s most recognizable stars since the 1970’s. Flair captured 16 world championships with World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance and is known for his trademark expression “woooooooo.” Flair retired in 2008 after a 36-year wrestling career.

One of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL, Jerome “The Bus” Bettis finished his 13-year NFL career as the league’s fifth all-time leading rusher with more than 13,600 yards and 94 touchdowns. Bettis retired after leading Pittsburgh to a 2006 Super Bowl victory over the Rams, and currently serves as a football analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America” studio show.

“Having Annika, Ric and Jerome Bettis at the 2009 Monday After the Masters adds to a long list of athletes who have joined us and are considered the greatest at what they do,” said Darius Rucker, lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish. “The names of athletes and celebrities who have participated over the last 15 years goes on and on, but “The Nature Boy” is universally considered the greatest professional wrestler of all time. Flair is also one of the coolest people I have ever met in my life. His coolness is in that category reserved for Mr. Sinatra, Quincy Jones, Tommy Armor III and a few others. “Natch” has been a good friend for years and I am overwhelmed that he is coming. The hours and hours of enjoyment he gave me until the day he retired are a big part of who I am. And the wonderful white robe that the band bought for me years ago is the centerpiece of my sports collection.”

Monday After the Masters tournament tickets go on sale Saturday, February 28 at 10:00 a.m. at the House of Blues, the Barefoot Resort & Golf pro shops and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets are $15 with children 12 years of age and younger admitted free. All ticket proceeds benefit the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of children in South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation. Last year, the event recorded its third consecutive sell-out and raised an all-time high of $460,000 for the charities.

Volunteers are needed for the Monday After the Masters to assist with the transportation and marshaling committees. Please contact Alexa Devine at (843) 881-2532 or smudevine@aol.com. For more information on volunteer opportunities, visit www.HootieGolf.com/volunteers.asp.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday has been involved in all six of the Monday After the Masters Tournaments held on the Grand Strand.

“We are excited to host our seventh Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament here in Myrtle Beach,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The Monday After the Masters Tournament has meant so much to the state of South Carolina and we are proud to help present an event that helps fund the state’s junior golf and education programs and attract more national media attention to the Myrtle Beach area.”

The field for past Monday After the Masters tournaments has typically included many of the biggest names in music, television and movies, sports and the professional golf world. Celebrities who have participated in the annual tournament have included actor Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Sorbo of “Meet the Spartans” and actor Anthony Anderson from “Law & Order”. From the sports world, the annual tournament has welcomed former NFL stars Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Jim McMahon and Sterling Sharpe; University of South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier and ESPN analyst Lou Holtz.

The professional golf field has always been well represented with Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Andy North, Woody Austin, J.B. Holmes, Kenny Perry, Ricky Barnes, Rich Beem, Lee Elder and Robert Gamez having participated in past years.

Monday’s post-golf concert from the House of Blues has featured legendary performances from Hootie & the Blowfish and their musical guests. The concert has enjoyed tremendous popularity over the past 14 years with the list of past performers including Meat Loaf, Branford Marsalis, Jason Mraz, Josh Kelley, Sister Hazel and Edwin McCain. The concert has drawn many other celebrities to the stage including John Daly, Samuel L. Jackson, Stuart Scott and Dan Patrick. This year's concert will be limited to the sponsors of the pro-am only.

About the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament
One of the most popular celebrity pro-am golf tournaments in the country, the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament attracts thousands of people who enjoy the music of the two-time Grammy award winners as well as the friendly competition between the band and their celebrity and PGA professional friends. Over the past 14 years, the Monday After the Masters has donated more than $4 million to the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

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Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame Announces Inaugural Inductees

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:23:25 EST

February 10, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Representatives of Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc. and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today the six inaugural inductees in the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame. Clay Brittain, Jr., W. Cecil Brandon, Carolyn Cassidy Cudone, Jimmy D’Angelo, General James F. Hackler, Jr. and Robert White will be the individuals honored during the March 12th Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Pine Lakes Country Club, the home of the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame.

Individuals were nominated by members of the Myrtle Beach golf industry and the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame Board reviewed each nomination before selecting the most outstanding candidates.

Clay Brittain, Jr. played an instrumental role in uniting the golf and tourism industries in Myrtle Beach. Brittain was an important partner in the birth of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday in 1967. In 1971, he was one of the original owners of the Myrtle Beach National Company and as the president, developed it into one of the largest course and accommodations ownership groups in the Southeast.

Through his tireless marketing efforts, W. Cecil Brandon brought worldwide recognition to the Myrtle Beach area and to the state of South Carolina. One of the founding fathers of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, Brandon has long been credited as the mastermind behind Myrtle Beach’s booming golf industry. He worked closely with the PGA TOUR to build the Tournament Players Club of Myrtle Beach for six consecutive years

Carolyn Cassidy Cudone will be remembered as the pioneer of the Myrtle Beach Junior Golf Association. Cudone was the driving force behind the area’s original junior golf program over the next 20 years. Thanks to her insight and hard work, more than 15 Grand Strand area junior golfers earned college golf scholarships.

Jimmy D’Angelo’s marketing acumen helped brand Myrtle Beach as a major golf destination. His brainchild, the 1954 testimonial dinner for course architect Robert Trent Jones, quickly developed into the annual Golf Writers Association of America Championship, a media tournament tradition that ensured Myrtle Beach an audience with the golf media industry.

General James F. Hackler, Jr. revolutionized the Myrtle Beach golf industry by combining tee times and accommodations to form the first golf package. He was also instrumental in the 1972 opening of Bay Tree Golf Plantation, Myrtle Beach’s first three-course facility, and helped bring the 1977 LPGA Championship to Bay Tree, attracting national media attention to the Grand Strand area.

Robert White was the original architect of Myrtle Beach’s first golf course, the Ocean Forest Country Club, that opened in that 1927, now known as Pine Lakes Country Club. He was chosen as the first president of the United States Professional Golf Association of America when it was founded in 1916 and he served in the position until 1920.

“We are excited to open the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame and feel that these six individuals really exemplify the intent of the Hall of Fame; to honor the men and women who played significant roles in all aspects of the Myrtle Beach area golf industry,” said Bob Swezey, executive vice president of golf and resort operations for Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc. “The Board received more than 30 nominations for the inaugural class of 2009 and it was a very difficult decision to narrow the nominees down to the six names. We applaud the dedication and commitment by these individuals to the Myrtle Beach community.”

The Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame was created in September 2008, in conjunction with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, to honor the men and women who have played significant roles in all aspects of the Myrtle Beach area golf industry, from teaching to playing; course design and construction to administration. The Hall of Fame reopening will be held in conjunction with the reopening of Pine Lakes Country Club and will be situated in Pine Lake’s new Hall of Fame Garden adjacent to the newly renovated clubhouse. Each inductee will be honored in the garden surrounding the Sports Illustrated monument that memorializes the birthplace of the magazine at Pine Lakes in 1954. Six inductees will be honored in 2009 with additional members inducted each April on the anniversary of the PGA of America’s foundation; in honor of Robert White, the designer and first professional at Pine Lakes, as well as the first president of the PGA of America.

“March 12th will be a special day as we honor the individuals who helped make the Myrtle Beach area the unparalleled golf destination in the world,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The Hall of Fame Board had a difficult decision to pick the inaugural inductees and we congratulate the six selections and thank them for their service to our golf and travel industries.”

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

About Pine Lakes Country Club
Pine Lakes Country Club, Myrtle Beach’s first golf resort, has served as the epitome of the traditional golf resort since opening in 1927 as the Ocean Forest Golf Club. Designed by St. Andrews, Scotland native Robert White, Pine Lakes put Myrtle Beach on the map as the destination of choice for the country’s wealthiest families. Owned and operated by Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc., Pine Lakes just completed an extensive 20-month, multi-million dollar restoration project that has transformed the course and clubhouse back to the status enjoyed in earlier days. The restoration of the course was directed by well-known golf course architect Craig Schreiner who preserved many of the historical golf corridors that made Pine Lakes famous throughout the years. For more information, visit PineLakes.com.

About Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc.
Burroughs & Chapin’s residential developments include the award-winning Grande Dunes, a 2,200-acre four-star community stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to west across the Intracoastal Waterway. Burroughs & Chapin has created numerous commercial developments offering national and regional name brand shopping. These include Broadway at the Beach – an award-winning 350-acre festival shopping, entertainment and dining complex surrounding the 22-acre Lake Broadway; Coastal Grand Mall, a one million square foot regional shopping mall joint ventured with CBL & Associates Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Seaboard Commons; South Strand Commons; Arcadian Shores Commons; and many smaller “jewel box” centers.

Burroughs & Chapin Golf Management offers many of the finest 18-hole championship golf courses in Myrtle Beach, including the Resort Club and Members Club at Grande Dunes, Pine Lakes Country Club, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Tidewater Golf Club and Plantation, Meadowlands Golf Club, Farmstead Golf Links and River Hills Golf Club. The management group also handles two Par 3 courses, five themed mini-golf courses and supervision of the Ripken Baseball operations in Myrtle Beach.

A leader in golf and vacation packages, Burroughs & Chapin’s Myrtle Beach Trips offers visitors to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand the “one call” convenience of a direct connection to the most popular attractions in the area and packages them together in a variety of ways to suit different tastes and budgets. With one easy call to Myrtle Beach Trips at 1-800-819-2282, visitors can unlock all the thrills and excitement of many of America’s favorite family seaside destinations.

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World Am Receives International Netowrk of Golf Award

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 15:24:24 EST

February 3, 2009, Orlando, Fla. – The International Network of Golf (ING) announced Friday that the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship was selected as the 2008 recipient of the “Tournament Service” award during the 16^th annual ING Industry Honors press conference at the 2009 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

The “Tournament Service” award is presented annually in recognition of an individual or group that has made outstanding contributions to a local or national event by virtue of actions or the development of a concept that improves tournament golf for everyone. The World Am was joined on the final “Tournament Service” ballot by the Tiger Woods Foundation Chevron Charity Tournament and the Trashmasters International. First presented in 2001, past award recipients include Brad Faxon/the Billy Andrade Charity Event; Chick-Fil-A; ATT Pebble Beach Pro-Am; Heather Farr Leader Dog and the EWGA Golf Committee.

“Year after year, the World Am is one of the great stories in golf,” said ING President Mike Jamison. “Just to pull off an event of this magnitude is amazing in and of itself. To do it with consistency and style for 25 years is a feat to be admired. It’s a well-deserved award.”

Called by some the “Academy Awards of the golf industry,” the ING Industry Honors program is conducted by the non-profit International Network of Golf to recognize outstanding achievement in the golf business. Nominations were accepted throughout the year from anyone in the golf industry. Sub-committees trimmed the nominee list down to the top three in each category. ING members then voted electronically to determine the winners, who receive a beautiful statue from Heritage Creations in New York.

Other individuals and companies honored in the 2008 ING Industry Honors included Total Golf Adventures – Business Achievement; Mike Dasher, Dubsdread Golf Club – Golf Course Design; Total Golf Adventures – Player Development; Pinehurst Resort – Travel & Real Estate Print Advertising; Adidas – Trade Publications Print Advertising; Tour Edge Media Day – Public Relations/Promotions; Titleist, “I Mark My Ball” – TV Commercials; Cobra Drivers – TV commercial series; Emerging Companies, Rife Putters – Product Ingenuity/Emerging Companies and Bridgestone B330-RX Golf Ball – Product Ingenuity/Market Leaders

Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, The PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole tournament played on more than 50 Myrtle Beach area golf courses each August. More than 3,800 participants from all 50 states and more than 30 countries come to Myrtle Beach to compete for the crown of “World Amateur Golf Champion” and to win a share of the $250,000 in prizes given away at the tournament. Players are flighted according to their handicap and at the conclusion of the 72 holes, flight winners advance to the 18-hole world championship playoff at the renowned Dunes Golf and Beach Club. Each evening after tournament play, participants and their guests attend the “World’s Largest 19^th Hole” at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center which includes an extensive golf exposition, equipment demos, entertainment, open bars, prize drawings and food from Myrtle Beach’s best restaurants.

“We’re excited to accept the “Tournament Service” award and thank ING members for recognizing the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship after the 25^th anniversary celebration in 2008,” said Bill Golden, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday President. “The World Am is truly the only amateur golf tournament in the world that gives amateur golfers the opportunity to play in a U.S. Open type event. I served as the World Am Tournament Director early in my career and can tell you from experience the amount of planning and work that Dave Mcpherson and his staff put in all year to make sure that the tournament runs without a hitch for all 4,000 golfers every August.”

Always scheduled the week before Labor Day, the 26th annual PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship will be held August 24 – 28, 2009. For more information on the 2009 PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, visit WorldAmGolf.com.

About the International Network of Golf

The International Network of Golf is a non-profit, media-based networking organization whose mission is to enhance and promote communication and education in golf. Membership is open to anyone in the golf industry, related industries and media.

ING exists to bring golf media together with representatives from all walks of the golf industry to discuss issues, exchange information and improve communication. The group, which was formed 19 years ago, hosts the annual ING Spring Conference May 17-21, 2009 at French Lick Resort in Indiana. Educational seminars, product testing, an appointment show and networking opportunities highlight the schedule. For more information regarding ING, call 407-328-0500 or visit www.inggolf.com.

About PGA TOUR Superstores

PGA TOUR Superstores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc. (GTPS), headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. Each Superstore is dedicated to providing consumers with exceptional selection, services and prices within an entertaining, interactive store environment. GTPS is the PGA TOUR’s exclusive PGA TOUR partner for off-course/off-airport golf retailing. Two Superstores operate as Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Four Superstores operate in the Atlanta area (Roswell, Kennesaw, Duluth, Buckhead) and two stores operate in the Dallas, Texas area as PGA TOUR Superstore. Future expansion plans also include locations in Orlando, Fla.; Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Ariz.; and the Southern California cities of Los Angeles and San Diego in the near future. All Superstores are focused on game improvement in golf and tennis, as well as growing the games. Each store offers swing analysis, golf instruction by professional instructors, club fittings, indoor practice greens, and hitting nets, as well as golf and tennis apparel, golf-themed home furnishings, and a vast selection of golf and tennis equipment. The PGA TOUR Superstore’s Web site address is pgatoursuperstore.com.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 78 championship golf courses, 115 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Know Your Score Campaign Against Prostate Cancer Raises $105,000 in Inaugural Year

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 10:23:01 EST

February 2, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Zero – the Fight to End Prostate Cancer announced today that $105,000 was raised during the inaugural 2008 “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer” campaign with all proceeds benefitting Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer. Five events were held during the calendar year to help raise money for prostate cancer research and to encourage men to undergo early and frequent screening.

“The Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer campaign began when members of the Myrtle Beach golf community brought to our attention the need for prostate cancer research funding and to help make men aware of the importance of undergoing early and frequent screening,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Since many of the one million golfers who visit Myrtle Beach annually fall in Zero’s target audience, we felt that it was a natural partnership. The entire Grand Strand golf community has united to make a long-term commitment to the Zero-the Fight to End Prostate Cancer and we are already planning for a bigger and better 2009.”

In April of 2008, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday joined forces with Zero and launched the campaign by announcing that former Cincinnati Red outfielder Ken Griffey, Sr. would serve as the honorary chairman of the “Know Your Score” campaign. A prostate cancer survivor, Griffey’s year-long role as included spreading awareness about the importance of prostate cancer research and testing through national and regional interviews, and by participating in “Know Your Score” events during the year.

To celebrate the “Know Your Score” campaign, Zero brought their 40-foot “Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV” to Myrtle Beach in April and again in August and provided free prostate tests to the more than 750 men took advantage of the opportunity.

Each Saturday in April, 30 Myrtle Beach area golf courses hosted closest-to-the-pin contests with $38,000 raised in donations over the four-week period. The contests were repeated in on four consecutive Saturdays in October and November on 27 Myrtle Beach courses with $7,000 in donations raised.

On August 23, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday hosted the inaugural Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament at The Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. with a nationally-known celebrity joining each of the 25 foursomes. Ken Griffey, Sr. served as the tournament host and was joined by entertainment personalities and former professional athletes including Henry Cho, a nationally-known comedian who has appeared on the Comedy Channel and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and XM Radio’s “Laugh USA”; Bobby Cremins, current College of Charleston head basketball coach who also led the Georgia Tech program for 19 years; 17-year Major League Baseball veteran and former Cincinnati Red “Big Red Machine” outfielder George Foster; TNT’s Emmy-Award-wining golf reporter Jim Huber; Sam Jones, one of the key members of the 1950s and 1960s Boston Celtics that won 10 NBA Championships during his 12 years; Hal King, a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ 1973 Western Division-winning squad; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; Ewa Mataya Laurance, World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion and Tony Womack, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Championship team.

After golf, tournament participants and guests attended a dinner gala and silent auction where they were able to bid on sports and entertainment memorabilia after dinner. In total, the tournament, gala and silent auction raised $50,000.

“There is a charity tournament on every corner of every town on every week of the year; Cystic Fibrosis, child’s care and cancer research,” said Jim Huber. “And yet playing in the Know Your Score tournament digs in personally to every man involved. It is a part of our makeup, resides in our fear corner, demands our attention. I’ve made it a point to know my score for thirty years now, far earlier than necessary, but it has been a bi-annual bout with reality. One every man must have. The more who know this, the fewer who will die.”

During the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, held in Myrtle Beach, August 25–28, $5,000 was raised from participating golfers from all 50 states and 32 countries. Each night at the World Am’s 19^th Hole at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, golfers participated in closest-to-the pin contests and purchased tickets to play billiards against Ewa Laurance. Golfers who defeated Laurance received PGA TOUR Superstore gift cards and were registered to win a five-night, four-day Dominican Republic vacation.

“Prostate cancer is diagnosed every 2 1/2 minutes in America and we thank Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and our local partners for taking a leadership role in bringing this important issue to the golf community,” said Jamie Bearse, Chief Operating Officer of the Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer. “The tireless work by board members and the staff at MBGH as well as countless volunteers have helped us move closer to the day where we will see zero prostate cancer cases and deaths. We look forward to building on our program in 2009 and invite anyone who has a stake in this cause to join us today.”

About Zero-the Project to End Prostate Cancer

Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. The name conveys what Zero stands for – zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

Zero is committed not only to reducing prostate cancer or alleviating the pain from the disease but to end it. Zero set a goal that all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys. To accomplish this goal, Zero provides comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct more free screenings than ever before. Zero increases research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and assist in the funding for research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information about Zero, visit FightProstateCancer.org.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 76 championship golf courses, 107 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

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Monday After the Masters Breaks Donation Record in 2008

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:10:39 EST

NEWS RELEASE

For More Information, Contact:

Cheryl Harden or Erin Barrett, Brandon Advertising and Public Relations, (843) 916-2000

Susan Graham, Fishco Management, (803) 254-6977 or Susan@hootie.com

HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH MONDAY AFTER THE MASTERS CELEBRITY PRO-

AM GOLF TOURNAMENT SETS RECORD IN 2008 WITH $460,000 IN DONATIONS

Monday After the Masters to Mark 15^th Anniversary in 2009 on Easter Weekend

December 19, 2008 Columbia, S.C. – Monday After The Masters tournament organizers announced today that proceeds from the 2008 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament totaled $460,000, breaking the previous high from 2007 of $456,000. The 2008 Monday After The Masters recorded the third consecutive sell-out in the 14-year history of the tournament as more than 6,000 fans packed The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf in North Myrtle Beach on April 7^th to see their favorite celebrities, athletes and musicians compete in the annual charity golf tournament.

Donations from the 2008 Monday After The Masters were distributed to the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, bringing the total amount of money donated to charity from the tournament to over $4 million during the event’s 14-year history.

“In the light of this harsh economy, it is nice to see such a huge donation to charity.” said Darius Rucker. “We are very proud of our tournament and can’t wait for next year.”

The Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation is an endowment created to support the educational and golf needs of children in South Carolina. With the funds from The Monday After The Masters, The Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation has helped many South Carolina educational programs throughout the site including restoring music programs through Save the Music, provide funding for the Countdown to Kindergarten through First Steps facilitate a place where parents and children can learn to use computers at Family Learning Centers, and have recently contributed to Save The Children, an after school program providing services that give children a healthy start in life and a chance to escape poverty. The funding from Monday After The Masters has also helped build four First Tee facilities throughout the state where kids can go learn to play the game of golf.

Sponsored by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the 2009 Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament will once again be held at The Dye Club Barefoot Resort & Golf on Easter Weekend, Monday, April 13^th, 2009. In the six years that Myrtle Beach served as the tournament site, the Monday After The Masters has raised more than $2.5 million for golf and educational charities in South Carolina.

About the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament

Recently named by Golf for Women Magazine as one of the most popular celebrity pro-am golf tournaments in the country, the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament attracts thousands of people who enjoy the music of the two-time Grammy award winners as well as the friendly competition between the band and their celebrity and PGA professional friends. Over the past 14 years, the Monday After The Masters has donated more than $4 million to the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of South Carolina, and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

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Myrtle Beach Gains Direct Flight from Chicago, Beginning March 1, 2009

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:30:48 EST

December 18, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Spirit Airlines announced plans today to start daily flights between Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Chicago, Ill., beginning March 1, 2009. With the addition of the Spirit flight to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Myrtle Beach International Airport now offers direct flights to 15 cities in the United States.

During the March 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009 time frame, Spirit’s daily Chicago (ORD) to Myrtle Beach, S.C., (MYR) and Myrtle Beach to Chicago (ORD), flight schedule information is as follows:

From: To: Leave: Arrive: Flight No.

ORD MYR 2:15 p.m. 5:25 p.m. 843

From: To: Leave: Arrive: Flight No.

MYR ORD 11:00 a.m. 12:20 p.m. 842

During the May 1, 2009 – November 11, 2009 time frame, Spirit’s daily Chicago (ORD) to Myrtle Beach, S.C., (MYR) and Myrtle Beach to Chicago (ORD), flight schedule information is as follows:

From: To: Leave: Arrive: Flight No.

ORD MYR 1:10 p.m. 4:20 p.m. 843

From: To: Leave: Arrive: Flight No.

MYR ORD 1:00 p.m. 2:20 p.m. 842

“The Chicago area has been one of our top vacation markets for many years so we are excited to partner with Spirit Airlines to bring nonstop flights that are economically priced and timely to golfers and vacationing families,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The new service between Chicago and Myrtle Beach also presents exciting new opportunities for Myrtle Beach residents to visit Chicago and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday looks forward to working with Spirit Airlines to help promote the flights.”

“We’d like to thank the Myrtle Beach community for their support and look forward to continuing to serve this market with low fares and no hidden fees,” said Spirit’s Chief Marketing Officer Barry Biffle.

The new service will be flown on Spirit’s young fleet of Airbus A319s, which accommodate up to 145 passengers. Flights can be booked via www.spiritair.com or by calling 1-800-772-7117.

About Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines, Inc. (www.spiritair.com) is the largest Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC) in the United States, Latin America and Caribbean. Its all-Airbus fleet, the youngest in the Americas, flies more than 200 daily flights to 43 destinations. The company is based in Miramar, Florida, and employs 2,300 professionals.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach and Coastal SC Named Top Golf Destination of the Year

Mon, 8 Dec 2008 14:30:35 EST

December 8, 2008, Marabella, Spain – The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) announced that Coastal South Carolina was selected as the “2009 Established Golf Destination of the Year – North America” during the organization’s annual conference which was held in Marbella, Spain in November. Comprised of the Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Hilton Head areas of the Palmetto State, the Coastal South Carolina region was chosen by IAGTO industry members based on criteria such as customer satisfaction, quality of golf courses and accommodations, value for money, accessibility of tee times, speed of communication and the quality of service of the golf resort sales, marketing, administration, reservation, and management staff.

“We’re excited to have been honored by this distinguished group of international tour operators who represent 74 countries,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Thanks to the leadership efforts of Gary Edwards from Coastal South Carolina, USA, our international marketing agency, we validated our statement that South Carolina is a great choice for golf. With more than 100 golf courses and the reputation as the ‘Golf Capital of the World,’ Myrtle Beach is the largest of the three Coastal South Carolina USA golf destinations and we look forward to hosting more international golfers in the future.”

“We congratulate Coastal South Carolina for capturing the “2009 Established Golf Destination of The Year – North America” award,” said Peter Walton, Chief Executive Officer of the London-based IAGTO. “The combination of Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, and Charleston make a very compelling story, whether told individually or collectively. In fact, each of the Coastal South Carolina regions fared very well in their own right with the voting process.”

Fifty-six IAGTO members from 17 countries visited Myrtle Beach earlier in May as part of a tour of coastal South Carolina. The members played golf at many of the “Top 100” courses in the Myrtle Beach area and dined at well-known area restaurants, in addition to attending their IAGTO meetings.

About IAGTO

IAGTO is the global trade organization for the golf tourism industry, comprising more than 1,130 companies in 74 countries, including over 330 specialist golf tour operators in 46 countries. Established in 1997, IAGTO operators control more than 80 percent of golf vacation packages sold worldwide (outside of Asia) and with a $1 billion turnover in 2007.

About Coastal South Carolina, USA

Coastal South Carolina USA is an international destination marketing organization for Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Hilton Head Island. Its membership consists of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Charleston Golf Inc, Charleston County Aviation Authority, Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Road Trip: Myrtle Beach Returns to GOLF CHANNEL

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:51:53 EST

The four episodes will feature the four-person cast of former PGA TOUR professional and current ESPN commentator Charlie Rymer, Hootie & the Blowfish band member Mark Bryan, musician Josh Kelley and Duramed FUTURES Tour player Perry Swenson. In this series of four episodes, the foursome played golf at Glen Dornoch Golf Links, Leopard’s Chase Golf Club, River’s Edge Golf Club and Thistle Golf Club. After the golf, the cast paid visits to popular Myrtle Beach area restaurants and attractions such as Martini’s, The Parson’s Table, Alligator Adventure, House of Blues, Crab Catchers and the North Myrtle Beach Fishing Fleet.

On the November 25^th episode, the Road Trip: Myrtle Beach cast welcomes a guest star to the show, Kelly Thurman of Alpharetta, Georgia. Thurman entered Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday’s contest held over the summer and won an expense-paid trip to Myrtle Beach and an appearance on the show. Thurman submitted a video explaining why he was the perfect candidate for the guest star role. In addition to being an avid golfer and a big fan of the show, Thurman also showed his talents as a banjo player and joined musicians Josh Kelley and Mark Bryan on stage at the wrap party.

“We’ve enjoyed working with GOLF CHANNEL and the Road Trip: Myrtle Beach cast to provide golfers with an authentic look at what a Grand Strand golf vacation is all about,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Through the course of the show’s 12 episodes, we’ve introduced Myrtle Beach area golf courses, accommodations, restaurants and after-golf entertainment to an audience of 110 million homes in 50 countries. Millions of golfers have seen why Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is known as the greatest golf destination in the world.”

Road Trip: Myrtle Beach is a 12-episode series that follows Rymer, Bryan, Kelley and Swenson as they enjoy an extended Myrtle Beach golf vacation. Each episode takes place at a different Grand Strand golf course and features light-hearted banter between cast members, course information and videos, game management tips and golf instruction by Rymer, the foursome’s activities after golf at area restaurants and night spots and live, original music, including the show’s theme song that was written and recorded by Bryan and Kelley. The show’s fifth recurring member, a 1962 red convertible Cadillac, is easily recognizable as it transports the foursome along the Grand Strand.

Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, developed and executive produced by GOLF CHANNEL, is produced by Mickey Holden of the Holden Production Group. Holden has 25 years of experience providing original programming to network television. Some of his recent projects include CBS’ “Jack at Augusta,” The Food Network’s “Food Camp,” “Bragging Rights” on The Tennis Channel, “The Wandering Golfer” on Fine Living and “Tiger at 3” on CBS.

About GOLF CHANNEL

GOLF CHANNEL (GolfChannel.com), co-founded by Arnold Palmer and a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMSK), is available in more than 110 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies. It features a programming schedule that includes more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, as well as news, instruction and original productions, such as the popular Big Break. GOLF CHANNEL became the exclusive cable home of the PGA TOUR in 2007, and televises part or all of every PGA TOUR event. In addition, the network is exclusive television home of the Nationwide Tour, European Tour and Canadian Tour, and the exclusive cable home of the Champions Tour. Also featured is a generous mix of other competition from the LPGA Tour, USGA, PGA of America, Asian Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour of Southern Africa.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 78 championship golf courses, 108 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com

Grand Strand Courses Named to GOLF Magazine's "Top 100 You Can Play" Ranking

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:43:48 EST

October 22, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – GOLF Magazine has named four Myrtle Beach area courses to its prestigious “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” list, which was published in the magazine’s September 2008 issue. The prestigious list, which ranks America’s best public access courses, recognized Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, The Love Course at Barefoot Resort and Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation.

Caledonia was the Grand Strand’s highest ranked course, at No. 25 with The Dunes Club at No. 47 and The Love Course at Barefoot Resort at No. 86. Tidewater, a longtime resident on the ranking, rejoined the list at No. 100, after missing the 2006 ranking. Caledonia and Dunes Club were members of the biennial list in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 while The Love Course at Barefoot Resort debuted in 2006 and moved up nine spots in 2008.

GOLF Magazine debuted an additional ranking of the best courses in every state in 2008 entitled “The Best Courses Near You.” South Carolina placed 20 courses on the inaugural ranking with 13 of the courses located along the Grand Strand area and six courses in the Top 10. Caledonia led the “Best Courses Near You” ranking at No.3; Dunes Club followed at No. 4; The Love Course at Barefoot Resort was No. 6; Tidewater came in at No.7; The Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort ranked No. 7; True Blue at No. 9; TPC Myrtle Beach at No. 11; The Heathland Course at Legends Resort at No. 12; Heritage Club at No. 14; Glen Dornoch at No. 16; King’s North at Myrtle Beach National at No. 17; Grande Dunes at No. 18 and Pawleys Plantation at No. 19.

The North Carolina state ranking also contained an additional five more Grand Strand area courses; Rivers Edge at No.7; Leopard’s Chase at No. 8; Tiger’s Eye at No. 9; Oyster Bay at No.11 and The Rees Jones Course at Sea Trail at No. 17.

“The quality of the Myrtle Beach golf experience has never been better as the Grand Strand area placed more courses on the GOLF Magazine rankings than any other golf destination in the nation, east of the Mississippi,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “It’s a tremendous honor for Caledonia, The Dunes Club, The Love Course and Tidewater to earn a spot among ‘America’s Top 100’ public courses, and a feather in the cap for the entire Grand Strand area to have so many courses recognized on the best of South Carolina and North Carolina list.”

Only courses open to the public are considered for GOLF Magazine’s list. A ballot with more than 400 daily-fee, resort, and semi-private courses was sent to a trusted panel of PGA section directors, regional golf association directors, golf writers, and well-traveled members of the golf community. The “Top 100” ballot was posted on GOLF Magazine’s web site, GolfOnline.com for a few weeks last spring. Members of the public who had played at least 20 courses on the list were invited to vote.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 115 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

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Two Grand Strand Golf Schools Ranked in Top 25

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:45:16 EST

October 22, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. –GOLF Magazine has named two Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday members to its prestigious 2007-2008 ranking of the “Top 25 Golf Schools in America.” The Classic Swing Golf School and the Phil Ritson-Mel Sole Golf School were each recognized as two of the top golf schools in America, according to GOLF Magazine's biennial ranking of the nation's golf schools just published in the November issue. The two schools were the only golf academies in the state of South Carolina to be honored.

The “Top 25 Golf Schools in America” ranking was launched in 1999 and the top golf schools are selected by the GOLF Magazine Golf School Evaluation Panel after reviewing each school’s basic structure and qualifications. The panel compares each school with the defining criteria includingthe breadth of instructional programs; the student-to-teacher ratio; the advanced golf technology applied to instruction; the total number ofinstruction hours, thefacilities and accommodations provided and the level of experience of the teaching professionals.

“Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is known for its quality and quantity of public golf courses and this honor from GOLF Magazine further reinforces the fact that the Grand Strand area is the top golf destination in the world, whether you are coming to play a few rounds or to receive instruction from nationally-recognized PGA teaching professionals,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Classic Swing Golf School and Ritson-Sole Golf School are two of the best in Myrtle Beach and in the country and represent the state of South Carolina well.”

Located at Legends Golf Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Classic Swing Golf School opened in 1992 and was previously recognized by GOLF Magazine in their 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 rankings. According to GOLF Magazine, the Classic Swing Golf School offers “flexibility-based lessons that get the most of your swing.”

“There are hundreds of golf schools across the country who compete for this ranking each year and we feel blessed to have been recognized by GOLF Magazine as one of the ‘Top 25 Golf Schools in America’,” said Ted Frick, CEO and director of instruction at Classic Swing Golf School. “This honor is a reflection of the level of teaching experience and the hard work by our PGA and LPGA professionals on staff, our 30-acre indoor-outdoor practice facility here at Legends, our curriculum to provide the most personalized instruction, the longevity of our program and the number of students who have come through our school in the past 16 years.”

Launched in 1989 at Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club in Pawleys Island, S.C., the Phil Ritson-Mel Sole Golf School has been named one of the “Top 25 Golf Schools in America” each year since the ranking’s inception in 1999. According to GOLF Magazine, “This group has done it longer and better than any school.”

“We are honored to be recognized once again as one of the best golf schools in the country,” said Mel Sole, Ritson-Sole Golf School owner and director of instruction. “Our goal is to grow the game of golf by offering a first-class experience that many golfers can afford. By offering rates considerably lower than most of our competitors, we truly offer students a great value.”

About the Classic Swing Golf School

The Classic Swing Golf School teaches golf on an individual basis. Personal attention, quality instruction, and a time-honored curriculum are factors that have made the school a success since the opening in 1992 Led by nationally-acclaimed teaching professionals, Classic Swing Golf School does not rebuild or tear down swings but reprograms through proper information. Led by CEO and director of Instruction Ted Frick and his staff of PGA teaching professionals, Classic Swing Golf School instructors evaluate every student's body type, personality, skill level, and golf goals using state-of-the-art technology, such as high speed video analysis and the latest teaching aids. The entire staff is dedicated to helping each student achieve his/her golf goals while exceeding their expectations. Conveniently located at Legends Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Classic Swing Golf School strives to provide the highest quality instruction along with the most fun and relaxing environment available. For more information, visit classicswing.com or call (800) 827-2656.

About the Ritson-Sole Golf School

The Phil Ritson-Mel Sole Golf School provides personalized instruction for all golfers from beginner to advanced, and also specializes in working with corporate clients. The teaching principles were developed by Phil Ritson, former coach to Gary Player and other PGA stars and and Mel Sole, one of GOLF Magazine’s “Top Teachers of the Southeast Region” and a veteran of the South African PGA Tour.” One of only six academies to remain on Golf Magazine's prestigious “Top 25 Golf Schools” list since the ranking debuted in 1999, the school has consistently been rated by national golf and travel magazines as one of the best golf schools in the United States.

The Ritson-Sole Golf School is headquartered at Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club in Pawleys Island, S.C. The deluxe accommodations, clubhouse, restaurants, and the beautiful and challenging Jack Nicklaus signature course, provide a fabulous vacation for the golfer attending the academy. Other Ritson-Sole Golf School locations include Conyers, Ga. (Atlanta); Blue Springs Mo., (Kansas City); Greenville S.C.; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Ellicottville N.Y.; and Malinalco, Mexico. For more information on the Phil Ritson-Mel Sole Golf School contact the school at (800) 624-4653 or visit ritson-sole.com.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Area Golf Community To Host Closest-To-The Pin Contests To Raise Money For Know Your Score Campaign

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:10:33 EST

October 13, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Twenty-seven Myrtle Beach area golf courses will participate in closest-to-the-pin contests to be held along the Grand Strand on four consecutive Saturdays, starting October 18^th. All proceeds will be donated to Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer, formerly known as the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. The fall closest-to-the-pin contests follow the contests held earlier in April that raised $40,000 for prostate cancer education and research.

The weekly closest-to-the pin contests will run from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on October 18^th, October 25^th, November 1^stand November 8^th. Golfers who participate by contributing $10 to the Know Your Score campaign will receive a sleeve of Maxfli golf balls with the person who records the closest shot of the day at each course winning a TaylorMade putter which can be picked up at the pro shop.

The Myrtle Beach area golf courses that are participating include Aberdeen Country Club, Blackmoor Golf Club, Black Bear Golf Club, Burning Ridge Golf and Country Club, Crown Park Golf Club, Farmstead Golf Links, Founders Club at Pawley’s Island, Glen Dornoch Golf Links, Grande Dunes Resort Club, Heather Glen Golf Links, Indian Wells Golf Club, Indigo Creek Golf Club, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, Litchfield Country Club, Long Bay Club, Meadowlands Golf Club, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Possum Trot Golf Course, River’s Edge Golf Club, River Hills Golf & Country Club, Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club, SouthCreek at Myrtle Beach National, The Resort Club at Grande Dunes, Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation, Waterway Hills Golf Club, West Course at Myrtle Beach National, Wicked Stick and Willbrook Plantation.

“We’ve raised more than $85,000 in donations for the Know Your Score campaign so far in 2008 and we hope to surpass $100,000 with our second series of closest-to-the-pin contests that begin October 18^th,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The entire Myrtle Beach golf community has eagerly embraced the Know Your Score campaign in this inaugural year and we look forward to working with Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer in the future to help educate men on the importance of early and frequent testing.”

About Zero-the Project to End Prostate Cancer

Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. The name conveys what Zero stands for – zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach to Host Closest-to-Pin Contests to Benefit Know Your Score

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:31:40 EST

About Zero-the Project to End Prostate Cancer

Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. The name conveys what Zero stands for – zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday Announces Road Trip: Myrtle Beach “Guest Star Giveaway” Contest Winner

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 11:11:32 EST

October 6, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today that Kelly Thurman, a resident of Alpharetta, Ga., was chosen as the winner of the Road Trip: Myrtle Beach “Guest Star Giveaway” contest. Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday hosted the contest July 1^st through August 1^st with one lucky golfer winning an expense-paid trip to Myrtle Beach and an appearance on one of the last four Road Trip: Myrtle Beach episodes that will be filmed along the Grand Strand, October 5 - 10, 2008.

To enter the contest, interested golfers submitted a video that told why they should be a guest star on Road Trip: Myrtle Beach and downloaded that video on the GolfHoliday.com Web site. Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday selected five finalists from the entries and posted their videos on the Web site so golfers could vote on their favorite.

Thurman and his wife arrived in Myrtle Beach on Sunday, October 5^th and enjoy a week-long golf vacation in the “Golf Capital of the World.” Thurman will play golf with cast members ESPN commentator Charlie Rymer, Hootie & the Blowfish band member Mark Bryan, musician Josh Kelley and Duramed FUTURES Tour player Perry Swenson on one episode that will air in December.

“My wife and I come to Myrtle Beach every year to play golf and we love the choice of Top 100 golf courses that the Grand Strand has to offer,” said Thurman. “I have seen every episode of Road Trip: Myrtle Beach at least once and before I learned about the contest, I told my wife what a great golf show it is and how much fun it would be to play with this foursome. I have never had a golf lesson so I am glued to Charlie Rymer when he gives a tip on the show. He has brought me down five to seven strokes since the first episode aired. I have shot in the 70's a few times this year and I owe it all to Charlie.”

“I'm thrilled that Kelly will be joining our Road Trip: Myrtle Beach group,” said Rymer. “He needs to get ready for the coolest round of golf of his life and above all, remember our number one rule: ‘it is rude to hit while someone is talking.’ Kelly submitted a great video and he will be a great fit for the group. I'm sure the guys will get a kick out of him playing banjo with them. I understand that my tips have helped Kelly take some strokes off his game. Those tips are long gone from my brain. I'm hopeful he can remind me what they were as my game could use some help right now.”

About Road Trip: Myrtle Beach

Road Trip: Myrtle Beach is a 12-episode series follows former PGA TOUR professional and current ESPN commentator Charlie Rymer, Hootie & the Blowfish band member Mark Bryan, musician Josh Kelley and Duramed FUTURES Tour player Perry Swenson as they enjoy an extended Myrtle Beach golf vacation. Each episode takes place at a different Grand Strand golf course and features light-hearted banter between cast members, course information and videos, game management tips and golf instruction by Rymer, the foursome’s activities after golf at area restaurants and night spots and live, original music, including the show’s theme song that was written and recorded by Bryan and Kelley. The show’s fifth recurring member, a 1962 red convertible Cadillac, is easily recognizable as it transports the foursome along the Grand Strand.

Filmed entirely along the Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean that extends from Southport, N.C. to Georgetown, S.C., the Myrtle Beach area is the first American golf destination to play host to a non-competitive reality program. Road Trip: Myrtle Beach provides a backstage glimpse at why the Grand Strand area is known as the “Golf Capital of the World” with more “Top 100” golf courses than any other destination and three million rounds recorded on area golf courses each year.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Inaugural Know Your Score Event Raises $45,000 for Prostate Cancer

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST

September 24, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today that $45,000 was raised during the inaugural Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament and PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship 25th Anniversary Gala on August 23, 2008. All proceeds will benefit the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer and Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer campaigns.

Honorary chairperson Ken Griffey, Sr. was on hand for both the August 23rd golf tournament and the gala where he was joined by entertainment personalities and former professional athletes that included Henry Cho, a nationally-known comedian who has appeared on the Comedy Channel and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and XM Radio’s “Laugh USA”; Bobby Cremins, current College of Charleston head basketball coach who also led the Georgia Tech program for 19 years; 17-year Major League Baseball veteran and former Cincinnati Red “Big Red Machine” outfielder George Foster; TNT’s Emmy-Award-wining golf reporter Jim Huber; Sam Jones, one of the key members of the 1950s and 1960s Boston Celtics that won 10 NBA Championships during his 12 years; Hal King, a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ 1973 Western Division-winning squad; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; Ewa Mataya Laurance, current World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion; Wes Matthews, a member of the 1986 and 1987 Los Angeles Lakers World Championship teams and Tony Womack, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Championship squad.

(more)
The special day began with an 18-hole celebrity golf tournament at The Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Each participant had the opportunity to play golf with a prostate cancer survivor or with one of the celebrities who traveled to the Grand Strand that weekend for the sole purpose of helping raise money for prostate cancer.

After golf, participants headed to Kingston Plantation in North Myrtle Beach for the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship 25th Anniversary Gala, which was held in honor of the silver anniversary of the “World’s Largest Amateur Golf Tournament” and had the opportunity to bid on sports memorabilia during the silent auction.

In addition to the golf tournament and gala, ZERO – The Project To End Prostate Cancer and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday hosted the ZERO's Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening Clinic in Myrtle Beach August 24th, 25th and 26th with free prostate cancer screening offered to all men. Launched in 2002, ZERO's Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening Clinic has made stops in more than 250 cities and has tested more than 65,000 men in six years. Now averaging 20,000 free screens per year through the mobile clinic, the same prostate cancer screen would cost approximately $200 if tested in a doctor’s office. This was the screening van’s second visit to the Myrtle Beach area and 534 men showed up to be tested for prostate cancer. During the van’s first visit to Myrtle Beach on April 15th, more than 200 men were tested and three unknown cases of prostate cancer were discovered.

In April, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday teamed up with Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer, formerly known as the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, in April to join the fight in raising money for prostate cancer research and announced Ken Griffey, Sr. as the honorary chairperson. More than 40 Myrtle Beach area golf courses hosted closest-to-the-pin contests each Saturday in April and raised $40,000 in donations.

During the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, held in Myrtle Beach, August 25th – 28th, more than $5,000 was donated by participating golfers to benefit the Know Your Score and Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer campaigns. Each night at the World Am’s 19th Hole at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, golfers participated in closest-to-the pin contests and purchased tickets to play billiards against World 9-Ball champion, Ewa Laurance. Golfers who defeated Laurance received PGA TOUR Superstore gift cards and were registered to win a five-night, four-day Dominican Republic vacation.

“The entire Myrtle Beach golf community eagerly embraced the Know Your Score campaign in 2008 to help raise money for prostate cancer research and spread the word about the importance of early detection,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Tom Quinn and the Myrtle Beach National Company brought the idea for Know Your Score to Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday as the fight against prostate cancer directly affects our core of one million golfers who visit the Grand Strand area annually. The Myrtle Beach golf community has made a long-term commitment to Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer and we have one more activity planned for the fall of 2008 that will hopefully take us over $100,000 in donations this year.”

(more)

About Zero-the Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. The name conveys what Zero stands for – zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

Zero is committed not only to reducing prostate cancer or alleviating the pain from the disease but to end it. Zero set a goal that all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys. To accomplish this goal, Zero provides comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct more free screenings than ever before. Zero increases research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and assist in the funding for research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information about Zero, visit FightProstateCancer.org.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 115 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame Announces Board

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:52 EST

September 24, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Representatives of Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc. and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today the members of the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

The seven-member Board, with votes, was created to establish the bylaws and guidelines for Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame; review membership nominations submitted annually and select the most qualified candidates. All of the Grand Strand golf organizations are represented on the board and will serve for the time period consistent with the term with their affiliations. The inaugural Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame Board of Directors consists of: Tracy Conner – General manager of the Tee Time Network; Clay DuBose – Immediate past president of the Palmetto Golf Course Superintendents; David Durant – President of the Myrtle Beach Golf Course Owners Association; A.J. Gohil – President of the Grand Strand Golf Directors Association; Ron Schmid – Executive director of the Carolinas PGA; John Springs – Chairman of the Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday Board and Bob Swezey – Executive vice president of resort and golf operations for Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc., and the executive director of the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame Board of Directors. David Downing – President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America has been appointed as a Director at Large, in a non-voting capacity, through 2011.

The Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame was created in September 2008, in conjunction with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, to honor the men and women who have played significant roles in all aspects of the Myrtle Beach area golf industry, from teaching to playing; course design and construction to administration. Opening in March 2009 in conjunction with the reopening of Pine Lakes Country Club, the Hall of Fame will be situated in the Pine Lake’s new Hall of Fame Garden adjacent to the newly renovated clubhouse. Each inductee will be honored in the garden surrounding the Sports Illustrated monument that memorializes the birthplace of the magazine at Pine Lakes in 1954. Four to six inductees will be honored in the inaugural year with additional members inducted each April on the anniversary of the PGA of America’s foundation; in honor of Robert White, the designer and first professional at Pine Lakes, as well as the first president of the PGA of America.

About Pine Lakes Country Club
Pine Lakes Country Club, Myrtle Beach’s first golf resort, has served as the epitome of the traditional golf resort since opening in 1927 as the Ocean Forest Golf Club. Designed by St. Andrews, Scotland native Robert White, Pine Lakes put Myrtle Beach on the map as the destination of choice for the country’s wealthiest families. Owned and operated by Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc., Pine Lakes is in the midst of an extensive 20-month, multi-million dollar restoration project that will transform the course and clubhouse back to the status enjoyed in earlier days. The restoration of the course will be directed by well-known golf course architect Craig Schreiner who is preserving many of the historical golf corridors that made Pine Lakes famous throughout the years. The project will also involve the addition of a 282-acre exclusive gated neighborhood featuring new single-family home designed with a classic, low country style. A March 2009 grand opening is scheduled for the Pine Lakes Country Club. For more information, visit PineLakes.com.

About Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc.
Burroughs & Chapin’s residential developments include the award-winning Grande Dunes, a 2,200-acre four-star community stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to west across the Intracoastal Waterway. Burroughs & Chapin has created numerous commercial developments offering national and regional name brand shopping. These include Broadway at the Beach – an award-winning 350-acre festival shopping, entertainment and dining complex surrounding the 22-acre Lake Broadway; Coastal Grand Mall, a one million square foot regional shopping mall joint ventured with CBL & Associates Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Seaboard Commons; South Strand Commons; Arcadian Shores Commons; and many smaller “jewel box” centers.

Burroughs & Chapin Golf Management offers many of the finest 18-hole championship golf courses in Myrtle Beach, including the Resort Club and Members Club at Grande Dunes, Pine Lakes Country Club, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Tidewater Golf Club and Plantation, Meadowlands Golf Club, Farmstead Golf Links and River Hills Golf Club. The management group also handles two Par 3 courses, five themed mini-golf courses and supervision of the Ripken Baseball operations in Myrtle Beach.

A leader in golf and vacation packages, Burroughs & Chapin’s Myrtle Beach Trips offers visitors to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand the “one call” convenience of a direct connection to the most popular attractions in the area and packages them together in a variety of ways to suit different tastes and budgets. With one easy call to Myrtle Beach Trips at (888) 539-8862, visitors can unlock all the thrills and excitement of many of America’s favorite family seaside destinations.

Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame to Open March 2009

Tue, 9 Sep 2008 14:30:07 EST

September 9, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Representatives of Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc. and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today the founding of the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame to honor the men and women who have played significant roles in all aspects of the Myrtle Beach area golf industry, from teaching to playing; course design and construction to administration.
The Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame, which will open March 2009 in conjunction with the reopening of Pine Lakes Country Club, will be situated in the Pine Lake’s new Hall of Fame Garden adjacent to the newly renovated clubhouse. Each inductee will be memorialized in the garden surrounding the Sports Illustrated monument that memorializes the birthplace of the magazine at Pine Lakes in 1954. Four to six inductees will be honored in the inaugural year with additional members inducted each April on the anniversary of the PGA of America’s foundation; in honor of Robert White, the designer, professional at Pine Lakes as well as the first president of the PGA of America.
The Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame will select a board of directors who will review the nominations submitted and select the most qualified candidates annually.

“The Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame will be a central point to collect the rich golf history that Myrtle Beach has to offer golfers now and in future years,” said Bob Swezey, executive vice president of golf and resort operations for Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc. “The Hall of Fame will recognize those individuals who have a historical significance with the Myrtle Beach golf industry in all facets. In the next couple of weeks, we’ll announce the Myrtle Beach Hall of Fame Board of Directors and then begin accepting nominations for the inaugural class of 2009 which will be announced next March.”

“The Hall of Fame is a great way of uniting the entire Myrtle Beach golf community together to honor those individuals who made a lasting impression on the golf industry,” said Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday president Bill Golden. “As the area’s first golf course to open back in 1927, Pine Lakes is a perfect site for the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame and we look forward to working with Burroughs & Chapin and the board of directors.”

About Pine Lakes Country Club
Pine Lakes Country Club, Myrtle Beach’s first golf resort, has served as the epitome of the traditional golf resort since opening in 1927 as the Ocean Forest Golf Club. Designed by St. Andrews, Scotland native Robert White, Pine Lakes put Myrtle Beach on the map as the destination of choice for the country’s wealthiest families. Owned and operated by Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc., Pine Lakes is in the midst of an extensive 20-month, multi-million dollar restoration project that will transform the course and clubhouse back to the status enjoyed in earlier days. The restoration of the course will be directed by well-known golf course architect Craig Schreiner who is preserving many of the historical golf corridors that made Pine Lakes famous throughout the years. The project will also involve the addition of a 282-acre exclusive gated neighborhood featuring new single-family home designed with a classic, lowcountry style. A March 2009 grand opening is scheduled for the Pine Lakes Country Club. For more information, visit PineLakes.com.

About Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc.
Burroughs & Chapin’s residential developments include the award-winning Grande Dunes, a 2,200-acre four-star community stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to west across the Intracoastal Waterway. Burroughs & Chapin has created numerous commercial developments offering national and regional name brand shopping. These include Broadway at the Beach – an award-winning 350-acre festival shopping, entertainment and dining complex surrounding the 22-acre Lake Broadway; Coastal Grand Mall, a one million square foot regional shopping mall joint ventured with CBL & Associates Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Seaboard Commons; South Strand Commons; Arcadian Shores Commons; and many smaller “jewel box” centers.

Burroughs & Chapin Golf Management offers many of the finest 18-hole championship golf courses in Myrtle Beach, including Grande Dunes Resort Course, Pine Lakes Country Club, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Tidewater Golf Club and Plantation, Meadowlands Golf Club, Farmstead Golf Links and River Hills Golf Club. The management group also handles two Par 3 courses and five themed mini-golf courses.

Top 5 Reasons to Play in the World Amateur

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:47:45 EST

1. You can win a World Championship. Competitive golf is almost exclusively the domain of the elite, even at the amateur level. But the World Amateur allows golfers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for a prize that matters.

2. The World’s Largest 19th Hole. There is nothing else like it in golf. More than 3,600 players from across the globe – all 50 states and 37 foreign countries are represented this year – come together each night for free food, drinks and live entertainment. Filet mignon, seafood and top-shelf liquor are an added bonus!

3. The opportunity to play under PGA TOUR-like conditions. The World Amateur is a 72-hole tournament strictly follows the rules of golf, with the exception of participants being allowed to use carts. There are no gimmes, mulligans or foot-wedges. Every stroke counts, or else.

4. The integrity of the tournament is protected by the game’s most vigorous handicap monitoring system. For many people handicap golf tournaments conjure up thoughts of sandbaggers, but the World Am combines a proprietary handicap system with good old-fashioned hard work to virtually eliminate the scrouage. Don’t believe us? Believe what Golf Magazine had to say after getting a look at the efforts.

5. Myrtle Beach is the perfect destination. No other destination is capable of hosting a tournament like the World Am, and the reason is simple: no destination can match the Grand Strand’s quality and quantity of courses. Each of the tournament’s 37 flights play a different course, with different partners each day.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Myrtle Beach's Golden Oldies

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:44:36 EST

1. Sports Illustrated was founded at Pine Lakes International Country Club: In 1954 a group of Time-Life executives, including Henry Luce Booth, played Pine Lakes and made plans for Sports Illustrated, America’s most successful weekly sports magazine, on their trip.

2. The Dunes Club has hosted some of golf’s premier events: Myrtle Beach’s most revered course, the Dunes Club has a rich history in competitive golf. The Robert Trent Jones layout has hosted the U.S. Women’s Open, the Senior Tour Championship, the finals of PGA Q-School and the finals of the World Amateur Handicap Championship.

3. Whispering Pines is Myrtle Beach’s only “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.” The course works to preserve wildlife throughout the property – a task made easier by the fact there is no housing at Whispering Pines.

4. Litchfield Country Club was the first course in the Pawleys Island/Litchfield area.

5. Beachwood is the oldest public course on the North Strand, helping blaze the trail for the high-end offerings currently in the area.

25th PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is Underway

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:41:02 EST

Thousands of athletes from across the globe have converged on one location, dreaming of earning the title of champion. The event is about competition, but also the passion people feel for their sport.

No, we aren’t talking about the Olympics.

The 25th anniversary PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, the world’s largest single-site golf tournament, teed off on Monday, Aug. 25, along Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand.

More than 3,600 golfers from all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries are competing in the 72-hole, handicap event. The tournament is open to any golfer – young, old, man or woman – with a verified USGA handicap and participants are flighted by handicap. The handicapping system is the most rigorous in the game, ensuring a level playing field.

The winner of each flight advances to Friday’s World Championship playoff, held at the famed Dunes Club.

To follow the event, which is played on more than 50 Myrtle Beach golf courses, go to www.WorldAmGolf.com.

Prostate Cancer Screening Clinic to Visit Myrtle Beach, August 24-26

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:30:42 EST

August 14, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – ZERO – The Project To End Prostate Cancer and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday will host the ZERO's Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening Clinic in Myrtle Beach for three days in August and offer free prostate cancer screening to all men.

The 40-foot screening clinic will be parked at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Sunday, August 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will be located at the Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore across from Broadway at the Beach on Monday and Tuesday, August 25 and 26 from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

This is the screening van’s second visit to Myrtle Beach after the first appearance in April attracted more than 200 men for the simple blood test that takes less than five minutes. During that first visit, three unknown cases of prostate cancer were discovered. Launched in 2002, ZERO's Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening Clinic has made stops in more than 250 cities and has tested more than 65,000 men in six years. Now averaging 20,000 free screens per year through the mobile clinic, the same prostate cancer screen would cost approximately $200 if tested in a doctor’s office.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday teamed up with ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer, formerly known as the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, and Ken Griffey, Sr. in April to help raise money for prostate cancer research. More than 40 Myrtle Beach area golf courses hosted closest-to-the-pin contests each Saturday in April and raised $40,000 in donations.

"With the large number of male golfers that visit Myrtle Beach each year, we have a tremendous opportunity to help promote the importance of being tested for prostate cancer,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “In April, we set a goal of raising $250,000 this year for ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer and prostate cancer research and the August 23rd golf tournament and gala will be one of our biggest fundraisers. We encourage everyone in the Grand Strand and surrounding community to get involved and help us spread the word about the importance of screening for early detection.”

On August 23, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, Griffey and ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer will host the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament and World Amateur Championship 25th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, August 23, 2008, with proceeds to benefit the “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer” campaign and ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer.”

The special day will begin at 8:00 a.m. with an 18-hole celebrity golf tournament at The Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Each golfer will receive a gift bag, lunch and drinks and prizes will be given to long drive and the closest-to-the pin winners.

After golf, participants will head to The Kingston Plantation in North Myrtle Beach for the World Amateur Championship 25th Anniversary Gala. Held in honor of the silver anniversary of the “World’s Largest Amateur Golf Tournament.” The gala will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. before the 7:30 p.m. dinner of filet mignon and crab cakes is served. A silent auction will be held after dinner and participants can bid on sports memorabilia during the night. After dinner entertainment includes U “N” I Elegant Jazz and Blues, a performance by Branford Marsalis, a stand-up comedy performance by Henry Cho and a “Locker Room Chat” with Griffey and his celebrity friends, hosted by ESPN personality Mitch Laurance, where guests will have the opportunity to ask questions of some of their favorite celebrities

For more information, visit KnowYourScoreMB.com or call (843) 477-8833, ext. 296.

About ZERO – the Project to End Prostate Cancer
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer it means a zero PSA. The name conveys what ZERO stands for – zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

ZERO is committed not only to reducing prostate cancer or alleviating the pain from the disease but to end it. ZERO set a goal that all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys. To accomplish this goal, ZERO provides comprehensive treatment information to patients, education to those at risk and conduct more free screenings than ever before. ZERO increases research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and assist in the funding for research in the pursuit of a better test for the disease. For more information about ZERO – The Fight to End Prostate Cancer, visit FightProstateCancer.org.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 78 championship golf courses, 108 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Golf Holiday Partners with Horry County and Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce on New Air Service Development Program

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:28:32 EST

August 12, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Representatives from Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today the partnership between Golf Holiday, Horry County and the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce in a new air service development program for the Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR). The new program, which will begin September 1, 2008, will benefit all current airlines servicing Myrtle Beach, encourage air service to new markets and grow the international travel markets.

At Tuesday night’s Horry County Council meeting, Chairman Liz Gilland announced that the landing fees at MYR will be reduced from $1.97 to $.50 per 1,000 lbs landing weight, which will benefit all airlines currently servicing Myrtle Beach at an estimated cost savings to the airlines of $1.2 million. “It is extremely important that we let Myrtle Beach Direct Air, Spirit Airlines, US Airways and others know that we appreciate and support their business and that they are an important part of our community,” stated Gilland.

In an effort to overcome the challenges of the seasonality of the traffic at MYR and encourage stronger year-round service, MYR will also waive aircraft landing fees for all regularly scheduled passenger aircraft operations for the months of December 2008, January 2009, and February 2009. The estimated cost savings to the airlines is $400,000. This will be the second year of the seasonal landing fee waiver from MYR.

“The Myrtle Beach airport is a gateway for the development of new markets and the county’s continued participation in helping to stimulate air service is critical to this area’s growth,” said Bill Golden president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The Myrtle Beach golf market is very well branded but we need to provide additional air access to satisfy that demand.”

The county has also developed two new incentive plans for the airlines. Incentive Plan A is a new incentive plan for newly scheduled non-stop, round trip service between MYR and any airport where MYR is not currently served. In order to reduce an airline’s risk while developing new service to MYR, the airport will offer air carriers the option of being invoiced at a rate of $2.00 per available seat, in lieu-of being invoiced based on the rate formula contained in the standard air carrier agreement. The airport will calculate the fees using both methods and invoice the airline the lower of the two amounts. To be eligible for this option, the air carrier must not discontinue any service to any airport it currently serves from MYR.

Incentive Plan B is a new program for service to international markets, where MYR will waive ALL fees, to include landing fees and terminal rents, for any scheduled non-stop, round-trip service between MYR and any international destination, including Canada, where MYR is not currently being served.

“It’s definitely not typical in today’s market, that an airport can and will offer such incredible incentives, but we are willing to give it a try. We will all gather back up in the early spring and review where we are to see if we can sustain these incentives and continue to offer the airlines cost saving measures,” Gilland said. “It is also great to be standing here side-by-side by with the Chamber and Golf Holiday knowing that we are all working jointly for the betterment of our community and marketing our area as one of the premier tourism destinations in the world.”

For more information about the Myrtle Beach International Airport and the airlines servicing the airport, visit FlyMyrtleBeach.com.

Ken Griffey, Sr. And Celebrity Friends To Participate In Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:08:10 EST

July 29, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer officials announced today the celebrities who will appear in the inaugural Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament and World Amateur Handicap Championship 25th anniversary gala on Saturday, August 23rd

Griffey will be joined by entertainment personalities and former professional athletes including Henry Cho, a nationally-known comedian who has appeared on the Comedy Channel and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and XM Radio’s “Laugh USA”; Bobby Cremins, current College of Charleston head basketball coach who also led the Georgia Tech program for 19 years; 17-year Major League Baseball veteran and former Cincinnati Red “Big Red Machine” outfielder George Foster; TNT’s Emmy-Award-wining golf reporter Jim Huber; Sam Jones, one of the key members of the 1950s and 1960s Boston Celtics that won 10 NBA Championships during his 12 years; Hal King, a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ 1973 Western Division-winning squad; ESPN billiards commentator and prostate cancer survivor Mitch Laurance; Ewa Mataya Laurance, current World Trick Shot champion and World 9-Ball champion and Tony Womack, a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 World Championship team.

The Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament will begin August 23rd at 8:00 a.m. with an 18-hole celebrity golf tournament at The Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Each golfer will receive a gift bag, lunch and drinks and prizes will be given to long drive and the closest-to-the pin winners. Each foursome will also be given the opportunity to have one celebrity join their team through a raffle to be held at Friday night’s pairings party.

After golf, participants will head to Kingston Plantation in North Myrtle Beach for the World Amateur Championship 25th Anniversary Gala. Held in honor of the silver anniversary of the “World’s Largest Amateur Golf Tournament,” the gala will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by a 7:30 p.m. plated dinner. A silent auction will be held after dinner and participants can bid on sports memorabilia during the night. After dinner entertainment includes U “N” I Elegant Jazz and Blues, a stand-up comedy performance by Henry Cho and a “Locker Room Chat” with Griffey and his celebrity friends, hosted by ESPN personality Mitch Laurance, where guests will have the opportunity to ask questions of some of their favorite celebrities.

Golfers can purchase a foursome in the celebrity golf tournament with eight tickets to the gala with a $1,200 donation to the “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer” campaign. Participants can also buy a single ticket to the golf tournament and gala for $250 or just partake in the tournament or the gala for $125 each. For more information, visit KnowYourScoreMB.com or call (843) 477-8833, ext. 296.

“I’m looking forward to hosting a few of my celebrity friends in Myrtle Beach for the August 23 golf tournament and the gala to raise money for prostate cancer research,” said Griffey. “The ‘Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer’ campaign is a cause very near and dear to my heart and as the campaign’s honorary spokesperson, I encourage everyone to get involved and help us battle a disease that will affect one out of every six men.”

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday teamed up with Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer, formerly known as the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, and Ken Griffey, Sr. in April to help raise money for prostate cancer research. More than 40 Myrtle Beach area golf courses hosted closest-to-the-pin contests each Saturday in April and raised $40,000 in donations. On April 15, the Zero – Project to End Prostate Cancer Mobile RV visited Myrtle Beach, in conjunction with a press conference to announce Ken Griffey, Sr. as the honorary chairperson, and 200 men were tested for prostate cancer.

“We’ve been working with Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer to launch the ‘Know Your Score’ campaign and fundraiser for the last year.” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, “It’s great to see the Myrtle Beach area community rally behind this great cause and help raise money for prostate cancer research and treatment. Thanks to Ken Griffey, Sr. for his assistance in recruiting his celebrity friends to the Grand Strand to make sure that the inaugural golf tournament and gala is successful.”

Ken Griffey, Sr. and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday to Host August 23 Gala

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:04:12 EST

July 15, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Ken Griffey, Sr. and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday will host the inaugural Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament and World Amateur Championship 25th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, August 23, 2008, with proceeds to benefit the “Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer” campaign and Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer.”

After golf, participants will head to The Kingston Plantation in North Myrtle Beach for the World Amateur Championship 25th Anniversary Gala. Held in honor of the silver anniversary of the “World’s Largest Amateur Golf Tournament.” The gala will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. before the 7:30 p.m. dinner of filet mignon and crab cakes is served. A silent auction will be held after dinner and participants can bid on sports memorabilia during the night. After dinner entertainment includes U “N” I Elegant Jazz and Blues, a stand-up comedy performance by Henry Cho and a “Locker Room Chat” with Griffey and his celebrity friends, hosted by ESPN personality Mitch Laurance, where guests will have the opportunity to ask questions of some of their favorite celebrities

“The ‘Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer’ campaign is a cause very near and dear to my heart as 14 months ago, I learned that I had prostate cancer,” said Griffey. “I am excited to serve as the campaign’s honorary spokesperson and host the celebrity golf tournament on August 23rd. I look forward to bringing a few of my celebrity friends to Myrtle Beach for golf and the gala to raise money for prostate cancer research.”

“With the large number of male golfers that visit Myrtle Beach each year, we have a tremendous opportunity to help promote the importance of being tested for prostate cancer,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “In April, we set a goal of raising $250,000 this year for Zero – the Project to End Prostate Cancer and prostate cancer research and the August 23rd golf tournament and gala will be one of our biggest fundraisers. We encourage everyone in the Grand Strand and surrounding community to get involved and help us spread the word about the importance of screening for early detection.”

Dave Macpherson Named World Am Tournament Director

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 10:06:00 EST

July 1, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Representatives of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today that Dave Macpherson has been named as the tournament director of the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship. Macpherson takes over the reins from Steve Mays who served as the tournament director for 10 years before his promotion to director of marketing for Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday in April. 
 
As the tournament director, Macpherson’s primary focus revolves around the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, the world’s largest single-site amateur golf tournament, and directs all facets of the event and its $3 million operating budget. 
 
Macpherson has served as the tournament director for the Palmetto High School Golf Championships and the Veterans Golf Classic for three years since joining the Golf Holiday family in 2005. He also spent three years as the World Am’s tournament coordinator with his responsibilities including golf course setup and operations, the management of the 19th Hole and overseeing the tournament’s handicap policies and procedures. 
 
Before coming to Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, Macpherson worked for Arnold Palmer Golf Management for three years in event planning and marketing before moving back to Myrtle Beach. A 2002 graduate of Coastal Carolina University, Macpherson earned a degree in business administration, with a concentration in professional golf management. 
 
“I am very excited to take over as the World Am tournament director in such a significant year, the 25th anniversary of the ‘world’s largest amateur golf tournament,’” said the native of Buffalo, N.Y. “I have had the pleasure of working with the World Am for the past three years and feel ready to take on the additional responsibilities as the tournament director. The World Am and its participants have built a special culture over the past 24 years and I hope to help the event continue to grow.” 
 
“We feel very comfortable in handing over the leadership of the World Am to Dave Macpherson,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Dave earned the chance to lead this event and we are confident he will continue to grow the stature of the World Amateur.” 
 
The PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole tournament played on more than 55 Myrtle Beach area golf courses each August. Participants compete for the right to be crowned “World Amateur Golf Champion” and to win some of the more than $250,000 in prizes given away at the tournament. Players are flighted according to their handicap and at the conclusion of the 72-holes, flight winners advance to the 18-hole world championship playoff at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club. 
 
Each evening after tournament play, participants and their guests attend the “World’s Largest 19th Hole” at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center which includes an extensive golf exposition, equipment demos, entertainment, open bars, prize drawings and food from Myrtle Beach’s best restaurants. Returning to the 19th Hole again in 2008 is the 40,000 square foot PGA TOUR Superstore interactive experience featuring merchandise from leading golf equipment and apparel manufacturers, game improvement areas and clinics from leading instructors. PGA TOUR Superstore will also hold skill contests and games for participants and guests to enjoy. 
 
The World Amateur will once again honor past participant Cory Lemke with the Cory Lemke Parent-Child Championship, a free of charge tournament for any combination of parent and child participating in the World Amateur. Before tragically losing his life in a 2006 motorcycle accident, Lemke competed in the World Am with his father, Mark Lemke, and won his flight in 2002 at the age of 15. Registration for the Parent-Child Championship is limited to the first 150 teams. The top 10 teams with the lowest net scores will receive PGA TOUR Superstore gift certificates. For the third consecutive year, the World Amateur will serve as the United States qualifier for the International Pairs Championship, with the winners receiving an all expenses paid trip to St. Andrews, Scotland, to represent the U.S. in the tournament finale. 
 
Golfers can register now online at the World Am website, WorldAmGolf.com, or call 1-800-833-8798. 
 
About PGA TOUR Superstores 
PGA TOUR Superstores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc. (GTPS), headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. Each Superstore is dedicated to providing consumers with exceptional selection, services and prices within an entertaining, interactive store environment. GTPS is the PGA TOUR’s exclusive PGA TOUR partner for off-course/off-airport golf retailing. Two Superstores operate as Martin’s PGA TOUR Superstore in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Four Superstores operate in the Atlanta area (Roswell, Kennesaw, Duluth, Buckhead) and two stores operate in the Dallas, Texas area as PGA TOUR Superstore. Future expansion plans also include locations in Orlando, Fla.; Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Ariz.; and the Southern California cities of Los Angeles and San Diego in the near future. All Superstores are focused on game improvement in golf and tennis, as well as growing the games. Each store offers swing analysis, golf instruction by professional instructors, club fittings, indoor practice greens, and hitting nets, as well as golf and tennis apparel, golf-themed home furnishings, and a vast selection of golf and tennis equipment. The PGA TOUR Superstore’s Web site address is pgatoursuperstore.com. 
 
About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday 
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 78 championship golf courses, 108 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, Golf Holiday also manages the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Road Trip: Myrtle Beach Reality Show Returns To Golf Channel For Second Series Of Episodes, Starting July 1, 2008

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:50:27 EST

June 30, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, the reality show that offers a backstage glimpse at why the Grand Strand area is known as the “Golf Capital of the World” returns to GOLF CHANNEL starting Tuesday, July 1. The episodes will run July 1, July 22 and July 29 at 7:30 p.m. and will be rebroadcast during the week.

The show’s second set of four episodes will feature the four-person cast playing golf at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, Grande Dunes Resort Course, The Love Course at Barefoot Course and TPC of Myrtle Beach. After the golf round is completed, the cast also pays visits to popular Myrtle Beach attractions such as the newly-opened Hard Rock Park rock and roll theme park, a Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ minor league baseball game, Ocean Annie’s Beach Bar and Hot Fish Club Restaurant and Gazebo.

From July 1 - August 1, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday will host a contest and reward one lucky golfer with an expense-paid trip to Myrtle Beach and an appearance on one of the last four episodes that will be filmed along the Grand Strand from October 5 - 10, 2008. Interested golfers can register online at GolfHoliday.com and tell why they should be a guest star on Road Trip: Myrtle Beach or download a video on the Web site. Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday will select five finalists from the entries and post their videos on the Web site so golfers can vote on their favorite. The winner will be announced on August 15.

“We’re excited to offer this unique opportunity for one golfer to visit Myrtle Beach and appear on an episode of Road Trip: Myrtle Beach to be filmed this fall,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “When we started Road Trip: Myrtle Beach in February, our goal was to reach out to golfers around the world and show what a golf vacation is like here by presenting the destination through the eyes of an entertaining cast in a fun and insightful way. By the comments we’ve received from people all over the country about how much they’ve enjoyed the show and learned more about what the Myrtle Beach area has to offer, we’ve accomplished this goal.”

Road Trip: Myrtle Beach is a 12-episode series follows former PGA TOUR professional and current ESPN commentator Charlie Rymer, Hootie & the Blowfish band member Mark Bryan, musician Josh Kelley and Duramed FUTURES Tour player Perry Swenson as they enjoy an extended Myrtle Beach golf vacation. Each episode takes place at a different Grand Strand golf course and features light-hearted banter between cast members, course information and videos, game management tips and golf instruction by Rymer, the foursome’s activities after golf at area restaurants and night spots and live, original music, including the show’s theme song that was written and recorded by Bryan and Kelley. The show’s fifth recurring member, a 1962 red convertible Cadillac, is easily recognizable as it transports the foursome along the Grand Strand.

Filmed entirely along the Grand Strand, a 60-mile stretch of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean that extends from Southport, N.C. to Georgetown, S.C., the Myrtle Beach area is the first American golf destination to play host to a non-competitive reality program. Road Trip: Myrtle Beach provides a backstage glimpse at why the Grand Strand area is known as the “Golf Capital of the World” with more “Top 100” golf courses than any other destination and three million rounds recorded on area golf courses each year.

Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, developed and executive produced by GOLF CHANNEL, is produced by Mickey Holden of the Holden Production Group. Holden has 25 years of experience providing original programming to network television. Some of his recent projects include CBS’ “Jack at Augusta,” The Food Network’s “Food Camp,” “Bragging Rights” on The Tennis Channel, “The Wandering Golfer” on Fine Living and “Tiger at 3” on CBS.

About GOLF CHANNEL
GOLF CHANNEL (GolfChannel.com), co-founded by Arnold Palmer and a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMSK), is available in more than 110 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies. It features a programming schedule that includes more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, as well as news, instruction and original productions, such as the popular Big Break. GOLF CHANNEL became the exclusive cable home of the PGA TOUR in 2007, and televises part or all of every PGA TOUR event. In addition, the network is exclusive television home of the Nationwide Tour, European Tour and Canadian Tour, and the exclusive cable home of the Champions Tour. Also featured is a generous mix of other competition from the LPGA Tour, USGA, PGA of America, Asian Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour of Southern Africa.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 78 championship golf courses, 108 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Denise Alcala Wins All-Expense Paid “Ultimate Buddy Trip” To Myrtle Beach

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:50:00 EST

June 18, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – A few hours spent surfing the Internet paid off for Denise Alcala as the Hanford, California resident won the “The Ultimate Buddy Trip” contest on www.GolfHoliday.com and will travel to the “Golf Capital of the World.” Alcala’s husband, daughter and mother will join her on a five-day trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as part of the online contest sponsored by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. This will be the first trip to the East Coast for Denise and the first-ever airplane flight for her mother.

“My entire family plays golf so when I saw the contest online, I entered,” said Alcala. “I’ve never won anything this big and I had to call back to confirm that someone wasn’t playing a joke on me. My husband and I are avid golfers and my daughter is a member of her high school golf team so we’re all very excited. My mother doesn’t play golf but she’s looking forward to seeing Myrtle Beach.”

The Alcala family flies into Myrtle Beach on Tuesday, June 17th and will receive roundtrip airfare, four nights at the Myrtlewood Villas, a round of golf at Arrowhead Country Club, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Wachesaw Plantation East and Wild Wing Plantation, a one-hour golf lesson with Joe Bernat of Wachesaw Plantation East for the three golfers, a $250 gift card at PGA TOUR Superstore, a rental car and breakfast and dinner each day. The family returns home to Hanford, California, located 45 minutes south of Fresno, Saturday evening, June 21st.

“We’re happy to have the opportunity to bring the Alcala family to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for their first visit to the “Golf Capital of the World,” said Bill Golden president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The Grand Strand area has always been a popular destination for male buddy trips but now as more and more families are playing golf together, Myrtle Beach is the ultimate destination for family golf trips with more “Top 100” golf courses than any other destination in the United States. We’re excited that a family that plays golf as much as the Alcala’s will have the chance to experience the quality and quantity of golf that we offer here in Myrtle Beach.”

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 104 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday And Barefoot Resort & Golf Receive Hospitality Honor Award

Fri, 23 May 2008 09:38:10 EST

May 23, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association (MBAHA) honored Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Barefoot Resort & Golf Wednesday, May 21 in its annual Hospitality Honor Awards meeting. The Hospitality Honor Award acknowledges the individuals and companies who define the hospitality industry in the Myrtle Beach area in the categories of lodging/campgrounds, attractions/entertainment, restaurants, golf, hospitality services, excellence in leadership, friend of the industry and volunteer of the year.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Barefoot Resort & Golf were recognized for their ongoing support of the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament. Golf Holiday and Barefoot Resort & Golf have been involved in all six of the Monday After the Masters Tournaments held on the Grand Strand. The Monday After The Masters recorded its third consecutive sellout in 2008, as an estimated 6,000 golf fans packed The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf on April 14, 2008, to see their favorite celebrities, athletes and musicians. Recently named by Golf for Women Magazine as one of the most popular celebrity pro-am golf tournaments in the country, the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament attracts thousands of people to the Grand Strand area each year who enjoy the music of the two-time Grammy award winners as well as the friendly competition between the band and their celebrity and PGA professional friends. Over the past 13 years, the tournament has donated more than $3.5 million to the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.

“You can’t host successful events like the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament without strong commitment and support from the local community,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Barefoot Resort & Golf has done an exceptional job in providing phenomenal golf facilities, superb accommodations and unsurpassed customer service since the Monday After the Masters moved to the Myrtle Beach area in 2003. It is a pleasure to work with Barefoot Resort & Golf each year and we look forward to a long-lasting relationship as we continue to let golfers know about the quality of Myrtle Beach as a golf and family vacation destination.”

FDNY's Kevin O'Brien Gets Key to the City

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:27:08 EST

May 22, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing director Kevin O’Brien received the “Key to the City” in a special ceremony held Wednesday, May 21 at the tournament’s closing picnic at Springmaid Resort. O’Brien was honored by City of Myrtle Beach spokesman Mark Kruea in a surprise presentation for bringing the world’s largest firefighter golf benefit to the Grand Strand area in 2002 and for his ongoing efforts to raise money for the families of fallen firefighters. Since the inaugural event of 2002, the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing has raised more than $60,000 for the families of fallen firefighters.

“They caught me totally by surprise,” said O’Brien. “The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing is a labor of love for me. I just bring 700 of the best firefighters in the country to Myrtle Beach each year and hope that we touch a lot of people with the event. This is a great gesture and I love Myrtle Beach. We had more than 600 firefighters from 31 states and Canada here this week and hope that we can continue to grow the tournament in the coming years.”

O’Brien established the annual event as a thank you to the thousands of firefighters who rushed to New York City help the Ground Zero recovery efforts and to reunite the firefighters in the “Golf Capital of the World” each spring. The tournament is an offspring of O’Brien’s original event, the Alfred E. Ronaldson Spring Golf Classic, which was held from 1991 through 2000, and benefited the family of the former FDNY firefighter following his death.

“Awarding Kevin O’Brien the ‘Key to the City’ was a great way to show appreciation for everything he does throughout the year to make the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing run so smoothly,” said Steve Mays, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday director of marketing. “It is an honor to be associated with O’Brien and the firefighters and host this great event annually in Myrtle Beach."

The 2008 FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing featured four days of activities for the firefighters and their families, starting on Sunday and Monday, May 18-19, as firefighters had the opportunity to hone their golf skills on Myrtle Beach area golf courses. On Tuesday, May 20, firefighters enjoyed a practice round before the four-person best ball FDNY 9-11 Tournament teed off Wednesday, May 21 with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. The week-long event kept the firefighters busy after golf with the Monday night pairings party, Tuesday’s annual Jimmy Young Memorial belly flop contest and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing picnic after Wednesday’s tournament.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 104 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Sandpiper Bay to Renovate Greens

Mon, 19 May 2008 13:31:07 EST

Sandpiper Bay Golf and Country Club, a Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday member, announced today that they will begin a major greens renovation project starting June 2008. The Dan Maples designed 27-hole public golf course in Sunset Beach, N.C. hired Modern Turf, from Rembert, S.C., to convert all putting greens to MiniVerde Ultradwarf Bermuda Grass from Sandpiper’s 1987 original Penn Cross Bent Grass greens.

The renovation will be done in three phases so the course will never close and golfers will always have 18 holes to play. The Sand nine holes will be redone this summer, the Piper nine in the summer of 2009 and the Bay nine during in the summer of 2010.

MiniVerde Bermuda was selected because it is the highest-ranked grass for this area according to the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program. MiniVerde Bermuda provides a smooth, high-quality putting green that can handle the heat, humidity and stress caused by the Carolina summers. MiniVerde Bermuda is in place at TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour Players Championship, TPC Myrtle Beach, and was also recently chosen by East Lake in Atlanta, home of the 2007 PGA TOUR Championship.

During this summer’s renovation process, Sandpiper Bay will take the opportunity to improve the playability of the golf course by removing trees and enhancing fairways, rough areas and bunkers. Sandpiper will also resurface the cart paths on the Sands course and refurbish bridge structures. The Sandpiper Bay restrooms and clubhouse areas were just renovated to meet the growing needs of the club’s guests and members.

“Sandpiper Bay has always been a favorite of Myrtle Beach area golfers and by adding MiniVerde Bermuda, we’ll continue to provide superb course conditions without closing our course,” said Tim Tilma, Sandpiper Bay Golf and Country Club general manager. “Sandpiper Bay is a great facility and we’re getting better every day. I encourage golfers to come try out our new greens this fall.”

For more information on Sandpiper Bay Golf and Country Club, visit SandPiperBayGolf.com or call (910) 579-9120.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Area To Host International Association Of Golf Tour Operators, May 3-7, 2008

Thu, 1 May 2008 14:10:35 EST

May 1, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Coastal South Carolina, USA, a destination marketing organization with a primary mission on positively impacting its region through increased international visitation, will host members of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for their 2008 Mid-Year Convention, May 3-7, 2008.

Fifty-six IAGTO members from 17 countries will visit Myrtle Beach for five days stay at The Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, play golf at the top courses in the Myrtle Beach area and dine at well-known area restaurants, in addition to attending their IAGTO meetings. This is the first visit by the members of IAGTO to the Myrtle Beach area, and the 17 countries represented include Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, India, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom.

The global trade organization for the golf tourism industry, IAGTO was established in 1997, and consists of 1,036 accredited golf tour operators, golf resorts, hotels, golf courses, receptive operators, airlines and tourist boards in 72 countries worldwide. IAGTO provides a focus for the golf tourism industry and helps raise and maintain standards throughout the golf travel industry.

“We’re excited to help host this distinguished group of international tour operators during their visit to the Grand Strand,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “We’ve worked closely with Gary Edwards of Coastal South Carolina, USA and members of our Myrtle Beach community to ensure that the IATO’s first impression of the Myrtle Beach area is one that they’ll always remember and carry back with them to share with their clients. Myrtle Beach is known as the ‘Golf Capital of the World’ and we look forward to hosting more international golfers and guests in the future.”

Registration underway for 2008 World Am

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST

Preparations for the 25th anniversary of the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship are underway for the world’s largest single-site amateur golf tournament, to be held August 25–29 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

In celebration of the tournament’s silver anniversary, the World Am is offering a $50 discount for new golfers if they register online at WorldAmGolf.com, and for past participants who register between May 15 – August 1. The World Am entry fee is $550 and includes four rounds of golf and a gift bag with more than $150 in merchandise. The entry fee also provides the golferand guest with a pass to the “World’s Largest 19th Hole,” the tournament’s nightly party in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

“The World Am and its participants have enjoyed a special relationship over the past 24 years,” said Dave Macpherson, World Am tournament director. “We have exciting plans for the 25th anniversary of the World Am, which we will start announcing in the near future. Any amateur golfer with a United States Golf Association handicap index, or foreign equivalent, can register for the World Am and the tournament provides the most realistic amateur golf tournament experience, a nightly party at the 19th hole with long-time friends and a fair tournament with the flights based on thoroughly-researched handicaps.”

The PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole tournament played on more than 55 Myrtle Beach area golf courses each August. Participants compete for the right to be crowned “World Amateur Golf Champion” and to win some of the more than $250,000 in prizes given away at the tournament. Players are flighted according to their handicap and at the conclusion of the 72-holes, flight winners advance to the 18-hole world championship playoff at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

Each evening after tournament play, participants and their guests attend the “World’s Largest 19th Hole” at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center which includes an extensive golf exposition, equipment demos, entertainment, open bars, prize drawings and food from Myrtle Beach’s best restaurants.

Returning to the 19th Hole again in 2008 is the 40,000 square foot PGA TOUR Superstore interactive experience featuring merchandise from leading golf equipment and apparel manufacturers, game improvement areas and clinics from leading instructors. PGA TOUR Superstore will also hold skill contests and games for participants and guests to enjoy. Golfers can register now online at the World Am website, WorldAmGolf.com, or call 1-800-833-8798.

World’s Largest Firefighter Golf Outing To Honor The Nine Charleston, S.C. Firemen Who Lost Their Lives in 2007

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:57:59 EST

April 21, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today that it will host the seventh annual FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing, May 18-21, 2008. The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing is the world’s largest firefighter golf benefit and has raised more than $60,000 for the families of fallen firefighters. More than 600 firefighters from 27 states and Canada are expected to participate on 30 Grand Strand area courses during the week.

The 2008 tournament will be dedicated to the late Captain Louis Mulkey and the Charleston, S.C. firefighters who lost their lives in a furniture store fire in West Ashley, S.C., last June. Mulkey had assisted with the Golf Outing each year by bringing members of his Charleston Fire Department to cook for all of the firefighters and their families at the picnic and awards ceremony. The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing will honor Mulkey and the fallen Charleston firefighters in a special presentation at the April 21 picnic and awards ceremony.

Created by former New York City firefighter, Kevin O’Brien, the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing raises money for The Thomas Elsasser Fund and a holding account for non-line of duty national fund. The Thomas Elsasser Fund is a charity backed by the United Firefighters Association (UFA) and designed to benefit families of fallen firefighters. The tournament provides opportunity for firefighters, many of whom assisted in the recovery efforts at Ground Zero, to gather in the “Golf Capital of the World.” The tournament is an offspring of O’Brien’s original event, the Alfred E. Ronaldson Spring Golf Classic, which was designed to benefit the family of Ronaldson following his death. During the 10-year span, the Ronaldson event hosted more than 10,000 golfers on 18 courses in New York and Florida.

“This event symbolizes what is special about being a firefighter,” said O’Brien, director of the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing. “The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing was formed after September 11, 2001, because we wanted to do something special for the countless firefighters who came to New York City to stand by our side during our time of need. These Firefighters raised countless funds for our families and supported the FDNY by attending our funerals and memorials. In 2008, we will honor the memory of the Charleston 9 by putting Captain Mulkey’s name on our golf shirts and selling commemorative tee shirts with all proceeds to benefit the families of the Charleston victims.

“Myrtle Beach is the ideal place to host a tournament of this magnitude because no other golf destination in the United States can handle our large number of firefighters. The FDNY Tournament is already the world’s largest firefighter golf benefit and we look forward to growing this tournament and raising more money for the families of fallen firefighters.”

The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing features four days of activities for firefighters and their families, starting on Sunday and Monday, May 18-19, as firefighters will have the opportunity to hone their golf skills on Myrtle Beach area golf courses. On Tuesday, May 20, firefighters will enjoy a practice round before the four-person best ball FDNY 9-11 Tournament tees off Wednesday, May 21 with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. The week-long event keeps the firefighters busy after golf with the Monday night Pairings Party, Tuesday’s annual Jimmy Young Memorial Belly Flop Contest and the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing Picnic Wednesday after the tournament.

Participating Myrtle Beach area golf courses include Aberdeen Country Club, Arrowhead Country Club, Blackmoor Golf Club, Burning Ridge East Golf Club, Crow Creek Golf Club, Crown Park Golf Club, Farmstead Golf Links, Grand Dunes Resort, Heron Point Golf Club, Indian Wells Golf Club, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, Litchfield Country Club, Long Bay Golf Club, Meadowlands Golf Club, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, Prestwick Country Club, River Club, Rivers Edge Golf Club, River Hills Golf Club, Shaftesburgy Glen, South Creek at Myrtle Beach National, Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation, Tradition Golf Club, Waterway Hills Golf Club, West Course at Myrtle Beach National, Wild Wing Golf Club, Willbrook Plantation Golf Club, Woodland Valley and World Tour Golf Links.

“The FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing is one of our biggest events of the year with firefighters coming from across the country to participate,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “When you meet these firefighters at the FDNY 9-11 event, only then can you comprehend the passion and camaraderie that the firefighters share in their brotherhood. The 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.”

Registration is open until May 10 and the $390 entry fee includes four nights of accommodations, three rounds of golf, the Wednesday afternoon picnic and a FDNY golf shirt. Firefighters are invited to register by calling 1-877-411-FDNY or visit FDNYGolf.com for more information

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 104 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Golf Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the Veterans Golf Classic and the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Ninth Annual Veterans Golf Classic Now Accepting Entries For May 19-21 Event

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:39:22 EST

April 21, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is now accepting entries for the ninth annual Veterans Golf Classic to be held May 19 – May 21, 2008, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. More than 400 golfers from across the United States are expected to participate in the 54-hole tournament that is open to all current and former members of the military.

The two-person team event features a different format each day with golfers flighted by their combined team handicap. To be eligible for the tournament, at least one team member must be a Veteran or active member of the military. The entry fee is $275 for all golfers and includes three rounds of competitive golf, nightly activities for participants and a guest, awards and prizes. May 9^th is the entry deadline.

“We are proud to continue the tradition of honoring veterans from across the nation,” said Dave Macpherson, Veterans Golf Classic tournament director. “The Veterans Golf Classic has grown during the last few years and we expect this year’s event to be another great success.”

Eleven of the Grand Strand’s finest golf courses will participate in the tournament, including Aberdeen Country Club, Black Bear Golf Club, Farmstead Golf Links, Indian Wells Golf Club, Indigo Creek Golf Club, Lion’s Paw, Meadowlands Golf Club, SouthCreek at Myrtle Beach National, Panther’s Run, PineHills at Myrtlewood and Wachesaw Plantation East.

During the Veterans Golf Classic, all Veterans of Foreign Wars (V.F.W.) and American Legion members also have the opportunity to participate in the annual battle for “The Cup” The V.F.W. has captured “The Cup” for the last three years and the American Legion will attempt to break the V.F.W. streak in 2008.

“I will be in attendance with other Legionaires from across the country to help bring home ‘The Cup’ for the American Legion," said Jimmy Hawk, State Adjutant, South Carolina American Legion.

For more information about the tournament or to register, call 1-800-833-8798 or visit VeteransClassic.com.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 104 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Golf Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Veterans Golf Classic, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest on-site golf tournament, the Summer Family Golf Tournaments, the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing and the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament each spring. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

GRAND STRAND DUO WINS INAUGURAL GOLF MAGAZINE CHAMPIONSHIP

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:50:39 EST

Congratulations to Bill Graziano and Tim Turner who captured the inaugural GOLF Magazine Championship, hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and GOLF Magazine, March 4 and 5, 2008, at The Love Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The duo from Myrtle Beach shot a combined net 64 in the 18-hole tournament to defeat Gary Howze and Curt Collins, of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, by three strokes.

More than 60 golfers from 12 states came to the Grand Strand to participate in the two-day event that included instruction from five of GOLF Magazine’s “Top 100 Teachers”, an 18-hole tournament and the award ceremony with special guest speaker, GOLF Magazine columnist and CBS golf commentator, David Feherty. The golfers were selected through a two-month long online contest on Golf.com with more than 18,000 golfers registering to win the golf vacation to Myrtle Beach.

“What a great experience for these 60 participants to learn from the best teachers in the game,” said Bill Golden, vice president and director of marketing at Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Thanks to GOLF Magazine for making five of their “Top 100 Teachers” available and for helping us put together the tournament. It’s not every day that golfers have the opportunity to hear GOLF Magazine columnist David Feherty in person and he entertained everyone with his stories on life on the PGA TOUR and his experiences around the life.”
Sixty golfers gathered at the Barefoot Resort & Golf practice facility on Tuesday, March 4th and received instruction on putting, pitching, the golf swing, the pre-shot routine and chipping from Mike Perpich from RiverPines Golf in Alpharetta, Georgia; Gale Peterson from Sea Island Golf Learning Center in St. Simons Island, Georgia; Carol Preisinger from Kiawah Island Club in Kiawah Island, South Carolina; Dana Radar from The Dana Radar Golf School in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Brad Redding from Grande Dunes Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Each “Top 100 Teacher” taught a separate discipline of the game and the golfers spent 45 minutes with each instructor before rotating to the next station. Perpich taught chipping while Peterson worked with the golfers on pitching techniques. Preisinger shared her knowledge on putting and distance control while Radar helped golfers with developing a preshot routine and the mental aspects of the game. Representing the Grande Dunes Resort in Myrtle Beach, Redding worked with the golfers on getting off the tee and improving their iron play.

Later that afternoon, ESPN commentator Charlie Rymer emceed an open-to-the-public instructional clinic at the practice facility in which the five “Top 100 Teachers” instructed the contest winners and more than 250 local golfers on techniques such as the flop shot, playing knock down shots in the wind, playing with tempo, the draw and the fade off the tee and the myths of golf.

On Wednesday, March 5, the golfers teed off at The Love Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf in the two-person, 18-hole tournament with a four-ball net stroke play format. After the conclusion of the golf, an awards reception was held at the Barefoot Resort & Golf clubhouse with GOLF Magazine columnist David Feherty appearing as the guest speaker.

Founders Club at Pawleys Island Opens to Rave Reviews

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:49:53 EST

It was the day that Founders Club owners Charlie Byers and Ed Jerdon and the entire Classic Golf Group family had been looking forward to since closing Sea Gull Golf Club for a complete renovation more than two years ago. On February 1, 2008, The Founders Club at Pawleys Island officially opened its doors to excited Grand Strand golfers.

A member of the Waccamaw Golf Trail, The Founders Club became the first course to open on the South Strand in seven years and no expense was spared in redesigning the course and clubhouse. More than $7 million was spent on the 7,007-yard layout and the 5,000 square foot Lowcountry clubhouse, compared to the original $400,000 cost of the Sea Gull in 1966.

“You never know how good a course is until you play it the first time,” said course architect Thomas Walker, once a member of the Gary Player Design Group. “When I played the course for the first time, I was shaking so bad that I had to retee the ball several times and finally got comfortable around hole number 12. One of the course owners asked me half a dozen times if I was sure this course wasn’t too hard for the average golfer. I told him that my philosophy is to make a course look hard, be visually stunning but play fair. The Founders Club is playable and features 18 holes, different holes. Thanks to Classic Golf Group and head golf professional Wayne Welden and his staff for grooming the course and getting it ready for play.”

Featuring Bermuda fairways and a mixture of Bermuda and Zoysia in the rough, The Founders Club joined TPC of Scottsdale as the only two golf courses in the United States with Emerald Bermuda greens. A new strand of grass just released from the Champion Turf Company, Emerald Bermuda tolerates the hot South Carolina summer sun and requires less water and maintenance than other grasses.

Walker complemented the Lowcountry backdrop of the Waccamaw Neck area by adding pine and centuries-old oak trees, Love Grass and Bluestem native grasses and other vegetation around the Founders Club course. The waste areas reflect the south strand’s terrain with a bright shade of orange sand.

“The comments and response from golfers during our first month of being open has been beyond my expectations,” said Wayne Welden, head golf professional at Founders Club at Pawleys Island. “The number of rounds played since we opened in February have been very good. Many of the Sea Gull members rejoined the club and each raved about the changes. What Tom Walker did with Founders Club amazes me every time I go out on the course. Hats off to the work that our superintendant, Brian VanNostrand, and his crew for their work to keep the course in such immaculate condition.”

To schedule a tee time or learn more about The Founders Club at Pawleys Island, visit PlayAClassic.com or call 1-800-TEE-OFFS.

Former Cincinnati Red Outfielder Ken Griffey, Sr. To Serve As Honorary Chairman For “Know Your Score” Prostate Cancer Campaign

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:28:00 EST

April 15, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) announced that former Cincinnati Red outfielder Ken Griffey, Sr. will serve as the honorary chairman of the “Know Your Score” campaign at an April 15th press conference. Griffey will help spread awareness about the importance of prostate cancer research and testing through national and regional interviews and by participating in “Know Your Score” events throughout the year.

The “Know Your Score” campaign was created by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and the NPCC earlier in 2008 and will be an ongoing marketing effort between the two organizations in which the Myrtle Beach golf community intends to raise more than $250,000 each year for prostate cancer research. The “Know Your Score” campaign slogan refers to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test given to men 50 years of age or older to help detect prostate cancer. A low score on the PSA test is good news and is the best screening tool currently available when used with the physical prostate exam, according to the NPCC.

In April, 32 Myrtle Beach golf courses teamed up to raise more than $40,000 for the “Know Your Score” campaign through closest-to-the-pin contests held each Saturday. The closest-to-the-pin contests will be held again in October to continue the efforts to raise money for prostate cancer research.

In addition to his 19-year career in Major League Baseball, Griffey is also a prostate cancer survivor after a screening in 2006 discovered the disease in its early stages. Griffey also had six uncles who passed away after battling prostate cancer. In 2007, Griffey started the Ken Griffey Sr. Foundation to increase awareness of prostate cancer to cities across America and help at-risk youth in Orlando, where he now resides, by providing health and sports clinics.

A native of Donora, Pennsylvania, Griffey joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1973, and was an integral member of three World Series Championship squads. During his career, he also played for the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves and the Seattle Mariners. When Griffey joined his son, Ken Griffey, Jr., on the Mariner squad in 1989, the Griffey’s became the first father-and-son teammates in major league baseball history. Griffey was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2004, and is currently a scout and special consultant in the Cincinnati organization.

“This is a great opportunity for me, as a prostate cancer survivor, to partner with the National Prostate Cancer Coalition and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday in the high-profile ‘Know Your Score’ campaign,” said Griffey. “My goal as the honorary chairman is to stress the importance of frequent screens for early detection of the disease and help raise money for further research. I hope to use my fame from 19 years in Major League Baseball and my personal experience with prostate cancer to spread the word to men across the United States.”

In honor of the announcement, the NPCC brought their 40-foot “Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV” to the press conference at the Myrtle Beach PGA TOUR Superstore location and provided free prostate tests all day. This was the first stop by the “Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV” in the Myrtle Beach area and more than 200 men took advantage of the opportunity to be tested during the RV’s eight-hour visit to the Grand Strand.

Launched in 2002, the “Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV has made stops in more than 250 cities and has tested more than 65,000 men in six years. Now averaging 20,000 free screens per year through the RV, the same prostate cancer screen would cost approximately $200 if tested in a doctor’s office or a clinic.

“Ken Griffey, Sr. is a baseball icon and we are honored he will be serving as the chairman of the ‘Know Your Score’ campaign to raise funds for prostate cancer early detection and research,” said Jamie Bearse, Executive Vice President of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. “We believe as a survivor of the disease, Griffey can convey to all men the importance of knowing the risks about prostate cancer and getting tested.”

“We are excited to partner with the NPCC to launch the “Know Your Score” campaign and raise money for prostate cancer research,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “The entire Myrtle Beach golf community has united to make a long-term commitment to the NPCC and we believe that Ken Griffey, Sr. will be able to convince men of the importance of being tested early and often. We see more than one million golfers per year here in Myrtle Beach and we hope to reach many of these men who are the exact NPCC demographic.”

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and the NPCC will make further announcements about the 2008 “Know Your Score” events in the near future. For more information on the campaign, visit GolfHoliday.com or call 1-800-833-8798.

Team Of Darius Rucker And Annika Sorenstam Survive Playoff To Capture 2008 Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:13:10 EST

April 14, 2008, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – LPGA professional Annika Sorenstam and Hootie & The Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker survived a one-hole playoff to lead their team to the 2008 Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament title in the 14th annual Monday After The Masters Tournament in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. on April 14th. Sorenstam and Rucker’s six-person team defeated two other teams in a “chip-off contest” after all teams finished the 18-hole tournament at 16-under-par.

For the third consecutive year, a sell-out crowd of 6,000 golf fans packed The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf to see their favorite celebrities, athletes and musicians compete. All ticket proceeds benefit the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of children in South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation. Over the past 13 years, the Monday After the Masters has raised more than $3.5 million for the charities.
Before the tournament got underway, Hootie & The Blowfish honored five veterans from the Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) who were invited to participate in the annual celebrity tournament. The five veterans were wounded while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and use golf as a rehabilitation tool to get their lives back to normal, with the assistance of the SMGA and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

The field for 2008 Monday After The Masters Tournament featured many of the biggest names in music, television and movies, sports and the professional golf world. The musicians included R&B singer Javier; pop rock performer Edwin McCain; musician Branford Marsalis; Alter Bridge drummer Scott Phillips; country singers Steve Azar and Johnny Lee; singer/songwriter Samantha Cole; Andrew Copeland of Sister Hazel and Dan Tyminski of Union Station. Actors participating in the 2008 Monday After The Masters ranged from Gary Valentine of “King of Queens”; Kevin Sorbo of “Hercules” to comedian Jackie Flynn who made his first Monday After The Masters appearance.

Cast members of the new GOLF CHANNEL golf reality show, Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, singer-songwriter Josh Kelley; ESPN commentator Chalie Rymer and Duramed FUTURES TOUR golfer Perry Swenson also participated.

Former NFL players Dan Marino, Derek Anderson, Vencie Glenn, Jim McMahon, George Rogers, Gale Sayers, Sterling Sharpe, Kordell Stewart and NFL analyst Paul McGuire competed today, along with former Major League Baseball stars Ken Griffey, Sr., Chuck Finley, Eric Karros and Mickey Tettleton. The professional golf field was once again loaded with talent with a roster that included Annika Sorenstam, Woody Austin, Laura Davies, Josh Broadaway, Jason Caron, Kris Cox, Todd Demsey, Lee Elder, Nick Flanagan, Robert Gamez, Ryan Howison, Billy Kratzert, Mark Lye, Steve Marino, Jim McGovern, David Mobley, Tim O’Neal, D.A. Points, Larry Rinker, Lee Rinker, Mike Sposa, Kevin Streelman, Jim Thorpe, Marc Turnesa and three-time world long drive champion Sean “The Beast” Fister. Coastal Carolina University graduate and new PGA TOUR member Dustin Johnson and Clemson University graduate D.J. Trahan represented the state of South Carolina in the 2008 tournament.

“We had a wonderful turnout this year here at The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf with our third straight sellout,” said Darius Rucker, lead singer of Hootie & The Blowfish. “Thanks to Annika’s leadership, we fielded a strong team this year and worked well together to get back to the winner’s circle in 2008. It was cool to see all of our fans come again and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year.”

“The Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters continues to be one of the most popular events each year in the Myrtle Beach area,” said Bill Golden, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday President. It would not be a spring golf season here on the Grand Strand without the Monday After the Masters Tournament. Golf fans mark this event on their calendar every year and we look forward to continuing the relationship with the band.”

Hootie & The Blowfish Kick-Off 2008 Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament With Sunday Night’s Live Auction

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:33 EST

April 14, 2008, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The 2008 Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament kicked off Sunday night with a Live Auction and Pairings Party at the House of Blues. The Live Auction raises money for the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation which supports the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation and the educational needs of children in South Carolina. Combined with the tournament ticket sales, which sold out in advance for the third consecutive year, the 2008 donations total is expected to break 2007’s record of $456,000.

One of the most popular items up for bid at the Auction was the band’s first touring van, a 1993 Ford Econoline Conversion Van Explorer. Customized by West Coast Customs, the automotive restyling center that handled the conversions on MTV’s “Pimp My Ride,” the van was auctioned off for $90,000 to Myrtle Beach entrepreneur Joe Rice. In 2006, Rice and John Daly battled in the Live Auction for the van before Daly made the winning bid. Daly donated the van back to the Tournament this year to raise more money for the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation.

“What a great way to kick off this weekend’s event,” said Paul Graham, director of the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Tournament. “Joe Rice wanted the van back in 2006 and was persistent in his bidding last night at the Live Auction. We look forward to a great golf tournament today and raising more money for the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation.”

This is the sixth year that the Monday After The Masters has been held at the Dye Club at Barefoot Resort & Golf in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., and the field for past tournaments has included many of the biggest names in music, television and movies, sports and the professional golf world. Musicians from many different genres are scheduled to compete today, including R&B singer Javier; pop rock performer Edwin McCain; musician Branford Marsalis; Alter Bridge drummer Scott Phillips; country singers Steve Azar and Johnny Lee; singer/songwriter Samantha Cole; Andrew Copeland of Sister Hazel and Dan Tyminski of Union Station. Actors participating include Gary Valentine of “King of Queens”; Kevin Sorbo of “Hercules”; Comedian Jackie Flynn will make his first Monday After The Masters appearance. Cast members of the new GOLF CHANNEL golf reality show, Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, singer-songwriter Josh Kelley and Duramed FUTURES TOUR golfer Perry Swenson will also appear.

Former NFL players Dan Marino, Derek Anderson, Vencie Glenn, Jim McMahon, George Rogers, Gale Sayers, Sterling Sharpe, Kordell Stewart and NFL analyst Paul Maguire will compete, along with former Major League Baseball stars Ken Griffey, Sr., Chuck Finley, Eric Karros and Mickey Tettleton. The professional golf field is once again loaded with talent including Annika Sorenstam, Woody Austin, John Daly, Laura Davies, Josh Broadaway, Jason Caron, Kris Cox, Todd Demsey, Lee Elder, Nick Flanagan, Robert Gamez, Ryan Howison, Billy Kratzert, Mark Lye, Steve Marino, Jim McGovern, David Mobley, Tim O’Neal, D.A. Points, Larry Rinker, Lee Rinker, Mike Sposa, Kevin Streelman, Jim Thorpe, Marc Turnesa, and three-time world long drive champion Sean “The Beast” Fister will participate. Coastal Carolina University graduate and new PGA TOUR member Dustin Johnson and Clemson University graduate D.J. Trahan will provide the South Carolina state connections to the 2008 Monday After The Masters Tournament.

For fans who could not attend this year’s tournament in “The Golf Capital of the World,” GOLF CHANNEL will broadcast a highlight show in May with interviews and footage from the 2008 Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Golf Celebrity Golf Tournament.

About the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament
Recently named by Golf for Women Magazine as one of the most popular celebrity pro-am golf tournaments in the country, the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament attracts thousands of people who enjoy the music of the two-time Grammy award winners as well as the friendly competition between the band and their celebrity and PGA professional friends. Over the past 13 years, the Monday After The Masters has donated more than $3.5 million to the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.

Ken Griffey, Sr .And USC Head Football Coach Steve Spurrier Join The Field For 2008 Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:10:16 EST

April 8, 2008, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The list of celebrities and PGA professionals scheduled to play in the 2008 Hootie & The Blowfish Monday after The Masters Celebrity Golf Tournament continues to grow as more participants were announced today.

Monday After the Masters Tournament officials also announced today that all 6,000 tickets have been sold, marking the third consecutive sellout in tournament history. Children 12 years of age and younger will be admitted free but must pick up a complimentary ticket on the day of the event from the Barefoot Landing general parking area, near the Alabama Theater. All minors must be escorted by an adult who previously purchased a ticket before the day of the tournament.

All ticket proceeds benefit the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation, which supports the educational needs of children in South Carolina and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation. Last year, the tournament raised $456,000 for the charities.

From the sports world, former NFL players Derek Anderson, Vencie Glenn, Jim McMahon, George Rogers, Gale Sayers, Sterling Sharpe and Kordell Stewart will participate, along with NFL analyst Paul McGuire. Former Major League Baseball stars Chuck Finley, Eric Karros and Mickey Tettleton will also participate.

R&B singer Javier; pop rock performer Edwin McCain; musician Branford Marsalis; Alter Bridge drummer Scott Phillips; country singers Steve Azar and Johnny Lee; singer/songwriter Samantha Cole; Andrew Copeland of Sister Hazel and Dan Tyminski of Union Station are scheduled to participate.

Actors participating in the 2008 Monday After The Masters include Gary Valentine of “King of Queens”; Kevin Sorbo of “Hercules”; Anthony Anderson from “The Departed” and Lucas Black of “Friday Night Lights” and “Jarhead.” Comedian Jackie Young will make his first Monday After The Masters appearance.

The professional golf field is once again loaded with talent including Ricky Barnes, Josh Broadaway, Jason Caron, Kris Cox, Todd Demsey, Lee Elder, Nick Flanagan, Robert Gamez, Brian Gay, Ryan Howison, Billy Kratzert, Cliff Kresge, Mark Lye, Steve Marino, Jim McGovern, David Mobley, Tim O’Neal, Pat Perez, D.A. Points, Larry Rinker, Lee Rinker, Mike Sposa, Kevin Streelman, Marc Turnesa, Grant Waite and three-time world long drive champion Sean “The Beast” Fister will participate. Coastal Carolina University graduate and new PGA TOUR member Dustin Johnson and Clemson University graduate D.J. Trahan will provide the South Carolina connections to the 2008 Monday After the Masters Tournament.

Celebrities, musicians and athletes previously announced as competing in the 14th annual charity tournament include Annika Sorenstam, John Daly, Woody Austin, Jim Thorpe, Laura Davies, NFL Hall of Famer Dan Marino, and from the new GOLF CHANNEL golf reality show, Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, singer-songwriter Josh Kelley, ESPN commentator Charlie Rymer and Duramed FUTURES TOUR golfer Perry Swenson.

“We’ve been looking forward to this year’s tournament for awhile and are excited about selling out the tournament again this year,” said Darius Rucker of Hootie & The Blowfish. “Myrtle Beach is the ‘Golf Capital of the World’ and is the perfect site for our tournament. We hope to see a lot of our friends and fans out at The Dye Club next Monday.”

MBGH and NPCC Offer Free Testing on Tuesday, April 15th

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 11:53:23 EST

The National Prostate Cancer Coalition will bring their 40-foot “Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV” to the Myrtle Beach PGA TOUR Superstore parking lot on Tuesday, April 15 to offer free testing for all men from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The National Prostate Cancer Coalition provides 20,000 free tests each year through the RV and if tested in a doctor’s office or a clinic, the same prostate cancer screening would cost approximately $200.

One of every six men will deal with prostate cancer during their lifetime and every 18 minutes, a man dies from the disease. African-American men are two-and-a-half times more likely to be affected.

For more information, contact (843) 477-8833 ext. 296.

Six Grand Strand Area Courses Named In Golfweek Magazine’s “America’s Best Courses” Ranking

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:40:27 EST

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday announced today that six Grand Strand area golf courses were honored in the 2008 Golfweek Magazine “America’s Best Courses” ranking. The annual Golfweek ranking is comprised of three separate lists that name the top 100 classic courses built before 1960; the top 100 modern courses built after 1960, and the state-by-state list of the top courses. The criteria used by Golfweek raters to evaluate golf courses included the ease and intimacy of routing, integrity of design, quality of feature shaping, natural setting and overall land planning among other categories.

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club was named to Golfweek’s “America’s 100 Best Modern Courses” ranking at No. 100, while The Dunes Golf and Beach Club was ranked 94th in Golfweek’s “America’s 100 Best Classic Courses” list. Both Caledonia and The Dunes Club have made the magazine’s annual rankings for the last 10 consecutive years.

Golfweek also recognized the top 10 golf courses in South Carolina with six Grand Strand area courses making the “Best State-by-State Public Access Courses” list. Caledonia led all Grand Strand courses in third place with The Dunes Club just behind in the fourth spot. Tidewater Golf Club and Plantation was ranked as the sixth-best course in the Palmetto State while True Blue Plantation was ranked seventh. The TPC at Myrtle Beach was recognized in eighth place while the Love Course at Barefoot Resort was ranked 10th.

“To have six different courses named to Golfweek’s prestigious rankings is a testament to the quality of public golf courses that we have on the Grand Strand,” said Bill Golden, vice president and director of marketing at Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “We congratulate Caledonia and Dunes Club for their ranking among the country’s 100 best courses once again in 2008, along Tidewater, True Blue, TPC and Barefoot Resort for being named as the best in the state.”

“The Grand Strand is not only blessed with accessible, affordable golf,” said Bradley S. Klein, national director of Golfweek’s Best. “It's also one of the unacknowledged centers of fine golf course design that the public can enjoy, thanks to two courses on the top-100 and six out of South Carolina's ten best courses you can play. In the Myrtle Beach area, appreciating great architecture isn't akin to seeing paintings at a museum; it's more like enjoying a stroll through a wonderful public park.”

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 104 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest amateur golf tournament, the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, the Veterans Golf Classic, the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing and the Summer Family Golf Tournaments,. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday To Host 11th Annual Spring Palmetto High School Golf Championship, March 20-22, 2008

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:39:13 EST

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday will host more than 75 teams from 13 states and Canada during the 11th annual Spring Palmetto High School Golf Championships, to be held March 20-22, 2008. The 13 states represented include Alabama, California, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and two high school teams from Canada.

The 54-hole event will be held at Aberdeen Country Club, Blackmoor Golf Club, Crown Park Golf Club, Founders Club, Indigo Creek Golf Club, Meadowlands Golf Club, River Hills Golf Club, Sea Trail Plantation, The Pearl Golf Club, Tradition Golf Club, True Blue Plantation and Wachesaw Plantation.

The Palmetto’s qualifying method ensures that teams of all skill levels enjoy a competitive experience. The tournament kicks off the first day with a qualifying round to flight each squad and teams then participate in the two-day championship within their flight. In addition to the team competition, medals are awarded to the top individual performers in each flight.

The Palmetto High School Golf Championships will once again team up with the National High School Golf Coaches Association (NHSGCA) for the annual spring championship, and the fourth annual fall championship, to be held September 13-14, 2008. The NHSGCA is the only national association for high school golf coaches and through the partnership, the Palmetto High School Golf Championships reaches high school golf coaches across the country seeking tournaments for their teams. The NHSGCA also sponsors the Palmetto All-Tournament Team.

“The Palmetto High School Golf Championships is one of the most competitive high school team tournaments in the nation,” said Dave Macpherson, Palmetto High School Golf Championships tournament coordinator. “The tournament hosted more than 100 teams from 20 states in 2007, and with the assistance of the National High School Golf Coaches Association, we expect a deep field again this spring.”

For more information about the 2008 Palmetto High School Golf Championships, call 1-800-833-8798 or visit PalmettoGolfChampionship.com.

About Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 104 golf package providers and five golf schools in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Founded in 1967, the organization has been and continues to be the driving force behind the growth of the Myrtle Beach area golf market. The originator of the “Stay and Play Package,” Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about the area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making the most informed decisions when planning for their next vacation. Golf Holiday also hosts seven events and tournaments annually to help grow the game of golf and attract golfers to the Grand Strand during slower times of year. In addition to hosting the Spring and Fall Palmetto High School Golf Championships, Golf Holiday also manages the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship – the world's largest amateur golf tournament, the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, the Veterans Golf Classic, the FDNY 9-11 Memorial Golf Outing and the Summer Family Golf Tournaments,. For more information, call Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday at 1-800-833-8798 or visit GolfHoliday.com.