Name: Jay Smith
Position: Head Golf Professional Prestwick Golf Club Myrtle Beach
#1. What new and exciting has been going on at your course?
Lots of tournaments-member, charity and junior-changed the look and playability of #1, #10, and #14.
#2. What is your best round on your course? Best round ever?
Best round at Prestwick-67 Best round ever-66 at Blackmoor
#3. Hobbies, other than golf?
Boating, water skiing, and doing things with the family.
#4. Dream golf 4some?
Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Fred Couples
#5. How many years have you been in the golf business?
20
#6. Where are you originally from?
Spartanburg, South Carolina
#7. What is the strangest thing that happened on your course recently?
Recently a group was playing #4(a short par 4 with second shot over water) and a gentleman was lining up his putt and got too close to the edge and fell over the bulkhead into the water-did not get hurt thank goodness. The funny thing is that his group was laughing so hard, the gentleman crawled out of the water and dropped his putter on the way out. He then had to go back in and get his putter and was forced to go under. He did get his putter and unfortunately did not make the putt, but gave his playing partners a story to always tell.
#8. What makes your course stand out compared to the other 100 MB golf courses?
The Pete and PB design of the course. Makes you really think your way around and use every club in your bag. Every level of golfer can play and have an enjoyable round.
#9. What is the biggest challenge your course faces this year?
Figuring out how to manage our business financially while not sacrificing condition and customer service.
#11. Describe your signature holes, and how to play them?
#5-a challenging par 3 with a creek that runs the length of the holes and turns left at the green. Have to bail out to the right, but there are 2 large bunkers and a huge slope to contend with. Also #17-a difficult Par 5 voted by the Sun News as one of the hardest 18 holes on the Grand Strand. Has a winding stream the length of the hole that comes into play on every shot and must be carried on the approach shot to the green. Tee shot must be on right side of fairway and lay up shot cannot be out of fairway. 3rd shot is to a small green with mounding. Cannot bail out right or will be in water and bail out left is down a swell and leaves for an almost impossible up and down. Take your par and move on.
#12. Have you played competitively?
Played golf for Coastal Carolina College in college and played in Carolinas section events.
#13. What course improvements have you undergone in the past year, or what improvements are you considering?
We eliminated a waste bunker on #1 and added 2 bunkers to protect the green. We moved the bunker beside #10 green more towards the fairway and placed it in a collection area to the left front of the green. Resodded and moved some mounds to mellow them out on the right side of #14 in the rough. We have taken down about 100 tress to increase airflow and reduce shade to tees and greens to improve the quality of the turf.
#14. What general trends are you seeing in the golf industry in Myrtle Beach?
The golf courses and hotels are trying to work together to fend off an ever declining number of rounds. The golf courses are trying to help one another. Advertising dollars are on the increase to try and increase the number of rounds in the area.
Tags: Meet the Pro - a feature interview series by admin
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