With Irene behind many of us, and little damage to report in South Carolina, the golf season is revving up in Myrtle Beach for a fantastic end to the summer and fall season.  Myrtle Beach and much of the surrounding area was fortunate enough to avoid a direct impact from the storm, and received little overall damage to the more than 100 courses that comprise the Myrtle Beach Golf Courses community.  The weather we did receive, gave many of us a nice respite and glimpse of the cooler weather we will experience this fall and early winter.

The conditions during this time of the year, and well into the fall season, are ideal for the golfer who enjoys the sunshine, but not the scorching heat that is to be experienced in many of the summer months.  As we get deeper into the fall season, the climate provides golfers relatively lower temperatures and humidity in comparison to those experienced in the middle of the year.   Golfers can expect to enjoy the local courses without having to bare the scorching heat.

Also, this time of year gives those of you who missed the opportunity to enjoy an outing in the spring time and early summer a second chance to enjoy a milder climate.  In short, you will find the opportunity to enjoy relaxing rounds in the morning or late afternoon with temperatures steering clear of the triple digits.  The increased rainfall in the late part of the summer season also softens many areas of the course, and improves the overall condition of the greens on many of the courses.

If you are wondering where to play, Golf Digest just recently published a Myrtle Beach trip report that will provide you a quick snapshot of some of the courses to choose from.  The report provides you a good idea of how the courses played in August as well as credible comparisons of some of the best courses available.  This resource will help you navigate through the many options available to you.    Follow the link: http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/blogs/wheres-matty-g/2011/08/trip-reports-myrtle-beach.html, if you are interested in hearing more about some of the premier courses and how they stood up in the trip review.

Whether you are planning a quick nine or a 36 hole tournament with friends, do not miss the opportunity to enjoy a round on the Grand Strand during this great time of year!  Remember, our GolfMasters are always available by phone 800 394 3764, email or Facebook to answer all your questions or book your rounds!

Tags: Golf Facts and figures, Golfmaster Opinion's, Myrtle Beach Golf, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Info, Myrtle Beach News and events by GolfMaster
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Myrtle Beach Golf received some good news according to a recent report. A survey conducted by the National Golf Foundation ranks the Myrtle Beach-area number one for quality and value in its golf courses.

Barefoot Resort was called out in the article. The courses are improving after a few tough years according to several pros. Barefoot consists of 4 courses, each one having unique challenges with meticulously manicured fairways and greens making them very pleasant to play.

Very good news for Myrtle Beach Golf.

For the full article click here. To book your next Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation give us a call 800-394-3764 or click here to contact us.

Tags: Golf Facts and figures, Golfmaster Opinion's, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Info, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Reviews, Myrtle Beach Golf Packages, Myrtle Beach News and events, Press Releases, Random Golf Info, Uncategorized by Pat-O
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TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Dancin’ Dogg Golf - makers of the OptiShot Infrared Simulator, the ultimate in-home virtual golf system – confirms that exceptionally strong holiday sales have pushed its signature product into the top one percent of golf items sold on Amazon.com. click here for the full article

I usually consider myself an optimist but I have a hard time believing that golf simulators are accurate and can really improve your game. Now I’ll be honest I have only been to one and while it was fun, I didn’t feel it showed my true game. Unless I was having the round of my life it made no sense as none of my shots went in the woods and a majority of them seemed near perfect. No way, not my game at a 19 handicap.

So here’s the question. Do you think golf simulators are accurate and can help improve your game? Or are they really designed just to have some good fun when the course is under 4 feet of snow?

We want to hear from you. Click here to take the poll

Tags: Golfmaster Opinion's, Random Golf Info by Pat-O
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Do not let “hear-say” steer you in the wrong direction. A Myrtle Beach golf vacation will contain a whole lot of options.  Myrtle Beach has around 100 golf courses and numerous quality lodgings options , so you have a lot of choices.

You may have heard about certain courses or packages  from a friend or a friend of a friend but is that really the best advise?  We, Golf Masters, are not necessarily masters at golf   but we are certainly experts when it come to the courses and on how to set up the appropriate golf package for your group.

Our web site http://www.yourgolfpackage.com is loaded with information and  we are happy to send out multiple e-mail quotes but one old fashion 10-15 minute phone conversation could go a very long way in a short time in determining what the best would be for your golf group.  We are NOT going to hard sell you but we will listen to your guidelines and help you pick the best courses and accommodations in your price range, that’s what makes us “Golf Masters”  so please do the fear the Golf Masters we are very friendly and love to talk about golf.

Tags: Golfmaster Opinion's by admin
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Golf Balls Smof Balls,  they are all the same …kinda .  I use a lot of different golf balls and I play a lot of golf , around 120-30 rounds per year over the last 3 years. This makes me an expert, don’t ya know.  I do have a bit of a preference for certain balls  but that usually heads to the way side when I see a good sale.  I also live on a golf course , hawk a few there,  and quite often find real good balls on the course while I’m playing; I find them while I am looking for the other guy’s ball, of course.

Lets start with the Pro V ,  wowie  wow, a Pro V , big deal, I say. I don’t buy them but I sure find a lot of them. I don’t  spin the ball much so I don’t get the whole deal about how well they spin ?  I have also found that they split , little splits,  a lot.  I use Top Flites or Pinnacles  as my “table balls ” if you will, and have found the Pinnacles to be a much better ball , lately.  The Top Flites get the little shards on them but the Pinnacles, Gold, hold up real well .  I guess I look for durability mostly, can’t stand balls that get all bruised up , split or get those little shards you have to chew off.  I actually buy Bridge Stones and Nikes for to use at fancy courses, keeping a “Top Rock”  or “Pineapple” in my pocket for a shot that may put my beautiful new ball at risk.  I like both Bridgestone and Nike balls, tour grade and regular, they seem to hold up real well.  I’m kinda up in the air with Callaway , I think their tour grade balls hold up well but their lower grade balls seem a little whimpy.  A couple of weeks a go I used a couple of high end Srixons and I really really  liked them, they came off the club face with some zip and were still in great shape after 2 rounds.  Well,  like all golf discussions, when one golfer rates his balls other golfers always have better balls , so tell us, how do you feel about your balls?

Golfmaster Gary

Tags: Golfmaster Opinion's by admin
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I work part time at an ocean-front resort in Myrtle Beach and I also work in the golf package business. The two occupations go hand in hand and I get the opportunity to speak with a lot of resort golfers who come to Myrtle Beach to play. One of the things that always seems to come up in our conversations is pace of play. Many of the golfers I have spoken with about pace of play feel that some courses push them to play faster than their game allows. Most of the Myrtle Beach golfers want to enjoy the views when playing a new course, be it pristine courses without housing, marshes with giant oaks, old cypress trees with dripping moss, tidal basin bays with marsh grasses, island greens, rolling hills, intracoastal waterway views, links or beach style…..they’re all here.

I always ask if they could change anything what would they do to improve the experience. Most of the golfers I speak to would love to see groups playing “Ready Golf.” The average round of golf during our busy season takes approximately 4.5 hours.  If everyone played ready golf, I easily think that the time could be reduced by up to one half hour.

I actually googled the term ready golf and this is the definition, Simply put, hit when ready. The Rules of Golf and golf etiquette prescribe the proper way to determine hitting order on a golf course. On the tee, honors; everywhere else, away hits first.

But ready golf allows the golfers within a group to take their swings when each member of the group is ready to play. If you reach your ball and are ready to hit, while other members of your group are not yet prepared, then go ahead and hit. Ready golf is a good way to speed up play. Keep in mind that while there are no penalties under the Rules for violating order of play, it is considered poor etiquette to do so. Ready golf should be employed when it agreed upon by the group, or when prescribed by a tournament organizer. I really believe that if ready golf was explained, most golfers would prefer to play it that way and speed up the game. What do you think, let me know?

Golfmaster Buddy

Tags: Golfmaster Opinion's by admin
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Golfmaster Gary’s 6-10 Favorite Myrtle Beach Golf Courses a continuing series

In my previous “favorite course blog” (Favorites 1-5) regarding Myrtle Beach Golf Courses I noted my criteria for why I pick courses as my favorites but I would like to reiterate that this is completely subjective and based on my opinion and my experiences at these courses. I really did not factor in price or any temporary conditions which may have existed during a particular round. I have played all of theses courses at least 2 times and in most cases I have played them numerous times. It is true that theses top courses will have the top top prices but there can also be a significant difference in these top prices making some of these courses a fantastic value premium course. CALL ME I PROMISE TO EXPLAIN AND GUIDE YOU TO THE BEST VALUES!

* Note the Reserve Club at St James would be some place in my top 6 but it is semi-private and has limited tee times for the public so I didn’t give it a specific rank. The good news is we can book up to 12 tee times a day at this utterly fantastic course. Call us for availability. THIS IS A VALUE PREMIUM COURSE!

Soooo here is 6 thru 10

# 6 – Caledonia – could easily be in any top 5 list. Beautiful and plush, always in great condition. An excellent challenge with the Stantz flair around some tricky approach areas and greens. No houses, Augusta style entrance and a great porch over looking a water carry on 18.

#7 – Heritage – maybe the most beautiful course, very similar location and feel as Caledonia but with fascinating undulating greens. Great entrance and clubhouse with few houses.

#8 Barefoot Fazio – a very pleasant and most interesting layout, a true Fazio design. No houses and plenty of multicolored ornamental grasses. Great facility and clubhouse, with great service.

#9 Oyster Bay – nature at its best. A truly unique track winding and meandering about and thru ponds, lakes and a tidal basin just off the ocean near Calabash. A par 70 situated among a few houses with lots of nature and sparkling water. The alligator I saw on #3 was about 40 feet long… ahh maybe that was the birdie putt I made?

#10 Tidewater – a tough call as I eyed up Grande Dunes for this slot, but the 4 holes perched over the tidal basin between North Myrtle Beach and Little River was the difference.

Tell us what your favorite courses are?

Coming soon, my favorite 11-15,

Golf Master Gary

Tags: Golfmaster Opinion's by admin
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