A very interesting article was published yesterday in the local newspaper, The Myrtle Beach Sun News.  It speaks about the length and depth golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area have to go to, in order to keep playing conditions up to par…no pun intended.

The entire country has experienced record heat.  For the month of June South Carolina averaged 6 degrees warmer…it was the warmest on record….funny since we had the coldest winter as well….which makes you wonder about the whole global warming thing.

Anyway,  the article in the sun news talks about what golf courses are doing with different types of grass to keep optimum conditions.  It’s definitely worth the read and may give you a better appreciation for maintenance.  Let us know what you think.  As always our Golfmasters are always a good local source of information.

Here is a link to the article:  Myrtle Beach Sun News Golf Article

Tags: Golf Facts and figures, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Reviews, Myrtle Beach Golf Packages by admin
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The Pearl golf course has been making news with renovations to continually upgrade the course.  As part of their continued investment in the course they will have brand new granite tee signs, as well as 3D Yardage books.  The books are for sale at a nominal price, but are completely updated based on the latest changes at the course.

They also added a flyover of each hole on their website.  3d Flyover East Course and 3d flyover west course

Here is a picture to give you an idea.

Tags: Myrtle Beach Golf Course Info, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Reviews, Myrtle Beach Golf Packages by admin
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Arrowhead Country Club, centrally located on Hwy 501 in Myrtle Beach has announced it is offering a pre booked replay for their golf package groups.  The golf course designed by Arnold Palmer has undergone extensive renovations, including brand new mini verde Bermuda greens.  This should ensure great playing conditions year round.

For groups that are interested in playing more than 18 holes per day, this is an ideal location to do it.  Prebooked replays are available for those that play the golf course in the morning, for as little as $30 per person inclusive of carts and taxes.  This has to be one of the best values in Myrtle Beach Golf.  A tremendous opportunity to give customers the option to play all 3 nines and the some.

Tags: Myrtle Beach Golf Course Info, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Reviews by admin
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Your Myrtle Beach Golf masters had the opportunity to go play “The Granddaddy” of Myrtle Beach this past Wednesday.  While the weather was cool and sunny, the golf was hot.

Pine Lakes reopened this past March, after being closed for a couple of years while the course was being renovated. This was my first time to see the course with all the improvements and the improvements were substantial.  Having grown up in Myrtle Beach and playing Pine Lakes many times I was surprised at how open it now feels, neat and clean.

A few holes have been replaced but the improvements to the existing holes is what surprised me the most.  It is obvious to eye that they have planted new grass through-out and replaced the greens (with SeaDwarf Seashore Paspalum grass), it should be a  lot easier to maintain during our hot summer months.  The tee box areas have been enlarged and  native waste areas have been added.  Not many cart paths like you see on most courses, tee off and scatter.  If you’re thinking of playing some golf in Myrtle Beach area be sure to include a round at “The Granddaddy”, you won’t be disappointed.

Golfmaster Buddy

Tags: Myrtle Beach Golf Course Info, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Reviews by admin
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As publicized and promoted by the sun news, here is a look again at the Myrtle Beach Golf “Dream 18″.  These are the best 18 holes of golf as voted by those that have played golf extensively in Myrtle Beach.  Credit goes to the Sun News for putting together the best golf holes on the Grand Strand.
While several of the courses are private, most of these Myrtle Beach Golf courses are accessible by anyone from the traveling golfer to the local looking to get in some quality golf.  I have some personal favorites in Prestwick, Oyster Bay, and River’s Edge.

Tags: Myrtle Beach Golf Course Info, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Reviews, Uncategorized by admin
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Bald head Island Golf Club, located 5 miles off the coast of Southport, NC is a “one of a kind” golf course on a small island near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It has been a course that Golfmasters have recommended to our traveling Myrtle Beach golfers as an experience like nothing else in Myrtle Beach. While a bit involved to get to from the center of Myrtle Beach, it’s certainly worth the trip. There are not many Myrtle Beach golf courses that require you to board a ferry for the 25 minute ride to the island, but at Bald Head Island, it is part of the experience. The benefits are playing on a small pristine island, which do not allow any other forms of transportation other than golf carts, bikes, etc. The island really isn’t large enough to support anything larger.

You can have 365 degree views of the ocean while playing this magnificent Myrtle Beach golf course. Wind is always a factor in playing the course, and can change club selection dramatically. In addition to the challenge of the golf course, there is stunning natural beauty to be experienced. The wildlife is tremendous with everything from alligators to osprey and eagles. Be sure to allow time to eat in the club, as the food is tremendous as well. All of it can be enjoyed while overlooking this Myrtle Beach golf course and the rest of this beautiful island.

The members of the Bald Head Island Club in Myrtle Beach decided to bring in renowned golf course architect Tim Cate for a redesign of the golf course. Originally designed by George Cobb, of Augusta National Fame, the members felt it was time for a slight face lift. Mr. Cate has designed numerous Myrtle Beach Golf Courses, including Leopard’s Chase, Tigers Eye, and numerous other Myrtle Beach Golf destinations. Personally we felt that Bald Head Golf Club was always in great shape and has always provided a fantastic playing experience. However the members felt that a renovation could maintain the exacting standards and perhaps even take the course to the next level.

Currently only 9 holes are open and the other 9 will be closing on December 15th. Tim Cate plans to replace all the greens converting them to miniverde bermuda, as well as renovate the sand traps and improve some drainage where need be. This will enable the golf course to take advantage of the latest turf technology, ensuring the best possible playing conditions year round. The target opening date for the newly renovated course is May 15, 2010. Hopefully all goes accordingly to schedule and they are able to open with a product even better than we have previously experienced. With all the Myrtle Beach golf courses available to play at while visiting Myrtle Beach, this one holds a special place in every golfer’s heart.

Any questions about Bald head Island Golf club, or any other Myrtle Beach Golf Course, please contact us at 800-394-3764, or http://www.yourgolfpackage.com

Tags: Myrtle Beach Golf Course Info, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Reviews by admin
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The GOLFMASTERS traveled to the Oak Island Country Club on the scenic North Carolina coast today.   For November the 75 degree sunny day was welcome.

We all look forward to playing this superb track as it has topography that is not found at any other course on the Grand Strand.  The course as the name indicates is on an island…Oak Island.  From the mainland, you go over a long bridge over the intercoastal waterway onto Oak Island.  The course is on the blue Atlantic with the waterway 1 mile to the west and the Cape Fear River 1 mile to the north. Oak Island Country Club was built in 1962 by the renowned golf architect George Cobb, who remodeled Augusta National, and it winds through oak and pine forests. Some of the fairways seem to be three football fields wide, but it does not matter how wide the fairways are for your game…as you must play the shifting winds to make shots.

Truly, on many holes, it’s like playing a Scottish links course with the open topography and winds.  Coupled with huge undulating greens, many with multiple tiers, the course is a putters dream.

The clubhouse sits on a hill with panoramic views of the ocean from the second-story, glass-enclosed pub and restaurant. The 2^nd floor open-air deck provides excellent views of the 9^th and 18^th holes. The course is over-seeded from tree line to tree line with winter rye, making a pretty carpet of lush green grass for the winter months.

We played at TEXAS 2 ball regressive tee game today.  Captains choice for the first 2 shots on par 4’s & par 5’s and 1 shot on par 3’s.  If anyone made a birdie, the foursome had to go back one tee and stay on that tee until another birdie was made…then you went back another tee.  When you got to the tips, the next birdie put you on a forward tee.

It made for a real challenging match, especially for our senior GOLFMASTERS as they started on the senior tees at 5,973 yds. and then moved back to the tips at 6,720 yds. Boston native GOLFMASTER John called the match.  Par is a good score.

The Oak Island Country Club has superior food service; we had lunch in the pub. After the round we quenched our thirst with pitchers of Yeungling lager and watched the sunset.

Oak Island offers one of GOLF TREK’s best “stay ‘n play” packages. In addition to superlative golf, lodging is offered in condos on Oak Island or at nearby St. James Plantation.  This area of the beach has the finest array of courses including many 4.5 star gems, including the private, luxurious Bald Head Island Club. Oak Island is a must play in this package.  Many pro tournaments are played at the course, and it is a fixture of the mini pro tours.  A pro and GOLFMASTER Jim  hold the course records with a 63, the pro from the tips and Jim from the 6,400 yd. mens tees.  Ah, another great day of testing the product!

Tags: Myrtle Beach Golf Course Info, Myrtle Beach Golf Course Reviews by admin
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Shirt sleeve and shorts weather returned today the 16th of November with temps in the mid 70’s.  Bright blue skies, warm sun and a slight ocean breeze at the Pearl West today.  The Pearl is about 2 miles from the ocean and intercoastal waterway and you normally get a good breeze from the East.   The fairways and tees have been overseeded with light green winter rye.  The Pearl West has very good coverage throughout their 18 holes.  Some more oyster shells have been added to the dreaded oyster shell bunkers and the traps are full of fluffy white sand.   The greens were smooth and fast today while holding incoming shots well.

GOLFMASTER GARY chose for the group to play a TEXAS Lone Star tournament…. with each player deciding to either play their own ball down or with a Texas best drive and each player then playing their own ball in.  You could choose what was best for your game.   Afterward a Calloway adjustment was made for each player.  The Commissioner’s team (AKA Golfmaster Drew)had a net 65.3 and won todays tournament.  Pearl West has varied different holes with wide open Scottish links style holes,  rolling hills surrounded by deep pine forests and the tough 4 finishing holes on the salt marsh bay.  The par 5 sixteenth hole was the toughest of the day.  Measuring 578 yards into the wind from the mens tees, only 3 players got on in regulation.

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Myrtle Beach Golf Courses (Thistle) Par 5

The GOLFMASTERS  took on the challenge of The Thistle on Friday the 13th of November.   We were to play the toughest Scottish links course under Scottish conditions with wind chill in the low 40’s, a stiff 25 - 35 mph wind with mist, then drizzle and finally rain.  Truly miserable Scottish conditions at the beach.  Hurricane Ida had just cleared the area and was headed north.   6 inches of rain over the preceding 48 hours had us on the cart paths with lots of walking thru some unplayable lies.

The  Thistle is a 27 hole gem with lots of Scottish grasses, large waste bunkers, some pot bunkers and some huge undulating greens where you can easily have putts over 100 feet.  We started out in the Scottish pub with a roaring fireplace and a sumptuous lunch and brew.  We watched the plentiful large screen tv’s…looking for the weather channel updates.  Tee times are 12 minutes apart and you never see the group that teed off in front of you.  The large Scottish bar in the pub was brought over from the old country and is quite a sight.   To help with the rigid conditions we played a Texas 2 ball tournament with only one player beating par…GOLFMASTER JIM  with a 66.

The Thistle is a semi private club with the clubhouse being split in half for the members on one side and the resort players on the other.   You come thru a private gate to get into this prestigous neighborhood and the stone Scottish clubhouse.  The main hall has the history of Scottish golf with clubs and balls going back into the 1700’s… what a history lesson.  The day was finished off in front of a roaring fire on the veranda outside porch overlooking the finishing 18 th hole.  The story of the day was that we survived….

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