Myrtle Beach Golf Trip Report

[golfer1]

I'm from Chicago and my golf buddy is from Michigan and this was the 1st time for us in MB. I have always heard about the great number of courses but not too many people from the Midwest seem to talk about it anymore.

We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and after landing at MB Airport we picked up the car and headed out MB National West Course. The traffic on 501 was pretty bad as it was a very nice day and it seemed a lot of folks were out shopping.

We finally made it there and it was in OK shape. Not too tough and good choice for a starter round. We finished playing about 7:30 PM and headed for Myrtlewood Condos. Check in was flawless, as all you had to do was pick up the phone and they gave you a security code to enter and then pick the envelope with your name on it. There is a Bi-Lo food mart nearby so that was great.
We headed over to Broadway on the Beach but Jimmy Buffets and Hard Rock had over an hour wait so we settled on TBonz. We sat down right away, and the food was good, but not great. We were tired and they service was good, so it worked out fine.

On Monday morning we headeds down to the River Club and it was pretty packed but well organized. There is a lot of water here, nearly on every hole, but still playable. The course meanders through a housing sub division and was in great shape. In the afternoon we had lunch at Willbank Plantation. Play was very slow (over 5 hours) but we were teamed up with a nice couple form Philidelphia and that made the day even better. Saw some gators there too, yipe! We had dinner at Bonefish that night and it was fantastic, especially the Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer we were told to order!
Tuesday was a ride up to Long Bay, aka Jack's Sand Box. Lots of waste bunkers and a tough course to boot. The course has undulating fairways too, so a lot of your shots aren't from a level lie. Probably one of the tougher courses we played in MB. While we found the course entrance OK, it was poorly marked when we got into the sub divsion, which is a complaint I have about a lot of the courses we played. We then played Aberdeen in the afternoon, but it was in very poor shape. We ate at the Carolina Rib House that night and it was very good, and close to the condo too.
On Wednesday we played MB National Southcreek in the morning which was very nice, and in great shape. I think Southcreek offers a lot and was one of my favorite courses. We then played Kings North in the afternoon which was tougher, but with holes like "The Gambler" it made it very entertaining. We had dinner at the Flamingo Grill across from the Outback , and it was pretty good. The lobster bites appetizer is excellent!
Being that we went as a twosome, we got teamed up with a lot of nice folks. Couples from Montreal, Philly, Pittsburgh and DC. They all had resturaunt picks but the one we really liked the best was Bonefish, which is actually a chain. Being we were up at 5:30 AM everyday, and didn't finish until 7:00 PM, we didn't hunt around for food too much. We were told to watch out for NY Prime as it is very expensive ($60) for a steak and up. Ther are a lot of seafood buffett places to pick from if your into those kinds of places.

All lodging reservations including golf and tee times was booked and coordinated through Laura at MB Golf desk.

All in all, a very nice " golf marathon" trip and I look forward to next years trip!

[warbirdlover]

Sounds great, wish I was there. A friend from work is there right now playing and I'll get his stories and pics when he gets back. You have any pics to put up?

[golfer1]

Sure, here ya go!

[EDSGolf]

Thanks for the trip report and pictures!

[SiberianDVM]

Nice report and it sounds like you had a great time! Nice gator, too.

It's kind of interesting, how back in the 1900s-1930s, the area from Augusta to Pinehurst was a winter golf vacation site for rich Yankees.

Then, after WWII, the emergence of air conditioning made Florida livable and the rich Yankees went there.

Now that Florida is overflowing, South Carolina has emerged as a golf vacation locale, and a golf retirement community locale as well. Still lots of Yankees.

Oh well, you can't have everything.

[sandwedge]

Nice report and pics! That looks like a nice course. I like the island green.

That is a pretty decent size gator there. The course I played on last week has one that they say is about 13 feet. We saw him at the top of the water and then he went down. There is a fairway sandtrap next to the lake and they say that he sometimes gets in the sandtrap to sun himself.

[golfer1]

It was late afternoon when I took that picture and at first I thought the gator was fake but he was definitely real! We pulled up about 15' from him in the cart and I would say he measured at least 6' long, maybe more!

[Bama Duffer]

I'm just curious--What makes the Gambler the "Most Unique Par 5 in all of Golf?"

Maybe I should know, but I don't.

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by golfer1

at first I thought the gator was fake but he was definitely real!

They're real and they're spectacular!!

Kiawah Island has some big ones too. Must be a lot of toy poodles reported missing there.

[C-bogey]

The Gambler is unique because that is an island fairway in the pic. Me and 3 buddies from work are leaving for MB next week. We are playing MBN Kings North, Aberdeen, Litchfield, and Long Bay. We are also staying at Myrtelwood Villas. We are going to be there 4 nights and are wanting to book some afternoon rounds when we get there. Do you think it will be a problem getting afternoon rounds as walk ons? Or do we need to book tee times for afternoon rounds like now?

[chollyred]

Great pics. I'll be there the 1st week of June. Unfortunately, that's also when a lot of their courses aerate, so I'm not expecting the best conditions. But at least it's a lot cheaper then!

I don't know the local rules in Myrtle Beach, but I've played courses in Florida where you get a free drop across the fairway if you hit next to a gator.

[Eracer]

Thanks for the good report. And never you mind the Doc and his "Yankee-hater" ways. He's still upset that Colonel Sanders was one of us...

[EDSGolf]

Originally Posted by C-bogey

The Gambler is unique because that is an island fairway in the pic. Me and 3 buddies from work are leaving for MB next week. We are playing MBN Kings North, Aberdeen, Litchfield, and Long Bay. We are also staying at Myrtelwood Villas. We are going to be there 4 nights and are wanting to book some afternoon rounds when we get there. Do you think it will be a problem getting afternoon rounds as walk ons? Or do we need to book tee times for afternoon rounds like now?

Next week is still Peak Season and getting replays (especially on the courses you are playing) will be difficult due to these courses belonging to the most popular golf package in Myrtle Beach. Your best bet for a replay will be Aberdeen, but ask the pro shop when you check in the morning to see if there is availability.

[EDSGolf]

Originally Posted by chollyred

Great pics. I'll be there the 1st week of June. Unfortunately, that's also when a lot of their courses aerate, so I'm not expecting the best conditions. But at least it's a lot cheaper then!

Your golf packager should have the aerification schedules and can book courses that will not be affected by maintenance.

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by Eracer

Thanks for the good report. And never you mind the Doc and his "Yankee-hater" ways. He's still upset that Colonel Sanders was one of us...

He was?