If the Grand Strand can't add to its arsenal of 100 plus courses every year, it can endeavor to make its existing lot even better. At least that's the glass half full argument for 2003.
A healthy handful of remodeling projects were completed this season in and around Myrtle Beach. The storied Dunes Club has new greens, as does the Blackmoor Golf Club in Murrells Inlet. The Crown Park Golf Club, circa 2001, was reborn with an entirely new layout. So was Indian Wells Golf Club in Surfside Beach, an older, "value" course that fell on hard times in the late 1990s.
The new Founders Club in Pawleys Island is an upscale addition to Myrtle Beach's formidable resume of golf courses. Gary Player Design was tapped to craft a formidable, enjoyable round of golf.
One of the area's finest layouts, Blackmoor Golf Club has been regarded as a gem by Grand Strand golfers since it opened in 1990. Featuring eight doglegs and tree-lined fairways throughout, the Gary Player design places a premium on being in the short grass. Best of all, a two-month greens restoration project this summer has only improved the conditions. Just bring your imagination and your short game, and you're sure to enjoy your round.
Arrowhead has carved a niche and now is known around the Strand as a friendly facility that residents consider a favorite. The relaxed atmosphere is a welcome mat to the locals as well as the tourists. With a total of 27 holes on the Lakes, Waterway and Cypress nines, senior writer Patrick Jones says Arrowhead is an enjoyable experience for everyone.
The old fall golf season, she is what she used to be according to a recent report by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday.
Golf rounds played along the Grand Strand increased by 9.1 percent in October 2003 compared to the same month last year, according to the venerable non-profit marketing association comprised of 77 accommodations and 95 golf courses. There were 393,335 rounds played in October of 2003 compared with 360,657 in October of 2002.
Myrtle Beach can deliver a good time on any budget. If your preference is to go big by playing a three-figure round of golf, stay at a luxurious hotel and head out for a costly night on town at the Beach's most elegant restaurants, you can do it. But on the other hand, summer rates can be found at under $30 at many courses. A devilishly good time can be had on the strip at bars and gentleman's clubs for a fair price. And at the end of a blurry night, a no-frills hotel room can be found for pocket change. We'll show you how.