Author: Jim Maggio

Arnold Palmer left his mark on the Myrtle Beach golf scene

Few who have touched a golf club hold a more special place in the game than the legendary Arnold Palmer. Beloved for his skill and spirit, Arnie decided to make his mark in Myrtle Beach, and in doing so left an indelible impression by designing some truly fantastic courses here on the Grand Strand, including four you must try for yourself on your upcoming vacation with MyrtleBeachGolf.net and SeaSide Resorts.

Seven holes at Rivers Edge are set on the bluffs of the Shallotte River, meaning some of the best Lowcountry views provided by a golf facility in the area. In true Arnold Palmer fashion, the course flows effortlessly with the landscape’s changes over creeks and around expansive wetlands toward riverfront finishing holes on both nines.

Now for Palmer’s courses at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club:

Opened in 1973 and fully renovated by Palmer’s design team in 1996, Kings’ North has received remarkable acclaim as a top-ranked public course in the U.S. The design is stylish and contemporary, like Palmer himself, with a combination of woodland holes, picturesque par 3s, dogleg par 4s and the famously risky par-5 6^th. Hole No. 6 is aptly named “The Gambler,” where players must bet whether to play safely out to the right off the tee, or risk it and go for the island fairway, which affords the opportunity to go for the green in two.

As part of the trio of Palmer designs at Myrtle Beach National, SouthCreek is heavily tree-lined but still very playable, with short, reachable par 5s, an excellent mix of par-3 distances, and par 4s that put a premium on accuracy over distance. One marked feature of SouthCreek is its expansive waste area bunkers, which provide the course exceptional visual appeal as well as a real challenge to navigate at points.

Palmer’s third course at Myrtle Beach National is the West Course, known for providing one of the rarest features in the area: no housing along any of its 18 holes. Like the other two Myrtle Beach National designs, tall pines are a key element to navigate, especially off the tee, and once again, accuracy and touch around the greens are of great importance.

Be sure to give one of these Arnold Palmer designs a try on your trip to Myrtle Beach with MyrtleBeachGolf.net and SeaSide Resorts.

Experience Crow Creek’s effortless combination of hospitality and golf for yourself

There is something about playing golf in the south that is just a little more enjoyable. Maybe it’s the warm sunshine beating down on your back as you stroll the fairway. Maybe it’s the soft whisper of the wind blowing in the pines. Whatever it is, there is a real charm to golf in the Carolinas, a charm that is embraced to the absolute fullest at Crow Creek Golf Club, which can be booked as part of your next Myrtle Beach golf vacation with MyrtleBeachGolf.net and SeaSide Resorts.

Recently reopened with L93 bentgrass putting surfaces, Crow Creek resides just across the North Carolina/South Carolina state line in Calabash, N.C., and has reestablished itself as one of the premier golf experiences anywhere along the Grand Strand for a variety of reasons. Perhaps no reason is more noticeable than the beautiful contemporary clubhouse that greets you upon arrival. Exuding its own unique charm with rocking chairs on the front porch, the clubhouse includes a full-service pro shop with signature apparel, a highly professional, courteous staff ready to help you with whatever you may need, a stocked food and beverage area and an inviting covered patio overlooking the practice putting green and the 18^th, all part of the fantastic amenities to enjoy before or after your round.

The par-72 layout measures almost 7,000 yards from the back tees, with wide fairways, stunning views from tee to green and the common challenge of water hazards, found on 16 of 18 holes. Nos. 6 and 8 are two notable par 3s on the front nine, each one with water coming into play. Yet despite the water, Crow Creek is friendly and wide open, making it the optimal choice for players of all skill levels. The flat and forgiving front nine meanders through what once were tobacco fields, while the back nine treks through Carolina woodlands with tree-lined fairways. You’ll experience the best of both worlds at Crow Creek.

Be sure to check out Crow Creek on your upcoming trip with MyrtleBeachGolf.net and SeaSide Resorts! You will not regret it!

Five courses along the Myrtle Beach Golf Trail

With a wide variety of stay & play packages to choose from, MyrtleBeachGolf.net and SeaSide Resorts can provide the ideal trip itinerary to fit any group’s needs and budget. One incredible offering for fall 2019 is the Myrtle Beach Golf Trail Package, which offers three or more rounds for unbeatable savings at five of the best golf facilities in the Myrtle Beach area. All five courses included on the Trail offer free replays on the same day of play at the golf course. It’s definitely a deal to check out!

Arcadian Shores is the first solo design by Rees Jones in what has become a legendary design career, and is located just seconds from the Atlantic Ocean. Its tree-lined fairways are somewhat narrow and 64 strategically placed bunkers are strewn throughout. Still, the course’s traditional set-up makes it highly playable for all.

Designed by Gary Player, Blackmoor Golf Club’s finishing hole is a daunting but reachable par 5 with a small lake that guards the right side of the green. The beautiful white clubhouse sits just beyond the flagstick, offering the perfect scene to wrap up your round.

Seven holes at Rivers Edge are set along the bluffs of the Shallotte River, offering some of the best Lowcountry views provided by a golf facility in the area. In true Arnold Palmer fashion, the course flows effortlessly with the landscape’s changes over creeks and around expansive wetlands toward riverfront finishing holes on both nines.

Designed by architect Ken Tomlinson, Tidewater remains true to its natural surroundings, with tall pines, centuries-old oaks, golden marsh and natural water hazards presenting key challenges players must navigate throughout the round. The course also has one of the most scenic (and daunting) par 3s on the East Coast – Hole No. 12, which forces players to hit over tidal marsh to a shallow, intimidating green fronted by railroad ties and two strategically placed bunkers in the right- and left-front.

Also earning the distinction of Myrtle Beach Golf Trail member, Wachesaw Plantation East presents a challenging layout that has played host to many professional tournaments. Scottish-inspired, the greens are some of the largest and most impressive in the area. And with trees thickly lining almost every hole, it is quite rare to see others out on the course, an incredibly rare feature for the area.

Be sure to try all five courses on your fall trip with MyrtleBeachGolf.net and SeaSide Resorts!

Check out these restaurants on your next Myrtle Beach golf vacation

There is plenty to love about Myrtle Beach aside from the golf you can play with MyrtleBeachGolf.net and the great condo you can rent at SeaSide Resorts. For starters, if you like to sample great food at a variety of restaurants, all with different vibes, central Myrtle Beach provides an extensive list of locally owned spots to try.

In the mood for a social dining experience that is fun, thrilling and absolutely delicious? Well, Nakato Japanese Restaurant is the place for you. A TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence honoree, Nakato serves up the highest-quality hibachi in Myrtle Beach, along with their extensive menu, which includes sushi rolls, a variety of seafood appetizers, sake, beer and wine. Be sure to call ahead for a reservation so your whole group can sit together.

Or, maybe pizza is more your thing. One fantastic place to grab a slice is Ducatis Pizzeria & Trattoria. Also a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence honoree, Ducatis is located in Myrtle Beach just across from the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes. Their menu features numerous wood-oven pizza selections that are always baked until perfectly crispy. And with everything from seafood dishes to pasta dinners, Stromboli, calzones and rolls, Ducatis has something everyone in your group will enjoy.

If you’re in the mood to just chill and enjoy being on vacation, go to Tin Roof, a lowkey dinner spot live music enthusiasts will love. The restaurant and bar overlook the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean. But the place is not just for music and views. The food is absolutely delicious. Their menu takes some of your favorite bar classics and pushes them to the very max! And with a full bar menu and a fun, inclusive atmosphere, Tin Roof makes for a great time whether you’re just stopping in for lunch/dinner or coming to check out a show. See a full list of Tin Roof’s events and entertainment here.

Check out these central Myrtle Beach restaurants on your next golf vacation with MyrtleBeachGolf.net!\

 

Competitive golf has been a key part of the Myrtle Beach golf lifestyle for quite some time, with the area having played host to a wide range of USGA, PGA of America, LPGA and Senior PGA events over the years. The Grand Strand has also been home to such high-profile amateur events as the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship, the NCAA Division I Men’s Southeast Regional, and the South Carolina Golf Association Tournament of Champions.

What do all three of these amateur events – plus the 2000 Senior PGA Tour Championship – have in common? The host golf course: TPC Myrtle Beach.

TPC Myrtle Beach was designed by famed course architect Tom Fazio with an assist from Lanny Wadkins, and since opening in 1999 has been a favorite of local and visiting golfers. Its dramatic, state-of-the-art bunkering (the Better Billy Bunker system keeps them in pristine condition daily), combined with smooth MiniVerde UltraDwarf Bermuda Grass greens, make for a golfing experience you won’t forget.

The home stretch at TPC Myrtle Beach has produced its fair share of exciting finishes for high-level tournaments and countless buddies’ money games alike. The par-four 16^th Hole requires an accurate tee shot into a narrow fairway. To attack this elevated green, you must find the fairway. The par-three 17^th features a peninsula green, with water dramatically wrapping around three fourths of a putting surface that slopes a few different ways, but mostly from left to right. The finishing par-five 18^th will make or break your round. The fairway is guarded by a creek that cuts twice across it, and ultimately feeds into the pond protecting the left side of the green. The layup zone is small, and you must avoid multiple bunkers on the right side. The slopes and contours of this green can be tricky, but with most pin placements here they can help you stick that wedge close with a well-struck shot.

Rich in competitive history, TPC Myrtle Beach is a bucket-list course that’s ready for you and your golf buddies to write your own memorable chapter! Our Waccamaw Golf Trail package gives you the chance to pair TPC Myrtle Beach with your choice of several other area designs during your next visit. For more information on this package, click here.

Some great restaurants to try following your round on the North Strand

North Myrtle Beach is home to many of the finest golf courses on the Grand Stand, many of which can be booked as part of a stay & play package with MyrtleBeachGolf.net. In addition to championship-caliber golf, many of Myrtle Beach’s finest restaurants reside in North Myrtle Beach.

So, after working up an appetite on the links, check out these tremendous eateries:

Serving up good wine, fresh-baked bread, and only the most authentic Italian recipes, Villa Tuscanna is the closest you will get to Rome in Myrtle Beach. The chicken parmesan is to die for, with breaded cutlets and a marinara sauce that you have to taste for yourself to believe.

With so many different options for seafood on the Grand Strand, Flying Fish has distinguished itself for one reason above all: because the fish is fresh. Want to taste the Atlantic with each and every bite? It’s a rare quality to find in seafood these days. But you surely will at Flying Fish.

Joe’s Bar & Grill’s extensive list of entrees includes steaks, chicken, seafood and pasta, and with a bar menu that is as exquisite as the food, it is sure to serve up a mouth-watering experience. In addition to food and drink, Joe’s also provides one tremendous view of the surrounding ocean marsh.

All three of these North Myrtle Beach restaurants are sure to provide an excellent post-round meal. But don’t just take our word for it. See what those who’ve visited recently have said on TripAdvisor:

On the authentic Italian recipes at Villa Tuscanna, the #1-ranked restaurant in North Myrtle Beach, reviewer Gweech said: “They have every style for meat and eggplant … piccata, Sorrento, saltimbocca, parmigiana, etc. Very careful attention to detail in creating the flavor of their dishes. Their bread is phenomenal with their oil/garlic/pepper dip.”

On the freshness of the food at Flying Fish, the #10-ranked restaurant in North Myrtle Beach, reviewer TropicalTravler87 offered: “They have a wide variety of fresh caught seafood and several options of cooking/seasoning styles. For the non-seafood patrons, they have a wide variety of non-fishy dishes. The staff is friendly, attentive and quick to serve.”

On the atmosphere at Joe’s Bar & Grill, North Myrtle Beach’s #13-ranked restaurant, reviewer sarahviz said: “The decor is very cabin-ish/lodge-ish, and the restaurant is located on the marsh. … From the warm bread, to the salad, to the meals, everything was EXCELLENT.”

There’s a lot to love about golfing with MyrtleBeachGolf.net, staying at SeaSide Resorts and eating in North Myrtle Beach!

Myrtlewood Golf Club’s Palmetto Course – complete with new greens – set to burst back onto scene in fall 2019

Have you seen that picturesque par 4 on the side of Highway 17 Bypass South in Myrtle Beach – the dogleg right protected by greenside bunkers to the left? Have you longingly watched from your passing car as someone plays their second shot to the green? Well, that hole is No. 3 at Myrtlewood Palmetto, and with MyrtleBeachGolf.net’s Prime Time Rewards special, you can be the one hitting the shot instead of watching it this fall.

The Prime Time Rewards special is affordable and easy to book. Here’s how it works: Every golfer who plays four rounds at courses found on the selected list receives a $100 gift card that is good for merchandise, food, beverages and same-day replays. Just pick your four courses and get playing! And while you’re at it, be sure to include Myrtlewood Palmetto as one of your four.

Put simply, Myrtlewood Palmetto is one of the classic must-plays for all who visit the Grand Strand. First, its location is unbeatable. It is located as close to the heart of Myrtle Beach as any course – just minutes from famous attractions like Broadway at the Beach and the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk – and, as previously mentioned, right on Highway 17 Bypass, though exceptionally quiet as you navigate your way around the course.

Next, the final three holes is one of the best finishing stretches anywhere. No. 16 is a dogleg right par 4 that puts an emphasis on driving the ball accurately to give yourself a good angle to shoot downhill toward the green. No. 17 is a short, beautiful par 3 over water with views of the Intracoastal Waterway painting the background scenery. And then comes the magnificent No. 18 – another par 4, running parallel to the Intracoastal Waterway from tee to green and featuring a view from the tee box you must see for yourself to believe.

In addition, Myrtlewood Palmetto temporarily closed this summer to update the golf course with several improvements set to be unveiled this fall – most notably, restoring greens to their original size and shape with Sunday Ultradwarf Bermuda grass, for a better, truer roll. Bunkers were also reshaped, and new sand was added, for a more complete golf experience.

With MyrtleBeachGolf.net’s Prime Time Rewards special, you can be one of the first to experience the renovations at Myrtlewood Palmetto. And don’t forget to book your staying accommodations at SeaSide Resorts.

Play the recently renovated course as part of MyrtleBeachGolf.net’s Ultimate Glens package

A 6,935-yard Clyde Johnston design that opened in 2001, Shaftesbury Glen closed its doors in June 2019 and is scheduled to reopen in August with Sunday ultradwarf Bermuda greens, along with a series of other changes to improve the golf experience at the club. That means that you and your group can be some of the very first to experience the upgraded course this fall as part of MyrtleBeachGolf.net’s Ultimate Glens stay & play package.

The Ultimate Glens special includes eight rounds for the price of three along with free range balls and free lunch on each day of play.

Here’s how the package works:

Pay for three rounds and get your fourth round free when you play Shaftesbury Glen, Arrowhead Country Club, Possum Trot and Glen Dornoch. Plus, you’ll receive the option to book a free replay at each course through MyrtleBeachGolf.net beforehand so you don’t have to risk waiting until the day-of – all for the price of just three rounds. Free replay tee times start after 1:30 p.m. unless otherwise specified.

Shaftesbury Glen welcomes players with an iconic stone-clad entrance and English-styled clubhouse. With tee boxes, fairways and greens that are large, this English-inspired course has received numerous accolades for its playability. Now, that high level of playability will be elevated by renovations made to the course and its facilities during summer.

Bentgrass was once considered the best putting surface in the Carolinas, but has been gradually phased out in the Southeast region in favor of warm-weather Bermudagrasses that provide similar putting surfaces but aren’t stressed by summer heat. Shaftesbury’s management considered different kinds of Bermudagrasses, but ultimately settled on Sunday Bermudagrass, which has been installed with rave customer reviews at several Myrtle Beach-area courses.

In addition to the new greens, the driving range will receive a remodeling including a new chipping and putting green with Sunday Bermuda. And a project to add waste bunkers to fairways throughout the course will also be completed this summer along with another 250,000 square feet of waste areas on nine holes that will improve drainage and allow increased cart traffic (the other nine was done in 2016).

Shaftesbury Glen, already one of the best courses on the Strand, just got a whole lot better. Experience the Ultimate Glens package and see it for yourself this fall with MyrtleBeachGolf.net and SeaSide Resorts.

This fall, roll it even truer on Pearl-West’s new MiniVerde Bermuda greens

Located just north of Calabash over the North Carolina/South Carolina border, The Pearl Golf Links features two Dan Maples-designed courses, Pearl-East and Pearl-West, each of which can be booked individually or as part of a stay & play package with MyrtleBeachGolf.net.

Even more, Pearl-West closed on June 1 and is scheduled to reopen fully on August 15 with a grand reopening to celebrate a phase of highly anticipated renovations to the course, meaning you can be one of the first to experience its new MiniVerde Bermuda greens, as well as other meaningful improvements.

Surrounded by forests of Carolina pines and marsh preserve along the banks of the Calabash River, Pearl-West has been designed in a links style that stretches out across open terrain, and with tall, grassy areas punctuating (and in some cases punishing) players on many holes. As with most Myrtle Beach-area courses, an abundance of water and sandy bunkers present a challenge, especially at Pearl-West’s par-5 16th hole, where the green is just steps from the Calabash River.

Pearl-West’s careful maintenance work will now be punctuated by a series of improvements that were made to the course during summer – improvements that include the transition to MiniVerde Bermuda greens, which are already utilized on Pearl-East, as well as some irrigation and drainage repairs and reseeded tee boxes.

Pearl West, which measures more than 7,000 yards from the back tees, was opened in 1987 and is now ready to show off its new facelift. Enjoy the clubhouse with its views of both marshland courses before or after your round. And you can include each of The Pearl’s championship designs as part of our PGA 5 package that features a $150 gift card for each golfer, redeemable at participating courses for food & beverages, merchandise and same-day replays!

And remember to book your golf and staying accommodations with MyrtleBeachGolf.net and SeaSide Resorts.

Five North Strand courses to play on your next Myrtle Beach golf getaway

MyrtleBeachGolf.net provides access to the best courses the Grand Strand has to offer, including five courses on the North Strand that are truly remarkable. Be sure to check out these stars of the North next time you golf in Myrtle Beach:

Tidewater is a star in North Myrtle Beach that emphasizes the land that surrounds the course as well as any in the area, with boats passing by on the Intracoastal Waterway and scenic views of natural Lowcountry marshlands for as far as the eye can see. The beauty of golf in the South Carolina Lowcountry is on full display at Tidewater. But don’t look too long! The course is challenging and requires skillful shot making to be successful.

The Dye Course and The Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf in North Myrtle Beach are two remarkable stars. The Dye Course features the expansive fairway bunkering, strategic mounding and classic railroad ties that make Pete Dye a legend. The course is a real bear but also a tremendously fun time. The Fazio Course is an elegant Lowcountry gem meandering through marsh, pines and live oaks, and embracing Myrtle Beach’s natural features, as water comes into play on 15 of 18 holes.

Thistle Golf Club’s three 9s – Stewart, Mackay and Cameron – are all designed by Tim Cate and offer impeccable course conditions and customer service that is second-to-none for public golf. Each 9 presents a playable links style in a unique Lowcountry setting, so that no matter which two 9s you play, your round is always highly creative and, most of all, fun. With a background that will blow you away, course features that will challenge all players and perfect conditions year-round, Thistle Golf Club is a star for a reason.

Last, the surroundings found at Rivers Edge in Shallotte, North Carolina make it a star for all who visit. Beautifully utilizing the tidal areas of the Shallotte River, the course was designed by “The King” himself, Arnold Palmer, and is as beautiful as it is fun to play. Give it a shot and see how well you do.

With so many great courses to check out on the North Strand, what are you waiting for? Book yourself a spot at SeaSide Resorts, bring your clubs, and get golfing with MyrtleBeachGolf.net.