MYRTLE BEACH FEATURE

Calabash Golf Links Sweeps Year-End Awards

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

CALABASH, N.C. (Jan. 3, 2002) - The results are in from Myrtle Beach Golf Magazine's Year-End reader poll, and Calabash Golf Links took home a record four awards, winning Best Golf Course for Seniors, Women, Juniors and Beginners.

"I was really surprised and thrilled to receive four awards," said Director of Marketing Joy Causey. "I don't know who sent the votes in, but it reaffirms what we are trying to do with our golf course and our customer service."

The awards continue a remarkable run for the family owned and operated golf course located just over the Stateline in the fishing village of Calabash. Two years ago, Calabash became one of only four golf courses in the U.S. to vault from two stars to four stars in Golf Digest's "Places to Play" ratings.

"It is just a matter of getting more people out to see the golf course," Causey said. "The course is also more mature at this point. We probably opened a little too early, right after the hurricanes (of 1996)."

Willard Byrd designed Calabash Golf Links, and the facility is a dream put into action by owner and long-time Brunswick County resident Kemp Causey. Since opening in October of 1996, the course has become a favorite among locals looking for an affordable, well-maintained golf course.

Pro Shop Manager Victor Knott, Jr. said that it's Calabash's playability, more than anything else that attracts senior, women, junior and beginner players.

"The playability and the condition of the course lends itself to those awards," he said. "There are not a lot of artificial hazards out here and we don't add any difficult to it. We give you the opportunity to hit the green, via bump and run or in the air. Everything is wide open and we keep the rough high in the summer, but that provides enough difficulty for the excellent players."

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Knott said the awards were gratifying, but he believes that highly skilled players will also get plenty of challenge and enjoyment from the course, which stretches to nearly 7000 yards from the back tees.

"You have to walk a fine line so good golfers can enjoy it too," Knott said. "Last year we got some complaints from our local groups when we let the rough grow up to an inch and three quarters. We send out cards with everyone to monitor these things and we take them to heart."

Myrtle Beach is home to a number of large, active senior golfer associations, and Knott feels that Calabash Golf Links has become a staple in their playing circuits.

"We get a lot of seniors because a lot of groups in the area identify this course as their course," he said. "They know what they are going to get and they don't have to worry about penalty strokes for bad shots. It is a good bargain for seniors, and Myrtle Beach has four or five major senior organizations that play regularly here."

The course offers five sets of tees, and the women's tees were recently re-rated by the Carolinas Golf Association. The course is doesn't require women to carry intimidating water hazards off the tee on or approach shots to greens, and the women's tees also allow for some spirited competitions.

"We have a lot of ladies that play here, and they love to have the opportunity to beat their husbands and they can do that here because of the way their tees set up," Knott said. "Families love it here, because they can bring the juniors to play for just the cart fees."

Calabash Website Features Video Golf Game and Virtual Pro Shop

Want to check out the 14th hole at Calabash Golf Links without leaving the comfort of your own home? You can now play a virtual version of the hole at www.calabashgolf.com. Causey said the idea came from a local advertising firm, and that the feature has become more popular than she ever thought it would be.

"I can't believe how many people have played it," she said. "After the first week, over 6000 people had played it."

Causey, who now birdies the virtual hole with regularity after hours of practice, said she has no intentions of taking her cyber game to the real world.

"I rarely set foot on the actual golf course to play," she said.

Visitors to the virtual hole will be pleased to find that the 14th plays a different way each time you try it, a feature that Causey insisted on prior to its design.

"I didn't want it to just be a bell and whistle. I wanted it to be somewhat functional and totally fun," she said.

Calabash Golf Links also became just the second Grand Strand golf course to put its proshop merchandise online. Causey said that most standard items are available through the website, but that sales and specials are still limited to the material world.

"You can buy logo balls, yardage books, divot tools, ball markers, shirts, hats, and gift certificates online," she said. I have requests for gift certificates all the time, and people write in to say that they forgot to buy a logo ball when they were here, so now they can get it after their visit.

Causey said that website transactions are completely secure, and tax and shipping is automatically calculated and added to the price.

Shane Sharp is a Contributing Writer with TravelGolf.com. Contact him at sharp@travelgolf.com.