JANUARY NOTEBOOK

Sea Trail on the comeback trail, plus news from Grande Dunes, Wild Wing Plantation

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Dec. 31, 2002) – Sea Trail Plantation, one of the North Strand’s seminal, multi-golf course properties, changed hands in late December, but employees remain in the dark as to what the future holds. Signature Horizons Inc., an Atlanta-based golf management company, purchased the 2000-acre residential development and its three golf courses for $45 million.

“We should know something about the future by the 15th of January,” said Greg Fulghum, a head professional at Sea Trail. “We are not at liberty to say anything yet. We are still a viable resort property with some great golf. But we don’t now if there are any plans to make any changes yet.”

The last change at Sea Trail was a major renovation of the Rees Jones Course – widely considered the crown jewel of the property. Jones and his staff were brought in two years ago to restore the greens to their original sizes and to remove a series of bunkers.

“As of now, we don’t have any plans to make any changes to the other courses,” said Fulghum.

Sea Trail’s healthy price tag was a major indication that the Grand Strand golf industry may experience a major Renaissance over the next few years. Signature Horizons will assume control of the Jones, Willard Byrd and Dan Maples courses, as well as the 32,000-square foot clubhouse and the property’s rental program, which makes nearly 200 privately owned rooms available for traveling golfers. The final sale price was based on Sea Trail’s annual profits of $5 a year.

“That is a fair price if those were the numbers they were doing,” said local real estate appraiser E.F. “Buddy” Hucks. “That is basically what I was quoting. They (golf courses) usually sell for eight to 10 times their profits.”

Signature Horizons will also reportedly buy the land on which Oyster Bay Golf Club is located, but will not operate the golf course. The course is considered to be one of the most scenic in the Grand Strand and is located across the street from Sea Trail Plantation.

According to Sea Trail’s figures, 115,000 to 120,000 rounds are played on its three courses each year – solid numbers considering the depressed golf economy of the past two years. Through October 2002, 2.95 million paid rounds of golf were played at the Grand Strand’s 123 golf courses, compared to 2.98 and 2.97 for the same period in 2001 and 2000, respectively.

• Reader forums • Dan Maples interview • Barefoot Resort review • Grande Dunes Country Club review • Myrtle Beach course reviews

Zagat taps three Grand Strand courses in latest survey

Zagat, a leading provider of consumer survey-based dining, lodging and leisure guides recently conducted a golf survey in conjunction with sports behemoth ESPN. Some 5,311 golfers rated and reviewed 1,049 leading public, semi-private and resort golf courses throughout the country. Facilities were rated on their courses, clubhouse, service and value. Barefoot Resort’s Fazio Course, the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club and Carolina National made the top 50.

Chip Shots

Sources at Grande Dunes say that approval for a new 18-hole private course will go before the board on Jan. 27 and 28. Permission will be sought by the Grande Dunes Development Group to proceed with the course’s design and to select an architectural firm. Early frontrunners include the design team of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, known for their critically acclaimed and nationally ranked courses in Texas, Georgia and Nebraska … Wild Wing Plantation was recently named the 2002 South Carolina Golf Course of the Year by the national and S.C. golf course owners association. The award is based on quality of courses, management and contributions to the game of golf and the community. Wild Wing is home to four, 18-hole courses and is widely regarded as one best conditioned multi-course facilities in Myrtle Beach … International World Tour Golf Links was named “Best Overall Course” by the readers of Myrtle Beach Golf Magazine. The 27-hole replica facility beat out the Dunes Club and Caledonia for the honor. The popular facility also won for “Best Greens,” “Friendliest Golf Course Staff,” and “Best On-Course Proshop.”