Travelers still finding
the deals on golf and
more at Myrtle Beach

By William K. Wolfrum,
Staff Writer

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Aug. 30, 2005) -- Just the mention of Myrtle Beach brings to mind a sunny vacation on the beach and golf courses beckoning you to play.

An estimated 14 million tourists flood the South Carolina haven every year and the city gladly accepts every last one of them. Myrtle Beach is as tourist-friendly a city as you will find, and golfers have endless opportunities to cash in on packages and discounts to play the more than 100 courses surrounding the Grand Strand.

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Another fact that could benefit travelers to Myrtle Beach is that, with fuel prices continuing to spiral upward, tourist towns are trying to pick up the slack by lowering rates even further, especially during popular travel dates. An example: Kingston Plantation, a Hilton and Embassy Suites Resort, dropped rates for its Embassy Suites rooms to $179 from $229 for the Labor Day holiday.

Despite higher fuel costs, however, the Grand Strand is still a bustling place that has seen very little let-up in tourists.

"It's been really normal," said Chris Taroncher of Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation. "We have had a few package groups come through here today and will be seeing more of them on the weekend."

Without question, the best way to save loads of money and play a lot of golf is to hook yourself up with a travel agent and find a package deal.

Myrtle Beach Tourism continues to be a good source for golf packages. Their Fall Midweek Economy package is hard to beat, offering the thrifty traveler three nights at Sunset Village at Sandpiper Bay, and three rounds of golf at your choice of 15 different courses for a rate of $154 to $221.

"We're starting to book our big groups for the fall season," said Kimberly McCord, director of operations for Myrtle Beach Tourism. "Right now, the weather is absolutely wonderful and there's not so much traffic, with kids starting to go back to school."

The Glens package is a golfers' delight, giving four rounds of golf at Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch, Shaftsbury Glen and River Hills, along with four nights of accommodations at Village at the Glens for a rate of between $230-$502. Right now you could hook it up for $318. Also, a lot of Myrtle Beach Tourism's deals are valid through September, meaning some new packages are on their way soon.

"The accommodation rates drop after summer, so that gives us an edge on putting together some great package deals," McCord said.

While packages are a great deal for those who plan ahead for a vacation, there are still plenty of good deals available for the spontaneous traveler.

Almost every course in Myrtle Beach is offering some type of deal as summer winds down. Carolina National Golf Club is offering a four-players-for-the-price-of-three deal right now, while you can get on at one of the three Wizard golf courses for $59 in the morning and $39 in the afternoon. The Belle Terre courses take it down a notch further at $49 in the morning and $29 after 2 p.m.

Need to supply yourself with balls, and other golf equipment, but don't want to risk paying pro-shop prices? There's a Dick's Sporting Goods location right in Myrtle Beach. Right now you can pick up 12 Maxfli Revolution Tour balls for $19.99. Fired a club into a lake after a shank? Dick's also has a full supply of clubs sold both as sets and individually, including Orlimar fairways woods for $60 and a TaylorMade Rossa ACGB Suzuka Putter for $130.

If you're looking for some entertainment off the links, head down to the beach. Barefoot Landing is a solid place to wile away the hours, with loads of cheap or free entertainment opportunities. With 100 specialty shops and 13 restaurants - including a Greg Norman's Australia Grille and a House of Blues - the Barefoot Landing can give you a nice bang for the buck and can be contacted for group activities at (843) 272-8349.

Finally, check the coupons area of the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. There you'll find coupons you can print out from your computer to save money on dining at places like The Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood to discounts on golf, minor league baseball and a host of other activities.

Also, make sure to check if courses, hotels, restaurants, etc., have senior discounts. Ages for when places will offer senior discounts can range from 55 to 65, and some establishments - like Magnolia Greens, for instance - only offer senior discounts to locals. Still, as many seniors will tell you, it never hurts to ask, and it could knock another 10-20 percent off your bill.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.