FEATURE

Myrtle Beach classics
stand up to test of time

By Leigh Hallenberg,
Staff Writer

(Aug. 18, 2003) -- Since its outset, Myrtle Beach has been capitalism at its finest. Completely devoted to generating commerce through tourism, the Grand Strand receives nearly 14 million vacationers every year.

• Wild Wing Plantation • Divine secrets of the Myrtle Beach golf • Myrtlebeach golf course reviews • Sea Trail on the comeback trail

However, in the past few years, the number of rounds of golf played in Myrtle Beach has declined. This isn't because of a decrease in popularity, but a decrease in repeat play. Golfers who play 50 rounds every spring are now playing 45. So is there still room for one more?

Apparently there is room for a few more. As capitalism demands, newer facilities are providing new products for Myrtle Beach golfers. Many of the most recent facilities feature upscale, 7,000-plus yard courses with wide-open fairways. Places like Barefoot Resort and Farmstead Golf Links are thriving. Some golfers might be worrying about the many shorter, shotmakers courses that have defined Myrtle Beach since Pine Lakes Country Club opened in 1927.

Don't get too worried just yet. Myrtle Beach is nowhere near critical mass. Tim Tilma, director of golf at The Hummingbird at Wild Wing, says traditional courses will continue to be a Myrtle Beach staple as long as golfers want to use a little brains with their brawn.

"It tests a person's mental approach to the game," Tilma said. "You can't just get up there at rip the driver."

The Hummingbird's front nine proves Tilma's point. Defined by four strips of wetlands that come into play on 12 holes, The Hummingbird forces carries on most holes. On No. 4, golfers must clear the first ribbon of wetlands but land short of the second, which is 200-230 yards from the tee boxes. The next hole is similar, but it's a par-5 and golfers also need to worry about one of the course's many lakes running along the fairway's right side.

As Tilma and many other golfers in Myrtle Beach say, you don't need 7,000 yards or a par-6 to get golfers to keep playing your course. In fact, Tilma says if your handicap is over 20, the pro shop may steer you toward one of Wild Wing's easier courses.

"(The Hummingbird) is among the shorter of the championship courses on the beach," Tilma said. "It also appeals to the higher grade of golfer."

Courses similar to The Hummingbird are now trying to highlight their distinctions from newer resort courses. In the mid-1980s when courses like The River Club and Heritage Golf Club opened, a 7,343 yard Pete Dye course was a pipe dream. Now that Barefoot and other resorts offer multiple championship courses, shorter courses rely heavily on their reputations and challenging holes.

The River Club's wicked doglegs and tight, water-lined fairways have made it an essential Myrtle Beach course for 18 years. The Tom Jackson-designed course uses water on 15 of its 18 holes and features over 100 bunkers. It and TPC of Myrtle Beach are also the only courses using A-1 bentgrass on its greens.

Heritage Golf Club, which debuted in 1986, might be forgotten by now if it weren't for its historic southern charm and world-class finishing hole. Giant magnolias and natural flowers give Heritage Club a stately manner that no new course has duplicated. And there aren't any more tracts on Myrtle Beach where you will find Heritage's 300-year-old oak trees.

"There aren't so many special properties left," Richard Lee, director of golf at The Witch, said. "Because of this (newer courses) add length so that it makes it a bit more open."

Course architects don't need real estate agents to tell them nothing beats a great location. Truly special properties allow courses to practically design themselves. There aren't any plots along Highway 501 that could offer the natural settings these older courses can. To come close it would demand pockets as deep as Steve Wynn's.

Blackmoor Golf Club is an example of Myrtle Beach's continuing evolution. When it opened, this Gary Player-designed course was the Strand's most expensive round. Since then its green fees have fallen and it recently undertook a three-month renovation process. Recently reopened, Blackmoor is located in the South Strand on Murrells Inlet. Blackmoor lies on an old rice plantation. The land is full of low elevations and the swampy, wetlands of the Waccamaw River. Blackmoor is also home to wild turkeys, alligators and plenty of deer. Player even kept the Longwood plantation cemetery on the 13th hole. The renovations included installing TifEagle ultradwarf Bermudagrass on all greens. New changes and cypress and pecan tree-lined fairways should keep golfers guessing and keep Blackmoor among the Strand's finest courses for years to come.

At The Witch, its about risk-reward golf. Narrow lanes and quick bends around lakes and wetlands make The Witch tough. But it's a special property, 4,000 feet of bridgework and lanes filled with oyster shells that make this course special.

Golf Magazine said "there is probably not another course like this Dan Maples jewel any place in the world." Even though he works at The Witch, Lee says he doesn't feel threatened by lavish and expansive new courses.

"I'm a senior, but I'm a pretty good player and I like some of those longer courses," Lee said. "With all the new technology and new golf balls, some people want longer courses. Anything that helps more people get into the business is better."

Lee says that shotmakers courses shouldn't worry as long as they have something unique to offer the golfing public. As Myrtle Beach's golf scene grows into North Carolina, Lee says there is even hope that more traditional Strand courses could be built in the future.

"I still think that there's some possibilities out there," Lee said. "I don' t think (it's the end of an era). A lot of those special pieces of properties might become shotmakers courses."

Chip Shots

Blackmoor Golf Club completes major renovation

Course Reopens August 10

Rounding out the course work, all of the green's collars were re-sodded with 419 Bermuda and the green on No. 7 was enlarged. Holes 1, 3 and 11 received new bunkers and all of the courses' sand traps were completely renovated with new underlayment fabric and the addition of white sand to improve both the drainage and aesthetics of the course.

In the clubhouse, several changes have been made including the addition of a full bar menu and a remodeling of the snack bar.

Sea Trail Plantation To Renovate Maples Golf Course

Course Receives Gentle Redesign and New Greens

Sea Trail Plantation announced on August 10 that it has undertaken a major renovation of the Dan Maples golf course. Sea Trail will be closed until October in order to complete the re-seeding and redesign of the greens as well as the improvements to the tee boxes, bunkers and cart paths.

In the next several months, all the greens on the Maples course will be upgraded from Bermuda grass to A1/A4 blended bentgrass. Due to the increased speed associated with bentgrass greens, Sea Trail Plantation is redesigning several green complexes to reduce the undulation.

In addition to the greens work, Sea Trail Plantation is modifying five tee boxes, refurbishing the existing bunkers, refining the cart paths and updating the landscaping to improve air circulation throughout the course. The project is being handled by Shapemasters, a North Carolina-based golf course builder.

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.