FEATURE

Venerable Grand Strand golf venues maintain a touch of yesteryear

By Leigh Hallenburg,
Staff Writer

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (May 25, 2003) -- Some of the Grand Strand's newer courses are learning a lesson in respecting their elders. Myrtle Beach's oldest and most historic courses refuse to fall off the traveling golfer's map. In fact, many are thriving by doing things exactly the same way they have for decades.

• Sea Gull Golf Club • Surf Golf and Beach Club • More Myrtle Beach golf features

Pine Lakes, one of the Grand Stand's first courses, is known as "the granddaddy" of Myrtle Beach. Neither the course, nor its service has changed much throughout the years and that's exactly how Pine Lakes would have it.

Opening in 1927, Pine Lakes was designed by Robert White. White's credentials were impeccable. Originally from St. Andrews, Scotland, White was also the first president of the PGA. The 1930s saw some of history's greatest golfers strolling Pine Lakes storied fairways.

If Gene Sarazen and Babe Didrikson-Zaharias could see the course today, they probably wouldn't notice many changes. Aside from the current refurbishing of several greens, Pine Lakes is devoid of major renovations.

According to Mack Main, head professional at Pine Lakes, it is the course's strict adherence to a lost art that leads to an unprecedented amount of repeat play.

"The quality of service the guests receive when they come here has really brought people back year after year," Main said.

This quality is immediately noticeable. Pine Lakes' starter is dressed in a traditional highland kilt and white gloves, and personally greets every guest. Cart attendants, called caddie masters, wear tartan knickers, tartan bowties and white gloves.

During the fall, winter and early spring months, guests receive complimentary clam chowder on the course. During warmer weather mimosas are served. This incredible dedication to service coupled with its traditional tree-lined fairways keeps Pine Lakes atop many vacationers' lists of courses to visit.

The Surf Golf and Beach Club relies on the same customs of Southern hospitality and tradition. Designed by George Cobb and opened in 1960, the Surf Club has made a few changes since. In 1992, the club brought in a John LaFoy to renovate the greens. However, LaFoy -- who apprenticed under Cobb -- was not chosen because of his ties to his mentor.

"It certainly didn't hurt, though," Surf Club head pro Bill Campbell noted. "He's actually done a number of renovations."

In addition to LaFoy's changes, Surf Club officials opted to swap the worn Bermuda putting surfaces for plush, true-rolling bentgrass. Since their implementation in 1996, response to the superior turf has been overwhelming.

"Changing from Bermuda grass to bentgrass and the renovations in the 1990s added a lot of character," Campbell said. "Our putting surfaces today are outstanding."

Some older courses haven't fared as well since the golf boom as of the 1980s and 90s. However, these venerable venues still offer plenty of value. To say the least, courses like the Litchfield Country Club and the Sea Gull Golf Club still have a few cards to play.

In Litchfield's case, a Willard Byrd design certainly doesn't hurt it. Opened in 1966, Litchfield was among the beach's first eight courses and the first to open in Pawleys Island. Litchfield is a semi-private course so membership has always been a big source of play. And it's traditional feel and approach to service still draws its fair share of traveling golfers.

"Many visitors feel more comfortable with traditional style courses and in that case they're much happier with Litchfield than with some of the newfangled ones," Litchfield head pro Christa Bodensteiner said.

Bodensteiner said she thinks there is a crowd for both the newer and older style courses. But for Litchfield fans, the new courses just can't match up. Since it opening, Litchfield has retained its trademark original features.

"It's really got a Southern plantation feel to it and that's something the new courses can't create," Bodensteiner said.

Built on the site of an old rice plantation, Litchfield offers a true country club experience. Its live oak, Spanish moss and azaleas are some of the subtle features that keep the traditionalists coming back. A major bunker renovation project should also go a long way in winning back more play from locals and visitors alike.

The Sea Gull Golf Club is another classic design situated in the bucolic South Strand. The Gene Hamm designed course showcases the same established features that characterize all the aforementioned traditional courses.

The Sea Gull features tree-lined fairways, large greens and undulating fairways. It also has enough space to offer something many newer courses on smaller acreage cannot; the Sea Gull has no parallel holes. These are the types of elements that even somewhat overlooked older courses can proffer.

Whether they top the bustling Myrtle Beach scene or not, these courses know that they are still around for a reason. All of these courses have established themselves as elder statesmen in one of the country's top golf vacation destinations. And they know that class is now in session for some Grand Strand courses that can't match their history.