SPECIAL REPORT

Disaster Golf

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The catastrophic events that shook the nation Tuesday were enough to slow down golfers at most Grand Strand area golf courses, but not enough to stop play completely according to local golf professionals.

With both World Trade Centers burnt to the ground in Manhattan after being struck by two high jacked aircraft, the Pentagon a blaze from a related terrorist attack, and the nation's airports closed, golf in Myrtle Beach marched on, albeit at a much slower pace and solemn feel.

"A lot of people came in disbelief," said Joy Causey, Marketing Director at Calabash Golf Links. "A few golfers went home, but most of them are still out there golfing. But we had some staff people go home. What's happened is that women wanted to go get their children."

Most courses reported that staff members had not requested to leave the premises, but a number of course officials did say that play essentially came to a screeching halt once the word got out.

"We had a very good day, a lot of folks playing golf this morning and most started playing before it happened," said Tracy Conner, head professional at Bay Tree. "But as they made the turn, they have all come into the grill to watch what was going on television. Everybody is still in shock and most people have left the golf course."

Rain hit the South Strand just before noon on Tuesday, and Pawleys Plantation head professional Will Akers said that it was the weather, not the horrific news, which brought most the players into the grill and the proshop.

"Most of them kept playing (through the news), to be honest with you," Akers said. "But now it's pouring down raining so they are all in here anyway."

At Rivers Edge in Shallotte, N.C., head professional Bruce Harper said that the news didn't keep a light Tuesday docket from finishing up their rounds at the popular Arnold Palmer designed layout.

"I have some folks out there playing, but I have had quite a few come in to watch it on television," I don't think a lot of people were aware of what happened. We are all in shock, so I think of lot of them have just kept playing because it hasn't sunk in yet."

The tragedy hit closer to home at Waterway Hills, where head professional Christa Bodensteiner said that two employees from New York were devastated by the news.

"We sent two guys home," she said. "One has an aunt that works in the World Trade Center so obviously he is very concerned. The other gentleman was actually off today, called some of his buddies in the World Trade Center right after the first crash. He talked to them and they described the crash as being the most intense thing they had ever witnessed."

Aside from the two New York natives, Bodensteiner said the rest of the days' operations were business as usual.

"Here everyone is still out playing," she said. "The thing that amazes me is that they will come in at the turn, watch for five minutes and then take off again. It is like they don't really know what is happening. This will change our country for weeks, months, maybe even years and they just glanced at the T.V. and kept playing. We even had a group that was concerned that they were going to miss their flight to Atlanta. I was just amazed."

Bodensteiner wasn't alone in her dismay over the seemingly selfish attitude that hundreds of Grand Strand golfers displayed Tuesday. Marty Ekster, Director of Golf Vacations of the Carolinas, was shocked that play continued on throughout Myrtle Beach.

"I don't care about any economic stress that this causes, I don't care if I have to give back all the money from my packages this weekend or this month," Ekster said. "If it were me, I wouldn't be able to play golf. I would put my uniform back on and fight if I could. I love golf more than anyone that I have ever met, and I couldn't play right now. This is an act of war that is no less than Pearl Harbor. How anyone could be out golfing right now amazes me, and it disgusts me that people are concerned about that right now."

Ekster said that one of his employees' girlfriend's worked in one of the World Trade Center buildings, but that they had contacted her early Tuesday morning and that she was safe.

"When you know someone that was up there, this things hits home fast," Ekster said. "I was in the army 32 years ago, and if I could still fit into my uniform, I would go fight against whoever did this."

With all U.S. flights grounded, and the country in a state of collective shock and mourning, it remains to be seen what the overall effect Tuesday's historic travesty will have on Grand Strand golf this weekend. Causey, for one, said that this is no time for local courses to worry about the recent decline in play.

"It is time to come together as a country and not worry about business right now," Causey said. "We can deal with that at some other time."

Officials at Carolina Golf and Travel, one of Myrtle Beach's leading golf package providers, said they expect business to drop off dramatically over the next few weeks, but agreed with Causey and Ekster's sentiments that profits shouldn't be of any concern

"We feel similar to that, and (president) Jerry (McGraw) left this morning in the same frame of mind (as Ekster)," said Robbie Moye of Carolina Golf and Travel. "The phones are quiet, which isn't surprising. So much of our business is from the northeast and that is where most of this will hit the hardest. I expect a bunch of cancellations, and frankly I couldn't care less. People need to deal with this tragedy."