Myrtle Beach Head Pros Sound Off

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

MYRTLE BEACH, S.c - If you are looking for people that have a somewhat gray, unformulated opinion about golf courses, then head golf professionals may head the top of your list of people to avoid.

Throughout 1999, head professionals at over forty Grand Strand courses have been kind enough, and thoughtful enough to provide us with unlimited amounts of sound bites, insights, quotes, and opinions about their courses, golf in general, and just about anything else we asked.

So its only fitting that we see the year by letting the head pros of Myrtle Beach sound off about what they thought were some of the best golfing experiences of 1999. For we the recipients of this information, also stand to gain.

The only stipulation of our rating system was that no head pro was allowed to name their course in any category - "Ad"vertorial this site is not!

What better way to develop 2000's golf itinerary than to hear from those who play and teach the game for a living. Casing the Grand Strand from Holden Beach to Georgetown, here's what he found our from our resident pro's:

RICH BALLINGER, HEAD PROFESSIONAL - GLEN DORNOCH GOLF CLUB

Most Difficult Course of 1999: Ocean Harbor. "It's pretty darn challenging"

Easiest Course for You to Go Low: Possum Trot or Beachwood.

Best Overall Conditions: The Thistle and Caledonia. "Both are always in incredible condition."

Best Overall Service: Heather Glenn

If You Could Only Play One MB Golf Course for the Rest of Your Life . . . "It would be the Dunes Club."

NATE DEWITT, DIRECTOR OF GOLF - THE RIVER CLUB

Most Difficult Course of 1999: Ocean Harbor. "Narrow landing areas, its long because of the tee shots. River's Edge could be up there next year."

Easiest Course for You to Go Low: South Creek at Myrtle Beach National. "I had seven birdies there once. It has to be the most fun course."

Best Overall Conditions: The Dunes Club and King's North. "Both are always in great shape."

Best Overall Service: "That question is too tough. I only tend to remember the courses where I was not treated well."

If You Could Only Play One MB Golf Course for the Rest of Your Life . . . "It would be the Dunes Club. It has a great mix of golf holes and lots of elevation changes."

ANDY BEMIS, HEAD PROFESSIONAL - THE LEGENDS

Most Difficult Course of 1999: True Blue. "It's not overly long, but there are well placed bunkers, and if you don't have a good short game, then you are in trouble."

Easiest Course for You to Go Low: Caledonia. "If you are hitting the ball well."

Best Overall Conditions: The Dunes. "Always in good shape, although Wild Wing's Avocet Course is right there."

Best Overall Service: The International World Golf Tour

If You Could Only Play One MB Golf Course for the Rest of Your Life . . . "It would be Caledonia. It's a great course, but the Dunes would be a close second."

MACK HOOD, HEAD PROFESSIONAL - BLACKMOOR

Most Difficult Course of 1999: True Blue. "Has to be because of the severity of the greens. If you know Strantz, then you know he builds tough courses."

Easiest Course for You to Go Low: Sandpiper Bay.

Best Overall Conditions: The Dunes.

Best Overall Service: "I have to decline on that one."

If You Could Only Play One MB Golf Course for the Rest of Your Life . . . "It would be the River's Edge. It's going to win some awards around here."

FRANK MONK, DIRECTOR OF GOLF - BELLE TERRE

Most Difficult Course of 1999: Prestwick. "If you play it from the back tees, with its length and severity of greens."

Easiest Course for You to Go Low: Caledonia. "It's not overly long, and I am more of a placement type player."

Best Overall Conditions: The Surf Club

Best Overall Service: The Dunes. "They have incorporated caddies now, so it's incredible."

If You Could Only Play One MB Golf Course for the Rest of Your Life . . . "It would be Wachesaw Plantation - the private course. I don't know if that's fair, but that would be the one. On the public side, it would be the Surf Club."

JAY SMITH, HEAD PROFESSIONAL - PRESTWICK

Most Difficult Course of 1999: Glenn Dornoch. "If you don't hit it in the fairway you can make big numbers.

Easiest Course for You to Go Low: Blackmoor. "Just because I was there for so long."

Best Overall Conditions: The Dunes Club. We get the point fellas.

Best Overall Service: Pine Lakes. "They do everything there, from car to the course."

If You Could Only Play One MB Golf Course for the Rest of Your Life . . . "It would be the Heathland Course at the Legends. I have always played well there and you can hit it anywhere its so wide open."

WAYNE WELDON, HEAD PROFESSIONAL - MAN O' WAR

Most Difficult Course of 1999: The Witch. "From the back, it makes you hit every club in your bag."

Easiest Course for You to Go Low: The Wizard. "There is not a lot of trouble, and there are wide fairways and big greens."

Best Overall Conditions: The Surf Club

Best Overall Service: The International World Golf Tour. 'I haven't been there, but I hear its incredible

If You Could Only Play One MB Golf Course for the Rest of Your Life . . . "It would be Caledonia or the Dunes Club. Probably the Dunes."

Tomorrow at MyrtleBeachGolf.com, we'll ask you the readers to tell us what your best Grand Strand golfing experience was in 1999.