Need a Change of Pace? Get Old School

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - With all the new courses that have opened along the Grand Strand over the past few years, its easy to forget about the venues that put this golfing mecca on the map.

Before the International World Golf Tour, the TPC of Myrtle Beach, or Diamond Back there was the Sea Gull, the Surf Club, the Dunes Club, and Beachwood.

Ah yes, the old flagships of the South Carolina coast. Courses built in the 1960’s and 70’s before the “Wings” stores and NASCAR Cafes started popping up in Myrtle Beach with all the frequency of a Tiger Woods victory.

Fisrt, lets give credit where credit is due; architects such as Tim Cate, Tom Fazio and Pete Dye have done an incredible job of making new courses appear mature and playable right from the opening bell.

But for pure, traditional style golf with wide gently rolling fairways, greens without “complexes”, and bunkers without elevators, you can’t beat the venerable venues of Myrtle Beach.

“A lot of the older courses are larger, and do not have a lot of the residential development along the course,” says Bob McCullough, an assistant pro at the Sea Gull Golf Club, which opened for play in 1970.

There are no two holes that run together here, and we have very wide fairways, large greens and large bunkers.”

Courses such as the Sea Gull where built before land consumption was an issues along the Grand Strand. In fact, part of the attraction of golf courses in South Carolina in the 1960’s and 1970’s was the feeling of being out among old rice plantations - swinging the sticks in a land of spacious marshes and big blue skies.

But while they may take up more space, the old courses where not necessarily designed to promote, or even accommodate development. Oftentimes, a round of golf can be played without bouncing a Titleist or two off a rooftop or car hood.

“We have some residential development, but there are no condos all over the place,” says McCullough. “What we offer is a course that is playable by all ages, and all skill levels.”

Venerable, spacious, and somewhat non-commercial these old pillars of golf may be, but don’t think for a second that you’ll be sacrificing quality when you decide forego the Strand’s newer layouts and book your tee time at one of these older tracks.

The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is ranked nineteenth in GOLF Magazine’s “Top 100 You Can Play” list, and is still regarded as the best all around golf course in Myrtle Beach by head professionals and players alike.

Likewise, ask the seldom seen Grand Strand local where he or she enjoys playing week-in and week-out, and the Surf Club and Beachwood are sure to come up as often as an Oliver Stone movie at the Academy Awards.

Just what is it about these old tracks that endears itself to players of all skill levels? Oftentimes, its all about the conditions.

“We have a full-grown golf course,” says McCullough. “Most players will say, ‘this course will be great in a couple years,’ but you don’t have to worry about that here or at the older courses.”

So, if you ever get the urge to break out the blade irons, the wooden woods and get completely old school, a number of venerable Grand Strand venues await.

For tee times at theses venerable venues, call:

The Surf Club - 1-800-765-SURF

The Seagull - 1-800-833-6337

The Dunes Club - 1-843-449-5914

Beachwood - 1-800-526-4889