Use golf packagers to go to Myrtle Beach without breaking the bank

A couple of readers have asked about good deals in Myrtle Beach, good courses to play for cheap and generally how to hit the Grand Strand without breaking the bank.

Well, there is good news. There are some half-price specials at some of the better courses, even during peak season, in April. Those courses include Pine Lakes, Grand Dunes, Tidewater, Farmstead, Palmetto and Pine Hills. You can get four nights and five rounds for $450, which is a heck of a deal.

Tidewater is one of the better courses in Myrtle Beach, as is Grand Dunes. I also recommend underrated courses like Oyster Bay, Possum Trot, Diamond Back, Crow Creek, Brick Landing and Blackmoor, whose green fees are cheaper than the more well-known courses.

As far as hotels and resorts, check those with specials tied to golf. As always, it is wise to check with golf packagers, who usually have insight into what packages are available and are in tune with seasonal prices. Go to mbtourism.com or call 866-499-4653.

If you just head there without a plan, be sure to check the local newspaper because golf courses almost always advertise discounts. Beware though, with several Myrtle Beach courses, closing, green fees are more likely to stay stagnant or even rise as the marketplace settles.