Pine Lakes restoration in Myrtle Beach on schedule

One of my favorite golf courses in Myrtle Beach has always been Pine Lakes Country Club. It’s got that big billboard out there on Highway 17 that makes it look like a mid-level Grand Strand course, but once you get back into it, it’s a very classy layout – especially the back nine - and a very classy joint.

The problem is it’s been under the knife for some time now, it being a 20-month project. It’s now being reported that the course is on schedule for its March, 2009 re-opening.

The idea is to re-build “The Grandaddy” to its 1927 specifications. The project is being overseen by Craig Schreiner, who also did the Members Club at Grand Dunes with Nick Price. Schreiner has renovated or restored 28 courses in 11 states.

Greens and bunkers shrink over time, and that was obvious at Pine Lakes, so they restored them to their original size using drawings by original architect Robert White, according to Brandon Advertising.

He also added new waste areas on several holes while reducing forced carries and blind water hazards.

A type of paspalum grass was sodded in the fairways, rough, tees and greens, and enlarged the tee boxes. They also updated the drainage system, long a problem with some Myrtle Beach golf courses.