BEST OF MYRTLE BEACH 2003

Course remodels dominate scene, still there's plenty to crow about in Grand Strand

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Dec. 7, 2003) -- If the Grand Strand can't add to its arsenal of 100 plus courses every year, it can endeavor to make its existing lot even better. At least that's the glass half full argument for 2003.

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A healthy handful of remodeling projects were completed this season in and around Myrtle Beach. The storied Dunes Club has new greens, as does the Blackmoor Golf Club in Murrells Inlet. The Crown Park Golf Club, circa 2001, was reborn with an entirely new layout. So was Indian Wells Golf Club in Surfside Beach, an older, "value" course that fell on hard times in the late 1990s.

The glass half empty argument - the one positing that Myrtle Beach golf is in a state of decline -- is just as convincing. Another venerable, centrally located value course, Robber's Roost shut down. Marsh Harbour and Ocean Harbour, two of the Strand's most scenic layouts, remained closed. And for the third time in as many years, a course consortium filed for bankruptcy.

Alas, it tis the season to be jolly.

Sometimes less is more. If nothing else, it made selecting the beach's best in '03 that much easier.

BEST COURSE: (overall) International World Tour Golf Links has been all the rage over the past two years, virtually sweeping the reader's polls in the Sun News Best of the Beach in 2002. The 27-hole replica hole facility makes a strong case in '03 for similar accolades, but for our money, it is hard to top the Tradition Golf Club in Pawleys Island. The service levels are on par with a country club and the pro shop is among the best at the beach. The golf course itself, a Ron Garl design, is a fine reminder that longer isn't necessarily better (6,875 yard from the tips). What's more, the TGC has a longstanding head professional in Robert Spangler who keeps course conditions and service levels at a constant from year to year.

BEST COURSE (UPSCALE): The Caledonia Golf and Fish Club is to our Best Upscale course category as Tiger Woods is to the Player of the Year award. The Mike Strantz designed Lowcountry gem keeps its grip on the title via its hauntingly memorable plantation style layout, superb conditioning and commitment to service. Like Tiger in the 2003 POY voting, however, the competition is getting stiff. The remodeled Dunes Club will present a compelling case in 2004, as will a gracefully aging Tidewater Golf Club and coming-of-age courses like Tiger's Eye and Grande Dunes.

BEST COURSE (MIDLEVEL): Picking the best of Baskin and Robbins 31 flavors would be an easier endeavor. The Strand was built on mid-level courses, making this by far and away the most competitive category. More than 30 courses are prime candidates, 20 others are legit contenders, and at least a handful of others are dark horses. Selecting the 2003 Heisman Trophy winner is a cake walk, comparatively. That said, the wealth must be shared by a handful of winners. In the North Strand, the nod goes to Crow Creek Golf Club in Calabash, N.C.; in the Central Strand, Shaftesbury Glen; and in the South Strand, Blackmoor.

BEST COURSE (VALUE LEVEL): BlackBear, located off Hwy. 9 in Longs, is one of the best little courses no one's heard about. Partly because most golfers still know the course as Myrtle West, its moniker from its past life. The Tom Jackson designed layout is under new management, buoyed by the steady hand of the Classic Golf Group. Black Bear serves up a sensible layout routed through thick strands of pines and hardwoods with nary a home in sight. Winter rates dip below $40 for 18 holes with a cart and replays are often available for even less.

BEST GOLF COURSE REMODELING PROJECT: With apologies to Blackmoor and Crown Park, the Dunes Club is the winner by long drive. The storied Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed layout on the shores of the Atlantic was showing its age after 50 plus years of existence. But rather than close the course for two or three months for a couple of quick fixes, ownership brought in Jones' youngest son, Rees, to restore all 18 greens to their original configurations. The course was closed for six months while Jones (regarded as one of the best in the business) did his handiwork. The result is a layout restored to its full pre-1950s grandeur and a golf course that should be mentioned among the best on the East Coast.

MOST SCENIC GOLF COURSE: Myrtle Beach doesn't have the rocky cliffs of Pebble Beach or Bandon Dunes. Nor does it have the majestic mountains of North Carolina or Colorado. But its unique setting, where the Lowcountry meets the Tidewater, lends itself to some postcard moments. No course takes advantage of the areas' environs like Glen Dornoch.

BEST GOLF COURSE FOR WOMEN: Any course where Christa Bodensteiner, the Strand's only female head professional, is employed. Which for now happens to be the Litchfield Country Club in Pawleys Island. One of the major hurdles women face when it comes to golf has nothing to do with the course itself, but everything to do with simply feeling comfortable and accepted when they walk in the front door of the proshop. Bodensteiner goes out of her way to make women a part of the golfing landscape wherever she hangs her hat.

BEST PRO SHOP: With the advent of golf superstores, traditional pro shops are struggling to maintain their foothold in the equipment and apparel market. Just don't tell that to Tom Plankers director of golf at Ocean Ridge Plantation in Sunset Beach, N.C. The separate pro shops at Tiger's Eye and Panther's Run/Lion's come together for the Strand's best full-service pro shop experience. All the major brands are represented and Plankers keeps the racks stoked with both men and women's apparel.

BEST PLACE TO KILL A RAINY DAY: Broadway at the Beach is South Carolina's most visited attraction. The mega shopping center/restaurant emporium/entertainment park is the perfect place to hole up during a rain delay. Shop for guilt gifts, trade some paint at the NASCAR Café or relax at one of Broadway's number restaurants and nightclubs.

BEST EATS, ETC: Lowcountry: Louis at Pawleys. Casual seafood: Russell's Seafood Grill in Murrells Inlet. Upscale seafood: Sea Captain's House. Hamburger: River City Café. Pizza: California Pizza Kitchen. Local steak and rib house: T-Bones in Murrells Inlet. Sportsbar: Overtime Café in North Myrtle Beach. Gentlemen's Club: tie -- Masters and Bottom's up.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.