I was thinking about making my first golf getaway in the winter of 1990. I had been playing golf with my golf club either at Dyker Beach Golf Course in Dyker Heights or Marine Dunes Golf Course in Brooklyn for about 13 years at that point, once a week. The course, which was then the most played public course in the nation, was situated in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
I’ve always wondered what it would be like to go on vacation for a week and be able to play golf every day if I wanted to. It became clear to me that Myrtle Beach would be a great choice after talking with my fellow golf club members and reading my favorite golf magazines, Golf Digest being at the top of the list. My significant other was going on the trip with me, but she had never played golf before, so that presented a problem. So I gave her the choice of learning to play golf or waiting for my return for five or six hours while I played. She chose to learn the game because she was athletic and enjoyed sports like softball, baseball, and football like I do. My second conundrum was how to teach her to play in the four to five weeks before we had to leave for our trip as a result of her decision to learn. Should I take on the challenge or enroll in a crash course with an instructor?
I gave her the option, and the next thing I knew, I was teaching her how to play on the neighborhood baseball fields after work and on the weekends. She actually made more progress than I anticipated. About 125–130 yards away, she was striking an 8 iron. and pretty straight at that. Some of the players I played with weren’t great hitters. She had one last query before we left, especially since she had never played, and that was, “Do you have any suggestions besides playing golf?” Good question, but I knew it was coming and was prepared.
Of course, there are other things to do as well. I’ve heard the beaches are lovely, miniature golf, which she enjoyed, is widely available, there are many water parks, wonderful restaurants, and I saved the best for last, there are lots of shops. We were prepared – Myrtle Beach here we come after that worked its magic. So, in April 1990, we left for our first-ever golf getaway. We booked an oceanfront room at the Ocean Dunes Hotel with a balcony overlooking the beach, which turned out to be a wise choice on our part.
The ability to wake up in the morning and be able to view the ocean, the beach, and the Sun as it rises, a thrilling experience to put it mildly, is well worth the additional cost if you have a few extra dollars and enjoy the beach and ocean. Being morning people by nature, we looked forward to this routine each morning as we prepared for the day.
After that, we had breakfast, which was a small, nice buffet that was part of our golf package. A small tip was all that was required. Finally, the golf was fantastic. The first course we played at Myrtle Beach was Buck Creek (now known as Aberdeen), followed by Long Bay (a Jack Nicklaus design and noted at the time in many golf magazines, especially his signature 10th hole), Tidewater, one of my favorite courses to date, and a few others, each better than the last).
She was a little uneasy on the first tee because this was my significant other’s first time playing golf and everyone else was waiting to start. The starter, who on most courses is generally very kind and considerate, saw our predicament and set us up on the back nine where nobody was present. This kind gesture was much appreciated and made the experience much more pleasurable than it otherwise would have been. I would strongly advise a beginner golfer to let the starter know that they are just starting out and would appreciate it if he could put them where there aren’t as many other golfers playing, if possible.
Some golf course complexes have more than 18 holes (Myrtle Beach National, Barefoot Landing Resort, Legends, Arrowhead, and Heather Glen, to name a few) and one 9 or 18 hole layout may be more conveniently open and available for you to play.
You can also choose to have your tee time at a less busy time of the day so that you can play in a more laid-back environment and take a little extra time if necessary. However, this is not always the case. We had some excellent meals at Gullyfield’s (No Longer Existing), Rossi’s, a nice Italian restaurant with music, including a little Dean and Frank (located at the Galleria Mall off Business RT.17), which also offered atmosphere and ambiance with an Italian flair as you enjoy your meal, and Damons for the rib lovers (at the time located at Barefoot Landing but since moved).
Additionally, there is Chuck’s Steak House and Greg Norman’s Australian Grille, both of which are found at the Barefoot Landing Shopping Complex (about a mile or so north of where Rt. 22 and Business 17 (also known as Kings Highway meet). Greg’s Place has been a must-stop for us for the past few years, though I’m not sure if it was open at that time. The Australian Grille offers indoor and outdoor dining options, both of which overlook the Intercoastal Waterway. Outside seating offers a slightly more laid-back and quieter atmosphere in addition to the Inter coastal view. It also has tree lighting, gas-lit torches, an outdoor fireplace, entertainment, and, if you time it right, a view of the sunset while you eat. What more could you possibly need?
The stores at Barefoot are also diverse and provide a wide range of options for eating, shopping, fudge, treats, and various mementos. Our favorite places to shop are Klig’s Kites and The Christmas Mouse, where we can always find wonderful seasonal flags and Christmas gifts to take home.
We never realized how much fun a day at the beach could be because our first few trips to Myrtle Beach were so focused on golf. Prior to golf, Myrtle Beach was well-known as a seaside destination that drew a sizable number of tourists each year. A day of rest and enjoyment at the beach is highly recommended, even for the most ardent golfer, which I would pretty much classify as myself. Rent a lounge chair and an umbrella, play football or Frisbee, take in the beauty of the waves and the ocean, or just sit back, unwind, have a beer or two if you’d like, and take in the sights. You won’t be let down, I assure you.
Enjoy the beach in the morning (get there as early as possible, preferably before or around 9:00 am) and schedule a round of golf for the afternoon around 3:30 pm, when the sun will be setting and the course will be a little cooler and less crowded. Myrtle Beach has truly evolved into a destination for both golf and family vacations, with golf having become a significant component of the city’s identity. The Golf, Beach, Water Parks, Rides, Miniature Golf, Restaurants, Shopping Complexes such as Barefoot Landing and Broadway At The Beach, which also has many shops, restaurants, mini – golf, rides, entertainment including tha Hard Rock cafe, nightspots for the younger, middle aged and older crowds and a multitude of other interesting and enjoyable options including “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” and a family-friendly attraction is the Aquarium.
The Carolina Oprey, Alabama Theater, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, and Medieval Times are just a few of the other options that offer entertainment and dining for the whole family, golfers and non-golfers alike, after the sun goes down.
Many hotel golf packages and golf courses for family golf getaways offer FREE golf for kids and young adults (16 and under) when they are accompanied by a paying adult. Some of my favorite, but more expensive, courses to play are Tidewater, as previously mentioned, Caledonia, a stunning Mike Strantz design, True Blue, TPC, Kings North at the Myrtle Beach National Resort, and Pawleys Plantation, situated at the southern end of the Grand Strand and designed by my all-time favorite golfer, Jack Nicklaus.
With over 130 courses within a 30 mile radius, each one more beautiful and better than the next, it’s no wonder that Myrtle Beach is known as “The Golf Capital Of The World”. Consider Myrtle Beach if you’re thinking about taking a family or golf trip. You’ll definitely go back to it in the future. Happy golfing and travels to everyone!