Myrtle Beach Happenings
By BRUCE VITTNER

We recently had the chance to travel to Myrtle Beach as part of the Golf Travel Writers of America junket. One of the best golf vacation spots of the world is getting even better. Listed below are some of the latest happenings in the Myrtle Beach area.

Waccamaw Trail created south of Myrtle Beach

We’ve heard of the Robert Trent Jones Trail and the Mississippi Golf Trail, and now there is a new one. The 12 golf courses that make up the Waccamaw Golf Trail includes Blackmoor Golf Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Heritage Club, Litchfield Country Club, Pawleys Plantation, River Club, Tournament Players Club, Tradition Club, True Blue Plantation, Wachesaw Plantation East, Willbrook Plantation and Founders Club at Pawleys Island, which will open in September of 2007.

Most of the courses on the Waccamaw Golf Trail were built upon the sites of 18th and 19th century rice and indigo plantations, set amid ancient moss-draped oaks and tidal rivers. The list of accolades for these courses includes GOLF Magazine's "America's Top 100", Golf for Women's "Top 25 in America" (Willbrook Plantation), six 4-star courses and one of only three 5-star courses in the southeast (Tournament Players Club) as rated by Golf Digest."

While we are just 20 minutes south of Myrtle Beach, the Waccamaw Trail offers a different golf trip than you enjoy in Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach," remarked Jim Woodring, vice president of golf operations at Myrtle Beach National, which has three courses represented on the Trail. "A visit to the Waccamaw Golf Trail is a relaxed, less crowded escape from the real world, which is what many seek during vacation. Golfing along the Trail is such a unique experience with all 12 member courses committed to working together to promote this distinctive segment of the Myrtle Beach golf market," he added.

We had the opportunity to play three of the courses on the Trail. Willbrook Plantation was the first stop and we got to play with head professional Kevin Lynch. “We are known as a great course for women, but you can see for yourself how demanding it can play,” he said. The course meanders through an old plantation, and they have historical markings throughout the course giving you a background of the property. The large chimney on the sixth hole will distract you from all the water that plays down the right side of this tough par 4. The seventh is a short par over water that is fun to play.

Our second stop was at True Blue Golf Club. Designed by the late Mike Strantz who built Caledonia, my personal favorite in all of Myrtle Beach. True Blue has a reputation of being very difficult, but if you play from the proper tees it is a great layout. Some holes are very demanding including the par 3 third that has a diabolically large, two-tiered green surrounded by water. Three putting is the norm. That same body of water on number three comes into play often on the par 5 fourth hole. The hole looks like a boomerang as it winds around the water. Big hitters can challenge the water twice to get home in two, but watch the wind.

Our last stop on the Trail was Tournament Players Club. Formerly a TPC course owned by the PGA Tour, and host of a Champions’ Tour event, the property was purchased by Chip Smith, a real estate investor. “We very much appreciate the five-star rating and continue to make improvements in the course,” said Smith who is building villas around the property. The design and conditioning of the course make it a must play.

Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort provided accommodations for our visit to the Trail, and the four-bedroom condos at Avian Forest were perfect for our group. Located right in the middle of the twelve courses and with almost 500 units ranging from 98 single hotel rooms to 2-, 3-, and four-bedroom condos overlooking ocean, fairways and scenic marshes, there is a perfect fit for any size group. With 4,500 acres, Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort provides all types of amenities for golfers, families and large corporate groups. You can reach them at 1-800-845-1897 or their website at www.litchfieldbeach.com.

Another choice for accommodations on the Trail is the Legends Club. Located close to the airport off Route 501, the Legends has three top courses on their property and represent two of the Trail courses, TPC and Heritage, that just was named #46 in the Top 100 Public Courses by Golf Digest. “We have accommodations for all sized groups,” said Jim O’Neil of Legends, who added that a conference center would be completed in the fall of 2008. You can reach the Legends Club at 1-800-509-4363 or on their website at www.legendsgolf.com.

Caravelle Completes $8 Million Renovation

The Caravelle Resort, originator of the Golf Package in Myrtle Beach, has just completed an $8 million renovation of their hotel that is located right on the ocean a mile from the center of town. “The original property opened in 1960, and everyone said it was too far from downtown and would never make it,” said general manager Chip Russell as he recounted the history of the property and talked about how the Grand Strand now extends for about 17 miles. “This room was where the pioneers in Myrtle Beach met in 1962 to develop a plan to bring golfers (only had three courses at the time—Pine Lakes, Dunes and Sands) to the Beach in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall to fill their hotel and motel rooms in a community that had only been seen as a beach resort,” he added. The renovations are easy to see. Each room has been completely remodeled including new plasma televisions. It seems difficult to focus on the television, however, as each room looks out to the ocean. The property is very family-oriented with indoor (first in MB) and outdoor heated pools, a lazy river ride, and fine restaurant. Golf packages started here, and “We strive to provide outstanding golf packages including weekly golf parties,” added Russell. You can contact the Caravelle at 888-854-9713 or visit the website at www.thecaravelle.com.

Leopard Chase opens at Ocean Ridge Plantation

In February, Leopard’s Chase becomes the fourth course at Ocean Ridge Plantation, and the first Grand Strand public course to open in five years. Designed by Tim Cate, the golf architect has called Leopard’s Chase the best of the four Ocean Ridge golf courses. Located just outside Calabash, North Carolina, the course has championship potential. The scenery and elevation changes give the course plenty of character. There are five sets of tees ranging from 7,155 yards down to 4,872 for the forward tees. We played the white at 6,165 and there were no forced carries that were unmanageable. You will long remember the last hole, a 400-yard par 4 with water down the left, a large waste area down the right and a green tucked behind a plunging waterfall. Impressive. The new greens were hard, but in time the course will be a gem. You can reach Ocean Ridge Plantation at 1-800-556-6770 or the website at www.oceanridge.com.

Worldgolf.com Network started in Myrtle Beach

A group of Myrtle Beach investors purchased 477 golf websites to start a new Internet network called Worldgolf.com. “The chance to purchase the Internet’s most visited network of golf and travel Web sites was an opportunity we could not pass up,” said David Brittain, lead investor with WorldGolf.com LLC. “The WorldGolf.com ownership group brings to the table an extensive knowledge of Web-hosting and management backed by a proven track record of success in the travel, golf and advertising industries. To apply this knowledge toward the enhancement of the industry’s top-tier Web sites is an endeavor we are thrilled to pursue, he added.” The flagship Web site included in the acquisition, WorldGolf.com features candid reviews of golf courses and resort destinations, as well as helpful tips and instructions for site visitors interested in improving their golf game. The site also includes a comprehensive booking feature that allows visitors to reserve package deals in several key destinations including Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix and Hawaii. Plans for a redesigned WorldGolf.com site, that will launch in the first quarter of 2007, include enhancements to site content and the product review section as well as additional commentary on equipment, apparel and courses throughout the world.

WorldGolfWire.com is being enhanced to better serve its readers as a premier daily e-newsletter featuring the latest developments, updates, product information and news from within the golf industry. Currently, WorldGolfWire.com is delivered to more than 100,000 subscribers including consumers, media and industry professionals. “We want to make this the best and most used golf site on the Internet,” said Will McIntosh, CEO of WorldGolf.com. You can visit both www.worldgolfwire.com and www.worldgolf.com for great golf and travel information.

PGA Superstore World Amateur

This writer has been to the last three World Amateur events and it is a great time. Four thousand golfers, 72 holes of stroke play competition, an 18-hole championship playoff (if you qualify), nightly parties and entertainment. It may sound like the U.S. Open from qualifying to conclusion, but the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is an event unlike any other.

About 4,000 golfers from all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries flock to Myrtle Beach every year to participate in a tournament that provides the ultimate golf experience. Now in its 24th year, the World Amateur allows everyone from scratch golfers to 30+ handicappers to compete in a four-day tournament just like the Tour with players with similar handicaps and age groupings. I find that this is my one chance per year to feel truly like a tournament player and the competition is friendly and fun.

The tournament, which uses an intricate handicap formula to level the field, is open to all golfers – men, women, young and old with a certified USGA handicap. It is played under USGA rules with carts.

The World Amateur features six competitive divisions, ranging from men and women 49 and under to the super seniors (70+). Typically the event features between 45 and 50 flights played on over 70 courses, and the winner of each advances to the Flight Winner’s Playoff, an 18-hole shootout that determines the World Champion.

The World Amateur’s inclusiveness is apparent in its past champions. Players with handicaps as low as three and as high as 34 have won the World Championship and two women have earned the distinction.

As if the possibility of winning a world title isn’t enough, entry into the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is the best value in competitive golf. The cost for the tournament is $490 and includes four rounds of golf with cart, daily prizes, a gift bag with over $150 in merchandise, four evenings of food and drink (including liquor) for you an a guest, live entertainment nightly, and the chance to win a new home and over $130,000 in gift certificates as flight prizes. For information call 1-800-833-8798 or visit the website at www.worldamgolf.com.

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and can be reached at bruce@oceanstategolfinc.com.