Long Bay’s Signature 10th Hole

A few Myrtle Beach area golf directors and area club professionals were invited to play The Long Bay Club (one of Myrtle Beach National’s gems) on July 7th and I must say, I was very impressed.  After a short drive to the Northern End of the Grand Strand, I found myself being welcomed by a Rocky Balboa styled statue of Long Bay Club course architect Jack Nicklaus at the entrance of the clubhouse. (Quick hint, as you travel through the Long Bay community to the clubhouse,  pay close attention on your left where you can sneak a peek at the pin placement of one of Myrtle Beach’s most visually challenging par 3’s, hole number #13, which exhibits an island green.)

Powering down a quick lunch at the full-service restaurant we headed over to the practice facility.  Hands-down, it is one of the nicest and well-groomed practice facilities in the area. (This explains why many LPGA, Nationwide, and Hooters tour players practice here.)  It also sports a target-laced driving range, and a chipping and practice green with Champion Ultra-Dwarf Bermuda grass. From the practice green to the 18th hole, the greens were in tip-top shape, even considering the lack of rainfall the Myrtle Beach area has had this summer.

We immediately noticed (like all Nicklaus designs) the course was open off-the-tee, but still had a barrage of bunkers and well-bunkered greens.  If you want to challenge yourself you can always play this course from the Champion Black Tees at a shade over 7000 yards, or choose from one of the other 4 sets, including the Forward Tees, at just under 5000 yards.  After making your way through some risk reward holes on the front side, do not lose focus, because you face a beautiful but tough hole to start the back nine.  Long Bay Club’s signature hole #10, a short par, can easily get you in trouble if you are too close to the green. It’s best to play defensively and hit your ball just before the end of the fairway to leave you 100 or less yards into the green.  (You will find this is true for other holes as well, like #3, #6, and #14. )   Also, an investment in a yardage book will quickly play for itself if you are a 1st timer on at this course, not to mention you will have the upper hand to win a skin off your buddies.

The Long Bay Club, located in Longs, South Carolina, is one of Myrtle Beach’s nicest, and if you don’t take my word for it; try it yourself this fall for as low as $32 per golf if you are an early bird.

With the Summer heat rising higher and higher here in Golf Town, USA so does the popularity of  our Top 10 Myrtle Beach Golf Course Rankings. I have had tons of positive feedback via twitter, (you can follow me @mbgolfpro) on the rankings on the courses. The following is the Top 10 Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach for the Month of June 2011. These rankings are compiled from visitors voting on the northmyrtlebeachgolf.com website.

We have two new-comers to the Top 10! Pawley`s Plantation and Willbrook Plantation with a new #1 in Barefoot Dye and two courses back in the Top 10 after being knocked out, Barefoot Fazio and Pearl East are back. We lost four great courses out of the Top 10 but with out a doubt they will be back. Heritage Club, World Tour, Glen Dornoch and True Blue all dropped out of the Top 10.

1. Barefoot – Dye – The New #1

2. Caledonia – Moved up from #5

3. Bald Head Island – Still moving up, Moved from #4 last month.

4. Pawley`s Plantation – New to the list jumping all the way up to #4

5. Dunes Club – “Down Goes Frazier” after being #1 for three straight months, still my favorite course.

6. Thistle – Made its debut last month at #9 and moved up quickly to #6

7. TPC of Myrtle Beach – dropped down one spot from #6

8. Pearl East – Back in the Top 10 after being bumped out in May. Welcome Back.

9. Willbrook Plantation – Making its Top 10 debut in the Top 10

10. Barefoot Fazio – Back in Top 10 after being knocked out for two months.

I had a chance to play Arrowhead Country Club yesterday and was amazed right from the start. From the cart staff to sinking the final putt on the 18th hole, my group definitely had a great time out there.

There are at least 5 different holes that have a view of the Intracoastal Waterway. The switch from bent grass to the new mini verde hybrid was a great choice for the greens too! It’s much more tolerant for our Myrtle Beach climate and is an excellent putting surface. The staff kept the course in great shape too, with the bunkers edged and the fairways nice and plush.

World Golf Hall of Fame inductee and Carolina native Ray Floyd teamed with Golf Course Architect Tom Jackson in 1994 to design Arrowhead Country Club in “Golf Town, USA”  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  Arrowhead Country Club is one of eleven 27-hole faciltes on the Grand Strand with the Cypress, Lakes and Waterway nines. The course features Bermuda fairways and newly renovated hybrid Mini Verde Bermuda Grass Greens, practice facilty and Intracoastal Waterway Views on the Cypress and Waterway nines.

Arrowhead Country Club is centrally located in Myrtle Beach and one of the closest courses to the Myrtle Beach International Airport. With four sets of tees, wide fairways and undulating greens, Arrowhead Country is a “must play golf course in Myrtle Beach.” It was even voted “Golf Course of the Year” in 1998.  Being so close to the airport is great for the businessman who wants to play a round too.  Plus, Arrowhead has showers on the facility, so you can clean up before your flight home.

The course is located just off Hwy 501 before you get to Myrtle Beach.

The Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach

The following is a list of the Top 10 Myrtle Beach Golf Courses voted by visitors of www.northmyrtlebeachgolf.com for the month of April 2011. The Dunes Club remains the #1 golf course on the Grand Strand. New to the Top 10 for the month of April is Pearl – East. Barefoot Fazio and Barefoot Love dropped out of the Top 10.

1. The Dunes Club – Still at the Top of the List.

2. Barefoot Dye – Moved up from #2

3. Heritage Club – Moved up from #6

4. Bald Head Island Club – Holding at the #4 ranking

5. TPC of Myrtle Beach – Moved up 5-spots from #9

6. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club – Moved up and broke tie with World Tour from #10 last month

7. World Tour Golf Links – Moved up 3-spots from #10

8. Glen Dornoch – Dropped 3-spots from #5

9. Grande Dunes – Members Club – Dropped from last month ranking of #2 to #9

10. Pearl East – New to the Top 10 list

Congratulations to Pearl East for making its debut to our Top 10 golf course rankings. Vote for your favorite Myrtle Beach Golf Courses.

The following is a list of the Top 10 Myrtle Beach Golf Courses voted by visitors of www.northmyrtlebeachgolf.com for the month of March 2011.

The Top 10 Rated Courses in Myrtle Beach.

1. The Dunes Club – Craig`s number one course on the Strand

2. Grande Dunes Members Club – Nick Price design, immaculate conditions

3. Barefoot Dye – Another one of Craig Favorites, arguably the Hardest Golf Course in Myrtle Beach from the Tips,  Home to The Monday After Masters

4. Bald Head Island – More views of the Atlantic Ocean than any course on the Grand Strand

5. Glen Dornoch – The most underrated Golf Course in Myrtle Beach

6. Heritage Club – Top 100 in the Country

7. Barefoot – Love – Golf Digest # 1 Course in Myrtle Beach 2005

8. Barefoot – Fazio – Golf Digest # 6 Course in Myrtle Beach 2005

9. TPC – Myrtle Beach – Myrtle Beach only 5-star rated course by Golf Digest

T10. World Tour – 27 holes from the Best Courses from Around the world.

T10. Caledonia – Recently ranked by Golf Magazine, Top 100 You Can Play

To find out more info or play these Top 10 Myrtle Beach Golf Courses, visit our Myrtle Beach Golf Course Directory.

River Club in Myrtle Beach is one of the most changing golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area. Recently voted 4.5 stars by Golf Digest, the Tom Jackson designed River Club, features excellent A-1 bent grass greens. In fact, River Club is the only golf course on the south end of Myrtle Beach with bent grass greens. A traditional plantation style layout, measuring 6677 yards from the back tees and 5084 from the front tees. River Club, has its name implies features water on 15 of its 18 holes with over 100 bunkers strategically placed throughout the course.

I recently have had golfers emailing me wanting to play courses that they have played in the past, however, the courses that once made a great golf memory for some golfers have closed to the Myrtle Beach Real Estate boom five years ago.

Below is a list of courses that have closed in the Myrtle Beach area.

Bay Tree Gold Course

Bay Tree Silver Course

Bay Tree Green Course

Belle Terre

Belle Terre Executive Course

Bricklanding

Burning Ridge East Course

Calabash Golf Links

Deer Track South Course

Deer Track North Course

Gator Hole

Marsh Harbour Golf Links

Ocean Harbour

Golf Links

Ocean Isle Beach Golf Club

Raccoon Run

Robbers Roost

Sea Gull Golf Club (Reopened as Founders Club @ Pawleys Island)

Winyah Bay

That is a total of 17 courses closed for a Grand Total of 306 holes.

Of course, you can check out the courses on the Grand Strand that ARE open on our website.

Woodland Valley Country Club rests on the outskirts of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Nestled in the low country woodlands, this modern, Russell Breeden design features a good array of lakes and bunkers; all the while maintaining a level of sanity for the casual golfer. Make no mistake, Woodland Valley Country club is indeed challenging unto itself, as it is the first course within the Myrtle Beach area to have Jensen Ultra Dwarf greens.  Located just off of Highway 9, Woodland Valley Country Club measures roughly 6,298 yards and is a par-72.

Each paid round booked through NorthMyrtleBeachGolf.com will receive breakfast, lunch and two beers. Arnold Palmer Golf Management announced last week they will be managing Woodland Valley Country Club. This will now give them seven Myrtle Beach golf courses

Situated on an 18th Century Black River Plantation, Wedgefield Plantation Country Club is located just north of the historic port city of Georgetown, South Carolina. The par 71 layout that features five sets of tees stretching over 7,000 yards from the Championship tee has hundreds of ancient oaks trees and views of the Black River. The golf course has been known to be haunted by a British Solider that was left to guard the plantation and was beheaded by General Francis Marion`s army in the late 1760`s.

All rounds booked through NorthMyrtleBeachGolf.com at the Historic Wedgefield Plantation will include breakfast, lunch & 2-drinks. Free Pre-Booked replays will also be included. Wedgefield is a great place to play if staying on the South End of Myrtle Beach or on the way to and from Charleston South Carolina.

Designed by J. Porter Gibson, ASGCA, the Wedgefield Plantation golf course opened in 2005. One of the most difficult holes is the par 4, 440-yard 5th. With a water hazard alongside the fairway, this treacherous hole challenges even the seasoned golfer. Wedgefield Plantation was ranked by “GOLF Magazine” as one of the “15 Best Courses in South Carolina.”

Withstanding an extensive managerial overhaul, the once famed Wedgefield Plantation is primed for a resurgence. The present owners continue to develop as the Wedgefield Plantation housing sub-division and golf course both continue to grow and improve. For exclusive golf packages on Wedgefield Plantation Country Club, visit NorthMyrtleBeachGolf.com and book your rounds in advance.

Learn about other golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area.

With over 80 championship courses along the Grand Strand, golfers have there favorite courses that they like to play year after year. The majority of golfers like to play every course at least once to say, “I have played them all”. However there are several courses that golfers have never even heard of or played. You can’t say you are the master of golf in Myrtle Beach without playing St. James Plantation. Below is a list of St. James Plantation courses that we consider, “The Best Myrtle Beach Golf Courses You Have Never Played.”

St James Plantation in Southport, North Carolina

Located about 40 miles north of North Myrtle Beach, SC and about 30 miles south of Wilmington, NC, on what once was a former pine plantation is now a 6,000 acre gated residential community. Featuring acres of natural preserves, a full service marina and four excellent golf courses designed by some of the best names in the game of golf. There’s three 18-hole facilities and one 27-hole facility.

The Reserve Club

The Reserve Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus Designs, is the newest private course at St. James Plantation. Opened in 2007 to rave reviews, The Reserve Club won the title of “Best New Course in North Carolina” in 2007. The Reserve Club was also selected to the Golf Digest, Myrtle Beach Super 60 list, ranking 20th. The Par 72 measures 7,212 yards and was built through acres of wetlands and natural vegetation. The Reserve features A1 Bent grass greens with very little rough along the fairways, emphasizing on shot making and strategy.

The Players Club

The Players Club, is one of Golf Digest’s, Myrtle Beach Super 60.  Ranked 25th and received 4.5 stars on the Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” in 2006. The course which opened in 1998 and designed by Tim Cate, plays just under 7,000 yards from the Championship tees with narrow fairways and waste bunkers making accuracy a must.

The Founders Club at St. James

The Founders Club, originally named The Gauntlet, was the first course to open. Designed by P.B Dye, the Founders Club is a Par 72 stretching over 7,000 yards from the professional tees. The course features the famous Dye Pot Bunkers, great views of the coastal marshlands and undulating greens. The Founders Club was recently ranked no. 46 on the Golf Digest, Myrtle Beach Super 60 list; however, it ranks as one of the “Most Difficult courses to play on the Grand Strand.”

The Members Club

Designed by 3-time US Open winner Hale Irwin, The Members Club, is the lone 27-hole facility at St. James. This Par 72 is a very playable 6,687 yards and is a favorite among the members of the plantation. With 3 sets of tees, the Members Club at St. James is a challenge for golfers of all levels.

All four St. James Plantation golf courses can only be booked with an accommodations package. Sorry only tee time bookings are not available on these four courses, through NorthMyrtleBeachGolf.com. Email our local team of knowledgeable golf directors at golf@northmyrtlebeachgolf.com, give us a call at 1-800-624-6418 or chat live on our home page at