The World Tour Golf Links has always been a favorite among golfers. Why?  You get a change to play holes replicated after some of the top in the WORLD, some of which are private courses only a few get to play. Located in the heart of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the course features 27-holes from 23-courses and 6-countries from around the world.

The Open Nine features holes from St Andrews, Pinehurst #2, and TPC at Sawgrass. (Yes, the famous island green hole with the water hazard that likes to eat balls during the Players Championship.) The Championship Nine has holes inspired by “Amens Corner” at Augusta National, Bay Hill Club and Winged Foot. The third of the three nines is the International Nine. This nine has holes from courses like Valderrama, Doral and Spanish Bay.

Large Patio Overlooking The Course

The beautiful 25,000 sq ft clubhouse features a fully stocked Pro Shop that actually has won awards like “Top 100 Pro Shops”. To make is more inviting, display cases of golf history and golf memorabilia are located in the foyer. The Players Grille in the back of the clubhouse is a full service restaurant with a patio overlooking the 9th hole of the Championship course, a hole inspired by the 11th hole at Arnold Palmer`s Bay Hill Club in Orlando, FL.

I was invited to come out and give it the ole @Mbgolfpro first look last week. Like many golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area, The World Tour has converted from bent grass greens to Mini-Verde Ultra Dwarf Bermuda grass. While it sounds like a mouth-full, Mini Verde has become one of the most popular grasses for the South East.

Our round started on the Championship Nine, with a small skins game among the other players in my group. This particular nine is a favorite among visiting golfers because of “Amen Corner”. Golfers that have never or will never play Augusta National (because it’s a private course) will get to feel whats it like to play these distinct holes.

As we came to the 6th hole, no skins had been won just yet. After I hit my tee shot in Rays Creek “The Myrtle Beach Version”, I was able to still play it out, while actually standing on a rock to hit my second shot. After advancing it to the fairway. My third shot found Rays Creek AGAIN just in front of the green. With two of the other three players out of the hole, it came down to me getting up and down or at least sacrifice a bogey. While our fourth golfer was laying three on the back of the green, that set him up for a great chance of three putting, which he did! So I tried to hit the best shot I could and got it on. I missed my putt for par and made bogey to tie the hole and save a skin. Phew.

For our back side, we went to the Open Nine. The first hole is adjoined with the 9th hole and has to be the widest fairway in Myrtle Beach. However, my favorite hole on the Open nine has to be the third hole. It comes from TPC Sawgrass. This short Par 3 like on TV does not look difficult, however the water surrounding the green makes this hole visually challenging. Proving my point, two guys in our foursome hit their tee shot in the water. Myself and one other made par to tie the hole.

As we ran out of daylight and did not get a chance to play the International Nine, but I do have to say the improvements being made at World Tour are great. The new greens, new sand in bunkers and aesthetic changes around the entire facility will make the course back on the top of play list for visiting Myrtle Beach golfers.

As Always, Fairway and Greens
@MbGolfPro

I almost forgot, I won two skins!

P.S. CHECK OUT our FULL PHOTO GALLERY of World Tour

As the Spring 2012 golf season winds down across the grand strand, eight Myrtle Beach golf courses will be getting new greens this summer. The courses will be installing different new hybrids of Bermuda Ultra-Dwarf grass, including Champion Bermuda, Mini-Verde Bermuda, Tif-Eagle Bermuda.

These grasses excel in the Southeast, and have increased in popularity over the last couple years for several reasons:

• Bent grass is more susceptible to disease in the hot summer months compared to Ultra-Dwarf grass
• Ultra Dwarf grasses can still maintain speeds of 9-12 on a Stimpmeter just like bent grass
• Smooth consistent putting surfaces.
• Requires less maintenance (less chemicals, watering, and aerating)
• Keeps great color retention in cool seasons

Barefoot Dye Club – The course will be closed May 21 and reopen July 16. The course is changing from Bent grass to Champion Ultra Dwarf.

Barefoot Love – The course will be closed July 9 and reopen on September 10. The Love course at Barefoot is also changing from Bent grass to Champion Ultra Dwarf.

Grande Dunes Resort Course – The Resort Course at Grande Dunes is closing on June 26 to August 21. The courses is changing from Bent Grass to Champion Ultra Dwarf Bermuda Grass.

International World Tour Golf Links – The Open Course – The course will be closed beginning May 15 and will rebuild green complexes and change the putting surface grass from L93 bentgrass to Mini-Verde ultradwarf Bermuda grass.

International World Tour Golf Links – The Championship Course – The course will close after the Open Course renovations are complete. The Championship course will also have the green complexes rebuilt and switch from L93 bentgrass to Mini-Verde ultradwarf Bermuda grass.

Myrtle Beach National – Kings North – Arnold Palmer`s Kings North is changing putting surfaces from Bent grass to Champions Ultra Dwarf. The course will be closing June 25 and reopening on August 21.

Prestwick Country Club – the course will be closing on June 18 and be closed until September 15  for renovations of greens. They will be putting in Tif-Eagle Bermuda to enhance the putting surface as well as doing other projects around the course.