Myrtle Beach World Amateur Championship - #Golf Major for the Rest of Us

It is the "granddaddy" of amateur tournaments and, each year, well over three thousand golfers turn out to play in the Myrtle Beach World Amateur wondering how their games compare to players from around the globe.

Anyone with a handicap can play in the World Am and many people return year after year to this tournament with a focus on fun. 

After speaking with several players, I learned that people come to this top South Carolina beach destination to play 72 holes of intense stroke play on amazing Myrtle Beach golf courses for the bonds that are formed and the ability to test oneself against others with similar handicaps.

One player and his wife in particular whom we met at the 19th hole told me that his wife first saw the event online, purchased entrance for him as a birthday present and are now here for their third annual tournament. He is a ten handicap and was very interested in sharing how he did during his rounds and how happy he was to be matched so evenly with his foursome. When I asked his wife if she played golf, she said yes and then we got into a conversation about how to get more power out of her driver.

In other words, the talk of the evening was all about golf, how to improve and about how to score low on some of the most pristine courses along the Grand Strand.

Top instructors were on hand to happily offer advice. Randy Joyner, who coaches players on both the Web.com and PGA Tour, took the stage and gave indispensable tips on ways to break 90, chipping and the full swing...I took notes during his lesson.

I was super stoked to receive a personal on-stage lesson from Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and PGA Master Professional in Instruction, Brad Redding, who showed me the benefits of improving my grip to increase my distance while maintaining accuracy (he also said I had great posture lol...thanks Brad!)

Several golf courses were represented in booths within the perimeter of the 19th hole; Caledonia, True Blue, Thistle and Legends to name a few and there were all kinds of new technology and fun giveaways to view, touch and play around with...for example...

I will be playing golf at Legends Golf Resort in a few weeks while trying out and reviewing their latest acquisition - the Golfboard (watch for my video and review).

Other companies showing off their wares at the 19th hole included gadgets such as Birdieball which is said to mimic the feel and flight path of a real golf ball but travel no more than forty yards, new ways to mark your ball from Golfdotz and Tin Cup and even nutritional energy bars...delicious snacks to help keep your hunger at bay on the course. PGA Tour Superstore had a large display of clothing to make sure attendees were dressed super-slick for the tournament.

Myrtle Beach is also a food-lovers destination. Visitors to the area can find every kind of delicacy that is available anywhere else in the country from sushi to ribs. At the 19th hole this week, delicious crab rangoons were served up by Black Thai Restaurant, awesome filet mignon was carved from Greg Norman’s Australian Grille and much, more including Barry's favorite...Chick-fil-A. Did I mention Friendly's ice-cream ...? Well, the Nuts over Caramel stole my heart...

Golf is the name of the game but the camaraderie, fun and sportsmanship found at the Myrtle Beach World Am is what keeps players coming back each year.

Did you attend this year's Myrtle Beach World Am? If not, do you plan to play golf in South Carolina sometime in the future? Send us a note either below in the comments section of this golf blog or on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Top Three #Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach Worth the Trip

If you have visited Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on previous golf vacations, chances are you have heard of, or played, one or more of the three Mystical Golf Courses within fifteen minutes of the Coast. With over one-hundred golf courses to choose from, here are a few reasons why the Witch, Wizard and Man O'War are definitely worth a trip to the Beach!

Survival is the name of the game on the three Mystical Golf Courses:

The Season of The Witch

Although the trifecta of Witch, Wizard and Man O'War are mystical, there is an eerie ambiance as you drive your golf cart along the creaky wooden plank paths on this eighteen hole maze through the natural beauty of marsh and forestry compelling you to move strategically onward.

Although The Witch website states, "There's nothing scary about The Witch", golf blogger Andy Reistetter thinks otherwise, "witnessing the wildlife and scenic insights into the surrounding marshes will definitely cast a spell over you."

Challenging doglegs and safe landings are the name of the game at The Witch and placement should be safe or your golf ball may be engulfed by water (or maybe by an alligator...).

I plan to play a round of golf on The Witch this Halloween, enough said.

Off to See The Wizard

In a previous golf blog about Mystical Golf, I mentioned that the Wizard requires, "thought in ball placement as the second cut of rough was deep."

Yes, this is a links course but there are elevation changes as well. According to MyrtleBeachGolf.com, "More than 1 million cubic yards of dirt were moved to form this layout of gently rolling hills and berms." The Wizard is in amazing shape, the greens roll fast and the course is basically humbling due to the wind and the elements.

If you think this is an easy course because of online reviews you might have read, think again. The Wizard will conjure its spell upon you.

Man O'War - Ready for Battle

Man O' War is designed for the golfer who thinks about the shot before stepping up to the ball. A Golf Digest 4-Star course with beautiful atmosphere with challenging wind and water captures your ball on the ninth hole island green and throughout the round. If you like a course with personality, stunning views, immaculate fairways and greens... which bites back, this is a must-play during your stay.

All three Dan Maples golf courses are in prime condition, the wind and pin placement should be considered and the greens are fast and require that you roll more than just a few on the practice putting green to get your speed and line.

Myrtle Beach Revelry

Since we attend this golf writers tournament in Myrtle Beach every year, there is also a bit of revelry in addition to playing golf on these three amazing courses. We were last off the tee on day one of The Witch, so we didn't make the yearly excursion to the fabulous Alabama Theater to see the production of "One" a family-themed show which was top-notch, fun and patriotic.

We did have dinner at the River City Cafe, eating up delicious burgers at their Surfside Beach location along with a beautiful view. The wonderful buffet spreads by Sea Mist Resort were delectable, from the salmon on toast points to the most delicious roast beef I had eaten in years.

Thank you once again for your hospitality Claude Pardue and Mystical Golf, Sea Mist Resort and to all the folks in Myrtle Beach who always say, "Welcome to the Beach" and mean it!

Stacy Captures the Flag at Man O War Golf Course!

And, to the three golf courses which put my team in the middle of the pack, as MacArthur stated, "I came through and I Shall Return". I will be better prepared and ready for battle next year.

Have you played golf at The Witch, Wizard or Man O'War? Share your thoughts on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and at the bottom of this golf blog!


photo credit: MyrtleBeachGolfDirectors.com, Golf for Beginners

Experience the Largest and Best 19th Hole in #Golf at Myrtle Beach

Thirty-four countries and fifty-eight states know where the largest and most fun 19th hole is in golf... do you?

The Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship of Golf - one of the most anticipated and swinging events of the year at The Beach - has over thirty-four hundred (3,400) entries that love competition and camaraderie of the sport. Since this is a handicap event, all ages and skill levels are encouraged and welcomed to join in this family event.

The more than sixty golf courses on the World Am roster are the pride of South Carolina and are among the best in the USA.

From Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, number twenty-seven in GOLF Magazine‘s 2014 “Top 100 You Can Play” to Myrtle Beach National and Carolina National, if you have never played golf on and around the Grand Strand, this is a great opportunity to see what this vacation destination has to offer golfers of every age and ability.

After a day on the links, participants converge onto the 19th Hole - an experience, I heard, that you have to see to believe...and so I did!

The 19th hole, also known as the largest golf tournament party, adjourns nightly after entrants have had their fill of birdies, bogeys and beautiful scenery playing golf on one of the host courses.

So, what happens when thousands of party-loving golfers from millennials to seniors converge during a week-long super-extravaganza event at possibly the largest ever 19th Hole in the World and in no other place than Myrtle Beach, a City known for its golf courses and fun, beachy atmosphere?

Aside from the delicious and plentiful food provided by local restaurants with a different menu nightly, live entertainment and the Dark and Stormy's, you get the camaraderie of golfers sharing their day's good and bad shots, an array of putting greens, driving booths and anything and everything designed to make this a golfer's after-hours paradise.

Lessons from Golf-Tec teaching pro Trent had me hitting straight and removing that annoying left pull by showing me a video of my golf swing right on his smartphone. Announcers WinMcMurry and John Maginnes were on hand to call the shots on a 50-yard par-3 and I didn't know whether to play the Golden Tee games that were lined up or to hit a few into the golf simulator - so many choices but luckily there is an entire week to enjoy the fun.

The best part of my experience, however, had to be chatting with the players, many of whom return year-after-year. I asked several folks if it was the golf or 19th hole that kept them coming back for more and, I was told, both were hard to beat!

Have you attended the Myrtle Beach World Am Handicap Championship? Which was your favorite golf course...or was it the 19th hole that took center stage? Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on our Golf for Beginners blog.


Thanks to Chris King - Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Myrtle Beach #Golf Course Holes Rated The Best?

Approximately fourteen million visitors, snowbirds included, vacation in sunny Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, each year, eager to enjoy the one-hundred plus golf courses and sixty-mile beach which has made The Grand Strand famous world-wide.

On The Green Magazine recently sent out a survey to their subscribers asking which golf holes were their favorites - the ones which gave players "the most golfing enjoyment".

Which golf hole was the overall favorite?

Glen Dornoch hole number 16, a long par-4 which requires focus as the views of the Intracoastal Waterway will distract and the tight green will require an accurate finish.

How can you score par or better here?

GlensGolfGroup.com says, "your drive needs to avoid a small pond on the left, as well as fairway bunkers strategically placed on both the left and right...

Hit as close to the bunkers on the right as possible, and you’ll be in the best position to go for the green. Go over the crest and you’ll either have a severe downhill lie or end up in a catch basin bunker midway down the slope. Either way, you’ll need a spectacular shot to reach the green in two from there."

Glen Dornoch - 16th Hole

For out-of-towners who may not know the best golf courses to play and for those golfers who are "locals" but haven't yet played all one-hundred or so golf courses offered in Myrtle Beach, here are the top-three holes. Golf for Beginners has also listed the golf courses with the most multiple holes chosen as favorites.

On The Green 18 - Reader's Choice Top Three Golf Holes:
Glen Dornoch #16
Caledonia #18
Rivers Edge #9

Where Glen Dornoch's spectacular views are water and salt marsh, Caledonia's eighteenth hole borders this Plantation's rice field.

Caledonia 18th hole

According to the PGA.com website, the eighteenth hole of any golf course is probably the most important as, "It's the lasting impression golfers have as they leave their round, it's the hole they are looking forward to as they pull up."  How true.

Considered to be one of PGA's "Dream 18", Caledonia's 18th is a par-4, 383-yard hole with water down the right side which cuts into the fairway in front of a large green. The kicker is that, on any given day, there might be a grandstand of folks watching your approach shot, which can make that final iron shot a real tester.

Shallotte, North Carolina, just north of Myrtle Beach, is the location of the third top reader's choice golf hole. The signature ninth hole at River's Edge is a 570-yard, par-5 has it all...views, blind tee shot, frustrating with the question of "go for the green or lay up?"

Rivers Edge 9th hole

Here are a few of the Golf Courses with Multiple Holes Chosen as Favorites:
Heather Glen - 9 holes
Tidewater - 8 holes
The Witch - 7 holes

For the complete Reader's Choice list, visit onthegreenmagazine.com.

None of these golf courses, in my opinion, should be taken on by beginners unless it is for a friendly round and the others in the foursome know that you can pick up your ball at will. I don't believe in giving up, just moving on at a reasonable pace of play.


Have you played golf in Myrtle Beach? Do you agree/disagree with the reader survey? Voice your opinion on this blog, on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and LIKE us on Facebook.



photo credits: glensgolfgroup.com, golfcarolina.com, thegolfcourseguru.com

Golf Tournaments and Myrtle Beach Entertainment are Par for the Course

A vacation in Myrtle Beach, for most sun-loving folks, in one way or another includes both beach and golf. This past week, I was fortunate enough to have at my disposal an ocean view to die for, terrific food, great entertainment and some of the best golf courses in the United States.

Being invited to a golf tournament is always exciting but there is something special when it takes place in Myrtle Beach. Although driving time is about eleven hours from New York, Myrtle Beach is definitely worth the effort. Of course, at just under two hours from the big city, you can always fly down to this golfer’s haven but, having a dog in the family mandated us to take the longer route…and so we did.

Mystical Golf’s 3rd Annual Golf Media Tournament also allowed me to bring a guest which, of course, was my husband Barry who always delights in a challenge. 

Off we went - Barry, Einstein (my loveable german shepherd puppy) and me – golf clubs in the trunk and ready for our adventure. Einstein wound up staying at K9 Cabana, a very caring dog "resort" he frequents when we’re here at the Beach and Barry and I were excited to have the Sea Mist beach front hotel as our "home-away-from-home". 

The accommodations at Sea Mist were very comfortable with in-room kitchenette and the ocean at our doorstep, we were wined and dined and the food was yummy and plentiful…thank you to our hosts!

Fresh air, great lodgings, delicious food and three of the best golf courses in Myrtle Beach - The Witch, Wizard and Man O'War - what more could any golf aficionado ask for?

How about one of the most delightful shows I have seen in a long time…a patriotic, country-loving extravaganza at the Alabama Theatre - “One”. The talent was extraordinary; comedian Ricky Mokel was hilarious and host Greg Rowles ("Star Search" Male Vocalist of the Year) kept us entertained with music that you don’t get to hear too much of on New York City radio stations. A quick mention that, before the show, I had some of the best ribs I have eaten in a long time at Wild Wing Cafe; if you want wings and ribs, these are finger-lickin' good!!

The week and the golf tournament went by in a flash: the Witch cast her mighty spell on us, The Wizard was captivating and Man O'War had very sharp teeth and should be renamed, "Man O' Water!". Barry and I captured five skins, won low net and wound up with a few bucks to spend at either of the three well-stocked Clubhouses but, most importantly, bragging rights!

With spring-like temperatures in Myrtle Beach probably sticking around through Christmas and prices being very fair, I encourage golfers with families to visit the Grand Strand. You will all come away with memories to last you a lifetime!

A few accolades that Myrtle Beach earned in 2012 from US News & World Report:

  #6 Best Family Beach Vacations

  #4 Best Family Vacations in the U.S.A. 

  #7 Best Affordable U.S. Vacations

  #9 Best Beaches U.S.A.

Tell Golf for Beginners about your Myrtle Beach golf experience in our comments section below, on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on Facebook .


Thank you to Mystical Golf group and to Claude Pardue for making the Golf Writers Tournament a magical event.
Learn about how to contribute to the Pardue Children in Need Fund.

Halloween a Mystical Time to Play Golf in Myrtle Beach

The Witch, Wizard and Man O'War Golf Courses, labyrinths rambling through dense forest and lakes, are collectively the backbone of Myrtle Beach. If you’re on a quest for exceptional courses in the number-one golf destination in the United States, this trio can take you on a mystical adventure.

Myrtle Beach, known for it's sixty miles of beautiful sandy stretch, comfortable temperatures and over one-hundred championship courses to choose from, hides these three secret gems (collectively known as MysticalGolf.com) on a stretch of road just off of Hwy 501 in the Carolina Forest, waiting to be discovered and tamed by players looking for a substantial challenge.

Playing these three Dan Maples golf courses in the order above is exactly the way in which they should be attacked: The Witch beckons you into her maze of macabre timber with patient alligators lining the path, The Wizard tempts the risk taker and, as for Man O' War – “do not let your guard down.”

The Witch is enchanting from the moment you lay eyes on this course. The wetlands are frighteningly dense with old wooden trees hanging like hands waiting to grasp and, while driving your golf cart over creaky bridges, you cannot help but think you have entered the forest where Hansel and Gretel nearly met their fateful end. Thanks to Bruce Vittner, one of our playing partners and writer for Southern New England Golfer, as his knowledge of this course gave us our best chances for survival (and a solid score).

The Witch Golf Club in Conway, S.C. was rated a 4.5-star course by Golf Digest for its excellent condition and seaside configuration.

Escape from The Witch and enter into the lair of The Wizard, the second of the three sisters, and you will find a links-style golf course with elevation changes (oddly enough) and island greens. Not every shot requires a driver but every shot does require thought in ball placement as the second cut of rough was deep. Bent grass greens make this course different from the Bermuda grass on Witch. The Wizard was decorated with four stars by Golf Digest as a "Best Places to Play in America".

The Man O'War, in my opinion, had the biggest bite of the three mystical golf courses - it's a dangerous design that tricks you into believing you can attack when it is much better to play safe. Know your club distances before you enter and practice your putting as there is probably not one flat spot on any of the eighteen greens (which are in superb condition). The back-to-back island greens nearing the end of your journey are both makeable but don't get too confident - play smart and you may just come out with a reasonable score.

Man O'War Golf Course

Have you played the MysticalGolf.com courses in Myrtle Beach? Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners LIKE Golf for Beginners on Facebook and comment on Golf for Beginners blog.

Thank you to Mystical Golf group and to Claude Pardue for making the Golf Writers Tournament a magical event.
Learn about how to contribute to the Pardue Children in Need Fund.

Dustin Johnson's Myrtle Beach as a world-class golf vacation destination

U.S. Open hopeful Dustin Johnson is actively promoting the golf mecca, kids are flocking to it (for the free golf?) and the beaches are so pure that the Grand Strand has been ranked as one of the best and least expensive vacation areas by U.S. News Media Group. Myrtle Beach is a rising star as a family fun destination.

Dustin Johnson at home in Myrtle Beach

 Earlier this season, 2010 fifty-four-hole U.S. Open leader and area  native Dustin Johnson signed on to promote the Myrtle Beach region as "America's number-one golf destination." Twenty-six year-old Johnson said,

"Myrtle Beach truly is one of the world’s top golf destinations, and has so much to offer in the way of beaches, restaurants, nightlife and even shopping. I can’t think of a better place for a golf vacation, and I’m proud to now be able to spread the word. Regardless of where I reside, Myrtle Beach will always feel like home."


In addition to Dustin Johnson's promotion of "The Golf Capital of the World", and in an effort to grow the game of golf and to make memories in a family-friendly environment, kids will be allowed to "play free" on almost half of the Myrtle Beach area golf courses.


The Myrtle Beach area Kids Play Free summer program is also meant to encourage a bit of friendly competition between fathers and sons, mothers and daughters and all who would like to compete in the 2011 Summer Family Golf Tournament.


The series, hosted every Wednesday at a different golf course from June 29th-August 10th is open to any duffer, whether or not you have a handicap. I fear however, that Myrtle Beach tee times may also be at a premium during this summer season!


Here is a sampling of a few well-known Myrtle Beach area golf courses participating in the "Kids Play Free" Program.

Wachesaw Plantation East

Wachesaw Plantation East is a Tom Fazio designed, low country Scottish links course listed in Golf Digest's "Places to Play" list and was also host to the LPGA Tour on four occasions. The eighteenth hole, it is said, is a well-known visual spectacle and should not be missed.







Sandpiper Bay Golf Club was the 2010 MBAGCOA Golf Course of the Year and is rated four stars by Golf Digest. It's on Sunset Beach, about twenty minutes from the heart of the action, newly renovated and you may just spot professional golfers like Curtis Strange hosting a free clinic this season!






Although Tidewater Golf Club is very challenging (especially in the rain), it is also nature at its best. A true risk-reward course, a golfer needs good course management to score. A Golf Digest "Top 100 You Can Play", Tidewater is definitely a world-class Myrtle Beach golf course but may be too strenuous for beginners.





With about one-hundred golf courses spread throughout the Myrtle Beach area, golf is definitely a main attraction. Visit the beach, add the NASCAR Speed Park experience, Broadway at the Beach and Zipline fifty-feet above water and you and the kids will keep busy your entire vacation!




Photo Credit: Golfweek, Tracy Wilcox
Photo Credit: Wachesaw Plantation East