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

Navy SEALs Rappelling Into Legends Invitational Golf Event

The Navy SEAL Museum, which honors SEALs and their predecessors for their contributions to our national security, has more support coming its way.

The 24th Annual Legends Invitational, a golf event which takes place from November 14-17, 2014 at three of the most beautiful golf courses on the Monterey coastline, Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay, will be assisting the efforts of the Museum.

Teams of Navy SEALs, in conjunction with Legends Invitational and the Museum, will kick-off the tournament with tactical demonstrations, from parachuting maneuvers to rappelling with canines out of a helicopter onto Spanish Bay golf course. SEALs will also be "up-close-and-personal" for the duration of this one-of-a-kind golf event.

John Lee, owner of the Legends Invitational and member of the Navy SEAL Museum Board stated, 

“I am proud to serve on the Navy SEAL Museum and also have the 24th Legends Invitational raise funds to support SEAL families in times of distress, provide scholarships and answer the significant needs of the Museum.”

The Navy SEAL Museum currently receives no federal funding and relies on contributions from patriotic and grateful supporters to continue to preserve Naval Special Warfare history, honor fallen heroes at the SEAL Memorial and care for warriors and families through the Trident House.

“The National Navy SEAL Museum is delighted to be the beneficiary of the 24th Legends Invitational,” said Rick Kaiser, Executive Director of the Navy SEAL Museum. “We will be invading Spanish Bay via parachute and helicopter with help from our Military Working Dog Miko.  Should be fun for all!”

In addition to the excitement and fanfare surrounding the Navy SEAL's, Celebrity Sports Legends including several of Football's Greatest will be playing in the event alongside of corporate executives and business professionals helping to secure needed funding for the SEAL's and their families.
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You can also help the families of fallen SEAL's! Click on the links below to find out more:

Support The National Navy SEAL Museum

 Play in this once-in-a-lifetime golf event

If You Got Any Closer You Would Have to Enlist

Join us on Twitter to discuss the Legends Invitational and show support for the Navy SEALs - @Golf4Beginners and @SEALsGolf and show your support by liking the Legends Invitational Facebook page

And, as always, we welcome comments on our Golf for Beginners blog.

What are the Benefits of Starting #Golf at a Young Age?

Ever think to yourself after a fun-filled day of golf, "I wish I would have started learning when I was a kid!"

Fresh air and sunshine, a walk in the park and a healthy dose of exercise are all great reasons for kids to start along the path of golf at an early age and the long term effects go far beyond the physical aspects.

Many sports teach kids to be competitive, to work together as a team and to succeed under pressure which all translate well into the daily routine, into their school life and in their relations with other children.

Youth golf also has its advantages.

Golf has many more benefits than the above standards, as taught by groups such as the First Tee program. The sport that can last a lifetime instructs kids on the core values of honesty, courtesy towards others, on strategy and smart decisions both on and off the golf course - all positive attributes that will help in leadership roles and throughout their careers.

On a more educational level, as mentioned by a local Houston-based developer, "Golf is math, golf is English. You must calculate the break of the ball in degrees. It's just another avenue of learning."

Sounds like former NASA Physicist and short game instructor Dave Pelz who also believes that, if we can learn more about the scientific aspects of golf, we will perform better on the putting green and on the course.

Pelz also mentioned that, where adults in his class have to unlearn something before they can grasp a concept, "kids are the most voracious learners in the game. You tell them something they say, 'Oh, okay' and they start doing it that way."

Adults make the learning process more complicated and confusing but kids tend to look at golf in a more simplistic fashion -  they can break the sport down and learn to shrug off the disappointments at an early stage.



Once kids have something interesting that they have learned, they want to practice, even show-off a bit of their new found knowledge! Encourage family activities both on and off the golf course. 

Sponsors of The First Tee such as SYNLawn, fully endorse the concept of starting golf young by offering means to practice daily at home while making the sport enjoyable and accessible.

Elements of practice can be made into golf games for the whole family, and some activities such as distance control and putting can be as simple as backyard practice, on practice mats or on DIY greens right in your own home.

Although many players cite that golf is mainly a mental game and is played between your ears, let's not forget the physical benefits of the sport - that's right, golf remains a sport and will soon be a part of the Olympics!

Swinging a golf club, walking the course, proper bending and stretching before and after the round all translate into great health benefits without hurting kids physically as may be the case with other sports.


Have questions about the benefits of starting kids along the fairway of golf? Discuss with us on our Golf for Beginners blog, on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on @SYNLawn_Golf.

photo: Synlawn.com


Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.