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South Carolina

For generations, many South Carolinians have lived in the "upstate" region and owned vacation homes at the beach, a trip of no more than 3 1/2 hours from even the farthest regions of the state. In fact, Pawleys Island, just south of Myrtle Beach, claims to be America's first beach resort. Whether it is or isn't, Pawleys is just one of many golf happy areas of South Carolina, led by its neighbor immediately to the north, Myrtle Beach, which even after some pruning in the golf course ranks, can still boast about 100 layouts in the area. Farther down the coast, in the Low Country, Kiawah Island (10 golf courses within 12 miles or so) can boast of arguable the best in the state, the fabled Ocean Course by Pete Dye. But don't ignore upstate, where Greenville, a sophisticated burgh can lay claim to top 5 Chanticleer, one of Greenville Country Club's two outstanding tracks. We could go on about South Carolina golf (and reference Bluffton, Beaufort, Aiken, Columbia and other areas); we encourage you to go see for yourself.
Puckered Up: Raised greens only sign of land movement at deluxe May River
For many of us, it is a luxury for a caddy to tote our bag for 18 holes. Relatively few golf courses make caddies available these days, and those that do are private – some very private. Second, a...
Palmer design team moves Wexford Plantation's golf club ahead to the past
by Tim Gavrich Willard Byrd designed the original Wexford Golf Club course in 1983. And it was a good one, albeit not mentioned in the same breath as its more celebrated Hilton Head Island...
The most intimidating tee sign ever
Those of us who play at golf somewhat seriously understand that the game is almost entirely mental. Filter out all distractions, focus singly on the shot ahead, and you have a fair chance of making...
Old, Spartanburg golf course good for warm-up; par 3s top notch
I stopped for a quick nine holes –- about 90 minutes without anyone in front of me –- at the Creek Golf Club in Spartanburg, SC. It was a good test for a balky back I’ve been nursing and a nice run-up...
On the Road Again…to Greenville, SC
So many golf communities, so little time. I head to Greenville, SC, Sunday for a few days before meeting up with my fellow panelists on the South Carolina Golf Rating Panel at Savannah Lakes...
Greenville, SC: Asheville alternative features more private golf community options
A few years ago, I made visits during the same two-week period to the ever-popular city of Asheville, NC, and the less regaled Greenville, SC. I liked both but I preferred Greenville for what I...
Purchase of Daufuskie resort good news for Haig Point current and future owners
The former Daufuskie Island Resort, and one of its two well-regarded golf courses, The Melrose Golf Club, has been sold to a Utah-based investment group and will operate as the Melrose at the Beach...
Gary Player course takes shape at Cliffs
The new owners of The Cliffs Communities promised residents, golf club members and Gary Player that they would proceed with the construction of the golf course at Mountain Park, and according to...
Cliffs puts bankruptcy behind it
The Cliffs Communities emerged last week out of bankruptcy with new owners and a cautious optimism about the developments’ ability to crank up the sales machine again. One of the new owners likened...
A $300K property for $45,000 in an upscale South Carolina coast golf community
You may have read the Wall Street Journal article recently that touted a lot for sale for just $1 in the upscale golf community of Colleton River Plantation, in Bluffton, SC. Why so cheap? It’s because...
$88K golf condo can yield nice returns
Last week, a Myrtle Beach area real estate agent told me she had sold a condominium in Pawleys Plantation for $88,000. The bank that held it after a foreclosure had rejected an offer of $130,000 a...
New Old Tabby Links debuts in October
When I played the Spring Island golf community’s Old Tabby Links a few years ago, I thought it was one of the best of the many excellent layouts in the Carolinas. It was an odd feeling, touting an...