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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.
Golf Course Review: Coosaw Creek short, challenging
At 224 from the tips, the 11th at Coosaw Creek requires length and accuracy. I am a big fan of Arthur Hills' designed courses. Everyone of the half dozen or so that I have played stress course...
Addition by subtraction: Myrtle Beach courses gone, but revenue up for survivors
Darwinian selection has a great Petri dish in Myrtle Beach. Dozens of courses in the acknowledged golf supermarket of America have closed forever in the last three years, victims of overbuilding and...
Myrtle Beach course of history won't change
Any golfer who has been to Myrtle Beach knows "The Grandaddy." It is the nickname for Pine Lakes International Golf Club, circa 1927, the oldest course on the Grand Strand and the one with the most...
Rough enough: Natives restless at Pawleys Plantation
The dike at Pawleys Plantation holds the tee boxes for #13 (shown here) and #17, two challenging par 3s. New sod will be added to tees next week. Some of my fellow members at Pawleys Plantation in...
On Daufuskie, you can't eat atmosphere
Our friends at Golf Vacation Insider visited Daufuskie Island, SC, recently and report in their latest email, and on their web site, that the food service at the local resort left a little to be...
Golf Community Review: RiverTowne offers chance to live where pros play
More and more communities are hosting professional golf tournaments. A couple of weeks ago, the massive Cliffs Communities hosted a Nationwide Tour event, the BMW Charities Pro-Am, at three of their...
Myrtle Beach area updates: Free initiation, New Urbanism, and more
Sea Trail Plantation, the huge complex north of Myrtle Beach, will open a new section of townhomes in their Eastwood Bluff section June 29 - July 1. The amply sized Eastwood units, at 2,300 square...
One SC county gets smart about growth
Faithful readers of our newsletter and this site know that we are obsessed with traffic. It is one big reason we haven't rushed to review golf course communities on the coasts of Florida or in...
Aiken golf communities just off Masters stage
The golf world turns its attention to Augusta, GA, this weekend, which is a mixed blessing for residents of the golf communities of Aiken, SC, just across the border. The Augusta area can't quite...
Once lost, now Founders Club
The venerable Sea Gull Golf Club was one of the original 19 courses in the Myrtle Beach area around 1970 when I played my first rounds of golf on the Grand Strand. Over the next four decades, it was...
Maybe the toughest finishing holes on Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand
Note: We've added to this post a few more photos than typical. They may take a little longer to load. We think your patience will be rewarded. We have played the majority of the courses in the...
Haig Point's small circle of friends big factor in splendid isolation
Marsh grass, live oaks and sand give Haig Point's layout a strong links feel. Wind and views of the Calibogue Sound only add to the effect. Golf Community Review If you have a bit of the Garbo in...