Myrtle Beach

[wrx_junki]

Going to Myrtle Beach next month and had a few questions. We've never been on a golf trip so bear with me. We'll be going for 3 nights 3 days and will be flying down from NYC. Bad idea to fill my stand bag with towels and check it? Should I be investing in a travel bag that I'd maybe use once every few years? Is it a bad idea to get a golf package at one resort, limiting ourselves to courses on the resort? Was thinking Legends, Caledonia, or Barefoot(slightly more expensive). Help and suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you.

[nevets88]

I've seen people check-in w/o a travel bag with just the raincover on it, but I'd personally buy a travel bag because your clubs will get tossed around pretty good. On the other hand, you don't have to splurge and get a hardcover case. You can get a decent bag for under $100 that has good padding on the top for the heads.

Personally, staying in one place appeals to me, but IIRC, Legends is pretty much links type courses and Caledonia's 2nd tier course is meh, plus they don't have much of a practice area for the long game (that was awhile ago). I would go with different courses, but if you play two courses a day, keep them close together as MB is a big place and you don't want to do alot of driving.

[alf174]

Including the 3 courses at Legends , you can also go off site and use Oyster Bay, Heritage, and I believe Glen Dornoch.

[gortyl]

Played all the Barefoot courses 30 days ago and the greens (not unlike most other places in the country) were in bad shape. Didn't totally take away from the golf, but figuring it's your first time through Myrtle so you'd like to know. As the weather cools down, hopefully they get them back.

I think Caledonia is a fun course myself and feel like the Legends (which was also on our rotation on this year's August trip) had some tricked up holes. Heathland was very nice and I thought true to links-style golf (the greens were some of the best I've played on this year). Moorland I hope catches fire some time very soon so they can add the proper mini-golf structures that course deserves.

Investing $100 in a golf bag is better than risking $500 or $1000 or more in golf club damage.

[wrx_junki]

  gortyl said:

Played all the Barefoot courses 30 days ago and the greens (not unlike most other places in the country) were in bad shape. Didn't totally take away from the golf, but figuring it's your first time through Myrtle so you'd like to know. As the weather cools down, hopefully they get them back.

Really? I was leaning towards playing Barefoot but I guess a month is a good amount of time for the greens to have recovered.

Even if I stay at one resort do people usually rent a car or just cab it to the resort and stay within the resort most of the time. Also, dinner options at the resorts a good idea or go off the resort for dinner?

[alf174]

Depends on the resort but generally I'd say stops are spread out enough that renting a car is probably the least expensive option.

[gortyl]

Rent a car for sure....Myrtle is very spread out. Even if you stayed on the resort, you may not have short walks to everywhere you want to go. Barefoot would be a good example of this. And like I said, the bad greens didn't take too much away from the golf itself.

You're a Bethpage guy, if I stay the night and get the wristband, etc., can I take an afternoon tee time or do I HAVE to play in the morning?

[nevets88]

I'd agree with the others about renting a car, but looking at the map of the resort, not renting *might* work if the resort offered shuttle vans to the courses and back.

You're splitting the rental with 3 people, so I'd guess a car would be around $210 lets say, so that's $70/person. You'll likely pay around $50 combined both ways using a cab or shuttle van, so for only $20 more, you're getting a whole lot of convenience. I'm used to taking my clubs on subways and cabs but in suburban America, I yield to the automobile.

Besides, you might stop by a golf store and find an enticing set of used irons since great deals abound down there. You'll need that travel bag to bring them back.

[wrx_junki]

  gortyl said:

Rent a car for sure....Myrtle is very spread out. Even if you stayed on the resort, you may not have short walks to everywhere you want to go. Barefoot would be a good example of this. And like I said, the bad greens didn't take too much away from the golf itself.

You could get an afternoon tee time. Don't bother staying the night if you want an afternoon tee time. You can come in during the morning time and find one for Black. If you don't have a 4some and I'm free I'd reserve a tee time for you and play Black since I haven't played it at all this year.

TRIP HAS BEEN MOVED FROM MYRTLE TO OCEAN CITY, MD. Flights are too expensive from they are telling me. Ocean City isn't set in stone so suggestions for somewhere drivable from NYC would be great! If you have been to Ocean City suggestions for resorts or courses to be played in the area would be awesome.

[Lefty-Golfer]

  wrx_junki said:

You could get an afternoon tee time. Don't bother staying the night if you want an afternoon tee time. You can come in during the morning time and find one for Black. If you don't have a 4some and I'm free I'd reserve a tee time for you and play Black since I haven't played it at all this year.

OC MD is an underated town. I haven't played all of them but below are a few.

Must plays Lighthouse sound is a great course on the bay Bayside in Fenwick Island is a great course, 20 minutes from OC and has great restuarant right around corner very nice Rum Point is another good one on the water glen riddle has 2 courses both are good but not on the bay solid but not special River Run and Ocean Pines food lots of good food just a couple of my favorites below. Hoopers Crab house on rt 50 on the bay!! buy the plastic cup for beer, food is awesome crabhouse style!! Harpoon Hannas up in Fenwick island is another great restaurant, 20 minutes max from any point in OC, it is right around the corner from Bayside, golf at bayside and dinner here is good day!! Big Peckers is solid bar food Dead Freddies is also solid bar food Breakfast at Happy Jacks in town at approx. 25th and Coastal or close to it, good food, large portions, in and out in less then 40 minutes.

[gortyl]

  wrx_junki said:

You could get an afternoon tee time. Don't bother staying the night if you want an afternoon tee time. You can come in during the morning time and find one for Black. If you don't have a 4some and I'm free I'd reserve a tee time for you and play Black since I haven't played it at all this year.

Thanks man. Appreciate the help. One of the guys hosting us finally got on the reservation system and booked us for this afternoon. Looking forward to it...perfect day for some golf!

[wrx_junki]

  Lefty-Golfer said:

OC MD is an underated town. I haven't played all of them but below are a few.

Awesome thanks for the plethora of information. Now I will have some locations in mind when planning. I hope most of these courses are not too expensive since we aren't looking to spend a crazy amount.

  gortyl said:

Thanks man. Appreciate the help. One of the guys hosting us finally got on the reservation system and booked us for this afternoon. Looking forward to it...perfect day for some golf!

No problem. Today is truly an awesome day for a round of golf. September has been a real good month in general for golf. Let me know how the conditions are.

[Lefty-Golfer]

  wrx_junki said:

Awesome thanks for the plethora of information. Now I will have some locations in mind when planning. I hope most of these courses are not too expensive since we aren't looking to spend a crazy amount.

Golf less then 100 per, dinner less then 50 with couple beers per.

[wrx_junki]

  Lefty-Golfer said:

Golf less then 100 per, dinner less then 50 with couple beers per.

Just around what we were hoping to pay. Can't wait since this is my first golf trip and have only played one round outside of the metro/LI area.

[Jack Jones]

Barefoot is the place to go.  More money but the best courses in Myrtle Beach are there.