New to the forum from SC

[ECUPirate]

I'm 28 years old and I've been playing golf for about 14 years now.  I just recently joined a country club (Golden Hills) in Lexington, SC and I'm going to join their MGA (Men's Golf Association).  My current handicap is around 5, but my weaknesses that I'm currently working on are chipping and putting.  I look forward to meeting some other golfers in SC and hopefully some that play at Golden HIlls.

[wolfpackguy]

Welcome...from lexington also...the North Carolina version actually.  Seems you are a Pirate from down east.

[ECUPirate]

Welcome...from lexington also...the North Carolina version actually.  Seems you are a Pirate from down east.

I am a Pirate.  I grew up in Wilson, NC and graduated from ECU in 2008, with a degree in Construction Management.  I moved to SC in January 2009, for work, and I've been here ever since.

[scorpion12]

Welcome. Hope you like it here.

Golden Hills... I think I played that once or twice when I used to work in downtown Columbia... but after looking at it in satellite imagery, I don't know that I actually have played it. Shame. Kind of looks like a nice course. How far off the fairways are the houses?

How much is a membership?

I've pretty much been doing all of my golfing in Sumter.

[ECUPirate]

Welcome. Hope you like it here.

Golden Hills... I think I played that once or twice when I used to work in downtown Columbia... but after looking at it in satellite imagery, I don't know that I actually have played it. Shame. Kind of looks like a nice course. How far off the fairways are the houses?

How much is a membership?

I've pretty much been doing all of my golfing in Sumter.

The course is pretty tight.  If I had to guess, I would say the houses are 100 yards from the fairway on some holes and farther on others. When I joined in July, they were running a special where the initiation fee was $495 and the monthly dues are $109.  The membership includes access to the pool, tennis courts, and clubhouse.  It's playing pretty tough right now with long roughs and hard greens.  Yesterday I hit a 7 iron, from 180 yards, that hit pin high, bounced 4 feet in the air, and rolled off of the green.  If you haven't played it, I would definitely recommend it.  They have a Men's Golf Association tournament this Saturday that I'm going to play in.

[Buzz1967]

I'm in Cayce a member at Hidden Valley high higher handicap than you and a little older. Play every weekend. I believe your handle is familiar. You on scducks ?

[ECUPirate]

I'm in Cayce a member at Hidden Valley high higher handicap than you and a little older. Play every weekend. I believe your handle is familiar. You on scducks ?

I am.  I take it you know Brad Frick then, since you are a member at Hidden Valley.  I work with a guy that's really good friends with Brad and I've played at Hidden Valley a few times.

[wolfpackguy]

I am a Pirate.  I grew up in Wilson, NC and graduated from ECU in 2008, with a degree in Construction Management.  I moved to SC in January 2009, for work, and I've been here ever since.

We are rivals then...NC State class of '99.

[scorpion12]

7 iron 180 yards? Man, I wish I could do that. I'm lucky if my 7 iron goes 140 yards.

Monthly dues would kill me... actually my wife would kill me if I said I joined a country club at the moment. I'm lucky that she lets me play golf once per week after work.

Can you tell me about Hidden Valley? I see that it's just down the road from me... a lot closer than I thought a course would have been located... how much are the greens fees, do they allow walking or prefer riders? Is the course too difficult for a high handicapper like me? (Usually shoot around 51-59 for 9 holes)

Would you recommend the player's pass over a membership? I'd like to play and their Leftie's special on the 13th intrigues me but I've got to work.

[Buzz1967]

7 iron 180 yards? Man, I wish I could do that. I'm lucky if my 7 iron goes 140 yards. Monthly dues would kill me... actually my wife would kill me if I said I joined a country club at the moment. I'm lucky that she lets me play golf once per week after work. Can you tell me about Hidden Valley? I see that it's just down the road from me... a lot closer than I thought a course would have been located... how much are the greens fees, do they allow walking or prefer riders? Is the course too difficult for a high handicapper like me? (Usually shoot around 51-59 for 9 holes) Would you recommend the player's pass over a membership? I'd like to play and their Leftie's special on the 13th intrigues me but I've got to work.

The course is tough but I like the layout. As far as a regular member vs the players pass? I think the player pass is a better deal unless you are going to play a lot and hit balls a lot at the range. That said I just play out there at least once a weekend and after work one afternoon during the cooler months.

[scorpion12]

Hmm... I'm kind of intrigued by the course now. I think I might have to skip playing after work for a couple of weeks to play Hidden Valley one weekend... unless I can talk my wife into letting me play.

I don't think I'd be purchasing a player pass or anything right now... and I'm able to play when I do because it's cheap and I only play 9 holes after work one timer per week... wish it could be more but it's not in the cards for me right now.

[ECUPirate]

We are rivals then...NC State class of '99.

Nice.  My sister just graduated from State this May.

[nick1998bunker]

I'm in mount pleasant

[Aguirre]

I'm in mount pleasant

My friends used to live in Mt. Pleasant.  I visited often.  I generally don't like the southern cities.  Too much sprawl, too many strip malls, too many chain restaurants.  But man, Charleston is incredible.  My favorite city.  You're close enough and Mt. Pleasant is nice enough that I hope you appreciate what you have, all things considered.  If I could, I'd pack up my career, friends and family, and move them all to Charleston, Mt. Pleasant if they insisted.

Despite all my trips there, I've never actually played a round of golf.  How does it compare to Myrtle Beach (where I'm at constantly)?  Is the golf value (quality/prices) similar?

[nick1998bunker]

My friends used to live in Mt. Pleasant.  I visited often.  I generally don't like the southern cities.  Too much sprawl, too many strip malls, too many chain restaurants.  But man, Charleston is incredible.  My favorite city.  You're close enough and Mt. Pleasant is nice enough that I hope you appreciate what you have, all things considered.  If I could, I'd pack up my career, friends and family, and move them all to Charleston, Mt. Pleasant if they insisted. Despite all my trips there, I've never actually played a round of golf.  How does it compare to Myrtle Beach (where I'm at constantly)?  Is the golf value (quality/prices) similar?

Not really sure how it compares as I have only really played caledonia and A few others in myrtle, in north mount pleasant where I live we have 2 courses in the 50-80 dollar range (dunes west and charelston national) and my course, rivertowne, which is in the 60-100 range. Then there is snee farm which is private and not that nice, and bulls bay which is 50000+ and nice. But a short drive away you have a lot of courses in the 30-60 range.