A
Text: Andrew Marshall
Photos: Andrew Marshall
(and where indicated)
This is the scene. It’s a hot and humid
June afternoon at Myrtle Beach airport
in South Carolina, and after loading
my golf clubs and luggage into the back
of my hire car, I drive south on Hwy 17,
along the 60-mile stretch of coastline
known as the Grand Strand.
Situated at the northern end, is the Vegas-like atmosphere of Myrtle Beach
itself with its sizzling nightlife, shopping malls the size of small towns
and endless giant billboards advertising seafood buffets, live shows and
theatre. Located only a dozen or so miles further south, but feeling like a
world away are the tranquil enclaves of Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island and
Georgetown that still retain their 19th-century rhythms.
One common denominator is that there are around 100 championship
golf courses located in the Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand region. Greg
Norman, Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Pete Dye are
just a handful of big name designers who have laid out stunning tracks some face the beautiful Atlantic Ocean while others line the picturesque
Intracoastal Waterway. Throw in several courses that are listed as ‘America’s
Top 100 Courses To Play’, Golf Magazine’s ‘No.1 Value Golf Destination’ and
‘No.1 Buddy Golf Destination’, plus a great climate, excellent seafood and
a plethora of outdoor activities, and its little wonder that Myrtle Beach is
billed as ‘The Golf Capital of the World’.
My home-away-from-home to play a quartet of top-notch courses is the
Inlet Sports Lodge, located in the laid-back fishing village of Murrells Inlet,
about 17 miles south of Myrtle Beach. This comfortable and convenient
base offers golfers a unique blend of Lowcountry luxury and sophistication
mixed with rustic Southern charm. Well-appointed resort suites and studios
boast pine wood floors, mini-kitchens with full-sized refrigerators and
pressured body jets showers. It’s been a long day of travel since my 6.am
flight from Manchester to Atlanta with a connection to Myrtle Beach, and
after a cold beer and a bite to eat, I drift into a deep sleep under the gently
whirring ceiling fan in my room.
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
It’s 7.30am the following morning at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club right
in the heart of Myrtle Beach. A row of golf carts are lined up near the
clubhouse as friendly staff organise groups of golfers and their clubs. Some
players hone their putting skills on the practice green while others loosen
up on the nearby range - there’s a palpable buzz in the air. Opened in 1948
and designed by legendary golf architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. this is one
of the oldest and best courses in the area, and showcases Trent Jones’s
signature elevated greens complexes and deep bunkering among gently
rolling hills.
Volume 3 • Issue 28
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