Everybody needs a Golfmaster Bob.
Just returned from Myrtle Beach, S.C. And as I've come to learn since moving to the Mid-Ohio Valley several years ago, that must mean one of either two things. Golf or the ocean. And thanks to Golfmaster Bob via Golf Trek, the last five days involved both.
Golfmaster Bob took the stress out of planning a vacation package. Just informed him of the ability of the golfers involved with the trip, and he handled the rest of the itinerary. With the multitude of courses the Myrtle Beach area has to offer, that was a huge relief.
Once we arrived to our destination, the rest of was up to myself, a.k.a. group leader as designated by the vacation packet. My wife, along with my mom and dad, made sure that title didn't go to my head.
Of course, group leaders can take grief if the weather doesn't cooperate for three consecutive days of golf. As the skies darkened for our opening round at Diamond Back Golf Course, I was beginning to think it was an "Apples to Apples" kind of day.
Fortunately, rain only fell at the beach and not in Loris, S.C., located 35 minutes from our hotel. As we received our instructions from the starter , we weren't in the clear just yet. He mentioned the word "snakes." I guess the name of the course was a dead giveaway.
For the most part, our foursome kept the ball out of danger. Any ball inadvertently hit into the woods (my interpretation for a bad shot) was considered a donation.
As luck would have it, the only snake we saw was of the stuffed variety in the clubhouse.
Day 2 sent us just across the state border into Calabash, N.C. Brunswick Plantation and Golf Resort is the alter-ego of Diamond Back with its residential setting. Plenty of housing developments were situated around the three nine-hole courses of Azalea, Dogwood and Magnolia.
No snakes, but plenty of turtles.
On Day 3, headed back on Highway 9 toward Loris. At Longs, S.C., played final round at Crown Park Golf Club.
The gentleman who registered us at front desk explained that peak times for golf in the Myrtle Beach area were March and April, and again In September and October. And it showed, since we were one of the few groups at the facility.
We had the course to ourselves, but still felt like Big Brother was watching after our starter told us about how the GPS system on the carts relayed information back to the clubhouse. They knew our exact location and our pace of play.
Actually played ahead of pace, and had 8 minutes to spare. Wonder if we could have applied that extra time to another hole.
All in all, a good experience. Even made it to the beach, then found out later that evening four individuals were treated at the hospital for bites. No one could confirm if they were shark bites, but they occurred just north along the coastline from where we had stepped into the ocean.
Have to check with Golfmaster Bob. That wasn't included as part of our package.
Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com
