Myrtle Beach Golf News & Updates

Welcome to Charlie's Corner, the blog home for Golf Channel analyst Charlie Rymer. A lifelong Myrtle Beach golfer, Rymer, with his charectaristic whit and unique perspective, will be weighing in on all things golf.

The domestic portion of the LPGA season is underway with the Kia Classic in Carlsbad, CA at the La Costa Resort having been played last week.  Golf Channel was there and I was pleased to be on board for the live coverage of the event.  I've been covering the

Tradition Club is a Myrtle Beach golf “sleeper.” Located on the South Strand, the layout doesn’t enjoy the high profile of some of its neighbors, but Tradition is an outstanding course, carved through the area’s native pine trees

One of Tradition’s greatest strengths is the variety of holes it offers.  With that in mind, we asked Clay DuBose, Tradition’s general manager, to tell us the course’s three best holes, and he obliged.

No. 7,

Tradition Club is Ron Garl’s only Myrtle Beach golf design, a 4.5-star course that leaves players smiling. What do you need to know about Tradition prior to your first swing?

Here are five things that will help you arrive at the course prepared to play well:

1. Green Room – Players don’t have to have to be Phil Mickelson with a wedge to hit a green at Tradition.  Getting it close might be a different story. The course’s greens, which average about

The Coastal Carolina University men's golf team posted the best final round and moved up three spots to finish as runner-up at the 2010 General Hackler Championship, March 15. Hosted by the Chanticleers, the two-day, 54-hole event was played at Coastal's home course, the TPC of Myrtle Beach (Par 72 – 6,950 yards) in Murrells Inlet, S.C.

Coastal shot a 3-over 291 in the final round and finished at 22-over 886, three shots behind champion East Tennessee State at 883, who shot 296 in

I just realized how incredibly spoiled I am when it comes to golf.

Last week I played my first ever round of golf with rental clubs.  My clubs were swiped from my car the day before a round so I had to go with the clubs the golf course had available.

The theft occurred in my own driveway (in Florida).

For most folks, and round of golf with rentals wouldn’t be a big deal, but keep in mind that I am not a normal size human being.  I am 6’4”

A drive through Barefoot Resort in the spring of 2010 reveals a golf community in full bloom. Home of the Love, Fazio, Norman and Dye courses, Barefoot is one of the most popular Myrtle Beach golf facilities for many reasons.

Three of the four layouts have been ranked among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest.

The resort is home to two of the area’s best clubhouses, including one dedicated exclusively to the Dye Club.
The amenities continue far

Barefoot Resort, home of the Dye, Fazio, Love and Norman Courses, is celebrating its 10th birthday this spring. The facility drew national acclaim upon its opening and has been at the forefront of the Myrtle Beach golf market ever since.

While you may have played all four courses, here are five things about Barefoot you need to know:

1. Barefoot Is One of the Nation’s Premier Multi-Course Facilities – Three of Barefoot’s four layouts – Love, Fazio and Dye –

Working for the Golf Channel really has been a dream come true.  I’ve been here for a year now and I have had some amazing days and none more fun than this past Thursday.  I sat down for an interview with Arnold Palmer for an entire hour.  I have had the chance on several occasions to speak with him but never for that amount of time.  The first thing you notice is that when he walks into the room the temperature goes up about ten degrees.  Even at eighty,

Bumstead’s Pub has a name everyone is familiar with and a menu few visiting golfers have sampled. Myrtle Beach is home to more than 1,500 restaurants and if the endorsement of locals counts for anything, Bumstead’s is worth checking out on your next golf trip. Named after the star of the long-running Blondie comic strip, Bumstead’s and its sister restaurant, Dagwood’s Deli (they share a building and a kitchen), hide in plain sight. Perched on the corner of Mr. Joe White

Welcome to Charlie’s Corner, the blog home for Golf Channel analyst Charlie Rymer. A lifelong Myrtle Beach golfer, Rymer, with his charectaristic whit and unique perspective, will be weighing in on all things golf. The days since Thanksgiving have been challenging for those of us that cover the world of golf for a living.  The Tiger Woods situation took all of us by surprise.  I remember walking in to Golf Channel for what was going to be a normal day of show tapings.  As soon as

Grande Dunes is the longest Myrtle Beach golf course, playing 7,618 yards from the tips, and it offers stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway, but that information is easy to come by. Here are five things you need to know before playing the Grand Strand’s only Roger Rulewich design.

Grande Dunes is ranked among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest, has five holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway, and two more that offer memorable views. The course, which opened in 2001, has emerged as one of the best on the Myrtle Beach golf scene for many reasons.

Identifying the three best holes is challenging because of the abundance of choices, but we put Grande Dunes’ senior director, Mike Buccerone, on the spot.
Which three holes are Grande Dunes’ best in Buccerone’s eyes?

Here are his choices:

No. 6, 365-yard, par 4 – If there is a surprise choice on Buccerone’s list, this is it. It’s a short par 4, playing 330 yards from the blue tees and 305 from the whites, but there is a bunker sitting right in the middle of the fairway. The smart play is a four or five iron, leaving a short approach into a green that is 45 yards deep.

According to the scorecard, No. 6 is Grande Dunes’ easiest hole, but as Buccerone can attest, that is often not the case.

“Every time I come  up (to the tee) all I want to do is take the driver and hit it over the bunker,” he said. “Eight out of 10 times I will, and seven out of 10 times I’ll hit it in the bunker … People like to make it difficult, including myself, that’s why I think it’s a fun hole. An easy par 4 can become a six really fast.”

No. 14, 216-yard, par 3 – The 14th is one of the area’s most memorable par 3s. Playing from an elevated tee, players must carry a lake to hit a green that runs at a 45-degree angle towards the water.

“It’s our signature hole,” Buccerone said. “The hole can bite you, especially if you’ve got a back right pin, because suddenly it slopes off and you are in somebody’s boat.”

You won’t forget the 14th hole.

No. 18, 442-yard, par 4 – A dogleg left, the 18th provides a fitting end to the round. The course’s clubhouse, a lake, Grande Dune’s private bridge and a hotel overlooking the Intracoastal come into view. It’s a dramatic last look at everything the course offers.

“I think coming in on No.  18 is a bit of a challenge,” said Barry Carroll, a Dayton, Ohio resident, echoing Buccerone’s sentiments. “(You) come on in with the clubhouse in the background. It’s just a very nice way to finish the day.”

What are your three favorite holes at Grande Dunes?

Golf Holiday is the ultimate source for information on Myrtle Beach golf.

Myrtle Beach golf courses have collected national honors like stamps in recent years and Willbrook Plantation has again joined the fun. Golf Digest ranked the South Strand layout No. 31 on its list of America’s Top 50 Courses For Women in the just released March issue of the magazine.

A panel of more than 100 female raters ranked daily fee and public courses on categories such as shot values and resistance to scoring, but just as importantly, on how female friendly a course is. Among

Crown Park prides itself on offering value and good conditions to golfers, but there is much more to know about this course. If you are planning a trip or looking to gain a small advantage on your playing partners, here are five things to know about Crown Park:

Tucked away on Route 9, Crown Park is one of Myrtle Beach golf’s most secluded layouts. There are no houses visible from the course and there aren’t many in the general vicinity. Privacy is part of the layout’s charm, creating a relaxed atmosphere that extends throughout the round.

Once play begins, Crown Park stands on merit, and we consulted with the facility’s Head Professional Gregg Funderburk, to determine the course’s three best holes…