“Breaking Par with Charlie Rymer” Episode 23: Grande Dunes Resort Course

Charlie’s back in the heart of The Beach, and taking on one of the Grand Strand’s premier designs. It’s “The Big Timer” vs. the par-5 13th at Grande Dunes Resort Course: who has the edge in this matchup? Tune in to find out!

Cancer knocked me down, but not out. Now, I’m cancer free. The recovery? It’s been tough. I’ll need patience, a lot of humor …

(Somebody clapped. I heard him!)

… And support from friends and family. Over the last two years, I haven’t played much golf, but there’s no better place to get back in the game than on 66 courses in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We’re keeping score, but just teeing it up means I’ve already won!

(That’s why they call me “The BIIIIIIIIIIG TIMER!”)

Join me on my journey to break par!

Par fives are usually great birdie opportunities, but it’s hard to argue with a par on this one. The 13th really demands a well-placed tee shot to manage the forced carry on the second. Then, it’s an uphill shot from there with an elevated green guarded by that big, front left bunker. Let’s see if we can conquer this one with a solid birdie!

Today, we are smack dab in the middle of Myrtle Beach. This is the Grande Dunes Resort Course, and it is centrally located. This golf course has been ranked among the top 100 public golf courses in the entire country. And let me tell you what, after some recent renovations to the golf course and upgrades to the clubhouse, this is a premier facility. This is the 13th hole. That’s a par 5 playing sort of straight away. It’s got some width to it. This hole is gettable, and I’m feeling it today. I got it covered. I got it covered like a rat on a Cheeto.

Yes, that’s fine. Who doesn’t like Cheetos? I’ll tell you what I’ve learned, though. Flaming hot Cheetos, they’re really good. But don’t pick your nose after you’ve been eating them. Mm-mm, no, sir. That ain’t no good at all.

This is my first hole of the day, and I didn’t do so good with it. It takes me a little while to warm up. Well, that one’s going to be a little out of range. I got to carry some water here. I’m going to go with the old trusty five wood. A lot of people like that hybrid, I got to tell you. I wouldn’t kill a snake with a hybrid. Giddy up, baby. Oh, yeah, we’re cooking with grease now. See hybrids? They go high and left, and they bounce off of houses. That’s not good for your handicap. All right, let’s get after it, boys.

I actually had one of the first hybrids I ever saw. It was a company from Japan called PRGR. That thing looked like a big peanut on the end of a stick. And I did this thing down in South Florida, I was playing golf with Greg Norman. And I hit it a few times, and he’s like, “Charlie, what is it? What is that?” “It’s a peanut on a stick.” And I said, “Greg, it’s a new kind of club. It’s going to kill it.” And he said, “Let me hit it a few times.” So he grabbed it. This is Greg Norman. We’re talking about “The Shark.” And he hit it a few times. “This is the worst club I’ve ever seen in my life. Nobody’s ever going to buy a club like this.” He’s like, “What do they call it?” And I said, “A hybrid.” He goes, “That’ll never work.” Shark, you’re wrong. I think they sold a few of those.

We got a little work to do. We got a little dirt on that golf ball. None of it bothers me, though. Be right, baby. Maybe some of that bothered me a little bit. See? I had a little dirt, water, supposed to fill up the grooves, take the spin off, go farther. It just didn’t. I really don’t know what’s in a Cheeto. I mean, a cheese puff, which is what my drive was like there. Used to hit a driver, and it would crack. Now, it sounds like a cheese puff. The cheese puffs are like air. Oh, what’s the rest of it? I think cheese puffs are fried, and Cheetos are baked. That’s why I go with the Cheetos because they’re baked. I’m a baked kind of guy.

Y’all check this out. It’s a sort of a magical time of day if you got those cameras on. I love it when the dew’s out. I thought I hit my wedge pretty good there. See if we can get lucky. Let’s see if we can get lucky. Oh, that felt good for a long ways right there. That’s an ugly par right there. But pars aren’t ever bad. Not bad at all, actually.

Now, we’re off to the next stop headed just around the corner for a trip around the world!

Miss an Episode? Just Click the Links Below to Catch Up!

Episode 22: Crow Creek

Episode 21: Meadowlands

Episode 20: The Wizard

Episode 19: Man O’ War

Episode 18: Colonial Charters

Episode 17: Barefoot-Norman

Episode 16: Barefoot-Love

Episode 15: Barefoot-Fazio

Episode 14: Arcadian Shores

Episode 13: Blackmoor

Episode 12: Wachesaw Plantation East

Episode 11: Willbrook

Episode 10: Tradition Club

Episode 9: TPC Myrtle Beach

Episode 8: River Club

Episode 7: Litchfield Country Club

Episode 6: Caledonia

Episode 5: True Blue

Episode 4: Pawleys Plantation

Episode 3: Founders Club at Pawleys Island

Episode 2: Heritage Club

Episode 1: Wedgefield Country Club

Series Trailer