Golf Group of the Week: J.J. Elliott Memorial Golf Tournament

Participants in the 59-man J.J. Elliott Memorial Golf Tournament filled the deck at World Tour, heckling their friends as they played the final shots of a 126-hole golf outing on a sun-drenched afternoon in Myrtle Beach.

Who was winning and losing wasn’t as important as the experience for one of the more unique Myrtle Beach golf groups. The group, which started as a handful Washington, D.C. policemen 32 years ago, has grown to include members of the military, FBI, CIA and their friends.

When the J.J. Elliott group (named for a founding member who was killed) arrives in town, they set aside their badges and focus on a good time. Guys from 10 states participate in the tournament, which features three rounds of qualifying and four rounds of tournament play.

According to Greg Nelson, who organizes the motley bunch, average scores range from 75 to 135, hence the need for flights.

After qualifying, players are split into eight-man flights and the fight for victory commences. The top three finishers in each flight get a trophy, so nearly half the field goes home with a prize (including the not-so-coveted hardware given to the player with the worst score!).

Just as Nelson runs the golf tournament with efficiency – a laptop accompanies the group to the course and flight scores and skins are posted each night in the hospitality room at Compass Cove – they are equally savvy off the course.

Following the three qualifying rounds, they take a day off and a band that plays at a bar owned by a group member from Maryland comes down and plays at Compass Cove, food is catered, and a night of revelry ensues.

The average age is approximately 50 but players as young as 25 and as old as 82 participate. When a group member passes away (unfortunately, there were four last year), everyone goes to the beach and hits a ball into the Atlantic to honor their memory.

While people come from as far away as Texas, the lure of Myrtle Beach has proven to strong for some players over the years. Ten players in this year’s tournament have actually retired to the area, but many of them opt to stay in a hotel room with the guys to maximize the J.J. Elliott Tournament experience. 

To get a little better feel for the group, we talked to one of its biggest characters, Dan Loomis, who has won his flight on several occasions.

Name: Dan Loomis

Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.

Handicap: 6

Favorite Club: Driver

Favorite Myrtle Beach Golf Course: World Tour

How did you become part of this group?
I was a police officer in Rochester and one of my sergeant’s uncles was an original member of this tournament. I loved to golf, but I wasn’t good at the time. They said it didn’t matter. This is my 9th year.

What brings you back to the event?
Weather. (I live in) way upstate New York by Lake Ontario and if I’ve played twice by this time of year, that’s a good thing … We come here – I bring 11 guys with me from New York – it’s beautiful weather, the courses are great, and it’s a great bunch of guys.

Which courses are you playing this year?
Indigo Creek, Indian Wells, Crow Creek, Rivers Edge, Shaftesbury Glen, Dunes Club, World Tour

What is your favorite Myrtle Beach area restaurant?
Angelos – prime rib.

What would you tell someone considering a Myrtle Beach golf trip?
I’d tell them to enjoy the golf, enjoy the food, and try to squeeze in a couple of cocktails from the beer cart girls. Don’t worry too much about the golf, remember you are on vacation

To submit your group for consideration as the Golf Group of the Week, email us.

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