Spirit Airlines have just announced fantastic news for all Dallas golf enthusiasts ready for a golf trip to Myrtle Beach.

As of May 3rd, they will be scheduling flights from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Myrtle Beach, SC  three days a week in a move that is a big boost for Dallas and its golfing residents. Dallas airport are pleased with the move, saying low cost airlines like Spirit Airlines should help increase their passenger numbers and this positivity is mirrored by Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. He also spoke of the benefit this would bring to the resort in terms of marketing, an advantage also expressed by Brad Dean, President and CEO of Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce who views the move as a chance to show Myrtle Beach is an affordable, accessible choice for golfers.

The addition of this direct flight to Myrtle Beach from Dallas, TX will boost the local economy, as well as stimulate further growth of the Myrtle Beach International Airport. As of the start date, passengers can fly to Myrtle Beach every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday in approximately two to two and a half hours via non-stop flights. Currently this is advertised as being from 3:50pm to 7:30pm on the outbound journey and 8:10 to 10:15 for the return. Not only is this new service convenient, it is cheap too. The airlines are providing a introductory rate of just $28.79 for a one way ticket.

These added departures and promised low costs mean that there has been no better time than now for all golfers in Dallas to book a trip with Spirit Airlines, and no easier way to come and enjoy another wonderful Myrtle Beach golf trip.

We’ve just been passed a new discount for the TPC of Myrtle Beach golf course and I want to pass it along to my golfers out there! It’s actually a pretty sweet golf deal for Spring 2012 golf rounds and applies to golf in PEAK seasons. The discounted Myrtle Beach golf only tee times on the rate table to the right are per golfer and includes carts, taxes and fees. (The price you see on there is the price you pay per golfer, we don’t tack on any hidden fees.)

The special has two rate periods. The first saves golfers up $17 per golfer on AM rounds from 3/8/12 to 3/21/12 and the second saves golfers up to $30 per golfer on AM rounds from 3/22/2012 to 5/20/2012.

For more information and pictures of the TPC of Myrtle Beach, visit our TPC of Myrtle Beach Page.

Want to book?  Give us a call 800-624-6418 or shoot us an email! Simple as that.

 About TPC of Myrtle Beach Golf Course

Nestled in a beautiful setting near the small community of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, the 18-hole course is the only Grand Strand golf course to be rated as a 5-star course by Golf Digest.

With a unique design planned and executed by the well-known Thomas Fazio intended to convey the feeling of playing on a tour-caliber golf course, TPC is almost 7,000 yards long with a par of 72. Featuring a slope rating of 145, and an overall rating of 74, the sumptuous course opened to golfers in 1999.

Stylistically, the design incorporates typical Southern environmental features like wetland areas and flora such as cat-tail and huge pine trees. Any golfer will enjoy the experience of the TPC of Myrtle Beach course with its exceptionally gorgeous and groomed fairways and greens, all set in the warmly hospitable Southern surroundings that only the Carolinas can offer.

Ole MBGolfPro Hitten' em Straight on TPC golf course

I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season to end the 2011 year. Now that we are in a new year, the Myrtle Beach Golf Spring 2012 season is just right around the corner.  With the Spring 2012 golf season comes great golf packages, great golf weather, and great courses to play. While picking your golf courses for your next golf trip. I hope that everyone will take a look at our Top Golf Course Rankings. Like always, voted BY the golfers themselves.

As I predicted at in the Top Golf Rankings November blog, the spring times are filling up fast.  I guess my readers took the advice on “Do Not Sand Bag” your golf trip! Now, on to our December 2011 rankings.

1. TPC of Myrtle Beach – The New #1, the only Myrtle Beach Golf Course with a 5-star ranking from Golf Digest

2. True Blue – Moved to #2 after golfers loved the fall golf season conditions on this Mike Stranz design,

3. Willbrook – debuted in our Top 10 in June 2011, Has not looked back. One of the most MBN courses

4. Caledonia – One of five golf courses that have been voted Top 10 every month. Excellent Golf Course

5. Bald Head Island – Tied with the Dunes Club for Most #1`s in 2011

6.  Thistle – Golfers love the immaculate putting surfaces and conditions at this 27-hole Tim Cate design,

7. Barefoot – Fazio – The Champion Ultra Dwarf has been a big upgrade. Fall Golfers voted and agree.

8. Barefoot – Dye – Hosting “Mike and Mike” from ESPN Radio and the “Monday After the Masters”.

9. Kings North  - Voted into the Top 10 in November. Great course for golfers of all levels. Another most requested course on our MBN packages.

10. Dunes Club – Tied with Bald Head Island for the most #1 votes in 2011.

There you have it the Top Myrtle Beach Golf Course Rankings December 2011. Dont forget that Spring 2012 tee times are going fast.

As Always, Fairways and Greens

@mbgolfpro

Greg Norman likes his waste bunkers! Watch out for this one on hole 7.

The Barefoot Norman Course in North Myrtle Beach underwent a nice renovation this past summer. The greens were switched from Bent grass greens to Champions Ultra Dwarf Bermuda.  With the weather in the high 60`s a week before Christmas (yes, I’m rubbing that in), I had to get out and play to see the work that was done and give it an ole’ MBGolfPro (that’s me) golf course review.

I took the student with me and gave him a rematch in our “Teacher vs Student” golf match. (See the results below.) The Par 72 Norman Course has 5-sets of tees and will challenge any player of any level.  The course measures at just under 5,000 yards from the forward tees and just over 7,000 from the championship tees.

Barefoot Norman – The Front 9

Keeping his own playing philosophy in his design (Greg Norman of course, World Golf Hall of Famer), the “Bump and Run”, he gives  you a chance to make the up and down, on nearly ever hole, even with a green miss. Barefoot Norman course features huge green complexes. The average green size is 6,300 square feet and includes only 60 acres of mow-able grass! Waste bunkers and native grasses line nearly every hole.

Let me explain the “Bump and Run” real quick.  Norman’s  philosophy is to get the ball rolling on the ground without getting it airborne when you are close to the green.  The higher you chip, the likely it is you will lose control or stray “off course,” no pun intended. This of course, is only applicable if you don’t have anything between you and the green.

Hole #9

Finishing out the front is the tough par-5, the 9th hole that can make or break your front nine score.  The 9th hole is lined with bunkers down the left side. To make matters a bit more difficult, wetlands extend the entire length of the hole on the right side of the fairway and cross about 50 yards in front of the green.  If you can avoid the bunkers or wetlands, it gives you a perfect opportunity to lay up around the 100 yard marker. This leaves your third shot into a green that slopes severely right to left.  Making par on the 9th-hole will win you the front nine 60% of the time.

Barefoot Norman – The Back 9

As you approach the 10th tee, you get your first glimpse of the IntraCoastal Waterway. The Barefoot Norman course is the only one of the four courses at Barefoot Resort & Golf that has Waterway views. Not only does this hole have Waterway views, but six of the eight holes after it as well. The par 3, 10th hole is guarded with the waste bunkers and the waterway on the right side. There is a bailout to the left of the green (not visable from the tee, this is where the GPS on the carts comes in) that goes back into the Greg Norman “Bump and Run” philosophy if the green is missed.

Hole #10

Overall the course is one of the more underrated courses on the strand. With the new greens, Barefoot Norman will climb up every ranking category and should be on everyone`s playlist.

Oh, and back to the Teacher vs Student….

The teacher closed out the Student 5 and 3 with a two putt birdie on the Par 5, 15th hole.

FUN FACT:  Greg Norman not only designed this COURSE, but he designed the GRASS for the tees and fairways as well, a hybrid called GN-1, made by Norman’s own turf company.

FUN FACT #2: Not only is this course unique because it’s the only course in Myrtle Beach with the architect’s own grass, but Norman ALSO has his own restaurant here, just across the Waterway from Barefoot Resort. (And hey, we’ve got coupons!)

As always, ”Fairways and Greens” -@MBGOLFPRO

Nick Price

The designer of the private Grande Dunes Members Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina made his 11th career Hole-in-One in the first round of the Franklin Templeton Shootout in Naples, Florida on December 9th. World Golf Hall of Fame Member, Nick Price holed out on the 213 yard Par 3, 12th Hole. Price made the shot with a 4-iron and was his first since 1997.

The Grande Dunes Members Club is a Par 71 Championship design featuring a 27,000 sq ft Italian designed clubhouse, with wide fairways & L-93 bent grass greens.  The Members Club at Grande Dunes measures from 5000 yards on the forward tees to over 7000 yards on the Championship tees.

Ranked #4, True Blue located in Pawley's Island

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends, I certainly know I did.  The weather here in Myrtle Beach has been absolutely amazing. We have had days in the low 70`s which is a little warmer than we are used to at this time of the year. The bad thing about the great weather this late into the Fall 2011 Golf Season is that it may cause the “real” winter to stick around longer taking up some time in February.

Overall, we have been receiving great reports about golf course conditions for the fall. We should see this trend continue in the spring as well. (Hint hint) Tee-times are starting to fill up for the spring 2012, so you better start booking soon! Do not sand-bag on your golf trip!

With that said, let’s get to our Top Myrtle Beach Golf Course rankings for November 2011.

1. Bald Head Island - #1 for the third consecutive month. The renovation paid off!

2. TPC of Myrtle Beach - Tom Fazio and Lanny Wadkins design. (Now part of our South End Elite golf package.)

3. Barefoot – Dye Club – Home of the “Monday after Masters” Celebrity Golf Event.

4. True Blue – Has moved past its sister course Caledonia in the rankings.

5. Willbrook - Voted Top 50 courses for Woman by Golf Digest. Moved up three spots from last month.

6. Caledonia - Dropped four spots from the #2 ranking.

7. Thistle – Designed by Tim Cate, who also did the RE-design for our #1 ranked course, Bald Head Island

8. Dunes Club - Still @mbgolfpro favorite on the Strand.

9. Barefoot – Fazio - Course was almost destroyed by a wildfire in 2009. With the New Greens, nothing can stop it now.

10. King`s North – Home of three of the most famous holes in Myrtle Beach. The Gambler, The Island Green and the Bullseye.

Make sure to vote for your favorite golf course on our rankings page.

As always, “Fairways and Greens”,

@mbgolfpro

Open fairways and Dye's famous pot-bunkers characterize this course.

We always do our best to respond to inquiries about golf course conditions from either myself or from the golf pro themselves. There was a comment left by a blogger on our Dye Club Golf page. That comment was responded to by the Dye Club Head Golf Professional.  So, I personally wanted to check out the course and see the condition of the greens for myself!

With that said, I got a chance to play with our assistant golf director in our normal, “‘Teacher vs Student” match on the front 9-nine holes of the Pete Dye Club at Barefoot.

This course is one of the hardest courses on the Grand Strand. With GPS on the carts, you must pay attention to the layout of the course. Over one of the famous Pete Dye Hills could be one of the famous Pete Dye pot bunkers.  The course has open fairways, but that is to notice from the tee box. The course also has a mixture of green sizes from the #1 handicap hole Par 4, 7th hole that is 49-yards long from front to back or like the Par 3, 15th hole that is 35-yards wide.

Tees, fairways and bunkers were great. Greens were spotty, but rolled great! With our cooler weather coming, the Dye Club will be in Prime Condition for the Spring 2012 golf season with Bent grass greens.

As for the Teacher vs the Student match? The Teacher closed out the Student 2-1.

Currently the Dye Club is ranked #3 on our Top 10 Myrtle Beach Golf Courses and Our Featured Golf Course of the week.

“As always, Fairways and Greens…” – @mbgolfpro

Golf Week has released their annual “2012 Best Resort Golf Courses” with two Myrtle Beach golf courses making the list. The rankings were compiled from 600 people that voted on 10 different aspects.

Personally, I don’t agree on the criteria that Golf Week used to rate the courses. Some of criteria included overall land plan, quality of shaping, and the “Walk in the Park Test”.

As a golfer, I’m more interested in more basic criteria, such as:

• Course/Greens condition
• Layout
• Views
• Difficulty

With all personal opinions about the criteria used aside, I completely agree that Caledonia Golf & Fish Club & The Dunes Golf & Beach Club deserve their spots on the list.

Coming in at #21 on the list is Caledonia Golf & Fish Club. Designed by one of my all-time favorite architects Mike Stranz, Caledonia was designed on one of the largest rice plantations in the State of South Carolina, dating back to the 18th Century. It comes to no surprise that Caledonia has also been ranked as one of  the top 10 golf courses in Myrtle Beach by the vistors of our very own website.

The second course that made the list is my personal favorite golf course in Myrtle Beach. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club was ranked #26. The Dunes is rich in history with golf championships, hosting the 1962 Womans US Open and the Senior Tour Championship from 1994 to 1996. The Dunes Club was originally built as a recreational facility for citizens of New Town, SC (currently know as Myrtle Beach) and the employees of Conway Lumber Company.

It’s great to see excellent courses in the Myrtle Beach area get the recognition they deserve. Hopefully next year, Golf Week will add a few other courses from the Grand Strand in the mix.

You can view the official results of Golf Week’s top picks here.

How does playing 11 rounds of golf in 11 hours sound to you? That’s exactly what Mark Chapman intends on doing on Veteran’s Day – November 11th, 2011.

The man behind the Myrtle Beach golf marathon is Mr. Chapman, a 42 year-old student at The Golf Academy of America – Myrtle Beach.

Mark is no stranger to a challenge, being a 21-year veteran of the Air Force and has also served in operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unsurprisingly, his efforts are all for a good cause: raising money to benefit the Salute Military Golf Association and the Wounded Warrior Project. Mark’s journey will take place at Waterway Hills Golf Club in Myrtle Beach. Beginning at 6:43 a.m, he will attempt to complete 11 rounds of golf by 5:16 p.m. That’s an astonishing 198 holes at a mind-blowing pace of 58 minutes per round!

Waterway Hills Golf Club is a  27-hole golf course in Myrtle Beach, designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, and boasts 3 separate 9-hole layouts: Oaks, Lakes and the Ravine.

However, Chapman intends on playing all 11 rounds on the Oaks Nine course. He’ll have to play it a whopping 22 times to accomplish his goal.

TPC of Myrtle beach is our #3 for Oct. 2011.

We hope that everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween. Although I saw my far share of scary costumes last night, there is nothing scarier than a 3 foot putt that breaks left and right for all the skins. With that said, we move on to November which happens to be @mbgolfpro’s favorite fall golf month in Myrtle Beach.  Maybe its because im a fan of the contoured over-seeding, or maybe the fact that the golf courses should be in the best conditions or maybe its the great Myrtle Beach golf weather.

Moving on with the Top Ten Myrtle Beach Golf Courses for October 2011. Again these top ten courses are voted by visitors to the NorthMyrtleBeachGolf.com website. We have a newcommer to the rankings that happens to be one of my favorite courses! Let’s get started.

1. Bald Head Island – Remains #1 for the second consecutive month.

2. Caledonia – Remains #2 for the second consecutive month. Great views of the marsh lands on the finishing hole.

3. TPC of Myrtle Beach – Former host of the Senior Tour Championship

4. Dunes Club – One of the only courses on the Grand Strand that has an Ocean View.

5. Barefoot – Dye Club – Home to the Monday after the Masters, this course is a BEAST!

6. Thistle – Known for conditions, the 27-hole Tim Cate design arguably has the best greens on the beach day in and day out.

7. True Blue – Sister course of #2 Caledonia, should be the brother course because it is tuff.

8. Willbrook – Historic plantation course, Maples hit the jackpot with this design.

9. Pawley`s Plantation – One of the only courses in Myrtle Beach with a double green. Great views of the marshlands.

10. Reserve Club at St. James Plantation – Welcome to the Top 10. @mbgolfpro favorite course at St. James Plantation. This is a great Nicklaus design, one of three on the Grand Strand.

Don’t forget to rank your favorite golf courses as well! We need your input!

That is your Top Ten Myrtle Beach Golf Courses for the month of October 2011. Follow me on twitter @mbgolfpro

As always, FAIRWAYS AND GREENS.