Kudos To Devon As He Heads Off To School!!

Devon Lodge on Point for Walnut Hill School

By RACHEL NAVA ROHR

His father is a ferry boat captain. His mother is a store manager.
His brothers play ice hockey at the regional high school and race
sailboats. But 14-year-old Oak Bluffs native Devon Lodge has spent the
past 10 years of his young life doing something decidedly different.

He dances ballet.

And as hundreds of Islanders and visitors saw for themselves at the
recent Built on Stilts Dance festival where he performed more than once
during the eight-day event - he's really good.

This week, the 2007 Oak Bluffs School graduate took the next step
toward a professional career as a ballet dancer - he moved off
Island, into a dormitory at Walnut Hill, the internationally renowned
high school for the arts in Natick.

Ballet will no longer be an after-school activity that takes up all
of Devon's free time and separates him from most of his peers. It
will be an in-school activity that takes up all of his free time and
introduces him to teenagers with the same interests.

"I started dancing [ballet] at four because whenever my mother
put music on, I started dancing," he recalled, sitting on his
front porch early this week the day before leaving the Vineyard,
freckled and wet-headed after a day at the beach. "I just remember
how all of the kids would cry. It was kind of like a day thing for them.
Their parents kind of pushed them into it."

Devon loved ballet from the start.

He studied with the Sargent School of Ballet for four years and the
Vineyard School of Ballet for two years, before becoming a student of
Lori Cunningham and Martha's Vineyard Dance Theatre.

"It was getting harder, but I still climbed to the top easily.
I needed a bigger challenge. Lori Cunningham gave me that challenge
- and still does," he said. "She really cracked down
and was very strict and it helped a lot."

That discipline helped him join Walnut Hill's intensive
six-week summer programs in ballet, which he attended this summer and
last. The summer program solidified his decision to move off-Island for
his high school years.

"You kind of progress by the people around you and when no one
around you wants to progress, you don't have the heart to keep
doing it," he said, adding:

"For awhile, I didn't want to go away. I was really
scared about it. But after the intensives, I decided going off-Island
was the best choice."

He is open about the fact that being a male ballet dancer has not
always been easy.

"In fifth grade, everyone was picking on me and stuff because
that's when everyone gets into groups. I wanted to stop [dancing],
but my mother encouraged me to keep doing it. She always thought that
one day I'd be famous, so she gave me the heart to do it."

After getting through that year, he loved dancing even more.

"All of the kids stopped making fun of me and I started to get
over the fact that they were. I stopped caring what they thought,"
he said. "All of my friends really support me and come to all my
shows. Anyone who thinks bad of me, that's their problem."

Of course, his older brothers Tristan, 17, and Conor, 16, still make
fun of him a bit. "But they're my older brothers. It's
kind of their job," he said good naturedly. His father, James A.
Lodge, former captain of the ferry Islander and current captain of the
Martha's Vineyard, is also supportive - even if he
doesn't exactly like ballet itself.

His maternal grandmother, Irene Monaco, was always enthusiastic
about his dancing. She died recently, and Devon dedicated his solo dance
at Built on Stilts to her.

"Everyone said I got all of my performing from her," he
said. "Whenever we were together, we'd just sing and
dance."

Dancing gave Devon Lodge a feeling and an escape he could not find
elsewhere.

"That was the only time I really expressed myself. If there
was anything going on, I would dance," he said. "It's
a time when you can forget about it. It's like going into a whole
different world."

He also learned early on that being a male ballet dancer has its
advantages. While hoards of girls (and their mothers) compete -
sometimes viciously - to stand out and move forward as ballerinas,
boys are few and far between in the dance world, especially in the
ballet world. In Devon's intensive ballet program this summer,
there were nine boys and 62 girls.

"Everyone's looking for boys. With the girls, it's
so competitive - a lot of the girls quit really early," he
said. "For guys, it's a lot more laid back and you
automatically get into everywhere."

Unless they become overconfident, he quickly cautioned.

"You can't let your ego get a hold of you," he
said, noting that some boys will skip stretching. "My roommate got
really hurt this summer. He got a stress fracture."

He sometimes wonders what his life would be like if his mother,
Karen Lodge, a manager of LeRoux at Home, had not signed him up for
ballet classes when he was four. Most of the other activities he enjoys
- sailing, writing, hanging out with friends - went on the
back burner as he dedicated more and more time to ballet.

"I don't like to think of it this way, but you kind of
threw away your whole childhood for it, so by sixth grade, I thought,
well I can't quit now," he said.

But he's happy with the sacrifices he has made to stick with
dance.

"I think it's better to strive for something than try to
be popular," he said.

There won't be much time for other activities at Walnut Hill.
After taking two academic classes every morning, dance classes begin at
2 p.m. and run until around 9 p.m., with a dinner break in between.
He'll see his family once a month. But the sprawling campus is
scenic and tranquil, and time not spent dancing will be relaxing and
social, he said.

It's all aimed toward a career in ballet.

"I'm going to see where I am as a senior or a junior and
see if I'm good enough to get into a nice dance company," he
said thoughtfully. American Ballet Theatre and the San Francisco Ballet
are his top two choices. "Boston is good, but I'd like to
reach for the bigger ones so I have something to fall back on
later."

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More great recipes!

Chipotle Lime Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Recipe

When I put the call out a few weeks ago for July 4th grilling suggestions,
Simply Recipes reader Chuck mentioned bacon-wrapped shrimp. I'm sure
this is a standard fare for many of you, but I can't remember ever
eating bacon-wrapped shrimp, let alone making it. But boy, it sounds
good, doesn't it? Wonderfully indulgent. You actually don't need
anything beyond some good quality jumbo shrimp and bacon; they were
perfectly delicious paired on their own the first time I made them.
That said, dressing them up a bit with some lime juice and chipotle
seasoning adds some fun layers of flavor (think Remy in Ratatouille when he starts combining foods).

12 large, raw, peeled and deveined shrimp

2 Tbsp olive oil

Zest from 1 lime

Juice from one lime (about 2 Tbsp)

1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder

6 strips thin bacon, cut in half (12 pieces)

Skewers (for grilling) or toothpicks (for oven)

1 Mix together in a small bowl the lime zest, lime juice,
olive oil, and chipotle powder. Put the shrimp in the lime chipotle
mixture; make sure each piece is well coated.

2 Prepare grill on high, direct heat (if grilling) or preheat the oven to 450°F.

3 Working one at a time, wrap a half piece of bacon around
each piece of shrimp. If you are grilling, thread the shrimp onto long,
flat skewers (flat skewers make turning the shrimp on the grill
easier). If you don't have flat skewers, I've used two thin bamboo
skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes beforehand) to the same effect.
If you are using the oven, secure each the bacon onto the shrimp with
toothpicks. Place the bacon-wrapped shrimp on a slotted baking pan
(lined with foil inside for easy cleaning). Brush remaining lime
chipotle mixture on the outside of the bacon-wrapped shrimp.

4 Grill uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or bake in
the oven for 10-14 minutes, until shrimp is pink and the bacon is crisp.

Makes 12 pieces.

Courtesy of Simply Recipes

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Beachside Banquets from Cooking Light

Beachside Banquets

A cook's guide to a week of sun, sand, surf, and great meals.

Make Your Beach Week a Breeze Packing for the Beach Beachside Banquet Menu Recipes French-Bread Pizza with Sausage, Clams, and Mushrooms Dijon Vinaigrette Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Kebabs Two-Tone Roasted Potatoes Caramel Mudslide Creamy Pesto Rigatoni with Chunky Tomato Vinaigrette Cherries with Rum-Sugar Cream Rum-Pepper Steak Sandwiches Chunky Plum-and-Ginger Ice Cream Sunset Chicken with Grilled Vegetable-Rice Pilaf Greens with Creamy Berry Dressing Pineapple-Rum Slush Grilled Tuna with Papaya Chutney Text by Jane Doerfer / Recipes by Elizabeth Taliaferro Hours spent scuffling along the water's edge, gazing at the waves or beachcombing, swimming, and fishing. Total relaxation. That's what a beach vacation promises. But while your rental house might be long on charm, it may be short on basic necessities such as large pots or a can opener. And unless you're staying at a superdeluxe beachfront community, the local grocery store is more likely to carry dozens of brands of snack chips and pretzels than sourdough bread or imported Parmesan cheese. But we've got just the ticket to help you enjoy your vacation without anxiety attacks or fruitless trips to the store: an easy-to-follow cook's care package for your week at the beach. We've created six menus so you won't have to plan any meals for your trip (although you will need to bring along some of the ingredients). Take Six (Any Six) A week at the beach should be spontaneous. Do whatever you want to do every day -- and eat what strikes your fancy. These six flexible menus give you a week's worth of meal plans. You can follow them in the order found here or switch them around as your mood and appetite develop. Menu 1 French-Bread Pizza With Sausage, Clams, and Mushrooms Tossed salad with Dijon Vinaigrette Fresh fruit* Menu 2 Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Kebabs Two-tone Roasted Potatoes Caramel Mudslide Menu 3 Creamy Pesto Rigatoni With Chunky Tomato Vinaigrette French bread* Cherries With Rum-Sugar Cream Menu 4 Rum-Pepper Steak Sandwiches Fresh corn on the cob* Chunky Plum-and-Ginger Ice Cream Menu 5 Sunset Chicken With Grilled Vegetable-Rice Pilaf Greens With Creamy Berry Dressing Angel food cake with chocolate sauce* Menu 6 Pineapple-Rum Slush Grilled Tuna With Papaya Chutney Mixed greens with Dijon Vinaigrette *No recipe necessary

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Click below to view this post on the Cooking Light website.
Cooking Light - Beachside Banquets - Healthy Recipes and Menus

It's Masters Week!!

If you love golf (and life).....sign up for the 'Fairways of Life' Newsletter. You'll receive gems delivered directly to your mailbox. Here's what I just received today....and what great news this is. Those of us who are lucky enough to have watched Arnie in his prime (or meet him as I was lucky enough to do once!) will just love to see the replay of his incredible performance in the 60's Masters! Stay in for an hour on Sunday and watch some wonderful history!

Masters Week

Your Weekly Golf Wisdom Newsletter



Dear Readers,

The following is a copy of a letter I received today from Steve Cohen, President of the Shivas Irons Society (an organization so-named after the principle character in Michael Murphy's brilliant book, Golf in the Kingdom). This note is quite remarkable and wanted to share it with you. If you have the a chance, please visit the website for the Shivas Irons Society at www.shivas.org.

It's Masters Week and GOLF is in the air...

Subject: Important news about this Sunday
Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening -- and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented.
-- Arnold Palmer

. . . I can already tell you that Masters Sunday will be special. I know this because it's going to begin with Arnold Palmer winning the Masters. The 1960 Masters, that is. “I wanted two generations to see what the magic was all about,” said CBS golf commentator Jim Nantz, the man who made this resurrection possible.

We'll be able to re-live the '60 Masters, one of the more exciting finishes in history, because Nantz pried the original broadcast footage loose from the Augusta National vault, went to the incredible time and expense of having it colorized, and turned it into a one-hour show that CBS will air as the lead-in to its Sunday final-round Masters coverage.

This is footage that has never been aired since its original broadcast. The best part is, it's not presented in a highlight package with talking heads. It's shown as if it was a live telecast, featuring host Jim McKay (who left CBS later to join some upstart show known as ABC's Wide World of Sports -- wonder what ever became of him?) with coverage of the last four holes.

I watched a screening of the finished product and offer this advice: Don't miss it. The 1960 Masters had it all. A classic Arnold Palmer charge and Ken Venturi's agony of defeat. The old guard -- Hogan and Snead -- and a young gun -- some amateur named Nicklaus. There was a minor rules controversy. There was an innovative new scoring system for television invented by CBS director Frank Chirkinian. And there was the great man himself, Bobby Jones, the legendary founder of Augusta National and the Masters Tournament, holding court as the host of cabin festivities.

This show is a slice of golf history and a classic piece of broadcast history. If you hate goose bumps or nostalgia, don't watch. This show, a labor of love for Nantz, is one “Wow!” after another. Here's a short list of reasons to watch:

The gaffe that almost cost Palmer the Masters. I had read about, but never before seen the incident at the 16th hole. Palmer is one stroke behind Venturi, who has already finished. At the par-3 16th, he's got a 30-foot uphill putt to a back pin placement. He chose to leave the pin in when he putted -- yeah, that was still legal then. He rolled a superb putt that was dead-center but hit the pin flush and kicked out six inches. Watching the footage, I'd rate it a 90 percent chance that without the pin, Arnie's putt is in. You can see from his reaction that he realizes his tactic backfired and just might cost him the Masters.

Arnold Palmer at 30 is a lot like Tiger Woods. He bashes the ball amazing distances and putts like a genius. At the 17th, Arnie's got a 20-foot uphill birdie putt. It looks as if he's left it short but the ball rolls out and barely topples in while announcer Jim McArthur makes a Verne Lundquist-type call: “It's up and up and up and up .. and in!” Palmer half runs, half dances to the cup to pull out the ball, like Tiger after that putt at Valhalla only without the finger-pointing. At 18, Palmer stiffs his 5-iron approach, spinning behind the hole and stopping it about five feet away. He makes the putt, of course, for the win.

More about Arnie. He is repeatedly seen puffing like a chimney with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. It looked cool in 1960, now it makes you cringe. Palmer was paired with Billy Casper, who played first from the 18th fairway and hit a shot to three feet. Before Palmer hit, Casper walked over and said something encouraging, like knock it close. Can you imagine Tiger doing that to, say, Chris DiMarco? On the green, Palmer let Casper putt out first while he walked over just off the green and -- I'm not kidding, you'll see it on the video -- spread out on the grass.
. Ken Venturi comes through. Venturi makes a clutch par on the 18th to finish at five under par. When he taps in a testy two-footer, he holds his pose and pauses for a moment because he thought he had finally captured his Holy Grail, the Masters.

“Old” Ben Hogan. Hogan is seen playing to the 18th green, a pretty good shot. McKay refers to him as “old Ben Hogan” because he's the ancient age of 47. Unfortunately, CBS never shows him putting out.

The scoring flap. McKay earns bonus points for bringing up a scoring issue regarding Dow Finsterwald, who was paired with Venturi in the final round and in the thick of contention. Finsterwald dropped a ball and hit some practice putts after putting out on a green during the first round, an error he confessed to the next day. Instead of being disqualified for signing for an incorrect score, as he would be today, Masters officials assessed him a two-shot penalty and let him finish the tournament, which he nearly won.

Two for the show. Groups weren't paired Sunday by score. So there were six pairings behind Palmer. The next group was Sam Snead and amateur Jack Nicklaus. Snead holes a 40-foot putt from the fringe. Then Nicklaus walks by the camera and McKay introduces him to viewers as the national amateur champion from Columbus, Ohio, and says he's been told this kid “has a great future.” The myth about Nicklaus always making his putt on the 18th green? He sinks an 18-footer for birdie here, too.

Pass the hedgeclippers. Augusta National looks surprisingly mangy compared to the way it's maintained now. Even on shots from the fairway, you wonder, “Didn't they mow the grass?” The areas around the bunkers were intentionally left rough and uncut, a very different look from the sharp-edged, perfectly manicured conditions today. The greens were still Bermuda grass and much, much slower.

Ken and Mr. Jones. The post-round ceremony held in the cabin is presided over by Jones and you get to enjoy his thick Southern drawl. He actually isn't bad, much less stilted than some of his predecessors who froze up on camera, like Hord Hardin and Jack Stephens. Jones calls Venturi's effort “lion-hearted” and both Palmer and Venturi get to say a few emotional words.

Six under. Chirkinian, who went on to direct 38 Masters telecasts for CBS, devised a new scoring system to keep track of what was going on in the past. Previously, the scoring was aggregate. So someone would finish at 279 and a player on the course would be said to be at 258 and you'd have to do the math in your head. Chirkinian came up with the score in relation to par -- plus or minus -- and it quickly became the game's standard. CBS also devised rudimentary graphics showing the scores.

Don't tell Ted Turner. The colorizing, which had never been done to a sports telecast before, was remarkable. I thought it would've been fine in black and white but the show opens with black and white footage and then Nantz announces the colorization and when the screen changes from gray to green and Augusta's colors come to life, it's a true goose-bump moment.

Nantz showed the telecast to Palmer and Chirkinian in December and said both men were pretty emotional watching it again. Nantz brought cameras to film Arnie's reaction and interviews the obviously choked-up Arnie at the end. In February, Nantz premiered the finished product at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles. Bel-Air members attended, along with Palmer and Venturi, who is recovering from heart bypass surgery. Palmer and Nantz met with reporters the next day to discuss the telecast.

“I can't tell you how important it is what Jim has done here,” Palmer said. “We really had one of the great evenings of all time.”

Nantz said the project came about when he was being wooed by another network. In a meeting with CBS president Les Moonves, he was asked what else he wanted. Nantz pitched him his idea about doing a show leading into the final-round Masters telecast, and what he wanted to do with the show, which was resurrect footage from Augusta National's archives. “Do it,” said Moonves.

Nantz hopes to do a whole series of similar flashback shows. He kicked it off last year with a one-hour review of the 1986 Masters won by Nicklaus. Next year, he's planning to feature one of Gary Player's wins. This April, however, the spotlight belongs to Palmer. And plenty of good seats are still available.


What people are saying about the book, Fairways of Life,
Wisdom and Inspiration from the Greatest Game:

"I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have."
Arnold Palmer

"...Hagen, Jones, Snead, Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods, among many others. Fairways of Life celebrates their accomplishments and the lessons that their discipline, hard work, and perspective can teach us."
Tim Finchem, Commissioner, PGA Tour

"Matthew's unique perspectives on the game of golf and the game of life are brilliantly displayed in Fairways of Life. Matthew uses golf as a metaphor for life in a way that is insightful, empowering and full of hope."
Jack Canfield, Creator, Chicken Soup for the Soul

"This book is a must read for everyone who loves golf and wants to have an exceptional life."
Billy Donovan, Head Mens Basketball Coach, University of Florida

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Time for another recipe!! ... this one will harden your arteries for sure! It's good to be Italian! :o)

Italian Easter Meat Pie

* 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, cut in 1/2 inch cubes


* 1/4 pound provolone cheese, cut in 1/2 inch cubes


* 1/4 pound Asiago cheese, cut in 1/2 inch cubes

* 1 pound Ricotta cheese (add more depending on consistency)

* 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

* 1 1/2 pounds virginia baked ham

* 1 pound capicolla (hot or sweet)

* 1 pound pepperoni


* 1 pound hard salami


* 1/2 pound proscuitto (preferably Parma for the best flavor)

* 12 medium eggs - beaten



Dough



* 1 1/2 pounds flour - all purpose unbleached


* 2 tablespoons olive oil


* 12 large eggs


* 2 tablespoons salt


* 3 tablespoons black pepper, ground


* Warm water - enough to make a soft pliable dough







To make the dough:

Put wet ingredients in a well made in the flour - if mixing by hand. If using a food processor, add wet ingredients to the flour in processor bowl. In either case, mix until a smooth dough is obtained. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.



To make the filling: Cut all the meat into 1/4-1/2 inch pieces.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Roll out half the dough and press into an oiled, deep oven casserole or pie plate (There is enough here to make multiple smaller pies) Press the dough up the sides of the pan. Spoon filling into pan, gently pressing it from time to time to remove air pockets. Fill to about 1/4 inch from top.

Roll out second piece of dough. Wet edges of dough forming the bottom with milk, and place second piece of dough on top of filling. Use tines of a fork to attach top piece to bottom along top edge of pan. Cut excess dough hanging off sides with a scissors.

Brush top of pie with olive oil, Vent the top of the pie with a few small knife slices. Place pan in preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes. Remove pan from oven, and place on a rack and let set

Let the pie(s) sit for a while. Although you can certainly eat the pie shortly after it comes out of the oven, it always tastes so much better after a while...even a couple days so you can make this way ahead of time.

We take ours to the beach for our annual Easter dinner and most often eat it cold or just warm it up on the grille.

Mangia....Happy Easter

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Please.....Keep YOUR beach clean!

OK...this one just always gets me! By and large I'd say that most beach goers respect mother nature's sandy playground, but why does even one person insist on treating it as their personal waste basket. Having lived all my life at least reasonably close to the shore...having my dad teach me how to dig for clams when I was 10.....I learned to love and respect what the beach, the ocean, and we all have in common and how dependent we all are on each other for our existence. It's just amazing that there has to be debate about the best technology we need to utilize in order to clean up after people who have no respect for themselves or their partners on this little planet! Oh well....my rant for the day.

Please.........when you leave the beach, leave only one thing behind....your footprints!



North Myrtle Beach Local News - Special Features - Proposal for beach ordinances reviewed at workshop – by Jim Hulen

Proposal for beach ordinances reviewed at workshop – by Jim Hulen
PermaLink

March 28, 2007 – At Monday’s North Myrtle Beach Council Workshop, Assistant City Manager Joel Davis proposed two changes to improve safety and ease of beach cleaning.

Davis explained to the council that beach goers were leaving volley ball nets, tents, chairs, umbrellas, windbreakers, surfboards and similar equipment overnight. At least one volleyball post had been placed in concrete and held upright with wire guys.

“Beach goers leaving this equipment,” Davis said, “made keeping the beaches clean troublesome.”

He noted that with the new sweeper that has better filters, it will be able to remove cigarette butts.

City staff operates beach sweepers and remove trash from 5 AM to 8 AM. Obstructions left at the beach leave large areas around them where the sweepers cannot clean or staff must interrupt their work to remove the obstacles to the City transfer station.

Davis proposed an ordinance that would make it unlawful to have such equipment on the beaches between the hours of 8:30 PM to 9:00 AM.

Council requested that staff review the 8:30 PM hour and consider making it later.

Continuing, Davis explained, “For safety reasons, the City needs to maintain a beach access and emergency lane.”

He noted that during the tourist season, the beaches are packed and the only clear access is at the tide line and expressed concern that city vehicles traveling this path would pose a risk to children wading in the ocean. Safety required some way to isolate beach goers from traveling city vehicles.

His proposed ordinance would require all obstructions be prohibited 15 foot from the dune-line base seaward and run the length of the beach from Cherry Grove to Windy Hill.

His research showed that beaches in the entire state of Florida and Virginia post signs to reserve portions of the beach for emergency services. Davis proposed an “A” frame portable sign for this purpose and managed by city staff. They would be taken up and removed at night.

Council expressed concern that, at high tide, the Cherry Grove section would be greatly narrowed if a 15 foot wide area was reserved.

Davis indicated that street access in the Cherry Grove section might be more appropriate for emergency access.

Mayor Hatley was very adamant that she did not want to become a city

where tickets are written.

Hatley stated, “This is a family beach, where people come to have fun. I don’t want it to be a place where people come and get tickets.”

Davis replied that it was not the intention to give tickets but to have an ordinance in place as the basis for requesting beach goers to limit obstructions in the 15 foot area.

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Perhaps a victory for MB golfers?

I think that the jury may be out for a while on this latest episode of golfing vs housing. I'm tickled pink at first glance that another course in our area will avoid the 'dozer. Sadly, we've never played Eastport, although it's been on our list for a while. It's really a lovely looking course running right alongside Highway 17 in Little River and always a great bargain...as low as $25 w/cart.
I tend to agree that the market for golf courses in our area might be better now than it was a couple years ago. With Bay Tree closing 54 holes last year...Calabash's 18 gone...Colonial not close to being ready to reopen and perhaps Cypress under the 'dozer soon; there's bound to be a buyer out there. The area still needs a quality, budget minded golf course. I'd love to see Eastport stay.



The Sun News | 03/31/2007 | Ruling unseats plan for golf club

Ruling unseats plan for golf club
Decision may set precedent for golf neighborhoods
By Jenny Burns
The Sun News

Homeowners have successfully stopped redevelopment of Eastport Golf Club for now by winning a bankruptcy court decision. The ruling could be a precedent in an area where golf course views have increasingly turned into housing developments.

Whether it turns out to be a victory for the residents, however, depends on whether the course owner can find a buyer for the property.

A bankruptcy court judge ordered that Eastport Golf Club must remain a golf course, ruling that it cannot be partially redeveloped into condominiums as the owner had proposed.

Judge John E. Waites said residential redevelopment is not allowed by the homeowners' deed restrictions, which say the property is for "golf course use only."

Attorneys say the ruling sets a precedent on the Grand Strand and is a lesson to future homeowners to check covenants and restrictions when faced with possible redevelopment.

"It's an important decision as far as I'm concerned. The only other community that attempted to stop [redevelopment of a golf course] is Deertrack. All other golf courses have just closed in our area," said Patrick O'Dea, lawyer for the Eastport homeowners.

The golf course is owned by Eastport Golf Club, Inc., which is owned by Charlotte, N.C., businessman Mel Graham, who also owns International World Tour Golf Links in Myrtle Beach.

Graham said he's disappointed the redevelopment plan was not approved.

"I am however, happy for the homeowners at Eastport if indeed this is the outcome the majority of the residents really wanted. I must add that I do not believe that the leadership at Eastport understands the negative impact this will ultimately have on their community," Graham said.

Graham said he believes he came up with a good plan that would ensure the future of Eastport as a community and a golf course, since running the golf course in its present state was not an option for him.

Without development to support the renovation and reopening of the golf course, Graham said there will simply be no golf course.

Homeowners learned in late 2005 that Graham had plans to redevelop the entire course into 1,100 condos - and could do so by zoning rules - because the course was losing money.

Some homeowners filed a lawsuit claiming their covenants state the property must remain a golf course.

Then, on Jan. 4, Graham filed the course in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and filed a reorganization plan that would keep a smaller golf course but redevelop part of the property into 920 condos. Graham told the court he needed the money from development to renovate the course because the course isn't profitable on its own.

"We thought that we had proposed a solution-based proposal" to keep the golf course and build condos, said Rick Mendoza, attorney for Eastport Golf Club Inc.

Now that he can't redevelop, Graham said he will attempt to sell the course.

"Unfortunately, we do not know of any potential buyers at this time," he said.

Graham purchased the golf course out of bankruptcy in 1993 after the original owner developed the golf course community in the late 1980s.

While other legal options are available, Mendoza said Graham does not plan to appeal, or file another bankruptcy reorganization plan.

"So what happens is it really falls into disuse," Mendoza said.

Mendoza said it will likely be difficult for Graham to sell the property.

An oversupply of golf courses has contributed to the closing of 16 other Strand courses for planned redevelopment since January 2005.

Three courses at Bay Tree Plantation have closed within a few miles of Eastport, and at least two others intend to close nearby.

"There really isn't a market for selling these courses," Mendoza said. "It's going to remain closed."

But some residents say Graham should be able to operate the golf course profitably now because there are fewer courses left in the Little River and North Myrtle Beach area.

"In my opinion, the golf course glut has taken a drastic reversal," said Eastport resident Sherry Higginbottom. "With the closing of so many courses in this area especially, locals are having great difficulty getting tee times. I expect that buyers are out there now, maybe even from the pool of previously successful golf course owners who have sold out to benefit from the higher value of their land for development."

Graham said the golf course business would have to change for that to be true. He said the costs to operate a course are rising while the amount to play is not keeping pace.

Eastport Community Association president Don Metzger said residents are waiting to see what happens next.

"We're very encouraged that our community will be able to remain intact and continue as it now exists. We hope that things can get back to normal," he said.

The same judge made a similar ruling on a case involving proposed redevelopment of a course outside of Charleston.

Charles Summerall, who represented Eastport homeowners in bankruptcy court, also represented Charleston area homeowners in that case several years ago. Waites ruled homeowner restrictions did apply to the golf course in the King's Grant community and homeowners were guaranteed some type of amenities.

That course owner sold the property to new owners, who entered into a settlement with homeowners, Summerall said. One of the new owners was also a member of the King's Grant community.

The settlement allowed residential development on a portion of the property and leaves the remainder as a park. The new owner has also refurbished community buildings on the property, he said.

"We [at Eastport] are very pleased that Judge Waites agreed with our position that the restrictions clearly prohibit residential development on the golf course property," Summerall said.
Contact JENNY BURNS at 626-0305 or jeburns@thesunnews.com.

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The Pavillion May be Gone......But Family Kingdom Lives On!!

Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach, Swamp Fox roller coaster, tilt a whirl, water park, family fun, fun for kids and teens, group fun. Things to do in Myrtle Beach.

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New England Boiled Dinner

-- GJumper

New England Boiled Dinner Recipe
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Filed under Beef, Comfort Food, Main Course, Soup and Stew, Wheat-free

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From the recipe archive

New England boiled dinner is a one pot dish consisting of corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes. How this dish came to be from New England I have no idea; it seems to have more Irish-American roots with the corned beef and cabbage, and is a traditional Irish-American dish to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. This is how my mother makes it.

3 1/2 pounds corned beef brisket (or can also be made with plain beef brisket)
15 peppercorns
8 whole cloves
1 bay leaf

2 medium sized turnips, peeled and quartered
4 red new potatoes, peeled and quartered
3 large carrots, cut into thirds and the thickest pieces quartered lengthwise
1 small head cabbage, cut into fourths

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1 Put the brisket in a 5 or 6 quart Dutch oven and cover with an inch of water. If your corned beef brisket does not come already packed in seasoning, add peppercorns, cloves, and a bay leaf to the pot. Bring to a simmer and then cover, lower the heat until it is barely simmering. Keep at a low simmer for four hours or until the meat is tender (a fork goes through easily).

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2 Remove the meat and set aside, keeping the meat warm. Add the vegetables to the pot. Check the broth for taste. If it is too salty, add a little more water to taste. Raise the temperature and bring the soup to a high simmer. Cook at a high simmer until done, about 15-30 minutes longer, depending on the size of the cut of your vegetables.

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3 Slice the meat in thin slices. Serve in bowls, a few pieces of meat in each, add some of the vegetables and some broth.

Serves 6 to 8. Serve with horseradish or mustard.

Notes:
The corned beef can be pretty salty, so you may want to rinse it first before cooking. We just use the corned beef as is and don't add any more seasoning or salt. If the broth ends up being too salty, you can serve just the meat and vegetables, without the broth, or add water to the broth to dilute it.

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Posted by Elise on Mar 13, 2007

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No Tiger or Bear, But Lots of Blowfish!

The Sun News | 03/02/2007 | No Tiger or Bear, but lots of Blowfish

No Tiger or Bear, but lots of Blowfish
TERRY MASSEY
SPORTS COLUMNIST

* New sponsor expected to aid tournament's stability

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH | No Tiger and no Bear, but the 13th annual Hootie the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am promises to be the usual three-ring circus.

Hootie frontman Darius Rucker dispelled rumors that Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus would be among this year's field for the April 9 event at Barefoot Resorts, which traditionally draws big names from sports, music and entertainment.

"Tiger won't be here. He keeps promising me he will make it to another one, but he's pretty busy right now," Rucker said at Thursday's press conference at The House of Blues. "Jack won't be here either, but we have another great lineup."

Fellow musicians Edwin McCain, jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis and R singer Javier; actors Anthony Anderson ("The Departed"), Gary Valentine ("King of Queens") and Lucas Black ("Friday Night Lights"); and pro athletes Jason Sehorn, Dwight Clark, Jim McMahon, Kevin Elster and Eric Karros are among the celebrities scheduled to participate in the event.

Of course, it wouldn't be a golf tournament without a lion's share of golfers in the field, including the state's most famous part-time golfer - South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier. Legend Lee Elder, former two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North, Bob Hope champion Charley Hoffman and a long list from the PGA Tour is expected, including crowd-favorite John Daly.

"So we'll probably have to keep the handcuffs ready," Hootie drummer Jim "Soni" Sonefeld joked about golf's poster boy for partying. "... Not to crack on John too hard, but if he signed any more autographs it would be a nine-hour round."

It was during a trip to play with Daly in last month's Pebble Beach Pro-Am that Rucker got a feel for just how far the Hootie tournament has come since it's humble beginnings in 1994. Word of the event has spread coast-to-coast, and beyond.

"We were sitting around the [hospitality] tent, they called it a tent but it was really a house, and everyone around us was talking about our tournament," Rucker said. "We're at Pebble Beach talking about our tournament. That really hit me.

"When we started this 13 years ago, we had no idea it would get this big. We were at Fort Jackson [Army Base in Columbia] the first year. The second year [NFL Hall of Fame quarterback] Dan Marino said, 'You're golf course has grass.'"

After stints in Columbia and Kiawah Island, the tournament is celebrating its fifth year on the Grand Strand. The event has really blossomed since relocating to the Myrtle Beach area, organizers said, and has likely put down roots for good.

"This is our fifth year in Myrtle Beach and we've come to think of it as our permanent home," tournament director Paul Graham said. "For the first time our sponsorships are sold out, which I think shows how much the people of Myrtle Beach have embraced this."

Graham also introduced Intel as the tournament's first presenting sponsor. In addition to providing financial support, Intel also will produce a Web cast of the post-tournament "Hootie Friends" concert.

"We'll have some great musicians," Sonefeld said, "and some people who think they are."

The celebrities play both golf and music for fun, but the real winners are the children of South Carolina, who have received more than $3 million dollars in donations from the proceeds of the tournament.

Last year's event saw a record 6,000 spectators in attendance and raised a record $450,000, going to the band's foundation, the S.C. Junior Golf Association, the First Tee Program, Fairway Outreach and Junior Achievement.

"Now if we can just stop people from sneaking in from the [North Myrtle Beach] Airport," Sonefeld joked.

"But if that's the biggest problem we have, we're doing all right."

It's better than having folks sneaking out of the big top.
-----------------

The event

What | The Hootie the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am

When | April 9

Where | Barefoot Resorts' Dye Course

Tickets | $10 general admission, free for children 12 and under. Available at House of Blues, Barefoot Resorts' pro shops and Ticketmaster

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Changes Continue On The Golf Scene In Myrtle Beach

We've got mixed news on the golf scene In the Myrtle area and some of it is good for a change! This time a long time Little River golf landmark has avoided the 'dozer.....and gets to breathe another life, albeit, maybe a short one! Cypress Bay is one of the older courses in the area, built back in the heyday and it's been slated for residential redevelopment like so many others...many right in the same area! Cypress has no big designer's name on its layout; it doesn't have the latest and greatest in new turf varieties or equipment, but it does have a bit of its own charm to it. We've played here before and it's certainly like Tidewater...but it's really a nice place to spend an afternoon for real short money and have a pretty good time. For an older course, it's got a good amount of character to it with a handful of pretty interesting and kind of challenging holes. Most of the time you can play here for $25-$40 and you can probably usually just walk on (although that may change with Eastport and BayTree under the dozer blades!). It's right on Highway 17 in Little River....stop by if you have the chance....you might enjoy it. After your 18.....you're 5 minutes from Crab Catchers...great food...great grog!

The Sun News | 02/18/2007 | Cypress Bay stays open, awaits redevelopment

Cypress Bay stays open, awaits redevelopment ALAN BLONDIN ON GOLF Though the owners of Cypress Bay Golf Club are seeking a buyer that would presumably redevelop the course, it appears the Little River layout will remain open at least until the fall, and more than likely into next year. "I'd say it would be open through the fall, anyway," said Edward Williams, one of the course's four owners. Cypress Bay was sold by Thurmon McLamb about a year ago, and Williams said he is now one of four owners along with Shep Guyton, James Callihan and D.J. Karavan. A redevelopment and rezoning plan submitted to Horry County for Cypress Bay included commercial businesses and single- and multifamily housing, and Williams said the current zoning allows for 721 total units. "We're just sitting on it waiting to get someone to come in there and take it off our hands and develop it," said Williams, son of the late former owner of Raccoon Run, Eddie Williams. Though the owners would prefer to sell the property, Williams said they aren't ruling out developing the 120-acre course themselves. "James Callihan is a builder," Williams said. "It just depends on how we have to structure a deal to get something happening." The course has been managed and maintained since October 2003 by JMJ Golf Management, which is composed of members of the Vereen family that owns and operates Vereen's Turf Products and Vereen's Fertilizers. JMJ partner Frankie Vereen said the owners assured him he'd receive a few months' notice before the course closed. "Until they shut us out we'll continue running it," said JMJ partner and Frankie's daughter Mindy Vereen. "We can't do any capital improvements to improve the course because we don't know if we'll be there tomorrow or a year from now. We'd like to, especially if we owned the course, but that's not going to happen." The closing on Jan. 4 of Eastport Golf Club, which is nearly across the street from Cypress Bay on U.S. 17, has helped fill tee sheets on the Russell Breeden design. "With Eastport closing, it helped us out," Mindy Vereen said. "It was a definite change as soon as they closed the doors. This is the busiest we've been."


Of course.....this could also help explain why housing is more profitable than golf courses!!

Rounds played on Grand Strand decline again

ALAN BLONDIN

ON GOLF

The number of golf rounds played on the Grand Strand fell 3.1 percent in 2006 compared to 2005, leaving the Strand shy for the second straight year of the 4 million milestone that has been the area's benchmark.

Rounds played totaled 3.86 million and fell more than 3 percent for the second consecutive year. More than 4 millions rounds were played on the Strand every year from 1997 through 2004, according to figures compiled monthly for marketing cooperative Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. The Center for Economic and Community Development at Coastal Carolina University currently collects the numbers based on reports from public and semi-private courses stretching from Georgetown to Southport, N.C.

Yet because of the closing of 11 courses since November 2005, the average rounds per golf course increased 6.5 percent in 2006 for an eight-year high of 41,664 rounds per layout. That number is up 10.6 percent from 2004 totals.

Total paid rounds - consisting of walk-on, package, member and replay rounds - also fell more than 3 percent for the second straight year to 3.72 million rounds. Average paid rounds increased 6.5 percent to 40,267 per course.

Golf Holiday president Mickey McCamish said the rounds were hurt by the loss of 105,109 airline seats on incoming commercial flights to Myrtle Beach - mostly attributed to the elimination of Hooters Air. Two new airlines are expected to add seats this year.

"We've got to keep our air seats up," McCamish said. "That's so critically important."

The golf picture nationally and in other areas of the Southeast was a little more positive, according to the National Golf Foundation.

The industry research organization reports the number of rounds played in the U.S. was up 1 percent in 2006. The NGF attributes the increase at least partially to unseasonably warm and dry weather along the northern tier of the United States that allowed rounds to be played into January from New York to Michigan, though the total volume was low - about 400 rounds per facility in the Northeast in December. <---- 2nd week in January we still had golfers flocking to the course up here in Massachusetts! (of course it's a skating rink now!)

The 16.7 percent increase in rounds nationally for December pushed up the year-to-date figure to 0.8 percent. The Southeast, which includes the Carolinas, finished the year with the largest increase of 4.5 percent, followed by Central/South Florida at 3.4 percent. Public courses were up 0.7 percent nationally.

The Southwest was down more than any other region with a loss in rounds of 1.1 percent.

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Some call it snow....We call it INCENTIVE!

Wintry Mix Snarls Roads

Police Remind Drivers To Use Caution

POSTED: 5:41 pm EST February 14, 2007

UPDATED: 8:25 pm EST February 14, 2007

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BOSTON -- A Valentine's Day Nor'easter created slick, icy conditions on roads across Massachusetts on Wednesday.In Worcester, Mass., there was about 3 inches on the ground by noon. While schools were canceled and parking bans were in effect, many residents said that they expected that there would be more snow."They haven't much of a winter this year, so I know (the kids) will be happy today," parent Kevin Novia said.Public Works crews clear about 500 miles of road in Worcester during winter storms."I think people are impatient. They try to get in between the plows and it makes it a little more difficult for you," said plow driver Jim Rich."We are keeping up well. It is just a matter of us being able to treat the roads properly once the storm concludes," said Worcester Department of Public Works Commissioner Robert Moylan.Some Worcester residents used leaf blowers to clear away the snow."We try everything -- we got snow blowers, shovels, whatever. We got the 15-year-old kid out there -- he lasted one minute," said Ed Fletcher."It is nice to get outside and shovel some snow for a change," said Stephen Fogelson. "I like it -- as long as I don't have to drive or fly.""Our focus right now is to get the evening commuters home as seamlessly as possible, and then we will deal with the cleanup and other treatment aspects that we need," Moylan said.State highway crews were sanding the Massachusetts Turnpike. State police reduced the speed limit on the Massachusetts Turnpike to 40 mph. State police advised motorists to keep speeds low, give other cars plenty of space and make sure to wear seat belts.Several cars skidded off the road along Interstate 495."It was weird. (Another motorist) started in the right lane and just started doing a complete 360. Fortunately, I did not hit her dead-center. She was totally across in front of my car," said one driver.Police said speed is to blame for most of the incidents."It is mostly rollover accidents, a couple of jack-knifed trucks and mostly people are driving way too fast for the conditions," said Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Jim Deyermond.In Lexington, Mass., visibility was limited and the region was seeing freezing rain. Along Route 2 in Lincoln, Mass., motorist Ken Aquino and his dog were forced to escape from the window of his wife's sport utility vehicle after it rolled over."I went into this little gully here, and flipped over," Aquino said."Take it easy and give yourself the time you need to get where you need to go," state police trooper Robert Bousquet said.In Boston, there was also little snow, but ice hidden beneath it on the roads was expected to create a hazardous morning commute.Plows were out laying sand and preparing the roads throughout the city, but the Massachusetts State Police reported three rollover accidents by 6 a.m., including a tractor-trailer accident on Neponset Street. There were multiple rollovers reported on Route 128 southbound."Traffic is very slow and people have to be patient ... if you have an alternative, please take public transportation," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said.He said the city has 250 pieces of road and sanding equipment out to try to keep the roads from becoming too icy.The weather may have contributed to an accident involving a Fung Wah bus. A bus headed west on the Massachusetts Turnpike skidded off the highway, just before the Allston/Brighton tolls at about 11 a.m. There were no injuries reported among the 50 or so passengers who were aboard.The driver, Jimmy Chow, 50, faces several charges, including driving too fast for road conditions. The Massachusetts Turnpike was closed to westbound traffic while the bus was removed from the scene.The icy weather also caused problems on the tracks. On the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Green Line on Commonwealth Avenue, ice brought wires down onto the tracks. The MBTA bused commuters between the Kenmore stop and Washington Street while repairs were made.The storm caused dozens of delays and cancellations at Logan International Airport. It also caused a domino effect across the country.Half of the flights were scrubbed or delayed at Chicago's busy O'Hare Airport, and Bradley International Airport in Connecticut was closed Wednesday afternoon.Airline officials urged travelers to call ahead before leaving for the airport.Meanwhile, florists were trying to get their Valentine's Day deliveries made."A lot of them won't get made until tomorrow or the next day. People are very understanding. They are very nice about it. With the storm, there is not much we can do," florist Ray Levine said.

This was supposed to be the storm of the season!......forecasters had everyone running to the grocery stores clearing the shelves of bread and water and draining the tanks at all the gas stations. Even I filled out all my spare gas cans just in case we'd have to ride the snowblower to work! It fizzled again though.....the forecasters were way off on their storm track and and the eventual snowfall. Mind you....it's been a pretty benign winter up here in New England. Virtually nothing for snow on the ground prior to yesterday although we've been in the grips of a pretty good arctic cold snap for a number of weeks now. So one BIG snowstorm...especially this late in the season shouldn't be a big deal. I kept telling myself...

Get Me Outta Here! I just don't want to deal with this anymore.Yeah, there was only 2 or 3 inches of snow, but the rivers of rain that fell all day, followed by the freezing rain, more snow, more freezing rain...UGH! What a mess and what a royal PITA to try to clear all that crap off the driveway. (I wonder what the temperature is in MB right now?) :o( It's all of 11 degrees at 6AM right here......I wonder how much fun it'll be sliding down the driveway this morning!

If I never see another flake of snow, it'll be 3 days too soon! (I wonder if I can get a tee time at Farmstead this morning?) I'm ready!....South Carolina here I come!

Cherry Grove - A Small Beach Town...But A Lot Of Fun!

Relaxing at Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina - Associated Content

Relaxing at Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina
Swimming, Shopping, Fishing Fun for the Whole Family
By Margo Prior.

One of the best beaches on the East Coast is located in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. The name of the Beach is Cherry Grove Beach and it is located approximately six miles from the North Carolina coast and approximately 18 miles from downtown Myrtle Beach. When going down to South Carolina to look for a little bit of fun but a whole lot of relaxing, you will probably be looking for a beach that is clean, uncrowded most of the time, have things to do for the kids and the adults all within a very short driving distance. The last thing you want to do is to have to drive your whole trip in hot weather and while on vacation. This is your time to relax! Well Cherry Grove Beach offers all of this and more! The beaches in Cherry Grove have almost always been quiet, even on bike weeks, even during graduation and spring break weeks. The beaches are clean and there are plenty of places to park for free where you will not have to walk a mile to get to the beach. Also located at Cherry Grove Beach also has GREAT fishing! In fact it is known as the best fishing in Myrtle Beach. The world’s record holder for having caught the largest tiger shark got his shark from fishing off of the Cherry Grove Pier. Now if that isn’t inspiring I don’t know what is, but there is more! An added bonus for this trip is if you stay at the local Holiday House Motel that is right next to the Cherry Grove Pier, you receive 2 free passes per day to fish on the pier for every day of stay. For the kids, if they have had enough of swimming, within minutes you can have them at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion which is loaded with rides, games and more. Located smack dab in down town Myrtle Beach, you are also surrounded by more beautiful beaches, lots of shopping and entertainment like Ripley’s Believe it or Not Moving Theater and Haunted Adventure. Myrtle Beach itself is a world of entertainment and if you find the need to leave Cherry Grove with everything that it offers, with their own shopping, quaint restaurants, both family and seafood fare and even fast food, it (Myrtle Beach) could give you just about anything else you would be searching for. If you tire of all the running around and busy fun from going to Myrtle Beach, if you choose to, you can be safe in knowing that you can go to your little beach area located in relaxing, beautiful Cherry Grove Beach South Carolina.

This is perhaps the best picture of our little area around Little River and Cherry Grove. Many people ask what there is to do 'that far' away from Myrtle Beach. If it's the beach you want, then Cherry Grove is definitely the place to be! Long stretches of clean white sand extending for miles north right up to the NC border. If you want a quiet, secluded part of the beach...you'll find it for sure without having to look very far. When you've had enough of the beach, stroll along the streets of Cherry Grove; shop...get a snack or hop in your car and you're 10 minutes or less away from Barefoot Landing, mini golf and 10 minutes more to Broadway at the Beach. When you've had enough and need a little peace and quiet.....15 minutes up the bypass and you're back home in Cherry Grove/Little River. We like to think of it as the 'best of both worlds!'

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A NEW Golf Course In Myrtle Beach!

First New Public Course Since 2001 Set to Open February, 2007

The newest Big Cat to premier at Ocean Ridge Plantation® is Leopard’s Chase Golf Club. The course is scheduled to open to the public February 15, 2007.

The newest addition to the Ocean Ridge Plantation “Big Cat” Family, Leopard’s Chase Golf Club will open for play on February 15, 2007, just in time for the spring golf season. The third Tim Cate course in the 72-hole Ocean Ridge Plantation community, Leopard’s Chase is the first Grand Strand public golf course to open in six years, since Shaftesbury Glen Golf Fish Club, Farmstead Golf Links, Grande Dunes Resort Course and Crown Park Golf Club debuted in 2001.

Located just minutes from North Myrtle Beach in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, Leopard’s Chase complements the area’s natural coastal beauty with subtle elevation changes, undulating fairways and greens, undisturbed wetlands areas and native vegetation. The par 72, 7,200-yard layout is spread out among 220 acres and features TifSport Bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens. One of the many distinguishing features of Leopard’s Chase is the significant number of holes which require short carries over both water and wetlands and the numerous bunkers strategically placed throughout the 18 holes.

"Leopard’s Chase Golf Club is an exciting and highly-anticipated new addition to the family of Big-Cat courses,” stated Becky Noble, president of Ocean Ridge Golf. “It is another dazzling Tim Cate design which will contribute to the perfect golf experience here at Ocean Ridge Plantation.”

For tee times, call 800.233.1801 or visit the website at big-cats.com.



For all you MB golfers out there....this is GREAT news! With all the course closings we've experienced lately, it's nice to see that golf is not dead in Myrtle Beach! (not that we ever really thought it was!) It is kind of sad though to see so many of what were stellar courses in their time fall by the wayside recently in favor of real estate development. I'm sure that Leopard's Chase will follow in the 'pawsteps' of the rest of the cats! The Cats was one of the first complex of courses we played a number of years ago and we've gone back to them on a number of occasions, always with pleasure! With varying degrees of skill levels within our familr, this is one of those areas that suits players of all levels...similar to the courses at St James Plantation in Southport and Carolina National in Boilivia. Not just lots of tee boxes, but tee boxes that give you a totally different look and play on the same hole. I can't wait to play it......hope you get to play it too! If you do...let us know what you think!

Gerry Pat

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Get Ready for the Spring Bike Rally!

Myrtle Beach Harley Bike Week 2007

Myrtle Beach Bike Week!
May 11-20, 2007
The Myrtle Beach Area is one of the top vacation destinations in the nation with over 16 million visitors annually. Each spring it plays host to the nearly half a million bikers who enjoy the 60 miles of beautiful coastline and multitude of attractions and special events.


From May 12-21, the roads will be a sea of chrome as far as the eye can see. This is the third biggest bike rally in the country, and one of the fastest growing events in the Southeast. Don't miss it!

Every effort is made by sponsors, dealers, vendors and locals to welcome the visiting bikers! You'll find many of the vendors in the Inlet Square Mall/Murrells Inlet, SC area. On the Mall side of the highway there will be over five acres for vendors (some vending on pavement) and over twenty acres paved parking for customers, with easy access from both Business and Bypass 17! Behind the many events scheduled for this year's Bike Rally you will find Sonny Copeland, head of Sonny Productions. An avid Harley rider himself, he is responsible for coordinating the events taking place in the Inlet Square Mall area. If you are interested in leasing vendor space for this exciting event, contact Sonny at Myrtle Beach Bike Week Vendor Information.

During Bike Week, you'll want to stay where the expensive equipment you've come here with is safe and secure.
The Myrtle Beach Resort, just one mile South of the Harley Davidson Dealership and minutes from downtown and the celebrated Pavilion amusement area, has 24 hour security for all of their guests, and a specially guarded area for their guests' bikes. As Woody Perry, Chief of Security at the Resort, states:

"Accommodating over 300,000 Harley Davidson motorcycles per day for almost a week is no easy task for resort operators. These bikers bring lots of welcome pre-season dollars to the Grand Strand and pre-planning their arrival is a necessary task. We accommodated more than 2000 motorcycles during last year’s rally (at the Resort), and we expect even more this year.” His payroll more than doubles during Bike Week as he supplements his staff to control traffic, parking, and security. “We’ve done this year-after-year,” quotes Perry, “and the bikers appreciate that we establish special security for their equipment. Many of the motorcycles we see here run well in excess of $20,000 and we provide an area solely for bikes with 24 hour security. We also have a separate lot for trailer parking.” When asked if he was ready for Bike Week to commence again this year, Perry responded, “we’ll be all set!”

Another Bike Week is fast approaching and again....many folks will be heading for the hills! Lots of vacationers (and residents) block out these days every year in fear of the dreaded Harley's coming to town! We've been around for a few of them and for the most part, enjoy the week! We usually have a fairly large contingent of bikers staying at Sun Colony each year and it's a pleasure seeing them there. If you're a biker or even if you're not, when you're in the area you have to make a point to spend some time at HB Spokes (http://www.hbspokes.com). They are just up the road from us a mile or so on Highway 9. It's pretty hard to get near the place during bike week....but it's a sight to see even if you just drive by. Make it a point to get inside at sometime.....you'll find a wonderful bar/restaurant....great food, great music, great people....and you don't have to be a biker!

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Away with golf carts!!

Keep your fancy, over-priced 'golf instructors' - a good caddie helps your game more - TravelGolf.com

This Week at TravelGolf.com: Jan. 31, 2007
One caddie is worth 500 golf teachers

Caddies are for pros and rich golfers who throw their money away.

For the Average Joe golfer, the guys in white overalls are as much of a needless splurge as fluorescent golf pants and a swing aid that's an actual circle you step inside (thanks PGA Merchandise Show!).

At least, that's what my ignorant self used to think. One round with a caddie changed my beliefs faster than John Edwards spins his political views.

One round. A good dozen golf lessons from a host of uber qualified gutsy teachers still hasn't come close to convincing me that the whole field of golf instruction isn't largely smoke, mirrors and fancy gadget snake oil. But one walk improved with a caddie and there's no doubt in my mind these guys are legit difference-makers.

Spare me all the mumbo jumbo science analysis on the range. Give me a guy like PGA National Resort's Kevin McCaffrey, a 52-year-old former New York Sanitation Department worker from the Bronx who is not afraid to bark out, "Mr. Baldwin, I think you need the rescue club." Again and again.

A good caddie makes you feel like every club decision is yours and yours alone. Even as he inches out that 5-iron while you were thinking 7. Plus, no fancy GPS device that's just as powerful as the technology the British Secret Service uses is going to tell you how your ball's going to react in south Florida's winter winds.

Plus, walking with a caddie is just cool. When's the last time you felt cool taking a golf lesson - as they hunch you over and straighten out your back like their chiropractor brethren.

Contrast that with strolling down the fairways with nothing in your hands, your caddie at your side. Hit a decent shot and it suddenly feels like a great shot. You're charging ahead like Tiger Woods on Masters Sunday. Even those worn golf shoes suddenly seem lighter.

The only thing lighter after a golf lesson on the range is your wallet.

Golf instruction is a mammoth glitzy business where cash registers ring. Caddies are regular guys like McCaffrey who've often left hard 9-to-5s.

And one caddie is worth about 500 instructors. There's your golf justice.

__________________________

I couldn't help but chuckle when I read this earlier today.......reminds of the scene in Caddyshack - "....been a lot of complaints lately.....smoking grass....bad caddying! You wanna be replaced by golf carts??"
Well....they have been replaced. The pressures of rising costs to keep a course playable; the over-inflated salaries of the PGA Professional (who stands in the clubhouse behind the counter trying to figure out how to turn the computer on and count back change!)......just kidding Mike....I know you know where that button is!
Without that extra $10 - $25 extra cart fee, most courses would be pastures by now. But seriously...why drive?...when you can walk? Isn't there nothing better than a relaxing stroll down the fairway, getting to know each blade of grass, every bunker, every slight variation of every hole?
I'd much prefer to walk every time I play, although I must admit, I do ride more than I should....not to mention the fact that it's almost impossible to walk down at Myrtle, but again, it's all about the revenue unfortunately. When you walk you get to know your course so well (especially if you're all over it like I am!). Think about how great it would be to play on a course for the first time, but be able to know precisely where you should be on every shot! (not that you'll be there....but at least give yourself a shot!) Course need caddies....bottom line! How are you going to fist pump underneath that golf cart roof after that great shot...thanks to your caddie?? What better way to keep a high school kid off the streets too. Let him make some money...promote your course and probably improve his skills too! Even if the course just set aside a portion of the day where you had to take a caddy...not a cart. Probably never happen.
What do you think?

Gas Prices in Myrtle Drop Below $2/gal

The Sun News | 01/29/2007 | Gasoline prices sink across Grand Strand

Isn't this fantastic news as we approach the summer vacation season!! Let's hope they stay around these prices for all of us who will be driving down to the Grand Strand this summer!
Gerry

Gasoline prices sink across Grand Strand
By Emma Ritch
The Sun News
Mark Fisher fills up his truck Saturday at the Amoco station on Third Avenue South in Myrtle Beach. The price of an average gallon of gas has dropped below $2 in the area.
JANET BLACKMON MORGAN/The Sun News
Mark Fisher fills up his truck Saturday at the Amoco station on Third Avenue South in Myrtle Beach. The price of an average gallon of gas has dropped below $2 in the area.

The average gallon of gas has dropped below $2 across the Grand Strand, and consumers could see even lower prices at the pumps during the next few weeks.

A mild winter reduced the demand on heating oil, leaving refineries to focus on making gasoline. That increased the supply and pushed down prices, industry analysts say.

The larger inventory, combined with dropping crude oil costs - a barrel has been hovering between $50 and $55, down from the high of $78.40 in July - means consumers get a temporary break when filling their tanks.

Dale DeWitt, who pumped 20 gallons of $1.99 regular gas into his Ford Explorer at a Myrtle Beach Exxon on Friday, said he's relieved prices have dropped, even if the savings are temporary.

"It's nice to look at the sign and see it's under $2," he said. "For a long time, I was thinking it wouldn't get this low again."

Gas prices typically bottom out in the last week of January and first week of February, analysts say. Drivers take fewer long-haul trips after the holidays, and homeowners cut back on heating costs as temperatures rise.

That means the Grand Strand could see prices lower than the present average of $1.99 a gallon in coming weeks, said Sarah Davis, spokeswoman for AAA Carolinas.

"Gas prices may drop just a little bit more, but there was talk about really boosting the inventory of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. When there's less [gasoline] on the market, prices will go up," Davis said.

Typically, prices increase in March when refineries close for spring maintenance and start making summer blends of fuel, which are more expensive to produce than winter blends, Davis said. People also increase travel starting in February, reducing the supply.

Many gas stations on the Grand Strand could be selling gas at a loss to get to the $1.99 mark, said Jeff Lenard, spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores.

"A lot of retailers are eating that margin to get to that price point because $1.99 is a lot cheaper than $2 to most people," Lenard said. "More than a quarter of people say they would change their behavior for a penny a gallon."

Convenience stores make profits off the coffee or snacks sold inside, so the gasoline prices are one way to tempt consumers. Other stations that are continuing to sell gasoline at higher prices are still getting customers.

Lynne Mackey of New Jersey pumped $2.05-per-gallon regular-grade gas into her Nissan Altima, even though stations a mile away offered the same product for 4 cents to 6 cents less.

"I had to stop here," Mackey said. "I couldn't really go much further before I might run out of gas. And then, 6 cents isn't going to make that much difference."

Fuel costs reached all-time highs in the U.S. after 2005's Hurricane Katrina, which disrupted distribution and pushed prices above $3 a gallon in many parts of the Southeast.

South Carolina's average price for a gallon of regular gas was $1.96 on Friday, according to AAA Carolinas. Prices in the lower-Atlantic region averaged $2.14 last week, according to the U.S. government's Energy Information Administration. That's down 6 cents from the previous week and 21 cents from a year ago.

The region - which includes the Carolinas, the Virginias, Georgia and Florida - typically has lower gas prices than average. The EIA says the average U.S. consumer is paying $2.17 a gallon.

When it comes to how fuel costs could affect the Grand Strand's tourism industry, that's the price that matters.

"What's most important is not the price of fuel here, but the price of fuel in the region [the potential visitor] lives," said Brad Dean, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. "Declining fuel prices should benefit us, not only by increasing disposable income, but also by giving consumers more confidence in their spending ability in the coming months."

Tourism officials have said the increased fuel costs of last summer caused many visitors to cut back on shopping, dining out and the length of their trips to the Grand Strand.

"Fuel prices play a role in vacation decisions," Dean said. "They certainly do impact discretionary income, and we benefit, and travel in general would benefit, when fuel prices are declining."

Many factors could influence the price of fuel in the next few months, Lenard pointed out, so no one can really predict where prices will go.

Weather that affects the supply chain could drive up prices, as could reduced supplies by OPEC.

Every dollar change in the price of a barrel of crude oil equates to 2.38-cent change at the pump, Lenard said.

Even fear plays a part, he said. As much as 50 cents of each gallon at times could be attributed to people stocking up on gasoline if they fear an impending shortage, he said.

"No one knows where prices will be," Lenard said. "Oil's a commodity and is traded as such. Sometimes the price reflects actual supply and demand, sometimes it reflects emotional reactions."

Dale DeWitt | bought gas on Friday

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Welcome to Beaches and Bunkers

Beaches and Bunkers

Welcome To Beaches and Bunkers - Our Vacation Home in Myrtle Beach


Hello all!....and welcome to our blog. We'll try to keep you up to date with what's happening with us, with our condo and with what's happening in the Myrtle Beach area! We hope you'll add you comments, reviews, perspectives regarding your MB vacations or just whatever happens to be on your mind!
Don't forget to visit us anytime at http://www.beachesandbunkers.com for a tour of our home and the area around it.
We're closing in on winter up here in the Northeast, but not quite ready to put away the golf clubs! With temps hovering around the 60 degree range for the last few days and the prediction for a day or 2 more later in the week, we'll be keeping them close to the door. Hopefully we'll get lucky this winter and we'll be able to get a number of rounds in over the course of the winter. In the meantime, I'll be preparing for my next trip down to Myrtle coming up in early December. this will be just a quick golf trip down with a few friends from work. Golfing in Myrtle in the off season can be such a treat!....not to mention not being a drain on your wallet! You can book your own teetimes online and save a bundle. Here's a couple examples.....we'll be playing Aberdeen (just a mile from the condo) and beautiful 27 hole complex weaving through the homes and condos as well as deep into the woods for just $29. Aberdeen has been one of my favorites for a while now. We'll also be playing 18 at Shaftesbury Glenn CC up in Conway. This will be a first timer for me but at $35, it's very difficult to pass up. If you've played it....let us know what you think of it. I've read great reviews of it and I love that it's out in the hinterland and probably not that well known by all the 'package' golfers that tend to play more around the center of Myrtle. But here's the 'piece de resistance'! ......Carolina National is offering a "Toys for Tots' golf special during the 1st 2 weeks of December. For just $25 plus a $10 new toy, you can play 18 holes at one the the premier golf courses in the entire Myrtle area. We've played Carolina many times over our years of visting the Carolinas and it is truly one of the most pleasurable experiences we've ever had. You could leave your clubs behind and just walk the course and take in some of the most breathtaking views all along the way.
If you've never visited Myrtle in the off season, you might want to reconsider...even if you don't golf! There are some great walks on the beach when the temps are in the 50's and 60's and some occasional 70's over the course of the winter. Those migrating northern snow birds must know something!....and many of them are now learning that the Carolinas have a great deal more to offer (at a substantially lower price!) than Florida does!

(originally written in early December, 06)

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Cherry Grove Adds A New Nature Park On The Marsh

The Sun News | 01/25/2007 | NMB opens nature park on marsh

NMB opens nature park on marsh
From staff reports
Tracy Carr of Longs walks through the Heritage Shores Park in North Myrtle Beach with her sons Jeffrey, 6, (left) and Justin, 4, after the dedication ceremony Wednesday.
REBECCA KOENIG/The Sun News
Tracy Carr of Longs walks through the Heritage Shores Park in North Myrtle Beach with her sons Jeffrey, 6, (left) and Justin, 4, after the dedication ceremony Wednesday.

* Video from the park's opening

A dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday marked the opening of the Heritage Shores Public Nature Park in the Cherry Grove area of North Myrtle Beach.

The park - on 8 acres north of 55th Avenue North and Heritage Drive - has a series of boardwalks, two picnic shelters, boat access to the Cherry Grove marsh, two information kiosks, an observation station and a series of trails about two-thirds of a mile long.

City officials and residents have said it will be a great addition to the area. The city budgeted a total of $132,000 in its 2004-05 and 2005-06 Parks and Recreation funds for the nature park.

The park includes interpretative signs to identify the plants, animals and nature that people might see in the park, as well as directional signs to help people get around in the park.

Parking is at the Cherry Grove Boat Landing on 53rd Avenue North.
Online video extra

Go to MyrtleBeachOnline.com to view video of the Heritage Shores Public Nature Park and to hear North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley talk about the park's contribution to the city's quality of life.

We stumbled upon the public boat ramp in Cherry Grove (pictured at left) early last fall and we just fell in love with the spot. It's the backwater from the ocean, which is only a few hundred yards east over the spit of land up at the end of north Myrtle Beach. There are stunning views of Tidewater Golf Course across the water and the marshland was just beautiful....reminding us a lot of what we see up here on Cape Cod. We wandered through the marsh and scrub as much as we could picking some wild blackberries and taking some wonderful pictures of the marshland. When I spotted this article in the Sun Times, I was so excited to hear that the town is making this kind of effort to preserve this spot of land and add so much to it. Now I just can't wait to get back down to MB to see the improvements! If you're not familiar with the area...drive into the center of Cherry Grove, take a left at Boulineau's IGA and drive down Ocean Blvd until 53rd St. The area is at the end of 53rd.

Here's a shot (at right) taken from the shoreline looking over to Tidewater Golf Course and here's another (at left) looking north from 36th Ave over the marshland back towards the new park. You might be able to pick out the two guys in the water having some pretty good success netting.
If you get the opportunity....take the time to visit this are of Cherry Grove.....I'm sure you'll enjoy and appreciate it!

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