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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