Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts welcomes Chris Vest

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (April 6, 2012) – Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts, a hotel/condominium ownership and management company has announced that Chris Vest has joined their team as Director of Golf. “We are delighted that Chris has come onboard to direct our golf operations. We’re fortunate to have his experience,” stated Chris Shroff, Owner and CEO of MB Seaside Resorts.

Vest brings more than six years of hands-on golf packaging experience to his new position, having worked at Ocean Reef as their golf director. A native of South Bend, Indiana Chris is an avid golfer

“My intent is to exceed the expectations the visiting golfers have for both our packages and their Myrtle Beach experience,” Vest commented. “With six great properties and more than 1,000 rooms, plus our extensive golf course relations, we’ll be able to mold a golf package to every group’s need,” Vest continued. Already, the golf team is reaching out to local restaurants and attractions for value added additions for their golf packages.

Call Chris directly at 1-800-682-5699 Ext. 5522, or e-mail Chris.Vest@mbseasideresorts.com. Be careful though, his enthusiasm for Myrtle Beach golf is contagious.

TifEagle ultradwarf Bermudagrass growing in popularity

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 27, 2012) – The P. B. and Pete Dye designed Prestwick Country Club will be changing its greens to TifEagle ultradwarf Bermudagrass this summer. Scheduled to close June 17, reopening is planned for September 15, 2012.

In addition to Prestwick, the King’s North Course at Myrtle Beach National and Barefoot Resort’s Dye Club and Love Course are closing this spring/summer to install ultradwarf Bermuda on greens.

A number of recognizable Myrtle Beach Area courses have changed to TifEagle over the past decade. Included on that list are True Blue Plantation, Tidewater Plantation & Golf, Oyster Bay Golf Links and Legends Resort’s Moorland Course.

This newer brand of bermudagrass is as close to the speed and quality of bentgrass, but much easier to maintain.

Now is the time to act

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 22, 2012) – As many of our regular readers know Direct Air, a Myrtle Beach headquarter discount airline, has suspended operation and filed for bankruptcy. With reorganization their hope is to resume operations this coming May. We wish Direct Air a speedy recovery and hope they’re back in the air come May.

Many of us have wondered how the timing, just prior to the peak golf season, will impact the industry. Over the past few weeks I’ve spoken to a half dozen golf courses and packagers.

The common theme is - sure we lost 8-12 tee times, or I’ve had a few cancellations, or the visit has been shortened since the golfers are now driving. Nobodies individual business seems to have been damaged beyond repair. However, I cannot help but wonder how these smaller losses might add up to considerable damage throughout the golf industry.

If you’re still on the fence about a Myrtle Beach golf vacation, or just late in putting your plans together, now is the time to act. Some choice accommodations have opened up and some prime tee times might just be available. You can book online now or call (800) 682-5699 to speak with a golf specialist.

Links Newsletter you have some explainin’ to do

Links Newsletter you have some explainin’ to do

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 2, 2012) – Today I received the Links Magazine eNewsletter and was anxious to read their “Top 10 Golf Getaways Right Now Index” feature. Now, I’m wondering if their editors have ever reached into their own pocket and paid for a golf getaway. Four of their “getaways” are out of the country, and the remaining six are divided equally between the warmer east and west environments.

Call me a “homer” if you must, but I doubt there is a better “Golf Getaway Right Now” destination, than the Myrtle Beach, SC area. March weather is great, the courses are in fantastic shape and with such a wide variety of accommodations you’ll certainly find the perfect fit for your group. You will not go hungry with every imaginable type of food and the evenings come alive with casino gaming and live variety shows.

This month thousands of golfers will visit us and wear the dust off their grips. It’s what we’re here for. With almost 100-golf courses there’s still prime tee times and super accommodations for your gang.  

Looking good

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (February 3, 2012) – It’s not easy living in the Myrtle Beach area and enjoying golf. First of all you need to deal with playing year around. There’s never a month of rest! Next, there are more than 90-golf courses from which to choose. That’s a lot of decision making! Finally, course conditions are great throughout the year, even in January.

The week of January 15, 2012 was a case in point. We played three rounds in three afternoons on three courses in weather that never went below 58 degrees. Our courses of choice were the Mystic Group - Man O’ War, The Witch and The Wizard. Each is a really good golf course in its own way. However, one commonality stood out. Each course was in almost unbelievable condition for this time of year.

Virtually every golf course located in a resort destination will over seed with grasses that grow green in colder weather. Generally the over seed is confined to tee box, fairway and green. Not so at the Mystic Group golf courses, they over seed both the previous mentioned and both cuts of rough!

If you think these courses look great in January, imagine how well they’ll develop as spring approaches and daylight gets longer. It’s just another reason to bring your golf vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC.

Book online now or call (800) 682-5699 to speak with a Myrtle Beach golf specialist.

It doesn’t get any better

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (January 19, 2012) – This week it was announced that the popular ESPN Mike & Mike in the Morning Show will again be broadcasting live from the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am on April 9, 2012 at Barefoot Resort’s Dye Club. Those special 6-days in April are the perfect time for a Myrtle Beach area golf trip.

Consider this – great springtime weather, morning rounds of golf on your choice of courses that fit every skill level and budget, afternoons watching the Masters, evenings filled with great restaurants, entertainment and gaming and topping it all off with a Monday Pro-Am that attracts great names from both golf and entertainment.

Call our golf specialist today at (800) 682-5699 and let them get you started on a marvelous golf vacation.

It’s going to be a great year

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (January 5, 2012) – By the time you read this BLOG entry, I’m sure you’ve received a fair share of Happy New Year and Best Wishes type greetings. You’ve probably made some resolutions and like a few you may have broken them, too.

My resolution is simple. Get up and down for Par more often. It will take some practice on the chipping and putting greens, but that’s fine. However, if spring arrives and improvement is not noticeable, a lesson may be required.

I do not drive the ball with distance anymore and I’m not as accurate using those mid and long irons. Chipping and putting can keep me competitive for years and years to come. A good short game isn’t just for those of us that may be distance challenged.

Here’s a Myrtle Beach Tip that’s guaranteed game improvement. On the first day of your golf trip have one of our golf specialist schedule a mid-morning tee time. Ask them to arrange for the course’s teaching professional to give your group a 30-minute short game clinic before that tee time. Take another 30-minutes to practice what you’ve learned. I promise your golf scores will improve with just one additional up and down each round. Guaranteed.

Time is running out.

NORTH MYRETLE BEACH, SC (December 24, 2011) – Between now and December 31, 2011 Direct Air round-trip flight vouchers are available for purchase for just $169.00, including all taxes and fees! The vouchers are good for travel between January 12, 2012 and October 31, 2012. You can purchase up to 20 vouchers without travel dates, or passenger names. The vouchers are good on all round-trip flights to Myrtle Beach. Direct Air services Niagara Falls, NY/Toronto, CN; Newark, NJ/New York City; Columbus, OH; Orlando West/Lakeland, FL; Plattsburgh, NY/Montreal, CN; Pittsburgh, PA; Springfield/Central, IL and Worcester/Boston. MA. Purchase online at http://www.visitdirectair.com/sale/takeyourpick-2011/.

With vouchers in-hand the next step is to gather your group and determine a date for your golf trip to Myrtle Beach. The rest is easy. Simply turn all the planning and details over to the golf specialists at Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts. Regardless of the time you’ve chosen to visit, you can be assured your accommodations and tee times will be just what you’re looking for. http://www.myrtlebeachgolf.net/ or (800) 682-5699.

Price Points

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (December 9, 2011) – A graphic artist friend has a sign on his wall – Price • Quality • Service: Pick Two. The message is pretty straightforward. You cannot have all three and in today’s economy more and more buyers are starting at price. The golf packaging industry is being impacted by those same price influences.

The experienced Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts golf team is well equipped to meet your price parameters. They can put you on some great golf courses and provide comfortable accommodations well within your budget. Of course regardless of the package they build for your group, there’s always a ton of value-added.

The first steps to a great package is getting your group together and determine a time of year for the trip, agree on a price point and gather any specific golf course requests. Armed with that information put the burden of planning your trip in the hands of one of our golf specialists at (800) 682-5699. Armed with their expertise and your input you can rest assured you’ll have the very best package available in the Myrtle Beach Area!

Tee It Forward: A new program from PGA and USGA

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (November 25, 2011) – During the past 10-days I’ve had an opportunity to play three outstanding Myrtle Beach Area golf courses – the highly acclaimed Kings North at Myrtle Beach National; the Jack Nicklaus Signature course, The Long Bay Club and a perennial Myrtle Beach must play the Palmetto Course at Myrtlewood Golf Club.

My intention was to try this new national initiative from the PGA of America and the United States Golf Association. Simply stated it’s a program that encourages the golfer to choose a set of tees based on their driver distance. Admittedly distance challenged, my driver in normal conditions travels 200-225 yards. At that level the recommended 18-hole yardage is 5200-6000.

The golf courses were all in great shape, but some rain the previous few days produced damp fairways and little roll. Still at each Par 3 and Par 5 I was able to swing at a green with something other than a 5-wood, or more. It was enjoyable hitting some low and midirons for a change. Even on the Par 4s I had an opportunity to go at the pin on a few shorter holes.

We all like the challenge of taking-on a golf course at its most difficult setting. However, for the pure enjoyment of the game and to play a little faster, Tee it Forward.