With the recent reopening of three golf courses and with two additional courses set to reopen in the coming weeks, the “Grand Strand” will be back to its full complement of 90 courses, including 80 that are open to the public. Earlier this year, winterkill ran rampant through the area, forcing many of the courses to close and replace greens.
With the recent reopening of three golf courses and anticipated reopening of two more in the coming weeks, the golf-centric “Grand Strand” region centered in Myrtle Beach, S.C. should be back to full strength with approximately 90 courses, including about 80 that are open to the public, before the fall golf season, reported The Sun News of Myrtle Beach.
C&RB reported how courses in the Myrtle Beach market closed this summer to replace or repair greens due to damage from winterkill, a term used to describe grass that is damaged or killed by harsh winter conditions.
The Sun News reported that eight course reopened between June and mid-August. Joining them, the Legends Resort Moorland Course reopened on August 27 with new Champion ultradwarf Bermudagrass greens. It closed June 25, and over the past couple months some trees were removed, on-course restrooms were remodeled and some beautification projects were completed, The Sun News reported.
Indigo Creek Golf Club has also opened with new Sunday Bermuda greens, The Sun News reported. The course closed in early June, and additional work done to it included drainage and irrigation improvements, some bunker renovations, and the removal of trees to improve playability and course conditions, reported The Sun News. The course also has new carts, and clubhouse improvements include new carpeting and renovations to the ceiling and bar.
At the end of August, about 45 resident volunteers spent a day helping to clean up and beautify the Indigo Creek course, The Sun News reported.
Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links, closed since June 11, expected to reopen on September 7th with new Champion greens, George Gore, the course’s managing partner, told The Sun News.
Brick Landing Plantation in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., closed on June 28 to replace its Jones Bermuda greens with Sunday Bermuda and is on pace for a reopening on September 10th for members and September 12th for the public. The property’s restaurant has been open throughout the course renovations, reported The Sun News.
Courses that were previously entirely or partially closed for greens repairs and reopened by mid-August were Long Bay Club, Myrtlewood Golf Club’s PineHills Course, Tradition Club, Diamondback Golf Club, Aberdeen Country Club, International Club of Myrtle Beach, Panther’s Run Golf Links, Lion’s Paw Golf Links and Sandpiper Bay Golf Club.
In addition, Wedgefield Plantation Country Club in Georgetown, S.C. has reopened to members and the public, The Sun News reported. The course had been closed since June 2016, when its owner shut the doors claiming the course was losing money. Harry Karetas, the owner of Terminal Storage in North Myrtle Beach, purchased the course last August and is leasing it to Georgetown native and resident Mitch Thompkins, who is operating it.
Thompkins said he is back-ordered on sand for many of the course’s bunkers, but he received enough to fill bunkers on holes 16, 17 and 18 and is playing the remaining sand traps as waste bunkers until they are filled. Greenside bunkers will be filled before fairway bunkers, The Sun News reported. Some fairway bunkers are being converted to waste bunkers and other greenside and fairway bunkers to grass bunkers.
Eventually Thompkins expects to have eight to 10 grass bunkers, and nine fairway waste bunkers, and there will still be approximately 30 traditional greenside bunkers. The elimination of some traditional bunkers will cut down on course maintenance, The Sun News reported.
The course is hosting a Shriners tournament and VFW tournament in September and will also start First Tee youth programming, The Sun News reported.
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