Sunday, June 23, 2013

2013 A Great Trip

C. Mathers with trophy
Well, almost one month has passed and I think we had a successful trip this year.  No arrests, no hospital trips, etc.  Just great camaraderie, some decent golf courses and the occasional good golf shot.  Plus about 6 livers killed.

With two and 1/2 wins, the trophy goes  to Virginia Beach with first-timer C. Mathers.  Death metal guitarist by night and not a bad golfer by day.

FYI - we did get some partial rain checks from Prestwick, so we will be able to play there next year for half price.  So I'll go ahead and suggest that we play there again.

Make sure to put the weekend following Memorial Day on your calendar now.

Until next time......


Monday, May 20, 2013

Pairings 2013



In case the new guys didn't know, every day is a captain's choice.  As we are on vacation, the last thing any of us needs is to get upset about our golf game.  So, several years ago we shifted to a captain's choice format and added a little friendly competition.  I think it originally started when Charlie was looking for the cart girl at 8 AM for shots of Jack because his game had gone south.

Here are the pairings for this year. As is always the case, there may be someone you don't play with, and as far as I can tell you won't play with anyone more than once.

Using a simple spreadsheet here is the "rotation".  Sixteen spots A-P that rotate.

I initially drew names at random to fill spots A-P.  However, I wanted to make sure that new guys (David C. and Curtis) played with his "sponsor" or at least someone they knew on day one so when either the new guy or the sponsor was drawn I added the other.  Other than that the draw is purely random.


Friday, May 10, 2013

Information and Basic Rules

Basic Information -

We are three weeks til Myrtle.  Be reminded that with our golf package this year, lunch is included ALL four days.  We also get a couple of free beers at the clubhouse those days also.  Breakfast is NOT included.

The way this works, once we check in at the course with the golf vouchers, meal and drink vouchers will be given to us.  I have the golf vouchers.

On Friday we need to meet at Man O' War (see info. below for directions).  I will check in at the pro shop upon arrival to get the vouchers, so we can get our lunch that day prior to playing golf.

Our first tee time at Man O' War on Friday is 1:30 and we'll need to group up before hand for pairings, etc.  Hopefully all will arrive in time for lunch.

Man O' War is at 5601 Leeshire Boulevard, in Carolina Forest (about a 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile west of the entrance to Legends off of Rt. 501).  From 501 turn at the light into Carolina Forest (Carolina Forest Blvd.).  After approx. 1/2 mile, turn left at the school.  At the fork, Man O War is on the right.

There are about eight showing up on Thursday to check in.  For those coming down on Friday, you/we can check in at Legends after the first round.

After each round, I will distribute the prize money for the day. The winning team receives $160 each day.  In the event of a tie, like day one last year, we will  declare a definitive winner based on a tie-breaker (going with the lowest score on the #1 handicap hole and if still tied, moving to #2 handicap, the #3 until a winner is determined).  Like two years ago at Heathland, if there is a tie and we cannot complete the round due to weather, the money will be split.

Terry - don't forget to bring the trophy

For dinners on Saturday and Sunday, we will follow the tradition of spaghetti and jambalaya respectively.

After conversation with a few people, we will go with this rooming list...
1 - T Wilson, C. Mathers, K Mathers, G Dunn
2 - D Lane, CK Allen, M Tadyk, K Buhrdorf
3 - R Haswell, C Higgins, D Denston, T Isenberg
4 - T Haswell, B Swarthout, M Thompson, D Clemson

I will announce pairings (basically random) in a couple of weeks.

Rules for the course -

We do have to get to courses early.  It is suggested that we arrive no later than 20 minutes before the first tee time.  I tend to go by the half hour rule.  It does take time to unload cars, get balls, tees, etc. together, load up carts and get out to the tees, etc.  What you do with the extra few minutes (practice putting, go to the range, go to the john, check out the pro shop or try to get a preview of the cart girls) is up to you.   I will have directions to courses for people and I'm sure some will have GPS in their cars. 

No metal spikes allowed.  I know most people have gotten rid of metal spikes by now, but just in case.....................

No jeans allowed. 

Collared shirts are required.  No one has trouble with mock turtles, just make sure there are no t-shirts.

Condos do have washers/dryers, so don't hesitate to pack light and do laundry there.

In an unusual situation in Myrtle Beach, at our first three courses, coolers are allowed.

With Prestwick being a private club, I assume they DO NOT allow coolers. So, be subtle if you take beer on the course. Some have coolers in bags which seem to be OK.  Of course, you can buy beverages at the course.  Telling the starter that the cooler doesn't have beer, but contains your insulin might work at some public course in Virginia, but the starters in MB will ask to look in the cooler.

Remember to bring any medication you need.  That includes aspirin, Pepto or anything else for your stomach or head.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

New #16

Due to business interference, we now have a new #16.  Meet Curtis Mathers.  Curtis, the son of group co- co- founder Kyle Mathers, is a 2010 graduate of Old Dominion University with a bachelor's in history, but his true love is music.

Curtis is lead guitarist for "The Pestilence Choir."  The band has signed with a local promoter and plays mostly in the Hampton Roads area.

Curtis played golf for Ocean Lakes HS back in the day.  Having held a variety of jobs during high school and college, Curtis can tell you a true horror story of pizza delivery.

Curtis, welcome to the group!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Day 4 - Prestwick County Club


Opening in 1989 and designed by Pete and P.B. Dye, Prestwick opened as a private club.  Now accepting limited outside tee times, Prestwick has holes that feel like a links course and has some reminiscent of Harbour Town Golf Links.

A little tamer than some Dye layouts, Prestwick will be a suitable finishing course to this year's excursion.

This course has been rated by Golf Digest about one of America's best kept secrets.  Half links and half parkland, a true gem that recently replaced its greens. 

Lunch is again included after the round.

Below are three reviews and three videos to show you what we have in store.

Reviews

Review 1
Review 2
Review 3

Course Videos
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

Thursday, April 11, 2013

DAY 3 - The Witch

The Witch
Day three takes us to the dark side.  Actually this is one place I might not want to be after dark.  This is due to the isolated nature of the layout.

This is a return trip for many of us and was a requested by more than one person as a course to replay.  The third leg of the Mystical Three, lunch and two beers is also included today.

This 4 1/2 star course, as rated by Golf Digest, is located on nearly 500 acres of a combination of dense forests and wetlands.  The Witch is different from most courses in Myrtle in that there is no housing to be seen and there are no parallel fairways.  Once you step on the course, you are isolated from the rest of the world and other golfers on the course.  This course has been listed as the most under-rated course on the Grand Strand (which is hard to imagine with a 4 1/2 star rating).  However, it is also the least expensive course in the Southeastern US with that rating. 

I have requested that we start on the back nine (wooded) and finish on the front side (swamp).  Don't forget your cameras.

Check out these reviews and videos.
Witch Review 1
Witch Review 2
Witch Review 3
Witch Review 4 (most recent)

Course Video 1
Course Video 2

Friday, March 15, 2013

2013 Day 2 - The Wizard

As we approach two months until our trip, lets take a look at our second venture into the Mystical Three.

June 1 finds us next door to our first course (Man O War) with a visit to Dan Maples' Wizard.  Wizard has been rated 4-stars by Golf Digest.

Like our visit to Man O War, lunch w/two beers is included today.

Check out these reviews of the course.
Course Review 1
Course Review 2

Here is a video look at the Wizard.
Video

Saturday, March 2, 2013

2013 Day 1 - Man O' War

Man O' War #9
We are now three months away from our first tee time. Our first three courses are all part of the Mystical Golf Group.  Here is a preview of our first course for 2013.

On May 31, we will meet at the Man O' War clubhouse for our free lunch and then see what the golf gods have in store for us. Our tee time on this day is at 1:30 pm.  This was our opening course last year as well.  At the risk of losing all our earthly possessions in a bizarre golf cart accident, we begin this year's journey in the middle of a lake.

Constructed, in and around a 100 acre lake, this course contains all the challenge that are the hallmark of architect Dan Maples.

The lake at Man O' War winds throughout the course.  However, reviews say that the course is really an open layout with lots of room off the tees, water only comes into play on the most wayward of shots.  Have they ever seen us play?  Man O' War features large Bentgrass greens, a practice range and a unique marina clubhouse and is rated 4-stars by Golf Digest.

Here is a review of Man O' War done last year, as published in Myrtle Beach Online.

To give you more of a look at Man O' War, here are three course videos.
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Twenty Years at Myrtle

Twenty Years at Myrtle

King's North
Looking back at the annual pilgrimage to Myrtle Beach, I thought I would throw out a few memories, then look at my favorite courses played.

This year will mark the twenty-first year of the golf trip, but the 20th at Myrtle.  If you look at older posts, prior to last year's trip, I talked about how the trip got started.  In the 20 years in Myrtle there are several memories that stand out.

In no particular order.....
-Greyhounds with gas
-The old guy getting pissed at Kyle for grilling
-Charlie sleeping off a bad back in a 100 degree condo
-Chicken wings and hiccups
-$2 pitchers at the bowling alley after getting rained out of golf
-Ezekiel at Wicked Stick
-Tornado and hail storm at Angel's Trace
-Mayday miniature golf
-Dishwasher sudfest
-Four hour nine hole round at Sandpiper Bay in a monsoon
-Lightening at Diamond Back
-The hot tub shoot down
-Thinking it was a good idea to try to go swimming at 1am
-"Can I get a bag of ginger ale?"
-Golf cart in the pond
-and many more

My Favorite Courses over the Years

While we haven't played most of the upscale courses at Myrtle Beach, with all the choices there is just tremendous quality on the Grand Strand.  Over the 20 years we have been able to get out on 58 different courses.

In alphabetical order, here are a "baker's dozen" of my favorites.

Heritage Club
Heritage Club - gators, lakes, great conditions in an upscale development
King's North - designed by the King (Arnold Palmer)
Legend's Heathland and Legend's Moorland - On a landscape of native grasses, scrub brush and a great variety of holes, you get a links feel and some great individual holes on these two courses.
Pearl East -  One of the best collection of finishing holes on the Strand
Prestwick Country Club - Originally a private club with members such as the Gatlin Brothers, Prestwick is a tamer Pete Dye course than Moorland, but still has some memorable holes and traditional Dye design features.  We get to see this one again in 2013.
Players Club at St. James Plantation
St. James Plantation Member's Club and Player's Club - Way up north, these courses were isolated and provided a private club feel.
TPC of Myrtle Beach - once the host of the Senior Tour finale, just a great layout.
Tiger's Eye - a Tim Cate design as part of the Big Cats.  Was at one time listed in the top 100 in America.
Witch - Another course in this year's line-up.  An isolated layout that features nine holes through a swamp.  Bring your cameras this year.

Two courses deserve mention.  Oyster Bay could be in this list also, but after a superintendent let the place burn out, it didn't play to our expectation.  Heather Glen could be on the list.  It looked great, but I didn't get to play it for some reason.


Monday, January 7, 2013

Meet the New Guy

NOT Dave Clemson

We have a new member joining us for the 2013 edition of our golf trip.  He is David Clemson.  Dave comes to us from the esteemed Mount Vernon Country Club in Alexandria, VA.  He is a native Virginian, grew up in Pulaski County, and attended James Madison University.

Dave is a 15-year veteran of the ATF & E as a forensic accountant.  He has assured us that his expertise primarily lies in tobacco smuggling, fire arms tracking and arson for profit.  Though during his "interview weekend" he shows that he has a pretty good handle on the alcohol part as well.

Dave lives in northern Virginia and has known Randy and Mark T. for years through youth league baseball.

Dave, his wife and his children (one boy and one girl) are excited for Dave to join the MB tour.