Troon North Moonument Course Back In Business After Restoration Project

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

SCOTTSDALE, AZ. — After a four-month restoration project by Tom Lehman, which focused on the greens and bunkering, the high regarded Troon North Monument Golf Course, located in Scottsdale, AZ., is again open for business.

The redesign was actually a step back in time, if you will, as the green complexes were restored to their former size and shape when this track was first constructed by Tom Weiskopf. To ensure he stuck faithfully to that original design, Lehman and his work crew utilized the same GPS coordinates as Weiskopf .

The putting surfaces were re-sodded with creeping A4 bent grass and the fringe areas were redone using TifGrand semi-dwarf Bermuda grass. What came from that are large greens that run extremely well with subtle breaks throughout the surfaces.

Both the greens and bunkers on the Monument Course at Troon North have been taken back to their original Tom Weiskopf specs, after restoration by Tom Lehman.

The second part of the upgrades were to the bunkers and that included updating the drainage in all greenside and fairway traps, new bunker liners and new Pioneer bunker sand.

The renovations at Monument are the first major changes to the award-winning course in a decade.

“We are committed to providing our guests with the finest course conditions on the planet at our flagship facility,” said Dana Garmany, the chairman and CEO of Troon, in a news article. “Through these green and bunker enhancements on Monument, we are proactively improving and reinvesting in one of the top daily-fee courses in the nation.”

The Monument’s sister course, Pinnacle, will also undergo a facelift in the spring and summer of 2018, meaning the two will retain their place in the upper echelons of public golf courses not only in Arizona but in the USA.

Troon North’s Monument course is ranked number 58 on GOLF Magazine's ranking of the 2016/2017 "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the United States.” In addition, GOLF Magazine named Monument the  No. 4 golf course in Arizona in their ranking of "Best Courses You Can Play in Arizona,” which is just part of the long list of accolades it, and Pinnacle, have earned over the last few years.

*With file from morningread.com

Mom's Suggestion Pays Off In Big Way For Headcover CEO

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

PHOENIX, AZ. — Don’t ever let anyone tell you that parents don’t know what they’re talking about. Just ask Jane Spicer.

As a teen, Spicer was into making hand puppets with the hankering to own her own car.  Through some wise advise from her mother, she got that vehicle … along with a company that is renowned throughout the golf world for making the most popular headcovers.

Long before that type of golf gear was popular, Spicer took the bull by the horns — and yes, she probably has crafted more than one of those animals — during the 38 years Daphne’s Headcovers has been in business.

“Headcovers just didn’t exist and I was making puppets, and my mom, Daphne, the company’s namesake, had a customer suggest we make head covers. My mom bribed me and said, “I’ll tell you what. If you sell enough of these I’ll buy you a car. I was almost 16, so I made some samples and went out and gave a bunch of bad sales pitches and Daphne’s Headcovers was born.”

While the idea has become so popular that two high echelon pros use them — Dustin Johnson has a black lab on his driver and Lydia Ko has the Snowman on hers. But back when she was starting out, sales weren’t all that easy, Spicer noted. And in 2017, Daphne’s teamed up with one of the biggest hitters ever on the PGA TOUR, when she teamed up with John Daly who stated, “So, make sure when you cover  up that hot driver, make sure it’s a ‘Grip It and Rip It’ John Daly Lion Headcover by Daphne’s!”

“We really had to work at it. I’d sale I was a sales rep, and as a 16-year-old sales rep, they wouldn’t let me in the golf shop. Then I’d say I was selling animal headcovers  and they’d go, ‘What? What’s that?’

“But, it was a slow and steady growth and now we’re in over 75 countries,” with all a menagerie that includes cats, penguins, moose, tigers, lions , well you name a species and Daphne’s has likely created some version of it. In fact, the company presently has 75 different designs on hand and turns out a new one each and every year.

What is perhaps a popular sales idea, besides the cuteness of these headcovers, is that they all carry an unbeatable guarantee.

“We are the only head cover company in the world with a lifetime guarantee,” said Spicer, who acts as the company CEO. “Our quality remains our passion.”

Besides driver covers, Daphne’s also has sleeves for fairway woods and hybrids and they’re available at a number of golfing outlets or through the company’s website at daphnesheadcovers.com.

The company is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ., with a factories in China and Indonesia.

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail a tribute to Canadian architect Thompson

By Gord Montgomery - INSIDE GOLF

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA — Even though the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is miles south of the 49th Parallel, there are hints of Canadiana spread out all over this world famous destination. After all, the man that created the Trail was tutored by the best known architect to ever come from the Great White North.

Among many others, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., was a disciple of Stanley Thompson’s back in the day. As such, it’s easy to see that the Canadian’s ideas, and philosophies on building outstanding golf courses with exceptional playability and sight lines, took root with the famed American designer.

As for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2017, it stretches through greater Alabama. The Trail itself boasts 26 different courses at 11 sites, running from Hampton Cove in the north down to Magnolia Grove in the southern part of the state. The Trail’s terrain varies from location to location, from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the north to the flatlands of the Gulf of Mexico in the south. All the courses are within an easy drive of each other, making them accessible and well worth the travel time to play.

Following in his mentor’s footsteps, Jones was of the mind that a score of par should be a challenge to one’s game and skill, or as he put it, “not easy to come by.” At the same time, if that number escapes you, holes are set up so that a bogey isn’t all that hard to come by.

Another key element of his teacher’s lessons are the visuals presented at the courses he built. Whether you’re looking from tee to green, or in the reverse direction, the lines are true and it’s easy to see the obstacles that lay in front of you, or those that you’ve managed to avoid on your way to the putting surface.

The Beginnings

Interestingly enough, Jones wasn’t the first designer approached about constructing a golf trail through Alabama in hopes of encouraging tourism. Big names like Nicklaus and Palmer turned aside the chance to put their names on this golfing paradise and eventually Jones was lured out of retirement to create this ever-lasting legacy to his, and his mentor’s, name.

Since the inception of the Trail, tourism has boomed in Alabama, exactly what the visionaries hoped for when this idea first arose. It’s said that the state’s visitor numbers have risen sharply from 2 million a year to over 8 million now, thanks in large part to the Trail and its unique, fun, and gorgeous offerings. While the Trail wasn’t created to make money, the latest stats available suggest there are more than 500,000 rounds played on it each year, making for a huge economic spinoff not only for the courses but the area’s hotels, restaurants, craft breweries and businesses.

In constructing the Trail, Jones adhered to what Thompson preached: 1) unforgettable views; 2) natural features such as rivers, lakes, trees, good soil; and, 3) environment.
He also followed, at least for the most part, the best way to lay out a course as seen by his Canadian mentor — an easy, aesthetic start with a long, strong finish.

While Thompson felt there shouldn’t be any par 3 holes before the 4th or 5th assignments of the day or after the 16th hole, Jones did step outside the parameters here, at on at least a couple of his designs. At The Shoals, The Schoolmaster has a beautiful little short hole up second on the scorecard while Fighting Joe wraps up its demands with par 3s on both nine and 18 .

But when you look at what he created, not only for golfers but for the State of Alabama, Jones can certainly be forgiven for those small flaws!

Kananaskis Country's Mt. Lorette As Good As New

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

KANANASKIS COUNTRY — To hear Bob Paley tell the tale, the expected closure of the Kananaskis Country Golf Course back in 2013 wasn’t expected to be all that long. Little did he know the trouble that was tumbling down the mountainside.

Paley, the had pro at the gorgeous mountainside tracks in Alberta, explained that on June 20, 2013, he received a phone call from the courses’ GM, Darren Robinson, about some rain that was falling.

“He told me, “I think we’re going to be closed for a couple of weeks,” Paley told a group of specially invited guests who were involved in one of a dozen Sneak Peek events surrounding the reopening of the Mt. Loretta course.

That “couple of weeks,” turned into a much longer spell but now 18 of the 36 heavenly holes have been restored after a hellacious four years of planning, work stoppages due to a change in provincial government, and more bad weather. While Lorette is back in tip-top shape and ready for the general public to return next spring, the Mt. Kidd course is still in the rebuild stage. It too though will be open for play in 2018.

Golfers from Alberta, and the rest of the world, will soon be flocking back through the gates at the beautiful Kananaskis Country Golf Course to play Mt. Lorette in the spring, and Mt. Kidd in June or July.

This all started when the tiny Evan Thomas Creek roiled over its banks, joining the Kananaskis River and running rampant over the pristine golf playpens built back in the early 1980s by the Conservative Government with money from the Heritage Trust Fund.

Robinson, often choked up by his recollections of those tumultuous times, noted that “two to three thousand trees,” along with boulders and silt were spilled across the two courses. In the end, days of heavy rain falling on a huge snowpack in the mountains resulted in 32 of the 36 holes being partially or fully destroyed.

The GM called in Gary Browning, a Calgary golf course architect who had lost out on the original design to the famed Robert Trent Jones, to assess the damages. Browning reassured Robinson that he could handle the task of a clean-up/rebuild, though he admitted quietly the task did appear overwhelming, a thought he wasn’t sharing with anyone else.

While it looks anything but intimidating here, the Kananaskis River along with the Evan Thomas, caused massive damage to the Rocky Mountain beauties when the overflowed their banks in June 2013.

To speed up the recovery of the area, 625,000 square feet of Alberta-grown sod was put down on the fairways. The sand for the spectacular bunker complexes around Lorette was brought in from Golden, B.C., and the grass for the greens, which were in unbelievable condition for the third week of September, was grown in Abbotsford, B.C.

Mt. Lorette did have a few minor tweaks done as it was restored, including the moving of the green on Hole 14, a par five. The putting surface was shifted away from the river and a wildlife corridor and while that took away a beautiful sightline from the previous layout, the new green still makes a par on this hole a great score.

Another change that may not even be noticeable to some is the change to the green complex on No. 18. A false front has been added on this par 4, making the approach shot a little tougher as anything that land short ends up stopping in its tracks instead of trundling up to the green.

But all in all, the restoration here is spectacular and now the course goes to sleep for the winter. But be assured, when Mt. Lorette opens in the spring and Mt. Kidd joins the party in late June or July, the Kananaskis Country Golf Course will be everything it ever was previously —  even if it did take a bit longer than a couple of weeks to reopen.

While no rates or online booking dates have yet been set for the 2018 season, they will be announced in the coming weeks and everyone will be made aware of those. Or as Paley put it, “That will be the worst kept secret of the year!”

The view from the 18th tee box at Mt. Lorette is sure to stick with you as you wrap up a great round of golf at Kananaskis.

The Ka'anapali Alii is a condo unit that's a cut above in Maui

By Gord Montgomery (iG)
LAHAINA, MAUI - If you're looking for luxury as well as ocean access on Ka'anapali Beach in Maui, then you need go no farther than the Alii condo resort.

Nestled up tight to the beautiful blue Pacific, the Ka’anapali Alii has everything families or golfing buddies could want for comfort, convenience and amenities.

In an area of the world where it seems every resort amenity comes at a cost, the Alii is different. The 263 1- and 2-bedroom units boast free Internet, free parking, no daily resort fee and maybe best of all, sun, sand and surf that cost you nothing to enjoy.

The fully furnished units here range in size from 1,500 to 1,900 square feet with two bathrooms, a separate dining area and spacious lanais to enjoy the sun and the outstanding ocean and courtyard views. As well, there are three clay-based tennis courts with a pro on staff for those looking to play a few sets or pick up a few pointers. And if you're into golf, you are only minutes away from the famed Ka'anapali pair of the Royal and Kai courses.

The wonderful courtyard grounds here include a heated swimming pool, aa quiet pool, a kids' pool and two hot tubs. Also on the grounds is a great outdoor grilling area, where guests/owners are free to whip up a feast for their family and friends. Or, if needed, there is a grill master now on site to lend a hand with those big cooking jobs. As well, there is an herb garden right beside the grills, meaning that whatever spicing up you feel your meal needs, it's close at hand.

Top all that off with a state of the art fitness centre to maybe work off any excess indulging you do, and a spa to aid in working out the stressers of everyday life and you know you've found a special spot in paradise.

The friendliness of everyone encamped at the Kaanapali Alii is noticeable, especially in the common areas around the pools, bar-b-que and pavilion areas on the spacious grounds. Several owners mentioned that as a key selling point for them and visitors are always made to feel welcome, with the first question often asked around the grilling area is, "Where are you from and how long are you here?" leading to lengthy conversations about the weather back home - and usually how much snow they just received there - as well as things to do on this beautiful island.

Another nice benefit of staying at the Alii is the fact they partner with a group of hotels and restaurants along the beautiful Ocean Walk immediately in front of this property, to provide charge accounts to your condo. The Kaanapali Alii doesn't have an eating establishment of its own, but that's of little consequence given the partnerships established with such places at the Lahaina Grill, the Ka'anapali Golf Course, The Westin, the Marriott's restaurants and bars and their health club and the Maui Sheraton which both feature fine dining choices.

Also close by is Whaler's Village, featuring a unique variety of upscale botique shops featuring not only local clothing and jewelry designs but artwork and great eating spots. The good news is it is a quick five-minute walk along the famed Ka'anaplie Beach.

So, if you want luxury and a spot right in the heart of one of the most vibrant parts of Maui, you need look no farther than the Ka'anapali Alii for all those special touches that makes a vacation here an extra special time.

For more on the Alii and rates, call them toll-free at 1-888-722-6284 or their website is at kaanapalialii.com.

Maui Nui GC proves writer overlooked great golf deal

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

If you're heading to Maui and planning to golf while you're there, please don't make the same mistake I made for several years - driving past the Maui Nui Golf Club without stopping.

Many Canadians find themselves stayig in the Kihei area of the island and likely drive by the fairways that line the Piilani Highway never really giving this playground a second thought, thanks in large part to it being overshadowed by its more famous cousins in Wailea and Ka'anapali.

Well, think again and hit the brakes my friends, for this is one place you want to tee it up.

Lief Smith, the director of golf at the Maui Nui, said people are truly taken off-guard when they first set foot on this layout, designed by a Western Canadian, Bill Newis.

"What we have here is a lot of people see the neighbourhood just off the highway and think "private club," and costs that run upwards of $300 a round," Smith explained. "Our golf course is not a resort course," with wide open, hard-to-miss landing areas. "You can have all sorts of challenges out here," especially if you set up on the wrong starting blocks.

"From the Blues or the Gold championship tee boxes you're going to get a far bigger challenge," than from the more forward boxes," warned Smith. "Blind tee shots. Forced carries. Long 220-yard second shots. Elevation changes. We have some water and the wind to deal with late in the afternoon usually."

Maui Nui's director of golf, Lief Smith.

This par 71 layout has a challenging start on the front nine with some steep demands placed upon your skill from the get go. No. 1 is a demanding 409 yard par-4 from the whites followed by a par-5 that is no cakewalk. Then holes four through seven, in particular, can put some big crooked numbers on your scorecard but the good news is the course softens after that.

"You want to try and get out of 4, 5, 6 and 7 with a par, or a bogey at worst, and if you do that you'll feel really great about your round, because once you get to eight, nine and the back nine, there are lots of scoring opportunities," Smith pointed out. "But literally, two through eight, with the exception of three, a short par-3, are pretty tough holes."

One of the past complaints about this course, when it was called the Elleair Golf Club, was that it was too long from the front tees. That issue has now been resolved under new ownership, making this a family-friendly locale.

"We were built in 1986 and the forward tee boxes were something like 5,800 yards," said Smith. "In the past eight to 10 months we've put six new tee boxes in that shortened up our par-5s and some of our longer par-4s that brought us back down to around 5,200. That's made it a lot more enjoyable for the golfers looking to play the forward tee boxes."

The thing is, no matter what tee you play from, the Maui Nui is a surprise if you haven't teed it up here before. It features interesting slopes and angles, both on the fairways and the greens. As well, for the most part, the holes aren't so demanding that you need to hit long irons/hybrids/fairway woods into greens on your approach shots ... as long as you play from the right tees.

Yes, the first first hole is a challenge and there is that previously mentioned four-hole stretch on the front nine but beyond that, well placed tee shots are rewarded with reasonable length approaches to the putting surfaces leading to an enjoyable day on a fun golf course.

Another great thing about Maui Nui, that many may not be aware of, is that there are great deals in place to play here. On an island where golf can run upwards of $200 a round, and more, this place offers great pricing, especially if you want to golf lots, like many Canadians do in the winter.

"Our highest rate all year is $119 (during peak season) but what we have is the Maui Nui Player's Program. No other golf course has a program like this," where with that card in tow green fees are slashed dramatically, explained Smith.

And by dramatically, we mean dramatically.

For a one-time fee to enter the popular program, a person pays anywhere from $56 at the most during winter prime time to a low of $24 during the summer months per round, with no limit on the number of rounds. As well, that purchase price includes two free rounds and some driving range tokens to work out the kinks on the course's lighted range.

"You can play every day of the week with that. We have people that purchase this that play three to four times a week," said Smith, adding there's also a great short-term deal here. "We do have a limited weekly pass, for only $349 for a couple," who can get more than their fill with that pass.

So if you're in Maui and looking for affordable golf at a great facility, don't overlook Maui Nui because what it offers is beyond what is expected.

After all, Maui Nui gives you something different from any other resort course you're going to play here. With the least amount of wind, the least rain on Maui not to mention the least costly rounds, this is a place to play. Because truthfully, Maui Nui gives you some of the best golfing challenges you'll find on the island at a price that saw the course recently voted as America's Best Value by GolfAdvisor.

For more on this course, go to their website at mainuigolfclub.com.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He has written for Inside Golf for the past nine years. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf.

Wailea Blue offering more than just a round of golf

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

WAILEA, MAUI - As the business world of golf changes, so must golf courses change their offerings to the public in order to keep people interested in using their facilities. And that doesn't always mean just offering services dealing strictly with the game itself.

That's the case at the Wailea Blue Course in Maui, where general manager Barry Halle is still offering up some great golf deals. But now, there's more on tap than just golf, although the golf course does still come into play.

The Blue's GM, Barry Halle.

Halle explained that the GolfB.C.-owned course has stepped outside the box to draw non-golfers to his grounds for a Maui-oriented attraction - the beautiful sunsets.

"We have the Sunset Golf Tour," Halle explained, noting this is for anyone that wants a unique, Made-In-Maui evening. "A couple can come out late in the afternoon before sunset. We give them a brochure that highlights some spots on the course to stop where the best views are. As part of the package, if they want, we'll provide them with a bottle of wine, a couple of complimentary wine glasses and they can work their way around to our 17th fairway where they watch the sun go down into the ocean."

Sunsets like this are one of the new offerings that the Wailea Blue Golf Course is offering up, for those who are non-golfers.

As for the golf, well, the course that set the standard for such playgrounds in Maui, still remains a staple for residents and visitors alike. And  even though there were some changes a couple of years back, the history of the layout remains much the same.

"We've tried to keep it the classic course it was," Halle said, referring to the pro shop moving and the nines being switched. "We tried to minimize any major changes. People come here year after year and they love our big, wide fairways," along with the big greens, bunkers and holes.

"When the course was first built, it was actually the first thing built in Wailea," so the course architect had lots of room to lay down his work of art. "It was designed with character. The neat thing about it is you don't have to stress the tee shot, you're not going to spray it out of bounds most times," said Halle. "The equalizer for the low handicapper might be the greens. They're not the easiest greens to get used to," with elevation changes and Bermuda grass with its finicky grain.

The Blue is an old fashioned sort of course, with large fairways and greens, and yes, large bunkers as well.

As for drawing players into this course, the Blue does offer some great deals. Halle said there are a couple in particular that will interest Canadians, given the weak state of our dollar.

"One thing we've tried to position the Blue with in the golf market on Maui is it's the course with the best value. We offer a resort golf experience but we do offer value," including early-bird specials each day from 7 to 8:30 a.m. where players can save upwards of $30 per round. As well, the Twilight Rate starts here at noon each day, and there is a Super Twilight rate.

Something else that's new at the Blue is the 9-hole round. That was something that couldn't be offered before because the way the course set up, the clubhouse was only approached at the start and end of a round. That's now a thing of the past however with the new building in play.

Kids are also welcome at the Blue, and receive special attention. "After three o'clock, with an adult, kids are free," Halle pointed out. "And until the run out, we offer junior (rental) sets for free. We try to encourage kids. During the summer we do a family rate," and there is also a 4-passenger golf cart so dad (or mom) can load the kids up for a round while the other parent if off elsewhere taking care of business.

Above all else though Halle stressed, there is one major objective that the Blue, and Wailea Golf, have in mind - customer service.

"First and foremost we're really committed to offering a first-class experience. We want people to come here and  just enjoy themselves. We haven't cut back on amenities or the service levels we offer. If anything, we've tried to step it up and yet our rates are pretty much the same. We try to stay on top of trends but the one thing we're very committed to is the golf experience, the experience people get when they come here."

And at the Blue Course, be you a golfer or not, you're sure to enjoy your outing here whether it's in search of birdies, or sunsets, or both.

Southern Strand courses offer feel of Old South

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

Murrells Inlet, SC - There may be no finer way to end a golf trip than by playing lots of golf, so it was decided to play 54 holes within 36 hours to wrap up a wonderful journey to a golfing Mecca in the U.S.

For the final two days in Myrtle Beach, it was all about Lowcountry golf, with rounds at Heritage Club and Pawley's Plantation in one day and then wrapping things up at the wonderful Caledonia Golf & Fish Club the next. What made this easily doable was the proximity of the first two courses and the third not much of a drive either.

The first taste of this style of golf, which has a different feel than that in the northern part of the Myrtle Beach area showed the area to look and feel, like you'd imagine Southern golf feels. The homes are magnificent and the oak trees even more so, with huge wing spans that drape over the fairways. Those limbs are draped heavily in Spanish moss adding to the look. On to of all that, the continual sightings of alligators on the shores and waters throughout the courses drove home the fact you were someplace special.

The Heritage Club, the first 18 we tested in the Southern Strand area, is a great all-round deal for golfers. For a single, reasonable price you get your round of golf on a good course and are also treated to a buffet breakfast, lunch and two beer or pop.

The Heritage Club offers wide fairways, but also some big old Oak trees which can prove hazardous to well-struck shots.

The golf here is great with scenic holes at every turn, where back in the days of slavery this was home to a huge rice plantation. In the recent past, the greens have been revamped and are now  seeded with Champions Bermuda, a blend where the ball rolls quick and true. The protection for the greens comes from deep bunkers, which are plentiful.

Playing to a lengthy 6,600 yards off the back tees, and that's a even bigger number when the sea breezes come to life, this popular playpen also has boxes measuring 6,300, 5,700 and 5,200 meaning anyone and everyone can enjoy this taste of Southern golf, not to mention the great all-around deal.

Next up on the day's list of jobs-to-do was to take on Pawley's Plantation Golf & Country Club, a Jack Nicklaus signature course which combines the feel of both parkland and links styles of golf. This is one of the bigger tracks in the area, topping out at over 7,100  yards but playing to more modest numbers like 6,500 and 6,100 from the blue and white tees. The front two boxes clock in at 5,500 and 4,900 yards.

As the name suggests, Pawley's Island offers lot of water to navigate.

Since this is a resort course, like Heritage, the fairways here are quite generous and the greens large. Again though, there is lots of sand on Pawley's and with plenty of water as well, it becomes a course that's as much about strategy and shot placement as it is about hitting it big. After all, three of the four par 5s on this track are under 500 yards, but that doesn't take anything away from their difficulty.

As for Pawley’s short holes, one of the most intimidating holes here is the shortest. The 13th test is nothing but Lowcountry marsh, reeds, water and finally, a green which sits above all of that. Lengthwise, the hole tops the scales at a meagre 150 yards, and plays as short as 40 yards from the front tee, but as the course attendant noted, "It's the shortest par 5 that Jack ever designed," referring of course to the initial tee shot of many that find marsh instead of the putting green meaning hitting three off the tee with your do-over.

A second tough par-3 comes to life on 17, and this could easily be another signature hole. It is a bit longer than its adjacent little sister but considering the tee shot again has to cover that marshy area, it's no guaranteed birdie chance. And yes, “5” is again a real possibility here.

The final stop on our Myrtle Beach swing was a beautiful setting, and the home to another former rice plantation, the renowned Caledonia Golf & Fish Club. The facility offers a great short game practice area to get you sharpened up for what awaits you on a loop that features tighter fairways than many of the courses here, and greens that are deceptively fast and tough to read.

The hazards are many on these South Strand area courses, but if you leave the beasts alone they'll leave you alone. At least, that's the theory around here.

Even though this track lost over 200 trees to the major storms in this area last fall, you  can't tell that as the fairways are heavily bordered by massive oak trees. Given its age, this is a course that isn't overly long, playing to 6,100 yards off the blue tees but, it's said, you can safely add 200 yards to that total in the manner it plays.

This is a course where it is important you play the right tees - after all, it is such a good test that playing from too far back can become frustrating given the length of the par 4 holes in particular. Only one of those holes is under 350 yards and the three par-5s here are all well over 500 yards off the blue tees on this par-70 track.

This is a beautiful course with its trees and flowers that are nicely cut into a piece of property that while once home to rice fields is now home to a great piece of golf real estate.

Now, going 36 holes in a day and 54 in 36 hours isn't an easy thing in what can be a humid and warm climate, but trust me, it's fun. And given the number of alligator sightings our group had on the final few days, it was a fun way to wrap up a memorable trip to the great courses in this part of South Carolina.

Tidewater a tricky treat; Lots of Love at Barefoot

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

North Myrtle Beach, SC - When you travel you want to play the best courses you can, As it turned out, the courses in this part of the Grand Strand area got the best of me.

The Tidewater Golf Club is one of those unimposing setups that can catch you by surprise, especially if you underestimate its tough greens. While the fairways here are wide the greens themselves make up for that by providing a number of false fronts and subtle breaks.

There are a number of memorable holes here, including a couple of the par-3s and a pair of interesting short par-4s.

The best of the short holes has to be the 12th, known as the Wishing Well, where, if you hit your tee shot like I did into the wind, and at sea level, you wished you had played one more club. Or even two more.

Yes, there really is a green back there, although this tee shot on No. 12 at the Tidewater Golf Club is an imposing one but when you make par, or even a bogey, you can walk away with your head held high.

That tee shot has to carry the lowland marsh area on this 152 yard test and with the ball going into a long, but narrow green well protected by a phalanx of bunkers, this is anything but an easy hole.

As for an interesting par 4 hole, the one called Tar Kiln proves you don't need to be stretched out to well over 400 yards to be tough. In fact, with this one coming in at an even 300 yards off the white tees, it looks like a birdie hole from the get-go. That is, of course, if you get your ball on the green in regulation and don't land it in one of the big bunkers that front the putting surface, or worse yet, tug the shot to the left side of the green. There, the bunker sits about 30 feet below the green which calls for a huge swing - and a lot of luck - to land anywhere near the green, let alone close to the hole.

This is a courses set in amongst a housing development but with a difference - you know the homes are there but they are set well enough back from the fairways to let you swing away without (too much) fear of smacking one. However, interestingly enough, the homeowners are nice enough to let you retrieve your ball from their premises, if you can reach it without setting foot on their property (I didn't get to try this out firsthand, so I just have to believe what the starter told me).

This hole on the back nine is a short par 4, but again, accuracy off the tee and with your approach shot are key to success as all sorts of trouble awaits a wayward volley.

From the tips this course measures out at just over 7,000 yards, but since it's at sea level, the whites which were used on this day, with the wind up, played to a fairly tough 6,300 yards.

The only downside to this course, which would be a great one to walk, is that that idea is spoiled  by the huge distances between greens and tees. In fact, some of those cart rides from Point A ti B seemed so long you wondered what the fare in a taxi would have been and if it would have equalled the green fee paid to play on this day. Well, probably not, but you get the idea.

That aside, this track has received great acclaim by notable publications, including being the only course ever to be honoured as the Best New Course by both Golf Digest and Golf Magazine.

So I guess their raters weren't bothered by those lengthy and possibly expensive cab fares.

Lots of Love for Davis

As one of four courses in the Barefoot Resort area, the Davis Love III course is seen by many as the top track among the layouts also designed by Pete Dye, Greg Norman and Tom Fazio. In fact, the foursome was so popular this fourplex was named as the 2017 North American Golf Resort Of The Year.

The Love Course at Barefoot Resort is said to be the most popular of the four-course layout, and from the first tee box, it's easy to see why.

The Love track is yet another one with large, generous landing areas but you often find your approach shots are into several false-fronted greens that are said to have much in common with those found at Pinehurst #2.

One of the interesting things about this course, and the other three, are the grasses used. There is a mixture of Tif-sport Bermuda for the approach areas; the greens are a newly acquired Champion Ultra Dwarf and the rough is seeded with 419 Bermuda. Not sure what all that means but it seems to work as the Love course on this day was in immaculate condtion.

The Love namesake is more of a links-style layout than its brothers, with a number of waste areas scattered. While there isn't a lot of water it is there so you can't just whale away without caution. The greens, while large, don't have a lot of undulation to them so if you can hit your putts straight, which I seem to have trouble doing, you can score well here.

The Love Course offers up a glimpse of the past, with a reconstructed ruins of a Plantation home from the Deep South.

One of the most interesting holes on this 7,000 yard layout from the tips, or just over 6,000 off the whites, is the short par-5 13th. At only 484 yards from the back, and 447 off the whites, it would seem like easy birdie pickings. That though is belayed by the fact the fairway is split down the middle by water with the longer route being down the left side. Then, to top things off, the  green is elevated making for a great risk-reward hole.

And if you're unsure whether this is enough of a course to test  your game, just remember it hosted Golf Channel's Big Break, so that in itself should be enough to ensure you a challenge on this Davis Love III grand design.

Southern golf swing a chance to end winter's fast

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Even though it's had a facelift and a name change, Pine Lakes GC is still a looker.

Originally known as Ocean Forest Hotel & CC, the first golf course in this area where more than 100 tracks line the area, Pine Lakes went under the surgeon's knife in the early 2000s to become a fun course where you don't necessarily have to hit it long. From the back deck it measures out at just over 6,600 yards, however that is countered somewhat by the fact it's at sea level.

Well, OK, the elevation is about 30 feet but in this game, what's 10 yards here and there?

The thing is, Pine Lakes may not be long but be warned, you do have to hit it straight. While this was a Scottish replica back in the day before it's design mulligan, it still has some Old World charm to it. One of the club pros described it as "A Scottish style tee to green course," which is about as good a character reference as you're going to get. 

This track, that was in outstanding condition for early March, opens with a nice little par-4 that is followed by a pretty par-3, letting you get your feet on the ground quickly with those two tests, especially if you haven't played the game for a few months.

The third hole is a long, challenging 426 yards from the middle tees and with a green guarded by water, it's one of those holes where if you put a big crooked number on your card, you feel fully justified. Immediately after that hole things smooth out again with a short, manageable par-4 and a mid-length par-5.

From the front porch at this course, those that don't have a lot of "Oomph!" in their swing will find it an enjoyable play. The total distance for all 18 holes, from tee to green, is 4,758 yards with no forced carries, as their teeing ground is often well removed from the tees further back

The fairways here offer plenty of landing space and the greens are smooth and they do hold fairway shots well. They aren't overly large in size or in breaks but the slight inclines on them can be well disguised meaning the odd putt, if you tend to rush and not take your time looking things over,  can come up a little light ... or way, way heavy!
One thing that should be mentioned here, especially for us Western Canadians that aren't used to sea level golf is to not just think about using that one extra club but actually pulling it out of the bag and swinging it, especially if the wind gets up.

The landing areas for tee shots at Pine Lakes are huge, making your opening round of a new season a wee bit easier.

What's really nice about Pine Lakes is the time it takes to play - we went out at 9 a.m. on a day where the tee sheet was full, and were off the course four hours later, a testament to how this course is designed in order to let it's guests enjoy a day of fun golf without too many of those big, crooked numbers sprayed onto their scorecard.

Although some of the original design elements from 1927 still exist the changes here were well done so it's likely original course designer Robert White would still be proud of this playground.

Thistle Golf Club

"If you think the clubhouse is nice wait until you see the golf course ... and I don't even golf!"

Those words from the restaurant waitress at Thistle Golf Club echoed time and again through my head as we toured this outstanding property in Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

Simply put, this 27-hole facility, about a half hour from North Myrtle Beach, is stunning in its beauty and its challenges. As it turns out, these tracks are named in honour of one of the original Scottish courses that was founded in 1815. The present day club sits just over 100 miles away from Charleston, SC, which is the site of the first mention of golf in America.

From the get-go on the Cameron and Stewart nines (we didn't get to the MacKay nine) this was a  continual test of hitting your target. If you tend to stray too far left, or right, you're going to need lots of ammunition to make it around thee nines as there is, it seems, water everywhere. And if it's not the wet stuff making life difficult for you out here there is also a tremendous amount of sand, and in particular waste bunkers, scattered about the premises.

The Thistle Club is a beauty from the word "go," but it certainly doesn't offer a player many breaks if their tee or approach shots are off-line on this great course. That's reflected here on Hole No. 2.

In fact, on the Stewart's No. 7 hole, a 397 yard par-4, the waste bunker is massive - so massive in fact, that the cart path runs down its length, starting just after the teeing grounds and ending up guarding the right side of the green. Add to that the thick vegetation down the left side of the fairway and this is one hole where you definitely need to stripe it.

On this day it was decided the white tees at 2,949 yards on the Cameron nine and 2900 on the Stewart were enough of a challenge, and that was proven true quickly, as the opening tee shot on Cameron found a fairway bunker.

And remember, these courses  are at sea level, although for some reason the ball seemed to fly a bit farther here than at Pine Lakes, so distances can be deceiving. By the end of the day this was indeed a wise choice because it was more about hitting your shot where you were aiming, not about slaying the beast with big drives.

But, if you are mor adventurous off the tee, these particular two nines stretch out to an imposing 3,300 and 3,400 yards from the back deck.

A good thing here is the fact there are five tee boxes, with the front end being a total of 4,000 yards. Even at that short range these two tracks are still an enjoyable play and the natural way these courses flow is a real plus.

As for the most scenic hole on this camera-friendly day trip, the second on the Cameron had to win that award. A shortish par-4, it demanded accuracy from start to finish. From the tee, water runs all the way down the right side and then across the front of the green. On top of that, OB down the entire left side adds to the drama of that opening salvo. This was most definitely a fun hole that looks as nice from behind the green looking towards the tee as it does from tee to green.

The 7th on the Stewart Nine pays homage to its Scottish ancestry with a huge waste bunker that interestingly enough, doubles as a cart path.

As the day wrapped up, in just over three hours for our twosome for 18 holes, the words from the waitress came floating back into my memory, because indeed, this is a course is one you'll remember, not only because the clubhouse which is done in traditional Scottish styling with stucco over limestone from the early 1899son the right side; the centre portion is finished with quarried stone used mainly in the mid-1800s and the left side of the building is red brick, a commonly used material towards the end of that century.

As for the course, well, it's beauty is beyond words. It's something you have to see for yourself to truly appreciate.