Trip planning help

Check on the Sunset time for MB on your dates, so you can
calculate timing of replays. To play 36, you may have to start
early when it's still cold.    
   
If in one car and some not replaying, then it is a good idea to 
not be far from your condo.   
 
You don't need a 27 hole course to replay 9.  If you want a 
fresh 9, then the 36+ hole courses are also a good choice. 
 
Considering it's Feb, some may not want to replay or it's 
kinda cold to replay, you can just book the AM round, and 
ask for a replay in the PM.   Replay rates are not posted 
anywhere.  If it's a $80 course, the 18 hole replay might 
be $45-50 and 9 holes might be $30-35.   Figure a 
little over half price on average. Ask in the pro shop.  
The lower replay rates are on the lower priced courses. 
 
In peak season with more daylight and MB a lot busier, 
some do book 2 rounds to guarantee the replay on their 
choice.  Feb is not a good time to do that and you should
not need to do that, for likely a 9 hole replay.   
   
If you play Barefoot, you can replay at a different course. 
Since BF Fazio + Norman single tee, you can play faster 
on one of those in the AM, then play 9 on the Love 
course, which returns to the clubhouse after 9.     

Thursday - arrive airport 12pm. So would love to play a warm up round at 3pm.
Cant seem to find tee times for this late. Do you just show up/call?  
* Sunset is around 6PM.  It looks like many courses stop the tee times around 1pm. 
You could call the course and they will give you a play till dark rate. 
You could try Whispering Pines, so you can get to the course ASAP after landing. 
It's next to the airport and not expensive.     

Friday - Pearl Golf Links for 27 holes     

Saturday - Barefoot Fazio and replay - can we replay Love?      ** Yes

Sunday - Arrowhead for 27          ***** Good. 

Monday - fly home.

In early February, be mindful of possible frost delays and even course closures. Couple of years ago, I was scheduled to play Pearl Golf Course and got a call saying the course would be closed tomorrow because the are covering the greens to prevent frost damage.

With such a late flight on the 1st day you need something rather close to the airport, you're going to run out of daylght, might not even be able to get a full 18 in. What about Myrtlewood or World Tour (not for everyone). 

Like someone said, Feb mornings can be really cold overnight (high 20's/low 30's) so you should expect Frost Delays. If you pushed it back into Mid March, this issue goes away 😉 

1 question,  is the Beachwood you mention the golf course or the housing complex?  Makes a difference on drive times as the GC is in North Myrtle & the housing complex is central MB

Thanks for the tips

We are staying in a VRBO by Molly Darcy's Irish Pub which looks close to Beachwood GC.

I plan to call up Whispering Pines when we land to see if we can get on the dark rate. Yah we probably wont get a full round in but we are just looking for a warm up round.

We are from Minnesota. So cold weather doesnt bother us and we will be itching to play!

Any good bar/restaurants that you recommend nearby that area of Molly Darcy pub? 

Molly Darcy's itself is a pretty good place to eat. It's right on the beach.

Brisket is a decent smoked meats/bbq place nearby on 17, and although I've never eaten at Benito's Brick Oven Pizza I've heard a lot of good things. The Sea Merchant's Restaurant is usually very good for dinner. Dino's House of Pancake's is a great breakfast spot. Those are probably all within 5 minutes of where you're staying.

Villa Tuscanna is a bit further north up 17, but still within 10 minutes and it's a good Italian restaurant. If you head a bit south on 17, there's Hamburger Joe's, which is a great (and cheap) burger spot, plus Joe's Bar & Grill which is excellent. You should be driving by them on your way to your VRBO from the airport.

Normally you need reservations at Joe's, but that might not be an issue in February. Joe's and Hamburger Joe's (they're next to each other but different restaurants) are almost right across the street from Barefoot, too.

As for pubs & restaurants, there's more choices than there is room here to offer a list, but here goes:  Flynn's Irish Tavern, Main Street, NMB, is a good venue for apres golf.  After your golf @ Pearl Golf Links, I'd suggest drinks and dinner @ Boundary House, Calabash; it's just a few minutes away and on your way back to the accommodations.  The grille & bar area at Barefoot is very comfortable, nice atmosphere, good location to adjourn to after the round.  As for dinner, I'd suggest Barefoot Bistro which is close by, not within the Barefoot Resort.  And, there's a good number of choices at Barefoot Landing for dinner worth checking out too.  For a nice pub-type type experience try Crooked Hammock Brewery, good food and great brews!  That should get you started.

Another option after leaving the Pearl is Chianti South, which you'll drive right past on your way back to your VRBO. It is a phenomenal Italian restaurant.

La Cucina is also near the Pearl with great Italian food (and has probably the best bread I've ever eaten at any restaurant anywhere), but it's headed in the opposite direction, although it's only a few minutes away. It's very small, though.

Read my Myrtle Beach Trip Report (30th Anniversary Trip) for some tips about the NMB area.  I have stayed at Crescent Shores condos for at least the last 15 years.  It is right next door to Molly Darcys. Another good NMB restaurant is Martini's.  Golden Griddle and Kitchen Table are great for breakfast.  

Posted by: @obitherockstar

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  Thanks for the tips

We are staying in a VRBO by Molly Darcy's Irish Pub which looks close to Beachwood GC.

I plan to call up Whispering Pines when we land to see if we can get on the dark rate. Yah we probably wont get a full round in but we are just looking for a warm up round.

We are from Minnesota. So cold weather doesnt bother us and we will be itching to play! 

Any good bar/restaurants that you recommend nearby that area of Molly Darcy pub? 

I think the easiest and fastest round off an airplane is Whispering Pines, it isn't a terrible place at all. 

Since you're coming from Minnesota, I know you're going to want to fit in as much golf as possible, but the day length will be a factor. Sunrise is about 7:10 a.m. with sunset around 5:50 p.m. Of course, a sunny day will give you more time at sunset while clouds will make it seem dark even before sunset. You'll just have to check the weather several days before your trip. Although there can be frost delays in February, I've also had to swat at mosquitos during rounds over President's Day weekend, and down south recently, hard, quick starts to winter have given way to moderating temperatures by mid-February.

I totally agree on Whispering Pines as your best bet on the day you arrive although Myrtlewood's two courses are also not far away from the airport. I'd ditch any plans to go to your accommodations before playing and just go to the course, play 18, and then check in before going to dinner.

Mid-range handicaps like your group coming from a section of the country where it's unlikely you've played golf for a couple of months ought to consider being nice to yourself several times while playing one breathtaking but difficult MB round. Tidewater, Barefoot Dye, Thistle, and King's North all fit in that "breathtaking but difficult" description, but Tidewater might be the choice given its proximity to your lodging. One or two steps down, River Hills and Pearl would be good choices relatively near your accommodations. Also consider Sandpiper Bay and Brunswick Plantation, each with 27 holes. Neither is as good as the other courses but are nevertheless good value courses. Brunswick probably has more housing but nothing you should be able to reach from the fairway. Crow Creek, Glen Dornoch, Long Bay, and Meadowlands might also be possibilities and fit within the spectrum between "breathtaking but difficult" and the courses that aren't likely to bruise your pride.

As far as dining and night life, you might want to give us your rough age range and maybe a per person dinner cost. I think MB really has something for everyone, but if you're in your 30s, you might find some places crowded with folks like your parents. And on the other hand, it's possible to wander into other places where you'd seriously need to do ID checks on any of the women (girls?) you're talking to. Food prices can run from the very reasonable ($15-20 for dinner w/o alcohol) to very expensive ($40 and well above).

I agree with Whispering Pines.  It's very convenient because it is so close to the airport.   

Update

I booked us to play Arrowhead, Barefoot Dye and Thistle.

Will have to wing it the day we land at 12pm.

Hopefully we land and get the rental car quick so we have time to make a run up to MB national and play Kings or West before sunset. 

Contingency plan is to play at Whispering pines if there are delays at the rental car stand.