I am a little late with my report, but I have a very good reason. Next January I will be getting my right knee replaced. My doctor gave me an injection the day before we left for NMB, but it did not do any good at all. So, the whole week I was in a lot of pain and really did not play very well. When we got home it got worse and I have been using a cane to help get around. I'm done with golf until sometime in the spring of 24.
Four of us drove from Massillon, Ohio to NMB on September 30th. The trip was uneventful but took about 10 hours. We arrived in NMB around 3:30 PM and spent the rest of the day unpacking, going to the grocery store, and having dinner.
Our group this year had 16 players, down from our usual 20. This is our 29th year. Covid cost us 2020. My other trip reports have always been named after all the guys that have passed since we started but this year I thought I would change it up. We acknowledge those lost at a special ceremony right before our first round.
Lodging
We stay at Crescent Shores condos at 17th & Ocean Drive South in North Myrtle Beach. This has been home for over 15 years. Each condo has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. An extra benefit is Molly Darcy's bar is right next door to the condo. The condos are clean and most have been updated.
Golf
October 1 we were at Myrtlewood Palmetto. It has been at least 15 years since we last played MP. The layout is really nice and there were some beautiful views but I cannot rate this course any higher than average. The senior tees were 6000 yards long and that is just a bit much for 65-78 year old guys. Plus, it was windy and the course was soft so it played much longer. If it had a little more TLC I could really like this place. Customer service was fine and we saw the beverage cart several time.
The 2nd we played Prestwick. One of the top courses in MB and it did not disappoint! Again the course was soft and it played long. Fairways & greens were excellent. Rough was a little high which made it harder to find your ball. This is a challenging course so you need your "A" game to play well. I didn't have it.
Tuesday (3) we played at Heritage. My O My! Quite a long drive (over an hour) but so worth it. Best fairways and greens of the week. Customer service was outstanding. Our package included breakfast and lunch. I was not expecting much but was very pleasantly surprised. Breakfast was the usual fare but everything was good and plentiful. For lunch we actually ordered off their menu! Our guys were really happy and voted this the top course of the week.
On the 4th we visited one of my favorite courses Crow Creek. This is one of the few layouts that I consider "straight up" meaning the course is in front of you without hidden hazards. You can run the ball onto the green on most holes. Unfortunately they are having problems with their greens. At least half of them had dead spots with little or no grass. I know they have bent grass greens that are very difficult to maintain in a hot and humid climate, but this was the worst I have ever seen. I have played this course at least a dozen times. It would be hard for me to recommend CC right now.
October 5th we went to Rivers Edge, another one of my favorites. My knee was in bad shape and I could only play nine holes. The front nine conditions were disappointing. Some weeds in the fairways and even a few on the greens. Rough was really high and hard find your ball or make a shot. I know someone is going to invest a lot of money into RE and if the money is spent right, this could be the premium course in the MB area. I hope it works out that way.
Our last playing day was spent at Kings North MBN. I'm not a big fan of MNB. It is too much of a golf factory for me, but I have to say Kings North was in very good shape tee to green. We had little trouble getting there (I hate 501 traffic) and did not have to wait for the school kids to cross the street. I wish my knee would have cooperated and I would have enjoyed the round so much more.
The courses did not seem to be as crowded this year. Our playing times ran between 4-41/2 hours most days. Travel times, except for Heritage were good. Route 31 helps a lot. It was Bike Week but it was down in Murrel's Inlet so it did not bother us.
Food
Carolina Roadhouse: This place is so good we ate there twice! The dinner salad is killer. I had ribs both times and they were great. Other guys had steak and chicken and all said their food was excellent. Don't miss this place if you go to MB! It also seemed less crowded than normal. We went one night at 6PM and got right in.
Angelo's: This is a ritual for five of us. Really, really good steaks at a still decent price. One guy had chicken parm and said it was great. Good service also.
Pizelli's: This is a little local Italian place in Little River we found about five years ago. The food is excellent and I would recommend it to anyone. There still is nothing over $20 on the menu.
Filet's: Seafood right on the Intercoastal. They have changed their menu quite significantly. Added three pages of sushi offerings and dropped a lot of their fish entrees. No more Trigger fish, which disappointed two of our diners. Food was still good but limited menu.
Finn McCool's: Good place to stop for a sandwich. Fish & chips were stellar!
Final Thoughts:
I thought that this might be my last trip to MB. I had high hopes that the knee injection would at least let me play for a week somewhat pain free, but it didn't work out. I'm not going to quit Myrtle Beach like that. I will be back next year with a new and improved knee! By the way, that will make my second knee replacement along with one new hip. I'm almost bionic!
As I said earlier, MB seemed less crowded both at golf courses and dining places. Is the covid related golf increase beginning to slow down? Up here in Ohio they keep closing courses. In the past three years at least five courses in our county have gone out of business. My home course is packed almost every day because of it.
This was the first year I was not in charge of our group. I thought 28 years was enough and let others do the planning. They chose not to use Brian Noblin and booked everything through Condo World. I know Brian doesn't need the business but I just want to say that I firmly believe he is the best in the business! Not only was he our booker, he was and is my friend. Thanks for the support all of those years Brian.
Waiting for a healthy 2024.
Tadpole.
If the knee injection doesn't help, does that mean the knee is shot or
they missed the spot? I thought you might know since you have
replacement experience. Have you tried rubbing stuff on, like
Voltaren?
Myrtlewood is kinda average for MB, but still probably better than ever.
Pine Hills is shorter.
Crow Creek had a test green for awhile to test their new heat tolerant
bent grass. They decided to go with it to be different. I haven't
played there lately, so I don't know the issue you saw. Could be
recovering from a hot summer. Maybe good to save it for spring trips.
I still love Kings North.
J Peters is a place that rivals Carolina Roadhouse with the salad and ribs,
but it doesn't have the same Atmosphere, looking more like a diner inside.
It makes sense to get another knee replacement, with your experience.
I didn't think MB slowed down back in April. MB keeps adding a lot of new
local golfers, although rates might be reducing package golfers.
In June I booked Grande Dunes + TPC at $166 for Spring 2024, trying to
get ahead of the dynamic rates. They are now up to $240 and still 6
months to go. Groups waiting until winter to book, as in the past, are
going to be shocked.
Thanks for a great report!
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I have very appreciate your trip report. It was very interesting. It seems you had a good one even with your knee problem. I hope you will have a good operation in a near future.
I think the resurgence of the covid, higher rates, and the inflation on all the goods and services offered will have an effect on the golf industry. Fewer retired golfers will come in Myrtle Beach. Budget is limited for a retired, golf is not essential. But the arrival of new locals golfers will compensate partly.
''It's just golf, let's have fun''
Knee problems started in March. No cartilage left, it is just bone on bone. Had an injection in June that took the pain away for 5 weeks. The shot I got just prior to traveling to MB did not provide any relief at all. I have used Voltaren but it doesn't work on this knee.
I can see Crow Creek changing their greens in the next couple of years. Bent grass is just too hard to maintain in MB weather.
The amount of housing construction going on in the MB area is almost unbelievable. If the golf industry is going to rely more on local golf than package golf, do you really think there would be enough players willing to pay those high rates?
@tadpole When Crow Creek replaced their greens they had many choices to pick from but the owners/Pro wanted outstanding greens 9 months of the year and chose Bent even thou they knew Mid July through mid Sept would be iffy with high heat and humidity
Knee problems started in March. No cartilage left, it is just bone on bone. Had an injection in June that took the pain away for 5 weeks. The shot I got just prior to traveling to MB did not provide any relief at all. I have used Voltaren but it doesn't work on this knee.I can see Crow Creek changing their greens in the next couple of years. Bent grass is just too hard to maintain in MB weather.
The amount of housing construction going on in the MB area is almost unbelievable. If the golf industry is going to rely more on local golf than package golf, do you really think there would be enough players willing to pay those high rates?
A health place near me advertises a new gel/lube shot and PRP where they spin your
blood for stem cells, which I don't think are covered by insurance. I don't know anyone who tried it.
Crow Creek made green maint more difficult with the new steep tiers, where fertilizer
or water may not stay there. Maybe you noticed if bad spots on on the steep steps?
Package golf rates are getting out of control, with the dynamic rates. We can adjust our
lineups to stay near a budget our groups will tolerate. Package Golfers are paying it,
since it's a vacation. Local discount cards are paying about half to a third of what
those courses would cost if MB wasn't a package resort, but they provide a volume
of rounds year round.
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Sincere thanks @tadpole for taking the time to report (and remember it's never too late to do so)!
Wishing you the best of luck for your knee replacement and a complete recovery!
Take care!
Denis Gilbert
Quebec City, Canada
Thanks for the report, always enjoy your annual offering. Sorry to hear about your knee difficulties. My last guys trip to MB (2020) I was restricted to 44 holes over 5 days with back issues, so I can relate. With the package rates skyrocketing, I doubt our group will be back or at least not annually. We're all retired now and play enough golf thru the year (April-October) that the usual November trip at high prices, especially with the exchange rate, is far less appealing than it used to be. Too bad, it was always a great trip for us.
Thanks for your report, sorry to hear the knee problems have sidelined you for playing golf. My wife has had Synvisc injections in her knee about 3 times, 1st one was good, the other 2 did not work, she has her replacement slated for Nov. 20th and cannot wait, it will be her 2nd replacement. Downside is we will not get to MB this winter which is okay as her walking will be much improved for the 2024/25 winter season.
