The Toughest Golf Course in the Myrtle Beach Area - The Back Nine

Living in the Myrtle Beach area for years, I always wondered what my score would be if I played the toughest 18 holes on the Grand Strand as if they were all on one golf course. This is an attempt to "construct" the toughest par 72 golf course on the Grand Strand using holes from various Myrtle Beach area golf courses. To make it even more interesting, the holes will be kept in the correct order based on their original position on their golf course (i.e., Hole #1 will be the first hole on its course, Hole #2 will be Hole #2 on its course, etc.).

I wrote a previous article listing the toughest front nine holes in the Myrtle Beach area. The title of that article is "Toughest Golf Course in the Myrtle Beach Area - The Front Nine." This article completes the course by adding the final nine holes.

Please note that I did not include any holes on courses designed by Pete Dye and his son, P.B. Dye. That is because I would rank the courses designed by these two, individually and jointly, among the most challenging in the area. This would include Barefoot Resort's Dye Club, The Legends Moorland course, Prestwick Golf and Country Club, and The Founder's Club at St. James Plantation. I will write a future article to celebrate these two great course designers.

In my opinion, here are the toughest back nine holes in the Myrtle Beach area.

Hole 10 - True Blue #10 - 599 yard par 5. A great beginning to the back nine is this stout par 5. The tenth hole at True Blue features an elevated tee shot to a sweeping dogleg right. There is a vast waste area along the right side of the fairway. Playing the hole as a true three-shot par 5 is the best option. With sand bunkers positioned left, right, and short of the target yardage for the second shot, a poor lay up will bring bogey into the equation. The third shot features a cavernous bunker fronting the green and severe elevation change greeting any shot over the green; an accurate wedge shot is essential. Honorable mention: Tradition Golf Club #10 or Grande Dunes Resort Course #10.

Hole 11 - Dunes Club #11 - 430 yard par 4. Two words describe this hole - picturesque and terrifying. With marsh framing the entire right side of the hole, number eleven at Dunes Club is one of the more intimidating tee shots on the beach! The eleventh hole is a dogleg right par four that requires a precise tee shot. A tee shot too far right will find the marsh and a tee shot too far left will leave you attempting to navigate your approach shot through wide trunks of huge oak trees. With marsh and a problematic bunker on the right, a meticulous approach to a narrow green is required. There is no bail-out area on the approach shot! I always breathe a sigh of relief once I hit any part of the green in regulation! Honorable mention: Rivers Edge #11.

Hole 12 - Tidewater#12 - 198 yard par 3. With striking live oaks sprinkling the left and breathtaking saltwater marsh along the front and right side of the hole, Tidewater #12 presents a daunting tee shot. I take an extra club and aim for the back of the green. The problem with this approach is you can be pin-high to the back part of the green, yet in the marsh if you push the tee shot too far right. There are bunkers along the left and front of the green. Hitting into the bunker is a better alternative than hitting short of the sand trap, into the marsh. Swirling winds from the Atlantic Ocean can add or drop up to a two club difference from the listed yardage. Breathtaking views in every direction will lessen the sting of hitting your tee shot into the soup. Honorable mention: Barefoot - Love #12.

Hole 13 - Pawleys Plantation#13 - 130 yard par 3. Having two consecutive par 3's is not something you would see on most courses, but the daunting par 3 thirteenth hole at Pawleys Plantation narrowly bested the majestic Dunes Club #13. Measuring 145 yards from the tips and 115 yards from the blue tee, Pawleys Plantation #13 proves you do not have to have a 220 yard approach shot in order to make a hole difficult. Pawleys Plantation #13 is set on a thin strip of a dike that stretches across the salt marsh. The tee shot across the picturesque water to a small, firm peninsula green will test your confidence in club selection and trajectory. Combine the varying wind speed and direction, you feel like you are trying to land the ball onto a slick end table. I have left a punch eight iron woefully short of the target and I have flown the green with a 60 degree wedge. If there is a strong wind, the prudent play is bailing-out right of the green. Honorable mention: Dunes Club #13.

Hole 14 - Legends - Parkland #14 - 465 yard par 4. The fourteenth hole at Legends - Parkland is an exhausting par 4. The fairway jigsaws north, then east, then north again; which will leave you a difficult target on both the tee and approach shot. If you have the mindset that Legends - Parkland #14 is a short par 5, you will play more conservative angles from the tee and to the green; affording a better opportunity at par. Typical of the entire course, there is plenty of undulation on #14 green at Legends - Parkland. Awesome hole! Honorable mention: Pearl - West #14 or Pine Lakes #14.

Hole 15 - Grande Dunes Resort Course #15 - 468 yard par 4. Requiring both distance and precision, Grande Dunes Resort Course number 15 is one of the more daunting par 4's on the beach! With large bunkers on the right side of the fairway, a left center tee shot is required to have any chance to reach the green in regulation. The approach shot is usually on a downhill slope, to a multi-tiered green, with a substantial bunker fronting the entire depth of the target landing area. Factor the swirling wind, reaching the green in regulation on this difficult hole is an epic undertaking! Grande Dunes Resort Course #15 is one of the more scenic, entertaining holes to play. Honorable mention: Pearl - West #15

Hole 16 - Oyster Bay #16 - 470 yard par 4. This lengthy par 4 usually plays into the wind. With a large lake that stretches along the entire right side of the fairway, water comes into play on your tee shot and approach to the green. To cut distance for your approach shot and to provide a better angle to the green, you will be tempted to hit your tee shot to the right side of the fairway. The smart play is to aim for the center of the fairway, away from the water on the right; you will have a longer approach shot at a more difficult angle, but you take double bogey out of the equation. The green is protected with steep bunkers left and water right. Depending on the course condition, bogey is not a bad score. Honorable mention: Glen Dornoch #16 - 435 par 4.

Hole 17 - Leopard's Chase#17 - 585 yard par 5. Leopard's Chase #17 is an excellent par five that rewards the player who is proficient in shaping the ball. With out-of-bounds along the entire left side of the fairway, golfers are tempted to aim right off of the tee. If you can work the ball from right to left, aiming right center and working the ball left from the right side is the optimal tee shot. There is a considerable fairway bunker on the right side of the hole, willing to welcome any errant stray tee shot. Hitting your tee shot into the bunker right is no bargain because you will be faced with a demanding second shot with either a long iron or fairway wood, over water. There is a large bunker in front of a tricky, undulating green. This is a true par 5! Honorable mention: River Hills #17 - 526 yard par 5.

Hole 18 - Tidewater #18 - 450 yard par 4. Bringing the toughest par 72 course to a crescendo is Tidewater #18! Measuring 450 yards from the tips, the tee shot must reach the corner of the dogleg. If you do not reach the corner of the dogleg left, you will have to start your approach shot over the marsh to a long, narrow green. A poor tee shot will force a lay-up shot. With marsh, large trees, and bunkers coming into play, laying-up is no bargain. The marsh is merely a footstep away from the edge of the green. Wind almost always comes into play on this imposing finishing hole! Honorable mention: Glen Dornoch #18 or Long Bay #18.

So, there is my back nine. Did I miss any holes on the Grand Strand? Are there any holes you believe are tougher? If you haven't played any of these great Myrtle Beach golf courses, I urge you to do so on your next trip to Myrtle Beach. I would love to hear any comments and/or suggestions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5807839

Golf Caddy: Quick Golf Tips and Advice

A friend of mine asked me the other day for the perfect golf gift under $20 and I quickly told him to check out a golf pocket caddy. What in the world is a golf pocket caddy, you ask? A pocket caddy is a type of pocket sized instructional manual that you can take with you on the course, as you travel or on the driving range that provides you with quick golf tips and advice without having to lug a book or magazine with you.

There are several types of pocket caddy products that I have seen on the market that range in price and quality from a few bucks to $20. Basically, they are cliff notes for the game of golf and can come in quite handy if you are looking how to set up for a shot, some quick golf practice drills, interesting and fun golf practice games or quick references to the PGA rules of golf.

So, based on my experience, here are all the types of golf caddy products I have seen on the market:

• On-course golf tips for all golf shots

• Driving range practice drills

• Condensed PGA rules

• Golf practice games

• Golf games you can play with your buddies on the course (i.e., "best ball")

• Short game

• More distance

• Swing fault fixes

When looking to purchase a pocket caddy, obviously you don't want to buy a bunch of little guides to fill up your golf bag, so look for a golf caddy that is comprehensive, yet achieves the benefit of being small and easy to carry.

Some other things to look for in a golf pocket caddy include:

• Credible authors - weekend golfers or seasoned teaching pros?

• Concise - you want a golf pocket caddy that gives you the critical data you need and not a bunch of useless language to confuse you.

• Good visuals - ideally, the golf caddy makes good use of visuals so you can quick get the gist of a lesson and not have to ready and digest a bunch of text.

So, golf caddy products are great little gifts and can really help you with your game when you are in a jam. Do a Google search on "pocket caddy" and check them out!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5597371

Hawk E-Z-Go Powered Golf Caddy For Easy-Going at the Golf Course

Moving around on a golf course while lugging around a bag full of heavy golf clubs can be quite a chore, especially for the more senior golf players. A game of golf can be strenuous exercise. A few rounds can cause sore knees, hips, and backs; things which could be exacerbated by a weighty golf bag. Having a caddy around would be nice, but that would be just passing down the heavy weight to another person - and one who will charge a fee for his or her services. Isn't there any other alternative? Fortunately, there is. This is where the Hawk E-Z-Go powered golf caddy comes in.

Electric golf trolleys have been around for quite some time. They offer an alternative to golfers who don't want to use golf carts to go around the course. Having an electrically powered trolley allows the golfer to exercise and take in the beauty of the course without having to carry a heavy golf bag or riding in a golf cart.

The Hawk E-Z-Go powered golf caddy is a fine piece of engineering from E-Z-Go. The rugged design of the trolley makes it almost indestructible and allows for everyday use at the golf course. The simple operation of the trolley, along with the included score card and beverage holders, will give the owner many trouble-free rounds of playing at the golf course. There will be no unnecessary distractions during the game while this trolley is around.

About the only problem with the E-Z-Go golf caddy is the fact that the rugged design will call for some minor disassembly when the time comes to pack up after the game. Otherwise, it is a better alternative to hiring a human caddy or going around the course in a golf cart.

The Hawk E-Z-Go powered golf caddy is driven by a variable speed 180 watt electric motor with a high quality power supply. An electronic digital cut-off system protects the caddy's motor from any untoward event. 10-inch tires allow for easy movement throughout any golf course.

This electric golf caddy, along with other electric golf carts, can and will help improve both a player's golf game and health at the same time by taking care of the heavy golf bag, providing an easy and accessible storage for the score card and any beverage, and by letting the player walk around the golf course with a minimum of fuss.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5514693

This One Hour Golf Trick Improved My Golf Game by 5 Strokes Immediately

Learning how to play golf can be a life-long process.

Becoming good at golf takes an entirely different approach then just going out a few times a month or year and playing 18 holes with your buddies.

It's no wonder that even the pros on tour use coaches to master various parts of their games from the fundamentals of the swing to mental preparation.

This article discusses taking golf lessons and getting the most out of each lesson for maximum effect.

It's never easy asking for help, but in golf, it is almost a necessity. Unfortunately, we often ask our buddies and partners, when in reality we should take a lesson or two.

Now a lesson can be anything from mirroring a video to actually going to a pro who is trained at seeing the little things that are hard to see within our swings.

We think that a Pro would critique harshly, but they are honest, positive and very helpful. Not to mention well worth the money if you find the right one.

A friend of mine went from shooting in the hundreds and almost quit golf to easily breaking 100 and almost 90 just from a couple of solid golf lessons.

Lessons at the local course aren't as expensive as you might think and they are worth it because your game will improve rapidly and cause you less frustration, making the game much more enjoyable for you.

Listen you're going to spend money on golf. It isn't a cheap game to say the least, so why not do yourself a favor and spend the money to get good instead of wasting money on poor outings.

Trust me when I say golf is much more fun when you are good at it.

Of utmost importance, is being honest about your game. The Pro will ask you what you want to start with; driving, chipping, putting or whatever you feel you need help with.

Listen carefully and follow the instructions. You may have doubts if the Pro changes your stance, your grip or your swing; the Pro knows best.

Sometimes it is the areas that we are reluctant to change that are causing the biggest problems.

Don't hesitate to ask questions. Don't worry about if the question or concern in stupid-they've heard it all before and will not make you feel like an idiot for asking. If you don't "get it", tell him/her that you're not getting it. You should never walk away from a lesson with unanswered questions.

You can concentrate on one thing during a lesson, or several. You might start with a lesson in driving; get the right grip, the right stance, the right swing, the right follow-through in one lesson, and then practice it. Next time, you might work on your short game, or putting.

Choosing a good coach will depend also on your current abilities within the game of golf. If you typically shoot in the 80's and want to break 80 consistently, be sure your teacher does the same (I've seen club pros play horribly consistently).

It's important to understand where they came from so you are spending your time and money intelligently.

Bottom line: You've invested in the equipment and energy to play the game of golf, doesn't it make sense to learn how to use them to their advantage and improve your abilities?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3011808

Golf Grip Tricks

Whenever most golfers are having difficulties with their gameplay and are also attempting to dissect where those troubles are caused by, they typically take a look at their golf swings over and over again and forget to consider the golfing grip at all. Of course, the swing movement has a tendency to make a lot of problems with our handicap, even so the grip is really overlooked, and it turns out that many problems can be solved by making slight modifications on the grip. The mission of this informative article is to offer you some good golf grip strategies to help your game rise to the next level.

Firstly, it is crucial to make sure you are choosing an overlap or interlock type grip. This may appear clear, however, many golf players have trouble with feeling cozy using the interlock or overlap grip and resort back to the ten finger golf grip, and it will only bring about more troubles. It's okay to have different grips when chipping and also putting, nonetheless for the long game I strongly recommend the overlap or interlock grips. They support greater energy as well as total control and feel.

Next, you should have ideal placement with the right and left hands so the club is square at impact. For right handed golfers, your left hand is extremely important for figuring out the shape of the golf ball flight. Switching the left hand just a bit towards your right (back) foot as a way to see more of your knuckles will cause your golf grip to get stronger. The tendency is usually to bring or hook the golf ball utilizing this sort of grip. Furthermore, with the left hand turned more to the left (front) foot it is possible to strike more of a fade or slice. The right hand is crucial for ball flight as well. By simply changing the right hand to your front foot you'll be able to open up the clubface a little bit and also create a fade, whereas by twisting it towards your back foot might cause you to hit a draw.

The next key hint for this post is not gripping the golf club very tightly. This is a quite typical mistake by first-timers simply because they assume that once they strangle the club they're going to have a lot more energy and the ball can travel farther. Actually, the opposite is likely to be true. The more tightly you grip the club the less control you might have with your hands, and that normally brings about terrible ball contact that will cause your distance and accuracy with any kind of club to suffer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6066885 

Golf Fitness Training Aids Improve Golf Drive Distance

I've always said, your body swings the club, so fix it, to have more power and distance. Golf fitness training aids are now coming onto the golf improvement scene. Golfers should take notice, as some of them are very good. The more specific you can get to your swing mechanics and motion, the better when it comes to aids. When you can replicate the athletic movement with resistance you can speed up your results. We call that sport-specific training.

Fitness professionals are now utilizing training devices, tools and gadgets with their golf clients. As a trainer, the more you can bring to the table in your sessions, the longer you will have that client, and they will see results. Personal trainers who specialize in golf exercises and stretching should be incorporating swing aids that improve strength and flexibility. One of the quickest ways to add power, and reduce injuries is strengthening and stretching the body with specific movements, similar to, if not exactly the same as the golf swing.

In the gym, I'll see golfers attempting to do golf swing movements, but most of the times they are actually risking injury, as they are not doing it correctly. That's where a fitness professional who has a background in golf, can use devices in the gym to safely improve the golfers drive distance, consistency, and eliminate overuse injuries.

So next time you hear the term fitness, don't run...actually pay attention and maybe you'll be able to apply something to your game that will make a difference. For years I've been writing articles like these stating the importance of working out specific to golf, but the majority of golfers won't do it. I don't know if they are in denial or what, but maybe it's just they are too lazy to exercise for a whopping 10-15 minutes a day in the comfort of their home. Go figure!

If you're not happy with how far you drive the golf ball, or maybe you're in pain, I want you to start having a mindset of fitness as part of your golf improvement, training program. Not grueling, agonizing workouts, but fun, golf-specific training that will give you nearly instant results if you're consistent with it. You only get out if it, what you put into it.

I really want you to realize it's only a few minutes a day, in your home to longer golf drives, and a healthier body for years to come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6507056 

Is The Golf Ball The Real Reason For Longer Drives ?

A Little History First

To determine this point, we have to travel back in time and see how the original golf ball was formed.

The original golf balls as most of us know, were made from goose feathers stuffed into a round leather ball. It is estimated that those could be hit as far as 170 yards with the modern club.

The next technological advance was the gutta percha ball. This was made from tree sap or rubber and compressed into a round mould. A modern club can hit this about 200 yards on average.

The Haskell method was to improve the ball construction, by having a soft core, and winding thin rubber around this core. This ball can be hit around the 225 to 250 yard range.

Further advances saw the introduction of a liquid core with a soft balata cover. However the ball became misshapen after several hits on it. It is rumoured that the great Ben Hogan passed his golf balls through a metal ring to check for roundness.

The modern golf ball has taken several leaps forward from those days. This golf ball is mainly made with a surlyn or a urethane cover, which offers the same feel as a balata covered ball.

Surlyn® is a synthetic, highly resilient, durable material that is used in the majority of golf balls in the industry. This material provides for a golf ball that will stand up to the durability test that the avid golfer demands, while allowing many different options for spin & distance combinations. Could last for many rounds of golf, assuming that you did not lose the golf ball first.

The core is formed with a mixture of polybutediene and other compounds to give this soft core. Over the past four years, golf ball technology has evolved from a primarily wound-ball construction to the solid core/two piece construction to the double-core/four piece construction.

The distances achieved with this ball can be in excess of 300 yards.

But Is That all There Is To It ?

No, there are still a few more key points to understand, like dimples, the affect of spin, compression, storage conditions, and the rules that govern golf ball construction.

How do dimple patterns affect the flight/trajectory of a golf ball?

Dimples provide the lift needed to get a ball airborne. Without them a golf ball's performance would be severely restricted. Golf balls come in a variety of different dimple patterns. Some promote a higher flight trajectory that many golfers need, while others promote a lower, more piercing trajectory. In general though, balls with deeper dimples will tend to have a lower trajectory. Deeper dimples create more turbulence in the boundary layer, which makes it more difficult for air to flow over the ball creating less lift. Those with shallower dimples typically will generate a higher trajectory.

Dimple pattern - the dimple pattern on a golf ball does not affect the spin, it creates the aerodynamic lift that allows a spinning ball to remain in the air longer. Varying the dimple size also affects the aerodynamics of a ball. By matching the dimple pattern and the construction of a ball, manufacturers can optimise the resulting trajectory for both distance and control.

It is the combination of the lift and drag properties of the ball, as well as its speed, launch angle and spin rate, which will dictate the flight path or trajectory of the ball, and thus the distance it will go.

A perfectly smooth golf ball with no dimples would travel about 130 yards when hit with a driver by a good player. On the other hand, a ball with well-designed dimples, struck the same way, will travel about 290 yards.

Dimple design has changed significantly over time, from random patterns, to formal rows, to interstitial designs. The depth, shape and number have all been varied and tested.

Spin Rate

A golf ball's spin rate refers to the speed it spins on an axis while in flight, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). Spin rate off a driver generally ranges between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm, while the average, cleanly struck wedge shot spins at about 10,000 rpm.

Spin generates lift, thus a shot's spin rate directly influences how high the ball flies and how quickly it stops after landing. Beyond the manufacturer's hype, there are real differences in ball construction affecting driving distance, approach control, putting roll, balance and cost.

Modern balls are made to very high standards of consistency and quality.

In driver shots, an excessive amount of spin will cause the ball to soar, resulting in a loss of distance. Too little spin will prevent lift and reduce carry. Keeping the amount of spin at an appropriate level and hitting shots that trace ideal parabolic paths are the formula for maximizing distance.

The manufacturer can affect the spin rate with a variety of methods. The main way appears to be by having a larger softer core, which in turn provides more spin less distance. Another method is to have the soft core encased in a mantle cover. This cover can be harder and thicker. The more flexible this cover the more spin.

Compression

Compression of a golf ball gradually became more of feel thing
In the end the constant high quality of 2-piece balls made compression as a quality index obsolete

Today the term compression is used in combination with a number ranging from 0 to 200. This figure tells us by how much a golf ball is deformed under a compressive force.

Although this term is now becoming obsolete it is still important to understand the importance of compression with regards to a golfer's swing.

As golf balls are mass produced, all 3-piece balls and some 2-piece balls are measured by their compression and rated accordingly.

In order to do so balls are pressured with a standard weight. A ball, which does not deform is rated Compression 200, a ball that lets itself be deformed by 2/10 of an inch or more is rated Compression 0.

Standard Compression rate of a golf ball is 90 or 100. The lower the Compression rate the softer the feel. Most balls are subject to a rating by compression.

Surveys have shown that low speed swing players should use a ball with a Compression rate of 80. Average speed swing players should use Compression 100 and high speed swing players Compression 110.

However, new golf balls do not have an actual number, and prefer to say low spin rate or long distance. So read the label as they say.

How long can a golf ball last under normal storage conditions?

Under normal storage conditions (70-80 degrees Fahrenheit) a golf ball can last forever. However, it must be understood that certain factors can affect a ball's overall performance.

Golf balls can lose their performance characteristics in cases of extreme heat or cold, and their construction is such that even under normal storage conditions, there can be a loss of performance over time.

But Is It The Ball Or The Club That Provides The Distance?

There are of course many factors, which have a direct impact on increased driving distance over the past 2 decades. Such factors as fitness, materials, courses, and technique, have helped increase the driving distance over the years.

Every manufacturer has developed a golf ball which has specific characteristic built in, whether it is distance, spin or mixture of both. The manufacturer is able to do, as they want to the ball. The Trend is going to a balance between spin (rpm) and higher launch angle and hence more distance.

Tests were carried out by Nick Faldo using a modern golf driver, on a gutta percha ball, and the ball did not travel more than 150 yards.

When he used an old wooden golf club, and a modern golf ball, the ball travelled more than 260 yards.

This showed that the modern golf ball is definitely the key to distance.

Conclusion

Golf balls are distance balls, constructed to stop quickly on the green, with less of the risk of slice or hook into trouble that a pure spin ball brings. Recent advances in construction technology are spawning a new breed of balls that can do it all, such as the Titleist ProV1, and Callaway Hex.

SLOW SWING (often called Ladies or Senior) balls are designed to optimise driving distance for less powerful players with slower club head speeds.

Most balls are imperfectly balanced and thus do not putt completely true. Premium quality balls may be manufactured to higher quality control standards and thus less likely to randomly wander off track.

Try to find out which modern affordable golf ball meets your style of play. It is better to play consistently with a ball you can afford than to play competitions with a premium ball that you cannot afford to practice with. Balls with cuts or used until no longer spherical add nothing to your game. Better to play an affordable ball and replace it regularly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/49917