Story by Ian Guerin
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | Hurricane Florence turned Tropical Storm Florence turned Tropical Depression Florence battered the Carolinas with wind and rain, and it has led to some significant flooding throughout the region. However, in the wake of the storm, Myrtle Beach-area golf courses are already resetting their footing and most are open and very much playable mere days after the event made landfall.
That is a welcome sign for businesses. But also for golfers who have standing reservations for a fall links trip to South Carolina’s Grand Strand. The one-week turnaround showed the resiliency of the market, both in terms of individual courses scrambling to protect their product and also the ability of courses to work across property lines to help each other. For out-of-area players, the nuts and bolts of it is this.
Post-storm flooding has mostly stayed away from the direct coastal regions of the Strand, meaning the majority of the extended closures were inland courses. What’s more, of the 90 or so tracks currently comprising the market, fewer than 10 were still expected to be closed for drainage, repairs and clean-up one week after the Florence arrived. That’s not to say everything is clear. There will be residual and noticeable effects for weeks and months to come. As a whole, though, Myrtle Beach golf is very much open for business.
Along the north end, that includes the likes of Barefoot Resort (Dye Club, Fazio and Love Courses), River Hills Golf & Country Club, Long Bay Golf Club and Tidewater Golf Club. Central courses such as Pine Lakes Country Club, Grande Dunes Resort Course, Myrtlewood Golf (Palmetto and PineHills Courses) and Arrowhead Country Club have also reopened their doors and have already seen play resume.
South-end tracks Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, Litchfield Country Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and River Club all required less than five days to start teeing it up again. And to the west of Myrtle Beach city limits, World Tour International Golf Links, Myrtle Beach National (SouthCreek and West Courses) and the Mystical Trio (Man O’ War, The Witch, The Wizard) are already getting back to normal operations.
It is important to note, especially during the coming days and weeks, that some road restrictions will be in place while the Grand Strand deals will post-storm flooding and the effects of initial closures. That goes for hotels, restaurants and off-course entertainment. We’d advise visitors to spend extra time researching their travel options. And double-checking with those you have reservations with is never a bad idea. 
Just the same, Myrtle Beach golf is proving once again that it knows how to bounce back from Mother Nature.
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Ian Guerin is a DJ and freelance writer based in Myrtle Beach. You can follow him on Twitter @iguerin and Facebook facebook.com/IanGuerinWriter/
