MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | The technology around golf is rather amazing. Every few weeks, it seems, the next best thing since sliced bread is unveiled.
The gizmos have lasers. The gadgets have GPS.
The problem with all the new equipment, however, is that it helps us overlook the basics. Some of the most simple needs get pushed to the back of our minds, often too far. Find yourself on the course without them, and you could be up the proverbial creek without a paddle.
For as much as all the neat new stuff is improving at least a few games along the way, don’t hit up certain Myrtle Beach-area golf courses without first covering your primary bases.
EXTRA GOLF BALLS, AND MAYBE A GRABBER
The number of players who take weeks preparing for a golf trek who simultaneously forget arguably the biggest piece of equipment is higher than you might think. Those who believe they can navigate a couple rounds with a single 12-pack is even higher.
Some courses have become paradises for divers thanks to insane amounts of water and/or forced carries. King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, River Club and 
River Hills Golf & Country Club (pictured right) all present plenty of big batches of the wet stuff. More subtly, World Tour Golf Links and the Heathland Course at Legends Resort & Golf utilized sliver streams that swallow up their share of low burners. Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links and TPC of Myrtle Beach use large natural grass areas that, while mostly dry throughout the year, can be just as problematic when it comes to even a slightly errant shot.
Piece of advice? We recommend not just packing those high-end options for courses like these, especially if you’re a bit out of practice. Keep a most cost-efficient sleeve or two in the bag for when you need to stock away the nicer ones you don’t feel like donating on your rough outings.
HATS, SLEEVES & SUN BLOCK
While most of the Grand Strand’s courses are lined with shade-inspiring trees, a few of the more open designs in the area do come with a not-always welcomed side effect during the warmer portions of the year. Protect yourself from the sun accordingly. Pack sunscreen, and if you’re the type who normally loves your locks flowing in the wind, maybe it’s time to consider a hat. For the ultra-sensitive, the moisture-wicking (read: sweat) long-sleeve shirts have come a long way in the past few years.
This will apply at several courses throughout the area, but Farmstead Golf Links, Man O’ War Golf Course and Long Bay Golf Club are three where a little extra preparation for the sun will go a long way. Remember, the last thing you want is to be feeling so burnt up that you can’t finish the round or tee off the next day without being caked in aloe.
And since we’re not expecting anyone to read between the lines, maybe throw in an extra golf towel or glove, too. Battling the sweat is key.
CLUB CHANGES
We’re not the pros. We don’t have someone doing custom fittings for us after each bad round, someone adjusting the degrees on our drivers or tuning up the grips because we shanked two shots along the way.
Just the same, getting the right clubs in your bag can be an instrumental (pun intended) part of the game.
A good stop – for locals or out-of-towners alike – is the Golf Performance Center at Grande Dunes. It has all the bells and whistles needed to break down your swing and find the right equipment for you. And the best part? It comes without the hard sell to walk out the door with their gear.
No, this is all about giving you educated options.
