At the beginning of 2022, Scottie Scheffler had yet to win a PGA Tour event and most people had never heard of LIV Golf.
Twelve months later, Scheffler is a 4-time winner and the reigning Masters champion; meanwhile, LIV has emerged as an existential threat to the Tour
Yes, a lot can happen in a year, and that was certainly the case along the Myrtle Beach golf scene in 2022. Mercifully, the Grand Strand avoided the tumult that enveloped the professional game, but there was still plenty of news emanating from America’s most popular golf destination.
As the year comes to a close, here are the five biggest stories of 2022:
– When one of the best courses in Myrtle Beach and all of South Carolina undergoes a major renovation, it’s a big story and that’s certainly the case with Grande Dunes Resort Course. Architect John A. Harvey led a restoration of the layout’s greens – installing new TifEagle grass and expanding the putting surfaces by more
than 33 percent, mirroring their original contours – and overhauled every bunker on the course. The results were spectacular. Combine that with a completely remodeled clubhouse, featuring the opening of Terrazza 19 (pictured right) one of the area’s best new restaurants, and Grande Dunes (top photo) should be atop your 2023 playlist.
– Barstool is one of the biggest names in sports media and the appearance of the Fore Play podcast crew certainly made waves. Riggs, Frankie, Trent and Danny filmed their popular travel series here, showcasing Pine Lakes Country Club, Pawleys Plantation, TPC Myrtle Beach and True Blue. The subsequent videos have drawn countless eyeballs, shining a national spotlight on the area. (Watch the Videos Here)
– River Hills doesn’t enjoy the acclaim of Grande Dunes, but it’s a really good golf course. The Tom Jackson design has been delighting players for years and will
continue to do so long into the future following a 2022 greens renovation project. The new TifEagle greens are superb and they are 40 percent larger, significantly enhancing the number of pinnable areas. Additionally, River Hills is overhauling its bunkers, so it will be even better by the time the spring season rolls around in 2023.
– As part of the relaunch of its “Best Places to Play” initiative, Golf Digest ranked South Carolina’s best public courses and Myrtle Beach dominated the list. According to the venerable magazine, 11 of the Palmetto State’s top 20 public layouts are located along the Grand Strand, highlighting the depth and quality of the area’s offerings. It’s always a story when one of the game’s most respected voices sings your praises.
– America’s golf boom continued unabated in 2022 and that meant thousands of players enjoyed the many virtues of a trip to Myrtle Beach. If early bookings are an indicator, 2023 is going to be another great year.
