Myrtle Beach FORE!

Myrtle Beach 2014 was a winner.  This is the fourth year for a week of golfing, eating and a little shopping.  In case you missed previous years blogs...Myrtle Beach, Golf, Golf ... Fore! and Myrtle Beach 3.0.

The same people...Bonnie, Barb, Monica from OHIO and me from FLORIDA.  We stayed in Bonnie's timeshare at the Wyndham Westwinds, on the beach.  Any time of the day the view was great.

GOLFING

We golfed at some fun and challenging courses this year.  We got great rates on our tee times using Barb's Myrtle Beach Golf Passport.   Thanks, Barb!

Golf has the best playing field of any sport...the landscaping, the views, the animals.  We saw all our old favorites...fox squirrels, alligators, turtle and birds.

BLACK BEAR

Our golfing started Sunday at Black Bear.  The course was wet after a full day of rain on Saturday.  We had an afternoon tee time and found out it was cart-path only.  That made for a cold windy day with LOTS of walking.  Thankfully after the first nine, we got to drive on the fairway.  Otherwise, I am not sure we could have finished before dark.  Barb and Bonnie made the first pars (3rd hole, par 3).  I had a par on another par 3.  Monica didn't get any pars, but she had the lowest number of putts and the lowest score.  Barb and Bonnie each had 6 one putts.

We didn't see any black bears, but there were plenty painted bears to keep us on guard.

PINE LAKES

We had another afternoon tee time at Pine Lakes, but the weather was nicer...less windy and warmer.  Pine Lakes is also called The Granddaddy because it is Myrtle Beach's first golf course.  We talked with a friendly starter who told us he became a chemical engineer when he moved to Myrtle Beach...he specialized in converting beer and whiskey into urine.

This course had lots of water in play.  I had my best score and broke 100 with a 96.  Barb also had her best score of the week here.  The group had a total of 7 pars.  Monica may have like the course better if she didn't put 3 balls in the water on hole 14.

MYRTLEWOOD

The weather continued to warm up and we got a morning tee time.  After our adventures at Pine Lakes with the water, Bonnie declared that she could hit out of sand, not water and that she recommended aiming for the sand.  Good advice, but there wasn't much water in play at Myrtlewood.  Monica and I started out with pars on the first hole.  Monica followed with a par on the second and we both parred hole 17 (a par 3).  Monica had her best score here (93), which was the lowest score for the week.  Her 7 one-putts and low total of 30 putts helped.  The group had a total of 21 one-putts.

THE PEARL

The landscaping at The Pearl was very nice.  Large painted conch shells were used for tee markers.  Bonnie had her best score here.  I chipped in for a par on the 11th hole.

RIVER HILLS

There was another fun starter here.  He started off by saying that it was cart path only, then after we groaned, he said that was for the par 3s.  He went on to tell us that there were restrooms on hole 5 and 13 for the women...restrooms for the men are on holes 1 thru 18, watch out.  

Bonnie noticed this tee shirt in the Pro Shop.  It reminded me of the back nine at Brandywine.  Of course, we started on the back nine...and it was difficult.

Bonnie had 8 one-putts, the highest for the week.  I got a birdie on hole 1, the only birdie of the week.  As a group we had 22 one-putts.  Despite all those achievements, no one had their best score.  Bonnie had a fun time on hole 17 where her ball bounced three times on the rocks before it went into the water.

EATING

Where we eat is as important as where we golf.

Our formula for choosing restaurants was one part Mexican (Mexico Lindo), one part seafood (The Chesapeake House), two parts Italian (Villa Tuscanna and Umberto's), and three parts variety (Joe's Bar and Grill, Flamingo Grill, California Dreaming).

This was the third year for Joe's Bar and Grill.  It was one of my favorites...the almond crusted grouper was the best seafood I had all week.  A new favorite was Umberto's, recommended by Monica's husband.  Before we got our entree, we were served beans, salad and pasta, along with bread.  That alone was a great meal...then came the entrees.  OH MY.  Next time, I will definitely come hungry.

At California Dreaming we all shared a piece of key lime pie.  It reminded me of an easy tasty dessert I make.  

Limeade Pie

    6 oz. frozen limeade concentrate (thawed)

    13 1/2 oz. large cool whip (thawed)

    1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed mile

    1 10-inch graham cracker crust (or two small ones)

Combine the first three ingredients and pour into the crust.  Refrigerate before serving.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The week was filled with good friends, good food, good time and fun golf.  I look forward to next year!