September 2008 Archives

Written by: Chad

Two of the most exciting times I can think of to play golf are (in no particular order) are the following:

Golf playing friends in Myrtle Beach

Having new clubs in the bag

I had the privilege of playing the Thistle Golf Club in Sunset Beach just the other day. My friends Harry, Cathy and their son Tyler, were in Myrtle Beach for a 5 night vacation from mid-Michigan (and yes they stayed here at the Caravelle). With so much for their family to do, we only had time for 1 round so I wanted to make it some place special. That and I were looking forward to seeing The Thistle's brand new clubhouse. I wasn't let down and my friends were greatly impressed.

We played the North to West combination of this 27 whole gem. I knew they had aerated their greens about two weeks before we played, but they were in great shape. A little slower then I remembered, but still, I have no excuse as to why I three putted the first 3 holes. Bogey, triple, double is no way to start a round. I calmed down after the first three holes and still scraped around a **.  Harry was loving life after shooting 42 with a double on the Par 5 ninth, my friend Brad was okay with his score and Cathy was ready for a drink.

We scooted over grab a couple adult beverages where we finally got our first glimpse of the new pro shop. Unbelievable.  A HUGE outdoor seating area complete with fireplace for those cool mornings. A 62 inch Plasma TV on one wall, a couple 50 inch plasmas on the others. High ceilings, ceiling to floor windows with a great view of the course, hand crafted window frames and probably the best stocked bar I have ever seen at a golf course. After the round, I got a little tour of the entire clubhouse and let me tell you, it might be the best on the Strand. The guys grab a couple a piece and the bartender makes Cathy 'something fruity' and we headed back out.

I finally got my head out of my butt on the 11th. Well, not really. However, three bad shots and one great putt still makes par! The hardest thing about a 3 week layoff is getting that touch back around the green. I was greenside in regulation on the next 4 holes and the best I could make was bogey. Poor chipping and bad lag putting means I need to spend sometime on the practice green. Although Harry didn't score as well on the back, he couldn't stop raving about the course. Cathy couldn't help but to rave about her drink and how 'pretty' the course was. Brad couldn't stop raving about how well he hit his irons.

On days like this, scores are about as important as what color boxers you have on. We had a little skins game going on, but that is more for bragging rights. Playing with some friends that I only get to see a couple times a year beats any score I could put up. Overall, The Thistle is one of the classiest places around. The whole atmosphere make you not want to leave.

For those of you who have not played the Thistle, you have been missing out on one of the best kept secrets in the area. For those of you that have played, head back and check out the new pro shop. I would the 'Legendary' Head Pro Gene Weldon and the First Assistant Rob for having us out for a great day.

 

Until next time,

Chad

Written by: Chad

This blog was designed for us at the Caravelle Resort to keep golfers updated on some great courses, our experiences on the links and simple thoughts on the goings on in the golf world. Well I haven't been playing that much golf (at least good golf) of late, so I thought I would take just a few minutes to ramble off about the upcoming fall golf season.

Being from Mid-Michigan, this was my favorite time to play back home. Not too warm out, the game is sharp after playing 5-8 rounds a week all summer, a couple 'pops' on the course before watching Michigan play or before a Central Michigan tailgating session. However, the thing I miss the most is the changing of the colors. The trees going from a deep green to the oranges and the reds. Now this made finding your ball in the middle of the fairway difficult sometimes, but it was also easier to recover from the wooded areas.

The fall is also my favorite time to play here in Myrtle Beach. The courses aren't as busy as they are in the spring and everything is a bit more laid back. Coming off another crazy summer tourist season, everyone just wants to kick back and enjoy the slightly cooler temperatures and extend their golf season, if only for another week. The courses are in great shape, if not better then the spring. And I get to play a round or two with my Dad, which is never a bad thing.

Speaking of which, I get asked on a regular basis by friends and acquaintances for an inside track on what I really think of the Caravelle Resort. Well, let me put it this way...my parents come down twice a year and stay for a week each time. My college buddy, Harry, comes down in September with his wife and their now 3 year-old son for about 4 or 5 days. A couple guys from my yearly golf trip are coming up from Florida at the end of the month for a 4 night stay and yes, a few rounds of golf with their wives. So yeah, I think it is a pretty nice place in a great location for both golf and just to get away.  Our accommodations are top notch and are definitely something I can be proud to stand behind.

If you are interested in a fall golf trip, just check out are website or give us a call for some great packages. Most courses still have tee times open for larger groups. Don't worry about missing your favorite college or pro football teams on the weekends either. We have the Sunday ticket package right at the hotel bar, the Thursday night game is always on at our weekly Golf receptions at 2001 Nightclub (starting 9/25) as well as a number of great sports bars in the area that carry all the games. As long as you are not a Buckeye....GO BLUE!

Just over 2 weeks to the Ryder Cup. Sorry, Rocco!

 

Until next time!

Chad Kwiatkowski