Guide for Beginning Golfers

I had the opportunity to play Trump National Golf Course located in Colts Neck, New Jersey this past Friday. I must admit that Donald Trump knows how to do things one way, top notch. The course was taken over by the Trump Organization a short time ago and was revitalized to the tune of approximately $10,000,000 in upgrades.

The one upgrade that impressed me the most was the addition of a 19th hole situated at the rear of the club house just off the dining veranda. The hole is scheduled to be completed by the end of June. Anyone having lunch or enjoying a beer or other libation after the golf round can watch the golfers hit their golf balls onto the green or in the water as it is an Island Green for all intents and purposes. This is a fun innovation where all the bets made during the golf round will be doubled or lost, depending on who can handle the pressure better. Donald Trump has added another fine golf course to his portfolio and I look forward to playing there again soon. Happy Golfing to All!

I just returned home from Myrtle Beach last weekend and another spectacular trip under our belts. My seven friends and I had a blast and played over 100 holes of golf in four days. We played our first round at Founder’s Club, on the south Strand, near Pawley’s Island and then played Caledonia and True Blue, two of my favorite and premier golf courses in Myrtle Beach. We arrived at the course early each day, took our golf clubs and hit golf balls at the range to loosen up before our round.

The weather was beautiful, the sun shining each morning, temperatures in the seventies, a little windy but perfect conditions for golf.  On Saturday, which was our last day, we played Indian Wells, a nicely laid out course and convenient as it was located off Rt. 17 in close proximity to Myrtle Beach National Airport. It was a great trip and my friends and I are already planning next years golf getaway. Maybe Pinehurst or Hilton Head? Wherever we choose I have no doubt that it will be great golf and a good time for all. Happy Golfing to All!

I have been traveling to parts south in the United States to play golf now for about 20 years. Myrtle Beach and Florida around the Orlando area at Walt Disney World and Grand Cypress Resort are the golf vacation destinations I normally frequent when traveling on the east coast. I carry a ball retriever but do not use it unless I see my ball clearly. If I can retrieve the ball without any possible chance of encountering one of the many alligators or snakes who live in the ponds, lakes and manmade water features on the golf courses then I will do so.

The golf balls cost from $1 to $4 each as opposed to a body part which is irreplaceable. You may laugh or think I am being over cautious but there have been some real horror stories of Alligator attacks on golfers and even local residents on rare occasions in the south. So next time you are playing golf in a temperate climate, say southern Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, etc. and hit a ball in or near the edge of a pond, lake or any other water feature, just take a drop and play another ball. It is much more prudent to lose a ball than taking a chance on injuring yourself.

The photo was taken by me at Caledonia Golf Course, my favorite golf course on the south strand of Myrtle Beach near Pawleys Island. I have seen dozens of alligators in my 20 years of visiting and golfing the southern areas on the east coast. It has been my experience that the gators will not bother you unless you encroach on their territory, like reaching in a pond to retrieve a golf ball. In order to play safe and prevent unnecessary injury DO NOT RETRIEVE YOUR GOLF BALLS unless they are clear of any possible encounter with one of our many scaled friends in the south. Happy Golfing to All!

The rainy weather is behind us, at least for now and the projected forecast for this coming holiday weekend couldn’t be better. I leave for Myrtle Beach this coming Wednesday and it is important to get some practice in over the next few days if I am to stand a chance with my buddies in our golf wagering competition. I will be heading to the golf course on Saturday and hit some golf balls off the practice mat in our rear yard on Sunday before cleaning my golf clubs prior to packing them for the trip. The golf course pictured is none other than Caledonia Golf and Fish Club located on the South Strand near Pawleys Island, about 20 miles south of RT. 501 and the heart of Myrtle Beach. It is one of the top rated golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area and my #1 pick for all around beauty and playability.

I am looking forward to getting away for a few days as this winter has been tough on the golfers this off season with all the torrential rain, heavy snow and consistently inclement weather in general for the past three or four months. If you have not yet visited Myrtle Beach it is a golfers paradise and I would highly recommend a vacation there. It is not known as “The Golf Capital of the World” for nothing. I have been visiting the Grand Strand for the pasty twenty years or so and I hope to retire in this area one day. There are so many excellent golf courses, all located  in a radius of about 30 miles and one better than the other. I will fill you in on the trip upon my return. Happy Golfing to All!

Is the golf season finally around the corner? This past fall and winter we’ve had to endure extreme weather conditions in the northeast and also in many other parts of the country and the Farmers Almanac was on the money this year. Since this past Friday the weather has been horrific with torrential rain and high winds through out the New York, New Jersey and surrounding suburbs. The weather caused power outages, property damage and even loss of life. I think we’ve had enough. It is time to be out doors again, hitting golf balls and playing the game we enjoy most, golf.

The forecast for this coming weekend on Saturday is 66 degrees and sunny so it’s not hard to figure out what most golf fans will be doing, playing Golf!  I really can’t wait until the weekend arrives. I’ve only played one time since mid – November and I’m looking forward to the spring and  summer temperatures again. With any luck April will not be too rainy as my friends and I are heading to Myrtle Beach at the begiining of the month. I will have to shake the rust off, take out the golf training aids and prepare to play golf. Happy Golfing to All!