Michigan Golf Journal February 2020

17 February 2020 www.michigangolfjournal.com Not only were the courses breathtakingly fun; they were breathtaking from a visual standpoint. This was my first ever trip to Myrtle Beach, and while I had always heard about the great quantity of courses in the area, I had no idea the kind of quality that could be found here, too. Our opening round was at The Pearl Golf Links. The golf was fun and fair, and the course was filled with scenic, amazing views, the likes of which I didn’t know existed in the Myrtle Beach area. After the round, we interviewed General Manager Odell Williamson and quickly learned the source of the lasting beauty of the Myrtle Beach golf experience - it’s in the people and the stories that they have. After the primary interview, Odell shared his powerful and moving life story with us. If you’re in the mood for inspiration, click here to listen to the life story of Mr. Williamson. I can truly say that my experience at The Pearl was one of the most unique I have ever had, and that’s a very good thing. Day 2 brought us to Glen Dornoch Waterway Links. True to its name, the final 3 holes on each side finish right along the Intracoastal Waterway, providing what I think were the best views of the trip. Several of the holes had the feel of playing golf in the middle of a marshland nature preserve, which was an experience I have never had until this trip. The 8 th hole, which finishes on the water’s edge, provided yet another unique sighting: a casino boat the size of a cruise ship floating by, directly behind the green, en route to international waters where the gaming would take place. It took me a while to wrap my ahead around that concept, but it also fed into an emerging pattern that was present throughout our Myrtle Beach Golf Trail journey: uniqueness. That pattern continued and brought us to Rivers Edge Golf Club the following day. Designed by Arnold Palmer, I will long remember the diabolical 9 th hole, “Arnie’s Revenge.” After dumping close to a couple sleeves Continues on next page >>