By: Bo Hobson
When my Dad informed me that we would be doing a golf story in Myrtle Beach in late December, I was ecstatic. Visions of high temperatures, great golf, incredible food, and warm Southern hospitality danced in my head. Christmas was going to come a few days early, and I was excited to open the presents the Myrtle Beach Golf Trail has to offer.
Every single one of my expectations were exceeded beyond what I thought possible, except for one: high temperatures. But the packing of ski caps (winner of the trip Most Valuable Clothing Article award) and extra layers made the unseasonably colder weather a complete non-factor as far as dampening our enjoyment. We checked in to our spacious accommodations at Sea Trail Villas, which feature multi-bedroom units overlooking the property’s three golf courses. With multiple on-site restaurants, including a sports bar, and a convenient location, Sea Trail’s condo accommodations are the perfect base for a golf trip and start us off on the right foot. 
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 8th 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 9th hole, “Arnie’s Revenge.” After dumping close to a couple sleeves (mostly by my Dad) into the several hazards on the hole, we both wondered what made Mr. Palmer so angry that he created a seemingly impossible hole like the 9th. The entire course had some teeth but was also the most rewarding of the tracks we visited during our trip. I’d gladly tee it up at Rivers Edge again. It’s gorgeous, in fantastic shape, and a most inviting challenge.
Later that evening, our unique trip to Myrtle Beach was rounded out when we ate at “Brisket” – a locally owned smokehouse and BBQ joint. True to the theme of the trip, owner Laney Vallancey gave us a unique and incredible tour of the kitchen and meat smoker. She also shared a very powerful story about how the restaurant represents her late husband’s dream, driving her to do whatever it takes to keep the taste of Texas BBQ alive and thriving in Myrtle Beach.
I expected to come to Myrtle Beach and experience great golf, incredible food, and warm Southern hospitality. I did not expect to experience all that and so much more, meeting people and hearing stories that will affect my life even outside of this trip. We set out to enjoy a memory-making Father/Son golf trip and the Myrtle Beach Golf Trail delivered even more than I thought possible.
