The Truth About Myrtle Beach
Let us tell you and warn you about Myrtle Beach. Known by many
as the Golf Capital of the East, Myrtle Beach is a great golf destination.
But, don't be fooled by the misleading advertising and specials.
The cliche' "If it seems to good to be true, it probably is," holds
very true when pricing a Myrtle Beach golf vacation. It is very
important to remember you get what you pay for! We encourage you
to shop around, but make sure you ask all the right questions and
compare apples to apples. We are confident you will end up using
our services. Points to be aware of
- Carts - Most packages do not include them in the
price, yet they are mandatory and will cost each person in your
group $20+ per round. We always include the carts.
- Tax - Most packages do not include it. But as
you well know, the government must get their share. In this case
9.5%. We always include the tax. The only tax we cannot include
is on the rent-a-car.
- Cars- Most packages include a car that simply
won't fit four adults, clubs and luggage. Then they charge a ridiculous
surcharge to upgrade. A full size car, like a Ford Taurus or Buick
Regal, is the absolute smallest car that a foursome would fit
into. The trunk will hold four sets of clubs only. Add luggage
and you will be real tight to and from the accommodations from
the airport. We recommend and use premium size, luxury size or
a mini-van.
- Flights - Book early! The best rates sell-out
well in advance. Usually 3 - 6 months in advance. The most popular
flights are Friday mornings and Sunday afternoons. The next most
popular are Thursday and Monday evenings.
- The Infamous $99 Special - First of all, it is
only during the off off season of December & January. Secondly
it is usually based on quad occupancy and it does not include
carts, tax, a car, flights and premium courses.
- Courses - If you've been to Myrtle Beach before,
you probably know what courses you want to play. But, if you haven't
been to MB you have to trust a hotel reservationist who probably
doesn't know a putter from a pitching wedge. We know most of the
courses first hand. We know what courses are better for the low
handicappers and the high handicappers and of course the mid handicappers
too.
- Non-surcharge courses - There are over 100 courses
available to play on the Grand Strand (aka Myrtle Beach). About
half of them are known as "non-surcharge" courses. These
are the courses that are usually included in the packages. The
best way to describe these particular courses would be to say
that they are championship length and are of average quality.
- Surcharge courses - These are the other half of
the above mentioned 100. A more appropriate name would be "premium" courses.
In most cases, these are the newer courses in MB and are usually
of a much higher quality. Surcharges can range from as little
as $5 to as much as $100+.
- Tee-times - Like anywhere else, the best times
go first and well in advance. In MB, well in advance means 3 to
6 months. And at particular courses, for tee-times in March and
April, you need to secure times 6 - 12 months in advance.
- Accommodations - There are literally hundreds
to choose from, and they are all available through Golf VacationsSM.
We do however have a specific few we feature and recommend. Whether
you want to be on the ocean or overlooking a golf course, we can
accommodate a group as small as a twosome or as large as 200+.
- The newest scam - Instead of raising prices, a
few resorts cover up their increase by charging the client 9.5%
tax on the entire golf package. Yet they do not pay tax on the
golf or cart portion when they pay the courses. The only way around
this, is to not stay at these particular resorts.
- Cost - Is Golf VacationsSM cheaper
than other travel companies? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. It
depends on many factors such as when you travel, where you stay,
what courses you play and what airline you fly. The more important
question should be: What is honest advice, customer service and
knowledge worth?
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