On The Links

Golf is big in Myrtle Beach. Really Big. 98 courses big. No, that wasn't a typographical error; there are actually 98 sensational golf courses to choose from.

Granted, there are a few other places on this earth with that many courses per square mile. But the unique thing about Myrtle Beach's courses is that you can actually play them. There is very little restricted play here, few private country clubs. In Myrtle Beach, every single golfer has 98 courses from which to choose.

The courses here are good enough to have won dozens of awards; the names of designers read like a guest list at a Master's opening reception: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, Rees Jones. The topography of the courses is driven by that of the coastal plains. There are waterside courses with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean; secluded courses tucked into old growth hardwood forests; courses that meander through the salt marshes of former rice plantations, where alligators keep silent vigil over the balls that never made it out of the rough. It's no wonder that the area was chosen as the home of the 1994 Senior PGA Tournament.

"Showtime at the Beach" hotels can provide complete golf packages that include savings on tee-times at several top courses.