By Joe Derus, North Myrtle Beach Online.com

APRIL 28, 2009 MYRTLE BEACH, SC ― With tee times arranged by Myrtle Beach Golf Directors, we recently visited the newly revised Pine Lakes Golf club.  Pine lakes opened in 1927 just a half mile from the ocean. It is located in the heart of Myrtle Beach on Granddaddy Drive and is now only accessible off of Grissom Parkway. Visitors can no longer get to the course off route 17 business. However the entrance off Grissom Parkway is clearly marked by large easily readable signs.

Construction of the new entrance is nearly complete and will probably be completed by the time this is published. Please drive carefully when heading South from the North Myrtle Beach area on US 31 to Grissom Parkway as the speed limit changes quickly from 60-65 to 45 in just a couple hundred yards There is no need to start your rounds with a speeding ticket.  

Those that have previously played this course also know it as “The Granddaddy.” The entrance is onto Granddaddy Drive off Grissom Parkway. The drive up to the clubhouse is quite picturesque and the bag drop is most convenient. Note: check in at the pro shop not the club house. That is for members only. For info on membership contact the course.

Now that we arrived I was curious to see how well the new course “ambience” would compare to the old. Yes, they still have the clam chowder, now located in the pro shop dining area and not on the course. Yes, the chowder is still spicy and, yes, the touch of sherry is still available. My other benchmark was the courtesy and friendliness of the staff. They were especially courteous, and looked good in their aristocratic blazers, knickers and high socks.

The course layout has changed somewhat, notably the old number ten is now the number one hole. Pine Lakes still lacks the “dramatic” scenery hole. That is not to say the course isn’t good looking and interesting, it is traditional and I feel Pine Lakes wants it that way. The charm of Pine Lakes gives it a certain aura. I am also amazed how quiet the course is even in the heart of Myrtle Beach.
 
New grass has been installed throughout the entire course. It is called SeaDwarf Paspalum. It is a highly versatile grass that can be used on the tees, fairways, greens as well as roughs, because it tolerates a wide range of mowing heights from 1/8 to 4 inches.

This is an “environmental green” grass because it can be irrigated with brackish water, requires less water than Bermudagrass and needing a lot less nitrogen. Everyone is keeping a close eye on this grass as it just might be the best thing to hit the strand golf courses in a long while. The grass is looking very good right now it just needs a bit more growing time.

The web site Paspalumgrass.com gives this unique testimonial: “A tropical storm swept north through the Gulf of Mexico and left [the] front nine fairways flooded with seawater. Within two days after the salt water receded, any weed species that were present were showing severe signs of decline from the effects of the salt water. But the Paspalum seemed to green-up and actually show signs of vigor.”

However improvement needs to be made on the greens. The newer ones just do not hold.
When we played it was very windy and dry and this may have been in part why our shots did not stay on the greens. No complaints however when the chip was short and rolled across the green.

The course is still new and the greens are a bit bumpy. Ah, it just gives one a good excuse for poor putting. Humm, I did not hear any complaints from a fellow competitor when his ball bounced across the green and fell in for and eagle. 

A nice addition is the sprinkler heads in the fairways are plentiful and marked with distance from middle and back of green. The 150 yard markers are bushes that are distinctive and easily found.

Still deceptively difficult is number fourteen. The small lake is not visible from the tee box. To play this hole a good tee shot is needed and followed by a good long iron or the ever popular rescue club to get over the water and on the green

The fairways had few if any bare spots but the grass was a bit short and it was difficult getting the irons under the ball. One thing has not changed on the course is the liberal use of carts in the fairway. Rarely is the golfer stuck to cart paths. In fact where the cart paths ends, just in front of the ladies tee it is scatter and go anywhere with the cart. This is a big plus for us old timers.
 
With just a bit of spit and polish such as yardage books and or hole layout signs on tees  Pine Lakes will surpass the old course and make a its own legacy.

Glad to be back writing on North Myrtle Beach Online after knee surgery. I thought it was fitting for the first review be Pine Lakes since we both went through some surgery! Its been a long spell but hope you will continue to join me in reviewing the area courses from an 'Average Joe's' viewpoint.