We hit the road at 4am, and after 18 hours of driving, we arrived at our destination. Leaving from my hometown meant we took a different route this year; we went through New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and then into South Carolina. The drive went really smooth, that is until we got to Virginia. I don't know what it is about that state, but we have had HORRIBLE luck driving through it...in fact, I don't think I should say we drive through it, it's more like crawling. Then, it was getting late, and we got a little turned around in North Carolina...and of course, at this point, it was my turn to drive. And, I get a lot more frustrated in that kind of situation then Curt does, so that wasn't good. By the time we arrived at our hotel, I had decided that I was never driving back again...of course that changed after a great week of golfing, shopping and relaxing.
We played five courses while we were there: Waterway Hills, River Club, Wachesaw East, Willbrook Plantation and King's North at Myrtle Beach National. Curt had done his research early, so we played these courses as part of a package that meant we payed a fraction of what the normal price would have been.
This is why we chose to play at Waterway Hills, to get from the parking lot to the clubhouse, you have to take a gondola across the Intracoastal Waterway! Fun! It was the least impressive of the courses we played, but that's why we played it the first day, we figured we would be a little rusty anyway.
River Club and Wachesaw East were both really nice, and we enjoyed playing both. But, Willbrook Plantation and King's North were even better, and worth more time here.
Willbrook Plantation was beautiful; we've played a plantation course before, in Florida, and the history of the land is always so evident. Adding to the experience were the ladies we ended up playing with, Georgina and Sue. These ladies were great and we had a lot of fun together; Sue is actually from Ontario and is a member at one of the golf courses I used to work at! We also had our nicest weather while playing here, it warmed up to about 15. Yeah, you don't go to Myrtle Beach for the sunshine at this time of year, you go for the golf (and, the shopping)!
King's North is an Arnold Palmer design, and a challenge! I took time throughout the round to remind myself how lucky I was to have a chance to play a course like this. The course is known for the par-5 sixth hole, known as 'The Gambler'. The Gambler features an island fairway which gives golfers a 'risk reward' short cut to the green for a chance at eagle. So of course I had to try it, and although I hit the island, I couldn't get to the green in two so I had to lay up...but I got to the green in three, experienced 'the gamble' and was more then happy to walk away with par!
Other notable holes on this course include the par 3 12th hole, which has a true island green and the par 4 18th hole (nicknamed 'The Bull's-Eye') which has over 40 sandtraps guarding either side of the fairway.
When not playing golf, we could be found SHOPPING! This year we made sure to check out 'Broadway on the Beach', but it's definitely more of a summer attraction. We're more into the outlet malls anyway, mostly because of the prices!
As it got closer to the end of the week, Curt and I decided to break up the drive home, so we drove home Saturday/Sunday. We feel like we finally found a good route, and have decided that leaving at 4am is NOT worth it! Now we know for next year.
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