Source: The Myrtle Beach Sun-News
Belle Terre Golf Courses has become Belle Terre Golf Course.
The construction of S.C. 31 onto the property eliminated nine holes of the executive course built by Rees Jones, and the other nine holes has closed.
Future plans for the land, which is on the northeast side of Belle Terre's 7,013-yard championship Jones design, have not been divulged by course management.
The executive course, which opened in 1995 along with the regulation course, was one of just two 18-hole executive courses on the Grand Strand. Tupelo Bay in Garden City opened a similar course featuring predominantly par-3s and a few short par-4s a few years ago.
Had S.C. 31 not encroached upon the property and eliminated both nine holes of the executive course and the facility's entrance off U.S. 501, its more likely the executive course would have remained part of the property.
The executive course is the second Rees Jones creation eliminated on the Strand. Jones' Gator Hole design was closed for redevelopment in 1999.
Long on recognition
Midway Par 3 at South Beach Resort was named by the Golf Range Association of America as one of the top 10 par-3 facilities in the country. A report commissioned by the golf research initiative Golf 20/20 estimated there are 5,500 golf ranges and short courses - including par-3s, executive courses and pitch-and-putts - in the country. Tupelo Bay received one of 23 honorable mentions for executive and par-3 courses.
Midway Par 3 opened 18 holes in September 2003 with "situation tee" areas that include bunkers, rough, pine straw and uneven lies. The 18 holes provide uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies, waste bunkers, greenside bunkers, fairway bunkers, pine straw, lob shots to an elevated green and bump-and-run shots off hard pan.
Another nine holes on the property, the North nine, offers only mats to play off. The East and West nines also have flat areas with artificial turf mats and rubber tees for beginners. An 1,800-square-foot clubhouse and pro shop also opened in September 2003.
Tupelo Bay has lights on the back nine holes of its executive course as well as its 18-hole par-3 course, and also has a driving range as part of its practice facility.
Teaching center on way
A teaching pavilion near the driving range at Grande Dunes is nearly complete, with only interior work remaining. The pavilion includes a V-1 video analysis coaching system and Accusport Launch Monitor, along with a pair of indoor hitting bays.
Grande Dunes Golf Club and Academy general manager Robert Harper is currently reviewing resumes, hopes to conduct interviews by late October and name a head instructor for the facility by early November. "We're looking for a top 100 instructor in America, is what we're looking for," Harper said.
Construction on an addition to the west side of the clubhouse toward an existing putting green is expected to begin by mid-November. The enlargement will be done in part for the golf academy. The golf shop will be slightly enlarged to accommodate more merchandise, and a classroom will be added.
Florida-bound
Carson Hughes, 8, of Myrtle Beach will compete in the National Championships of the Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip & Putt Junior Challenge presented by The Golf Channel on Saturday. Hughes is one of 80 finalists in four age groups (7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14) who will compete at Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.
All finalists qualified from more than 30,000 participants in 100 communities across 39 states and Canada. An hour-long national championship highlight show will be broadcast Thanksgiving Day at 12:30 p.m.