Now that you’ve found a group of buddies who are all on board for a Myrtle Beach golf course vacation, it’s time to kick the planning into high gear. It seems simple enough, but here are some tips that could help you get the best bang for your group’s buck in Myrtle Beach.

Pick Good Dates For Your Beach Golf Vacation

Of course, you’ll be focused on when your group members want to actually take vacation. But have you considered when the best prices are available? AS week can make a big difference in what your group pays for that golf course vacation. Prices on golf and luxury accommodations change dramatically several times throughout the year. Choosing just the right time for your group to come play golf in Myrtle Beach, SC will save you big money in the end. Some lower rate times to keep in mind for this year are late February through early March and late May through early June.

Seek Out Golf Getaway Packages — They’re The Best Option

Putting rooms and golf together in one package makes things easier to organize. It also saves you money on both accommodations and tee times. The Glens Golf Group offers a wide range of golfing packages that accommodate any size group or budget. Their golf specialists will help you put together a customized stay and play package that will make organizing your group  vacation to South Carolina a breeze.

Decide Up Front How Much Golf Your Group Wants To Play

Be realistic because this will help you narrow down the options when you’re looking at golf deals in Myrtle Beach. If you know for a fact that you have a limited time to spend on golf courses, make sure to look at those that are geared towards the number of rounds your group expects to play. There are a number of great golf specials on Myrtle Beach tee times (like the Glens Golf Group’s “Play 3, get 5 free”) that offer free rounds and free replays, maximizing the number of rounds you play and keeping the cost down.

Use Resources With Lots of Firsthand Experience

This can be the difference between  hassle-free planning and a big headache. When booking tee times, talk to golf directors who have played all the courses—like Jason Himmelsbach, golf director at the Glens Golf Group. Jason’s played every course in Myrtle Beach and he can  help your group find the courses that are best for them. Some people are looking for the most challenging courses, but an experienced golf director will also be able to advise you on which courses would be most enjoyable for  infrequent players or high handicappers – or if your group is a mixture of both. And, if  your group is interested in a course that has stunning views, a golf director can steer you to the right place.

Book Golf Reservations Early

Like with many other things, it’s always smart to plan and book early for group golf course vacations. As soon as your group decides on the best golf packages to go with for the trip, book them! This ensures that you’ll get the tee times you want, the best room choices and amenities, and the greatest deals before they expire. So how early do we recommend? Four to six months out is typically a good amount of time.

Our golf director would be happy to offer some more tips and help you book your first golf vacation in Myrtle Beach. Just give him a call at 888-999-9520.

Heading south for a much-needed golf course vacation in the next 75 days? Expecting to play on lush green courses?

Before you book, ask what you can expect in the way of course conditions at every course you’ll be playing. You may be surprised at the answers.

While most golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area overseed their Bermuda grass with cool-weather rye, the degree to which they overseed has changed over the years. As budgets tightened, changes in overseeding strategies started to emerge, as course owners looked for ways to cut costs.

In addition, new theories about overseeding offered  both cost savings and the promise that springtime Bermuda would return stronger than ever if the grass didn’t have to compete with rye to re-establish itself.

There are now a variety of looks and playing experiences at courses throughout Myrtle Beach during February and March. Tee through green overseeding — once the customary method of keeping courses lush for visiting winter golfers — is no longer the norm.

Some Myrtle golf courses overseed selectively. Some have gone to painting the dormant Bermuda on their putting surfaces.

Many now overseed only their tees, fairways or greens. The Bermuda grass in the rough is allowed to go dormant, often resulting in cart restrictions. Because carts traveling across brown, crusty Bermuda can kill the grass and leave bare patches and bad lies, some courses have resorted to putting out the “cart paths only” sign for the entire winter season. While they preserve the life of their Bermuda, golfers playing such courses can expect play to be slow.

Courses that restrict their overseeding have a very different look because the grasses differ in color. Expect the brown rough to be a dominant part of your visual field from the tee. Expect dry rough that includes bare spots and little cushion for your ball to sit on.

Some course owners have maintained the tradition of overseeding completely from tees, to fairways, to greens and in the rough.

For example, the Glens Golf Group courses — Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch, Shaftesbury Glen and Possum Trot — are entirely overseeded. For the visiting golfer, this provides the opportunity to enjoy a lush green landscape and to experience that fresh, supple grass beneath your feet.

And, isn’t that really why you travel south for winter golf?

Where’s the most fun place a golfer can go on a day too cold or snowy for golf?  A consumer golf show, of course. If you’re lucky enough to have one come to your area, be sure to check it out.

Regional shows are great places to get information about golf specials in Myrtle Beach, try out that new golf club everyone’s talking about, shop, and save on a huge selection of equipment, apparel and accessories. PGA professionals are even on hand to give you free advice on how to play better golf,  and there are plenty of opportunities to test your skills to win prizes

Curious about the best deals in golf getaway packages? Need help booking golf tee times for your next trip? Consumer shows are a great place to unearth the inside scoop on golf courses in South Carolina or Myrtle Beach package deals. Vacation packagers are there, eager  to help you plan your next trip.
This February, The Glens Golf Group’s golf director will be attending four  shows. So, if you’re thinking about a trip to Myrtle Beach, stop by and he’ll  show you how to put together a great golf course vacation that includes play at the Glens  and other golf courses in Myrtle Beach.

Glens will have an information booth to welcome you at the following shows:

Washington, D.C. — Dulles Expo Center (Feb. 3 – 5 )
Philadelphia, Pa.— Greater Philadelphia Expo Center  at  The Oaks (Feb. 10 – 12)
Cleveland, Ohio — International Exposition Center (Feb. 17-19)
Chicago (Rosemont), Ill. — Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (Feb. 24 – 26)

Visit our booth and introduce yourself to Jason Himmelsbach of the Glens Golf Group. He’ll answer any questions you have and maybe give you a golf swing  tip or two. But, keep in mind that when he describes our four courses  —  Heather Glen, Shaftesbury Glen, Possum Trot and Glen Dornoch — and gives you a rundown on our  Shaftesbury Suites or Village at the Glens,  you may end up chomping at the bit to sign up for some vacation golf in Myrtle Beach.

Stay at the Village of the Glens from 1/31/12 – 2/29/12 in a 3 bedroom condo for the price of a 2 bedroom condo!

Date: 1/31/12 – 2/29/12
Accommodation: Village at the Glens
Play Golf: Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch, Shaftesbury Glen and Possum Trot
Extras: Complimentary Golf Card Entitles Guest and Spouse $30 per round plus tax
Price: Only $1006.25

Call Our 888-999-9520 or email Elise at elise@glensgolfvacations.com to reserve!

Myrtle Beach inches toward spring a lot faster than the Northeast and Midwest. By mid-February, the days are longer and warmer, and by March, flowers and trees are budding. By April –as any fan of The Masters knows — spring is busting out all over the south.

While spring is the time for those from colder climates to head south for golf, January is the time you should be planning your vacation and booking tee times.

To help you along, here are some tips to help you package the best golf vacation ever:

Lock in your morning 18′s asap. Morning tee times are the most popular in spring because a lot of golfers plan on getting in 36 holes each day. Popular courses like Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch, Shaftesbury Glen and Possum Trot fill up their morning tee sheets fast.

Book replays when you book your morning rounds. Pretty sure your group will play 36 a day? Spring is the busiest time for golf  in Myrtle Beach. Lock in those afternoon tee times now or you may find your group playing just 18 on a beautiful spring day.

Ask About Free Replays. Spring is high season, but you can still find bargains.  Book your morning tee times at courses that offer free replays in the afternoons. You’ll end up paying just cart fees when you replay, and you can save big. When you book your vacation, tell the golf director you want to reserve your free replay times now.

Get More Out Of Your Accommodations. Don’t end up in a tiny motel room tripping over your roommate. Book a Myrtle Beach villa early and you’ll be luxuriating in all that space in the spring. Stretch your dollars by selecting accommodations that deliver a little something out of the ordinary.

For example,  at The Village of the Glens,  you can work on your putting on  a gigantic practice putting green in the courtyard between villas. A few steps away, there are outdoor grills for guests. Put on some steaks, tap a keg and your group has a low cost –but memorable – evening out.

Or try Shaftesbury Suites, a cluster of just 5 spacious apartments over the pro shop in the Shaftesbury Glen English manor clubhouse.  Guests staying in the suites get the run of the pub after hours, can lounge on the deck overlooking the Waccamaw River, and walk to the first tee.

You’ve locked in that incredible stay & play golf package at the Village of the Glens, and you’re set to play the Glens Golf Group courses Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch, Shaftesbury Glen and Possum Trot.  Now it’s time to chart your route to the the Grand Strand town of Little River where the Village of the Glens is located.

If you’ve been to the Village before, you know its location is one of the most convenient (and quickest to get to) of any in the Myrtle Beach area. But, even, if you have a route you’ve taken before, we’re hoping that the following suggested routes will help you shave your drive time and spend more time on the links.

Travel Time From Charlotte, N.C. To Village Of The Glens —  Approximately 4 hours. Take I-485 South and merge onto Interstate 485 Inner. Take exit 44 for NC 218 toward Mint Hill and turn left onto NC 218 East/Fairview Rd. Turn right onto Williams Street and take the second left onto US-74 East/Andrew Jackson Hwy. Continue onto I-74 East and take exit 185 for US-501 South toward Myrtle Beach/Raemon/Rowland. Turn right onto US-501 South/S Caledonia Rd and take the first right onto Launchwood Drive. Turn left onto US-501 Business South/Johns Rd and  continue onto US-501 South/S Caledonia Rd. Continue onto NC 130 East/East Main Street and turn right onto NC 904 East, turn right onto NC 41 South and continue onto Main Street/Shopping Center 9. Continue onto SC 9 South/Nichols Hwy and turn left onto SC 9 South/US-76 East/South Nichols St. Take a slight right onto SC 9 South and take the SC 90 ramp to US-17 North/Wilmington, turn left onto SC 90 East and turn right onto US-17 North. Go through Little River and the Village of the Glens is on the left.

From Columbia, S.C. To Village Of The Glens — Travel Time: Approximately 3 hours.  Take 1-20 East toward Florence, take the 141A/I-95 North exit toward Fayetteville and merge onto I-95 North. Take exit 170 to merge onto SC 327 South/N Williston Rd and turn left onto State Rd. S-21-24. Turn left onto US-301 North/US-76 East/E Palmetto Street and stay on US-76 East. Take SC 9 South and take the SC 90 ramp to US-17 North/Wilmington, turn left onto SC 90 E and turn right onto US-17 North.Go through Little River and the Village of the Glens is on the left.

From Greenville, S.C. To Village Of The Glens — Travel Time: Approximately 4 1/2 hours.: Take I-385 South to I-26 East and take exit 107B to merge onto 1-20 East toward Florence. Take the 141A/I-95 North exit toward Fayetteville and merge onto I-95 North. Take exit 170 to merge onto SC 327 South/N Williston Rd and turn left onto State Rd. S-21-24. Turn left onto US-301 North/US-76 East/E Palmetto Street and stay on US-76 East. Take SC 9 South and take the SC 90 ramp to US-17 North/Wilmington, turn left onto SC 90  East and turn right onto US-17 North. Go through Little River and the Village of the Glens is on the left.

From Raleigh, N.C. To Village Of The Glens — Travel Time: Approximately 3 hours.: Take I-40 East/US-64 East though the ramp to I-440. Take right to I-40 E and take exit 328A to merge onto I-95 South. Take exit 46-46A-46B toward NC 87/Fayetteville/Elizabethtown and continue toward NC 87 South. Take exit 46A to merge onto NC 87 South toward Elizabethtown. Continue onto NC 87 Bypass South, turn right onto NC 242 S/US-701 South and then left US-701 S/James B. White Hwy North. Turn left onto Leslie Newsome Ave, take the first left onto NC 130 E/E Love Mill Rd and then a slight right onto NC 905 South/7 Creeks Hwy. Turn left onto NC 904 East/NC 905 South/Swamp Fox Hwy East and then turn another left onto SC 9 South. Take the SC 90 ramp to US-17 North/Wilmington, turn left onto SC 90 East and turn right onto US-17 North. Go through Little River and the Village of the Glens is on the left.

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If you’ve discovered a shorter route from any of these cities, please share it with others on our Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Village-at-the-Glens-in-Little-River-SC/356607443205

That brand new putter that Santa brought could be just the ticket to lowering your scores. If you live where snow is falling and there’s a long winter ahead, you’re probably already practicing with it on the living room carpet.

But while you’re putting on that carpet and dreaming about launching your 2012 golf season on golf courses in Myrtle Beach, are you grooving a repeatable putting stroke?

Whatever type of putting surface you’re on — whether it’s your carpet or that grainy Bermuda grass synonymous with golf in South Carolina — your putting stroke is the key to a good score.

The key to good putting is developing a stroke that can easily become a habit. To develop a repeatable stroke, you must set up the same way every time.

To determine where you should place the ball in your stance,  drop a ball in front of your eyes and observe just where the ball strikes the green. Place the ball in that spot.

You’ll need to develop a routine that promotes consistency and the same body position (stance) each time. Choose your target line, then sole your putter on the ground behind the ball.

Only after you are comfortable that your putter is lined up properly should you set up your body. Your toes, knees, hips, shoulders and eyes should be parallel to the target line.

Practice these basics, and you can shave strokes off your score at any of the golf courses in Myrtle Beach when springtime comes. Groove your stroke in Myrtle Beach and you’ll be set for a summer of stroke savers at home.

The radio may be playing “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” but don’t let that stop you from taking some steps now to plan and book your spring golf vacation in Myrtle Beach. Acting now can mean big golf course discounts, less hassles, and ensuring that you get what you want in terms of tee times, free stuff, and accommodations when and where you want them.

Here are the 5 top reasons you should be booking spring tee times now:

You can save money.

Prices go up and down numerous times during the entire spring golf season. If you have one week in mind and it is within a high rate period, you can save by asking to book in a cheaper rate period that is either before or after the higher prices kick in. That way, you get basically the same weather and great golf, but you pay less. But you have to move fast because lots of golfers are catching onto this strategy and the days that these price breaks are in effect fill up quickly.

Booking now will ensure you get those coveted morning tee times.

Spring is high season in the Carolinas, and most courses double tee to maximize the number of golfers they can get off each day. That means the range of a.m. tee times go fast  – especially at courses that offer free replays. So make your golf plans and lock down your  morning times early in January. Next, firm up your replays.

You can only lock in free replays if all the the afternoon tee times haven’t been sold.

The golf package you select may offer same-day, free replays “when available,” but that doesn’t mean you’ll get them –  unless you lock them in now. The first step is locking in your morning tee times. That leaves you enough daylight in the rest of the day to enjoy a free replay. Remember that the afternoon tee times offered for replays are only available if someone has not bought or booked them. And, they fill up very fast. On some busy spring days, there may only be 5 to 10 tee times open all afternoon at popular courses like Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch, Shaftesbury Glen and Possum Trot. Smart golfers get in there and secure their spring replays early in January.

Special requests can be easily accommodated.

Groups with special preferences will have an easier time getting their requests met when they make spring golf reservations early in winter. Once spring tee times and accommodations begin to fill up, your golf director won’t be able to be as flexible in meeting your needs.

You have a better chance of getting the accommodations you really want.

The choicest villas and rooms get picked off fast as spring bookings start to come in. Nothing spoils vacation golf like having to take the last villa or room that’s available.  If you don’t enjoy sleeping next to the ice machine or hauling all your stuff up three flights of stairs, you’ll want to make your  accommodations requests as early as possible so your villa or room is in a location of  your choosing.

Choose from over 80 golf courses in Brunswick, Horry, and Georgetown counties. From big name designers to local favorites, you have the ability to select any of the courses with real-time access to tee time availability.

There are three ways to build your custom Myrtle Beach golf vacation:

1. Call or email our Golf Director at 888-999-9520 or jason@glensgolfgroup.com
2. Complete the simple, no-obligation custom quote form. Click here.
3. Click here to receive real-time pricing on courses and accommodations

Book at least 3 rounds of golf at Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch, and Shaftesbury Glen, and you’ll receive a free morning round at Possum Trot, plus free PRE-BOOKED afternoon replays at each of the four courses.  Your golf group will stay at Village at the Glens located at Heather Glen Golf Links, which features 2- and 3-bedroom townhomes and villas.

Accommodations: 4 Nights at Village at the Glens – One, 2-Bedroom Villa.

Golf Courses: Glen Dornoch, Heather Glen, Shaftesbury Glen, Possum Trot.

Dates Available: 12/1/11-9/5/12

Package Details: Prices based on 4 golfers occupying a 2-bedroom villa and includes golf, cart fees and range balls at each course. All replays must be booked after 1:30 p.m. and are valid only for same-day replays at the same course. Rain checks will not be issued for replay rounds.

Call Our Golf Director at 888-999-9520, email him at jason@glensgolfgroup.com
or

Prices per Golfer

1/19/12 – 2/15/12
Stay & Play Golf Package Rate: $299.00

2/16/12 – 3/7/12
Stay & Play Golf Package Rate: $329.00

3/8/12 – 3/21/12
Stay & Play Golf Package Rate: $421.00

3/22/12 – 4/18/12
Stay & Play Golf Package Rate: $515.00

4/19/12 – 5/20/12
Stay & Play Golf Package Rate: $499.00

5/21/12 – 6/3/12
Stay & Play Golf Package Rate: $399.00

6/4/12 – 9/5/12
Stay & Play Golf Package Rate: $345.00