Six Myrtle Beach Golf Courses Installing New Greens

After the busy spring season, Myrtle Beach golf courses use the summer months to freshen up, undertaking projects to insure prime conditions for players.

Six Myrtle Beach golf courses are in the midst of more significant work, namely the installation of new greens.

The courses installing new putting surfaces are: Avocet at Wild Wing Plantation, the Fazio and Norman courses at Barefoot Resort, Hackler Couse at Coastal Carolina University (Formerly Quail Creek), River Club and the West Course at Myrtle Beach National.

All six Myrtle Beach golf courses have allowed ample time for the installation, guaranteeing a fast, smooth surface upon reopening.

Continuing a trend throughout the South, the courses are installing bermuda grass greens, which thrive during the hot summer months. The hybrid strains of bermuda possess the qualities of bentgrass without the vulnerabilities to heat.

“The greens should be outstanding from the day we reopen,” said Max Morgan, director of golf course maintenance operations at Myrtle Beach National, which oversees Avocet, River Club and the West Course. “People want firm, fast greens and bermuda gives them firm, fast greens.”

Avocet enjoys the benefit of having the Hummingbird nine on site, so it’s closing nine holes at time while new MiniVerde greens are installed, allowing golfers the chance to play 18 holes throughout the summer. The front nine at Avocet closed on June 19 and is scheduled to reopen on July 10. The back nine will close on July 10 and is slated to reopen August. 1. Avocet is sodding its greens, allowing each nine to reopen faster. 

The Fazio Course at Barefoot closed in late May and will reopen July 18 with new Champion bermuda. The Norman Course is scheduled to close on July 11 and reopen on September 1, and it’s also getting Champion bermuda.

Quail Creek closed on June 6 and will reopen August 22 with new MiniVerde and course refurbishments. The primary on-course work will involve the removal of some bunkers and the renovation of others. Quail Creek is also substantially improving its practice facilities, increasing its putting green to 12,000 square feet, and creating a short-game practice area.  Craig Schreiner, who handled the redesign at Pine Lakes and was a consultant for work done last year at River Oaks, is serving as a consultant on the job.

River Club will be closed from June 23 through August 19 as Champion bermuda is installed on the Dan Maples design.

The West Course at Myrtle Beach National will shutdown from June 29 through August 24 as MiniVerde is put down. While the West Course is closed, sand will be added to bunkers and irrigation work will be done around several greens, too.