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Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club Re-Opens After Major Renovations

Improvements Include Replacing Greens, Resurfacing Existing Bunker Faces

August 15, 2019, Conway, S.C. — Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club is proud to announce that major renovations to its greens, bunkers and around its fairways are complete, and the course re-opened August 12.

Ryan McCarty, general manager of Shaftesbury, said the 6,935-yard course had its greens replaced and its bunker faces resurfaced. The renovations included having mounds built and adding waste areas to the remaining holes from the first renovation in 2016.

Shaftesbury Glen has always been known for being in fantastic condition with great greens, and McCarty said he wanted to make sure it stayed that way.

“In the summer of 2018, we started to see the age of our greens and were not able to keep them in the condition that we are known for, and what our players expect,” McCarty said of the course that opened in 2001. “We decided to change the putting surface to a more heat-tolerant grass.”

McCarty said they decided to install Sunday Bermuda grass. He said this strand of grass is fairly new to the market but is quickly growing on the Grand Strand.

“Sunday Bermuda is very heat tolerant, is easier to maintain than A1 Bent, and will not compromise the putting surface,” he said. “We will be able to keep the speed of the greens to an industry standard and provide a true putting service for our golfers.”

Shaftesbury Glen also administered a waste-area renovations project that started in 2016.

“We have added an additional 250,000 square feet of waste areas, which will help drain the course,” McCarty said. “This will hopefully eliminate some of the ‘cart path only’ days. This project will also allow our guests to navigate around the course easily when we do have to remain on cart paths.”

McCarty said each bunker was specifically designed to help the golfer get closer to his or her next shot. Waste areas were added or extended to holes 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, and 14.

“The staff of Shaftesbury Glen has worked very hard this summer to produce a product that we are very proud of,” McCarty said. “We are excited for everyone to play the new Shaftesbury Glen and see for themselves.”

To book a tee time, call (843) 369-1800. All tee times must be booked within a 48-hour window.

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Thoughts on Heather Glen - Shinnecock - Glen Dornoch - and On The Green

I would like to apologize for how long it has been in updating my blog. It has however been an emotional and busy business year for me.

The long, drawn-out negotiating and finally consummating the Heather Glen deal took a lot out of me as it did with my partners. As everyone readily knows the golf business has been extremely difficult and taxing for the last ten years and all of us in the business have done all we could humanly do to turn the tide to no avail. Year after year of significant losses has pushed us to the brink. As a partner in Wicked Stick, I saw how property values vs golf course losses led to us selling the property to a developer. After a lot of soul searching we came to the same conclusion for Heather Glen.

Making the decision to sell however was just the beginning of a long drawn out process that was at best maddening from the very beginning. After lengthy negotiations with a local firm, it was decided with the scope of development they were not in a position to take it on. Back to square one, then thanks to a clever local real estate guru called Charles Flynn, DR Horton the US's number one builder was brought to the table. Little did we know at the time that their size and expertise was essential to making this deal work. We negotiated a contract and fair deal to both parties over the next couple of months.

At this point DR Horton presented the plans to Horry County for re-zoning approval, that's when the you-know-what hit the fan. The local Little River county representative disapproved of the zoning and nearby residents stood up against it for a number of reasons - increased traffic on the busy Hwy. 17, concerns about the setbacks, and the closing of a popular golf course. That threw a monkey wrench into the pending deal. DR Horton, appreciating the incredible piece of property and the tremendous growth and demand for housing in the County, went back to the drawing board, had numerous meetings with County Officials, made all sorts of concessions and finally after months of unnecessary delays the project was approved.

In the meantime, we had closed the golf course as it became a distraction as numerous entities were against the development in hopes that Heather Glen would remain open. A footnote to all of this as I mentioned before if it hadn't been DR Horton and their size, expertise, and commitment to this project, it never would have happened and myself and my partners are grateful. I give a special shout-out here to George Gore the acting president of Heather Glen for his steadfast commitment and resolve to staying with this drawn-out process, dealing with all aspects of the back and forth between the County, local homeowners and DR Horton until we brought this to fruition and ratified the contract on September 1, 2018.

It seems as if sometimes nothing seems easy in the golf business like it was when we first opened Heather Glen in 1987 and Glen Dornoch a few years afterward. Due to a cruel winter, in January and February of this year, we lost our greens at Glen Dornoch. It hurt but also gave us a unique opportunity to do what we had discussed for the last few years. Re-do our greens to the much heralded Champion, as well as making major playability improvements on the golf course. The finished product which re-opened this September is nothing short of miraculous. This amazing golf venue with its elevations, Intra-Coastal Waterway views, fabulous oak trees all coming together with brand new greens ending with double 9th & 18th greens is now perfect. All this can be viewed from the porch of the impressive replica of the Shinnecock Hills clubhouse.

Shinnecock Hills was the home of this year's US Open. My good lifetime pal Scott Gobbi and I attended The Open and we two Long Island boys stayed with a great college friend and fellow CW Post basketball teammate, Jim Glynn at his home in our hometown of Babylon Long Island.

We went to the houses we grew up in, played golf at Southward Ho Country Club where we both caddied in our youth and even went back to visit CW Post College where we both attended. It was a wonderful time full of old memories and a ton of reminiscing.

I recently returned from my yearly two month hiatus with my wonderful wife Judy at our tidy little cottage on the Sheeps Head Peninsula outside of Bantry Bay Ireland. We spent time playing golf, enjoying the pints with old friends at Ma Murphys, O'Sullivan's and Eileen's pubs, while I added to my two Amazon books - "The Story of Billie Collins," and the "Mayan Miracle" with two new titles coming soon: "Vermont Rose" and "The Mount, The Story of Rusty Carlson". I hated leaving the serenity of the place but it was time to go back to the grind - looking after all the real estate projects around our golf course and home at Shaftesbury Glen.

My brother and partner Jack with our amazing Himmelsbach Communications team, Bill Woodward, Tamatha Lewis, Jason Himmelsbach, Ryan McCarty, Jennifer Dotson, Craig Buis, and Gustavo Arce have put together our 40th-plus edition of On The Green Magazine. As usual, it's filled with the best of Myrtle Golf - what an accomplishment. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday when my wife Judy and I put out the first editions. Our first office was the tennis shack at the old Robbers Roost Golf Course, provided by the generosity of Larry and Judy Young.

Then on to spending a little time with my outstanding Benito's Brick Oven Pizza Pasta team catching up with Joey, Gayb, and Ernesto who once again got us through another summer of a packed restaurant, night after night.

Well, that covers it for now and I will certainly not wait another year or more to update my blog, as things have now settled down with the Heather Glen project closed and underway. I will say in closing however that it personally broke my heart to close Heather Glen, what I firmly believed to have been one of the top five golf courses in Myrtle Beach and a legacy to my partners, Crit Gore, Jim Hackler, Bill Hussey, Omer Miller, now all deceased.

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CW Post Annual Golf Outing

It’s not often that a bunch of former college athletes can get together, play golf, and tell stories about their past experiences year after year. Well yours truly does just that. Each year the boys that wore green & gold of CW Post College gather at Shaftesbury Glen to play the Glens courses and remember the good old days when we were young, fit, and energetic. The stories are told over and over again with a different twist.

We were some of the first to attend CW Post College of Long Island University in Brookville, Long Island. It was on the original Estate of Marjory Merriweather Post. Many of us played two sports; hell I lettered in basketball, track and soccer. We didn’t even have a gym. We played our home games in a gym on the Mitchell Air Force base in Uniondale, Long Island. The sheer joy of seeing my old friends and fraternity brothers every year is just over the top.

One of those guys is my lifetime friend Scott Gobbi who has been my partner in business for years and lives as I do in the Shaftesbury community. He played football so a bunch of those Post toasty boys are included. I played basketball and a few of the lads I played with come as well - Bob Barrett and Jim Glynn. The high scorer Larry Araan couldn’t make it this year because of a prior engagement. Of course we all talked about and gave a toast to a fellow B ball player, the famous actor Eddie Lauder who died a couple of years ago.

All of this signifies what Myrtle Beach golf is all about. Literally thousand of groups of golfers come here every year to play the sport they love on some of the greatest golf courses in the world. The camaraderie is everywhere, with laughter, ribbing and story telling galore. Old friends with varying handicaps having a great time in the Golf Capital of the world Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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A Man Called Marvin

I recently lost a dear and close friend and the community lost a leader. Marvin and I go way back, since he was the manager of Golf Digest's Atlanta office. We collaborated early on because he believed in my ability and let me sell, with his help, advertising sections for Myrtle Beach in Golf Digest. It was a huge success for both my fledgling publishing company and for Golf Digest. We made a great team.

When he was in the area he stayed with Judy and I. We even had a bedroom that we called Marvin's room. Together, in a bar in Atlanta, we created the World Amateur Golf Championship for Myrtle Beach, which some thirty-three years later is still going strong and brings millions of dollars and a tremendous amount of prestige to the Grand Strand every year. Marvin, Wilma, Judy and I became great friends. We vacationed together, played golf together. His daughter Tamatha worked for us for a summer. Life was good, and our friendship grew, as did our accomplishments. I built Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch and my publishing and advertising companies flourished. Years later, Tamatha joined us as an ad space sales person and became the sales director for both On The Green and On The Beach magazines.

Marvin’s position with Golf Digest grew as well with his expertise in the travel and resort business leading all categories for the magazine. Then he had a heart attack, a quadruple by pass and two months later we were in Ireland playing golf. Two years later he decided to retire, Judy and I made a decision to build Shaftesbury. We were looking for partners. My brother Jack was already part of my team, my lifetime friend and college roommate Scott Gobbi was aboard. I asked Marvin if he wanted to round out the team. He said yes and the rest is history. He and Wilma moved to Myrtle Beach. Marvin headed up the real estate division and we created the communities that we now know as Shaftesbury.

Marvin loved golf, as did Wilma, and you could see him almost daily on the golf range honing his skills. Life was good. Tamatha, her husband Ray, and their children moved to Shaftesbury much to the delight of Marvin and Wilma. He was a proud and caring grandfather, always a loving husband, a caring neighbor, a lover of the community he helped build and an amazing friend to Judy and myself.

Then his heart valve began having problems. It hit him hard, he fought back, tried to find a solution, never quit, but in the end that and other complications took my dear friend, our neighbor, and community leader from us. I will never let a day pass when I look out at the driving range or the putting green that I won't see my dear friend practicing to get better at a game he loved.

He was amazing and all that knew, loved, and respected him will miss him. My dear buddy Marvin Arnsdorff, who now is shooting birdies on God's Heavenly Links, looking down on all of us, especially his beloved Wilma, Tamatha, Ray, Marvin Jr., Wendy, his grand children, and loving brother. Until we meet again Pal, hit them straight.

Your friend and partner, Paul

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The Open and Our Summer in Ireland

Well here I am in Ireland again in my tidy little Irish Cottage by the sea. Just caught the end of the Open and what a dramatic finish it was. I was so proud of Zach Johnson, he was composed and masterful in his win in a playoff with Lieshman and Oosthuizen. Of course I am sure most Americans as well as myself were rooting for Jordan Speith. He almost got it done, just one putt shy of the playoff, but he played brilliantly and was a true sportsman with his gesture of congratulating Zach after his winning round. He certainly is a class fellow and is having one hell of a year, there is no question he will be the odds-on favorite to win the PGA in August. The Irish were all excited with the young amateur Paul Dunne in the lead going into Sundays final round and Harrington on his heals. Another promising Irish star on the horizon. He lost it under the pressure on Sunday, but it was to be expected with the pressure of the Open.

The kids are golf crazy here thanks to McIlroy, Harrington and McDowell adding Paul Dunne to the list will just encourage more Irish boy’s and girl’s to take up the game. During the summer they come out in droves at our local club here in Ireland, The Bantry Bay Club, which is twinned with Glen Dornoch in Myrtle Beach. Actually Myrtle Beach is becoming a haven for Irish golfers, they are coming over in big numbers and staying from ten days to two weeks, loving our warm weather and magnificent golf courses.

My hope is that the success of Jordan Speith will go a long way to motivate the youth in the States to take up the game. Also we all need to support the 1st Tee program, that gives all youngsters the basic instruction and rules about this game that I love dearly. Well Judy and I are looking forward to our my friends, Mitch and Ewa Laurance. Mitch, golf writer, sportscaster and associate. Ewa the champion pool player also known as the (Striking Viking), who will be arriving this week for some golf, a few pints and some Irish music. Also catching up with a old friend from Piedmont Airlines, when airlines were a warm and fuzzy experience. They were the airline that got it all started in Myrtle Beach. A committed airline with a wonderful team. McGee, Folger, Sheets, Grant, and the fun loving Jim Vipperman, who happens to be in Ireland playing in a golf tournament at Old Head in Kinsale. Can’t wait to catch up with the Vipp. Well that’s it for now, so hit them straight and don’t three putt folks. All the best, Paul O’Himme, as I am known in Ireland.

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The Chinese, The Masters, Golfsmith, and a Reunion

I haven't written a blog lately for two reasons. Number 1: I have been super busy with work related items and number 2: I had a painful rotator cuff operation in November, which I am still recovering from.

So where do I begin? Let's start with a Chinese company and family buying 22 golf courses here in Myrtle Beach. Good for them and the folks that sold them. Everyone wins in a situation like that. I went to the wedding of the new owner at Pine Lakes Country Club early this month and met the lovely family. It was a beautiful affair and the bride was absolutely stunning. Hopefully the group will bring a bunch of Chinese golfers here to play golf. We desperately need new golfers if we are all to survive in this very difficult business.

My wife Judy and I attended The Masters as members of the Golf Writers Association of America and what a Masters it was. Young Jordan Speith took it to the house with his first major, breaking all sorts of records along the way. A remarkable performance by this young, but very polished and mature young man. Add one more to the growing list of brilliant young pro- golfers starting with Rory Mcllroy and his growing accomplishments, including: 2014 player-of-the-year; ranking number 1 in the world and winner of this week's Wells Fargo Tournament in Charlotte. Both of these fine young men will hopefully reignite the game and encouraging young boys and girls to get involved in the sport. The fabulous kids event at Augusta National will help as well.

The new Golfsmith opened in North Myrtle Beach and what a magnificent store. Having been in the retail golf business many years ago, I was totally blown away. They have everything imaginable in golf under one roof beautifully presented; it is a feast for golfers eyes from the minute you walk in the store. Offered within the store includes: every club manufacturer on the market; shoes galore; all the latest fashions; state-of-the-art practice and custom club fitting facility and club repair. I could go on and on, but my faithful blog readers I implore you, take some time out to visit the store.

Yes, our On The Green Tee Time kiosk is still there, where you can book your favorite golf courses for those best 48-hour rates. I had the pleasure to work with the Golfsmith team Drew Mitchell and Sharmaine Frazier on the grand opening; what a terrific committed and talented team. It's easy to see why Golfsmith is so successful. The North Myrtle Beach community spokesman, Dick Elliot, welcomed this exceptional new retailer with opened arms.

I recently had 12 of my fellow C.W. Post basketball teammates, as well as my lifetime pal Scott Gobbi's Post football team buddies for our annual golf and camaraderie get together. We have a ball reminiscing, playing golf and having a few beers. Times like that makes my age, 75, feel young. We raised our glasses to toast our departed friend and fellow b-baller, Ed Lauter, the famous actor who passed away last year. He will be missed. Also, we talked at length about our basketball coach and dentist George Kafton, the former Holy Cross All-American and NBA pro. All of us still have our own teeth thanks to his talent. Yes, he did give us a shot of Novocain, but only if we requested it. lol

Well that's it for now, I will check back in after the U.S. Open, Paul

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Waterville Still on the Top of My List

The fact is that I have played every links course in Ireland no less than three or four times and the fact that I personally have built three golf courses from scratch, makes me somewhat of a knowledgeable ranker of golf courses. My love for links courses goes back some forty-five years, when I first played the great links courses in Scotland. My favorite course there is Royal Dornoch.

My wife Judy and I, having fallen madly in love with Ireland and their fine links courses, were charmed into buying a house in Ireland on the Sheep's Head outside of Bantry Bay, in SW Cork. So every summer for the last fourteen years we have been  fortunate enough to play the magnificent links courses in Ireland. I love them all of course and there is not a bad one in the lot, but one particular course, with it's magical past and welcoming Secretary-Manager Noel Cronin, always seems to draw me back. The way I always evaluate a course is to look at all the details. For me it's the design, playability, setting, and conditioning. It is also a very personal appraisal. It's what suits my eye and how I play the course. What kind of experience you have from the time you drop off the clubs until you finish and have your pint. Waterville, because of the meticulous oversight by Noel Cronin of this spectacular links course scores five stars in all the categories.

Historically the land dates back to 1700 BC when the Milesians settled here in Kerry. It is a mystical place of remarkable natural beauty. Irish born American John A. Mulcachy, a New Yorker and Winged Foot member took this piece of land on the Ballinskelligs Bay and, with the help of the great architect Eddie Hackett, fulfilled a dream of creating one of the finest tests of golf in the world. The recent changes by Fazio to number 6, 7 and 16 brought it over the top.

Then of course there is Payne Stewart, who was adopted by the Waterville community as one of it's own. As I have written in past blogs my wife Judy and I just happened to be there on July 12th, 2000 when the club dedicated the statue of Payne created by Jim Connolly, one of Irelands preeminent sculptors. Judy and I weren't alone; Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara, Lee Janzen, Stuart Appleby, David Duval, Payne's wife Tracy, and most of the town of Waterville were also there for the moving dedication. There wasn't a dry eye among us. It was a testimony as to just how loved Payne was by the community. They still talk about his singing and joking in the pubs. He, as well as O'Meara and Tiger, always made it to Waterville as a stopover before the British Open. There is also a special area in the clubhouse dedicated to Payne.

This year Judy and I were greeted by Jay Connolly, the affable Membership Chairman for Waterville, who splits his time between Waterville and Hobe Sound in Florida. I met Jay a number of years ago while playing golf with my good buddy Win Stevens, now retired VP of Golf Digest and Winged Foot member. Jay had broken his leg but it didn't stop us from reminiscing with a bunch of pints of Guinness till wee hours in the morning at the Waterville House. Jay and I are a couple of Long Island boys. Jay is from Cedarhurst; Mark O'Meara is also a Cedarhuest native; and I am from West Islip, so we have a lot in common. We are good Catholic educated boys, former alter boys, sportsmen and we have an intense love of golf and Ireland. I love listening to Jay's stories - he can mesmerize you with stories about Waterville and some of his most humorous stories about life's experiences.

What it really comes down to, faithful readers, is once again I rank Waterville Number #1 in Ireland. For me it's the whole package and a "must" on your bucket list. I would also like to encourage anyone looking for a course membership in in Ireland to contact Jay Connolly at jayconnolly13@gmail.com .

I am including in this blog post a note and pictures that Jay sent me about a visit by the Notre Dame Woman's Golf Team. Go Irish! Note the picture of the girls by the Payne Stewart statue.

One further note, thanks to the very accommodating P.C., Judy and I did a stay over in Killarney at the McSweeney Arms Hotel where I met and had a chat with Tony McSweeney, the golfing proprietor. This hotel on College Street is the best in Killarney. The Pub is filled with wonderful golf memorabilia and with its wonderful selections of beer and fabulous food is one of the most charming in Ireland. Check it out on www.mcsweeneyarms.ie .

Off on our next golfing adventure on the heavenly links of Ireland.______

From Jay Connolly...

The Notre Dame Women’s Golf Team visited Waterville on Monday, August 11. They were accompanied by their coaches and a group of benefactors. I had the pleasure to welcome them during lunch and spoke of our close ties to Notre Dame.

The late, Mike Wadsworth, Athletic Director of Notre Dame and past Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, was an Honorary Member of Waterville Golf Club. He was a long-time friend of Director Jerry Murray, a Notre Dame alumni.  Director Jay Higgins and I attended his daughter’s wedding at the University. The Notre Dame flag that welcomed the Team was given to Waterville by Mike. As they headed out to play, I sensed their enthusiasm knowing that Waterville was also part of the Notre Dame fraternity.

After the round all thought the day was over, but it had just begun. A beautiful rainbow appeared over the Practice Range, pictures were taken with Payne and then the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, walked off 18 after winning the annual Watertown Cup. He immediately engaged with the Notre Dame group on the deck for his own welcome and pictures. Only in Ireland. Only in Waterville!

Contributed by Jay Connolly Membership Chairman Waterville House & Golf Links

From Wikipedia. . .

The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament), and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil. The current Taoiseach is Enda Kenny, TD, who was appointed on 9 March 2011.

The word means "chief" in the Irish language. The earliest known use of the term is from a 5th- or 6th-century ogham inscription in both the Gaelic and Brittonic languages.

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Summer in Ireland

I am once again in my lovely Irish cottage on a cliff overlooking the Bantry Bay. The weather has been beautiful - an exceptionally warm and sunny summer. The Bantry Bay Club is in great shape. My wife Judy and I are out there walking this beautiful course over looking the bay. Ireland is my escape, my heaven on earth, the place where I recharge by batteries. Being involved in so many different business is a blessing but at my age, pushing 75, I need a break and there is no better place then my cottage on Goats Path on the Sheep's Head peninsula in Southwest Cork. No TV, no internet, just Irish music, a few pubs nearby, peace and quiet and of course, golf.

I have lost a couple of great friends from here in the last couple of years. One such friend was the great Steve Coughlan who was Captain of the Bantry Club and helped me put together the twinning of Bantry with Glen Dornoch. Twenty eight club members, men and woman, came to Myrtle Beach for the twinning ceremony. It was a fantastic time filled with fellowship, wonderful songs that only the Irish can pull off and plenty of Pints. Judy and I remain close with his lovely wife Anne.

I also lost the delightful and funny Con O'Shea from Douglas. Both of these guys became wonderful intimate friends and I miss them terribly. I will make it to Waterville to see my friend and managing director Noel Cronin and to Fota where the Irish open was played this year to see the pro Kevin Morris who comes to Myrtle almost every year with a gang to play golf.

Since I arrived here just before the British Open I am experiencing Rory mania. His backed up win at the Bridgestone rocketed him to number one in the world. It's amazing how many golfing greats and major winners come from this small country. The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have about the same population as New York City. Padrig Harrington is Irish with Two British opens and a PGA, as is Darren Clark poplar winner of the British. G Mac was winner of the Open and Rory took the US Open, PGA, and now the British Open. All I can say is there must be something in the water and I sure wish some of it would rub off on me. I could use some help on the links.

While in a the pub at the Barley Cove Hotel near Crookhaven, Judy and I, and a bunch of Irishman watched Rory come from behind and hold off Phil Mickleson to win his third tournament in a row and his second straight major. During that three week period he won over three million seven hundred thousand dollars, just an amazing performance for this now number one player in the world.

I have just finished my third novel here in Ireland where inspired by the likes of Irish literary legends, Yeats, Shaw, Casey, Joyce, Swift, Wilde, Beckett, I do all my writing.  After trying for years to get a publisher to take me on, I have decided to self publish on Kindle. The recent novel Billie Collins is about a young Irish lad who becomes a great golfer. I started the book before Rory became the sensation he is, so I had to make some adjustments but I was pleased with the final draft and will let it fly along with The Mayan Miracle and Mystery book with the setting in the town of Manchester in Southern Vermont.

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An Old Friend Says "Goodbye" and a New Friend "Hello"

After many years serving their loyal customers and the community, the Smith family have turned over the reins of Golf Dimensions to a national company – Golfsmith. My publishing company Himmelsbach Communications has been part of the process because of our long-standing advertising exclusivity with Golf Dimensions. My association with the Smiths goes back to the early days before there was a PGA Super Store, a Dick's or even a Golfsmith. There was just Martins across the street and Bob Smith trying to compete with someone that had been in the market for years. I was familiar with discount golf operations having been the General Manager and marketing director for Golf & Tennis World, the original golf discount store in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, & Hilton Head Island. Bob Smith was a smart operator and a community involved individual who supported every golf activity in the area including the World Am which Marvin Arnsdorff and I created over 30 years ago.

Bob became a great friend and we established a great business rapport. Bob had the foresight to recognize that as golf grew in Myrtle Beach so would the big golf discount store competition. He made me a offer I couldn't refuse. He wanted to be exclusive to my magazine and all future aspects of my golf related communications company's holdings. He negotiated a reasonable deal at the time and we signed it and never looked back.

Yes I lost some opportunities along the way by not being able to bring the other golf stores in the market into our magazine, but we were able to distribute our magazine exclusively in the Golf Dimensions stores. We also created a kiosk inside the store to book golf - a win, win situation for us both.

His son Bobby came into the business and what a asset he was. He was also a great supporter of the golfing community. Together they ran the family business and enjoyed tremendous success over the years despite the competition. We never wavered from our exclusive commitment with them. When they decided to sell to the national retailer Golfsmith Bobby asked if I would continue to honor our exclusive deal with them. I looked into the company, saw first hand the way they operated and treated their customers. I felt like aligning ourselves with a company that could potentially bring more golfers to Myrtle Beach was a smart business move. We have since worked out a exclusive arrangement with Golfsmith and look forward to a long relationship with that company and their very astute and creative marketing department. The Golf Dimensions customers and our community will benefit from Golfsmith's customer satisfaction policy as well as its extensive inventory and fair pricing. I encourage all of my faithful blog followers to stop in one of the two Golfsmith stores and say hello.

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The Myrtle Beach Golf App

It wasn't very many years ago the only way a visiting golfer could arrange a last minute tee was to rush back to the hotel room, flip through the phone book and hope to catch the pro shop before they closed for the day (or - heaven forbid - use the pay phone at the golf course!).

Thank goodness we have moved beyond that with all the new technology you find on smart phones. Picture this scenario: you and your buddies are at the turn and grabbing a hot dog at the snack bar. You open an app on your phone and do a quick search for nearby courses. You see the that incredible tract you remember reading about in Golf Digest that runs out along the Intracoastal Waterway and take a moment to view a video of the finishing holes. Your buddies take a look, passing your phone around - they agree that tomorrow's round must happen there.

A few simple taps later, available tee times are displayed and in less than 2 minutes, the foursome is booked for the next day. Thanks to modern smart phone technology - we are there and you too can book golf that easily. Just join the tens of thousands who have downloaded the brand new Myrtle Beach Golf App (for Android and iPhones) and you have it all at your fingertips — literally!  It will be like moving from persimmon to metal woods.

The app gets even better since you can locate the nearest Irish pub (the app uses your onboard GPS to figure all this out) and steak joint.

Like adjustable drivers and laser range finders, the Myrtle Beach Golf App is the future — get it now so you and your buddies won't be left behind searching for the pay phone in the clubhouse.

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Get Ready for Spring 2014

Spring is almost here and considering the brutal weather all my friends up north have been experiencing it is time to make your Myrtle Beach golf reservation now for March, April and May while there are still some preferred tee times available. Myrtle Beach golf is unique in that you can rely on the weather to be great. While your course at home is covered with snow and ice, the green fairways of some of the greatest courses in the world are calling you. It's real easy, just navigate to our booking system pick out the courses you want to play and book them. Or go to one of ours many providers and have them do it for you. Pick out the restaurants you want to eat at, the entertainment you are interested in and you can plan your whole trip from our On The Green web site for Myrtle Beach Golf, www.onthegreenmagazine.com. There is no place in the world that offers you as much diversity in pricing and versatility as Myrtle Beach. With over a hundred courses to choose from you can be certain to find just the right course and golf package for you. There are many deals out there this Spring, like free replays and "buy four - get one free." You can stay in a hotel or many of the luxurious condo's on or off the course. With so many wonderful restaurants, bars and clubs after golf is always fun in Myrtle Beach. So look through our web-site, pick out a tee time at the courses of your choice and make this Spring your best ever In Myrtle Beach. Also if your looking for a teaching facility some of the best teachers in the world are at your disposal. You can do a two or three day school, tune up you game after a long winter layoff and take to the lush green fairways. There are many direct flights into our spanking brand new airport with excellent fares.

You can now travel with On The Green on your phone or tablet by downloading our new app. Search for "Myrtle Beach Golf" in iTunes or Google Play, or Go here for iPhones or go here for Android phones. Much more about our app to come. Don't wait; make your plans and I hope to see you in Myrtle this Spring.

[paulssliceoflife]

The Snow Birds Are Coming

What makes the Myrtle Beach area so inviting during December, January and February is the incredible value of the monthly condo rentals and golf. Usually the weather is mild enough to play most days during those months and there are all sorts of great winter golf specials and fabulous condo monthly rates that makes leaving the bitter cold of NY, New England, and the northern Midwest a no brainer. We love the snow birds and so do the many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer snow bird specials. Literally every golf course has a special deal; just go to the On The Green website for a rundown.

Also it's time to be thinking about your spring golf package, especially if you want the really good tee times. Book early and get the best deals.

Our own Dustin Johnson won this week, so a shout out to him for a job well done.

Our kiosk in Golf Dimensions is in full swing so run on by for great Golf Dimensions deals for this Christmas and then stop by the On The Green kiosk to book a discounted round of golf and get a free subscription to Golf Digest Magazine.

The 30th Anniversary World Amateur Handicap Championship was a huge success Hats off to Bob Lecompt for his special award. He was the force behind the Championship, first when he was at Dupont then later as tournament director. Our golfing community works hard to make all the participants feel special. Our participating courses are always in pristine shape and the golfers have a true tournament experience. They also have a ball at the convention center every night meeting new and old friends and enjoying the festivities. If you haven't participated in the World Am give it a try in 2014.

Well folks, hit them straight and have a wonderful holiday season. I will be looking to seeing all you snow birds at the courses and restaurants this winter.

[paulssliceoflife]

Behind the Scenes of the First World Am

Thirty years ago Marvin Arnsdorff, who was then the South East manager for Golf Digest and I were sitting in a bar in a Atlanta enjoying a couple of cold ones talking about our joint efforts with On The Green Magazine and Golf Digest. We had already established advertising sections for Myrtle Beach that were running four times a year in Golf Digest. We began talking about which was then the slowest time in Myrtle Beach, the last week in August when the kids were heading back to school and well before the golfers made their way to Myrtle Beach for the fall season. What could we do to to get golfers to come to Myrtle Beach at that time? Maybe some sort of tournament, an event that would be appealing enough to encourage golfers to make the exodus to the Myrtle Beach for a week. We discussed many ideas but the thing that really stuck was every golfer has a handicap or should. It is the one thing that enables players of different skills to play together for a few bucks and make everything fair. How many times have you heard on the tee. "How many strokes will you give me?"

So we decided to make handicap the theme. I am not sure who but one of us said, The Amateur Handicap Championship, which evolved to the World Amateur Handicap Championship. We then decided to take it to Golf Digest to see if they would support the idea and promote it. If they would, then I would organize it through my Myrtle Beach based golf magazine, On The Green a team which would develop, organize and put on the event. It all sounded so simple. I was in for a shocking surprise.

Well we did organize our team and I convinced a scratch golfer, owner of the famous Old Pro's Table a golf themed restaurant in North Myrtle Beach, Joe Hackler to be the tournament director. Well the applications came in. A hundred, then two hundred, then four hundred. I don't know what we expected but 400 was our ultimate goal. In the mean time we contacted the Myrtle Beach Convention Center because it was the only facility that could accommodate that many players, and staff to include gigantic score boards and all the people that we need to write in the scores as well as the room to entertain the players on a nightly basis. We also realized that many of the players would bring their spouses who, if they didn't play golf, could enjoy Myrtle Beach's beautiful beaches. We worked on getting volunteers. My publication's editor Gloria Marquez, God bless her wonderful soul, was fantastic from the beginning. Organizing the volunteers, making sure of the accommodations were made available, and organizing the applicants according to fights.

On the promotion front Golf Digest was doing a terrific job, the applications continued to pour in, 500, 550, 600. They landed a major sponsor Rawlings Golf, the giant baseball equipment company that was now in the golf manufacturing business. In the end we hit 684 players; then the fun began. None off us had any idea how difficult the logistics of moving that many players around. Many came as foursomes but had different handicaps so they were playing different golf courses. We ended up calling on even more volunteers to drive them around. Then there was the issue of gathering the scores and getting them back to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and posted. Then there was the whole food and beverage thing. We had solicited my wife Judy's Uncle Jimmy from Augusta, Georgia who did many of his famous BBQ spreads during the Masters including the Golf Digest's hospitality house. He was up all night roasting his pigs, preparing his succulent spicy potato salad and coleslaw. We had five bars set up all around the Convention Center serving beer which was provided free by Better Brands, the local Budweiser distributor.

It was overwhelming as the 684 players, many bringing their spouses, arrived at the Convention Center. There were suddenly over a 1,000 people in in one big room in search of scores, food, and drink. We all had to pitch in, Marvin, myself, my wife Judy, my brother Jack, all my employees, the volunteers, even the publisher of Golf Digest, Jay Fitzgerald got behind one of the bars to serve drinks. How we made it through without a major hitch was short of a miracle. Unbelievable as it sounds a number of players in this year's 2013 tournament also played in that first tournament 30 years ago. I was 43 years old, had a slim waist and a hell of a lot more hair. This year there are well over 3,000 players from all over the world.

What an achievement. A simple idea conceptualized over a few beers would become the worlds largest on site amateur golf tournament. The bottom line for the Myrtle Beach area is that it produces millions of dollars in revenue during traditionally one of the slowest weeks of the year. The World Am has players from almost every country in the World. Along with our magnificent golf courses, it has helped make Myrtle Beach the Golf Capital of the world.

After that first year I had enough sense to go to Cecile Brandon and Clay Brittain, who were at that time the the force behind Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the non-profit organization that represents the all member golf courses in Myrtle Beach, with a proposal. "I bequeath to you this concept along with Golf Digest's and my magazine On The Green's support and involvement to move it forward as a community effort." They did just that. Bill Golden, who worked for the promotional arm of Golf Digest was eventually hired to run the tournament. Bill is now President of Myrtle Beach Golf Holliday. With the help of Golf Digest they scored Dupont as a sponsor. That brought to us the big corporate name along with Bob LeComte the individual picked by Dupont to oversee the tournament. Bob was fabulous. It became his passion and he eventually became tournament director. Later he retired and moved to Myrtle Beach

So between Golf Holiday, Bill Golden, Bob LeComte and the fantastic golf community of Myrtle Beach, the World Am, now the Golf.Com World Amateur Handicap Championship grew in stature and credibility. It is now celebrating its 30 year anniversary. I am proud of my community and am humbled by those who recognize Marvin and I as founders. I personally wish all the participants the best of luck especially those who played in that first tournament 30 years ago. Participants will experience the fantastic courses, Myrtle Beach's renowned hospitality, the Myrtle Beach's Convention Center's gala affairs with electronic scoring, all sorts of food and drink, and fantastic prizes. My dear friend Marvin and I think back to that first event 30 years ago and say, "We've come a long way baby."

The next Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship takes place on AUGUST 26-30, 2013. Get more info and register here.

[paulssliceoflife]

My Favorite Memory in 30 Years of Attending the Masters

The Masters is as close to theatre as you can get. The stage is spectacular. With its magnolias, large powerful oaks, and blooming azaleas, Augusta National is more like a botanical garden than a golf course. Every corner of this course is a perfect theatrical setting for golf — a set designer's dream, but the "set designer" was also the immortal golfer, Bobby Jones.

It was in Augusta in 1986...

At No. 2, a par 5, thousands of fans are perched on the gigantic mounds around the green and line the fairways. The players, some in knickers, others in vivid colors and, of course, some in dark, subdued hues, leaving the magnificent Augusta National clubhouse, just as actors leave the sanctity of backstage. Smiling as they are greeted by the enthusiastic crowds, they come on stage to play their most exciting role of the year.

Act 1: The glamorous leading man, Seve Ballesteros, enters and dominates stage center. The flamboyant Spaniard, the perfect matinee idol, is magnificent — Wide shoulders, chiseled profile, With a determined charge to his Walk. This fine athlete hits the ball With such grace and authority that it's sheer joy for us mere mortals to Watch. His appeal to the ladies is all too understandable. Valentino, Gable, Power had nothing on this guy, Whose every move and gesture, designed or not, Whips the ladies into a frenzy.

Off to stage left is Tom Kite charming, curly-haired, always the perfect gentleman, the straight man — certainly not the star and almost unreal With his demeanor. A great golfer and always a top money winner, but never dominating center stage.

Sunday, the 8th, my wife, Judy, and I are following Ballesteros and Kite. The former is leading the tournament and he knows it. We make our Way behind the green at No. 9. Seve is on a knoll on the right side of the green. Tom hits a 9 iron and it takes two big and two small bounces and rolls into the hole for an eagle. I leave my feet as the full audience roars its approval.

Out of the corner of my eye I catch Seve's eyes riveted to the green as if he Was memorizing the flight of Kite's shot. Then he disappears from sight and moments later his ball heads for the green. The crowd is hushed with anticipation as the ball hits the green an inch or two from where Tom's ball landed then 2 large and 2 small bounces, and it rolls into the cup. I just stand there in disbelief, as the crowd gives forth With the most tremendous roar I had ever heard in all my life — to that point. They both eagled! It appeared that Kite was just once again upstaged by Seve. At that exact moment, on 9, Jack Nicklaus, the 46-year-old has been, remarks to the crowd — knowing full well that both and Kite had eagled — "Can you roar as loud as that if l sink this?" He did — and they did!

Act 2: Seve bogied 9 but still had a commanding lead — almost insurmountable. Only Kite and Norman stood a chance. I was eating a pimento cheese sandwich along side the N0. 8 tee when a roar came form No. 13. I knew it was Jack, so Judy and I began working our way over to our usual spot on No. 15. Little was I to know that I was walking towards a spot that would enable me to personally witness and experience the greatest moment in sports history.

Nicklaus birdied again. Each roar brought thousands of people running to see what the heck was going on. Jack hit a good drive on 15 and certainly had a chance to put it on in two, and When he pulled out a long iron the crowd murmured with anticipation. He soon backed away with his familiar MacGregor 4-iron. Then Jack made his usual great move through the ball as 50,000 eyes Watched its descent. The moment it landed a deepening roar that probably could have been heard in Atlanta, so electrified the crowd that at that exact moment Augusta National, its setting, Seve, Kite, Norman, the people — everything and everyone disappeared. From that moment on there was only one person out there. Enter Jack Nicklaus - Center Stage!

He made the putt for eagle, and the roar turned to tears. Men and women started to cry, kids just started to scream. You had to be thereto believe it — Thomson's home run, Namath and the Super Bowl, Larry Bird's great 3 points, Providence College Winning the NIT in 1960, North Carolina State the NCAA in 1985. Nothing I had ever experienced in life had prepared me for the next 56 minutes.

Act 3: For the next 56 minutes, it was a wave of people. Within seconds thousands upon thousands of people surrounded the par 5 16th. We couldn't even get close. We decided on the big hill to the left of 17 Where We could see the 17th green and the 15th. We had just made it to the top of the hill as Seve was about to hit his second shot. He had to be affected by What Nicklaus Was doing. He seemed to have a problem With his club selection, and he hooked the ball into the middle of the lake. There was an instant roar that only lasted for a few seconds — not because he had hit a bad shot, but because their hero, Jack, actually had a chance to win. The tension and excitement increased beyond anything I had ever experienced. We could not see the 16th tee or green from our vantage point on 17, just the gigantic scoreboard that looked like a marquee:

Nicklaus... Ballesteros... Kite... Norman... Yes — Nicklaus did have a chance.

Then it happened. The roar of the crowd on 16 that had to be heard around the World. In every living room in America people Were jumping out of their couches and favorite chairs, letting out with their very best yell. Nicklaus almost aced 16. He had a tap-in for birdie, but those of us at No. 17 didn't know for sure.

All hell broke loose in and around 16 and this little old lady screamed "it's a hole in one!" Judy and I just stood there in shock for at least 4 to 5 minutes. Thousands of people at Augusta National had thought that Jack's shot went in - then another deafening roar as the scoreboard confirmed that he had birdied 16.

Not even "Arnie's Army" could compare to Jack's friends at Augusta. Everyone on that golf course was rooting for Nicklaus. Jack Was visibly overcome with emotion walking up 17. Shots of "Go, Jack!" from screaming well-wishers were just too much. I didn't believe he could possibly maintain his composure. I was wrong. His second shot from the trampled rough on 17 was typical. Nicklaus' shot poetry in motion. As soon as it left the club everyone knew it was going to be a good shot. What we didn't know was that it was going to be an almost perfect shot — about 15 feet from the pin, the only area that gave him a shot at making the putt. Jack, Jr. stood behind him as he lined up the putt. What a picture — the father and son making history together! The confidence Jack must have in his son - the closeness, the love! I had to hold back the tears. Many did not.

When the putt Went in I threw my right fist into the sky in some defiant Way. It was as if I personally made that putt go in. Then it all became very clear. 40,000 people at Augusta and people all over the world had wished that putt in the hole. There was no other explanation, and as they all ran towards 18, I Was suddenly convinced that Jack and Jack alone would don the green jacket. So was everyone else, including Kite and Norman.

Jack's final putt on 18 almost went in, but the crowd was not going to be denied the drama of Kite's missed putt and Norman's pushed second shot on No. 18. (Norman had done the same thing on the 72nd hole at the US Open at Winged Foot two years ago.) When Jack tapped in on everything for a back-nine 50, we all heard the FINAL ROAR. Jack acknowledged the fans, then turned and walked towards his son. As they embraced, everyone cried. It Was just too beautiful. I will never forget that day in Augusta, and I will never leave before the final curtain call.

Thanks Jack for a great performance.

[paulssliceoflife]

A Synopsis of my 50 Year Business Career

An entrepreneur is one who according to the dictionary-"organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise." What the dictionary fails to add is that the success of such an undertaking is almost totally dependent on the ability of the "entrepreneur" to first identify or establish the need for such a business, and then to develop the best means with which to meet that need. Refrigerators for igloo-dwellers? Not likely. ON THE GREEN MAGAZINE for the Grand Strand? Yes, indeed. In 1977 Myrtle Beach's broad, clean beaches, local restaurants, and family run hotels were summertime hosts to hordes of families, and in the spring, it's two dozen or so golf courses lured golfers, mainly from the Northeast, who enjoyed limbering up their game before the green returned to their still-chilly home courses. Between these brief, enlivening seasons, it was a sleepy southern town - pleasant, certainly, but hardly fertile ground for the start of what would be a multi-million dollar business enterprise, However... I had been a frequent Myrtle Beach visitor for golf who had been intrigued by what I saw as unlimited potential for the area, I subsequently moved here in 1976, and brought with me an extensive background in sales, advertising, promotion, and publishing (advertising executive for Long Island's NEWSDAY, advertising director for the SUFFOLK SUN, a Long Island Newspaper owned by Cowles Communications of New York, mother company for LOOK MAGAZINE, as well as 10 major metropolitan dailies in the U.S., and Vice President in charge of national accounts for Hawthorne Advertising of Fort Lauderdale Florida.) That the area would soon experience a golfing boom seemed to me a certainty. (And certainly it was, as some three million rounds are now played each year on more then one hundred golf courses!) The need to identify Myrtle Beach as a prime golfing destination to a broad public-the area's golfing and casual visitors, as well as golfers throughout the country - seemed equally certain. And what better means to do so then a local golfing magazine, it's advertising augmented by compelling articles, course reviews, lessons, all focusing on Myrtle Beach as the worlds newest and most diversified golf mecca. The first of Himmelsbach Communications publication ON THE GREEN MAGAZINE was born. The magazine produced annually was created to capture the attention of the golfers arriving in Myrtle Beach. Our distribution is flawless with a major presence at the airport to greet them upon their arrival, at most all of the golf facilities, welcome centers, strategic locations frequented by golfers, and massive distribution at our kiosk at both the Golf Dimension stores in North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach. With on the Green an immediate "hit," I now turned attention to the general visiting public, introducing a quality annual. ON THE BEACH MAGAZINE in 1978, like its sister publication, is a full-size, four-color book with a hard cover placed in 40,000 key hotel rooms and condos and 240,000 soft cover magazines distributed in mass at the airport and over 100 key locations along the Grand Strand and in Brunswick County, North Carolina. This full size four color hard cover book brimming with interest and excitement, is maintained in upscale guest rooms throughout the area, and the soft cover has become one of the most enjoyed souvenirs of the area reminding them of all the great attractions and restaurants that they frequented during their stay. ON THE BEACH read by more then 5 million visitors, is respected by it's advertisers as well as by it's readers. Although there are many digest-size "visitor" magazines in the area, ON THE BEACH continues 35 years later to carry most of the major advertisers and - even more meaningful - the largest number of repeat advertisers. At that time my Brother Jack Himmelsbach joined my wife Judy, and as CFO enabling me to concentrate on growing the business and my wife Judy on production, it was truly a family run business. So then through some old New York contacts and an agenda to bring the golf message to an even broader golfing public. I negotiated a deal with the New York Times publication GOLF DIGEST the number one golf magazine in the world to represent them in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Our company developed, sold, and created a four time a year insert in Golf Digest to over a million hand picked regions where the bulk of our golfers came from. The results were amazing and we grew the product to a 28 page supplement and did so over a 15 year span until the magazine was sold to Conde-Nast. Together with it's publishing interests, the company found itself with ever-increasing advertising involvement. To continue to give the necessary concentration to each interest, I created a new company with two wonderfully talented local young men, one a top notch art director, and the other a first class copy writer. HIMMELSBACH, WILSON, AND HEARL was formed in 1985 and developed under my tutelage to handle the influx of advertising accounts. In 1988 the company merged with Sheriar Advertising. Now known as LESNIK, HIMMELSBACH, WILSON, AND HEARL or LHWH, the agency is run as a completely separate entity, garnering plaudits and awards for it's multi-media campaigns for local, regional, and national accounts. In 1984, Myrtle Beach was recognized as the "The Seaside Golf capital of the world," with long, strong spring and fall golf season. Summers, of course, remained family time, and winters brought great numbers of "Snowbirds," mainly retired northerners who joined us for a few months to escape their hometown snows and huge utility bills. The period however between the departure of our summer guests and the start of the fall golf season - roughly the last week in August - remained bleak. But I alone with Golf Digest regional manager Marvin Arnsdorff had an idea, "How about an amateur golf tournament, played in matched handicap flights, over a period of four days, with divisions for men, women, and seniors. Would it 'go'"? The first year with the help of Golf Digest's broad circulation, and promotional department, as well as an all out effort on behalf of On The Green magazine, 684 golfers from around the world, ranging in ages from 16 to 86, joined us. This year will be the 30th anniversary of the WORLD AMATEUR HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP, which was turned over to the non-profit marketing arm of Myrtle Beach golf, Golf Holiday. It is now called the GOLF.COM WORLD AMATEUR GOLF TOURNAMENT and is the worlds largest on site amateur golf tournament, with players from almost every state and most countries around the world. Bottom line with over 3,000 participants and some 2,500 additional non-competing guests, who accounted for - in what had once been the "deadest" week of the year - better than five million dollars in local expenditures! And now it comes to television. Himmelsbach Communications has had a golf-only show, ON THE GREEN VIDEO MAGAZINE, that has been promoting golf in Myrtle Beach for 20 years. This year-round golf show, carried by the area's largest cable company, Time Warner, is telecast to all the subscribers on the Grand Strand and On Demand in all of South Carolina and the Raleigh and Brunswick area's of North Carolina. This one and a half hour ON THE GREEN VIDEO MAGAZINE show featuring actor/writer/director Mitchell Laurence as host, features studies of the areas best golf courses, lessons from top area golf schools, interviews, restaurant, and entertainment news, and all in brief, captivating spots within three one half hour segments. Each segment to run continuously every morning from 7:30 to 9:00 highlighting the areas best rates and specials for local and visiting golfers. The rest of the South Carolina and North Carolina On Demand on Time Warner is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year. With the help of my Brother and Partner who is now CEO and publisher of Himmelsbach Communications holdings, we have maintained the number one spot as the full size, four color magazines for golfers and tourists. Our commitment to our community; Jack Himmelsbach is President of the Golf Course Owners Association, on the board of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, former president of Rotary, former president of Myrtle Beach YMCA, and is involved in all aspects of the areas non profit business enterprises. I am a lifetime member of the Golf Writers Association of America. Have received the prestigious Silver Medal Addy award in 1991 for my role as advertising innovator along the Grand Strand, and been recently inducted into Myrtle Beach's Golf Hall Of Fame in 2011, joining otherMyrtle Beach golf entrepreneurs that help establish and develop golf in Myrtle Beach to the level that it is today. My brother Jack Himmelsbach and I along with other partners built and established HEATHER GLEN GOLF LINKS, designed by Willard Byrd, in 1977. It opened to public and professional applause, and was selected by GOLF DIGEST as the country's best new public course of the year. Since then it was expanded to 27 holes. The course is still winning awards and enthusiastic responses by the playing public. Jack and I then built the award winning GLEN DORNOCH WATERWAY GOLF LINKS in 1996, and SHAFTESBURY GLEN GOLF AND FISH CLUB in 2001. We are also partners in the only John Daly signature course, WICKED STICK, and RIVERS EDGE, an Arnold Palmer course in Shallotte N.C.

[paulssliceoflife]

World Amateur Handicap Championship Results for 2012

Robert Mieczkowski of Laurance Harbor, N.J., shot a gross 76, good for a net 65, at TPC Myrtle Beach during the World Championship playoff to win the 29th annual Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship. Mieczkowski bested a field of 74 other flight winners. Major League Baseball legend Roger Clemens, who won his flight, shot a gross 79, good for a net 71 and a share of ninth place.

An 11-handicap, Mieczkowski, won Flight 5 to advance to the World Championship playoff. Frank Payne of Aynor, S.C., shot a gross 78, net 66 to finish second. Vernon Denham and Jerry Edwards of Louisville, Ky., shot a team total of 147 to win the International Pairs event along with a trip to Europe next year. After battling rain early in the week, the scene at TPC was idyllic with sunny skies. The course, which hosted the 2000 Senior Tour Championship, is the Myrtle Beach area's only 5-star layout and has hosted the World Championship Playoff three years in a row.

The World Championship Playoff is the annual culmination of the Golf.com World Am, a 72-hole net, stroke play event. This year, 3,100 players from 49 states and 25 countries competed in the GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship. Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole, net stroke play tournament. Players are arranged into flights according to their handicap and at the conclusion of the four rounds, all flight winners advanced to the 18-hole world championship playoff. The World Am features five competitive divisions, ranging from men and women 49 years-of-age and under to the super seniors 70 years-of-age and older. Players with handicaps as low as three and as high as 34 have won the GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship. The World Am web site www.worldamgolf.com offers a daily glimpse at the World Am with updated standings, news releases and photographs from the 29th annual tournament. For more information on the 2012 GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship, visit WorldAmGolf.com. The 30th annual GOLF.com World Amateur Handicap Championship will be held August 26 – August 30, 2013. For more information about Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, visit www.GolfHoliday.com. On The Green Magazine will be covering the event as it has from the beginning.

[paulssliceoflife]

The Origins of the World Amateur Handicap Championship

By 1983, Myrtle Beach was recognized as the "Seaside Golf Capital of the World," with long, strong spring and fall golf seasons. Summers, of course, remained family time, and winters brought great numbers of "snowbirds," mainly retired northerners who joined us for a few months to escape their hometown snows and huge utility bills. The period, however, between departure of our summer guests and the start of the fall golf season – roughly the last week in August – remained bleak. My dear friend from Golf Digest Marvin Arnsdorff and I met in Atlanta to try and come up with an idea for some sort of event for that week that could be jointly promoted by Golf Digest and On The Green Magazines. The conversation evolved to this after a couple of beers and idea after idea abandoned. "How about an amateur golf tournament, played in matched handicap flights, over a period of four days, with divisions for men, women, and seniors – what do you think?" Just like that, the World Amateur Handicap Championship was created. The first year with the help of many people in the community and a fantastic sponsor – Dupont we launched the DUPONT WORLD AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. That first year 1984, 684 amateur golfers from all over the world, ranging in age from 16 to 85 joined us. The following year we turned the tournament over to the able hands of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, a collection of golf courses and hotels that is a non-profit organization used to promote Myrtle Beach golf. In 1994 on the 10th anniversary, we had 3,537 participants, who brought with them almost 2,500 additional non-playing guests, who accounted for – in what had once been Myrtle Beach's "deadest" week of the year – better then six million dollars in local expenditures. This year 29 years later and now known as the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship, we had almost 4000 golfers from all over the world. This is the largest on-site golf tournament in the world. All thanks to a conversation with my dear friend Marvin and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday who believed in its future and ran with it. Next - highlights of this year's tournament.