I am going to start off with some observations then get into the review. This is my second group golf trip in 6 weeks, and 3rd time down in 6 weeks (1 family trip) I could never get enough of Myrtle Beach, and even as hot as it was Saturday and Sunday, in Virginia Beach where we are a from, it broke records, it was a legit 105 each day. That does not include a heat index that was over 110 each day. That's Vegas hot!
The Cip Cup is a another group of guys who have been coming down for 13 years, anywhere from 24-82 guys. This year it was 32, and ages ranged from teenage looking Steve (who turned 29 Saturday) to the God Father's of Myrtle, George and Donald Bryant, 82 and 77 respectively. The two elder Bryants have been coming down for over 30 years, and their two sons I grew up with, were both on the trip. Handicaps ranged from -1 to 30, this is a diverse group, and being so, everyone kind of does there own thing on the nights, but most hang out together.
Crow Creek Condos, these are very, very nice condos, maybe even better than the Grande Villa's at World Tour my group usually stays in. If your staying up North, do yourself a favor and stay and play here.
This group I was with is not a huge GC group, they are hardcore go to Broadway at the Beach and party till 2-4am every night. Long ride from up there, but using DD's was the smartest move we could do, and the DD's get their dinner's paid for, and you can't do it again for another 2 trips, so no one get's stuck.
Trip leader is my buddy from high school, Joe Cippolini, Italian Stallion. The man looks like he is wear a fur coat, but is a great trip leader with a heart of golf, the guy can't say no to anyone.
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Wednesday Morning 7:00am July 21st, 3 cars take off, some folks went down the day before, and about 15 of the people are due to arrive Thursday the 22nd.
7:03 I crack my first Natural Light and proceed to drink like a mad man for the next 2 hours. The breakfast stop in the middle of the drive was needed, and I slowed it down to 2 beers an hour for the rest of the trip down.
I felt fine by the time we arrived at Farmstead. I didn't get to see Mac, but was told he was around somewhere, he still maybe a made up person or a super computer, but who or what ever he is, he runs a first class operation. From bag drop, to club house, to grill, everyone was very nice. The course was in great shape from tee boxes to greens, and I felt like we were robbing the course by paying the little amount we did to play here. You guys should really raise your prices, the course is an great play, with great service and conditions.
Tee Boxes-4
Fairways-4
Greens-4
Layout-3.5
Staff-4.5
That night was spent at Broadway, Senior Frogs for dinner and drinks, and Fat Tuesdays for 1.00 Busch Lights! Drank many yards of beer, and felt horrible the next morning.
We had a 12:48 starting set of tee times at Sandpiper Bay Golf Club and again, what a under rated course. Man, this course gets no love, and it has a good layout, fair, and again, maybe the best conditions and greens of the trip. The people in the club house were great, the starters were funny, and the day was hot, the hottest of the trip, but a very enjoyable round. We played the Piper and the Sand 9's, and the Bay was having the greens worked on. I looked at them, man, they looked even more perfect, I would have loved to play all 3 9's.
Tee Boxes-4
Fairways-4
Greens-5
Layout-3.5
Staff-4
That night was Poker night, and most of the 32 people played. A large wild game, which a player like me should dominate on a regular basis. I came in 3rd, and got put out by a case 3 for trips vs my 2 pair. Poker and some sleep, we had a morning tee time.
Friday Morning finds us driving .9 miles to the Crow Creek Club House for a 8:02 tee time. It's 85 when we tee off, and I am in the first group out, with vets George and Donald. They play fast, they don't want to be in the heat for a minute longer than they have to. If we didn't have 2 other groups in front of us, we would have been done in 3 hours maybe. Donald has a Barkley Swing, and score like him, George has a very short swing and is 175 yards straight down the middle, a wicked short game, and putts like a pro. He was very impressive to play with, I hope I can play like that when I am 82! I waited in the club house for all the other groups to come in, sat at the bar, had a great burger, a awesome bartender and great service. We had a free lunch and 2 beers, but I didn't know, but the bartender let me use the voucher way after I found about it. Loved the AC, it was the coldest of the trip!
Tee Boxes-4
Fairways-5
Greens-4.5
Layout-4
Staff-5
Friday night, after a pit stop( about an hour) at the Gold Club, mainly for me, back to Broadway, where I drank myself under the table. I don't really remember leaving, but the DD took care of me, and lot's of BC powders before sleep, and waking up in the middle, and in the am, I made it up for the round on Saturday. 3 others never did.
Saturday, 8:46 tee time at Ocean Plantation's Leopard's Chase. I played this course and Tiger's Eye and Lion's Paw on my trip at the end of June, they have gotten worse. The staff is great, the starter was very, very funny and nice, the tee boxes are great, the fairways are lush and perfect, and the greens are like playing on a parking lot. They have to replace those greens, and this was supposed to be the best greens out of the 3 (Panther's is still closed but looked great). Lot of people in the group were not happy for sure, I tried to Tell Joe to get off of all the courses, he listened and got off Lion's and Tiger's, but really wanted to play Leopard's, he will listen to me next time. I really feel bad for them, they have great courses.
Tee Boxes-4
Fairways-4.5
Greens-0
Layout-5
Staff-4
Saturday night, after another 2 hours in the pool and with coolers full of beer, I was just too tired and worn out to go out. Most folks stayed in, for our 7:38am tee time the next morning. I needed the sleep for sure.
Sunday morning, 7:38 tee times at Thistle, glad to play this course again, did so 5 years ago before the club house was built or the shrub and grasses were grown in. Forgot what the new names of the 9's were, but if you at the bag drop, we played the far left and center 9's. The bag drop and getting us out was hectic, but the guys hustled and did a great job, as another group of 20+ was there also. The new Club House was impressive, beautiful and a great edition to a course that has matured into a must play in North Myrtle. I can find 1 single bad thing to say about this course, staff and club house, they are great. I love this course, and if I am in NMB, this and Oyster Bay are my two must plays.
Tee Boxes-4.5
Fairways-5
Greens-4.5
Layout-4.5
Staff-5
I ranked the courses as follows:
1.Thistle
2. Crow Creek and Sandpiper Bay
3. Farmstead
10. Leopard's Chase
The Cip Cup pays out 11 places on Thursday, Friday and Saturday each, they use a modified Callaway Scoring System, so everyone has a shot at the money. 11th place is 10.00 and 1st for a day is 60.00, the entry fee was 25 points. then total modified scores are added, and the winner is engraved onto the huge Cup Trophy and yours to hold for a year. This year, Big George Bryant, 82 years old, was the winner by 1 stroke, proving you don't have to hit the ball 300 yards to play golf. His unmodified scores were 80, 80, 84, 81 from the senior tees.
This is a great bunch of guys, from all over the country, a lot of active and retired Coast Guard and Navy, and friends of friends. Michael Jordan even made, he is actually a middle aged white guy named Michael Jordon, and takes a lot of heat for the name for sure. Nick names are everywhere, George and Donald are in bed at 8pm and making breakfast for anyone and everyone at 6am each day.
I saw some great golf, some horrible golf, but one thing remains constant, Myrtle Beach is Heaven, even when the temps make it feel like Hell.
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