Leopards Chase Golf Club as been awarded a spot in the ESPN / GOLF DIGEST TOP 10 BEST NEW PUBLIC COURSES OVER $75. Leopard’s Chase Golf Club is the newest ferocious “Big Cat” at Ocean Ridge Plantation joining the award winning Tiger’s Eye, Panther’s Run and Lion’s Paw. This breathtaking par 72 championship layout was designed by renowned golf course architect and land planner Tim Cate, who also did Tigers Eye.

Since its opening in February 2007, the course features mature TifSport Bermudagrass fairways and immaculately manicured L-93 bentgrass greens. Leopard’s Chase is graced with scenic landscapes, scattered with native grasses and plantings, including preserved wetlands, creating a series of picturesque views from anywhere on the course. Make Leopards Chase a must play on your next North Myrtle Beach Golf Package.

The Founders Club at Pawleys Island which reopened its doors on Feb. 1, 2008. The first or two redesigns to open this early Spring Golf Season. The old Sea Gull Golf Club which opened is doors back in the late 1960`s by local families was given a face lift which included nearly $7 million in renovations and beautiful 5,000 square foot Clubhouse with wrap around porch which overlooks the 10Th and 18Th hole.
Architect Thomas Walker, once with the Gary Player Design Group, led the $7 million dollar construction project. The front nine is virtually unrecognizable from the old Sea Gull golf course. The changes include Hole #1 being shortened by about 50 yards, and a huge practice putting green has been installed directly behind the tee boxes. You actually step from the putting green to the tee box. The #3 hole now has split sets of tee boxes. #4 has been converted to a par 4, and a lake has been built behind the tee boxes. The #6 hole has been converted to a wonderful risk/reward par 5. Hole #12 now has a split fairway and the green has been moved down closer to the lake. Walker has created a course that is esthetically pleasing to the eye, but near as difficult as it appears.

There are 5 sets of tees on each hole and measures 7007 yards from all the way back. All golf carts have the newest GPS technology with accurate yardages and graphics. With Bermuda fairways and a mixture of Bermuda and Zoysia in the rough, The Founders Club and the TPC of Scottsdale, home of the 2008 Accenture World Match Play Championship, as the only two golf courses in America with Emerald Bermuda greens. A new strand of grass just released from the Champion Turf Company, Emerald Bermuda tolerates the hot South Carolina summer sun and requires less water than other grasses.

The second course during the 2008 golf season to open (March 13,2008 ) is the Palmetto Greens Country Club. The 6,486-yard par-71 is the second Rick Robbins design on the Grand Strand. The first being Crow Creek since leaving the Nicklaus Design Team. Palmetto Greens features more water hazards, than the original Colonial Charters Golf Club designed by John Simpson. Two man-made waterfalls with a “Stadium Feel” around the L93 bent grass greens.

The course which opened in 1988 is changing from a par-72 to a par-71. The back tees which measure 6,486-yard will also have three other tee boxes that will make this new layout measure approximately 6,200, 5,800 and 5,100 yards. Palmetto Greens will have one Par 5 that is 620 yards long making it the “2Nd Longest Hole On The Grand Strand” behind the 18Th Hole at Farmstead

Both of these courses are in EXCELLENT CONDITION, and can be added to any of your North Myrtle Beach Golf Packages.

If you’re planning for an evening of relaxation and fine dining near the beach, Soho Restaurant may be your perfect choice.

Step into this restaurant and experience a refreshing ambiance, a wonderful wait staff and affordable, yet fine choice of cuisine. During my first visit, I was relaxed as I walked into Soho’s dimly lit, cool atmosphere.

After stepping foot into the door, I was approached by the hostess, who smiled from ear to ear as she asked how many were in my party and our smoking preference.

As I sat down in a cozy spot, I browsed the dinner menu filled with choices of steak, seafood, chicken and their remarkable sushi; enough to fulfill anyone’s appetite.

Since this experience (two years ago) at Soho, I have fallen in love with it. It is the perfect spot for a date, dinner with friends, or just a stop to have a glass of wine, martini or a brew of your choice.

My favorite dinner selection includes Soho’s stuffed shrimp appetizer ($7.99) and dynamite shrimp sushi ($5.49) topped off with their cheesecake (ranging $6.00-$7.50).

I’ve taken several friends from out of town to this restaurant and now every time they visit, they always want to take a trip to Soho. Some of their favorite selections include the house miso soup ($2.49) and the chicken tempura (14.99); however, most enjoy their sushi the best.

Not only can you sit inside their restaurant where you’ll have a great meal, hear relaxing music from Jack Johnson, John Mayer, jazz artists, and others, but you can also step outside and enjoy your cuisine on the deck while listening to their live music on select nights.

Located at 406 21^st avenue in Myrtle Beach (off 17 business) and a few blocks away from the coastline, Soho is a great way to end the evening, whether you had a relaxing day by the beach or played one of the many Myrtle Beach golf courses.

This restaurant is conveniently open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily. Although I have not eaten here during lunch hours, I can only imagine that their lunch would meet the high standards of their dinner choices.

I definitely would suggest visiting Soho during any stay in Myrtle Beach.

If you are from up north, it’s hard to actually grasp that around New Year’s Day, you can be outside in a T-shirt in Myrtle Beach. That’s what happened this year anyway, who’s to say it wouldn’t happen again?!

Warmer Weather = More Tourists = More Footwork
Most of our vacationers come from Spring to Fall, and the increase in traffic backs that up. Locals who drive along Hwy 17 or Ocean Blvd know they better add at least 10 to 20 minutes to their commute during the heavy tourist season. If you are like me and don’t like traffic, you may want to try coming earlier or later to stay out of the hustle and bustle of the busy tourist season. Myrtle Beach has mild temperatures all year long, so although you may not be able to take a swim in the ocean in October, you better believe the weather is still lovely enough to have a good time outside and take a walk on the beach.

I was also surprised to see how much cheaper rental rates are during the off-season! You can save half or even 75-percent off regular weekly summer rates! This goes for Myrtle Beach golf packages too.

If I can’t convince you to stay away during the busy seasons, keep this word of caution though: Our summer months are HOT. July and August are some of the hottest months we have, and can be unbearable at times if you are not in a pool. Golfers know this. They try to stay off the greens during that heat wave. If you can stand the oven, though, then come on down!

Don’t forget about Myrtle Beach Winter Rentals though! Although it may a little chilly, planning that Valentines Day getaway, or New Years celebration will save you a bundle! Don’t believe me? Check out these rates on Laguna Keyes.

Check the Weather
Although rare, Myrtle Beach does have hurricanes, so be sure to check the news a week or so before your departure.

Of course, you can’t plan your vacation thats 4 months away on whether its going to rain the week you are here or not. It’s funny though. During the times it is raining, it could be a downpour where you are at, but bright and sunny in another part of the Grand Strand. I guess it’s because we are so close to the ocean. I’m not a meteorologist, so I can’t explain it.

Just make sure you plan some indoor activities as well as outdoor for your Myrtle Beach vacation.

So, just to recap, you will have a cheaper vacation if you don’t come during the tourist season, and the weather will still be moderate and beautiful. Just don’t come during the winter months if you expect to be doing some walking on the beach. Other than that, good luck!

All the presents have been opened and the bad gifts returned. The visions of sugar plums are put on hold for a while, a long while. It’s back to work now. It’s back to the grindstone and getting back into the groove of not having holidays off. But that’s alright. You can devote some time to starting planning your vacation now. If you picked Myrtle Beach this year, we’re here to help!

This blog is intended to help all of your renters and vacationers out there. We will be reviewing golf courses, reviewing our condos and beach homes, telling you about specials, and giving some inside information about the rental and real estate industry!

So, with this being our first blog, we just want to say, “Happy New Year!” and start this off right.