Winter-Weary Golfers Cash In On Golf Bargains In Myrtle Beach, SC

The Masters is history. April was tune up time. Now it's time for a golf getaway with your pals so that you can really get in shape for all those matches and tournaments you'll be playing over the summer.

But when you're in an economy like we're feeling now, we know you don't want to spend big bucks on a golf vacation.

So don't.

Head to Myrtle Beach. The place where “stay and play” packages are incredibly affordable. The golf courses are in pristine shape. The local golf stores are overflowing with bargains.

Let's face it. This is golf Heaven.

Here are some of the best bets in town:

Village at the Glens is a neat little Scottish-themed Village which is a good home base when you play Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch, Possum Trot or Shaftesbury Glen.

Heather Glen was named “Best New Course” in America when it opened two decades ago. Perched on a magnificent, 400-acre historic site in Little River, S.C., it's just across the street from Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links, a place with extraordinary views and three of the most challenging and scenic finishing holes on the Grand Strand.

Just down the road is Possum Trot which has a reputation as being the friendliest course at the beach. Its Old English design, spacious fairways, challenging par 5’s, and flawlessly manicured greens make this a hidden gem you won't want to miss.

A few minutes drive and you're on the banks of South Carolina’s beautiful Waccamaw River where Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club has been etched into the landscape. A design inspired by world-famous courses like Winged Foot and Augusta National gets the heart pumping, so it's no wonder that The Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owner’s Association named Shaftesbury it “2009 Myrtle Beach Golf Course of the Year.”

If you are feeling a little flush with cash, it's worth checking out the “Shaftesbury Suites,” very unique accommodations on the top floor of the Shaftesbury clubhouse. These suites are decorated in an old-world style, and you'll get 4-star service. Plus, your group can get exclusive after-hours access to the Shaftesbury clubhouse for private parties.

Check out Glens packages or book online. If you become a Glens Facebook fan, you can even have a chance to win free stuff like vacations.

If your style is to play a little Scottish-style golf, then something more traditional, mix up your rounds by adding in a day or two at Grande Dunes Resort Course and Pine Lakes Country Club.

Named the 2009 “National Course of the Year” by the National Golf Course Owners Association, Grande Dunes has a spectacular design with numerous elevation changes and seven holes that play right along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Pine Lakes oozes history. Birthplace of Sports Illustrated magazine. Designed by Robert White, first president of the PGA of America. First course built in Myrtle Beach. Located in the heart of Myrtle Beach, it features numerous freshwater lakes and rolling fairways built upon natural dunes. And you can feel the ocean breeze as it heads inland to several holes.

If variety's your thing or you want to experience the latest trend in golf, chose courses along the Brunswick Isles Golf Trail. The trail concept is gaining steam throughout the U. S. and the Brunswick Trail is one of the best. You can try out great golf courses and get nearby accommodations at great rates. There are over 432 holes on the Trail stretching about 80 miles from Leland, N.C. to North Myrtle Beach, S.C.. This trail winds through some beautiful, unspoiled coastal area and you can easily play two or more different courses within a day. In fact, the Trail can be traveled from end to end in just a little over 90 minutes.