So you’re ready to head to Myrtle Beach for a full week of golf but there’s one problem: You haven’t picked up your clubs since last fall – or longer. Or perhaps you’ve suddenly developed an ugly hitch in your swing that has you hooking and slicing your way around the course.
It happens, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your golf game. In fact, it can be a new beginning if you are willing to reach out for some professional help. If you are planning a golf trip to Myrtle Beach but are worried about how your game will measure up, take a day or so to brush up on your skills at one of the many golf schools that offer expert instruction. Here are your top five options:
DynaSwingFit: Specializing in instruction for senior golfers, this program offers individual attention to “fit” the fundamentals into your game. With two locations in Myrtle Beach – at Cane Patch Par-3 on the north end and Midway Par-3 on the south side – DynaSwingFit provides experienced teaching pros to tailor your game to your physical abilities and maximize your power and precision. DynaSwingFit also offers excellent junior golf programs designed to establish solid fundamentals from the start and maintain them for a lifetime.
Golf Academy of America: This nationwide program offers long-term instruction and in-depth study of the golf industry for those interested in pursuing the game as a career. From teaching professionals to club makers, all facets of golf are provided, and students spend a lot of time working on their own games. Tuition includes two rounds of golf per week at some of the Grand Strand's top courses, as well as individual lessons and personalized instruction time on the driving range, putting green and swing simulators. Consider it an investment in your future, as well as the best 16-month golf package ever.
Grande Dunes Golf Resort: One of the finest golf resorts on the Grand Strand is also home to one of the best golf schools in America. The Ritson-Sole Academy operates out of the Resort Club and offers one-, two- and three-day sessions to golfers looking to take their games to the next level. Class sizes are limited to four, unlike some cattle-call academies, and video analysis of your swing is used to troubleshoot any glitches in your game. There's also a great last-minute add-on offering two hours of instruction for only $35. Kids attend free with a paid adult, making it an excellent father-son or mother-daughter outing.
Golf School of Myrtle Beach: Whether you are a beginner looking to learn the fundamentals or an experienced golf hoping to take your game up a notch, the Golf School of Myrtle Beach features the perfect class to suit your skill level. Located at River Oaks Golf Club in the Carolina Forest section of Myrtle Beach, this recently renovated 27-hole complex also has a new driving range and practice bunker, and chipping and putting green where you can work on your swing under top-notch instructors during one-, two- and three-day classes. Junior golf programs are also available.
Greg Norman's Champion Golf Academy: Learn to play like “The Shark” at this Barefoot Golf Resort school. Offering full-time, part-time and post-graduate instruction on the course that bears his name, Greg Norman helped design this program to teach all ages the right way to play the game. Sign up for a class and enroll your young ones in the Junior Summer Camp. Once you've completed the course, put your game to the test with a round at golf on Norman's signature layout at Barefoot Resort.