Been Away

[JohnBarry]

But not too much longer, leaving Wednesday AM for 5 days in Myrtle Beach! Pictures to follow!

 

Also, went from 248 pounds last November to 191 yesterday, my target goal has been 190 the whole time!! Woooo, but I now don't fit any of my loud clothing!

[fozcycle]

Congrats JB, I wish i could lose the weight.........BTW, I'll be in Hilton Head all next week, playing golf.

[GolfSpy_X]

Congrats John.  Hope you are doing well man.  Been a while.

[Mr_Theoo]

Congrats! Welcome back

[Kenny B]

Welcome back.  We all missed you!

[sp0rtsfan86]

Good to hear. Congrats on the weight loss, I've been losing weight as well but it's always good to hear success stories.

[hckymeyer]

Awesome job JB, glad you stopped by and gave us an update!

 

Also that has to be one of the best excuses for buying new clothes

[JohnBarry]

I feel like I have been run over by a Mack Truck...6 day hang over. thanks for the welcome back!

[JohnBarry]

Heya folks, please let me start off by saying I do not run this trip, and even though I told my friend and trip leader Joe to use Brian, he somehow wound up using Brian's former employer. He said he will never make that mistake ever again. Funny how things have to be bad or wrong before you learn a lesson?

 

32 People made the trip down, but 16 of us came in on Wednesday to do a practice round. I tried to book it through Brian, but these guys, once they pay for the trip, are impossible to get to pre-pay another amount of money before the round, no matter how much it is. I ended up calling around on the Friday before, and the third place I called was Crown Park, who had enough space open in the afternoon, and offered me a 25.00 rate.

 

Crown Park was 25.00, the people were very friendly, but the snack bar closed way to early. One guy running the course, and an asain lady in the office just sitting there. To his defense, he did a great job getting us out, telling us about the course, getting us on the turn and putting everything away and making sure we enjoyed ourselves. The fairways were very good, nice lies, rolled and seemed to play what we expected of a Myrtle course. Tee boxes were fine, bunkers a little wet, they told us there had been a lot of rain. The greens were slower than they looked and a little sandy, but rolled true. The layout was good, not spectacular but it was 25.00.

 

I would give Crown Park a 7.5 based on course, conditions, value and staff. Worth playing.

 

Getting late to our condos at the Wizard (on the course, but the Mystical group ran them) was a disaster. The Lady at the Golf Desk knew and was told several times we would be coming in about 7-8pm after playing. No information was sent ahead of time, no mention of condos we had, how the lock boxes worked or any code. Thank God 2 out of the group didn't play and went to the Wizard at 4pm and got the information and map, but of course they were at dinner when we rolled in. After an hour of confusion, we got into our condos, and the layout and condos for everyone who hadn't come in yet. Mystical staff was a little grumpy it also seems.

 

Next day is Man-O-War, great conditions, cool and overcast, which was fine by everyone. Another afternoon round as more people were coming in. they loaded us up, joked, took pictures, served us our lunch and 2 free beers (plus many more) happily, and the staff here was by far the best of the 3 Mystical Courses. I have played here 3 times, and it has yet to ever disappoint. Fairways were lush, greens were great and receptive and were medium fast and rolling true. The cart girl was all over us, almost every 3 holes. Everyone enjoyed this course.

 

I will give Man-O-War a 9 based on value, conditions, staff and layout. Always fun to play, and fair.

 

Friday is The Witch (I like to call it the ******) and she was tough. The staff were upset with us, as we were late, which wasn't true, seems our Gold Desk Lady told us 9am, but really had us starting at 8:22, after a long night drinking, it was havoc. The course is the course, tough, great layout, don't get off the fairway (which I was at all times) greens were good, rolled true, a little slower than Man-O-War. The course was pretty wet, seemed they really watered the heck out of the green complexes early, so pretty soggy. The Staff was surley, and even though we were doubled teed and did the front side in 2 hours and 10 minutes, at the snack bar rushed us out and told us to hurry the pace. Rushed to 1st tee (started at 10) and the other group was in the fairway. Finished out a tough day of golf and headed for more drinking!

 

I would give the Witch a 7 based on conditions, layout, value and staff. They need to improve their attitude before I would go back. Really the first bad experience I ever had in MYrtle.

 

Saturday was The Wizard, one my favorites. The staff was great, loaded us all up, joked around with us, took lots of pictures of the group for us, introduced us to the cart girl. The girl in the bar was smoking hot! No double teeing this day, all of us off on 1, with Joe announcing the groups, and people as they teed off and their last day standing in the Cipp Cup. I had 4 beers before we even got out, was a blast, but we were fast players for sure. Fairways like carpet, fastest greens of the week, the mounding, British Open rough and a great lay, with the last 3 finishing holes the highlight. Everyone standing outside the bar over looking 18 yelling and whooping as the groups came in. A+ Wizard.

 

I would give the Wizard a 9 based on conditions, layout, staff and value. Some people like to under rate this course, it's fantastic!

 

Sunday was get up, all hung over and drive home. The Cipp Cup went to one of our younger members, Andrew Wolford, he had been close for several years to lose on the last day.

 

All and all, another great trip, a few snags, but nothing we couldn't handle, were on vacation in Myrtle Beach playing Golf!! What more could you ask for?

[revkev]

Great to have you back JB!

[apprenti23]

Welcome back and congrats on the weight loss! Hopefully you can maintain your new fighting weight!!!

[wbealsd]

Welcome back!

[Kenny B]

Nice writeup JB!  Sounds like a lot of fun.  About 10 years ago, I played Myrtle with 3 friends from Albuquerque.  10 courses in 6 days; rained every day.  I was whipped; no way I could do that now.