Myrtle Beach-area's Panther's Run at Ocean Ridge Plantation and Bay Course at Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club install new greens

By Chris King,
Contributor

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The installation of the MiniVerde on Sandpiper Bay's Bay Course completes a three-year overhaul of the club's greens. (Courtesy of Sandpiper Bay Golf & C.C.)

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Millions of people make a summer pilgrimage to Myrtle Beach, most of them to enjoy sun, sand and a taste of life on the coast. While area beaches are teeming with people, Myrtle Beach golf courses often use the "down time" for improvement projects, and this summer is no different.

A pair of North Strand golf courses -- Panther's Run at Ocean Ridge Plantation and the Bay Course at Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club, home of three nine-hole layouts - are closed for the installation of new MiniVerde ultradwarf Bermuda greens and general course refurbishments.

That both courses are installing MiniVerde greens is no surprise. MiniVerde has emerged as the green of choice for many courses throughout the South with a putting surface that is nearly the equal of bentgrass and it's very heat tolerant.

The installation of the MiniVerde on Sandpiper Bay's Bay Course will complete a three-year overhaul of the club's greens. In 2008 the Sand Course at Sandpiper Bay had MiniVerde installed and in 2009, the Piper Course followed suit. The Bay Course, which was sprigged on June 8, is scheduled to re-open on Aug. 23.

The greens on the Bay nine are approximately a week ahead of schedule, but the course's reopening won't be moved, according to Richard Kascsak, Sandpiper's head professional and assistant general manager.

Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club knew it had made the right call in installing MiniVerde greens immediately after the Sand Course reopened to the public in 2008.

"The general public loves the greens," Kascsak said of the reception to the MiniVerde. "They are in fabulous condition and our superintendent has done a superior job on the grow-in. We have had nothing but positive remarks."

Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club is also using the time to repair the drainage on all of the Bay's bunkers, in addition to removing trees and enhancing the fairways. When the Bay Course reopens, the Piper Course will close for 10 days to take down trees and repair the cart paths, ensuring the golf course will be in prime shape for the fall golf season.

Course improvements at Panther's Run

In addition to the installation of new grass at Panther's Run, the greens are being restored to their original size, trees and some railroad ties around tee boxes are being removed, and the cart paths are being repaired.

Panther's Run at Ocean Ridge Plantation will reopen on Sept. 1.

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August 16, 2010

Chris King is the content manager for Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. He has covered golf travel and college athletics for more than 15 years. King has lost many night's sleep familiarizing himself with the entire Myrtle Beach golf scene, and he has a swing that has helped him see the Grand's Strand's 100-plus courses from every imaginable angle.