Organizing a group golf trip-Do it myself, or package sites?

I am organizing a group golf trip for May (either the 9-13 or the 16-20th) for my women%26#39;s golf league. Anywhere from 8-15 women of all golfing abilities. I have called Avista Resort in North Myrtle Beach, and Sea Trails resort in North Carolina. Avista is a bit higher, but I could get a special for Sea Trails courses for about $389. The Sea Trails resort is not beach front, but I could play better courses for $429. This leaves me to get a van, and flights separate.

Then I read sites like myrtlebeachtrips.com and it seems like I could get packages for a bit better deals. And there are MANY many package sites.

What%26#39;s the best way to go? Have others used package sites? I%26#39;d really like to get beach, so they can have something to do when they are not golfing..

Organizing a group golf trip-Do it myself, or package sites?

I agree with you about going beach front as that is a great way to get the true flavor of what Myrtle Beach is about.May is an absolutely great time of the year to golf in Myrtle.

My advice to you is to spend about an hour or two on the phone or internet and compare the price of booking by yourself or using ahotel packager.Being its prime time for golf I might lean towards the packager.

Some options are Breakers Hotel, Grande Shores,Long Bay or Crown Reef.The Golf Desk is a packager who will set up everything for you if you choose that route.

If you have never played one before, play at least 1 marsh course.Tidewater,Pearl,Oyster Bay and Glen Dornach are good choices.

A great little Italian restaurant to try is Villa Mare on 79th and 17 behind the Bank Of America. Ask for Brian as your waiter.

Make sure when you compare prices that extras like cart fees and breakfasts are or are not included.

Organizing a group golf trip-Do it myself, or package sites?

I%26#39;m re-posting this from an earlier thread with some modifications....

We have a group of 15 going the first week of May.

Grande Shores is charging us $460 for:

Six nights

Five rounds with carts

Hotel

Breakfast buffet

We%26#39;re playing: Panther%26#39;s Run, Diamondback, Sea Trail Jones and Byrd and MB National West

Grande Shores had cheaper rooming options than the oceanfront, two-to-a-room efficiency units we chose.

You can select from better courses than we have or some which are less expensive. The ones we selected are middle-of-the-pack price wise.

The week you are going, it will be even cheaper than our package

If you want to stay in North Myrtle Beach where Avista is, check out the new Seaside Resort. It%26#39;s affiliated with Grande Shores and priced only slightly higher so you%26#39;ll get a good deal. All three are oceanfront and great places. We stayed at Avista last year and used Golf Wizard to manage our package but found them a little too slow to respond to inquiries this year so we went elsewhere.

If you play the three Cat courses - Lion%26#39;s Paw, Tiger%26#39;s Eye and Panther%26#39;s Run, you get a great discount. Same for the Sea Trail courses.

I%26#39;ve always found it%26#39;s better to arrange in advance and have the package provider worry about tee scheduling (especially for a large group wanting times together).

Another option might be The Breakers, which is oceanfront and part of the Myrtle Beach National company. If you play the MB National courses - like Willbrook, River Club and the three MB Nationa courses - you can also get a good deal. Play three get the fourth round free or play four and get the fifth free.

Packages cann all be priced online at respective web sites.

If you%26#39;re getting a van, check out USave but check the price difference between renting at the airport or from the location a short ride from the airport.

Kevin

Toronto

I suggest if you come the dates you mention to stay as far North as you can, you will be here during Harley Week. Lots of motorcycle traffic. The harley riders stay up and down the Grand Strand but majority of their entertainment will take place in MB and further south into Murrels Inlet. If you are playing Sea Trails, I might suggest that be a good place to stay, you can always drive into MB, but the noise from the bikes, which ride all night long, can get a little tiresome. SeaTrails is a nice place, you are close to Calabash, great seafood.

Thanks for all your input.

I am aware of Harley Week. And that is a concern. (not that I mind, but it can be loud. And believe it or not, package prices are up at the Avista that week.

The issue I am facing is the week before is mother%26#39;s day (it%26#39;s a women%26#39;s group) the week after is Memorial Day, and the week after is the start of June, we start running into higher rates..

Has anyone had experience with MyrtlebeachTrips.com?

I will check out the Golf Desk Packager, and USave, thanks for the tips. I also spoke to someone at Sea Trails- they were really helpful. They told me that the week before I would come they are aerating the greens for Lions Paw, and Panthers Run. I think it%26#39;s not a problem for the first week in May though.

I really like Sea Trails, but I%26#39;m still thinking that beachfront would give the ladies something to do in their non-golf time without having to pile them into the van and bring them to the beach. I appreciate everyone%26#39;s feedback!

We have 2 bike weeks in May, 2nd one is Atlantic Beach Bike Week, official starting date 5/24 although some will come sooner, Hotels charge more for both weeks. They know they can.

Check out Ocean Drive Resort in North Myrtle Beach, also are you open to condo%26#39;s-Elliott Realty is another suggestion in N. Myrtle Beach. I have not stayed at Avista and outside looks good, but I have read some reviews that said outside was better than inside. Just a thought. BlueGreen Resort is another NMB. OR if you like Sea Trails, stay at Sunset Beach, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle, all quiet beach areas, not the hustle and bustle of SC beaches, they are few miles up the road from Sea Trail in NC.

Terri,

You asked about MB Trips...they are a very reputable company...owned by Burroughs and Chapin, the company that owns a number of attractions and property here at the beach...Broadway at the Beach, NasCar Speedpark, Grande Dunes, Myrtlewood, Pine Lakes, South Beach...alot!

As for Harley Week...there really is no place that you wont be affected...of course they headquarter at the Convention Center here in MB...but have events all along the Strand! Barefoot Landing, Broadway at the Beach, Murrells Inlet...one nice thing, they really arent here for the beach!

I agree with the above post --- shop around and get the best deal...and sometime the best deal is building your own package.

Good Luck!

:)