The courses in Myrtle Beach are ready for you. (File)

Best golf locations

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Allow me to be Direct.

Every spring for the past 21 years, our group of friends from the Toronto area has piled into a convoy of vans and headed for South Carolina, with golf clubs in tow.

Great travelling tunes and camaraderie fill the 17-hour journey along picturesque mountain highways into the southland. But, that trip home seems so much longer after a week of too much sun, too much golf and too much indulgence.

This year, some of us discovered an excellent alternative to the cramped confines of the van. Myrtle Beach Direct Air (MBDA) began non-stop flights in March from Niagara Falls, N.Y., to Myrtle Beach.

Imagine our surprise when we arrived at Niagara Falls on the American side -- just 90 minutes from Toronto with a minimal wait at the border -- and found we could park free and only had to stroll 50 metres to the front door.

Check-in was quick and easy, as MBDA is the only passenger service operating out of the international airport terminal. And you couldn't beat the $99 one-way introductory fare.

While its intended success is based on the lure of golf, MBDA has entrenched itself in the family market, with Snowbirds and students scooping up seats for quick trips back to Canada.

"Our goal is to get the golfer onto the course in two hours," said Judy Tull, MBDA's chief executive officer. "We are excited about introducing affordable non-stop flights while offering an alternative to high fares and lengthy travel times. Our convenient air service will be attractive to the Rochester (N.Y.) and Canadian market as well."

In reality, we made our first golf course in three hours, once we'd retrieved our luggage and rental vehicle.

Two hours in the clouds had us dreaming of holes in one and screaming drives to the centres of the fairways.

Ten minutes into our round at the prestigious Dunes Golf and Beach Club and we were mired in the reality of crystal-white sand traps and strategically placed water hazards. We're in awe of the club's rich history and how it has stood the test of time.

Dunes was initially the site of a farm, of which 109 hectares was acquired by a local citizens' group for $10. The first nine holes were put into play in October 1949 and the rest the following December.

We're enjoying our round with Bill Golden, vice president and director of marketing of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday (MBGH), a non-profit trade association of 77 championship golf courses, 72 golf package providers and five golf schools in the region.

MBGH has thrown its support behind the new air service, cognizant of what the Canadian and northern U.S. market means to the economy of Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas.

"If the first month or so was any indication, it's really taking off," said Golden. "Even for someone looking at a weekend getaway, schedules are such that you can arrive here on a Friday, golf all weekend and arrive home Monday."

Dunes and the renovated Caravelle Resort, just 2.5 km away, will forever be linked in Myrtle Beach history.

The Caravelle Motel was opened in 1960 to host visitors enjoying the private facilities at the nearby Dunes Club, said Matt Klugman, marketing director for Endless Fun Resorts.

The Caravelle has undergone frequent expansions and upgrades through the years, culminating with an $8-million facelift completed early this year.

Suites have been outfitted with lush draperies and beddings, granite countertops and flat-screen televisions. Families will make good use of the Kids Wild Water Pool area.

A stay at Caravelle also affords the golfer a chance to play the Dunes Club, as only five resorts enjoy golf privileges at the Dunes Club, said Klugman.

"Canada has always been one of our key markets," he said. "We have golf groups and families that have been returning for 30 years. Our new look and amenities will keep them coming back and draw new clientele."

Post-golf finds our gang on an outdoor patio, perusing the extensive beer menu at Liberty Tap Room and Grill on King's Highway. From the list, we select some unique brews, like Flying Dog Pale Ale, Rogue Dead guy, Abita Purple Haze and Hobgoblin. The food is average pub fare but the beverages are unique.

MBDA flies to Myrtle Beach on Mondays, too, so you can spend the week testing your skills on splendid tracks like Thistle Golf Club in Sunset Beach, N.C., just a 30-minute drive from downtown Myrtle Beach.

Designed by Tim Cate, Thistle borrows its name from the national symbol of Scotland; its namesake club opened in Leith, Scotland in 1815. She's a prickly little course with wind-swept fairways, bentgrass greens and surrounding hillsides covered in heather and wild flowers.

Thistle's most unique hole might be No. 2 North (356 yards from the blue tees), where a well-placed drive over one portion of a lake will leave the shooter with a 150-yard rip over a gaping portion of lake to reach the two-tiered green. More conservative players might opt for a shot to the left of the lake to go around it.

Thistle's soon-to-be opened clubhouse will house one of the world's premier collections of historic golf memorabilia.

The early morning round affords us ample time to cruise back to Myrtle Beach International Airport for the journey home. After a two-hour flight and 90-minute drive home, we'll be relaxed and still dreaming of that elusive hole in one.

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BOTTOM LINE

GETTING THERE

Myrtle Beach Direct Air offers non-stop jet service between Myrtle Beach and Niagara Falls, N.Y. on Fridays and Mondays. Reservations can be made toll free at 1-877-432-DIRECT or by visiting myrtlebeachdirectair.com. MBDA uses Boeing 737-400 aircraft with 150 seats. Flights will operate through Oct. 31.

GOLFING

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday provides non-biased information about area accommodations and golf courses to assist golfers in making informed decisions when planning a vacation. It publishes a magazine with information on golf, lodging and restaurants in Myrtle Beach, which can be viewed online at golfholiday.com. A hard-copy version can also be ordered.