What goes into an award
5/2/2011
When posting golf course reviews we always acknowledge a venue’s accolades. One of the most impressive awards is to be named “Myrtle
Beach Area Golf Course of the Year” by the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association. Being recognized by your peers is both impressive and rewarding.
The association’s web site presents their mission as “The Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association (MBAGCOA) serves as the operational focal point to help standardize policies, develop programs, and coordinate projects for Grand Strand golf course owners. Our span of coverage is approximately a 50-mile radius of Myrtle Beach from Georgetown, SC to Southport, NC. The MBAGCOA is comprised of approximately 90 golf courses and 300 hotels/motels/property management agencies.”
The Course of the Year award was begun in 1996. Each year area golf course members are asked to submit information to support their application for Course of the Year. Over the years Power Points and videos have joined the traditional written submissions.
A panel of three past winners reviews the applications and supporting information based on four specific and equally weighed criteria. 1.) Exceptional quality of the golf course; 2.) Exceptional quality of ownership and management; 3.) Outstanding contributions to the community: and 4.) Significant contributions to the game are each considered.
From all applications the criteria is applied and two finalists are chosen. Each finalist makes a presentation at the July Membership Meeting and the members of the MBAGCOA vote. The winner is recognized locally and their application is further submitted to a South Carolina panel for consideration as “South Carolina Golf Course of the Year.”
Courses fortunate to prevail at the South Carolina level have their applications forwarded to the committee for the “National Golf Course of the Year.” Twice the Myrtle Beach Area had the National Golf Course Owners Association National Course of the Year. In 2003 International World Tour Golf Links was recognized and in 2008 Grande Dunes Resort Golf Course was honored.
