These six Grand Strand golf courses have closed because of coronavirus-related issues
At least six golf courses in the Myrtle Beach market have temporarily closed for reasons affiliated with the coronavirus, including four in the past few days.
Founders Group International closed three courses on Monday because of the financial impacts of the pandemic: Longs courses Aberdeen Country Club and Colonial Charters Golf Club, and Founders Club at Pawleys Island.
The Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina University was forced to shut down when S.C. Governor Henry McMaster closed all of the state’s public schools beginning March 16.
The private Members Club at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, which was scheduled to open to outside package play by April 1, also closed on March 16 for the protection of staff and the public in general.
Arcadian Shores Golf Club in Myrtle Beach was closed over the weekend by owner Burroughs & Chapin Co., which did not respond to a request for more information.
“The reason for closing is everything surrounding the coronavirus and what’s happening in the world has created a sudden and severe impact to our business, and this has happened during our peak season,” FGI president Steve Mays said. “So we had to make some difficult decisions with those golf courses and decided to temporarily close them.
“As far as an opening date, that’s unclear. . . . We fully anticipate reopening those when the demand dictates that to happen.”
FGI owns and operates 21 Grand Strand courses, so it will move rounds that were booked on its three closed course to other layouts.
“We took a look at where the demand was and where we have other golf courses,” Mays said. “That’s the opportunity we have with 18 other facilities.”
Mays didn’t rule out closing additional courses if play continues to diminish on the Strand because of the coronavirus.
“I think everything is on the table right now with the severity of the drop-off in package golf taking place in this marketplace,” Mays said. “We’re going to look at all opportunities. Our goal here is to ensure that our business doesn’t go underwater. With the time of year that this took place during our peak season, we’re in a situation where we’re losing money so we have to take these measures to make sure that we remain a strong entity in the community.
“I feel we will do that, it’s just that we have to take these control measures right now to ensure that happens.”
Mays said he hopes to re-hire the laid off workers at the three courses as soon as possible. “Whenever you have to take really good people and tell them there is no longer work, it’s a very difficult thing to do,” said Mays, who added some company departments have been downsized as well. “We have a great team at Founders Group and I’m looking forward to the day we can bring all of those employees back online.”
The Members Club course remains open to resident members who wish to walk, though the clubhouse is closed.
“We closed the golf club and course for the safety of our residents and staff,” said Margaret LaCalle, Coastal North Division President of LStar Ventures, which owns the club. “We are working on a modified operations schedule that we can implement when it is safe to deploy. Currently, we are following our government guidelines and staying home so our staff and residents are safe and healthy.
“. . . We have sanitized the entire golf course, carts, etc. and locked everything up.”
Members Club is accepting future tee times through its automated systems, though the course’s reopening date has not been determined so some of the times may be moot.
The Hackler Course is owned by CCU, and many of the course’s workers are university students.
“Being part of the university, when they’re closed we’re closed,” said Hackler Course head pro Chuck Johns. “I hate to close but it’s something that has to be done to keep everybody safe including students, and you have to figure most of our employees are students.”
Johns expects the course to reopen as soon as the university reopens to classes. “As soon as the university and governor allow us to go back to full occupancy as far as working, then we should be allowed to reopen,” said Johns, who added that maintenance workers tend to the course twice a week.
Several states have issued stay-at-home orders and closed all non-essential businesses. If that is instituted in South Carolina or locally, Johns is looking into some course maintenance workers being deemed essential employees to keep the course in condition to reopen without a capital investment required.
“If we go like a month without being able to maintain I don’t know what we would do,” Johns said.
Some golf retail stores have closed or altered their business practices because of the coronavirus. Dick’s Sporting Goods at Coastal Grand Mall is closed until at least April 2, and the Strand’s two PGA Tour Superstore locations are temporarily closed but are providing Curbside Caddie service, which allows consumers to order online and pick up their purchase at the Myrtle Beach or North Myrtle Beach store locations. Details are at https://www.pgatoursuperstore.com/.
Golfers can still purchase equipment at golf courses and independent golf retail shops including Akers Discount Golf in Murrells Inlet.
The Strand still has approximately 75 public courses open.
Golf is an activity and business that can theoretically adhere to recommended social distancing as an open-air activity. Course operators have also taken measures to sanitize their properties and adopted policies to keep people safe, as directed by the National Golf Course Owners Association.
“We’re an outdoor activity and fresh air. . . . It’s the safest place to be,” said Chip Smith, operator of three courses in Horry and Brunswick counties.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 2:16 PM.
