International World Tour becomes third Strand course to offer GolfBoards

International World Tour Golf Links is the third course on the Grand Strand and second course managed by Founders Group International to offer GolfBoards.

The course had eight GolfBoards delivered Friday and some were in use over the weekend and Monday.

A GolfBoard is a fun alternative to a golf cart for individual players. It resembles a hybrid of a skateboard, surfboard and snowboard. Clubs go on the front of the battery-powered, four-wheel drive GolfBoard, which has a stabilizing handlebar and thumb accelerator button. A user steers the board by shifting weight.

FGI introduced GolfBoards to TPC Myrtle Beach in April, and True Blue Golf Club was the first Strand facility to offer them, beginning last November. The TPC and True Blue have four apiece.

World Tour is charging $20 plus tax in addition to its combined green/cart fee to use a GolfBoard.

“I think overall the golf consumer has reacted positively to them,” said FGI director of sales and marketing Steve Mays. “We find the people enjoy using them. They’re fun, easy to use and make a round of golf more fun.”

Mays said the company is open to adding the boards to some of its other 22 area courses.

“They’re doing well at TPC, we’ll see how they do at World Tour and act accordingly,” Mays said. “I think we’re definitely looking at it, but it’s not something we need to move quickly on.”

GolfBoards are yet to make it to the north end of the Strand.

Todd Barlow, GolfBoard’s Coastal Carolinas sales representative, said there are no pending contracts with other Strand courses but other area courses have shown interest.

Barlow said the company has been adding an average of 10 to 15 courses per week across the country over the past month, shipped 48 boards to 13 courses last week, and is two weeks behind on orders.

He said there still hasn’t been a significant injury reported on one yet. “People can step in a hole and break their ankle. People drive golf carts into ponds and trees, but nothing major has happened with a GolfBoard,” Barlow said. “We know it’s going to happen, but it hasn’t yet.”

This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 10:31 PM with the headline "International World Tour becomes third Strand course to offer GolfBoards."