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With nearly 100 championship courses, Myrtle Beach offers plenty of golf. But this year one course took home top honors not only in the Grand Strand, but the entire Palmetto State.

Prestwick Country Club won the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association’s 2025 South Carolina Golf Course of the Year. The award looks at course quality, ownership and management, contributions to the community and contributions to the game of golf to determine the best course in the Palmetto State.

“Our greens are probably known for some of the fastest on the beach and some of the best conditioned and very consistent,” said Prestwick general manager Jay Smith.

Designed by acclaimed course creators Pete and P.B. Dye, Prestwick Country Club offers picturesque dunes, water hazards, pot bunkers and railroad-tie accents.

“It is a challenging layout. We have six sets of tees, meaning the golfer can basically pick … what kind of yardage they want to play from,” Smith said. “I would say, most people would say it’s pretty tough, but if you pick the right [equipment], it can play nicely for anybody.”

Although the course first opened more than 35 years ago, Smith says Prestwick Country Club has benefitted from regular upkeep. The greens, clubhouse and restaurant have all been renovated in recent years.

“They just constantly are reinvesting in the facility, which keeps it fresh,” said Smith.

But the course wasn’t just recognized for its facilities. Beyond raising money for local schools, teams and charities, Prestwick has hosted the Socastee High School golf teams without charge for decades. And, as of three years ago, the course is home to the Horry County Special Olympics golf team.

“The golf course is an avenue that is used in the community as well,” Smith said.

Before winning state recognition, Prestwick Country Club was named the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association’s 2025 Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course of the Year over the summer.

As the winner of the 2025 South Carolina Golf Course of the Year, Prestwick Country Club’s owners and management hope national accolades will follow. The course was submitted for the National Golf Course Owners Association’s award, which will be announced in Orlando, Florida, in January.

Regardless of whether the course is honored nationally, Prestwick Country Club will remain a golfer favorite for Grand Stranders and visitors alike.

“Golfers, they know they’re going to get treated in a nice manner, and they’re going to get value for their dollar that they pay for golf,” said Smith. “Because they know the golf course is going to be a challenge, it’s going to be fun to play, and it’s going to be in good condition.”

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH — Along with picking their first new mayor in more than two decades, North Myrtle Beach voters will also decide two contested city council races next month.

Incumbent Trey Skidmore is running for an at-large seat along with challengers Tony Warren Jr and David Weitzman.

Meanwhile, Jeri McCumbee and Jolene Puffer are running for the Windy Hill seat that Councilwoman Nikki Fontana has held since 2013. Fontana opted not to seek another term.

Bubba Collins, who holds the Ocean Drive seat, will also be on the ballot but is running unopposed.

Here is a snapshot of the candidates:

At-large seat

Trey Skidmore

Skidmore, 43, is the owner of Barefoot RV Resort and Foxfire Communities.

Skidmore has been on city council for four years and also served on the city's board of zoning appeals.

He said growth is the city’s most pressing issue, and it's the reason he ran for council four years ago. He is trying to limit the impact of the development boom on residents.

Skidmore said much of the growth is taking place outside the city limits, so North Myrtle Beach needs to work closely with Horry County Government.

Diversifying the economy is also important to Skidmore, who said he wants his daughters to stay in the area. He said there has been progress with companies like UPS coming to the area and hiring workers, but recruitment efforts are a balancing act because he never wants to damage the fabric of the family beach community.

If reelected, Skidmore said he will continue his open-door leadership style and keep his personal number published for anyone to reach him.

Tony Warren

Warren, 60, owns Realty Rock, a real estate company.

He said North Myrtle Beach needs help from a regular guy, not career politicians.

Warren wants the city to hit the brakes on allowing large neighborhoods and developments. He said the city should focus on fixing roads and addressing flooding.

"I will listen to our residents and try with all my heart to help our town grow but not outgrow," Warren said.

He said the city needs more grocery stores, fire departments and hospitals.

He intends to work with industry recruiters to attract different companies, such as technology and manufacturing businesses.

Warren also said the city needs to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a long-term plan to keep the beach town beautiful and inviting.

David Weitzman

Weitzman, who declined to provide his age, is a primary care physician who is new to politics.

If elected, Weitzman’s top priorities for North Myrtle Beach would be strengthening communication and trust, developing a clean industry and AI technology corridor, and building a stronger economy.

Weitzman wants leaders, residents and business owners to listen to and understand one another. He intends to institute a community involvement plan if elected.

Weitzman said North Myrtle Beach has the potential to become a regional hub for AI. Through faster permitting and attractive zoning, he wants to recruit innovative startups that will provide quality jobs and long-term growth.

As for growth, he said the city should bring in experts who have successfully managed growth in other communities.

Windy Hill seat

Jeri McCumbee

McCumbee, 58, is the director of operations for MEDcare Urgent Care.

She has served as chairperson of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and was appointed to the S.C. Education Oversight Committee.

Her top priorities are managing growth, infrastructure and short-term rentals.

McCumbee said she wants to slow city growth and stop annexing land so North Myrtle can catch up with its infrastructure needs.

She said the city should work with the S.C. Department of Transportation on road improvements, lobby for funding for beach renourishment and continue stormwater drainage repairs.

To boost tourism, McCumbee said the city needs better infrastructure and should focus on attracting commercial businesses. She wants to keep taxes low and provide incentives to businesses that move to the area.

Jolene Puffer

Puffer, 55, is a real estate agent who ran for the Windy Hill seat four years ago and lost by 267 votes.

Over the past four years, Puffer said she has focused on learning how the city works so she can serve effectively from day one.

If elected, she said her top priorities would be addressing overdevelopment and overspending.

Puffer wants to focus on infrastructure needs before allowing more development.

"My goal is to ensure we grow in a way that protects our quality of life while still welcoming opportunity," Puffer said. "I do feel it's time for more serious measures to deal with the growth that is plaguing our infrastructure."

Puffer also wants the city to partner with local colleges and business groups to help bring sustainable, well-paid jobs to the area.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Oct. 29, 2025) — Prestwick Country Club, the acclaimed Pete and P.B. Dye design located in Myrtle Beach, has been named the 2025 South Carolina Golf Course of the Year by the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association (SCGCOA).

Representatives of Prestwick, including General Manager Jay Smith and Head Golf Professional Ryan Wilkinson, PGA, accepted the award in Daniel Island on Tuesday, October 28. The award recognizes the very best in golf course quality, management, and community impact across the Palmetto State.

“This award is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the standards we strive to uphold every day,” said Jay Smith, General Manager of Prestwick Country Club. “From our dedicated staff to our loyal community and visiting golfers, everyone plays a part in preserving the Dye legacy. We take great pride in representing Myrtle Beach and showcasing the best of South Carolina golf.”

Prestwick, a member of Golf Tourism Solutions, earned consideration for the statewide honor after being selected as the 2025 Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course of the Year by the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association (MBAGCOA) in July.

Why Choose Prestwick Country Club for Your Next Golf Outing?

“Prestwick Country Club embodies the passion, professionalism, and hospitality that make the Myrtle Beach area golf market such a special destination.” said Ryan Cannon, Executive Director of Golf Tourism Solutions. “We are proud of the Prestwick team and grateful for The Jackson Companies’ continued investment in our community.”

Since opening in 1989, Prestwick Country Club has been a favorite among visiting golfers and locals alike, celebrated for its dramatic layout featuring bold earth-moving, sculpted dunes, pot bunkers, signature railroad-tie accents, and strategic water hazards.

The SCGCOA evaluates Golf Course of the Year nominees using four criteria:

The National Golf Course Owners Association implemented the award in 1996 and the MBAGCOA has since nominated courses from the Myrtle Beach area. Prestwick succeeds another course in The Golf Capital of the World®, Pawleys Plantation, which was named the MBAGCOA Course of the Year in 2024.

About Golf Tourism Solutions (GTS): We believe in the magic of a Myrtle Beach golf experience. Through progressive marketing, world-class events, innovative technology, industry research, and our membership, we collectively promote, elevate and advance The Golf Capital of the World®. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Horry County is South Carolina’s second most popular landing spot for those relocating to the state, according to a national moving company.

But when it comes to the age of those moving here, the county is among only three in the state where baby boomers rule, according to research from StorageCafe, a storage space marketplace. It’s a stark difference to other areas, where Gen Z’s reportedly make up the highest number of arrivals in the state.

Gen Zers are moving in large numbers to such areas as Kershaw and Richland counties, which offer the “vibrant pull of Columbia” and “the suburban charm of nearby Richland,” the report said.

The average age of newcomers in Horry County is 41, and most new arrivals — 80% — are coming from other states, , according to the research. The research is based on the Pee Dee region that is made up of Horry, Dillon and Marion counties.

Horry County’s homeownership rate is highest in the state, with nearly 6 in 10 newcomers buying a home within their first year, the research shows. The newcomer homeownership rate is 59% among Horry, Dillion and Marion counties.

The high rate is thanks to boomers’ financial footing and preference for ownership, the research report said.

Neighboring North Carolina is the top feeder state to the county, with New York as the second-largest source of arrivals. Many of those are retirees who have sold high-priced properties and are able to stretch their dollars once they resettle in South Carolina, where home prices are lower, the report said.

Because of the number of people moving into Horry County, there has been a large increase in the number of storage units and storage facilities built throughout the county.

Over a five-year period, Conway has seen a 45% increase in storage facilities, the largest among cities in the county according to StorageCafe. That’s followed by the Myrtle Beach area, which has seen a 17% increase and Little River at 13%.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH — Grand Strand shoppers can find flip-flops and golf caps on virtually every street corner. Now there's a new spot for cowboy boots and hats.

Cavender's Boot City recently opened its first South Carolina location at 2301 U.S. Highway 17 South in North Myrtle Beach, a stretch better known for beachwear stores and golf shops than cowboy and cowgirl chic.

The Tyler, Texas-based retail chain boasts a wide selection of western wear under one roof. The 19,000-square-foot North Myrtle Beach store opened on Oct. 25, and business has been brisk.

"The reception has been wonderful. We've stayed busy since we opened," store manager Dominique Price said. "I'm from Montana so I grew up around people wearing this, but I never knew so many people at the beach wore it too."

Price, along with market researchers, attribute the phenomenon to the "Yellowstone effect," which has seen sales of western wear soar since the hit streaming series debuted in 2018. The fad got another cultural bump from Beyonce's 2024 country album of "Cowboy Carter."

Google data shows the term "Western Cowboy Boots" reached a peak normalized search volume of 100 in May 2025, marking a 47% increase from its lowest point, according to ShelfTrend. Searches for "Cowboy Boots Women," "Country Western Fashion" and "Cowboy Core Outfit" were also top trenders in 2025.

Cavender's customers were less interested in making fashion statements than they were in finding new shopping options in the neighborhood. Kathy Tremblay spends the offseasons in North Myrtle Beach and was happy to find a new place to shop.

"The selection is amazing," she said while scanning through a rack of studded jackets. "They have a lot of things you can't find around here. It's more than just western clothes."

Local landscaper Landon Poole often has trouble finding the right boots. At Cavender's, he was trying to decide which pair to purchase.

"Now I just have to find the right size," he said while test-walking a pair of rattlesnake-skins. "We really needed a place that sells more boots."

Like many locals, Poole was accustomed to traveling to find cowboy boots and other western-themed accessories.

"That's what we're hearing the most from locals is that they're glad they don't have to drive so far anymore," Price said. "Plus, we have so many brands that people can't find anywhere else."

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Cavender’s Boot City has more than 100 locations nationwide and carries popular brands like Ariat, Wrangler, and Resistol, as well as its own clothing lines Rockin’ C, Rafter C and more.