The First Tee of Brunswick County will impact, influence and inspire the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that build character and citizenship, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices through the game of golf and other enduring character-building activities.

Not only does this charity give young boys and girls a chance to experience the game of golf, increase their athletic abilities, and provide a great place for kids, but it also awards scholarships, teaches life lessons, and has proven to help kids stay in school.

There are several ways you can help or donate to the Brunswick County Chapter of First Tee: 

• You can make a contribution to our Annual Campaign
• Become a participant or coach’s Sponsor as part of your company’s advertising campaign
• Help secure a participant’s future with The First Tee of Brunswick County Scholarship Fund for members excelling in both life and golf skills development.
• Establish a Gift Matching Program with your employer or neighborhood fundraising organization.
• Invest in our program’s future with a bequested Legacy Gift

First Tee also accepts equipment donations including clubs, balls, and other golf equipment. Donations can be delivered to 445 Tarkln Court, Shallotte, NC  28470.

For more information about the charity or how to help visit their website.

 

 

Here’s some tips on a better drive and a better stance from PGA player Alvaro Quiros. Alvaro Quiros, 29, was born in Guardiaro, Spain. He has won six times on the European Tour and is 44th in the World Golf Ranking.

I’ve played golf all my life relying on good hand action. It has helped me become the longest driver on the European Tour in four of the past five seasons. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to understand that depending on my hands to square the clubface and produce a powerful draw is not a consistent way to play. I’ve been working hard on reducing my hand action and using a big body turn to hit the ball not only farther, but also straighter. It’s a good lesson for you, too. If you can focus on body rotation, using your big muscles to create club head speed and square the face, you’re going to drive the ball better than ever. Here are some tips to help you launch it.

KEEP IT SHORT AND TIGHT

I’ve been working on making a more level shoulder turn so my backswing no longer feels long or loose. I want it to feel compact and that everything is tight. If the club gets past parallel–or even to parallel–at the top, that’s a sign my hands are getting too active. That can screw up my timing on the downswing. But instead of worrying about where the shaft is at the top, I’m concentrating on turning back until my stomach and back muscles feel as if they’re really stretched.

ROTATE, DON’T SLIDE

My typical miss is a block. The ball flies straight but right of the target. Sometimes during the downswing, my lower body slides toward the target and the club gets trapped behind me, forcing me to save the shot with a handsy release. If I’m too late, it’s a block. I want my hips to rotate, not slide. It’s a feeling of my head staying behind the ball as I put my body weight into the hit. To play a fade, I try to keep the handle of the club pointing at my stomach through impact–everything is turning together

STAND TALLER TO MAKE A BETTER TURN

At address, I’m constantly checking to make sure I’m standing tall to the ball. I look down to see if my hands are hanging too low. If they are, then I’m not giving my chest a chance to turn back wide enough for a powerful hit. That’s when I get handsy, because I try to make up for that loss of width by hinging the club up more with my hands. If I stand taller, I give my swing a chance to get wider.

POST UP LEFT OF YOUR TARGET

It’s wrong to say your chest should be pointing at the target when you finish the swing. I want my chest pointing considerably left of the target. I don’t stop turning until my body won’t turn anymore. If it stopped at any point before that, guess what, my hands would flip the clubface shut and I’d hook it. A complete body turn through the ball allows me to hit a solid fade and take the left side of the course out of play.

 

For more information or to view the slideshow visit:

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2012-09/photos-alvaro-quiros-driving#intro

 

 

Myrtle Beach, S.C. is home to the “Grand Strand,” which spans from Brunswick County in North Carolina, to historic Georgetown to the south. Within this stretch of about 70 miles there are more than 100 golf courses, making Myrtle Beach one of the most golf-rich regions in the world.

It also ranks at the top in variety, garnering the nickname, the “supermarket of golf.” Myrtle Beach long ago shed its reputation as a bargain-basement destination and today there are more than a dozen ultra high-end courses ranging from $150-200 in the peak season – still a tremendous bargain versus most other destinations in the world.

Golf Digest has been especially kind to the Grand Strand, ranking 10 of its courses in its “Top 100 You Can Play” list, more than any other destination in America.

The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, located right off the beach, is the area’s most prestigious golf course, while the Barefoot Resort up the road features an all-star foursome of designers on its courses: Dye, Fazio, Love III and Greg Norman. Many of the world’s top architects have at least one design somewhere along the Grand Strand.

The Grand Strand can be divided into three regions: the North and South Strand, and Myrtle Beach itself.

The South Strand begins around Murrells Inlet, a small fishing village home to world-class seafood restaurants along the Marshwalk. It’s also here where the lowcountry comes to life, filled with centuries-old oaks on historic Carolina plantation properties. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Pawleys Plantation and the Heritage Club highlight the South Strand.

The North Strand, comprised of North Myrtle Beach to Sunset Beach in North Carolina seemingly has a golf course on every block. Multi-course resorts such as Ocean Ridge Plantation and Sea Trail dazzle, while River’s Edge and Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links boast natural, waterfront beauty.

Myrtle Beach itself is home to plenty of golf courses in its own regard, from historic Pine Lakes International, the area’s first course, the Dunes Club nearby, and glamorous Grande Dunes along the Intracoastal Waterway. Myrtle Beach’s main artery, Highway 501, features two multi-course facilities, Legends and Myrtle Beach National, home to the renowned King’s North course.

Climate and golf seasons

You can golf year-round on the Grand Strand, and there are up to a dozen different rate seasons annually for golf courses in Myrtle Beach. While Myrtle Beach is its busiest during the summer months, golf’s peak season ranges from mid-March through the last week of April. At this time, courses are in their best condition, greens are fast and smooth, the azaleas are in full bloom and the weather is perfect.

Courses are their cheapest during the summer. At this time of year, you can find tee times for as low as $35-50 at many of the lower-end courses that charge $70-90 during peak season.

Courses are also very busy during the fall and winter months, filled with sun-starved northeasterners and Canadians – many of whom you’re certain to see on the beach in their swim trunks despite 60-degree highs. There certainly is a season – and a golf course – for everyone in the Grand Strand.