Getting to and from Hartford, CT, by plane is neither easy nor cheap. Most flights from anywhere to Hartford involve at least one change of planes and a few hundred dollars minimum. Other medium-sized market airports are in the same boat (sorry, mixed transportation metaphor). But thanks to the low-fare, few frills Spirit Airlines, golfers across the Midwest and Northeast have cheap access to one of the nation’s major golf markets, Myrtle Beach where, even after the loss of a couple of dozen golf courses in the last decade, golfers still have a choice of more than 90 layouts within an easy reach of their hotel or resort.
The porch that overlooks the 18th green at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club south of Myrtle Beach, just a $56 flight from Hartford, CT, and equally reasonable from 22 other markets from Plattsburgh, NY to Minneapolis.
        Based on my own recent experience, Spirit provides excellent service at a low cost, with the options to make yourself even more comfortable on an a la carte basis. I flew from Hartford, CT, non-stop to Myrtle Beach last week for just $56. To enhance the experience, I paid an extra $30 for an exit row seat giving me the ability to stretch my legs straight out. I had stuffed all my electronics and toiletries into my backpack which was small enough to qualify as a free “personal” item. If I had been toting a carry-on bag, I would have been assessed another fee. And if I had checked another bag and/or my golf clubs, the register would have kept ringing. (I had flown from Myrtle to Hartford a week earlier with my golf clubs, and they arrived safe and on-time.) Even with the extra charges, Spirit is cheaper than competing airlines, none of which fly non-stop from Hartford to Myrtle Beach. (Note that Spirit service is only during spring and summer on that route.) 
        The plane was only half full, immaculately clean and we took off and arrived on time (actually a few minutes early). Myrtle Beach has upgraded its airport significantly over recent years, and it now provides a comfortable atmosphere in which to arrive or to await your return flight home.
        The other 22 cities from which you can catch a non-stop Spirit flight to/from Myrtle Beach include Minneapolis, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Columbus (OH), Pittsburgh, Plattsburgh (NY), Niagara Falls, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
        If you would like to arrange to visit any golf communities in the Myrtle Beach area that match your preferences for a golf home, please contact me.

        Many golfers, me included, love firm and fast greens as long as the greens are not too small and entrance points are generous. Columbia, SC’s eponymous country club, which actually moved decades ago from the city to the suburb of Blythewood, features enormous greens with all but the front-located pins accessible via shots played to the front third of the putting surfaces. On a 6,000-yard layout, from the white tees, most approaches should be lofted enough to not bound off the back.
Water is not a big factor at Columbia, although it is attractively ornamental as it is on this par 3.
        But when it has rained hard for two days before your round, and your well struck drives are backing up in the soggy fairways, you expect the greens to follow suit and be receptive to your five and six irons. That was not the case this past Sunday, when I played the course with members of the South Carolina Golf Rating Panel. One of the ladies in our group had an amazing day of chipping and posted a score in the low 80s. The rest of the foursome saw too many shots bounce over the greens, leaving mostly downhill chips shots to the extremely fast greens. (The pro shop attendant mentioned a reading of about 12 on the stimpmeter, a rare speedy condition even for private clubs).
        The Ellis Maples designed Columbia Country Club features three nines, and we played the Tall Pines and Ridgewood nines. (Lakeside is the other nine, shorter and sportier, the members in our group told us.) The Tall Pines/Ridgewood combo carries a rating of 70.4 and slope of 132 which, for a layout of 6,200 yards, is spells big challenge for a bogey golfer. But on this day, with the combination of shorter drives, longer approaches and firm greens that were not easily dented, both the rating and slope measures were light to the challenge.
Most of the longer holes at Columbia are tree lined, giving the course a somewhat New England feel.
        Columbia, like many private clubs looking for supplementary income, will accept outside play from those passing through the area. (Call ahead.) It would be a good choice. All in all, the Columbia layout that winds its way through the tall pines is an impressive challenge, especially under milder late spring or early summer conditions. Understand that the city of Columbia has a reputation for being the hottest summer spot in all of the Carolinas. When I mentioned that to my cart mate, a local resident member of the club, he responded: “No, it is the hottest in the U.S.” If you are lucky enough to play the course, don’t forget to hydrate.
The 18th green at Columbia, the active clubhouse in the background.                                                                                                         *
        Columbia Country Club in Blythewood is set in an older neighborhood that developed slowly over time and features a mix of classic and modern homes. Lot prices are mostly between $70,000 and $100,000 and few in number; homes begin in the high $200s with the sweet spot appearing to be around $400,000. Blythewood is just 20 minutes up the interstate from Columbia, the state capital, and home to the large University of South Carolina. If you would like more information on Columbia Country Club and other golf communities in the area, contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will put you in touch with Mike Wyka, a golfer and terrific real estate professional for the area.