Grand Strand Golf Rounds 2006 ~ Total Down / Average Up

Total Rounds Down

The number of golf rounds played on the Grand Strand fell 3.1 percent in 2006 compared to 2005, leaving the Strand shy for the second straight year of the 4 million milestone that has been the area’s benchmark.

• Rounds played totaled 3.86 million and fell more than 3 percent for the second consecutive year. More than 4 millions rounds were played on the Strand every year from 1997 through 2004, according to figures compiled monthly for marketing cooperative Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday.

• Total paid rounds - consisting of walk-on, package, member and replay rounds - also fell more than 3 percent for the second straight year to 3.72 million rounds.

Average Rounds Up

Because of the closing of 11 courses since November 2005, the average rounds per golf course increased 6.5 percent in 2006 for an eight-year high of 41,664 rounds per layout. That number is up 10.6 percent from 2004 totals.

• Average paid rounds increased 6.5 percent to 40,267 per course.

Golf Holiday president Mickey McCamish said the rounds were hurt by the loss of 105,109 airline seats on incoming commercial flights to Myrtle Beach - mostly attributed to the elimination of Hooters Air. Two new airlines are expected to add seats this year.

Source: Alan Blondin, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC