Four Itchy Feet

April 12, 2025. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Today, we had the pleasure of playing Whispering Pines Golf Course in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Whispering Pines is a golf course rich in history, deeply rooted in military tradition, specifically that of the United States Air Force. The golf course served the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, established on June 1, 1954, and remained in service until its closure on March 1, 1993. After the base closure, the course was handed over to the city of Myrtle Beach, which has done an incredible job of maintaining its playability and preserving its history. You don’t have to imagine the great heroes who played there; on every hole, plaques display their pictures and a brief history of their service.

We were paired with Mike and Neil, two brothers who constantly ribbed each other until the fifth hole, when I too became the target of their humor after duffing a chip shot. Mike is 69, and his brother, “the beer man,” is 10 years his junior. They invited me to play from the senior tees, and swallowing my pride, I accepted. My decision was rewarded with a wonderful afternoon of golf, where I scored two birdies and four pars! Barbara was not far behind; even with a slight advantage from the women’s tees, she played her best round ever and hit the ball very well. The final net scores, after our handicaps were applied, were 65 for me and 68 for her. She is getting dangerously close!

The course was very forgiving and in good shape. According to the staff, it will be closing for the entire summer for a full makeover. The competition to have pristine golf courses in Myrtle Beach is fierce, and they are responding to it. We can’t wait to see what they do with it. Water hazards are present on all but two holes, so accurate drives are essential. The greens are small, very small, and all had challenging slopes. To their credit, they ran true, and we were able to read them accurately most of the time. The golf course provides the feeling of being in a park with no homes nearby; in the background, the occasional commercial jet roar reminded us of our proximity to Myrtle Beach International Airport.

One final note, if you plan to play soon, be on the lookout for white fox squirrels! They defiantly approach you everywhere on the course, demanding to be fed. If you do not comply, they will engage! I wonder if the fighting spirit of all those bygone airmen has been reincarnated in them. Any snacks left on your golf cart will be taken while you putt, and if not for their short legs, I think they would drive away with the cart. When you visit Myrtle Beach, you have a plethora of golf courses to choose from, and many are quite fancier than Whispering Pines, but I encourage you to give this affordable course a chance.