Farmstead Golf Links Debuts in Myrtle Beach Rankings

More than 900 independent post-play reviews from Golfers Show repeat of the Top 14 from last month

(Myrtle Beach, S.C.) - Farmstead Golf Links in Calabash, N.C., made its debut in the monthly Myrtle Beach Golf Insider rankings at No. 23, but the top 14 courses remained unchanged in the May 2012 online edition. The Top 25 was reported by www.mbgolfinsider.com this week, based on more than 900 independent post-play reviews for the previous month from visiting golfers.

Golfers are asked to use a 10-point scale to relay their experience in six categories: pro shop, grill, staff, fairways, tees and greens. The total number of reviews for each course breaks ties.

Farmstead Golf Links, home to the only par-6 hole on the Grand Strand, rode a recent wave of strong reviews from visiting golfers to make its first-ever appearance in the rankings since the Golf Insider Top 25 debuted in June 2010. The Avocet Course at Wild Wing Plantation (No. 21) returned to the Top 25 after an 18-month absence, while Heather Glen (No. 25) reappeared for the first time since this January.

"The Myrtle Beach market's peak golf season gave us record numbers of post-play reviews," said Jim Maggio, Myrtle Beach Golf Insider editor. "It was the most active period in the site's three-year history. More than ever, visiting golfers are relying upon the reviews of fellow golfers to shape their golf vacation plans."

Maggio also said that reviews have been integrated to be part of the available information for golfers before they book online. The Myrtle Beach Golf Insider Top 25 represents a broad consensus of opinion based on thousands of golfer reviews. More than 13,000 independent reviews have been recorded since 2010, according to Maggio.

"Through many Web sites, golfers are seeing much more than price points and special offers," Maggio said. "The online booking engines also bring these reviews front and center as part of the decision-making process. It has driven the growth of Golf Insider and its impact on the Myrtle Beach golf market."

Golf Course Listing
1. Caledonia Golf and Fish Club
2. Dunes Golf & Beach Club
3. Thistle Golf Club
4. True Blue
5. MB National King's North
6. TPC of Myrtle Beach
7. MB National SouthCreek
8. Legends - Parkland
9. Barefoot - Love
10. Barefoot - Fazio
11. Willbrook Plantation
12. Tradition Club
13. Arrowhead
14. Man O' War
15. Wizard
T-16. Legends - Heathland
T-16. Crow Creek Golf Club
18. Glen Dornoch
19. River Club
20. MB National West
21. Wild Wing Avocet 21
22. Grande Dunes
23. Farmstead Golf Links
24. Legends - Moorland
25. Heather Glen

To register to receive the rankings or leave a course review, visit MBGolfInsider.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com