It's that time of year again folks! And no, we don't mean Thanksgiving. The annual college football state championship is right around the corner, which means our state is in for a hearty battle between Tigers and Gamecocks. Now you don't have to be a football fanatic to get in on the in-state rivalry!

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Every summer, father and sons of all ages flock to the Grand Strand to take part in one of the most challenging tournaments in the area. A three-day family event, the National Father & Son Team Classic is the largest father and son event in the world. In last year's tournament, more than 1200 players from 44 states and 8 foreign countries came to enjoy the annual event. This year, the tournament is set to be hosted at some of the Strand's most legendary courses: Wachesaw Plantation East, The Founders Club at Pawleys Island, Sea Trail Golf Resort, Legends Resort, and many more. It is the first time that Sea Trail Resort and the Members Club at Grande Dunes will take part in hosting the event.

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The General Jim Hackler Championship, which has been played in Myrtle Beach at the Tournament Players Club for the past nine years. The tournament, named after the late United States Air Force General James F. Hackler, Jr., is one of the most prestigious tournaments for NCAA golf teams. Hackler supported Coastal Carolina's golf program throughout his years. Now, yet another NCAA event is coming to the Grand Strand!

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The Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am is one of the greatest golfing events to call the Grand Strand its home. Recently extended to be hosted on the Strand for three more years, the tournament has another familiar face on its roster.

The reigning FedExCup champion Jim Furyk recently committed to make his second consecutive appearance at the Celebrity Pro-Am. Furyk, who is also the PGA Tour Player of the Year, is just one of the many big-name golfers expected to be in attendance. Other commitments include, but aren't limited to, John Daly, Woody Austin, and Kristy McPherson. Many others, such as Clemson alumni D.J. Trahan and four-time PGA Tour Winner and Myrtle Beach resident Dustin Johnson, are expected to also add their names to the roster.

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A newly reinvented tournament is coming to three of the Grand Strand's hottest courses. Mystical Golf, which operates The Witch, The Wizard, and Man-O-War, has announced the first Mystical Golf National Pro-Am which will be played on all three courses on March 13-16.Initially, President Claude Pardue designed the tournament in the mid-2000's but discontinued it due to lack of participation. Pardue has decided to spice things up by reviving the tournament this coming March.

The Witch is a jungle course, full of natural wildlife, and is home to mind-boggling holes that will leave you scratching your head all night long. The Wizard may be one of the most challenging courses in the area, with the biggest surprise awaiting golfers at the end of the course. Man-O-War is a championship course with back-to-back island greens and plenty of water play.

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Kristy McPherson, a native of Conway, SC, claims to have always been competitive in sports. After being involved in dance, basketball, and softball, her father introduced her to the game of golf at age eight. Since then, McPherson went on to play for the University of South Carolina and was named SEC individual champion in 2001 and 2002, as well as SEC Player of the Year in 2003 and SEC Athlete of the Year in 2003. The NCAA also recognized Kristy as the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2003. As she continues her career for the LPGA, McPherson continues to embrace the illness that caused her to pursue an interest in golf.

At age 11, McPherson was diagnosed with Still's Disease. A form of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, McPherson spent most of her youth unable to walk due to the arthritis which left her virtually immobile. After being told by physicians and doctors that she would never be able to play basketball and softball again, McPherson began to look for other athletic outlets that would not require her to run or jump. At age 14, Kristy enrolled into junior golf, played in AJGA events, and was even a member of her high school boys golf team for four years!

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Ever feel like your swings are totally out of control? Does it ever seem like there''s someone else swinging your clubs for you because the results are never what you expect? Body position is a huge key to many different sports. Could Michael Phelps glide through the water without his body position knowledge? Could Serena Williams save half of the shots she does without her excellent ability to maneuver her body into the necessary positions? Golf is no different. Believe it or not, your body position controls more than half of your golf game.

Successful draws and fades are just two shots that rely entirely on body control. Your body focus should be on the position of your right arm and your club's shaft during follow through. To effectively hit a draw, make sure your right arm and the shaft of your club line up in a straight line. For a fade, your right arm and shaft should form a ninety degree angle all the way to the finish.

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The third annual Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer Celebrity Golf Tournament came to the Golf Capital of the World, along with many well-known celebrities this past August. Celebrities included: former eleven-time NBA Champion Sam Jones, former heavyweight champion James "Bonecrusher" Smith, former MLB all-star Tony Womack, and NBA veteran Brevin Knight.

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and Zero: The Project to End Prostate Cancer jointly launched the Know Your Score: Fight Prostate Cancer campaign in an effort to raise awareness of prostate cancer, the most common non-skin cancer in America. Prostate Cancer afflicts 1 in 6 men, making it one of the most prevalent forms of cancer affecting the world today. Know Your Score has a goal of raising $250,000 to battle prostate cancer as well as a goal of educating and testing the communities throughout the nation. Know Your Score is also fighting to improve prostate research. All money raised goes straight towards these goals and causes.

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Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club now has something else to brag about with their new award. The Sunset Beach course recently received one of the highest golfing honors on the Grand Strand with their win of the Myrtle Beach Golf Course Owner's Association Course of the Year Award for 2010.

Each nominee for the award is rated on four criteria: the exceptional quality of the golf course, the exceptional quality of the ownership and management, the outstanding contributions made to the community, and the significant contributions to the game. Sandpiper Bay is no stranger to awards, as over the years it has been highly recommended and rated.

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Everyone wants to know where the world's toughest hole in golf is located. Many simply want to know out of curiosity while others want to attempt to tackle it and make a name for themselves. Well, the world's hardest golf shot has been found. Where you might ask? Try the top of a 1,410 ft. mountain in South Africa!

Players who finally get up the courage to attempt this seemingly impossible shot must take a helicopter to the top of the mountain to play the hole, which is the longest and highest par 3 on the planet! Players with a fear of heights may want to steer clear of this challenge because you must plant yourself extremely close to the edge of the mountain in order to attempt the shot. The hole is so high up that the ball takes around 30 seconds to reach the ground far below.

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Every year, Golfweek releases a list of the Best Courses You Can Play in South Carolina. The list highlights the notable and challenging golf layouts that are open for public play. This year brings no disappointment to the golfing community as seven of the top 10 courses are in the Myrtle Beach area.

Pawley's Island earned two spots on the list with Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Plantation. Both courses are Mike Strantz designs and are actually right across the street from each other. True Blue Plantation earned the seventh spot and is rumored more difficult than its sister course Caledonia but is also one of the most beautiful courses on the Strand. The course also features what could be the widest fairways in the area. Caledonia is the more awarded and renowned of the two, and features a one-of-a-kind antebellum style. Look out for the par-3 third hole, which includes an intense tee shot over a waste bunker. This hole in itself may have earned Caledonia the number three spot on Golfweek’s list.

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Smartertravel.com has ranked Myrtle Beach as one of the top ten United States beach towns. The multitude of golf courses in the area designated Myrtle Beach as the best beach for golf. The article not only included 100 or more golf courses in the area, but also highlighted the miniature golf facilities in the area. Myrtle Beach is listed among good company with destinations such as Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, Haleiwa, Hawaii, and Treasure Island, Florida also being chosen. This is another award for the Grand Strand to add to their trophy case with more and more travel agencies and news companies choosing Myrtle Beach as a hot summer destination.

A new exciting tournament has been announced for the Grand Strand area. The Harley Riders Greater Golf Classic will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association which heartily combats muscular dystrophy and other nervous and muscular system diseases. The group funds research, provides medical and community services, and educates health professionals in the fight against muscular dystrophy. MD affects more than a million Americans of all ages. With recent improved medical care, patients with MD are now living longer happier lives than in the past.

The Big Cat golf courses of Ocean Ridge Plantation lead off the list of eight courses which have been selected for the inaugural event which will occur September 10-14 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Title sponsors include The Myrtle Beach Stingrays, Medieval Times, Carolina Wings Motorcycles, Jeep of Shallotte, N. C., and Naber Motorsport/ChryslerPlymouth.

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Myrtle Beach National will host the 35th Annual George Holliday Memorial Golf Tournament on November 27-29. The tournament will include three rounds of golf at the Southcreek, West, and King's North courses of Myrtle Beach National.

Beginning at shotgun start each day at 9 A.M., more than 400 boys and girls from throughout the United States and Puerto Rico will participate. The three-day event encompasses boys and girls from the ages of 9 and 18. It is sanctioned by the South Carolina Junior Golf Association.

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Tony Parrish is initiating his own tour this June. Named The Bogeys to Birdies Tour, after his golf shop in North Myrtle Beach, Parrish will begin is Open at Legends Resort's Parkland Course on June 8-9. The event is $400 and Parrish is guaranteeing $2,100 to the winner with a minimum of 15 players. There will also be a payout to 30 percent of the field. The entry fee will include lunch and drinks both days.

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The 10th Annual South Carolina Senior Open, which will be held on September 7-9, is moving from Tidewater Golf Club and Plantation to Long Bay Club. Numerous current or former PGA Tour of Champions Tour players have regularly played in the S.C. Senior Open. Every year the tournament draws players from various states and even some countries, and gives seniors the opportunity to continue their tournament play.

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Juniors will have an opportunity of a lifetime coming soon this June. The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour is returning to Myrtle Beach this year on June 19th and 20th with the Myrtle Beach Junior Open. The event will be held at the Resort Course at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach where juniors will compete on over 36-holes of stroke play. Juniors will be divided into five age divisions: Boys 16-19, Boys 13-15, Boys 10-12, Girls 15-19, and Girls 10-14.

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Coast of Carolina Parrot Head Club was founded based on a shared love of Jimmy Buffett music. Powered by the motto "Party with a Purpose," the club makes a strong effort to give back to the community whenever they get the chance. Over the past four years, the annual fundraisers they've held have raised approximately $100,000 which they award to local charities.

This time of year, however, they're gearing up for one of their most exciting charity events. On June 19, the annual Coast of Carolina Parrot Head Club Charity Golf Tournament will commence in the hopes of raising money which will then be given to several local charities. The tournament will be held at River Oaks Golf Course.

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River Oaks Golf Plantation in Myrtle Beach will now be managed by Signature Golf Group. The golf group announced that they will work with Craig Schreiner of Schreiner Golf, Inc. to renovate the course.

Specifically, the Otter course at River Oaks will undergo bunker renovation that will drastically change the playing quality of each hole. The Fox and Bear Courses will also undergo future renovations.

The upgrades and changes planned for River Oaks are predicted to entice more golfers to play the course.

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The "World's Largest Single-Site Amateur Golf Tournament" is getting a new name and a new sponsor. The tournament, which will begin on August 30 this year, will now be sponsored by the Sports Illustrated Golf Group and will be called the "Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship."

The tournament has brought around 4,000 golfers to the area for the past 26 years. Why Myrtle Beach? With around 102 public golf courses, no other destination could host the largest single-site tournament.

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Planning a trip to Myrtle Beach this summer with the family? Fathers grab your sons, uncles grab your nephews, and grandfathers grab your grandsons because while the ladies of your family head out for a tan or go shopping, you have the opportunity to play in a tournament in one of golf's hottest destinations.

July 22-24 marks the 13th Annual Martin's PGA Tour Superstore National Father & Son Team Classic. Open to any father/son type relationship, last year's 54-hole competition attracted players from all over the states and even some foreign countries.

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1 in every 217 children in South Carolina suffers from Autism. Formed by parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders living in Horry County, the Autism Advocate Foundation has found a way to give back to those who are affected by this prevalent disorder.

Saturday, June 26th marks the 2nd Annual Autism Advocate Foundation Golf Classic. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Autism Advocate Foundation to support those along the Grand Strand who suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorders.

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