| Have you ever visited Myrtle Beach, SC, for a | | | | Scottish tradition is carried on today. The country |
| family vacation? I know I did. There are pictures | | | | club is the place many families still choose for the |
| dating back to the mid-fifties of me and my | | | | "coming out" debutante affairs for their daughters, |
| brother playing in the sand in the Windy Hill area. | | | | or family weddings. |
| Then, years later when I was raising my family, | | | | The Ocean Forest Hotel was THE hotel - very |
| we came to Myrtle Beach on a regular basis, | | | | grand with over 300 rooms, crystal chandeliers, a |
| usually staying in one of the oceanfront | | | | ballroom for dancing the night away, pools - inside |
| campgrounds that are actually still receiving | | | | and out; and even stables for your horses. It was |
| visitors today, albeit most are in RV's now instead | | | | home to the first radio station WMY13. In short, it |
| of tents. | | | | was THE PLACE to be if you were in Myrtle |
| I have lived here for 20 years now and I have | | | | Beach. Unfortunately, it was demolished in 1974, |
| learned some interesting little tidbits of history | | | | to make room for "progress." |
| that I'd like to share with you. First, the origin of | | | | In those days long ago, Myrtle Beach had a |
| the name "Myrtle" Beach. This area is still replete | | | | weekly newspaper, and telephone operators kept |
| with the beautiful wax myrtle trees that bloom | | | | up with everyone and knew everything that was |
| each June or July and stay in bloom most of the | | | | going on! In 1952, the first Miss South Carolina |
| summer. Their flowers are beautiful shades of | | | | contest was held and none other than our own |
| pink, purple and white. The myrtle trees line most | | | | Mickey Spillane was one of the judges. |
| medians on our roadways. I have several in my | | | | These are just a few glimpses into the rich |
| yard. No respectable property here is without | | | | history of one of America's favorite beaches. |
| some myrtle trees. | | | | I've lived here for 20 years, and I've grown to |
| Some of you who are golfers may know that | | | | appreciate the history as well as the modern life |
| Pine Lakes Country Club is the oldest golf course | | | | here on this 60-mile strand of surf and sand. |
| in Myrtle Beach. In the early 1920's, a group of | | | | Friends and family constantly want to come visit. |
| businessmen began to build a classy getaway | | | | Sometimes I can house them myself, but when I |
| (which is now the Pine Lakes Country Club) and | | | | can't, I always refer them to Oceanfront Vacation |
| the Ocean Forest Hotel. | | | | Rentals, a local company that I have learned to |
| The golf course was finished in 1927 and today is | | | | rely on and trust to find the perfect |
| just as elegant and is a reminder of the good life | | | | accommodations and even golf packages for my |
| of bygone days. Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen, | | | | husband's friends who love the game as much as |
| well-known names to any golfer, socialized with | | | | he does. |
| the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers here. The old | | | | |