Like a good cocktail, Conway, South Carolina (30 minutes west of Myrtle Beach) combines two vital ingredients to create a refreshing treat - at least for those who are into golfing and thrifting.

Golfing Gems

Every golfer knows the Myrtle Beach area is one of the original golf meccas, with 90+ golf courses. While the weather doesn’t really warm up until March, for those desperate for golf in February, I highly recommend Conway as South Carolina’s hidden gem.

I loved “The Hackler” golf course. Yes, leave out the “l” and you have “hacker,” which of course most golfers are, even if we don’t admit it. The course is challenging for both the hacker and the low handicapper.

Located on the campus of Coastal Carolina University, it is home to a turf management school which results the course being in good condition even in mid-February. And I also found it is very playable on a 10 degree Celsius day, especially if the sun is out. Bonus: For those who are thrifty, if you check on their website for daily specials, you can play most weekdays for $40 USD or less with a GPS equipped cart. And if that isn’t incentive enough beer is only $3 USD (can or draft) and a cheeseburger just $5.50 USD.

The course isn’t long with the tips being just 6,714 yards, no doubt fun for Dustin Johnson (it is his alma mater). There are many severe dog legs which makes it risky for the big hitters to determine whether or not they want to hit the big stick. I loved the Bermuda greens as they putted true and held any ball that hit the green. The sand traps had lots of sand and were easy to hit out of – I can’t believe I said that.

The Par 4 18th is the signature hole. Short but challenging, you must decide how you want to approach the green given there is water all along the green side of the fairway. It is drivable for the big hitters, but it is surrounded by water on three sides and there a bunker in front of the green and a tree at about 100 yards, so you better hit the green. I chose to lay up (no surprise) and made par each round.

Hot Tip: For the best deals, go to The Hackler website regularly, check on tee times and then “daily deals” where they will post a couple of deals for the next day, sometimes two days ahead. You must pay in advance, but it is worth it.

You know you are on a university golf course when the you see this along one of the holes at The Hackler.

Diamondback, Loris

Thrifty golfers will also like Diamondback in Loris, 30 minutes from Conway. The course is carved out of the forest with water on every hole (sometimes in two places) and lots of tricky doglegs. Its generous fairways are great for early season golf when you haven’t yet decided if you are hitting slices or will be pulling or pushing your drives this year. While you might be tempted to go for the green in two on some of the shorter par 5s, be aware they are all well-guarded by sand traps and water. Laying up to about 100 yards is always the wise move.

It too has great food service - $7.50 USD for an all-beef hot dog, small bag of chips and draft beer (and not the light stuff). And the green fee was $40 USD with a cart (but no GPS) weekdays and weekends.

Note: Even some of the upper end courses in the Myrtle Beach area can be played for around $60 to $75 USD in February, if you look for deals.

My golf buddy and I liked The Hackler and Diamondback so much we played each of them three times - useful as we got to know what club to hit to the corner on the dogleg holes, and where to lay-up on the par 5s.

Diamondback’s design includes lots of sand and water next to the greens. Being long is no fun either.

The fairways are generous, but that doesn’t mean you will be on them.

The sand traps were large and many - sometimes you get lucky.

Thrifting Mecca

Myrtle Beach and Conway are meccas for thrifters. Conway has three thrift stores in its picturesque downtown – Salvation Army, Missions for the Nations and Fostering Hope Resale Store – and outside the downtown are Thirteen Thrift, Coastal Bin and Palmetto Goodwill.

Conway is the cluster of stores at the top of the map.

**Hot Tip: Fostering Hope Resale (open Monday to Thursday from 9 am to noon only) at 308 Elm Street has several, jam packed clothing racks on the street where everything is just $1.** I am told by two experienced thrifters that there are some great deals to be had, but be advised get there early. It must be true as they went a few times and always came home with something. Inside the small shop is a wide array of items you would expect in a typical thrift store. I picked up three record albums.

The Myrtle Beach area has 25+ thrift stores, with Goodwill dominating the market. You also don’t want to miss the Bealls Outlet store, where you may find some deeply discounted items (often 90 to 95% off). One day the ladies came home giddy with excitement – a complete charcuterie board with cheeses, two meats, crackers and jar of mustard for only $1.25 USD. They filled an entire shopping cart with bargains.

Dedicated thrifters will want to make a day trip to Florence (a 45 minute drive) to check out their 7 thrift stores including a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Note: The independent thrift stores in South Carolina often seemed like community centres, where people come regularly to say hi and chat with each other and the staff/volunteers. And when you leave, don’t be surprised to hear someone say “Have a blessed day!”

Hot Tip: If you go to Florence, be sure to stop in at the Thieves Market, a huge antique shop that is fun to explore, reminisce about the past and maybe find a treasure. It is home to seven cats and what looks to be a small aviary behind the front desk. (I wish I had asked to take a photo of the birds.) Don’t be turned off by the run-down outside appearance of the building or even the leaking roof - there are lots of curated and professionally exhibited treasures inside.

Anita’s Attic

Perhaps the most unique thrift store was Anita’s Attic (THE Store) located in house that used to be an orphanage. Today, each (“packed to the gills”) room has a different theme – baby clothing, kitchen items, books, bedding etc. There is also a shed out back with hardware and larger items and the yard is full of sinks, bathtubs and bikes. Even non-thrifters might find something interesting here. Our non-thrifter, handyman driver found roofing brackets in case he gets the urge to re-shingle someone’s roof.