Brittain to Become Chairman Emeritus of the Board
June 20, 2006, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Clay Brittain, Jr., chairman of the board of the Myrtle Beach National Company, will retire June 20, 2006, after a 40-year career as a golf and tourism pioneer who helped mold Myrtle Beach into one of the most popular golf and beach vacation destinations in the United States.
A native of North Carolina, Mr. Brittain grew up in the Greensboro area and attended the University of North Carolina. He was very pleased that his mother’s home was Johnsonville, S.C., and her family vacationed almost every year in the Myrtle Beach area since the 1890’s. Mr. Brittain fondly remembers these trips with his Mother’s family almost every summer.
He jumped feet first into the business world, and the Myrtle Beach tourism scene, with his 1947 purchase of a Beach Concession in front of The Chesterfield Inn, where he had worked summers since 1945 for his uncle, Steve Chapman, owner of The Chesterfield Inn. In 1951, Clay Brittain leased The Chesterfield Inn from Chapman and in 1952, Chapman gave Mr. Brittain a chance to purchase a 50% interest in the Second Avenue Fishing Pier with him. This was his first purchase of Myrtle Beach property and two years later, Hurricane Hazel washed the entire Pier away.
In 1962, Brittain purchased his second property, Howard’s Manor, with his uncle. Their plans were to demolish and build one of the Grand Strand’s first high-rise hotels. They still owned the land under the new Second Avenue Pier and traded the Pier land for about half the cost of Howard Manor. While going through the process of securing loans, Brittain rethought his original plan and opted to transform the former Guest House into a restaurant temporarily. The Sea Captain’s House remains one of Myrtle Beach’s most popular seafood establishments. In 1965, Brittain and his partner’s son, Bob Chapman purchased The Chesterfield Inn.
Mr. Brittain was instrumental in founding the Myrtle Beach National Company in 1971 and immediately sought out Arnold Palmer to design premier signature golf courses for him on the Grand Strand. Brittain also built his company by acquiring and constructing ocean-front hotels for Myrtle Beach visitors. In recent years, Mr. Brittain had the foresight to steer the company’s accommodations towards condominiums, a growing trend in Myrtle Beach real estate. Currently the Myrtle Beach National Company operates nine golf courses and has interest in three resorts and three rental companies.
He was also an important partner in the birth of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday in 1967, a marketing cooperative whose mission is to promote the Myrtle Beach area as the world’s premier golf destination. Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday began with eight golf courses and 10 hotel members and almost 40 years later, Golf Holiday represents 85 golf courses and 54 hotels and continues to be recognized as the leader in golf destination marketing.
"I have never met anyone so unselfish and totally dedicated to his business, his family and his community as Clay Brittain," said Cecil Brandon, who partnered with Brittain to found Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. "He set a work ethic example that was beyond anything I have ever been associated with. Myrtle Beach is blessed, and will continue to be blessed, with Clay’s vision and dedication to the community and he is one of the leading citizens, if not the leading citizen, in our time."
The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce honored Mr. Brittain as the recipient of the 2005 Ashby Ward Pioneer of the Year Award at the December President’s Gala. Named for the former 30-year president and chief executive officer of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ashby Ward Pioneer of the Year Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant, positive impact on the Myrtle Beach area.
In 2003, Mr. Brittain was honored by the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) with the Don Rossi Award, which acknowledges an individual’s significant and long-lasting contribution to the golf association. In his role as the president of the Myrtle Beach Golf Course Owners Association for several years and the vice president of the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association, Brittain helped develop the group’s vision and goals.
In 2001, Coastal Carolina University established the Clay Brittain, Jr. Center for Resort Tourism to honor his contributions to the community. The Brittain Center conducts tourism research and supports outreach programs for the tourism industry, the community and students.
Mr. Brittain’s contributions to the Grand Strand community are witnessed by his charitable involvement with so many causes since 1951. In the 1980’s, Mr. Brittain received a Doctorate in Public Service from the University of South Carolina through Coastal Carolina University.
The Brittain family includes wife Pat, sons Clay III, David and Matthew and daughter Mary. Youngest son, Matthew, is the current president of Myrtle Beach National Company.
"Today’s announcement of my father’s retirement from Myrtle Beach National is a bittersweet moment for me," said Matthew Brittain. "My father has worked tirelessly for more than 35 years to build Myrtle Beach National into one of the most respected golf and vacation resort companies in the United States and I know how much he loves the Myrtle Beach community. One of the ideas that I learned from my father, and will continue to practice, is the importance of interacting with our guests. My father was always visible at the hotel, talking to the guests to learn their suggestions on ways to improve their visit. Many of these people became good friends with whom he still stays in contact. I realize that it will be no small task in picking up where he leaves off but I know that he’ll be around for questions and advice, if needed."
Pete Pearce, secretary and treasurer for the board of directors, will replace Brittain as chairman of the board.
"It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of someone who played such an important role in golf along the Grand Strand since he founded The Myrtle Beach National Company," said Pearce. "I am privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him over these years as secretary/treasurer of the board and have enjoyed a wonderful relationship both personal and business. It will be a challenge to keep the company moving forward without him, but I’m sure we will succeed thanks to the course he has set for us."
About The Myrtle Beach National Company
The Myrtle Beach National Company has evolved into one of the leading golf course owner and management operations in the Southeast, featuring many of the most well respected signature courses along the Grand Strand. The company formed in 1971 with the construction of the Arnold Palmer-designed original 54-hole golf complex, which includes the West Course, SouthCreek (both designed by Francis Duane and Arnold Palmer) and King’s North, also an Arnold Palmer design that has achieved national acclaim. The Myrtle Beach National Company has grown to include the Robert Trent Jones designed Waterway Hills, Jack Nicklaus’s Long Bay Club, Tom Jackson’s River Club and Aberdeen Country Club, Dan Maple’s Willbrook Plantation and Willard Byrd’s Litchfield Country Club, all premier Myrtle Beach area signature courses. For more information about Myrtle Beach National Company, visit www.mbn.com.
Contact:
Erin Barrett or Cheryl Harden
Brandon Advertising
(843) 916-2000
