Burning Ridge Joins Indian Wells as the Second Classic Golf Group Course to be Honored in Three Years
July 27, 2006, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Burning Ridge Golf Club was named as the "2006 Myrtle Beach Golf Course of the Year" by the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association (MBAGCOA). With the honor, Burning Ridge becomes the second Classic Golf Group property to win the "Course of the Year" award in the last three years (Indian Wells, 2004).
Burning Ridge is now eligible for the state and national "Golf Course of the Year" awards to be announced in August and in the fall, respectively.
For "Golf Course of the Year," the MBAGCOA judged and evaluated area courses on golf course quality, quality of ownership and management, contributions to the community and contributions to the growth of the game and selected Burning Ridge for its strength in each of these areas. The course’s contributions to the Grand Strand community included hosting the Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ annual fundraiser, working with the Myrtle Beach and Conway Chambers of Commerce and offering special membership opportunities to members of the Grand Strand retirement community.
Burning Ridge has contributed to the growth of the game by offering junior golf programs as well as featuring a year-round "Kids Play Free" program. Burning Ridge also provided internships for students enrolled in Horry Georgetown Technical College’s Turf Grass Management program and San Diego Golf Academy’s Golf Management program. The Burning Ridge staff is encouraged to participate in professional and community organizations and is provided with continuous education including golf professional training courses.
"I am very proud of our Burning Ridge employees and to be recognized for all the hard work makes it all worthwhile," said Rick Taylor, Burning Ridge general manager. "We set a high bar at Burning Ridge Golf Club and are prepared to exceed it in the future."
"We are honored to have been selected as the ‘2006 Myrtle Beach Golf Course of the Year’," said Tommy Smothers, general manager of Classic Golf Group. "This is a compliment to the hard work of the Burning Ridge staff to be selected as the top course in the area. The Classic Golf Group ownership and management believe in focusing on the details that are important to the public. We want to help grow the game of golf and the community and not just our revenues."
"Burning Ridge is the epitome of what we consider a worthy ‘Golf Course of the Year’ candidate," said George Hilliard, Executive Director of the MBAGCOA. "They met and exceeded all of the criteria that we designate for the award and will represent the Myrtle Beach area well at the state and national levels."
The National Golf Course Owners Association implemented the award in 1996 and the MBAGCOA has since nominated courses from the Myrtle Beach area. Past recipients of the regional award include TPC of Myrtle Beach (2005), Indian Wells Golf Club (2004), World Tour Golf Links (2003), Wild Wing Plantation (2002), Blackmoor (2001), Tradition Golf Club (2000), Bay Tree Golf Plantation (1999), Arrowhead Country Club (1998) and Myrtle Beach National’s King’s North (1996). Five of the Myrtle Beach regional winners also captured the state award; TPC, Wild Wing, Tradition, Arrowhead and King’s North. World Tour was named as the national Golf Course of the Year and is the only Grand Strand to achieve that honor to date.
About Classic Golf Group
The Classic Golf Group is an established golf management company that provides operational and management services for a wide range of courses. The Classic Golf Group creates an exceptional golf experience on quality courses for a competitive price as a result of their commitment to the game, the product and to the customer. Currently, Classic Golf Group manages the five Grand Strand area golf courses including Burning Ridge, Indian Wells, Black Bear, Crown Park and the new Founders Club at Pawleys Island scheduled to open in 2007. For additional information about The Classic Golf Group, call 1-800-TEE-OFFS or (843) 293-8008 or visit www.ClassicGolfGroup.com.
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