There are several wonderful courses in the area.
"I bet there are 20 courses within 20 minutes of Carolina National," says Carter.

There's certainly value. Until the end of April, you can play 27 holes and get a lunch thrown in for $59. Impressive for a Fred Couples Signature Design course that's been rated 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest.

"We've been out of the golf package talk for the past few years," says Carter. "Traditional Golf Properties (which is also involved in golf layouts in Virginia, Maryland and Connecticut) bought this course about a year ago. And they wanted to be a package facility. They're a golf management property and they've taken a hard look at the golf operations.

"If you took this course and moved it 30 minutes south, it'd be $120 to play. You get huge value. (National) matches up with some of the most scenic courses in the area. We have holes that run alongside the marsh and holes that kind of jut out into the wetlands. You can see a sailboat going by while you're on the putting green."

The Audubon-Certified course is divided into three nines: Egret, Heron and Ibis, stretching out to a bit more than 7,000 yards from the tips.

The Canadian market is extremely important to courses in the area. "We're trying to do more to capture more of the Canadian market," says Carter. "It's a perfect course to hit on the way in or out (of Myrtle). A lot of Canadians prefer to drive down and find out they like the courses here so much, they don't even need to (go to Myrtle) if you play us, River's Edge, The Thistle, The Pearl and one of the Ocean Ridge courses.

"This is more for the golfer. If you're looking for the nightlife, this may not be for you. You're not going to get the strip clubs or piano clubs here. If golf is secondary for you, go to Myrtle. But the golf here is great and there are some great restaurants. We get guys who come and play golf, then just go back and play cards."

Although the Traditional Golf Properties are newcomers to the Grand Strand scene they are certainly not new to golf packaging. In fact if you travel I-64 between Richmond and Williamsburg Virginia you are pretty much in the heart of the Traditional Golf Trail which is a group of 7 Traditional properties that you can play and your Stay & Play Package can be set up with one call to 1-800-825-3436 ext 20. They have accommodations to suit just about any taste from your basic Hampton's and Fairfield's to condo style properties and 5 star properties such as Williamsburg Plantation and Lexington Hotel.

You want to talk about some "Hot Deals" check out the Unlimited Golf March Package, $349 gets you 3 nights (based on double occ.) and 4 rounds of golf with lunch and 2 beers daily. It won't be long before they become accustomed to the more northern travelers especially us Canadians that like to stay at least 7 days, although I forgot to ask I am pretty sure that you would be able to extend one of their existing short stay packages. Visit www.traditionalclubs.com and click onto the "Golf Vacations" tab.