Living, Working and Writing in Myrtle Beach: Tourist are "at the beach"

     Tourist season has arrived. The restaurants and beaches are full, the economy is booming. It's time for all of the locals to stay on the fringes of the beach.
     Readers of USA Today were asked what golf destination they believe is the best in the world and they chose Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach was one of 20 golf destinations chosen by a blue-ribbon panel. Following Myrtle Beach was Kiawah Island, Pinehurst, Sea Island, Georgia and Naples, Florida.
     The Dunes Club and the Grande Dunes Resort Course are the host for 312 PGA club and teaching professionals from across the country. The top 20 finishers, who will play Sunday through Wednesday, will qualify for the $10 million PGA championship.The Golf Channel will be broadcasting the tournament.
     In other golf news, a dozen professional golf hopefuls have come to the Grand Strand in search of their big break. The 11th season of the Golf Channel's golf skills competition reality series "The Big Break" is being filmed in the Myrtle Beach area for the first time over a couple of weeks this month. "Big Break Myrtle Beach", will be broadcast for 11 consecutive weeks from October 7th thru December 16th and will air Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m.
     Go Browns! Former Coastal Carolina quarterback Tyler Thigpen was signed to a one-year contract with Cleveland. Speaking of the NFL, I was doing a book signing at Harborview last night and met former wide receiver Roger Carr, who played with the Baltimore Colts back in the 70's and 80's. He lives in North Myrtle Beach and is the minister of a Baptist Church on Sea Mountain Highway in Cherry Grove.
     Brunswick County, NC which lies just over the border from Horry County, SC, is the fastest growing county in NC. A new development was just announced this week. The development named "The Charles" will be located near Southport (Bald Head Island, where my book Murder on the Front nine begins) and will have as many as 2250 single-family and multi-family residences. "The Charles" will center around senior residents looking for a continuum of care with out a large, upfront deposit that similar developments often require. Rather residents will buy or rent their homes and select among a menu of on-site medical services that they will pay for individually.
     My new book Cougars at the Beach just went back to my editor for a final look before going to the publisher. Hopefully by July 1st, it will be available. I still haven't decided on my cover, but I will do that this coming week. Thanks to those of you who gave me an opinion.
     My TV interview, during our recent visit, about my book Murder on the Front Nine will be aired on Tuesday July 8th at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Channel 9 in Lancaster.