Carolina baseball and a pineapple martini

A great place to grab a drink and watch some baseball. Photos by Kristyn Winch

Like pretty much every living, breathing human being, I love food. Being able to write about where and what I eat for Visit! is definitely one of the best parts of my job.

For my first food assignment, I went to Greg Norman's Australian Grille at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach. It's a swanky, fine dining restaurant owned by...a pro golfer? 

That's right. The owner and namesake has been golfing professionally since 1976, with 89 professional wins under his belt. He’s earned the nickname The Great White Shark, and his signature four-color shark logo can be seen on gear in his sportswear collection as well as throughout the design concept for the restaurant.

Greg Norman has his own line of fine wines, and the restaurant specializes in upscale cuisine like salmon and steak. My post-grad budget couldn't handle dinner here on a regular basis, but an affordable lunch menu and great happy hour deals are delightful and certainly something I'd come back for again.

I stopped by Greg Norman's during a Sunday afternoon stroll through Barefoot Landing, a shopping, dining and entertainment hot spot in North Myrtle Beach. As my beloved Gamecocks were playing an afternoon game, I took the opportunity to catch the action while sipping on a pineapple martini and enjoying the delectable fried cheese ravioli (a gooey, creamy mozzarella stick-like appetizer). 

During commercial breaks, I admired the restaurant's decor: bright red walls, a mural of an Australian outback scene and gorgeous framed Aboriginal artwork. The large metal panels hanging from the bar, depicting fish and plant life, are stunning, too. 

I finished the last sip of my tropical beverage as the ninth inning came to a close (what a game! Too bad we didn't pull out a win like that on Tuesday) and went on with my day with a brighter spirit and plans to return soon.

For my full story on Greg Norman's Australian Grille, pick up our July issue of Visit! at the end of this month. In the meantime, check out some stories from our current issue over at mbvisit.com now. 

Photos by Kristyn Winch

Monster squirrels and millions of throws

Well, at least I look graceful. This was throw 10 for this target. In my defense, the tee was 85 yards from the basket.

Myrtle Beach is a major golf destination for tourists year-round. But did you know that disc golf was taking off here as well?

For the July issue of Visit!, I'm working on a review of the disc golf course at Tupelo Bay Golf Center. I'm not exactly "athletic," but I expected the sport to be fairly easy.

I was so wrong.  I’m glad the course wasn’t too crowded when I went to play on Friday because I would have provided equal parts comedy and annoyance to fellow disc golfers. My editor came along for the adventure. She was definitely better at disc golf than me, but she was patient with my terrible skills and only laughed at me a few times. 

Disc golf is very similar to ball golf, except players use flying discs (like Frisbees) instead of balls and aim for above-ground chain baskets instead of holes in the green. Like traditional golf, the targets are far away from the area where you tee off — which made the game very difficult for me. I can barely throw a Frisbee ten feet, so getting one to fly 105 yards took a lot of effort. Since the course is Par 3, players should be able to get their discs in the target in three throws. Ha. Not me. It took me a minimum of six throws to sink a shot, sometimes as many as 11.

If you decide to play at Tupelo Bay, be careful where you throw your discs. Some targets are extremely close to wooded areas, and the creatures that call the property home aren’t exactly cute. While at Tupelo Bay, I encountered a small, furry animal that looked like a cross between a squirrel and a raccoon. The first time I saw him, he was perched on top of a trashcan and ready to pounce. On our next run-in, he was attempting to burrow into the green.

Definitely wear proper footwear, too. I played my round of disc golf in sandals and left with grass and sand stuck to the soles of my blistered feet. Plus, my lack of tennis shoes made me think twice before chasing my runaway disc into the bushes. I didn’t want one of those creepy woodland dwellers to bite one of my toes off.

Due to my poor skills, it took about an hour to play nine holes. More experienced players could probably run through the course much faster.

I am living proof that you don't have to be an expert to enjoy a round of disc golf. You just may want to  practice before your next round. 

Want to hear more about my disc golf adventure? Be sure to pick up the July edition of Visit! or check it out here. 

I got the discs in somehow. It wasn't easy.
Photos by Heather Gale

You mean I get to stay here?

Before I took this job, I'd only been to Myrtle Beach three times: once to tour Coastal Carolina University, once on a high school spring break trip and once to interview at Waccamaw Publishers. Moving to the Grand Strand with little knowledge of the area was definitely a leap of faith for me.

I've been here for about two weeks now. While I'm loving the area and my job, I feel like a tourist most of the time. I've gone the wrong way on 501 more than once. I'm incredibly sunburned after my first weekend at the beach (even though I did lather on SPF 50). My eyes still light up when I drive by billboards for Ripley's Aquarium and Medieval Times. I order seafood every chance I get. The fact that Tanger Outlets is minutes away from my office was thrilling news.

Like most children, every time I visited any beach, I never wanted to leave. Now, I don't have to. I'm so excited to be a part of the Waccamaw Publishers team, and I think I can get used to calling Myrtle Beach "home."

My job is seriously awesome. As a writer for Visit!, I get to share my adventures with tourists that come to the beach. On my blog, I'll give you a more personal account of my fun assignments — from chowing down at new restaurants to hitting up popular attractions along the Grand Strand.

I'll give you the inside scoop. Were the oysters really worth $12? Is it going to be crowded at the golf course on a Friday afternoon? Is that exhibit appropriate for your 5-year-old daughter? You know, the hard-hitting questions. But seriously, I'm here for you. See you on the Strand!