Buddies Travel: Myrtle Beach

The Inside Story

The Bernard Porter Open

"I used to come to Myrtle Beach with two friends, and it was lonely," says golfer Juan Aponte. "It's so much better on a big buddies trip."

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By Matt Ginella

Photo by James Rexroad

May 2010

Bob Toro is willing to share his story about two decades of coordinating a buddies trip to Myrtle Beach, on one condition: "Please protect the innocent," he says. "More important, protect the guilty."

Fair enough. Toro, who's from the Bronx, says it all started in 1991, when he got a card in the mail from Myrtle Beach. The offer was for four nights and four rounds of golf for less than $200 a person. "So eight of us jumped into cars, and we came down," says Toro. "There was no notion we'd come back [the next year], but we thought the prices were so low, we should be arrested."

Which, for the record, has never happened. When they got home, they mentioned the trip to some friends. The next year they brought 18 guys -- and an annual buddies trip was born.

Their handicaps range from 4 to off the charts, and as a group, they agree that Caledonia is their favorite course. Part of the appeal is its porch overlooking the 18th green. The group gathers there, and "we'll bet a dollar on whether an approach shot will hit the green," says Mel Velez. "We stay there and bet on people we don't even know." They also like Long Bay, Tidewater, all three courses at the Legends complex and the Heritage Club, where a group picture costs $25.

Other lessons they've learned: "We're never going to stay out until 6 a.m. ever again," says Rich Witherspoon. "We'll never come back again during Bike Week," says Velez. There's a high risk of rain in September, so now they come the week before Columbus Day. Velez says they've also discovered condos cost the same as hotels but are much more conducive to the social needs of their crew. "A hotel won't happen again," says Velez.

The group uses historical scores to generate handicaps. Players draw for scramble teams, and $500 goes to the winners. The worst scores earn tennis rackets. On Saturday night, they have an awards dinner, which includes a three-hour open bar. The rookies on the trip have to perform a skit. "And it'd better be funny," says Toro.

Listening to many playful exchanges between Mets and Yankees fans, Witherspoon was quick to point out that the Mets fans have no problem making a buddies trip in October: "They have nothing else to do this time of year."