Beyond Golf

By Pete Finch

Illustrations by Mark Matcho

May 2010

According to Becky Billingsley, editor of the Myrtle Beach Restaurant News blog myrtlebeachrestaurantnews.com

HIGH-END
New York Prime (Myrtle Beach): "This is the place for blow-it-out, no-expense-spared pampering. [The eight-ounce barrel-cut petite flet is $33, a la carte.] There is no dress code, though people generally dress well here."

MIDDLE
Angelo's Steak & Pasta (Myrtle Beach): "Angelo's celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. It's a crowd-pleasing kind of restaurant, starting with those sizzling steaks served on cast-iron platters." A 10- ounce rib-eye goes for $21.

BUDGET
Big Daddy's Roadhouse Grill (Myrtle Beach): "From the outside, this looks like a chain, but it's owned and operated by a local family that puts a premium on friendliness." Here you can get a 10-ounce sirloin for $13.

According to customer ratings on tripadvisor.com

1. DUNES VILLAGE RESORT (Myrtle Beach): "The rooms are spacious and clean... The most comfortable hotel bed I have ever had."
dunesvillage.com

2. MARINA INN AT GRANDE DUNES (Myrtle Beach) "Far exceeded our expectations, from beautiful grounds and friendly service to plush accommodations and an amazing view."
marinainnatgrandedunes.com

3. MARRIOTT'S OCEANWATCH VILLAS AT GRANDE DUNES (Myrtle Beach): "You can't find a better location." Surrounded by top courses, it also includes a beach club.
marriott.com

4. ISLAND VIST (Myrtle Beach): "The service is excellent, the staff is friendly, and the fine-dining restaurant is wonderful."
islandvista.com

5. GRAND ATLANTIC OCEAN RESORT (Myrtle Beach): "What really sets this resort apart is the friendly and helpful staff."
grandatlanticresort.com

The Five Best Budget-Friendly, Non-Touristy Restaurants

According to Becky Billingsley of myrtlebeachrestaurantnews.com

1. FAT JACK'S WINGS & THINGS (Surfside Beach): "A locals' hangout since the early 1970s, Fat Jack's has delectable, crispy wings in more than 15 favors."

2. INDO THAI SUSHI HIBACHI (Myrtle Beach): "A beautiful, comfortable restaurant with a vast menu that includes two pages of sushi and many Thai specialties."

3. LONGBEARD'S BAR & GRILL (Myrtle Beach): "A warm, welcoming place that might remind you of a hunting lodge (many stuffed animals line its walls)."

4. THE ORIGINAL MR. FISH (Myrtle Beach): "Owned and operated by a seafood broker, it lives up to its name. This is the place for fresh fish."

5. JIMMYZ ORIGINAL HIBACHI HOUSE (Myrtle Beach): "Quality food at a great price from owner/chef Jimmy Miller, a fixture on the local restaurant scene."

According to Kent Kimes, editor of The Weekly Surge weeklysurge.com

1. HOUSE OF BLUES (North Myrtle Beach): "This is a 2,000-person 'club venue' built to look like it's in New Orleans. Weezer and Willie Nelson were here," Kimes says. "You get your stalwart classic-rock acts plus a surprising number of bands in their prime: the Killers, White Stripes ..."

2. THE BASEMENT (Downtown Myrtle Beach): "Put away your golf visor and change out of your khakis when going here, which literally is in a basement under Crazy J's Bar. This gritty club is the place for touring regional and national punk-rock acts, plus some local originals."

3. HOT FISH CLUB (Murrells Inlet): "This is a really good outside venue even if the weather isn't perfect. It's under giant live-oak trees, overlooking the inlet. It's mainly local and regional acts: soul, R&B, dance

4. SXSE MUSIC FEAST (Myrtle Beach Train Depot): "This is a monthly event. It's a 'feast' because it's a potluck supper, and you get unlimited locally brewed beer. The music is mainly Americana."

5. THE BEACH WAGON (Myrtle Beach): "This place is a true honky-tonk. There's a house band that plays rock and pop along with weekly headliners: people like Shooter Jennings, the Bellamy Brothers, some up-and-coming country artists like James Otto and Emerson Drive."

Classic rock is the soundtrack to most buddies trips. Here's where to find it on your FM dial

103.1: "Sunny WSYN." Leans a bit toward oldies at times, but it still rocks. You're pretty much guaranteed to hear "Born to Be Wild" and "The Boys are Back in Town" at least once a night.

103.7: "The Bone." Hits from the '60, '70s and '80s, plus a regular dose of Zeppelin with "Led for the Head" at 11 nightly. This signal comes from North Carolina, so it gets weaker as you move south.

104.1: "Wave FM." Bills itself as "The Classic Rock Station." Allman Brothers, The Police, Van Halen, Boston, ZZ Top ... you'll know them all.

Note: Need to hear the latest scores? ESPN Radio is at 93.9 FM.

According to Derek Bracey, reviewer for the Weekly Surge (weeklysurge.com)

TOP 5 COMEDIES
1. Blues Brothers
2. The Big Lebowski
3. Old School
4. Wedding Crashers
5. Oceans 11, 12 or 13

TOP 5 DRAMAS
1. The Shawshank Redemption
2. Fight Club
3. Rudy
4. Goodfellas
5. Rounders

TOP 5 ACTION MOVIES
1. Gladiator
2. Braveheart
3. The Bourne series
4. The Die Hard series
5. Pirates of the Caribbean series

TOP 5 MOVIES YOUR BUDDIES MIGHT NOT HAVE SEEN
1. The Prestige. "A great sleight-of-hand film involving three magicians."
2. Southern Comfort. "Guy-bonding on a weekend National Guard trip to Louisiana."
3. 300. "Epic battle of Thermopylaens vs. Persians, circa 480 b.c."
4. Memento. "A twisty murder mystery that unfolds in reverse chronological order."
5. Finding Forrester. "Sean Connery plays a shut-in mentor to an aspiring writer."