Ocean State Golf

The last time I flew to Myrtle Beach it took me eight hours, and when I got there my golf bag, and the rest of my luggage, didn’t. I have driven there the last eight times I’ve gone 13-16 hours depending on traffic, but I always have my clubs and I can distribute a few hundred copies of Ocean State Golf in the Myrtle Beach area.

Things have now changed. In March Direct Air, the airline that features non-stop flights at low costs to featured destinations, started flying directly from Worcester, Mass. to Myrtle Beach. “We see the New England golf market as a prime target for golfing in Myrtle Beach, and we can get the people there in less time than it takes to play nine holes,” said Ed Warneck, President of Direct Air in Myrtle Beach about the one hour and forty-five minute direct flight.

Currently (now through September 6) there are only a two flights per week from Worcester. One leaves at 3:15 p.m. on Thursdays and returns back to Worcester at 7:15 p.m. on Sundays. That same plane returns back to Myrtle Beach at 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Starting on September 7 and continuing through November 16 the flights from Worcester leave either Thursdays or Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and flights are returning to Worcester at 9:45 a.m. on both Thursdays and Sundays. There are no scheduled flights from November 17 through April 10, but that is subject to change.

“After September 6 we see golfers heading to Myrtle Beach on Thursday morning, playing 18 holes that afternoon, playing 36 holes on Friday and maybe even 36 on Saturday and return home in time to watch the Red Sox or Patriots on Sunday afternoon,” said Marshall Ellison, marketing director for Direct Air.

Myrtle Beach is truly the Golf Capital of the World with over 100 courses. There are 60 miles of pristine beaches; so a trip south for warm ocean swims when the weather cools in New England is less than two hours away. The Myrtle Beach area has over 1,500 restaurants and nightlife activities and over 1,000 hotels and lodging facilities.

I can’t decide if the best thing about the Direct Air flights is the short flight time or the extremely low price. Go to www.visitdirectair.com to see the prices. They start at either $79 or $99 each way depending on the flight you choose. Sure cheaper than the eight hour flights! Their website also has specials for lodging and car rentals.

Direct Air also flies to Orlando-Sanford and Ft. Myers/Punta Gorda from Worcester.

I’ve never flown from Worcester Airport, but I know it only takes 45 minutes to get to Worcester straight up Route 146 from Providence. I spoke to Richard Walsh, official spokesperson for Massport who manages the Worcester Airport for the city of Worcester. “Worcester Airport is a modern airport with easy access in and out, in fact Direct Air is the only commercial service with scheduled flights, although there are many private flights and charters,” said Walsh who added that the overnight parking fee at the airport is only $7 per day.

Directions to the airport from Rhode Island are Route 146N to Route 290N to Route 9N. There are signs leading you to the airport and it is less than an hour from Providence and less than 1.5 hours from anywhere in Rhode Island, eastern Connecticut or southeastern Massachusetts. Sure going to make those treks to Myrtle Beach a lot easier– and a lot less expensive.