The Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina University Golf Course Review

 The Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina University

Must Play Myrtle Beach Golf 

Finally, I had the chance to play the Hackler Golf Course in the sprawling suburbs of Myrtle Beach recently on a family March break trip. Joey, the golf pro at Hackler, was gracious enough to set up my family and friends a couple of tee times during our stay.

 If you're unfamiliar with the Hackler Golf Course, The Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina University is just a few kilometres inland from downtown Myrtle Beach. Initially designed by Gene Hamm, the course opened in 1968 (love it - the year I was born) as Quail Creek Golf Club. In 2011, Craig Schreiner completed a renovation project, and the course was renamed the Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina University after General James “Jim” Hackler, a longtime benefactor of the university who invented the golf package and was a long-time institution in the Grand Strand golf community. 

I've been following them on Instagram over the years and have always been intrigued by the fact that CCU's PGA Golf Management program is one of only 18 universities accredited by the PGA of America.

We travelled from our little piece of paradise on Topsail Beach, North Carolina, to sunny South Carolina for our tee times. We didn't have time to take in CCU's practice area, but significant changes are coming to the course. Just see the end of my article to see what's up. I can see why students choose CCU for their PGA Golf Management program. Having these types of facilities so close to Coastal Carolina University's campus is a huge plus.

Considering the recent rain in the area, the course was in fantastic condition. The fairways were beautifully green, and with the dormant rough, the course looked terrific for our golf-starved crew.

These were just some of the comments from our group after the round at Hackler:

"Loved the golf carts, which made it easy with the GPS to figure out which club to hit, especially since I had never played here before."

"Playing my own tunes through the Bluetooth-enabled speakers in the cart was awesome."

"The generous fairways made for a great first round of the year."

"The Hackler helped my fear of the dogleg, lol. It had a lot!!!!"

"I loved how the course was tucked away into people's backyards. Not only did you have students drinking beer on their decks, but you crossed a street, and a kid was learning to ride his bike in his driveway."

Since the 2011 renovations, MiniVerde grass has been the putting surface, and all 18 greens were reshaped. These greens are definitely smaller in size, and most include some subtle undulations. Putting was faster than most of our group anticipated, but that was alright; it was just something you had to adjust to. 

 I'm not always a massive fan of dogleg golf holes. Hackler's numerous doglegs grew on me, which had something to do with playing from the bronze tees (Just under 6000 yards). There are four sets of tees, so the course will challenge everyone who plays.

Customer service was excellent, from paying for golf and grabbing a snack for everyone at the restaurant to the marshall and the cart girl, Shauna. Everyone was accommodating and willing to talk and make recommendations while on the golf course. I also got a great chance after the round to chat with the lad at the pro shop, who is in his final year of his PGA Golf Management Course.

The course was in great shape, from tee to green. 

The pro shop at Hackler is unique. It is stocked with all things CCU. If you're looking for a souvenir of your round at Hackler, you'll be hard-pressed not to find something to take home. Of course, I had to get an official CCU divot repair tool and an excellent putter cover-inspired key chain.

Changes Underway at CCU 

The big news for Coastal Carolina University's golf course includes redesigning the 9th hole, changing and improving the practice facilities, and constructing an 18,000-square-foot clubhouse that will serve as a learning facility.

The CCU PGA Academic Learning Center at the Hackler Course sounds like a needed update for a Myrtle Beach gem. Follow their Instagram feed for all the updates.

Hackler offers dynamic pricing for tee times, which is customer-centric. You can book according to your budget and timing. Perfect for all the options available in the Grand Strand area.

Jake Knapp Pro Golfer - The Ottawa Connection - Knapp Time

Before a week ago, most golf fans would have yet to learn who Jake Knapp was; for me, it was after round 3 of the Mexico Open at Vidanta that Jake discussed his Grandfather and his impact on his golf career and life. This guy is the real deal, with a sweet swing and a personality.

He managed to grind out a final round 71 and secured his first victory on the PGA Tour.  Hard to believe he's only played 9 PGA Tour events in his golf career.

Perseverance is one word to describe Jake.

Jake Knapp - Emotional Discussing Late Grandfather

“He was the guy I talked to after every single round. Still, text him after every round.” An emotional Jake Knapp discusses his tattoo with his late grandfather's initials.

Posted by PGA TOUR on Sunday, February 25, 2024

The Ottawa Connection 

Jake Knapp's girlfriend is Makena White from Ottawa, Canada. 

She flew in to see him compete in the final round of the Mexico Open. 

Makena, 26, apparently works as a vascular surgery sales rep for LeMaitre, a medical device company, after graduating from McMaster University in 2019.

Jake Knapp Girlfriend Reaction to Win

From one side of the continent to the other 🇨🇦🇲🇽 Jake Knapp's girlfriend flew from Canada to Mexico for his final round of the Mexico Open at Vidanta.

Posted by PGA TOUR on Sunday, February 25, 2024

Knapp is in contention again this week after carding a second-round 66 to slide into a tie for 6th going into the weekend at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. He's liking the Florida swing so far, having played the first two rounds with World number 2 Rory McIlroy.  

He's obviously loving the support he's getting from his girlfriend's Ottawa family. Sporting "Knapp Time" t-shirts. How can you not route for this player?

“My dad and his buddies came down from Ottawa to watch Jake play,” said White, “and I did not know that these were going to be a thing, and I was looking for them in the crowd on 12, and then I saw a bunch of white T-shirts with beds on them. I couldn’t read it, and I was like, Oh, my, gosh, those are Knapp Time T-shirts, and so, that was them … pretty great.”