2 large Myrtle Beach golf companies merging

Two of the largest golf management companies on South Carolina’s Grand Strand are merging, creating a new company that will own or manage 24 of the 90 golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported (http://bit.ly/mRw2Sc ) that Burroughs & Chapin Golf Management and Myrtle Beach National Company have agreed to combine their golf assets and become equal partners.

No name has been chosen yet for the new company and the merger won’t be completed for several months.

Burroughs & Chapin owns five courses and manages five others. Myrtle Beach National owns 10 courses and manages four others.

Jim Apple with Burroughs & Chapin said the combined company will be able to do more to spread the word about golf along South Carolina’s northeast coast.

Both companies also own hotels and golf package companies, although the merger only involves the golf courses.

“We do some things well and they do some things well and we’ll pick the best practices of both companies,” said Matthew Brittain, the CEO for Myrtle Beach National.

The second-largest golf management company in the area is Signature Golf Group, which manages nine courses.

The newspaper reported that, according to a Golf Inc. magazine study, the new Myrtle Beach company will be the 15th largest nationally and 19th internationally. All 24 courses in the merger are in South Carolina, although Farmstead Golf Links straddles the North Carolina border.

Officials say the new company may expand beyond the Myrtle Beach area.

“It doesn’t have to be limited to Myrtle Beach,” Brittain said. “I think we’re looking for opportunities outside the market.”

Both Brittain and Apple said the merger will help the market because the companies, instead of competing against each other, will be able to market Myrtle Beach as a golfing destination.

Source: www.canadianbusiness.com