Golf rounds played along Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand increased by 9.1 percent in October 2003 compared to the same month last year, according to Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, a non-profit marketing association comprised of 77 accommodations and 95 golf courses. ...

Insignia Trading appoints John Dougherty as the South Carolina and Georgia sales representative for their branded and private label wrap grips, graphite shafts, travel covers and golf bags. ...

BEN HOGAN, a brand of The Top-Flite Golf Company, and Bettinardi Golf renew their agreement to continue production of BEN HOGAN by Bettinardi putters. ...

Arvida, a developer of master-planned residential and resort communities, announces that Camp Creek Golf Club in Panama City Beach, Fla., will host an upcoming charity tournament benefiting the Holiday Charities of the South Walton County Fire District on Sunday, November 23. ...

"Beat The Bogey Man," a new series of four audio compact discs, promises to not only improve your score, but also your swing rhythm, putting stoke and ability to deal with adversity in your game and life. The series was created and recorded by Dr. Travis Fox. ...

Golden Sprinkler Awards were presented at the 8th Annual Golf Symposium to Cape Cod Country Club in North Falmouth, Mass., and Waverly Oaks Golf Club in Plymouth, Mass. ...

United Turf Industries - developer of SofTrak Putting Greens, the high-performance synthetic turf that closely simulates the look and feel of natural turf for residential and commercial use - announces financing of SofTrak greens is now available to avid golf consumers through Lamar Bank & Trust Company of Missouri. ...

Southeastern Golf Association releases its 2004 Competitions Schedule on the SGA Web site, www.southeasternga.com. ...

The Wake Forest women's golf team adds Laura Crawford of Lancaster, S.C., to its roster for the 2004-05 season. ...

Katherine Roberts will host a two-hour Yoga for Golfers workshop December 6 in Scottsdale, Ariz. A fee of $75 includes a three-pack of Yoga For Golfers DVDs.

Casual Friday has never walked the hallowed links of Scotland or Ireland. "Maybe one day ... " is a constant refrain.

The closest Casual Friday has come to playing true links-style golf has been at Bandon Dunes and The Ocean Course, venues that take your breath and then make you curse their existence.

Last week, some of the world's finest professionals - OK, that might be a stretch given that India's Digvijay Singh and Gaurav Ghei were ranked 1,118th and 1,161st, respectively, in the world - gathered for the 50th World Cup at Kiawah Island, S.C., and The Ocean Course. And while Casual Friday is not a masochist, there was some devilish delight when the field scoring average for Friday's second round hovered around 75, three shots over par, in the foursome, alternate shot, format.

The Ocean Course has now played host to a Ryder Cup, a USB Warburg Cup and two World Cups, each event drawing respectful praise from the participants. The question must now be asked: Why not a major?

How ideal would it be for the PGA Championship to be held at The Ocean Course. The PGA of America obviously deemed the course worthy of hosting the 1991 Ryder Cup, so why not take its second biggest event?

Next year, the PGA Championship will be held at Whistling Straits, another Pete Dye design that sits hard against the Lake Michigan on the sparse Wisconsin coastline. The issues of accessibility by and housing for the fans appears to be suitably answered. So what would make Kiawah any different? Well, maybe galleries of 150,000 would not be able to roam the fairways for the week, but ticket sales seem to be a small percentage of the revenue pie these days. And besides, does it always have to be about the money?

The Ocean Course continues to impress 13 years after its debut. It quietly has earned a reputation as one of this country's top venues. Maybe it doesn't have the pedigree of a Merion or Pebble Beach or Shinnecock, but it never disappoints.

If officials of Kiawah Island Golf Resort ever want to host a major or another Cup, then who can deny them? The answer: No one.

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www.kiawahresort.com

Known mostly for The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island Golf Resort also boasts four other championship courses. Located just south ofCharleston, S.C., this getaway is understated and underrated compared to some of the more recognizable resort locales.