While SC Tourism Booming, Golf Lagging

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) _ While low gas prices and a brisk economy are expected to mean another record year for South Carolina’s $18 billion tourism industry, the golf industry is lagging. The Sun News reports that state Parks Recreation and Tourism director Duane Parrish told the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce on Friday that tourism statewide has shown significant growth in recent years. The Myrtle Beach area has more than 100 golf courses. Figures from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce show that there were 3.2 million paid rounds in the area in 2013, down from 3.4 million the previous year. Parrish says there is still a market for golf but South Carolina has to attract its share of business from other states.