Myrtle Beach Hotels saw numbers dip across the board for golf related business in the first quarter of 2008. The months of January, February, and March revealed a significant change in the way the golf business in Myrtle Beach, SC has evolved.

While overall numbers were down, Myrtle Beach Hotels that were leveraged on the internet and targeted for key golf terms, like Myrtle Beach Golf, on the search engines actually saw increases in rounds. At this same time, independent Myrtle Beach Hotels who have not leveraged their website properties, experienced round decreases that neared the point of little or no business.

"We literally are entering the period in Myrtle Beach where we will come to see the haves and the have nots." said Dan Wenzel, Marketing Director for Myrtle-Beach.com, a local advertising firm. "This is consistent with what is happening all across America," Wenzel added. "Myrtle Beach Hotels that have planned and that respond to changing markets are growing, while those that do not focus on systematic change are finding themselves without a customer base. The internet has truly changed the world and we are witnessing it first hand."

Numbers show that companies like the Myrtle Beach National company and Burroughs and Chapin continue to grow in rounds played at their golf courses and room night increases in their Myrtle Beach Hotels and condos, while independent hotels are disappearing from the Myrtle Beach golf market.

While we are not sure if this is because of a lack of interest or a lack of focus, independent Myrtle Beach Hotels will need to investigate whether weekend tourists and weekly Summer business can keep their hotel model in the black. In the 1980's and 1990's, many Myrtle Beach Hotels wisely merged with, partnered with, or simply bought out local golf courses. These same hotels in Myrtle Beach then began agressively marketing specials that independents simply could not offer.

As John Wooten, the famous UCLA coach always said, "Those who fail to plan can plan to fail." It appears that this holds true with Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Hotels and the Myrtle Beach golf vacation business.

The days of economies of scale are not coming, the numbers indicate that they are here for all Oceanfront Myrtle Beach Hotels and that the jury is in on who won and who lost.