Graduate of the University of South Carolina
Degree - Accounting
has been working in the Myrtle Beach Golf Market since 1969.
Howard McMeekin
Became involved with golf on the Grand Strand in the fall of 1958.
Started playing golf at the age of 9 years old at The Georgetown Country Club.
A nine hole course on Highway 701, North of Georgetown.
Became a member of Winyah High School golf team in 1964, the team played @ Winyah Bay Country Club.
Lettered - three years, Captain - Senior Year. Played in the News and Courier High School Tournament
at Pine Lakes International Country Club, three years.
Was a member of the University of South Carolina Freshman golf team in 1967. Unfortunately,
the NCAA, allowed Freshman playing minor sports, to play on the Varsity teams for the 1968
Spring Season. The Freshman team was dissolved.
He transferred to Coastal Carolina for the fall 1969 season and played the # 2 SPOT.
Coastal Carolina won the Championship for USC REGIONAL CAMPUSES, 1969.
First paid job, was PART TIME STARTER at The Sea Gull Golf Club, the Spring 1969.
Worked for Litchfield Country Club maintenance - summers - 1969 - 1970.
Began career, February 1971, Sea Gull Golf Club, working for Bill McCallister, PGA. He duties were:
Starter, Ranger, Cartman, Inside Assistant and Snack Bar Relief.
Howard returned to the University of South Carolina in January 1973 and finished his degree in
Accounting, August 1973.
In August of 1973, Howard started his quest for membership in the Professional Golf Association
of America.
He was an apprentice PGA Professional @:
Sea Gull Golf Club
Litchfield Country Club
Myrtle Beach National Golf Club
He was employed as an assistant working for Mr. Ed Bullock, PGA at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club
when he was elected to MEMBERSHIP in the
Professional Golf Association of America - 1977.
In the Fall of 1977, Howard was approached by Ellis Howell, PGA, Quail Creek Golf Club. Howard was hired
as Quail Creek's first assistant. He started his new duties, January 1, 1978. On April 1,1979, Ellis Howell
semi-retired, Ellis and Howard became co-head professionals. Howard continued to receive valuable guidance
from Mr. Howell for two additional years. After Twelve years, Mr. Howell stepped down, April 1, 1981.
Howard oversaw Quail Creek's operation with the approval of Quail Creek's original owners through
December 1985.
A golf course leasing group entered the Myrtle Beach Golf Market in the Fall of 1985. Their first
leased golf course was Quail Creek Golf Club.
Howard was promoted to General Manager / Golf Professional by the new leasing group, January 1, 1986.
The Leasing group acquired the lease @ The Indigo Creek Golf Club, Surfside Beach.
Howard, while maintaining his duties @ Quail Creek was promoted to Director of Golf @ Indigo Creek.
He oversaw the transition from the golf course owners / golf course construction company to the
lease holders. He set up the Pro Shop and Snack Bar Staff. As well, he was responsible for setting up
the initial order of merchandise for the Pro Shop.
During his years at Quail Creek, Howard owned and operated the Myrtle Beach Amateur Championship.
He took this tournament from an outing of local members and guest to a Regional Championship. The last
years he operated the Myrtle Beach Amateur he had over 200 participants, from twelve states.
After fourteen years, he left Quail Creek in 1992.
Howard an Authorized Instructor of Homer Kelley's
"The Golfing Machine", started The Golf Factory, a golf
instructional school based on Homer Kelley's book. He was based out of The Driving Range @ Cane Patch,
but also utilized the ranges @ Midway in southern Myrtle Beach and Harbor Lights in Surfside Beach.
He was hired by Brunswick Golf Plantation, Calabash, NC. in March, 1993. On April 1, 1993, he
became Director of Golf Operations.
While at Brunswick Plantation, one of Howard's main duties was the promotion / marketing of the Golf
Course, the Golf Villas Rental Program, the plantation's Real Estate Program as well as the Myrtle
Beach Golf Market in general. Howard worked between 10 - 13 consumer golf shows per year. He guesses he has
had personal contact with hundreds of thousand if not a million golfers in his career, promoting Myrtle
Beach Golf.
After nearly 10 years of service to Brunswick Plantation, he left
in the Fall of 2002.
In 2003, he did consultation work for River Landing Country Club, 40 miles north of Wilmington on I-40.
He was asked to set up a marketing program that would bring outside play to River Landing without
corrupting the private image that they promoting.
Howard currently owns and operates, Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations, a Myrtle Beach golf packaging company,
which he started in 2004.
Howard McMeekin - Golf High Points:
1977 - Gained Membership in the PGA of America
1981 - Qualified for the National PGA Club Professional Championship
1981 - Qualified locally for the US Open - Failed to qualify at the regional level
While at Quail Creek, he started a marketing program with the Sun News, first Pro (good or bad) to
create Afternoon Special Coupons.
While at Quail Creek, initiated the creation (with the owners blessings) of THE FAVORITE FIVE, a group of
courses that was created to allow cross-over replay rounds on these courses.
The FAVORITE FIVE evolved into the first group of Myrtle Beach Golf Courses, each operated by a
different set of owners, that worked together to promote their courses.
This group:
Allowed replay cross-overs.
Marketed their properties in national / local programs.
Created their own Tee-time reservation system.
Since the FAVORITE FIVE had their own reservation system, Howard was instrumental in helping to create the
Grand Strand Tee Time System. He was an original member of the Grand Strand Tee Time System Advisor Board.
1984 - Howard was a founding officer of Myrtle Beach Area Golf Professional
Association, a chapter of the PGA.
2001 - 2003 - Howard was the Vice President of the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course
Owners Association.
Howard McMeekin, PGA, has worked every aspect of the Myrtle Beach Golf Market.
THE GOLF FACTORY
is a golf school taught by
Howard McMeekin
Life Member
PGA of America
based on Homer Kelley's
"The Golfing Machine".
Golf explained by PHYSICS,
GEOMETRY & the WORKINGS of the HUMAN MIND.
Read our FREE E-BOOK here
