1. CENTEX HOMES

Now Merged with Pulte Homes
185 Fairchild Street, Suite 400
Charleston, SC 29402
(843) 740-7270

Centex Homes, based in Dallas, has been building homes, winning awards and breaking new ground for well over half a century.

The company, established in 1950, in the beginning built homes only in Texas. Before long, however, Centex ventured outside the Lone State State, making history by building America’s first master-planned community, Elk Grove Village, near Chicago.

Centex, which now operates in more than 90 U.S. markets in more than half the states in the country, has earned several awards and honors, including being named “Most Admired Big Builder” more than once by BigBuilder magazine and taking a spot on Fortune magazine’s list of “America’s Most Admired Companies.”

In 2009, Centex and Pulte Homes announced a merger that created the nation’s largest home-building company. Pulte Homes is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

In the Myrtle Beach and Georgetown areas, Centex builds homes in Barefoot Resort, Berkshire, Charleston Lakes, Heritage Preserve, Kiskadee, Linksbrook and Wellington.

The company, established in 1950, in the beginning built homes only in Texas. Before long, however, Centex ventured outside the Lone State State, making history by building America’s first master-planned community, Elk Grove Village, near Chicago.

Centex, which now operates in more than 90 U.S. markets in more than half the states in the country, has earned several awards and honors, including being named “Most Admired Big Builder” more than once by BigBuilder magazine and taking a spot on Fortune magazine’s list of “America’s Most Admired Companies.”

In 2009, Centex and Pulte Homes announced a merger that created the nation’s largest home-building company. Pulte Homes is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

In the Charleston area, Centex builds new homes in thriving communities that include Cain Crossing, Cane Bay Plantation, Carolina Bay, Liberty Hall Plantation, McKewn and Shell Ring at St. Thomas Island.

* KB Home, ranked #6 in 2010, is no longer selling homes in the Charleston area.

Now the county seat of Berkeley County, Moncks Corner was settled in large part by French Protestant Huguenots, who came to South Carolina to escape persecution in Europe. Moncks Corner served as one of the area’s main trading posts for planters up and down the Santee River.

The town has been referred to as the “Gateway to Hell Hole Swamp.” Amid the treacherous swamps that pervade the Berkeley County countryside, Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox of the Revolution, and his band of irregulars harassed Lord Cornwallis’ troops, using their innate knowledge of the impassible swamps to evade capture by the British forces. Marion, for whom the Francis Marion National Forest was named, was born near Moncks Corner.

“Now the county seat of Berkeley County, Moncks Corner was settled in large part by French Protestant Huguenots…”

The rich traditions of the area are preserved at the Berkeley Museum, located on the grounds of Stony Landing Plantation. Exhibits depict Marion’s escapades; the indigenous people of the area; Colonial life; the area’s role in the Civil War; and the evolution of the region to modern day. The museum has one of the most complete collections of artifacts in eastern South Carolina.

A favorite activity of residents and locals alike is wandering through the lush gardens and marshes of Cypress Gardens and Old Santee Canal Park. Both offer visitors a glimpse of what the area looked like when Europeans first set foot in the New World.

Moncks Corner’s proximity to Charleston, the Atlantic coast and area marshes and rivers make for an almost unlimited number of recreational options, from hunting and fishing to relaxing on the beach and challenging some of the world’s best golf courses.

While remembering its past, Moncks Corner looks to the future. Today the town has a steadily growing population nearing 6,000, with two state-of-the-art medical facilities to serve the increasing number of people who are calling Moncks Corner home.

Split between three counties, Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester, just north of the city of Charleston, the area was comprised mostly of plantations prior to the Civil War. The area eventually was subdivided into smaller farms, and phosphate mining was popular before North Charleston became a planned industrial community.

The city’s economy received a boost when the Navy yard was established in 1901, and Park Circle was designed as a garden city in 1912 – most of the layout remains today. Local government has worked hard to commercialize the area while retaining a feeling of community throughout its residential neighborhoods.

The third largest city in South Carolina, North Charleston has ranked as the state leader in retail sales for 13 years. The city is home to many commercial businesses as well as a newly opened outlet mall just off Interstate-26. To satisfy your hunger after a busy day of shopping, there are many restaurants from which to choose.

“Institutions of higher learning include Trident Technical College, Charleston Southern University, and Webster University…”

Aside from the extensive recreational activities such as boating, fishing, hunting, tennis and golf, residents also enjoy the 13,500-seat North Charleston Coliseum, which is home to the South Carolina Stingrays of the East Coast Hockey League. Many musical shows and plays are held at the Coliseum and the adjacent Convention Center and Performing Arts Center.

The affordable cost of living in newer neighborhoods as well as in more mature sections of the city is a plus. Playgrounds, schools, day care, fitness centers and jogging/walking trails have been incorporated into the communities, increasing home values and enhancing the quality of life for North Charleston residents.

Institutions of higher learning include Trident Technical College, Charleston Southern University and Webster University, and the College of Charleston, The Citadel and the Medical University of South Carolina are in nearby Charleston.

Health care facilities in North Charleston include Columbia Trident Regional Hospital, which has several satellite locations throughout the tri-county area, as well as Roper-St. Francis Healthcare and the MUSC Hospital.

Many beaches are within easy driving distance of North Charleston including Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island among them.

Visit the city once and you’ll discover that it pulls at your heartstrings like no other place in the country.

Is it the delightful year-round climate? The almost-European feel of its downtown city streets? The overwhelming amount of history lurking behind every corner and down every alley? Charleston is truly one of the most cosmopolitan places around, offering sophisticated dining rivaling that of much larger cities and shopping experiences for even the most jaded consumers.

“In spite of all that Charleston offers, it maintains a small-town charm you’ll cherish for years to come.”

To say that Charleston is steeped in history is much like saying the sun is yellow. Other places have long histories as well, but none is a living museum that grows and changes with the times. Suffice it to say, if you’re a history buff, you will never grow tired of Charleston and the surrounding countryside.

While the city itself has no beaches, it is surrounded by water on three sides – if you’re lost, just continue on and you’ll surely run into a familiar river and get your bearings. The most picturesque spot in Charleston might be The Battery, with its panoramic views of the Ashley and the Cooper, the two rivers that form the peninsula, and the Atlantic Ocean. If you love the sights and sounds of gentle waves lapping against the shore, you can reach some of the best beaches along the Atlantic coast in a matter of minutes. If you revere golf, there is no shortage of challenging courses to conquer. If you enjoy walking, Charleston is full of interesting little parks and side streets filled with art galleries and boutiques.

In spite of all that Charleston offers, it maintains a small-town charm you’ll cherish for years to come. You’ll love morning strolls around Colonial Lake and sunset cocktails at restaurants overlooking the water. You’ll come to appreciate the intricate artwork in the wrought-iron gates and the lovely Charleston single style of architecture, designed to catch the breeze on sultry afternoons.

Most of all, you’ll cherish the many new friends and acquaintances you’ll make when you choose Charleston.

New to the area yet steeped in tradi­tion, Grande Dunes, the 2,200-acre, world-class addition to the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, landscape, is renowned for an Italian ambience that reaches from the panoramic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean to the pristine tranquility west of the Intracoastal Waterway. Estate homes, grandiose villas and extravagant amenities such as the Ocean Club, Tennis & Fitness Center, 130-slip marina and excep­tional restaurants accentuate the pre­vailing allure of Grande Dunes–two phenomenal, 18-hole golf courses.

“You stay here and you don’t have to leave,” proclaims Members Club General Manager Mike Buccerone.

The full-resort amenities differenti­ate Grande Dunes from the 100 other golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area, says Buccerone. People from coast to coast have discovered the unparalleled pleasure of living in Grande Dunes, where golf is a treasured pastime. And worldwide travelers pamper themselves when their golf vacation includes lodging at Grande Dunes’ oceanfront Marriott Resort, Myrtlewood Villas or the Marina Inn and Condominiums.

The public golf course at Grande Dunes opened in 2001. Designed by Roger Rulewich, seven holes of the Resort Course are perched atop a bluff overlook­ing the Intracoastal Waterway and boast picturesque views of the landmark Grande Dunes Bridge and planned Marina Vil­lage’s boutiques. From the Golf Academy’s half-day and three-day golf schools to the Tapas Room lounge, the distinguished Resort Course is an extraordinary expe­rience for golf connoisseurs.

The exclusive Members Course, de­signed by Nick Price and Craig Schreiner, is a private masterpiece within a gat­ed Grande Dunes community. Only 20 to 30 rounds a day are played on the course, according to Buccerone, and that, coupled with the neighboring Lewis Ocean Bay Preserve, combine to make it a remarkable respite.

The Members Course is unique, even in golf-crazy Myrtle Beach, for another reason.

“We promote walking,” Buccerone says. “Every guest has a caddy. We are the only club in Myrtle Beach that features this service. It’s just one way Grande Dunes brings back the heritage of golf.”

By Melissa Newsom



When it opened in 1987, the course was honored as one of the top 100 golf courses in the United States by Golf Digest and, in the 2005-2006 ratings, scored among the top 50 courses in Myrtle Beach. Local golfers have voted the 449-yard, par four 17th the “Best Golf Hole on the Grand Strand.” Golf experts consistently rank DeBordieu as one of the best courses in South Carolina.

A private club, it offers play only to DeBordieu Colony members and their guests. Because it is not open to the public, tee times are never a problem and comfortable four-hour rounds are the norm. So, if you don’t plan on living at DeBordieu Colony, be sure to make friends with someone who does.

Here’s what a recent visiting player from Boston posted on an Internet golf bulletin board about his DeBordieu experience: “I was lucky to be able to play this private course. The clubhouse is what you would expect at a private gated community—large and splendid. But the true beauty is the 18 holes of pure bliss. The course slips and slides through some amazing terrain, and it is a shot-maker’s course. You can enjoy this course at any handicap because of the many tee options. If you get the chance to play it, don’t pass it up. This is a top three course on the Grand Strand, but, because it is private, not many people get the honor of playing this amazing golf course.”

The picturesque layout—Bermuda grass fairways and bentgrass greens— incorporates trees, the surrounding marshes and a man-made lake created from a historic Revolutionary Warera rice field. But don’t be fooled by the beauty of DeBordieu. This lush course can test even a scratch golfer. Constructed in close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, DeBordieu takes advantage of the coastal terrain, and water hazards come into play on virtually every hole. Add in tight, sloping, well-protected greens and the course’s challenges will be immediately evident. Practice facilities at DeBordieu Colony include a 30-tee driving range.

For information on the course, call Shawn Roper at (843) 527-6000. For information on real estate at DeBordieu Colony, call (800) 753- 5987. Those interested in vacation rentals at the Colony should call (800) 797-3633.

Bill Farley

“Ryland Homes offers 40 years of building experience,” says sales counselor Marianne Franzi. “Two hundred twenty-three homes will be built here in the Charleston Lowcountry style, with lofts, as well as 9-foot ceilings and master bedrooms on the first floor. These are unique floor plans.” She went on to explain why monthly homeowner association fees will be low.

“There’s no clubhouse to maintain, so the association fee is lower than in other neighborhoods,” she says. “And the property taxes here also are low.”

The homes will be built to last. The special exterior siding will stand up to wind gusts and be resistant to mold, and the builder uses a cement- based plank board that comes with a 50-year warranty.

The rooms will be large and welllit, and French doors and fireplaces will be available. Hardwood foyers are standard, as are deluxe master bathrooms, which include a tub and shower. Even the pedestal sinks and fixtures will be perfectly matched. The garages will be trimmed out with special hardware, giving them a Southern carriage house feel.

“This is the jewel of the Grand Strand,” Franzi says. “We are surrounded by upscale sites, and our owners can join one of the best golf courses in the area: the Tournament Players Club.”

TPC Golf Pro Andy Edwards echoes her sentiments. “We are one of a handful of courses to achieve a Five Star rating from Golf Digest,” he says. “I would say the course is challenging but fair.”

If golf is not your game, the developer is putting in a 41-acre park that will include two all-weather lighted tennis courts, a swimming pool, nature trails and an open-air covered picnic pavilion.

“No one will have anything of this magnitude. We will have observation decks, nature trails, a covered picnic area with fireplaces, picnic tables and oyster roasting tables,” Franzi says. “The park already has an all-natural black cypress pond.”

Ed Kaminski, who is also involved in sales at Creekhaven at Prince Creek, cites the conservation aspect of the development.

“For those wanting even more, Brookgreen Gardens is only minutes away. In fact, the neighborhood is just minutes from both the Intracoastal Waterway and saltwater launching ramps for boating,” he says. “Huntington State Park is nearby, too.”

For more information, call (843) 652-0008 or visit www.StoneGateAtPrinceCreek.com.

Hannah Draegar Ross

The course makes excellent use of the Grand Strand’s marshy topography, with numerous water attractions— and hazards. Its bentgrass greens and lush winter-rye fairways are bordered by dense forests. The rolling terrain features elevation changes of up to 35 feet. Add in narrow, windswept fairways with subtle contours and well-bunkered greens—more than 70 traps in all—and the net result is a truly unique golfing experience.

Test your game at the TPC, and you’ll understand why both Golf Digest and Golf magazine have rated it one of the best public courses in America.

The TPC has a unique “centennial” distinction—it is the 100th course to be constructed in the Myrtle Beach golf universe. As a testament to the course’s excellence, it was selected to host the 2000 Senior PGA Tournament, won by Tom Watson.

Despite the praise that has been heaped upon it, the Prince Creek Tournament Players Club is by no means stuffy or arrogant. In fact, it is a winner of the “Friendliest Course in Myrtle Beach” award and the First Annual Hospitality and Customer Service Award from MyrtleBeachGolf.com.

Prince Creek offers exceptional practice facilities, featuring 80,000 square feet of teeing area as well as target greens, putting greens and a separate area set up for perfecting that all-important short game. The practice facilities are open to the general public. Here’s how Golfer’s Guide describes the TPC golfing experience: “The TPC embodies more than just a test of golf. … it weaves a challenge through a visually pleasing maze of natural beauty. The course features 35 feet of elevation change with traditional Southern water features and wetlands throughout the property, and towering pine trees frame many holes, making for a serene setting.”

Additional information is available through the pro shop at (843) 557-3399. Reservations and tee times can also be secured on the Tournament Players Club Web site at www.TPC.com/daily/myrtle_ beach/index.html

There’s no doubt that Sea Pines Plantation offers a respite from the hurly-burly of everyday life. For golfers, its 54 holes, scattered among exceptional Lowcountry landscapes, are the answer to a prayer. Long-suffering golf widows and other family members have had their prayers answered, as well—there’s so much to do at Sea Pines, they’ll hardly miss the golf addicts.

Situated at the southern tip of Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines Resort is a regular stop on the PGA tour, hosting the Verizon Heritage Golf Tournament. Nevertheless, the mix of play is challenging for skilled and casual weekend golfers alike. The Harbour Town Golf Links, ranked as the number one course in South Carolina by Golf Magazine, Golf Digest and Golf Week, combines spectacular views (the 18th green overlooks Calibogue Sound and the lighthouse) with a demanding layout that “sometimes offers an ego-humbling experience.” Designed by Pete Dye, in consultation with Jack Nicklaus, Harbour Town is reminiscent of Scottish courses of old. Measuring 6,973 yards from the Heritage tees, the par-71 course is deceptively short by today’s standards.

The Ocean Course, the first golf course on Hilton Head Island, was built in 1962 and redesigned by Mark McCumber in 1995. Intertwining bunkers and lagoons are prevalent on the front nine, while fairways widen a bit and large greens undulate in resort fashion on the back. Towering pines and moss-draped oaks set the scene for No. 15—the signature hole—offering spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. The 210-yard, par 3 requires a long uphill shot to reach a green with the beach as its backdrop and an everpresent breeze.

With the plethora of golf courses that cover the Lowcountry, why choose Sea Pines? Golf Director Cary Corbitt summed it up this way: “Harbor Town is our flagship course. But we have three courses—one’s being reconstructed right now—and a choice of off-course activities, such as 17 miles of bike trails. Our real appeal, apart from superb course conditions, is variety in golfing and other activities. Come play our courses. I promise you won’t be sorry.”

For more information about golf courses at Sea Pines, call (888) 807-6873.

David C. Berry