Three golf courses in this North Carolina resort beach town have flipped ownership, hotel might be added

Sea Trail Investments LLC has acquired the Rees Jones, Willard Byrd, and Dan Maples golf courses and commercial property in Sea Trail, a resort in North Carolina that sits less than an hour from Myrtle Beach, completing a years-long effort to revitalize the development.

According to a news release, Robert Hill and Donald Bean, co-owners of Riptide Builders, and Parker Smith, owner of Golf Trek, are partners in Sea Trail Investments LLC.

Here are five things to know about the recent acquisition.

Sea Trail Investments also owns other properties in Sea Trail

Sea Trail Investments LLC is working to revitalize Sea Trail, developing new residential, commercial, and recreational properties within the community. In March, Sea Trail Investments acquired the Sea Trail Convention Center, which has been dormant for several years, a 15-acre adjacent tract of land, and the Village Activity Center.

With Riptide Builders leading the effort, Sea Trail Investments has made significant improvements to the community, including renovating the Sea Trail Convention Center with state-of-the-art upgrades. The convention center is scheduled to re-open in early December.

Sea Trail Investments has added a new partner

Upon the acquisition of the golf courses, Sea Trail Investments also added a new partner, Sandesh Sharda, and formed a new limited liability company, Sea Trail Golf Resort. Sharda recently purchased the Rivers Edge golf course in Shallotte and is in the process of acquiring The International Club of Myrtle Beach.

The partnership with Sharda encompasses the golf operations, convention center, the future hotel and resort amenity site, and the resort rental program.

New owners have a host of plans to revitalize the Sea Trail Convention Center in Sunset Beach.

Plans for the Sea Trail community include a hotel

The 150-room resort-style hotel will be located on the 15-acre tract of land adjacent to the convention center. Additional plans for the tract include a state-of-the-art driving range featuring top tracer technology, and a practice and entertainment facility.

East Coast Golf Management has been hired to manage the golf courses.
According to the news release, the company, based in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, will manage “all aspects of golf course operations, including food and beverage,” and will be instrumental in managing the convention center. The golf courses’ new owners have provided East Coast with the budget to hire additional personnel and purchase new equipment.

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The golf courses will see significant upgrades

Sea Trail Golf Resort plans to invest millions in updates and improvements to the golf courses and facilities, including a complete renovation of the Jones Byrd Clubhouse. The clubhouse renovations are expected to be completed by March 2024.