MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (July 23, 2025) – The Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame will welcome two influential figures into its prestigious ranks when Dr. Bruce Martin and Arthur L. “Max” Morgan Jr. are enshrined during a ceremony at the historic Pine Lakes Country Club on September 24.
Created in 2008, the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made an indelible mark on the Grand Strand golf industry. Located at the Pine Lakes Country Club, the Hall of Fame recognizes men and women who have played significant roles in all aspects of the Myrtle Beach area golf industry.
“Dr. Bruce Martin and Max Morgan are among the architects of Myrtle Beach golf’s success,” said Tracy Conner, Executive Director, Myrtle Beach Area Golf Courses Owners Association. “They are both pioneers in golf course agronomy and their contributions behind the scenes ensured that millions of visitors could enjoy world-class playing conditions year-round. Their expertise, leadership and mentorship have helped shape the Grand Strand’s golf identity and their legacies will live on through the countless superintendents, agronomists and courses they influenced.”
Below is more information about the 2025 Inductees:
Dr. Bruce Martin, a longtime plant pathologist with Clemson University, has spent more than three decades as one of Myrtle Beach golf’s greatest allies, helping golf courses thrive through the industry’s turfgrass challenges.
His influence began in 1987, when as a turfgrass instructor at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, he established a diagnostic lab to assist Grand Strand area superintendents. That commitment continued through his 31-year tenure as a professor of plant pathology at Clemson, where he became one of the industry’s foremost authorities on turfgrass disease and nematode management.
From providing critical diagnoses of turfgrass issues to pioneering treatment programs and conducting cutting-edge trials, Dr. Martin’s hands-on approach made him a vital resource for the Myrtle Beach golf community. At one point, his work on a mystery disease affecting courses along the Grand Strand helped avert a catastrophe that could have soured tourism in the region. Dr. Martin’s guidance proved especially valuable as courses transitioned to Ultradwarf Bermudagrasses like Champion, MiniVerde and TifEagle.
In 2005, Dr. Martin was named one of the 10 most influential people in the South Carolina golf industry by the South Carolina Golf Course Ratings Panel. His accolades include the Carolinas GCSA Distinguished Service Award, the Clemson Alumni Award for Distinguished Public Service and the GCSAA’s prestigious Col. John Morley Award in 2014.
Max Morgan has shaped the playing experience for more Myrtle Beach golfers than perhaps anyone else. A six-year Navy veteran, Morgan found his passion for golf while stationed in Pearl Harbor, trading the confines of a nuclear submarine for the open fairways that would define his life’s work. This passion led him to Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) and a career rooted in turf care and leadership.
From his early days as a HGTC student at Pine Lakes Country Club, Morgan worked his way to the top in the years that followed. He held superintendent roles at Eagle Nest, Waterway Hills, Marsh Harbour and Myrtlewood before taking a position at Myrtle Beach National in 1999. In 2003, he took on the responsibility for the nine additional courses under the same ownership. While Founders Group International (FGI) purchased the company, Morgan remained in the same role and currently oversees 21 FGI golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area.
Over the years, Martin delighted countless golfers with consistently well-conditioned courses. Just importantly, he mentored generations of superintendents who followed in his footsteps. He brought technical expertise, calm leadership and a deep understanding of both turf science and golfer expectations.
Respected for treating the course as both a business and a playground, he prioritized playability, weathered hurricanes, floods and ice storms, and always focused on making Myrtle Beach golf enjoyable for both visitors and locals. Above all, Martin took pride in teaching, collaborating and fostering strong relationships between maintenance crews and golf shop staff, ensuring the game he loved would thrive.
The Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame was established in conjunction with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and the reopening of Pine Lakes Country Club in 2009. It now includes a permanent display of inductee plaques in the club’s courtyard, honoring those who have defined Myrtle Beach’s golf legacy.
Click here for a complete list of past inductees.