Sports enthusiasts' heaven.

If you were a sports enthusiast, where would you want to live? A place where the climate was conducive to outdoor activities year-round? A place where you could watch professional indoor football, a prestigious high school basketball tournament, regional wheelchair sports games and some of the best names in golf? Did we mention 120 golf courses in the area? How about a community that didn't just provide facilities for sports, but also helped citizens improve their game with training in conditioning, nutrition, drug-, tobacco- and alcohol-free awareness, and the emotional needs of children? That's what you get in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Sports in Myrtle Beach help to pull together diverse socioeconomic groups for the purpose of achieving a shared goal. The shared goal could be competing together as a team, learning the sport, learning about synergy, learning about fair play or learning the value of teamwork to accomplish a sport goal.

All children and adults in Myrtle Beach have the opportunity to play sports regardless of race, creed, gender, economics status or ability. The recreation department maintains a policy of not cutting players and providing an opportunity for meaningful play for all children. Every effort is made to provide financial assistance to Myrtle Beach residents unable to afford participating in sports, including obtaining the appropriate equipment. In fact, the community recently completed construction of the Grand Strand Miracle League Field, a specially surfaced baseball diamond that offers accessible recreational opportunities for children with physical and mental challenges, enabling them to participate as team members in an organized baseball league. The community also hosted the 12th Annual Myrtle Beach Senior Games for adults over 50 to enjoy the excitement and competition of Olympic events. Anyone and everyone enjoys sports in Myrtle Beach.

Citizens in Myrtle Beach are exposed to a wide variety of youth and adult sports experiences. The top three priorities for improving quality sports in Myrtle Beach are exposing youth and adults to many different learning situations to increase the potential for knowledge and skill development while having fun and getting fit; providing safe aim suitable sports facilities, equipment and training for athletes; and providing residents with an environment that encourages participation in a variety of sports over a lifetime.

Myrtle Beach supports quality spurts at an early age. "Parents are key," says Jimmie Walters, CPRP, director of the Myrtle Beach Cultural and Leisure Services Department. "Parents need to demonstrate the positive benefit of youth sports experiences by attending games, practice and team social events." Sports leagues provide tips for parents to help their kids develop a good foundation and appreciation for sports. What's more, the recreation division has a number of programs to introduce sports to beginners. A Home Bun Derby, Hot Shot/Basketball Competition, Pitch, Hit, and Run Baseball, Hook a Kid on Golf clinics and other events to excite and encourage people to make sports a regular part of their life.

You can't walk down the street in Myrtle Beach without seeing the appreciation its residents have for sports. Golf is everywhere. It not only keeps residents fit and having fun, but also brings in an enormous about of money through tourism and jobs, as does surfing, swimming, fishing and ocean sports. It's hard to find a person in the community that hasn't benefited either physically, emotionally or economically from sports. That's what a sportstown is all about.