SANTEE, SOUTH CAROLINA - When does a “truck stop” become a “must stop” for northern golfers looking for quality courses in the cooler months without a whole lot of cold hard cash in their pockets?

Well, when that “truck stop” is this southern town off Exit 98 on Interstate 95 which is tucked away in pencil straight pines and surrounded by South Carolina’s largest lake – Lake Marion – and where three “country club-style courses” and a host of nearby layouts offers players some of the best valued packages in the industry, it becomes a “must stop.”

Golfers have been stopping in Santee for years but in the last three years, especially, the town where Indians first settled 3,000 years ago has become a destination rather than just a pit stop. Golf packages which include rounds with power carts, accommodation and breakfast starting at $47 a day are what lures them but it’s the town’s hospitality that keeps bringing them back.

One visit here tells you why golfers love this community where the local population of less than 800 – in town – is outnumbered by the thousands of players who come here in peak season – early spring and late fall are the prime times. This is a town that rolls out the “green carpet” for golfers and treats them like kings and queens.

The three courses here, Lake Marion, Santee Cooper Resort and Santee National, are the golfer’s kingdoms and while none of them have royal lineage like the great courses of England, Scotland and Ireland, there is a similarity in their landscape. What sets them apart is the price.

Each of the Santee’s three courses offers their own unique thrills – Lake Marion’s wide fairways, challenging greens, water hazards and cleverly set sand traps test every aspect of a player’s game; Santee Cooper’s Resort course is a place golfers can escape the world amid a parkland setting that rivals any national park; Santee National is recognized by Golf Digest as a 3 ½ star rated course and lives up to its reputation with rolling fairways, slick greens and many water hazards thanks to the five lakes that share space with the course.

Word has quickly spread among the golf fraternity and each Santee course now welcomes over 50,000 players a season. Another reason golfers keep coming back to Santee is because the courses keep getting better – Shot Shuler, general manager at Santee Cooper Resorts (1-800-344-6534, www.santeecoopergolf.com) reports his course has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the off season improving his already impressive facility. A similar story is being told at the town’s other fine courses. Just like Shot, they’re all getting better with age it seems.

Golf Santee (1-800-345-7888, www.golfsantee.com), which works with Santee National and the Ballard Pointe waterfront condos, expects the town’s popularity to increase in the coming years thanks to the addition of hundreds of new condo units to go along with the town’s existing 1,200 hotel rooms.

The well appointed two-bedroom golf villas that back onto to the fairways of the Lake Marion course are welcome additions to the community and allow golf foursomes some memorable outings.

While there’s almost always room to squeeze in another foursome in Santee, nearby courses – 17 in all – are more than willing to accommodate the overflow. Each of those fine courses, featuring the likes of the Tom Jackson-designed Wyboo Golf Club, and the Players Course at Wyboo and Royal Oaks, offer their own special thrills and like their Santee cousins are the biggest bargains on the golf globe.

Golfers need something to sustain them between rounds and Santee comes through with a collection of dining and entertainment options ranging from the rustic Lone Star restaurant to the elegant Clark’s Inn and Restaurant which comes wrapped in a dark wood motif and comfy cozy surroundings. Other highly recommended dining spots include Captain’s Kirks – fish and prime rib is the specialty there and Coasters – order the Jack Daniels steak and get ready for the treat of your life. Clark’s offers some down home cooking in an intimate setting while Lone Star is a buffet-style eatery that is made up of four historic buildings from the 1800s and rocks to the sound of Blue Grass and Country music on weekends.

Many of the courses in this area fall into Santee Cooper Country (www.santeecoopercountry.org, 1-800-227-8510) and while they won’t be able to book golf outings for you, they can provide information on other outdoor activities like hiking, boating and fishing.

Here’s what awaits golfers when they reach the first tees at Santee’s courses:

LAKE MARION GOLF COURSE: Stretches to 6,670 yards from the back tees; offers four sets of tee blocks; five of its 18 holes have water hazards; there are 47 sand traps scattered about the golf course; features a well stocked pro shop, putting green, driving range, club rentals, lessons, a snack bar, and plenty of memorable moments.

SANTEE COOPER RESORT COUNTRY CLUB: The serene setting surrounding you at this 6,512-yard beauty will make you forget all your troubles. Tall pines, flowering Craig Myrtle trees and graceful birds that call this course home make it a surreal place to play. The course is first rate and a must play. The resort offers a driving range, well stocked pro shop, putting green and a snack bar.

SANTEE NATIONAL: Five lakes scattered about this course make it a real test and quickly makes you realize why it caught the eye of Golf Digest. Rolling fairways lined with massive oak trees make the National a treat to play and at 6,858 yards, get ready for a real test. Again, the course comes complete with a pro shop, driving range, putting green, golf lessons, club rentals and lots of nice staff. The great thing about the courses in Santee is that they’re all within walking distance of your accommodation and the surprisingly vibrant nightlife. Just a few more reasons why Santee has become a “must stop” for golfers.