We look forward to hosting the 58th South Carolina Open from Monday, July 20th through Thursday, July 23rd. We last hosted this event in June of 1997. The field will be comprised of Professionals from North and South Carolina as well as top ranked amateurs from each state. We once again need your help. Volunteer positions will be morning and afternoon shifts. Once the starting field size is determined, we will then be able to designate shift assignments. Ball spotting, scoreboard, transportation, practice facilities, and scoring are most of the areas that Members may assist with for this event. Please call Mark in the Golf Shop to volunteer for the South Carolina Open.

The PGA of America has a new event for which we will host a local qualifier on Saturday, June 13th. The McGladrey Team Championship is a three person, net better ball event with amateurs receiving 75% of their handicap. We must have a minimum of seven (7) teams to send a team to the sectional qualifier in early August. The winning team from our local qualifier will advance to a sectional qualifier at Kiawah Island. The entry fee for the local qualifier is $80.00 per person. The entry fee for the sectional qualifier is $100.00 per player. Each person would be responsible for all of their travel expenses to sectional and national qualifiers. Members are responsible for forming their own team.

We would like to encourage your participation in our upcoming Club events. Your support of these events is critical to the success of our golf program. The Men's Member-Guest is scheduled for May 15-17. The golf course will be open to participants only from Friday, May 15 at 3:30pm until Sunday, May 17 at 3:00pm. We also encourage ALL members to sign up for the Members' One Day Championship on Saturday, May 23rd. The format for this event is Individual Gross and Net. You may arrange your own foursome or sign up and the Golf Staff will assign you a group. The entry fee is $10.00 per person. We will also have an 18-Hole Mixer on Sunday, May 24th beginning at 1:00pm with a Mexican themed dinner to follow. Please call the Golf Shop to sign up for the Mixer and call the Grille staff to sign up for dinner.

This month begins an active tournament program. Please check the golf calendar for member events and member-sponsored outings. The Member-Member will be contested the weekend of April 25th and 26th. This will be a two person team event with full handicap. The format is net better ball each day with a cookout at the conclusion of play on Sunday. The Men’s Member-Guest will be contested Friday, May 15th- Sunday, May 17th using the 9 Hole match around format. Changes for this year are that all players will play with 75% of their USGA Index and we will not incorporate a handicap differential between players. Please call Mark in the Golf Shop if you have any questions concerning the upcoming golf events.

We are excited about the upcoming golf season! The 2009 Tournament Schedule is complete, with many events that you have requested. Please put all of these dates on your calendar. The golf course is being prepared for the spring and summer months. Aeration of greens and fairways will be complete by early March. We appreciate your patience during this time of maintenance.

We hope you have “braved” the cold weather! We know that warmer temperatures will be arriving soon. The 2009 Tournament Schedule through August is attached for your information. There are numerous date changes to existing events and exciting new events that you have requested. Please take time to review this schedule and make plans to participate. YOUR participation is the key to the success of ALL events. The tournaments for September through December will be finalized when the Clemson football schedule is released.

We wish you a Happy New Year! The golf staff sincerely extends its appreciation for your support of the golf events and related activities. We look forward to a magnificent golf season in 2009 which will include new events specifically designed to increase member participation, along with several date changes. The tournament schedule will be finalized in January and we will have all dates published in the February issue of the newsletter.

The Bogey Bar and Grille will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  We will reopen Friday, December 26th @ 8:00. Please Call for Reservations as we are booking heavily during the holidays.