THE LINKS AT STONO FERRY
Hollywood, SC
First Financial Services Inc. is partnering with Habitat for Humanity in sponsoring a Charity Golf Tournament for players in Charleston and surrounding areas. All proceeds directly benefit the Habitat for Humanity charity organization. In addition to the golf tournament, there will be several awards and prizes, a CTP and LD contest, and a silent auction featuring items donated from local businesses. Come out to Stono Ferry on September 21st to support a great cause. Contact First Financial Services Inc. for additional information on pricing and registration. Sign up prior to September 1st and receive $5 off your registration!
“Golf today, help give a home away”

Date: 9/21/09
Time: 1:30 pm
$85

The PGA announced Thursday that the tournament, the final event of the Nationwide schedule, will be played at the Daniel Island Club beginning with the 2009 event, scheduled for Oct. 22-25. Charleston will host in 2010 and 2011.

The Golf Channel will televise all four rounds live. The tournament will have a $1 million purse, with the winner getting $180,000.

The top 25 players on the Nationwide money list after the season-ending tournament earn a spot on the PGA Tour the following year.

This year’s Nationwide Tour Championship is next week at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

Scenery rules at Osprey Point Golf Club, perhaps the prettiest and most playable of Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s five excellent golf courses.

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Every head professional at every golf course in America has seen it and winced: Golfers playing from the wrong tees. Guys who hit it 180 with their driver playing the back tees where the pros play.

Woe be unto the golfer who says to his playing buddies: “Guys, let’s move up a few tees.” If he’s lucky, only his sanity will be questioned, not his manhood.

It would be funny if it didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the round, or worse, slow down the pace of play.

Jim Kelechi, head pro at Osprey Point, one of five resort courses at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, thought he may have had a solution. When the club was re-building the tees at No. 1, Kelechi decided to add a couple of tee boxes.

The par-4 hole, which normally played 390 yards, now had two sets of tees at 440 and 450. Now, the fairway looked really, really small.

“I was trying to scare them into moving up to where they should be playing,” chuckled Kelechi, whose office overlooks the first tee. “Now, I look out and they’re hitting it in the parking lot, the putting green, the next fairway. You cannot scare the average golfer. He’s playing the blue tees no matter what.”

That’s a blessing and a curse, particularly here at Osprey Point. A blessing because the hacker will get to see way more of this beautiful course than he probably intended. Worse, because he probably won’t be in the mood to enjoy the gorgeous scenery.

On an island awash in some of the best lowcountry scenery anywhere, Osprey is a cut above.

That may be because it was originally built as a members-only course. In any case, Osprey has a large, beautiful clubhouse overlooking a course that has four large, natural lakes and fingers of saltwater marsh, and a whole lot of wood bridges that take you over all the water.

Indeed, every hole but No. 8 has water, though the only real forced carry is on the par-3 11th hole.

It also has that typical, Kiawah Island look of maritime forests made up of live oaks, pines, palmettos and magnolias.

It’ll almost make you forget about your bad golf, with the palms swaying in the breeze and the fish jumping in the creeks.

“It’s a very scenic golf course with a lot of wildlife,” Kelechi said. A lot of alligators and deer. It’s really one of the more enjoyable rounds, just from a scenery standpoint.”

It can be an enjoyable round from a playing standpoint as well. Aside from the few forced carries, Osprey has mostly accommodating landing areas which even wild drivers will like.

That and the lack of forced carries make it popular with the ladies – the course was ranked 9th in Golf for Women’s top-50 courses. Golf Digest gave it a near perfect 4 ½ stars.

By Tim McDonald,
National Golf Editor

Since 1976, Kiawah Island Golf Resort has operated as one of the country’s finest family vacation golf destinations. This 10-mile island is proud to have hosted many tournaments, including its first regional tournament in 1987 – the Carolina Amateur played at Turtle Point. In 1990, the resort was host to its first international event, the PGA Cup, which was also played at Turtle Point. Since then, it has gone on to host some of golf’s greatest tournaments, including the 1991 Ryder Cup Matches.

The 68th Senior PGA Championship View: Photo Gallery

May 2007 ~ Denis Watson of Zimbabwe took advantage of Eduardo Romero’s late mistakes to win the Senior PGA Championship. Watson won his first title in 23 years and became the first international player to win the Senior PGA since Gary Player in 1990. Romero of Argentina had handled The Ocean Course’s famed sand dunes and Atlantic gusts the best of anyone the first three days. He was still ahead by two shots after birdies on the 11th and 12th holes which pushed him to 10 under. Then, aiming at a pin tucked on the back left of the 14th green, his ball plugged while Watson stuck his shot to a dozen feet. Romero had to take an unplayable lie and double bogeyed while Watson drained his birdie putt for a three shot swing en route to an ultimate two-stroke victory.

2005 PGA Club Professional Championship

University of Illinois golf coach, Mike Small, charged from behind on Sunday to win the 38th PGA Club Professional Championship. Small concured the mighty Ocean Course with a 3-under par 69 to finish three shots ahead of runner-up Travis Long.

2003 World Cup

One of the four World Golf Championship events. South Africa duo Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman held their nerve to win the WGC-World Cup at Kiawah Island. They began Sunday’s final round with a massive seven-shot lead and carded a one-over round of 73 to finish four clear on 275. The US team of Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard’s hopes collapsed on No. 13 when their tee shot found water.

Inaugural UBS Warburg Cup

A 40-year-old and above Ryder Cup-format tournament with the U.S. defeating the Rest of the World team. The teams featured captains Palmer and Players and included such stars as: O’Meara, Nicklaus, Irwin, Strange, Floyd, Nelson, Lehman, Watson, Calcavecchia, Torrance, Aoki, Nobilo, Faldo, Woosnam and Langer among others.

1997 World Cup of Golf

In balmy, calm conditions, many sub-par rounds were posted, demonstrating to critics that, with proper setup, the course wasn’t too difficult for a stroke-play tournament. The Irish team of Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley won the team competition while Colin Montgomerie won the individual title.

Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf in 1996

Pitting Annika Sorenstam against Dotti Pepper – it is Shell’s WWG’s highest rated show that featured members of the LPGA.

1991 Ryder Cup View: Photo Gallery

Known as “The War by the Shore”. Called one of the top five tournaments of the decade by Golf World magazine and No. 18 of the most defining moments in the entire history of golf by Golf Digest magazine. For three days, the U.S. and European Ryder Cup Teams waged a memorable duel on the shores of Kiawah Island. After 28 matches and numerous lead changes, the moment to decide which team would secure the Ryder Cup trophy came down to a six-foot putt. Germany’s Bernhard Langer and America’s Hale Irwin approached the final green realizing the importance of their match. Irwin’s approach to the green flew wide right. He then chipped poorly and then putted to within a foot of the hole. Langer conceded Irwin’s bogey putt and followed by hitting his 45-foot birdie putt six-feet past the hole. Langer then struck his par putt that just missed the cup. The match was halved and America reclaimed the Ryder Cup that it has surrendered in 1985. Spain’s Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal continued their brillant pairing of the past with three victories and one halve. Fred Couples and Lanny Wadkins led their team with 3-1 records.

Kiawah Island Club is a private membership available exclusively to Island homeowners. Members enjoy dining, golf and recreation at these spectacular locales:

• The Beach Club invites relaxation with three swimming pools, delightful dining and a secluded stretch of beach.

• The River Course clubhouse features a pro shop, dining and fitness center surrounded by Tom Fazio’s scenic layout.

• The Cassique Clubhouse, reminiscent of an English manor house, enjoys commanding views of Tom Watson’s links-style golf course.

• The Sports Pavilion offers sporting and fitness opportunities, plus cardio, squash, yoga and more.

• Sasanqua Spa, a serene retreat, creates an enhanced mind/body connection to the Kiawah environment.

In a serene landscape of tidal marshes and lush forests, Kiawah Island offers luxury real estate for a vacation home or primary residence, with choices ranging from carefree villas to luxurious oceanfront homes. In this exquisite Lowcountry setting, Kiawah Island Real Estate is the leading residential broker. Visit our website to receive details on our recent releases and featured neighborhoods.

Located just a few miles from historic Charleston, South Carolina, Kiawah combines an unspoiled coastal setting with sophisticated style and a collection of world-renowned golf courses. Here you can play seven legendary golf courses, including Pete Dye’s Ocean Course, host of the 2007 Senior PGA and 2012 PGA Championships.

10 River Course Ln
Kiawah Island, South Carolina 29455
Charleston County
Phone(s): (843) 768-5715