Back in November, 2023 I wrote about my first season experiencing coaching a high school team the game I’ve loved for my entire life. Last week, not only did we get the chance to take that experience to the next level, but Chechessee Creek Club (C3) where I’m privileged to be a member in South Carolina chipped in to host our team for a most memorable spring golf trip for our team.
My son, Jack (Head Coach) conceived the idea of a spring golf trip during the school’s spring break period. This practice, typically reserved for college teams (not something I’ve seen in high school before) seemed like a great idea, and of course was an excuse for me to get 3 days of golf at one of my favorite hangouts. There were 8 spots available for team members and 3 coaches and one parent supervised the journey. C3 rolled out the red carpet for us.
We arrived at the club last Wednesday Afternoon for tee times beginning at 1:30 PM. With spectacular weather (all 3 days sunny and 75-80) we challenged the demanding Coore-Crenshaw layout that is ranked as the 12th best course in South Carolina by Golf Magazine and 15th by Golf Digest. The lightning fast and super true greens and subtle playing lines proved a worthy and fun challenge for these young players, each of whom acknowledged the learning experience of playing a golf course that requires considerable thought and planning on every shot and putt. We were also provided access to the wonderful practice facilities and even got to enjoy a late afternoon 4-hole 1-club alternate shot 12-some. We stayed onsite and enjoyed the great food and hospitality the club had to offer.
In addition to having a great time with the kids, I could not have been prouder of my club for offering to provide the courtesy of the course to the kids. Promoting the game’s future and the future members of clubs is an investment in the future of golf which benefits all clubs. The enthusiasm each of these kids now has for golf and for their future in the game was and is contagious and will reap benefits not only for the kids who will be encouraged to strive for excellence on and off the course. The folks at C3 led by GM Bill Kennedy and Director of Golf Jake Luker (pictured) deserve a big “Attaboy” and THANKS for a job well done.
Having been in the coaching role for 2 seasons now, I am acutely aware of the challenges high school and even some college golf teams encounter in finding golf courses to play. In the past 5 years, golf has become more popular and many courses and clubs have more pressure on their tee sheets. I formerly belonged to a club that sadly (and shortsightedly) pushed out the golf teams from a prestigious university presumably for that reason. IMHO, those courses and clubs that are thinking ahead, or as I like to say “staying ahead of the airplane” are welcoming as many teams as they can as an investment in their own future. Just last fall, Fiddlers Elbow CC in New Jersey also hosted our team for a one-day leadership seminar hosted by the club’s owner, Ken Donovan, as did Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey the previous year. I’d also like to acknowledge clubs in our local Philadelphia Region like 1912 Club, Lulu Country Club, Green Valley Country Club and our long time home course, Philadelphia Country Club which recently underwent course renovations.
These clubs recognize the benefit to them, as well as to the kids and the game of golf of investing in the future by hosting tomorrow’s golfers. There’s considerable value in that.
