The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the 2020 golf calendar around the world and here in Lowcountry, forcing the cancellation or postponement of many events. But with an appearance of normality coming, there will be a lot of golf this year.
The biggest event in Charleston and across the state is the 2021 PGA Championship, which returns to Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort from May 20-23. PGA of America continues to monitor COVID-19 developments and the potential impact for the event. The PGA Championship was previously played on the Ocean Course in 2012 with Rory McIlroy claiming the title.
The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing maintains its traditional place on the PGA Tour calendar and will be played April 15-18 at Harbor Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, the week after the Masters.
A full schedule of golf tournaments will return to the Charleston Municipal Golf Course after the course was closed for much of 2020 because of the pandemic and a major renovation project. The course was reopened to the public on December 9 and an event, the Pais e Filhos Tournament, was held on December 12.
Muni will start the City Four-Ball championship scheduled for March 13-14. Ladies City Amador will be played from 5 to 6 June, Men’s City Amador will be played from 14 to 16 May and Junior Al Esposito will be played from 13 to 4 July.
The planned events at the Charleston Country Club are the Azalea Invitational, March 18-21; Senior Azalea, 21 to 24 September; and Beth Daniel Junior Azalea, from 9 to 12 August.
Snee Farm Country Club will host the Amateur Rice Planters from June 21-24.
The Summerville Country Club will host the Chick Miler Invitational from 28 to 30 May, and the Berkeley Country Club will host the Berkeley Invitational from 27 to 29 August and the Berkeley Senior Invitational from 25 to 26 October.
The South Carolina Golf Association’s 2021 schedule (scgolf.org) includes a 21-22 August visit to the Bulls Bay Golf Club for the SC Mid-Amateur Four-Ball. Other SCGA dates include: May 10-12, SC Mid-Amador, Country Club of Lexington; August 5-8, SC Amador, DeBordieu Club in Georgetown; and October 1-3, South Carolina Mid-Amador, Green Valley Country Club in Greenville.
Women’s SCGAs events include: June 1-3, WSCGA Amador, Columbia Country Club in Blythewood; and August 13-14, South Carolina Women’s Open, Cobblestone Golf Club, Blythewood.
The Carolinas Golf Association schedule (carolinasgolf.org) includes: April 29 to May 3, Carolinas Four-Ball, Camden Country Club; June 16-20, SC Amador Match Play, MT. Vintage in North Augusta; July 8-11, Carolinas Amador, Biltmore Forest, Asheville; and September 13-15, Carolinas Senior, The Reserve Club on Pawleys Island.
The U.S. Golf Association is bringing its U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur to Berkeley Hall in Bluffton from 25-30 September.
Junior Heritage
Jack Turner from Orlando survived a three-player playoff and won the Junior Heritage from the SC Junior Golf Association played at Harbor Town Golf Links in Hilton Head. Turner, PJ Maybank of Cheoboygan, Michigan, and John Daly II (son of PGA Tour star John Daly) of Clearwater, Florida, all completed the regulation in 142. Maybank was eliminated in the first playoff hole. Turner tied the second playoff to win the victory after Daly hit his approach shot over the pitch and missed a 15-foot par attempt. Luke Walmet of Mount Pleasant tied for fifth place at 147.
Adrian Anderson of Murrells Inlet won the women’s title, shooting 75-76-151, finishing a shot better than Buggy Reinke of Rock Hill and Molly Hardwick of Lexington.
Arriving
• February 17: Trident Medical Center Lowcountry Transitions will host its Mental Health Heroes golf tournament on February 17 at Dunes West Golf & River Club. The registration fee is $ 500 per team. Register at mhheroes.com/golf or send an email to [email protected] for more information.
• May 3: East Cooper Habitat Golf Tees to House Keys Golf Club, Charleston National Golf Club, $ 500 per team, $ 150 per player, visit eastcooperhabitat.org/news-events/events.html.
• May 22: Warrior Surf Foundation Charity Golf Classic to benefit veterans, Wescott Golf Club, $ 400 per team, visit warriorsurf.rallyup.com/golftournament.
Aces
Tim Ryan, January 25, Coosaw Creek Country Club, No. 15, 147 yards, iron 6. Witnesses: Bill Cattorini, Randy Nelson, Steve Ferrara.
Jane Verdeck, January 26, Links at Stono Ferry, No. 14, 75 yards, 8-iron. Witnesses: Dianne Taylor, Lynn Rundbaken, Georgiann Kralik.
Michael Wiser, January 28, Charleston Municipal Golf Course, No. 11, 162 yards, 8 iron. Witnesses: Sal Mignano, Rich Cutney.
Paul Kattawar, January 29, Charleston Municipal Golf Course, No. 11, 141 yards, 7 iron. Witnesses: John Mabrey, George Brew, Bob Biester.
Gail ArendsenJanuary 30, Links at Stono Ferry, No. 6, 80 yards, wedge. Witnesses: Karla Abbott, Jim Blake.
Bob Miles, February 2, Bulls Bay Golf Club, No. 7, 125 yards, pitching wedge. Witnesses: Chuck Davis, MO York, Larry Morris.
Greg Varley, February 5, Crowfield Golf Club, No. 8, 105 yards, launch wedge. Witnesses: Gordon Isomura.
Dale Thompson, February 6, Harbor Course-Wild Dunes Resort, No. 3, 144 yards, launch wedge. Witnesses: Lance Mengel, Sid Harrison.
Tyler Martin, February 9, True Blue-Pawleys Island, No. 7, 145 yards, 8-iron. Witnesses: Danny Wanner, Jaime Conner, Greg Savitski.
Danny Taylor, February 9, Charleston Municipal Golf Course, No. 14, 105 yards, wedge. Witnesses: Jonathan Epps, Rick Bolen.
Joy Harris, February 11, Harbor Course-Wild Dunes Resort, No. 13, 115 yards, 5 timbers. Witnesses: Dave Harris, Al Witt, Jack Howard.
A hole-in-one must be reported by the golf course. Send an email to aces to [email protected] and [email protected].