I am proud of my country club in Pawleys Island, SC. Although nowhere near the magnitude of what folks in the Ft. Myers, FL, area suffered from Hurricane Ian -- and are still suffering -- the hurricane reconstituted itself after crossing the Sunshine State, caught a ride north on the Gulfstream past Georgia and entered the Palmetto State on September 30, just eight miles south of Pawleys Plantation where my wife and I own a vacation condo and where I love to play fall golf.
With winds gusting to 100 mph and, more significantly, a storm surge of eight feet, our marsh-adjacent golf course -- separated by just 3/4 mile from the Atlantic Ocean -- was strewn with all manner of natural and unnatural debris, such as pieces of boat docks as well as one dock with a still-attached boat that was thrown up onto the dike that serves as tee boxes for the club's two signature par 3s. (see photo below)
The Pawleys Plantation crew, led by superintendent Chris Allen, and some staff borrowed from other courses owned by Founders International, were so quick to start restoration efforts the day after the Friday storm that by Sunday morning, the front nine holes had opened for play and by Monday, all 18 were opened with some creative detours and redirecting of holes to accommodate the impassable cart path across the dike.
I will write about the club's efforts in the October edition of Home On The Course, our mostly monthly newsletter that will include a feature about why you should consider moving up a tee box -- or two -- to give yourself a break. To subscribe for free, click here.
