Golf

One of the more fascinating animals on the Carolina Coast is the alligator. On hot summer days, you can see them, lying like logs along the rivers, marshes and ponds in Brunswick County.

If the golf course you play has rivers, marshes and ponds, it’s almost a given that there will be gators on it.

I first met Steve Mona when he spoke at the annual meeting of the Carolina Golf Course Superintendents several years ago in Myrtle Beach, S.C. At that time, he was the CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing Steve again. He was in Brunswick County speaking before 15 members of The First Tee from seven chapters in North and South Carolina. This was the annual Summer Leadership Academy at St. James Plantation, an event that has been hosted by The First Tee of Brunswick County for four straight years.

The Ocean Ridge Sunday Couples League played its annual club championship tournament July 19 and July 26. A third day was scheduled for Aug. 2, but stormy weather shortened the day to a nine-hole regular competition at Lion’s Paw.

The July 19 couples event on Panther’s Run consisted of nine holes of alternate shot on the front nine, where both teed off, then selected the best drive and proceeded to alternate shots through the last putt on hole 9. On the back nine, the format was a two-person scramble, with two required drives from each player.

Rivers Edge is open for play.

After struggling with inconsistent greens for several years, the owners and managers of Rivers Edge bit the bullet this summer and closed the course for two months to install new Paspallum grass.

Rivers Edge has long been a local treasure, one of those courses that locals and visitors alike clamor to play. As one visiting friend said to me, “It’s worth the extra money. I love the course!”