There is another incredible golf story underway and it is unique.

This one takes root in Swansea.

Cathy Hills, a former University of South Carolina and high school golf coach at several area programs over the last couple of decades, had an incredible idea to start a girls’ team.

She fielded the Swansea girls team by starting it through boys golf. Boys play in the spring season and girls play in the fall. Under SC High School League rules, girls are allowed to play on the boys teams unless there’s no dedicated girls’ team. So she utilized this to build a girls team.

“My first year, I advertised around the schools for any male or female interested in playing golf with no experience necessary,” she said. “I ended up with 4 boys (3 of whom had played previous years) and 1 7th grade girl, whose dad played, but she had no real experience.”

Hill is an amateur golf champion herself, having earned medalist honors and won the Myrtis Rigobini trophy for the Women’s SC Golf Association State Am in 1996 in addition to playing for the Gamecocks from 1986-1990.

“(Covid-19) slowed us down a bit, but for the 2021 boys spring golf team, I had 7 boys and 6 girls. My top 6 consisted of 3 boys and 3 girls. I went to our (athletics director Chris Register) and asked if we could start a girl’s team and thankfully, they were able to give us a small budget. I now have 8 girls on the team on our 1st Swansea golf team.”

Our community has had numerous individuals with incredible passion for our game that are not necessarily golf industry professionals, but have had an influence on youth golf growth.

This, in my opinion, is the great “difference maker.”

Here are a few names that don’t want to be mentioned, but I know for a fact, have made it very possible for numerous people to get into golf. Charlie Roundtree comes to mind, as does Fred Johnston, Lou Miller, Jim Bowers, Kirk Morgan, Bob McClam, Greg Wych, Carol French, Phil Canders, Keith Wright, Larry Bosewell, BJ Belville, John Cantey and plenty more unlisted. Coach Hill reveals much with these next few sentences about our community secret recipe for seating golf talent;

“I do want to add that finding players in a very rural area like Gaston/Swansea can be challenging as most don’t really have access to golf courses, which can be quite expensive,” she said. “Having junior programs that hold golf clinics at courses in these rural areas is a big help to golf programs at these schools as it generates interest and gives the kids some foundations for myself and other coaches to build on. I have also relied on the SC Junior Golf Association to help me get clubs for several of my beginner players who had no equipment.”

- Daniel Coyle wrote a book called the Talent Code that is so intriguing. Coyle talks about the origin and recipe for greatness and the influence of culture.

Dustin Johnson has been ranked number 1 in the world or in the Top 3 for years and grew up here. Most recently, Jensen Castle won the US Womens Golf Amateur.

There are numerous other stories that for our population and economic statistics, the Midlands should not be even a mention. However, a heart with passion can be amazing and the Swansea golf program will be fun to watch.

One last thing, Each of the local recreation commissions will offer fall family and junior golf programming. What’s unique about these programs is that the entire family learns together in a “Learn through play” setting. Visit the local websites:

http://richlandcountyrecreation.com/fall-golf-programs-at-linrick-golf-course/

https://sports.bluesombrero.com .