GOLF

As the PGA Tour closes its 2019 season, the optimal Carolinas golf season is just opening up. That’s right. Fall is the premier time of the year to play and here’s why:

1) The golf courses are in the best condition of the year. We have got lush green grass from a season of rain and our mowing practices are refined. We had optimal grass growing conditions this year so the green superintendence have beautiful “Bermuda grass canvas” in which to express them.

2) Due to football season excitement, gameday Saturdays in the fall leave the golf courses with much open space. So, the first tip is to take full advantage.

Fall football allowed me to experience my first 36-hole golf day. I went to the golf course for an 8:30 am tee time with my buddy, Terry Chappell, and his dad, Bill. When we finished our first 18 holes, we had so much fun, Terry and I wanted to play more.

The golf course was wide open, so we got golf carts for the second 18. With this, a golf seed was planted. I have loved football season in a unique way since September 1979.

There’s still enough daylight to easily play 9 holes after work on weekdays if you can get to the golf course by 6 pm. There is still 3 weeks, so make your plans accordingly.

Speaking of time, there’s a brand new golf entity that is focusing on family golf and fun. Grow Golf Now is offering a format where an entire family can enjoy golf in 20, 40 and 60-minute time blocks.

The younger the children, the shorter the recommended time block. The formats are uniquely accommodating for brand new adult parents, specifically moms, with their new young children. Just as soccer is learned on the actual playing field, as is baseball, along with most other popular sports, now golf can be learned as a family on an actual course that is age and skill level appropriate, and specifically designed for golf development.

For more information, go to www.growgolfnow.com .

LOCAL GOLF NEWS

The Mid Carolina Club hosted the Palmetto Preview Tuesday after Labor Day. Girls teams from all over South Carolina came to Prosperity to compete in this event.

Blythewood won the event with a team total of

304. Lexington finished second with 319, followed by Chapin in 6th place with 357 and River Bluff in 9th with a 401 team total.

Karlee Vardas of Lexington tied for 1st with a 3 under par total of 70. Molly Hardwick of Lexington 4th with a 2 under 71.

Although Hurricane Dorian closed Lexington District 1 schools this past Thursday, both Lexington and River Bluff fared well at the 4th annual Lady Trojan Invitational at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill.

The Lady Wildcats won the shortened tournament with a score of 303, followed by runner-up Dorman

(325) and the 3rd place Lady Gators (345). Hardwick and Vardas tied for the top individual score at 69 with Maddie Grace Peake in a 3-way tie for 3rd place at

75.

On Monday, River Bluff defeated Camden and A.C. Flora in a 9-hole tri-match on the Donald Ross-designed course at Camden Country Club. Lauren Oh was the overall medalist with a score of 39.