GOLF

In the South Carolina Midlands, we have 4 distinctive beautiful seasons.

Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer are extraordinary and there is no better pastime, recreation or sport to highlight this fact than golf.

After attending the football game at Williams-Brice this weekend, there is no question that “golfan” is my new favorite frontier to explore. So get ready for a few simple ideas.

First, even if you don’t play golf, call a local golf course and ask if you can simply come out to walk the golf course to preview nature, the fall season and blend fitness into the experience.

Call the course first because there may be times this is not allowed and be ready to possibly pay a walking or trail fee. Remember that 9 holes is closer to 2 miles and 18 holes is in the range of 4 miles, so there is the exercise feature to embrace.

If walking is not interesting, rent a cart and just ride. The golf course terrain and the natural landscaping, including trees, vegetation, seasonal coloring, mixed with artificial presentation of the Superintendent make for an amazing experience.

Here’s another idea. Take a club (I suggest a 7, 8, or 9 iron) out to the course with a pocket full of golf balls. Start on the 1st hole, then swing away chasing your golf ball down the fairway.

If you run out of golf balls, just walk down the edge of the fairway until you find more.

For the experienced or highly skilled player, using 1 club is a great exercise to improve scale competency. This can actually simplify and accelerate learning. This approach worked out pretty good for Severiano Ballesteros.

In high school girls golf, led by Karlee Vardas and Molly Hardwick, Lexington won its 4th straight Class 5A Lower State title in Florence this past Monday.

Vardas shot a 2-under-par 70 to tie for 2nd in the individual standings, while Hardwick’s 1-under-par 71 tied her for 4th place.

Emily Beiers, Bella Bemagozzi, and Ellie Hardwick were team members contributed to the victory. This victory came on the heels of Lexington‘s 14th region championship won at the Ponderosa Club in Batesburg-Leesville just a few days earlier.

Led by Emily Baker, who finished 7th with a 6-over-par 78, Chapin placed 5th at the Lower State. The event was hosted by River Bluff, which tied for 8th place.

The 3 teams will head to the Mid-Carolina Club in Prosperity for the 2-day Class 5A championship starting Monday. The Lady Wildcats are seeking to 4-peat in Class 5A and claim a state-record 14th championship.

In Class 3A, the Gilbert golf team finished 2nd at the Lower State tournament held at Cheraw State Park. The Lady Indians shot a 346 to finish behind Oceanside Collegiate Academy.

Kennedy Gooding had Gilbert’s lowest score at 73, followed by Meredith Price

(87), Ally Moss (91) and Alexis Hodge (95).

The Class 3A final starts Monday at Hackler Golf Club in Aynor.