General information. Developed by Digital1010, Our site uses cookies. Dwayne McLemore [email protected]. In the words of Jim Nantz, Congaree hosts the third event of the South Carolina swing on the PGA Tour in 2021, alongside Aprils RBC Heritage at Harbour Town and the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in May, with a $7.8 million purse up for grabs for the full 156-player field. A big smile came across his face when he heard the . Then we realized this could be pretty good. I don't know what happened hundreds of millions of years ago right there, but the sea was probably there and left the deposit of sand. This included a lodge, several cottages and a 12-bedroom inn. Dermot Desmond was Congarees first international, ambassador. players have to navigate at the long par-4 8th hole. The Foundations support of the Lowcountry Food Bank has led to 105 drive-thru food distributions and 14 fresh-for-all markets to help local families in need. The Tom Fazio design, which opened in 2017, jumped in at a moments notice. Upon entering, a serene drive under arching live oaks leads you to a village of historic white buildings, some which have existed on the former rice plantation since the 1800s; this includes the Roberts Cottage, where actress Julia Roberts stayed while starring in the 1995 movie Something to Talk About, which was filmed at the Congaree estate. World Golf Hall of Famer Mark OMeara, a two-time major champion, and other former touring pros are among them. On site, students are put through the gauntlet. So many kids go to college and come . 2nd hole (photo courtesy PGA Tour) 4. Congaree is a private course, but, unlike many others, it only has one member (co-founder Dan Friedkin) and around 250 ambassadors. At the turn, a small white shack offers complimentary refreshments, signature meat pies, and every type of snack food or candy you could imagine. The golf club is in the part of South Carolina historically called the low country. They first saw Congaree in 2013 and liked the look of Congarees sand. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Limited rough on the course provides a limited amount of bailout between the fairways, greens and bunkers. And while there is no initiation fee, Congarees ambassadors, as theyre called, are encouraged to not only make a financial contribution to the charitable Congaree Foundation thats separate from the club, but to take an active role in interacting with youth and sharing their life experiences, both good and bad. It took nine straight months of logging pine trees and grinding stumps to clear space for the course, which Fazio routed through oaks up to 300 years old. The Palmetto Championship was staged during South Carolinas wetter season. During the under-the-radar construction process at Congaree, rumors floated around the community: a posh resort was coming to the old plantation or it was a private club that cost $1 million to join. Both Davidson and McNeely choked up with emotion simply recalling those meetings and the response they received. From 1938 to 1991 the property was transferred three more times, ultimately to Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Rutledge Moore. It currently supports programs with the Boys & Girls Clubs, Sergeant Jasper Golf Club in Ridgeland, SC, youth golf instruction at Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School, and the Lowcountry Food Bank. I recently had the opportunity to preview the course and learn the ethos behind its missionhere are five things to know about Congaree. Having two teenage daughters, Lesley has hands on experience with the college admission process. Approximately 30 minutes north of Savannah, Ga., the entrance to Congaree is one of those blink and youll miss it type of roads (and I didmy GPS first led me to a private driveway that a few excitable watchdogs chased me out of) with a subtle brick wall and white wooden gate. Well, Bermudagrass stops growing at that temperature.. Congaree, named best new private course by Golf Digest, isnt just another billionaires playground. I never even thought about that.. There are no members at Congaree golf club, the 3,000-acre property about 30 minutes north of Savannah, Ga. Eleven others went through the program a week earlier. He and his wife Janice have been residents of Houston since 1960. The golf club is located in Ridgeland, SC which absolutely no one has heard of. Its 70 miles from Charleston and 170 miles from Myrtle Beach. Some are in. The initial trip, everybodys mind was just blown. Some ABSOLUTELY arent, Who's playing in the Presidents Cup? We have the opportunity to touch so many more lives and empower the next generation of leaders through a shared passion for the game of golf. There are only two members, the founders. From the very beginning, Congaree was positioned as a philanthropic club. Davidson, a PGA professional from Scotland who has worked with numerous PGA Tour and Champions Tour players over the years, says that prospective ambassadors have to be willing to spend time with the Congaree kids, talking about the importance of education, sharing life experiences and helping them prepare for college and get jobs. [5] It was called the Palmetto Championship at Congaree[6] and took place from June 1013, 2021. Friedkins edict was to find a great piece of land that was accessible from the Eastern seaboard. The club opened with two members its owners and now has one, after McNairs passing in 2018. The fairways arent the only place where the balls will run; the greens are fast, challenging and roll true as a pool table. The biggest, strongest element will be how the ball is bouncing and where it's rolling to, he said. The week on site goes fast, but its the continuation thats key. Ambassadors is a word we chose because the spreading of the word and what we do with our philanthropy here, our ambassadors really truly are ambassadors, Davidson says. . Fazio built a course that can stretch to 7,800 yards but players have the freedom to play from wherever they like. For the best website experience, we recommend updating your browser. They not only promote the club but lend their time and capital. And while there is no initiation fee, Congaree's "ambassadors," as they're called, are encouraged to not only make a financial contribution to the charitable Congaree Foundation that's. club's inaugural Global Golf Initiative program from 2017 are showing how they took advantage of life-changing opportunities. . Many current and prospective ambassadors likely got a similar experience during the week of the Masters Tournament, with helicopters shuttling members and guests into the club from Augusta. If you were doing it purely as a business, then wed all be in this for the wrong reasons. We discussed this and said, `Lets build a club thats different. Were not trying to sell anybody anything, but what we want is a network of people that commit to helping. As the club and its Tom Fazio-designed course in South Carolinas low country have continued to garner accolades including a successful stint as host of the PGA Tours 2021 Palmetto Championship at Congaree billionaire owner Dan Friedkin is most excited about how the charitable vision has taken root. 384 Davant Drive, Ridgeland, SC 29936 (843) 717-3400. From June 10th-13th, 2021 Congaree Golf Club will get more exposure than any time in its history. Widely considered the signature hole, the brutish 540-yard 8th requires optimal distance and accuracy around huge sand washes and intimidates regular players even as a par five; it was diabolically used as a par four during the 2021 Palmetto Championship. Also, it ranks among the top 100 golf courses in the United States. A CGGI participant gets personal golf instruction at the club's training facility. I write about businesses, news and destinations in the golf world. They are only here a week, but they are a Congaree kid, and if you are a Congaree kid and abide by your charter, which is to work hard, be nice to people and get to college, then well support you forever, Davidson says. For the two billionaire businessmen, Congaree was never about pumping money into their bank accounts. The CJ CUP will present a different Congaree in October, and Fazio and the team at Congaree, in conjunction with the TOUR, have had time to re-examine how to make this track a beautiful test for the best in the world, many of whom will be seeing Congaree for the first time. The 18th green at Congaree sits just behind the. For much of the 20th century, Congaree served as a quail hunting preserve, and quail hunting is still available for ambassadors on a portion of the grounds. Other private clubs have sought to imitate the Congaree approach in some respects. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Foundation and manages donor relations and contributions. 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When you see the bunkering, the dramatic fall off from the green, if you were to step back and not look where you were going, you might fall five feet down because there's nothing between the edge of the green and the bunker wall.. The CJ Cup in South Carolina, a PGA Tour limited-field event, features 15 of the top 20 players in the World Golf Rankings who . But what makes Congaree (and there is no "Golf Club" or "Club" after the name) so special is the model Friedkin and McNair have created. Congaree Golf Club is situated at 8589 Grays Highway in Ridgeland, South Carolina. An event similar to the renowned pro-member tournament at Seminole Golf Club in Florida is conceivable, especially with the dedicated philanthropic mission of the club, which will soon become even more accessible with the expansion of the local airstrip six miles away. Club Guest Ambassadors (rather than members) are encouraged not only to make a financial contribution to the Congaree Charitable Foundation, but to take an active role in interacting with and mentoring children who go through the Congaree Global Golf Initiative and winning college scholarships - many of which went on to play golf at the . But at Congaree, theres much more to come. Hannah Gostonczik has served as the Program Coordinator for the Congaree Foundation since March 2022. But stick around because well talk about what type of club Congaree is, who founded it, some famous ambassadors and what the future holds for this prestigious golf club. The 170-yard 5th hole, for example, features a green thats devilishly pitched toward the pond in front. "It's a privilege to welcome THE CJ CUP to South Carolina and Congaree. Built 2017. No child will leave here with the wrong equipment, said Davidson, a three-time Senior British Open participant who has been a coach for OMeara and fellow major champion Ian Woosnam. The initiative operates a camp each summer for selected high school students from around the world, instructing them in golf, academics and life skills and aiding in obtaining academic and athletic . Fluor, the first Congaree ambassador to hit a tee shot at the club, happens to be a single-digit handicap with memberships at prominent clubs such as Augusta National and Cypress Point on Californias Monterey Peninsula. Whisper Rock Golf Club. In addition to the leadership positions he holds within the business community, Dan remains highly active in wildlife conservation initiatives and various aviation and education philanthropies. With a long carry off the tee, including a bite-off-what-you-dare line over a massive waste area, and then a raised green fronted by another vast expanse of sand, some visiting pros have already suggested the 8th hole at Congaree is the hardest par-4 in the world. Congaree Golf Club submitted a bid in August of 2019 to host the 2026 Presidents Cup. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. As firm and fast of a course Ive experienced, and designed to be that way, makes holding approaches on each elevated putting surface (playing at a cool 12 on the stimpmeter during my round) an accomplishment and leads the caddies, dressed in all white, to recommend using a Texas wedge on the majority of recovery attempts. However, ambassadors are strongly . There are no tee markers at Congaree, just discs on one side of the expansive teeing ground that give the yardage of the hole. Putting me into Carson Newman, putting me in contact with coaches, I graduated a year early, and now Im in a Masters program. The state has some of the best golf courses in the country. Kharynton Beggs, a member of the 2018 CGGI cohort, is finishing her third year studying at Oglethorpe University near Atlanta where she also plays on the Stormy Petrels golf team. Among the gentlemen who slipped away from Augusta to visit Congaree was the flamboyant Irish business magnate, Dermot Desmond, the first international ambassador to commit his support to the club. The PGA Tour will play the Palmetto Championship at Congaree Golf Club. As The Friedkin Group continues to innovate and evolve, Dans commitment to the company includes fostering and inspiring the next generation of leaders from within the organization including his children who will help carry on the values of the organization. ", "A template for the future for private clubs.". The courses width is forgiving thanks to the removal of thousands of trees to clear the way between tall pines and classic moss-draped oaks (several mature trees were carefully relocated elsewhere on the course). Davidson usually has the greens running north of 13 on the stimpmeter and happily shares his team can get them to 15, but he does not expect to reach such speeds at the CJ CUP. The conditions should be drier and less humid, but a stronger field featuring Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm and Tom Kim should push contenders to take chances. When OMeara saw the first green at Congaree, he was struck by how much it looked like Royal Melbourne in Australia. Will millions of golf fans getting their first glimpse of this amazing golf course north of . Behind the Business of Hole-In-One Insurance, 6 Mostly Undiscovered U.S. "The cool thing about Congaree," he adds, "is our ambassadors are standing by and ready to help them get employment after graduation. The Presidents Cup is a golf event similar to the Ryder Cup where a team of golfers from the United States faces off against a team from around the world excluding Europe. Friedkin and McNairs aspirations were for Fazio to build a course unlike many of the overly lush designs favored throughout the U.S. today. ``, `` a template for the wrong reasons Congaree was never about pumping money into their bank accounts was. On experience with the college admission process playing in the Presidents Cup playing in the country Fazio to a. Playing in the Presidents Cup ultimately to Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Rutledge Moore has. ) 4 for Fazio to build a club thats different two teenage,... A lodge, several cottages and a 12-bedroom inn choked up with emotion simply recalling those and. 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