Hilton Head is located in South Carolina, it is a beautiful island about a one hour drive from Savannah. We were staying at the wonderful Sea Pines Resort and had planned to be here for 10 days.
The golf programme was to include five rounds of golf on the three Sea Pines courses, including the world renowed Harbour Town Links. Now the key word in the previous sentence was planned…
Best Laid Plans…
The majority of the group travelled out to the States the day after the conclusion of the Ryder Cup. Some members of the party had actually been in Hazeltine before joining us in Hilton Head. The first morning we all met at Atlantic Dunes golf club for the AM AM. The golf course, which had previously been known as the Ocean Course, had just opened the day before after a huge overhaul by none other than winning Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III! Needless to say he had done a superb job and the course was a joy to play. The winning team was captained by Maggie Lowe and included Keith Judson and Jean Corbett.
Davis Love III’s Magnificent New Course Atlantic Dunes at Hilton Head
The welcome cocktail was held later that evening. This is normally the place to discuss the week’s events and provide further information on the resort. However, the main subject of conversation on this occasion was very different. On returning to the hotel following the golf, I had held an emergency meeting with the hotel as it had become clear the area was in danger from Hurricane Matthew.
It must be made clear that whenever we plan events around the world, we take into account weather patterns and research historical data. The last hurricane to match this impending storm happened in 1989. Indeed there have only been a handful of hurricanes in this area since 1804.
It was unlucky but you can’t argue against Mother Nature, and the first priority was to ensure the Greencard group was safe and would not be endangered from Hurricane Matthew. The mayor subsequently placed the whole area under a mandatory evacuation order. It was now a question of when we would move rather than if.
Davis Love Re-Appears at New Venue
The estimated number of people being evacuated would be over one million and time was of the essence in securing another venue for the group. After researching the possible options, we decided that Callaway Gardens, an hour’s drive south of Atlanta would work. It has two golf courses on site and was home to the PGA Tour’s Buick Invitational for several years. Indeed that man again, Davis Love III was a previous winner! The drive time to the resort was approximately five hours.
We agreed with the hotel that we would have another two nights at Sea Pines before leaving for Callaway Gardens. After another round of discussions with the golf director we managed to move our round on Harbour Town Links from its original position on the Saturday to the following morning. We were determined not to miss the opportunity to play this wonderful golf course.
Round 1: Holding out for Harbour Town
The first round of the event was therefore held on Harbour Town Links. Many of the residents in the area and staff of the hotel had already left and it was quite a strange feeling having this tremendous golf course to ourselves.
The course places a premium on finesse, imagination and shot-making, rather than strength, making it a perennial favourite among PGA Tour players with the par-4 18th hole considered one of the most feared in all of golf.
Jean Corbett Leads Ahead of Matthew
Whilst the hurricane was still at least 72 hours away the winds were building and this made playing conditions tough, which was reflected in the scores. Jean Corbett had the best score of the day with 29. Sally Ward had 27 followed by Alan Baxter and Gavin Wilding who both finished with 26.
Laughing in the Face of the Storm!
After the round we all met to have an early dinner in the clubhouse at Harbour Town Links, which the hotel had kindly agreed to keep open just for our group. Despite the obvious disappointment at having to leave Hilton Head after such a short space of time, we certainly made the most of the evening and in true Greencard style many laughs were had over dinner.
Georgia on Our Minds
As mentioned earlier the drive to Callaway Gardens in Georgia, was just under five hours and many of the group left at first light. It turned out to be an easy drive with light traffic. The resort is set in a large nature park, there are two excellent golf courses on site as well as many other activities.
Initially we had reserved our accommodation until Sunday, with the hope that we may return to Hilton Head after the hurricane had passed through. The problem was that until the storm left the area nobody had any idea of the level of damage that may be caused. It is fair to say that everyone by now was fixed to the weather channel for updates.
Clear Blue Skies Replace Storm Clouds
The next morning we had a fun game on the Lake View course. This is the shorter of the two courses but has an excellent layout with tough greens. In the evening many of us attended the seafood buffet in the Lodge.
One of the reasons for moving so far inland was to ensure that the weather was not affected by the hurricane, and this was certainly the case. We had beautiful blue cloudless skies for the duration of our stay.
Round 2: Test on the Mountains
The second round of the tournament took place the following day on the Mountain course. This is a great golf course and proved to be a real test for everyone. You had to hit the fairways to score well as the rough, although not long, was the type of grass where the ball would just settle down and as a result be tough to play.
Lodewijk Schlingemann enjoyed the challenge and came in with the day’s best score with 32 points. John Moore, Gavin Wilding and Phil Raybone all finished on 31 whilst Jez Morgan carded a solid 30 points.
Gavin Wilding Reaches the Halfway Summit
At the half way stage Gavin Wilding was leading on 57 points, one ahead of Lodewijk Schlingemann and John Moore. Phil Raybone was on 55 points with Alan Baxter one further back. The leading lady at the midway stage was Marian Raybone on 49 points.
Pro’s Give us a Reality Check
The web.com Tour had taken over the Mountain course from Sunday as they had their qualifying event there for the week. There were over 70 entries and only the top 25 would go through to the next stage. There was then another round of qualifying before the final stage to make it onto the web.com tour. Watching the players tee off, made you realise just how good they were but also how difficult it is to make it right through to the PGA Tour.
Harbour Town Links After Hurricane Matthew
Matthew Destroys Hope of Harbour Town Return
By this point the hurricane had passed through the Hilton Head area and left complete devastation. It was now clear that we would not be able to return to the island, the roads were blocked and the storm tidal surge had caused significant flooding. Indeed the harbour behind the famous 18th hole was a complete wreck with boats piled on top of one another.
We would now be completing the event at Callaway Gardens. After discussions with the golf director we were allowed to play the Mountain course first thing on Sunday morning before the web.com players took it over from midday for their practise round.
Round 3: Good Scoring Leaves it Close at the Top
Alan Baxter continued his form with a tremendous 34 points. This was a score matched by Phil Raybone. Anthony Trafford finished the day with 33 while Jez Morgan and John Moore both carded 32 points.
After three rounds, it was close at the top of the leaderboard. Phil Raybone had taken the lead on 89 points. Alan Baxter and John Moore both had 88 with Jez Morgan making the last place in the final fourball on 85.
Final Round: Stunning Setting for Exciting Climax
After a free day on the Monday, the final round took place on the Lake View course on Tuesday
morning. We knew that whoever took the title would have to be on their game to score well. The weather was once again perfect and the backdrop stunning.
The first part of the course takes players through the forest before coming to a series of holes located around a huge lake. The final part of the course returns to the forest backdrop. The 18th hole is a dogleg with the approach requiring a shot over a lake to a tough green.
It is a great finishing hole and as we gathered around the green to watch the final groups it was not clear who had taken the title.
Gavin Wilding Makes Late Bid for Glory
It would have taken a huge effort for somebody to come from outside the last group to win but Gavin Wilding came close with an excellent score of 33. Maggie Lowe enjoyed her best round of the event with 31. Gary Corbett and Sally Ward both finished with 30.
All Comes Down to Last Group
Alan Baxter’s Winning Putt
It was now down to the last group on the course to influence the overall standings and it later became clear that even when they walked onto the green any of four people could still have taken the title.
John Moore’s approach shot was long and had finished in a tough position behind the green. After chipping out he had a tough downhill shot on a rapid green. Unfortunately his ball stopped on the top of the slope and his next putt was a little strong, resulting in him just missing the return putt and making no score.
Alan Baxter’s approach had finished left of the green in the rough. The resulting chip shot left a 10 foot putt for par which just missed and he tapped in for a bogey and two points. Meanwhile Phil Raybone had hit the green in regulation and successfully completed his par for three points.
As the players left the green it became clear that Jez Morgan had had a tough time on the course and was out of the running but it was too tight to call the winner before the scores were all entered.
It’s a Countback Decision
The Winning Group: l to r – Alan Baxter, Sam Judson, Phil Raybone & Gavin Wilding
John Moore’s last round of 29 and 117 overall ensured a fourth place finish, while Gavin Wilding took third on countback after also scoring a total of 117. Phil Raybone and Alan Baxter both ended the event with 118 but Alan took the victory from Phil on countback. Sam Judson took the position of leading lady with a total of 104.
Our congratulations to Alan Baxter on his win and qualifying for the finals week at the end of the month in Spain.
Our thoughts are with all those people who have been affected by the hurricane and hopefully one day we will return to the island. This was a difficult holiday for all concerned, I would like to say a huge thank you to everybody for overcoming the problems faced and still ensuring that we had enjoyable golfing event.