There is some fun news budding, and our community will have fresh new golf education and development options to choose from in the very near future. 

Several facilities of various types have been secured to ensure brand-new learning options for spring, summer and fall. Bryan Bros partners George IV and Wesley Bryan will offer “Preview Programs” at various locations in Lexington and Richland counties. 

These programs feature fun in learning golf first. While Solina Golf Club will be “home” for the Bryan bros’ first “academy”, other satellite locations will preview different segments of their curriculum. 

In other words, these Satellite locations will be operating before their main brick-and-mortar location in West Columbia. There will be golf education options for new golfers of all ages and those with competitive goals and dreams. There will be virtual and online support options as well.

Now to recognize a local competitive golfer, congratulations to Sam Jackson who lives in West Columbia for repeating as South Carolina Golf Association’s 2023 Player of the Year! 

The Presbyterian College and Pelion High alumni had this to say about his second consecutive SCGA Player of the Year honor. “It feels good to repeat. I had a really good year but had a chance for it to be a great year. I came up just short of a world-class type year and getting into any event (tournament) I wanted. The events I’m referring to include “The Coleman” at Seminole, and “Crump Cup” at Pine Valley. I was one shot away from the finals of the U.S. Mid-Am Championship.  The champion of this event gets into the masters. Stuart Hackstadt beat me on the last hole.”

While it was disappointing not to get in the Masters, Jackson’s quite happy with repeating as South Carolina’s best amateur and is looking forward. 

“I’m going to play in 10 to 12 events this year and work specifically on rounding my game and deform during the bigger more important events. I have been working with Greg Payne, golf instructor at my club, Country Club of Lexington, on peeking at the right times.”

Jackson got his start in golf on the “Winter Tour.” He was a bit late getting into the game.

“I was in middle school and think 7th grade is when I got started,” he said.

The 31-year-old is close in age to my children and they all started golf with the “Winter Tour.” 

The “Winter Tour” is a recreation-based program where families participate together. Parents either caddy for the players or serve as a “course safety etiquette fan guide.” 

This past week, I visited several “Winter Tour” courses starting with host club Charwood. From Charwood, then I traveled to Hidden Valley, and from there, to Cobblestone Park. This was a great route to take on a Sunday afternoon. 

In addition to getting a chance to watch new families together in the game, I met some new club and course leaders who strongly support youth golf. 

Gene Wise is the owner and operator of Hidden Valley and is a delightful man who loves seeing families play on his course. Mason Spires is Charwood’s general manager and Shane Rogan is a Cobblestone Park assistant professional. All three of these individuals have enthusiasm for growing the game that is contiguous! 

The Lexington County Recreation and Aging, LRAC, will offer junior, advanced, family junior and ladies programming this spring. 

The unique feature of the family junior program is parents participate in learning golf with their juniors. To find out more and register go to sports.bluesombrero.com/lcrac and find ”Athletics”, then “Family Junior.” 

Another unique feature of all recreation-based programming is the majority of learning takes place on the playing field itself, which is the course. Stay tuned for more details!