1300 Hospital Dr #220
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Could you imagine going through life every day with near-debilitating, chronic back pain? Back pain is one of the most common ailments in America - it's estimated that 8% of all adults, or 16 million people, suffer from chronic back pain in the U.S. every year. If you've never experienced a back injury or pain, be thankful. Chronic back pain affects every aspect of a person's life, from participating in sports to limitations with everyday activities, like cooking dinner. In fact, many people with chronic back pain can't even make a reliable living and put food on the table. Almost 83 million workdays are lost every year due to choric back pain.
The inability to work and provide isn't just a physical issue - it can become an emotional one too. Many people suffering from chronic back pain also suffer from depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, in the past, chronic back pain sufferers wanting to avoid addictive medications and invasive surgeries had few viable relief options. However, if you're suffering from a chronic back issue like sciatica, a pinched nerve, or a bulging disc, pain relief may be closer than you think.
Modern chiropractic care and, more specifically, a spinal decompression chiropractor in Daniel Island, SC, may be the long-term solution you need for chronic back pain.
A common misconception is that chiropractors only adjust your back and neck when, in fact, they treat the whole body with all-natural treatments. Here at Elite Healthcare, our doctors focus on your overall health, not just pain. We want to find and address the underlying causes of your symptoms. If you're unfamiliar with an integrative approach to medicine, this strategy may seem new. Our chiropractic care is less about putting a band-aid on the problem and more about finding a natural, long-term solution to your pain.
Fortunately, our experienced chiropractors provide the best in natural pain relief. Prescription and over-the-counter pain medications mask the symptoms you're experiencing versus getting to the cause of your pain. Pain is often the result of your spine being out of alignment, which leads to nerve issues. Once your spine is back in alignment, the nerves function correctly again.
Because our chiropractic center offers a combination of different therapies and non-surgical treatments, we provide a comprehensive approach to healing. Depending on the extent of your back problems, spinal decompression therapy may be the answer to your chronic pain problems.
Initially developed in 1985 by Dr. Allan Dyer, spinal decompression has been used by chiropractors for years. Unfortunately, spinal decompression is often passed over as a viable treatment, despite its numerous benefits.
In the past, patients suffering from chronic back pain issues like herniated discs were usually prescribed powerful medications. They were instructed to refrain from physical activities, referred to a physical therapist, and sent on their way. While physical therapy has an important role in back pain recovery, some back conditions need a more comprehensive treatment approach. For those patients, surgery seemed like the only option.
Today, patients with chronic back pain have many more options to consider. One of the most effective treatments for serious back pain is spinal decompression. This proven therapy, provided by Elite Healthcare, has been shown to significantly reduce pain and help patients live a normal, even active lifestyle once again.
Spinal decompression, also called Lumbar Cervical Decompression Therapy (LCD Therapy), is a very effective non-surgical solution to chronic back pain problems. If you're like most patients, your back pain is caused by disc issues related to your spine. This type of therapy uses computer technology and a spinal decompression machine in cityname, state, to stretch your spinal column slowly and gently, relieving abnormal pressure on the discs in your back, which sit in between your vertebrae.
This precise stretching action causes negative pressure to form inside the discs in your back, making them retract. With time, this negative pressure causes a reverse vacuum of sorts that actually draws your protruding discs into place. When pressure is removed from the disc segments in your spine, you experience much-needed pain relief.
The primary purpose of spinal decompression therapy is to provide you with immediate pain relief while creating a healthy environment to heal your spinal disc condition. Some of the most common conditions that spinal decompression therapy treats include:
This happens when spinal discs in your back are pushed outside of the spinal canal. When pushed outside of their usual space, these discs can put pressure on the nerves in your spine, resulting in localized pain and pain throughout your body. If a bulging disc is left untreated, it has a high chance of rupturing, which can necessitate surgery and longer recovery time.
Herniated discs are discs in your back that fracture or crack and leak fluid. The fluid or gel that leaks from a herniated disc may irritate the nerves in your back. When this happens, you may experience an intense burning sensation that shoots up and down your lower back and legs.
As you grow older, joints in your body, like your knees and hips, begin to wear away with time. The same thing can happen to the discs in your back. Often caused by heavy lifting or a family history of spine problems, degenerative discs are painful and can lead to serious situations. In advanced cases, bone spurs can form and affect the nerves of your spine.
When a herniated disc or bone spur begins to put pressure on the nerves in your back, it often causes sciatica. Sciatica is a common back problem that causes pain to radiate from your lower back down your legs via your sciatic nerve. Sometimes, this pain is only felt in one of your legs.
This condition is similar to arthritis of your spine, where the cartilage inside your facet joint breaks down and becomes inflamed. The result is often intense neck and back pain. It's most often caused by degenerative changes in the joints located between the bones of your spine.
This painful condition manifests when the space in your backbone is too small. When this happens, pressure impacts your spinal cord and the nerves that travel through it. Like other conditions treated by a spinal decompression therapy cityname, state, stenosis is caused by wear-and-tear in your back, which forms arthritis.
This term is often used to classify a range of back problems, most often caused by a pinched nerve root in your spinal column. This pinched nerve root may occur in different locations down your spine, like the lumbar or thoracic areas. Usually caused by a narrowing of the space where your nerve root leaves the spine, symptoms of this condition include pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness.
If you're looking for a safe way to relieve your chronic back pain, spinal decompression should be on your list of treatments to consider. This painless procedure is backed by research showing higher success rates in many patients when compared to spinal surgery. Unlike many medications, spinal decompression from Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine is designed to correct the condition you're facing while also minimizing costs and eliminating recovery and downtime.
Some of the most popular reasons why patients choose spinal decompression over surgery and other treatments include:
Invasive procedures, like back surgeries, often leave the patient racked with pain, long recovery times, and complications. Sometimes, the surgery doesn't work as intended, leaving the patient responsible for a therapy that didn't work correctly. As a non-invasive treatment, spinal decompression therapy can treat back and neck pain without needles, incisions, or harmful manipulations of the spine.
Getting back pain relief from surgery is far from guaranteed. However, because spinal decompression targets the underlying causes of your back pain, it's a much more effective long-term treatment. Spinal decompression is not a quick fix. When coupled with positive lifestyle changes like losing weight, you can maximize the pain-relieving benefits of spinal decompression.
Surgery of the back and spine requires the patient to be bedridden and uncomfortable for days and even weeks. Recovering from back surgery is no easy feat and often requires strong pain medications to help. Sometimes, back surgeries don't go as planned, causing complications and worse scenarios. Spinal decompression, on the other hand, is very effective and doesn't require much recovery time at all. Once your spinal decompression session is over, you'll probably be able to drive yourself home from our office.
One of the least talked about issues with back pain medications is that they only treat the pain, not the underlying causes. For many patients, relying on meds to relieve back pain fosters dependency on pain pills. Pain pill addiction is a very serious issue in the U.S., often leading patients down a dark path. With spinal decompression, you won't have to worry about taking pills for pain relief. That's because the root causes of your back pain are addressed, not just the symptoms.
If you were to look at the cost of surgery and subsequent years of prescription medication, you might be shocked. When compared to spinal decompression, surgery is a much more expensive treatment to consider. You've got to take the cost of surgery into account, but also the fact that you'll be forced to take time off work. By choosing spinal decompression therapy, you're choosing a safe, non-surgical treatment that doesn't require any time off work.
Spinal decompression relieves pressure on disrupted discs, causing them to retract back into place. This revolutionary treatment also lets oxygen, fluids, and nutrients re-enter your spinal discs, which provides additional healing.
(843) 936-6238
By now, you probably have a better idea of how spinal decompression can help rid your life of back pain. But spinal decompression treatment does more than help with bulging discs, herniated discs, arthritis, and more. It has also been shown to provide patients with important quality-of-life benefits.
As mentioned above, harsh surgeries leave you bedridden and unable to work for long periods of time. Spinal decompression allows you to jump right back into the workforce, so you can continue providing for your family. Plus, reducing your back pain naturally increases your mobility since you won't be stressing about hurting yourself while moving. Instead, you'll be living in the moment.
One of the worst symptoms affecting people with back pain is the inability to sleep well. Sleeping with back pain can be horrible, causing you to toss and turn to find a comfortable spot. As soon as you find one and get settled, your back starts to hurt again. It's a vicious cycle, but adjusting your spine and relieving pressure with spinal decompression will help you get a good night's rest.
Did you know that when your spine is decompressed, it helps fluids circulate throughout your body? These fluids actually flush your lymphatic system, which helps support your overall immune system. Better circulation also benefits your brain and can help boost concentration and memory. The improved circulation from spinal decompression may also distribute oxygen and nutrients to your skin, creating a multi-benefit effect.
We are happy to answer your questions, and help you find the services you need. Please message us to get started.
At Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, we practice an integrated approach to pain relief and chiropractic care. Our goal is to restore your spine to its proper alignment, which speeds up your recovery time and prevents additional injuries. If chronic back pain has taken over your life, it's time to visit our chiropractic office for a thorough evaluation.
Ask yourself this: Have you been suffering from headaches and sleepless nights due to muscle strain? Is your ability to work and put food on the table compromised due to a pinched nerve? No amount of over-the-counter pain medication can provide a long-term fix for such an issue. Thankfully, our chiropractors have years of experience providing relief to patients just like yourself.
After a comprehensive exam, our doctor will create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your body. That way, we can address the full scope of your symptoms by correcting any root causes of your back pain.
From minor chiropractic adjustments to spinal decompression treatment, we'll find the solution that your back and body need to heal correctly. If you're ready to get back on the road to better health, we're here to help every step of the way. Contact our Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine today to get started.
(843) 936-6238
Tax season is upon us with Jan. 23 the first official filing day set by the Internal Revenue Service and the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR).Individuals can begin submitting their state and federal tax returns on that date, with the final deadline Tuesday, April 18, by midnight.Last year, more than 93% of returns were filed electronically, reports SCDOR, and approximately 87% of refunds were issued by direct deposit."We are pleased that so many South Carolinians have accepted online filing and direct de...
Tax season is upon us with Jan. 23 the first official filing day set by the Internal Revenue Service and the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR).
Individuals can begin submitting their state and federal tax returns on that date, with the final deadline Tuesday, April 18, by midnight.
Last year, more than 93% of returns were filed electronically, reports SCDOR, and approximately 87% of refunds were issued by direct deposit.
"We are pleased that so many South Carolinians have accepted online filing and direct deposit," said SCDOR Director Hartley Powell. “It's the safest, most accurate way to file and the fastest way to receive refunds."
Here are some tips to make your tax filing process a little less stressful.
File online. Filing online with a reputable provider is convenient, secure, and accurate. Many South Carolinians are eligible to file online for free with easy-to-use tax preparation software. Visit dor.sc.gov/iit-filing to view all of your filing options.
Make sure you have all W-2s, 1099s, and other necessary documents before you file. Year-end pay stubs may not match what your employer reports to the government, which can slow down processing.
Choose direct deposit. Direct deposit is the fastest and safest refund option. Your refund is deposited directly into your bank account, so there's no need to worry about lost or stolen checks and no waiting on delayed or returned mail. Learn more about why direct deposit is the preferred refund option at dor.sc.gov/refund.
Allow time for processing and fraud prevention. State and Federal offices will begin processing returns Feb. 6 to allow employers time to meet the Jan. 31 W-2 submission deadline.
Tax return and refund processing is expected to take 6-8 weeks from Feb. 6 or the date you file, whichever is later, to allow the SCDOR to use all available tools to check for fraud and protect your refund.
Track your refund. Check your refund status anytime using the Where's My Refund tool at dor.sc.gov/refund. You can track which of the four stages your refund is in – fraud check, accuracy review, final verification, refund approval and preparation – and the estimated timeframe for each stage. Keep in mind that if you choose a paper check refund, your processing time may be longer.
Here are some new rules for individual tax returns being file in 2023:
Military retirement pay exclusion. Because of a new law enacted, all military retirement pay is excluded from South Carolina Individual Income Tax beginning in tax year 2022. Reduce the retirement deduction and the age 65 and older deduction by the amount of military retirement deduction taken. For more information, refer to SC Revenue Ruling #22-11, available at dor.sc.gov/policy.
Rebate recipients pay no state taxes on their payment. Those who received a state tax rebate in 2022 may receive a 1099G, but they owe no state taxes on their rebate, since it is considered a refund.
An increase in the dependent exemption. The exemption amount for tax year 2022 is $4,430 and is allowed for each eligible dependent, including both qualifying children and qualifying relatives.
An increase in the Motor Fuel User Fee Credit. The refundable credit increases from 9 cents per gallon to 11 cents per gallon for tax year 2022. Full or part-year resident taxpayers may claim the refundable credit for the lesser of the increase in South Carolina Motor Fuel User Fee they paid during 2022 or the preventative maintenance costs they incurred in South Carolina during the tax year.
An increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit. Full-year residents may claim the South Carolina Earned Income Tax Credit if they are eligible for the federal credit. For tax year 2022, the non-refundable credit is equal to 104.17% of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit allowed the taxpayer.
In order to stay informed, taxpayers can find more resources at dor.sc.gov/iit. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to stay up-to-date with the latest news, tax tips, and available resources.
This week there are a large number of multifamily and large residential developments coming before the various City of Charleston boards and committees. Below are those items as well as the application results for specific items to Daniel Island and the Cainhoy area. More detailed agendas and results can be found at charleston-sc.gov/agendacenter.Jan. 12: A site plan for Hawthorne at Clements Ferry Road, a 210-unit multifamily development on 11 acres at 2800 Clements Ferry Rd.A preliminary subdivision plat and road construction...
This week there are a large number of multifamily and large residential developments coming before the various City of Charleston boards and committees. Below are those items as well as the application results for specific items to Daniel Island and the Cainhoy area. More detailed agendas and results can be found at charleston-sc.gov/agendacenter.
Jan. 12: A site plan for Hawthorne at Clements Ferry Road, a 210-unit multifamily development on 11 acres at 2800 Clements Ferry Rd.
A preliminary subdivision plat and road construction plans for Del Webb Entrance Road, a new public road on 11 acres on Clements Ferry Road.
Jan. 4: Request a variance to allow the removal of one grand tree at 15 Surr St. on Daniel Island. Results: Pending.
Jan. 5: A site plan for Woodfield Daniel Island 3, a 163-unit multifamily development on 6 acres at 2058 Benefitfocus Way. Results: Pending final documentation to Zoning, T&T and MS4. Once approved, submit Site Plan to Zoning for stamping.
Jan. 10: An ordinance to rezone 10.32 acres at 638 Tuxbury Farm Road and two adjacent parcels on Tuxbury Farm Road in Cainhoy to single-family residential zoning. The property is owned by Ray and Angela Waits. Results: Pending.
An ordinance to rezone 5.71 acres at 715 Yaupon Drive & 2682 Highway 41 in Cainhoy to diverse residential zoning. The property is owned by Rumphs Auto Service et al. Results: Pending.
Berkeley Co. Bd. of Education meets twice each month. Executive Committee meets at 5:30 p.m.; meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
Berkeley Co. Council meets fourth Mon. of each month, 6 p.m., Berkeley County Admin. Blg., 1003 Hwy 52, Moncks Corner.
City of Charleston Council typically meets the second and fourth Tues. of each month, 5 p.m., City Hall, 80 Broad Street, Charleston, SC and/or virtually via Conference Call #1-929-205-6099; Access Code: 912 096 416. Exceptions: Summer Schedule - 3rd Tues. of June, July, and August; December meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tues. Dates and locations subject to change.
City of Charleston Technical Review Committee meets every Thurs. at 9 a.m.via Zoom.
City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals – Site Design meets the 1st Wed. of each month at 5 p.m. via Zoom.
City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals – Zoning meets the 1st and 3rd Tues. of each month at 5:15 p.m., except for January and July when no meeting is held on the 1st Tues.
City of Charleston Design Review Board meets the 1st and 3rd Mon. of every month at 4:30 p.m.
City of Charleston Planning Commission meets the 3rd Wed. of every month at 5 p.m.
City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review – Large projects meets the 2nd and 4th Wed. of every month at 4:30 p.m.
City of Charleston Board of Architectural Review – Small projects meets the 2nd and 4th Thurs. of every month at 4:30 p.m.
All meetings are open for public comment except the City of Charleston Technical Review Committee meetings.
For more information, contacts for specific projects and on location and time of the meetings or to learn more, visit charleston-sc.gov/AgendaCenter/.
There is a light at the end of the Beresford Creek Bridge replacement project with a timeline reset, as well as a timeframe of lane closures due to construction.In 2019, an inspection conducted by the South Carolina Department of Transportation yielded findings of deterioration on one of the bridge beams. The weight limit was reduced to 10 tons per vehicle with 5 tons per axle.After SCDOT’s assessment three years ago, which included an emergency installation of a steel plate for support, it was determined that it needed t...
There is a light at the end of the Beresford Creek Bridge replacement project with a timeline reset, as well as a timeframe of lane closures due to construction.
In 2019, an inspection conducted by the South Carolina Department of Transportation yielded findings of deterioration on one of the bridge beams. The weight limit was reduced to 10 tons per vehicle with 5 tons per axle.
After SCDOT’s assessment three years ago, which included an emergency installation of a steel plate for support, it was determined that it needed to be replaced within one to five years. Inspections have continued to occur monthly to ensure the bridge is safe at its current load.
As of a public meeting in November 2021, the project had been slated to get underway in the summer of 2022 and be complete by sometime in early 2023. Now, that timeline has been delayed with the project expected to begin this spring and be completed by spring of 2024.
Nothing has changed in terms of the project’s $2.5 million overall cost and engineering specs that call for a newly constructed bridge featuring two 11-foot lanes and 4-foot shoulders and an 8-foot multi-use bike/pedestrian path. Although, several updates recently developed from a meeting in December 2022 between the City of Charleston and Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson (JMT), the engineering firm hired to design the structure.
The bridge, road and hydraulic designs are complete and the application and relocation of utility lines have received approval by the City of Charleston Technical Review Committee. However, Dominion Energy is still waiting on approval of the utility relocation permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s (SCDHEC) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management to remove the old utility lines and relocate the new lines, according to the city’s director of public service, Tom O’Brien.
The utility line relocation must be approved before a construction contract can be procured and the demolition of the old bridge takes place. The city plans to open the bidding process and award a bid for construction during the first quarter of 2023, then begin preparatory work by spring in order to get construction underway by the summer.
Partial lane closures on the bridge are anticipated through the end of the school year. The bridge is expected to be fully shut down during the summer months, with the bulk of construction done before the fall school year starts, according to O’Brien.
The road closure timeline has decreased from eight to 10 months to three to six months.
O’Brien clarified that partial closure can mean one lane open, two lanes open or no lanes open.
“We want to minimize the closure as much as possible,” O’Brien said. “… with construction we just can’t always determine how things are going to go.”
During full closure, motorists on the St. Thomas Island Drive side of the bridge will be forced to use I-526 and take Exit 24 to get onto Daniel Island. It’s actually two-tenths of a mile shorter for commuters.
“The good news is there is another path,” O’Brien said. “It’s not like they’re going to be cut off completely.”
An announcement will be made when the construction bid is awarded. A website will be set up for the public to view updates on the bridge’s replacement progress.
Thanks to the generous support of the Daniel Island Community Fund and Bublish, Inc., the Daniel Island News Author Series returns in 2023. The series kicks off with two local children’s book authors who explore stories set by the sea. Join authors Leigh Cook andBenjamin Pogue on Jan. 25, 4 p.m. at the Daniel Island Library. The event is free. Reserve your space at: bit.ly/3Qf0UaN.“Nobi” by Leigh Cook Written by a Daniel Island School teacher and mother of two, “Nobi” is a s...
Thanks to the generous support of the Daniel Island Community Fund and Bublish, Inc., the Daniel Island News Author Series returns in 2023. The series kicks off with two local children’s book authors who explore stories set by the sea. Join authors Leigh Cook and
Benjamin Pogue on Jan. 25, 4 p.m. at the Daniel Island Library. The event is free. Reserve your space at: bit.ly/3Qf0UaN.
“Nobi” by Leigh Cook
Written by a Daniel Island School teacher and mother of two, “Nobi” is a sweet story about a young “merdog” – half-mermaid, half-dog – looking for answers and acceptance and is the perfect addition to family bookshelves, school libraries, classrooms, and discussions about embracing your differences and finding your own true path.
Nobi lives in the ocean with her seal pod and her seal parents, but she doesn’t quite seem to fit in. When she decides to take a chance and ventures onto the beach, she discovers a whole new life and has great adventures. Torn between her duty to protect the ocean and her desire to live on land, will Nobi ever find out where she truly belongs?
Cook decided to write Nobi because her daughter was going through a tough time and felt like she was not accepted by her friends. Cook believes no child should ever feel this way. Her hope is that “Nobi” helps children realize they shouldn’t hide their differences because they make us who we are and can help us find our purpose in life.
The book is illustrated by Catherina Matigina.
“A Walk Along the Sea” by Benjamin Pogue
An illustrated poem by Daniel Island resident Benjamin Pogue about love, nature and the wisdom of treasuring them, this watercolor illustrated children’s poem takes the reader on a journey along the water’s edge to discover crabs, shells and surf and how the ocean leaves behind “boneyards,” or maritime forests that are visible, left awash in the surf. The book’s nature and conservation themes encourage the reader to get outdoors, to explore and to take care of our families and the world around us.
Pogue is a retired marketing and consulting executive with a passion for the Lowcountry and for conservation.
Pogue hopes the poem will bring families together to explore the natural beauty that is found throughout the region. When his book was first released, he explained, “My message, in part, is that parents need to take their children out in the wilderness and see all the beautiful treasures we have in South Carolina… I would love for families to explore together all the undeveloped areas of our coast, so they can appreciate the true treasure of nature.”
The book is illustrated by former Daniel Island resident Johanna Hughes.
Feb. 22 – Civil War Era – Historical Fiction
The February author series event will be held at 7 p.m. in the theater at Daniel Pointe Retirement Community and will feature the award-winning historical novels “Railsplitter” by John Cribb and “Trouble the Water” by Rebecca Bruff.
Temperatures that defy the calendar in the early weeks of 2023 whet the appetite for golfers to head to the course and in all likelihood provide an omen for what’s ahead for the game in South Carolina.“We would love another year just like this one,” said Biff Lathrop, executive director of the South Carolina Golf Association.Indeed, the game prospered again in 2022, and aficionados gathered to celebrate Saturday at Columbia Country Club on South Carolina Golf Day.They could look back with satisfaction a...
Temperatures that defy the calendar in the early weeks of 2023 whet the appetite for golfers to head to the course and in all likelihood provide an omen for what’s ahead for the game in South Carolina.
“We would love another year just like this one,” said Biff Lathrop, executive director of the South Carolina Golf Association.
Indeed, the game prospered again in 2022, and aficionados gathered to celebrate Saturday at Columbia Country Club on South Carolina Golf Day.
They could look back with satisfaction and ahead with great expectations.
The COVID outbreak that mostly impacted the world negatively beginning in 2020 turned out to be a catalyst for golf. The game that had experienced a downward spiral following 2008 economic woes this time profited during hard times from being an outdoor, non-contact sport.
Players rediscovered courses, and the demand for playing opportunities remains strong almost three years later.
“So many good things to appreciate,” Lathrop said in looking ahead to the Golf Day ceremonies that would include honoring the top players of 2022 and contributors to the game plus inducting three members into the S.C. Golf Hall of Fame.
They could look back on 2022 and recall with fondness the PGA Tour’s ventures into the Palmetto State with a pair of popular champions — Jordan Spieth in the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island and Rory McIlrory in the CJ Cup at Congaree in Ridgeland. Kevin Kisner made the U.S. Presidents Cup team for the second time, and Dustin Johnson continued his dominant ways after joining the LIV Tour.
They could remember Zach Adams’ winning the S.C. Amateur and competing in the U.S. Amateur; Sam Jackson’s forging a breakout year that included making match-play in the U.S. Mid-Amateur en route to earning the SCGA’s Player of the Year honors; or Eddie Hargett’s running away with the Senior Player of the Year title for the fourth straight year.
Moments to remember would include the smashing success of the SCGA’s inaugural Public Links Championship, an event designed for the non-club golfer, or the rollout of the S.C. Junior Golf Association’s Players Series, a developmental competition. The SCGJA team retained the Watson Cup with a victory over a team of Scottish juniors in an event played on famed courses in Scotland.
Lea Venable earned the WSCGA Player of the Year honor with a season that included qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. Jayne Pardus claimed the Senior Player of the Year honors in a year that included quality performances everywhere from Florida to Arizona to Scotland in addition to the Carolinas.
Then, there’s the economic impact to celebrate. A survey conducted by the S.C. Department of Parks, Revenue and Tourism found that the state’s golf industry in 2021 had a total economic impact of $3.3 billion in output or sales, 37,959 jobs, $1.5 billion in wages and income and $370 million in federal, state and local taxes. The taxes included $18.3 million in admission tax revenue, 44% of the state admission tax collection.
Perhaps most important, the desire to play remained strong with courses often filled to capacity, and, Lathrop said, “The demand for tee times shows no signs of slowing down.”
Looking ahead:
▪ The RBC Heritage, set for April 13-16, will be one of the PGA Tour’s “designated” tournaments, offering a $20 million purse and guaranteeing that almost every player among the top 20 in the world rankings will compete at Harbour Town.
▪ Some of the state’s best courses will play host to a top tournament. The State Amateur moves to The Patriot Golf Club at Grand Harbor in Ninety Six, and the Women’s Amateur will be contested at Fripp Island. The Women’s Open returns to Cobblestone Park, and the SCGA’s Public Links will be play again at the venerable Charleston Municipal Golf Course. The SCGA Junior Champion comes back to its roots at the Country Club of Lexington.
▪ The Columbia Golf Ball, a fund-raiser for the S.C. Junior Golf Foundation, will be held at the USC Alumni Center on Thursday of Masters week.
▪ The USGA will stage a pair of national championships in the Palmetto State — the U.S. Junior at Daniel Island Club and the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at Kiawah Island Club.
“Golf in South Carolina is in a really good place,” Lathrop said. “I’m looking forward to a bright future.”
Chip shots. The induction of new members into the S.C. Golf Hall of Fame — administrator Charlie Roundtree III and championship players Todd White and Sherri Turner — highlighted the Golf Day ceremonies. ... The state organizations wasted no time in beginning competition in the new year with the women staging a one-day event prior to its annual meeting on Thursday. Shaun McIntyre (Columbia) and Scott Sullivan (Blythewood) edged David Gibson (Lexington) and Lee Gronkiewicz (Columbia) in the Forty-Plus Series Four-Ball event at Dataw Island to open the men’s season.
(843) 936-6238