PGA Golf Returns to Daniel Island

The eyes of the golf world turn to Daniel Island this week as the PGA TOUR’S Nationwide Tour Championship returns to the Ralston Creek at the Daniel Island Club. The tournament is the Nationwide Tour’s final event each year, concluding the season-long competition to identify the 25 players who earn PGA TOUR cards for the following season based on the Tour’s final money list. The action will be broadcast live on The Golf Channel Oct. 28-31.

If you’re in town this weekend, this is an event not to be missed. The stakes are high for this this exciting four-day competition. In addition to competing for $1 million in prize money, players battle it out to determine who will receive PGA TOUR cards at the end of the tournament. Cards are awarded to the top 25 players on the season’s money list directly following the conclusion of the tournament in a ceremony at the Daniel Island Club.

Last year, thousands of fans came out to support the players and catch a glimpse of golf’s future stars during the four-day event. In addition to golf, fans enjoy a festive “19th Hole” behind the clubhouse, featuring food, drinks, televisions broadcasting the weekend’s football games, and live music immediately following play. Once again, The Blue Dogs, will be the featured band following the end of the tournament on Sunday.

A portion of proceeds from the NationwideTour Championship benefits the STAEF, a 501(c)3 organization that was created to provide scholarships for qualified high school seniors to attend college. Last year, more than $100,000 was raised at the tournament and 16 scholarships were awarded to local students.

Additionally, proceeds from ticket sales for the Nationwide Tour Championship directly benefit dozens of local non-profit organizations through the tournament’s TICKETS Fore CHARITY program.

So come on out to Daniel Island this weekend – or tune into The Golf Channel – to see golf’s future stars compete on the Ralston Creek course.

Park Day Celebrates 10 Years of Giving with an Old-Fashioned Pie Baking Contest

A picture perfect fall day was the appropriate backdrop for the tenth anniversary of Park Day on Daniel Island October 23, when thousands came out for an afternoon of old-fashioned family fun. Live music and entertainment, games, gardening and wildlife exhibits, watersports, fabulous food and more were enjoyed by residents and visitors of all ages. Proceeds from the day’s activities benefited dozens of local non-profit organizations.

A highlight of this year’s festival was a brand new event that’s sure to become an island tradition. Presented by the Daniel Island News, the Pie Baking Contest at Park Day was a genuine hit. With 32 entries competing for the grand prize – $250 cash, plus a $250 donation to the charity of the winner’s choice – the judging panel of three had their work cut out for them.

“We were totally blown away by the number and selection of pies that were submitted,” said island resident and Daniel Island News publisher Sue Detar. “I’ve had the idea of a pie contest in my mind for several years. We were going to time it with Thanksgiving, but then had the idea of making it part of Park Day. We had no idea so many people would participate. We’re very thankful for the staff, judges and volunteers who stepped in at the last minute to help make the contest successful.”

The entries were diverse, ranging from old-fashioned apple and pecan pies to pumpkin, peach, banana cream, buttermilk, chocolate and more. The judging panel included actress Wendy Davis of Lifetime TV’s hit show Army Wives, which is filmed in Charleston, Charleston Police Chief Gregory Mullen and Daniel Island pastry chef Debbie Reed. The winning entry: A beautiful lemon meringue pie created by Samantha Disinger.

Following the judging, slices of pie were sold for $2 each, with proceeds benefiting Crisis Ministries, a local homeless shelter.

The overall impact of this year’s Park Day on its participating charities is still being tallied, but organizers expect the amount to be on par with previous years, in the vicinity of $20,000. In total, it is estimated that more than $150,000 has been raised to date during the lifetime of this event.

For photos of the day’s festivities, visit the Park Day Facebook page.

Building’s A Pleasure the Second Time Around

Calvin and Christina Muller know Daniel Island well. Originally from Charleston, the couple attended pharmacy school at the Medical University of South Carolina. After graduation, they moved to Sarasota, Florida for several years before recently returning to the Charleston area.

“We just couldn’t wait to get back. We love Charleston and all it has to offer,” says Christina. “My parents live on Daniel Island and we wanted to be close to them. And we love the fact that the island is so conveniently located near the beaches, downtown Charleston and other surrounding areas. Nothing else locally compares to what Daniel Island has to offer.”

With two small children (Emma, 4, and Jackson, 2) the Mullers were attracted to the island’s Smythe Park neighborhood because of its close proximity to schools, parks and other amenities.

“There also seemed to be a lot of young families living in the neighborhood, and that was especially attractive to us,” said Christina.

However, after looking at numerous homes, the Mullers just couldn’t seem to find one that included all of the features they desired.

“We really had our heart set on purchasing a resale home. We had gone through the building process for our previous home in Sarasota and did not have a positive experience,” explained Christina.

It wasn’t until their sales agent, Carol Evans, persuaded them to take a look at a homesite in Smythe Park that the Mullers gave in and decided that building a new home was going to be their best option.

“It just seemed to be the right fit. The lot was within our budget, offered a spacious yard, and it was in the perfect location,” commented Calvin.

The Muller’s had good friends who had built with John Wieland Homes and had a very good experience. “What really sold us was that John Wieland was willing to offer us a semi-custom floor plan that incorporated many of the features we had seen and liked in some of the other production homes,” said Christina.

Calvin and Christina were able to design a semi-custom 3,500 sq. ft. floor plan with 4 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, a FROG and a garage located underneath the home, leaving more space for the yard.

While some might speculate that this is not the best time to invest in building a new home, the Muller’s experience has proven otherwise.

“The entire building process has been seamless,” says Christina. “Everyone has been eager to work. Deadlines have been met. I can actually say that the it’s been fun!”

“I think folks are just ready to move on with their plans and to start building,” said Paul Bird, Custom Home Advisor for John Wieland Homes. “Supplies and materials are readily available, interest rates are at all-time lows and contractors are eager to work, making it an excellent time to move forward.”

The Muller’s new home will be completed in February, only seven months after its initial groundbreaking.

“We can’t wait to move in!” exclaimed the couple.

Daniel Island’s “Day of Giving” Celebrates 10 Years

Ten years ago, a new tradition was started as a celebration of Daniel Island’s parks and outdoor lifestyle. Today, it has grown into one of the island’s most anticipated annual events and one of Charleston’s broadest-scope charitable initiatives. This weekend, the 10th Annual Park Day on Daniel Island returns to the banks of the Wando River on Saturday, October 23 from 11 am – 5 pm. It’s a fall festival that is not to be missed!

If you’ve attended Park Day in the past, you know all about the wide offering of food, entertainment and fun for the entire family. But this “day of giving” also incorporates a significant mission to help generate funds and awareness for some of Charleston’s most important charitable organizations.

“Since its inception, Park Day has raised more than $150,000 for more than 50 local non-profits,” says event manager Jennifer Carrigan, an island resident who has been involved in running Park Day since its innaugural year. “It’s a great opportunity to come out and enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities while giving back to the community.”

On tap this year are live musical performances, arts and crafts activities, a custom playhome raffle, sailing on the Wando River, garden clinics, an oyster roast, educational wildlife exhibitions, dog activities and more. A new event this year at Park Day is a Pie Baking contest presented by the Daniel Island News. The creator of the winning entry will receive $250 cash + $250 to donate to the charity of their choice.

All events take place on the banks of the Wando River in front of Daniel Island’s Sales and Information Center on River Landing Drive. Park Day admission and parking are free. Some events require a nominal fee in order to raise money for participating non-profit organizations. For complete details about the day’s lineup of events and activities, visit danielislandparkday.com or, for daily updates, visit the Facebook page.

For a preview of what’s in store, check out this photo gallery from last year’s Park Day on Daniel Island:

Charleston Oktoberfest Returns to Blackbaud Stadium

The fall fun on Daniel Island continues on Sunday, Oct. 24 when Charleston Oktoberfest returns to Blackbaud Stadium. Every year, the island’s professional soccer stadium is transformed into a Barvarian-style beer hall featuring great music, food and delicious German beer. This year, the popular Roger Gootman Sauerkraut Band will perform live Oompah music, and authentic German dancers will entertain festival goers of all ages.

As part of the festivities, the 2010 Oktoberfest Corporate Challenge will feature local teams competing in a variety of competitive events, including a tug-o-war, barrel races, three-legged races and a bratwurst eating contest. Children’s events during the afternoon will include mini-soccer games on the stadium field, a Mountain Slide, an inflatable combination game, a Hot-Shot Power-Kick game and a jump castle.

This year’s Oktoberfest Beer Garden will feature more than a dozen different brews, including Warsteiner Oktoberfest, Warsteiner Pilsner, Spaten Oktoberfest, Paulaner Hefe Weizen, Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Warsteiner Pilsner, Harvest Moon Oktoberfest, Heineken, Guinness, Miller Lite, Yeungling and Bud Light. The first 1000 festival attendees will receive a free commemorative beer stein courtesy of Warsteiner.

A portion of proceeds from Charleston Oktoberfest will benefit Live 5 News’ Debi’s Kids and The Salvation Army Angel Tree.

The festivities take place from noon to 5 pm. Admission is just $5 in advance ($7 day of event), and children under the age of 12 are free. Tickets may be purchased at the Blackbaud Stadium box office, by calling (843) 971-4625, or online at charlestonbattery.com.

A Sea of Pink on Daniel Island

(Updated 10/21/10) More than 10,000 runners and walkers came out to Daniel Island on a beautiful fall morning Saturday, October 16 to show their support for finding a cure for breast cancer during the Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure. It was the organization’s most successful race to date, both in terms of participants and money raised.

Pledged money from the race will be accepted through the beginning of December, but the total amount collected already is near the organization’s goal of $400,000. In addition, approximately $250,000 was collected from the race registration fees. With these numbers, this year’s race was the most profitable to date.

Daniel Island has embraced this annual tradition in a big way in the past, and this year’s event was no exception. Pink bows were displayed throughout the island, particularly along the streets of the race route. Banners were hung along the streets of downtown Daniel Island, including the huge banner hanging from the Family Circle tennis stadium. Storefronts were decorated, teams were formed and hundreds of volunteers helped pull off the event.

The Harvest Tour of Homes Returns to Daniel Island

If you’ve been craving a glimpse inside some of Daniel Island’s most exclusive private homes, you’ll want to be sure to make plans to attend the Daniel Island Harvest Tour of Homes event this Saturday, Oct. 16.

Hosted by the Friends of the Daniel Island Library, the tour will showcase four incredible island homes. For $20 ($25 if tickets are purchased on the day of the event), visitors get a peek at each home’s distinctive architecture and interior design details, custom floral arrangements from local florists, and the chance to meet a local author in each home. Authors Ken Burger, Holly Herrick and Kate Boehm Jerome are all scheduled to participate in the event. Proceeds will benefit the Daniel Island Library.

This year, organizers are also including a “Dine Around” fundraising initiative as part of the tour festivities. All tour participants are encouraged to eat breakfast, lunch and/or dinner on the day of the event at an island restaurant. Participating establishments have pledged to contribute up to 20% of the cost of your meal to the Daniel Island Library!

What a great fall event on Daniel Island! Come enjoy a delicious meal, tour some beautiful homes and meet some talented local authors this Saturday from 1-4 pm. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $20 or on the day of the event for $25 at the following locations:

Daniel Island Real Estate
101 River Landing Drive, Daniel Island

A Floral Affair
80-D Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island

Island Expressions
162 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island

Zinnia
644-O Long Point Road, Mt. Pleasant

Fall Has Arrived! Great Traditions Return to Daniel Island

The fall transition has begun! Evening temperatures are dipping down into the 50s, the crisp air is free of humidity and each weekend, instead of hitting the beaches, Lowcountry residents are busy with football, oyster roasts and other fun fall traditions!

There’s never a dull moment on Daniel Island during the fall season. Check out the great events coming to the island soon!

Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure
Saturday, October 16 | 7:00 AM
Each year, thousands descend upon Daniel Island to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission of eradicating breast cancer through advancing research, education, screening and treatment. Through events like the Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure, the foundation has invested more than $3 million in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects in 13 counties in the Lowcountry region. Komenlowcountry.org
Harvest Tour of Homes
Saturday, October 16 | 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Four classic Daniel Island homes will be showcased at the 3rd annual Harvest Tour of Homes, which will benefit the Friends of the Berkeley Library. Located in a variety of beautiful island settings, the homes will also feature local authors for book signings and light refreshments. Ticket holders are also encouraged to “Dine Around for the Library” and visit island restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner or take out! The restaurants will then make a contribution to the library for each tour diner that day. Tickets to the Harvest Tour of Homes are $20 in advance and can be purchased at the Daniel Island Sales Center, A Floral Affair and Island Expressions on Daniel Island, and Zinnia in Mt. Pleasant.

Park Day on Daniel Island
Saturday, October 23 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Come celebrate Ten Years of Park Day on Daniel Island! In Children’s Park along the banks of the Wando River, the festival will feature musical performances, arts and crafts, children’s games, boat rides, garden clinics, an oyster roast, educational wildlife exhibitions, dog activities and more. New this year is a Pie Baking Contest presented by the Daniel Island News. The winner will win $250 plus another $250 for their charity of choice! Participants must register by October 15. Download the application HERE. Parkdayondanielisland.com

Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island
October 25 – October 31
The Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course is serving as the host site of the PGA Tour’s Nationwide Tour Championship through 2011. The tournament is the Nationwide Tour’s final event each year, concluding the season-long competition to identify the 25 players who earn PGA Tour cards for the following season based on the Tour’s final money list. Nationwidetourchampionship.com

Pumpkin Carving Party
Friday, October 29 | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Prepare for the Pumpkin Walk & Drum Circle the following evening with all your friends at the Pierce Park Pavilion. Get carvin’ and creative!

Pumpkin Walk & Drum Circle
Saturday, October 30 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Barfield Park will be a ‘glow with jack-o-lanterns and luminaries as the sounds of Adande African Drummers in the woods adds ambience to this family friendly event. Food and beverages will be available through Orlando’s Pizza and T&T’s Kettle Korn. Tickets are $5 for families who bring a carved pumpkin with a candle and $10 for those without. Tickets are available the Daniel Island POA office or at the Carving Party. Contact Jennifer Carrigan at Jennifer.carrigan@dicommunity.org.

SAVE THE DATE

Daniel Island Holiday Festival
December 4 – 5 | 12:00 – 5:00 PM
On Saturday and Sunday, December 4-5, the annual Daniel Island Holiday Festival will take place at the Family Circle Tennis Center from 12:00 pm to 5:00pm. The festival will feature a great market full of unique gifts, holiday decorations and more. While shopping, guests will enjoy music and entertainment throughout the afternoon. There will also be plenty of food options for everyone!

Daniel Island Garden Club “Christmas Tour of Homes”
Saturday, December 4 | 1:00 – 5:00 PM
On Saturday, December 4th, the Daniel Island Garden Club will host their inaugural “Christmas Tour of Homes”. The tour will feature six beautiful Daniel Island homes, all decorated “to the nines” in their best holiday decor and open for ticket holders to view! Guests are welcome to stop by a reception at the last house on the tour to enjoy some holiday drinks and treats.

Everyone is invited to spend the holidays on Daniel Island this year! For more information about both of these events, visit www.dicommunity.org or call the Daniel Island Property Owners’ Association at (843) 971-9200.