Showdown On Ralston Creek:
The Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island

The PGA Tour’s Nationwide Tour comes to its annual pressure-packed conclusion this week on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course. The field has been narrowed to the season’s top sixty money winners, who will compete in the Nationwide Tour Championship October 27-30 for a $180,000 first prize and one of 25 PGA Tour cards for the 2012 season.

“I love coming back to the Ralston Creek course,” said Kyle Thompson of Greenville, S.C. at a press conference earlier this fall. “I think you’re going to see some great golf playing out on Daniel Island this year.”

Thompson, who enters the tournament at number 13 on the money list, is one of six players from South Carolina competing this year. The international field is bringing players from as far away as Australia and New Zealand to Charleston’s island town. Thousands of fans are expected to attend, and millions more will watch the live coverage on The Golf Channel.

In addition to nail-biting competition, the Nationwide Tour Championship brings live music and entertainment to the back of the clubhouse all week long, starting with the Carolina Studios Pro Am Jam on Tuesday, October 25th, featuring Mark Bryan and Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, Branford Marsalis, Pat Green, Johnny Lee and other special surprise guests. Fans and players will also enjoy the 19th Hole Happy Hour and live music following play each day of the tournament.

The Nationwide Tour Championship is presented by the Student Transportation of America Education Foundation, which advances education opportunities available to high school seniors in Charleston and throughout the country. In addition to raising funds for this notable cause, the tournament raises money for dozens of area non-profit organizations through its TICKETS Fore CHARITY program.

For your chance to win tickets to this year’s Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island, be sure to “like” the My Island Town Facebook page and look for chances to win all week long. And if you can’t make it out to see the action live in person, be sure to check out the television coverage from Daniel Island on The Golf Channel October 27-30 from 2:30-5:00 pm each day.

Charleston Named Top U.S. City by Conde Nast Traveler

After 18 consecutive years on Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious Reader’s Choice Awards as a top ten city, Charleston just hit the big time. Our beautiful home town has been named the Number One City in the United States!

Presenting the award in New York to Charleston officials was Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and Charlestonian Stephen Colbert, who aptly stated “I’ve been all over the world and Charleston is the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen.”

Voters annually evaluate cities based on six categories: Atmosphere/Ambience, Culture/Sites, Friendliness, Lodging, Restaurants and Shopping. To bring the six categories to life, the Charleston Area CVB launched Charlestonly.com, which describes the characteristics that define the Charleston experience. The website includes great photography, highlights and special packages from the area’s eight 2011 Readers’ Choice Award-winning resorts and hotels, as well as this great video:

Thanks, y’all!!

Park Day Returns to Daniel Island This Weekend

Looking for something fun to do with family and friends this weekend? Look no further as Park Day, one of the Daniel Island’s most anticipated annual events, returns to the banks of the Wando River this Saturday, October 22 from 11 am – 5 pm. This is a fall festival 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 11 years ago, Park Day has raised more than $250,000 for more than 50 local non-profits,” says Jimmy Bailey, Vice President of Community Services. “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. Also returning is the popular 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

Daniel Island Paints The Town Pink!

Last weekend marked the 18th anniversary of the Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure, and the tenth year this popular event was held on Daniel Island. The race is the largest annual fundraising effort for the Komen Foundation’s Lowcountry affiliate. There was record-breaking participation this year, with 11,000 people registered. The affiliate is expected to reach its lofty fundraising goal by the end of October: $1 million to support breast cancer prevention, research and support programs.

In an effort to support the race and its mission, many Daniel Island businesses got into the spirit earlier this month by participating in the annual “Paint the Town Pink” window painting contest. Dozens of festive windows, combined with pink ribbons tied on the street trees along the race route and pink memorial banners lining Seven Farms Drive in the island’s downtown, set the scene for a very successful race day celebration.

The sunny, cool weather served as the perfect backdrop for the race and hundreds of breast cancer survivors were honored as racers dressed in their finest “pink.”  It was truly a special day for the race against breast cancer.

Waterfront “Dream Home” Becomes Reality for Daniel Island Family

Panoramic waterfront views. A 5,000 square foot custom-built home. A large backyard with a deepwater dock. It just can’t get any better than that.

Last winter, Jay and Kristen Odell decided to purchase a waterfront lot at Mitchell Wharf and build their dream home. In just 8 1/2 months, they were able to move in, 45 days earlier than expected.

“The building process couldn’t have gone smoother. There were certainly numerous decisions to be made and Carson Homes was extremely helpful and easy to get along with every step of the way,” said Kristen. “And being able to move in 45 days early went way beyond our expectations.”

As you enter the home, panoramic water views can be seen from almost every room. The floor plan is light and airy and a high standard of craftsmanship is evident at every corner.

“I just love the way the home turned out,” says Kristen. “Chris (Carson) was extremely attentive to every detail, from assisting with designing the floor plan to picking out paint colors.”

And who wouldn’t love a large custom kitchen where you can cook and watch the kids fish and swim off the dock.

“The kitchen is just beautiful. The colors are very light and I love how everything is flush, including the refrigerator that blends perfectly into the cabinetry,” says Kristen.

Perhaps one of the best features of the home is the outdoor living space. A spacious back porch overlooks an expansive backyard and deepwater dock.

“We were really surprised at how big the backyard turned out. With two young boys, Jay and I were very keen on having a yard that was spacious enough for them to run around in. It’s just great watching them play soccer outside – they really love it,” says Kristen.

A deepwater dock backs up directly to the backyard. At low tide, a small beach is revealed and is perfect for crabbing or just hanging out.

“I often find myself just sitting and enjoying the views,” comments Kristen. “We’ve seen dolphin and it’s really spectacular when a storm is rolling in. The entire building process went smoother than we could have ever imagined. We couldn’t be happier.”