Golf and Good Times at the 2011 Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island

The Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island wrapped up on Sunday, October 30 following an exciting week of special events and fierce competition as the season’s top 60 money-winners battled it out to be one of 25 to leave Daniel Island with their PGA TOUR cards for 2012. The picture-perfect fall weather brought residents and visitors out to the Daniel Island Club to experience PGA-sanctioned golf and catch a glimpse of some of the sport’s future stars. In the end, Ken Duke of Hope, Arkansas captured the Championship title and took home the $180,000 grand prize along with his PGA card.

Check out these highlights from the 2011 Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island:

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.

Celebrity Athletes and Musicians Unite for a Great Cause on Daniel Island

Not only will there be exciting golf to watch on the island next month, but there will also be some fantastic music to listen to as Mark Bryan, Branford Marsalis, Pat Green, Colt Ford and others will perform at the Nationwide Tour Championship Pro-Am Jam on Tuesday, October 25 at the Daniel Island Club. This special concert will benefit Carolina Studios, a non-profit youth music and media arts program spearheaded by Mark Bryan of Hootie & The Blowfish.

Prior to the concert, Mark Bryan and 23 additional celebrities will participate in a special Pro-Am tournament on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course. Island residents and friends are invited to watch the tournament, free of charge. Each Pro-Am grouping will include a Nationwide Tour professional, one celebrity golfer and three amateur players.

Following is a sampling of celebrities that will be participating in the festivities:

• Mark Bryan (Musician – Hootie & the Blowfish)
• Patrick Davis (Musician – Southern Rock)
• Todd Ellis (Former South Carolina Quarterback Standout, “Voice of the Gamecocks”)
• Colt Ford (Musician – Country)
• Ralph Friedgen (Former Maryland University football coach)
• Harold Green (Former NFL Running Back for the Bengals) (College: South Carolina)
• Pat Green (Musician – Country)
• Branford Marsalis (Musician – Saxophonist, Composer, Band leader)
• George Rogers (Former NFL Running Back – Saints & Redskins, 1981 NFL Rookie of the Year, 1980 Heisman Trophy Winner) (College: South Carolina)
  

  Branford Marsalis

• Charlie Rymer (Golf Channel announcer, co-host on Big Break PrinceEdward Island)
• Justin Smoak (Former MLB First Baseman – Rangers & Mariners) (College: South Carolina)
• Mickey Tettleton (Former MLB 2-Time All-Star Catcher – A’s, Orioles, Tigers, Rangers)

This first annual Pro-Am Jam is an event that you will not want to miss! General admission concert tickets can be purchased for $25 at nationwidetourchampionship.com, or by calling the Box Office at (800) 677-2293, ext. 3 between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Nationwide Tour Alumni Winning Big On This Year’s PGA TOUR

Five rookie players who received their PGA TOUR cards at last year’s Nationwide Tour Championship right here on Daniel Island are producing impressive wins on the PGA TOUR this year, including rookie Keegan Bradley, who captured the year’s final “major” at last week’s PGA Championship. This is certainly good news for the Nationwide Tour, which is producing some very competitive players:

• Last year’s Nationwide Tour Champion, Brendon Steele, broke through with a win at the Valero Texas Open in April, holding off Kevin Chappell and Charley Hoffman with a strong par on the 72nd hole.  Brendon also shared the leader board last Sunday.

• Fresh off his first first career victory in May at the HP Byron Nelson Championship (following a playoff with Ryan Palmer), Keegan Bradley won his first major title this month in a two-way playoff with fellow American Jason Dufner at the 93rd PGA Championship.

• Scott Stallings won the Greenbrier Classic in July, sinking a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Bob Estes and Bill Haas.

• Also in July, 26-year old player Chris Kirk took on the Viking Classic, shooting a 4-under 68 to beat Tom Pernice Jr. and George McNeill by one stroke.

• In January, Venezuela native Jhonattan Vegas won the Bob Hope Classic after hitting into the water on the second playoff and making a 13-foot shot for par to beat Gary Woodland.

Watching these five young rookies win big makes this year’s Nationwide Tour line-up even more exciting. Be sure to keep your eye on rising star players such as Mathew Goggin, Matt Davidson, Danny Lee, Kyle Thompson and Scott Brown as they prepare to compete in the 22nd Nationwide Tour Championship on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course October 24 – October 30.

The Nationwide Tour’s 22nd season got underway last spring at the Panama Claro Championship in Panama City, Panama. More than 200 players from the United States and 18 other countries are competing in this season-long quest to win one of 25 PGA TOUR cards for 2012. Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour identifies those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage. Two out of three PGA TOUR members are Nationwide Tour alumni.

Golf fans can follow the Nationwide Tour on its exclusive television home, The Golf Channel. For further information about the Tour, visit www.pgatour.com, and stay tuned to My Island Town for updates on this Fall’s Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island.

Nationwide Tour Season Kicks Off!

The Nationwide Tour’s 22nd season — and its players’ year-long quest to earn a 2012 PGA TOUR card — got underway recently at the Panama Claro Championship in Panama City, Panama.  It is the first of 26 tournaments played in 16 states in the U.S., plus three in Latin America, before concluding here on Daniel Island at the Nationwide Tour Championship in October. More than 200 players from the United States and 18 other countries will compete in this season-long quest to win one of 25 PGA TOUR for 2012.

“One of the very special things about the Nationwide Tour is that with each new year comes great anticipation and interest about which players will emerge and content for “The 25” PGA TOUR cards that are available through this tour,” said Nationwide Tour preside Bill Calfee.

Golf fans can follow the season-long quest on the Nationwide Tour’s exclusive television home, the Golf Channel. Fans may also follow the Tour on www.pgatour.com, Twitter and Facebook.

Some young, new faces to watch include: Mark Anderson, Roberto Castro, Dustin Garza, Josh Geary, Matthew Giles, James Hahn, Billy Hurley, Danny Lee, Won Joon Lee, Rob Oppenheim, Andrew Svobodoa,  Ty Tryon, and Brett Waldman.

Watch all season long, then come to Daniel Island Oct. 24-30 to meet golf’s future stars wind down the season on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course.

About The Nationwide Tour:
Founded (1990), owned and operated by the PGA Tour, the Nationwide Tour identifies those players who are ready to compete and win on golf’s biggest stage.  As the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR, two out of three PGA TOUR members are Nationwide Tour alumni.  Twenty-five PGA TOUR cards will be at stake over the course of 26 events in 2011.

Brendan Steele Captures Nationwide Tour Championship Title
on Ralston Creek Course

Spectacular weather and suspenseful competition were the highlights of this year’s Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island October 28-31, where Brendan Steele of California captured his first career win with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole to end the tournament. Following play, Steele, who finished sixth on the season’s money list, joined the rest of the top 25 money winners from the season in a ceremony at the Daniel Island clubhouse, where they received their coveted PGA TOUR cards for 2011.

Televised live on The Golf Channel, the tournament is the season-ending event for the PGA TOUR’S Nationwide Tour. Rees Jones’ championship Ralston Creek layout received rave reviews from players and PGA officials, who marveled at the condition and speed of the greens. Meanwhile, club members and fans enjoyed watching the competition unfold against a stunning backdrop of golden marsh, sweetgrass in bloom and the tidal waters of Ralston Creek.

Beyond golf, the festive 19th Hole behind the clubhouse was a popular gathering spot after play each day, with live music, cocktails and even Halloween activities for the younger fans.

Did you miss the excitement this year? Be sure to tune in next October, when the Nationwide Tour Championship returns to Daniel Island.

The Countdown is On for the 2010 Nationwide Tour Championship

The countdown for the 2010 Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island officially began this week with a media conference at the Daniel Island Club, where tournament officials detailed plans for this year’s event. Tournament organizers and representatives from the host organization, the Student Transportation of America Education Foundation (STA), were joined by current Nationwide Tour player Mark Anderson, who shared some of his experiences from his rookie season on the Tour.

“One of the great thing about the Nationwide tour is the personal connection that happens between the players, fans and media – much more so than on the PGA tour,” said Anderson. “You’re going to be really impressed with the level of golf you’ll see at the Championship in October,” he added. “It’s shaping up to be one of the best yet.”

At number 46 on the money list, Anderson is working hard to maintain his standing and secure his spot in this year’s Championship, which takes place on the Ralston Creek course October 25-31. The top 60 players on the 2010 money list compete in this season-ending event of the Nationwide Tour. A lot is at stake: In addition to competing for their share of the $1 million purse, the top 25 players on the money list at the end of the tournament will receive their PGA TOUR cards for the following season.

The tournament will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel, but those who can come out and experience the action in person are in for a real treat as they brush shoulders with golf’s future stars on the Daniel Island Club’s beautiful Ralston Creek course. For more information visit nationwidetourchampionship.com.

New Amenities Have Daniel Island Club Members Talking

The Daniel Island Club has been abuzz with excitement these days. With summer just around the corner, and warm temperatures here to stay, members of all ages are out enjoying everything from golf, swimming, tennis and croquet to tournaments and special events galore. But it’s the brand new additions to the clubhouse that everyone seems to be talking about the most.

The new wing of the clubhouse opened to members early this month. The showcase of this latest addition is a second story Grill Room with indoor and outdoor seating and stunning views of the marsh, Beresford Creek and hole 18 of the Ralston Creek course, along with a casual menu of salads, sandwiches, pizzas and entrees and a full-service bar. This will be the prime spot for viewing the action on the 18th hole during the upcoming Nationwide Tour Championship on Daniel Island this October.

The new clubhouse wing also houses the Club’s new golf shop, which has more than doubled in size to better accommodate golfers and an expanded selection of merchandise. A spacious first-story men’s lounge is accompanied by a locker room, barber shop and billiards room. All of the new spaces are enhanced by gorgeous cypress paneling and rich, Lowcountry décor.

With this latest phase now complete, plans are now underway for a beautiful new lounge and locker room for the ladies.

See the images below for more pictures of the new spaces at the clubhouse!

2009 Nationwide Tour Season Now Underway

The 2009 season of the PGA TOUR’S Nationwide Tour has begun. Celebrating its 20th-anniversary this year, the Nationwide Tour is the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR. Throughout the season’s 29 events, players compete for the chance to earn one of 25 PGA TOUR cards for the following season. And starting this year, the final winners will be determined on Daniel Island at the season-ending “Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island.” Now is the time to start following the players as they make their way towards Daniel Island this fall. These are golf’s up-and-coming stars, who will compete here at the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course October 22-25 this year.

The following video provides a good overview of what we have to look forward to this fall. Check it out, and visit PGATour.com for more video and Nationwide Tour coverage!

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