State of the Game By Ron Schmid

Here in the Carolinas, we believe that the State of the Game lies in what we do to honor its traditions. I am a proud PGA Professional and I can tell you without hesitation that one of the most important traditions we honor here in the Carolinas is the ability we have to give back to our communities and the golfers who use our spectacular facilities, both on the Grand Strand and throughout the Carolinas.

Here in the Carolinas, our section and its member PGA Professionals are the foremost purveyors of growth of the game efforts. The goal is to provide avid golfers with new experiences, new golfers with the tools to get started and returning golfers the comfortable and friendly environment they seek. We do this through the programs we host. Here on the strand, you’ll find at least one Play Golf America Day event every year, featuring free instruction from the likes of some of our top teachers, including Grande Dunes’ own Top 100 Teacher, Brad Redding.

Elsewhere in the Carolinas, you’ll find six more Play Golf America Days that change location each year to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to pick up a club.

Other Play Golf America national promotions your local PGA Professionals take part in are Free Lesson Month (May), Women’s Golf Month (June), and Family Golf Month (July) which includes Take Your Daughter to the Course week and Take Your Kids to the Golf Range.

And it doesn’t end there. In Myrtle Beach alone, more than $50,000 has been given to local charities through our own Horry County State Bank Carolinas Open. That’s $50,000 dollars given by our professionals to the people who perform vital services throughout the communities that line the Grand Strand. In fact, for each of our major tournaments we, as professionals, make it our goal to provide at least two different charities near the host facility with charitable contributions from our Pro-Ams. On the national level, one of our favorite programs as a section is Patriot Golf Day. Run by the Folds of Honor Foundation, Patriot Golf Day was started in order to provide the families of our fallen and injured armed service heroes with scholarship opportunities. To date, the Carolinas PGA Section has given more than $90,000 to this end, and more than $55,000 last year alone. It’s a cause we identify with and a cause we can all get behind.

If you would like to find a participating facility in the Myrtle Beach area for any of the programs listed above, please log on to PlayGolfAmerica.com. Remember, each PGA Professional wears many hats but only one badge. No matter your ability level, age, or gender, PGA Professionals are your friends in the community and your friends in golf.