untry
by IAN GUERIN
Known for its history and food, Charleston has built a
reputation as a strong South Carolina golf destination
T
HE HISTORICAL VIRTUES of Charles-
ton, South Carolina, have been chronicled
for generations.
There’s Fort Sumter and Boone Hall, celebraed
seaport artifacts and nameless antebellum mansions.
Charles Town, as it was originally known, survived war
battles, mass fires and disease. All the while, it contin-
ued to evolve and even act as a harbinger for rest of the
Palmetto State and the Southeast.
So in the year 2020, when it will be celebrating its
350th anniversary, the party will be deserved.
But what is frequently lost in the annals of one of
the 20 oldest cities in the country is that it was home
to the first golf site in North America. The lightly
organized park, Harleston Green, opened in 1786.
And while it changed hands and locales multiple
times (and later became known as the Country Club
of Charleston), the new-age clubs that later joined
the fray have brought about a boon all their own.
The area’s courses, now more than 20 total, have
prospered in state, region and national rankings.
A third of them, in fact, were named to the South
Carolina Golf Course Ratings Panel’s top 30 public
course listings for 2017.
That sort of credibility continues to elevate Charles-
ton’s status as one of the truly great golf spots on the
East Coast. As such, it’s a great travel spot for Virgin-
ians looking to stretch their legs, be it for the first time
or a repeat visit. We’re going to illuminate not only
some of those courses you should check out, but also
some food and entertainment options that are easy
pairings for the fantastic golf.
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