Old South

Getting To Know: Old South Golf Links

An Insightful Interview With Bonnie Ridgely, Merchandise Manager/Marketing Coordinator

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Bonnie Ridgely who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Designed by award-winning course architect Clyde Johnston, Old South Golf Links offers one of the most exciting tests of golf in the Low-country. Old South is the only public golf course along the intra-coastal waterway and features marsh-fronted holes, three island greens and rolling Scottish terrain that will inspire you with its beauty and thrill you with its challenge.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
We are family and kid friendly with special summer rates and packages. Old South is home to abundant wildlife including alligators, turtle, fox squirrels, deer, eagles, wood storks and numerous water fowl so bring your camera. Old South offers great restaurant fare including breakfast and lunch seven days a week. The Pro Shop is well-stocked with the latest golf attire and equipment and our staff is known for their southern hospitality. Come see for yourself...we know you will enjoy your round!

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Play what you see...don't try to cut the corners on #7, #12, #15, or #16! Old South offer five sets of tees so play the one that is most appropriate for your skill level and you will enjoy your round.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Old South Golf Links has been selected as the "Low Country Golf Course of the Year" for 2011 by the Low Country Golf Course Owners Association and has received the "People's Choice" award from Hilton Head Monthly Magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. We have recently won the 2013 "Best of Bluffton" award for public golf courses.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Our signature hole is the Par 4 #16 that is a dog-leg to the left. Your first shot must carry the marsh to a generous landing area. Your second shot must carry another marsh to reach a two tiered green with a backdrop of the intra-coastal waterway. The scenery is spectacular - especially at high tide. Ladies play this hole as a Par 3 of 135 yards.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
Hole #7 is my favorite because the scenery is beautiful near the intra-coastal waterway and it requires two good shots to reach the green for a chance at birdie or par. Don't cut the corner...trouble will follow!

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Old South is famous for their breakfast and burgers but you can't go wrong with the barbecue pork sandwich.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Rick Stallings (32-30) and PJ Cowan (31-31) both shot 62 (course record) during the Teardrop Tour Championship held at Old South Golf Links on December 3, 1999.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 6772
Slope: 138
Rating: 72.7

More Information
Old South Golf Links
50 Buckingham Plantation Drive
Bluffton, South Carolina, 29910
843-785-5353
www.oldsouthgolf.com

Revised: 04/30/2014 - Article Viewed 30,658 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.