Hilton Head Sports

When most people think of rock climbing, they likely conjure up images of California’s Yosemite Valley, Wyoming’s Teton Range or even the European Alps. For the Southeast adventurer, however, there is no need to get on an airplane; world-class climbing can be but a short drive away. 
The southern Appalachian Mountains are composed of some the earth’s oldest rock, most of which is hidden beneath lush forests. Scattered throughout the high country of the Carolinas and Georgia, you will find a few places where exposed granite walls protrude towards the sky. Most people will only look up at these walls in awe, but only a few will lay their hands on the warm rock and start climbing.

Traditionally there have been, more or less, a couple ways to camp. If you wanted to really get into nature, you could traipse into the woods with your canned rations and two-man tent on your back, and hope to find a fairly flat surface and non-poisonous leaves.
If you wanted more creature comforts, you could drive your RV or pop-up camper to a campground site with varying amounts of privacy, indoor plumbing and/or nature nearby.
But what if you want the best of both? What if you want a spectacular view and a mattress? Well then, try “glamping.”

Pat Van Der Meer grateful her husband Dennis is still alive following a massive stroke three years ago

The name Van Der Meer in the tennis world is as familiar as Billie Jean King’s. But the life story of Dennis and Pat Van Der Meer is much more than one of global recognition and respect; it’s really a love story on many levels.

Tennis brought them together for the first time in 1980 on Hilton Head Island, and they have been together ever since. They have been husband and wife, best friends, business partners, world travelers, coaches, authors and innovators.

HILTON HEAD HIGH wins fourth straight state award for outstanding athletic programs

For the fourth consecutive year, Hilton Head Island High School has received top statewide honors for its athletic programs.

 
The Directors Cup, an annual recognition bestowed by the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association, honors the state’s top athletics programs in each high school classification. Hilton Head Island High has now won the Class 3A cup in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Never Stop Peddling the Topic

There is a group that never wants Hilton Head Island to forget about the importance of bicycling to the local economy.

The HHI Bicycling Advocacy Committee, formed after the island earned a silver award in 2011 as a Bike-Friendly Community from the League of American Bicyclists, tirelessly creates and promotes bike-related events and efforts in order to weave bicycling into the fabric of life on Hilton Head.

The 25 volunteers’ work ranges from building and distributing mobile bike racks at community events in hopes more people will arrive on two wheels, to encouraging the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Bike & Dine Week that paired dining deals with biking.

FACT
The Town of HHI spends $175,000 per year maintaining bike trails and bike lanes. Since 2010, it’s spent $1 million on bike trails, including construction and rights of way.

Harbour Town Golf Links is one of the most distinguished golf courses on the PGA Tour. It is consistently ranked among top courses in the world by publications such as Golf Digest, Golfweek and Travel & Leisure magazine. Here is a hole-by-hole description of the course, which has hosted the Heritage since 1969.

HARBOUR TOWN GOLF LINKS
11 Lighthouse Lane, Hilton Head Island
Par: 36/35 — 71
Yardage: 3540/3561 — 7101

Photo by Arno Dimmling

JOHN BROWN ADDS EAGLE'S POINTE, CRESCENT POINTE TO HIS PORTFOLIO

Since his 2011 purchase of Pinecrest Golf Club and subsequent acquisition of Is land West soon thereafter, John Brown has made an indelible mark on the Hilton Head/Bluffton golf industry in a very short period of time.

His most recent move, however, has absolutely changed the landscape of golf membership in the region. Brown, the co-founder and president of Brown Golf Management, assumed ownership of popular Bluffton sister courses Eagle’s Pointe and Crescent Pointe on Aug. 1 through a venture-capitalist partnership, greatly increasing the company’s profile in the region’s vital golf industry.

In fact, not only does the purchase create a foursome of Lowcountry layouts to offer its growing membership base and its daily-fee players, it makes Brown Golf the second largest golf course operator in the Hilton Head region behind only Heritage Golf, which has six island facilities.

Lead instructor Hank Haney has parted ways with the International Junior Golf Academy and has been replaced by Kevin Smeltz. Haney, the former swing coach of Tiger Woods, has been affiliated with the academy since 2007. The academy features a staff of golf instructors, mental trainers, college placement advisors and fitness coaches who train nearly 150 junior golfers from more than 25 countries across six continents. Smeltz was an instructor at The David Leadbetter Academy and has worked with many professional golfers including Camilo Villegas, D.A. Points and Charles Howell III. The Greenville native will be based in Hilton Head when not traveling to work with professionals on tour. A common complaint students made about Haney was the lack of time he spent at the academy.