Hilton Head Sports

Check out Monthly’s top 10 where and how kayaking guide.

It’s time to drag the dusty kayaks out of the garage and hit the local waters. The only problem: There are so many serene settings to choose from, where should you start? A couple of local kayak specialists — north and south of Broad Creek — offer up their favorite paddling places, as well as tips to get you started this season.

1. Broad Creek
   Carlos Chacon, the natural history manager at the Coastal Discovery Museum, puts Shelter Cove Marina at the top of his list because of its location — roughly the middle of Broad Creek. “This means that when you enter the creek, you can always choose to go against the tide and use the tide on your way back,” he said.
2. The best paddling time
   Choose the best time of the day, week and season for the ultimate Lowcountry experience. For starters, try kayaking early in the morning for heightened bird activity and during the week when there are less boats on the water, Chacon said.

Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) $25,000 Championships were held in conjunction with the PTR International Tennis Symposium, Feb. 14-20 at PTR Headquarters on Hilton Head Island. 

Minimum air time, maximum ground time.

Chipping can also be described as a glorified putt, with a lofted club.

The goal of chipping is to strike the ball solidly to your specific target (your target should be approximately 1-2 paces on the green, regardless of the length you are from the hole) and get it to roll farther than it carries in the air, (ex. a pitching wedge will have an approx. ratio of 1 part carry and 1 part roll; a 7 iron however, will have an approx. ratio of 1 part carry and 4 parts roll).

The motion is a simple one similar to putting, in that there are few moving parts.

Another similarity to putting is that we set up (address position) in an impact position.

Bob Bigelow, one of the country’s foremost speakers on coaching youth sports, will kick off the International Tennis Symposium, Feb. 15-19 on Hilton Head Island.

USCB’s Sand Sharks take inaugural tourney.

Tradition National Golf Club in Hardeeville hosted the first J. Lindeberg-USCB Sand Sharks Classic golf tournament Nov. 8-9. The USCB Sand Sharks men’s team won out over a strong competitive field of college teams, including Savannah College of Art and Design, Berry College, Webber International University, and Edward Waters College. The USCB women golfers came in second among competitors from Northwood College, Spartanburg Methodist College, SCAD, Berry and Webber International.

“It wasn’t a huge field, but it was a very, very competitive one,” said USCB Coach Shane LeBaron. “Several teams, including Berry and SCAD, are in the top 20. I’m very proud of how well our guys did on their home course.”

Ninth annual Candy Cane Classic benefits Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island.

The Sea Pines Country Club hosts the ninth annual Candy Cane Classic on Dec. 6.

Golfers and tennis players can enjoy fun and fellowship while contributing to the programs of the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island.

“This gives me the chance to play golf for a great cause,” said tennis great Stan Smith, a member of the board of the Boys & Girls Club. “Tennis is my life, and each time I play golf I realize just how lucky I am to be proficient at tennis!”

More than 140 golfers will join together at the event sponsored by Beacon Insurance Group for a continental breakfast, a round of golf, a luncheon buffet and a fabulous auction. Tennis players will enjoy a double round robin, luncheon buffet and auction too. The cost for golfers is $155 including golf cart, range balls, all meals, beverages, hole in one, prize drawings and mulligans. The tennis entry fee is $100 per person and includes doubles round robin, luncheon buffet, auction and beverages.

TOMI can help knock strokes off your game.

Golfers of all skill levels can now benefit from a fine-tuning of their game with the high-tech TOMI putting instruction device and the  K-VEST swing improvement apparatus at The Village Golf Shop.

TOMI, which stands for Total Optimal Motion Instructor, is brand new technology and already has received rave reviews nationally from top golf instructors and players over the past several months.

Hampton Hall Veterans Week Celebration November 10-14.

The Hampton Hall Men’s Golf Society will honor men and women in uniform Nov. 10-14 with a free round of golf at the Hampton Hall Golf Club.

The society is pleased to invite all active duty and retired military personnel to a round of golf with complimentary greens fees at the prestigious Pete Dye Golf Course at Hampton Hall.

There will be a $20 cart fee. Military identification will be required. Space is limited; 240 rounds are available.