Mobile Home Sales in Surfside Beach, SC

Happ Lathrop launched the South Carolina Golf Association’s focus on introducing the game to young people more than 30 years ago and the initiative led to creation of the S.C. Junior Golf Foundation in 1995.

The new group would provide financial support of junior golf with its mission “to enrich the lives of South Carolina’s youth through funding for educational and recreational opportunities, including junior golf program.”

Naturally, the SCJGF needed income to turn its vision into reality, and the S.C. Golf Ball emerged from discussions.

Charlie Rountree III, recently inducted into the S.C. Golf Hall of Fame, raised his hand to promote the Golf Ball idea, and, Lathrop said, “We hit the jackpot.”

The evening includes food, beverages and auctions. And the date — on the opening round of the Masters — stirs the enthusiasm for the coming golf season.

Lathrop, now retired after leading the SCGA for more than 40 years, has watched the Golf Ball grow steadily and expects the 2023 event, set for April 6 at USC’s Pastides Alumni Center in Columbia, to be the best yet.

“We’re excited,” said Alex Hamilton, SCJGF’s senior director. “The clubs are so supportive in donating rounds for our auctions. Our Tour pros are so giving with items up for bids.”

The live auction will include opportunities to bid of vacation trips to the Caribbean, a weekend at Harbour Town and a golf cart, the latter provide by PGA Tour pro Kevin Kisner working through one of his sponsors. There’s a custom-fit set of Callaway clubs up for grabs, too.

“Pulling everything together is an investment and takes some time, but it’s worth every minute,” Lathrop said.

Indeed, the Golf Ball has provided funds through the years that has enabled the foundation to award scholarships worth more than $1 million. More than $300,000 is distributed to programs statewide annually.

The state’s junior program remains one of the nation’s best, but the emphasis is more than on the most skilled players. Introducing youngsters of all backgrounds to the game at the grass-roots level is a primary objective. Funding for scholarships and providing free instruction and equipment always will be a priority.

“We’ve had terrific response from businesses, the entire golf community,” Hamilton said. “It’s fun to work with them to truly grow the game.”

On-course achievements of state junior program alumni include 50 PGA Tour tournament wins; a Masters, a FedEx Cup and two U.S. Open champions; three LPGA Tour tourney wins; a U.S. Women’s Amateur champion; and numerous members of U.S. national professional and amateur teams. Players who learned the game in the state program have won both the NCAA men’s and women’s individual championship, and state players formed Clemson’s 2003 national championship team.

“Those are the players you read and hear about, but junior golf touches so many more youngsters, both with scholarships and golf programs,” Hamilton said. “Events such as the Golf Ball provide the funding.”

“Come Casual and Ready to Celebrate” is the 2023 Golf Ball theme, and, indeed, there is plenty about the game to celebrate.

Only mobile tickets purchased online will be available. Go to www.scjgf.org, then click on “events” and “South Carolina Golf Ball” to secure tickets and sponsorships.

Chip shots. Eddie Hargett (Blythewood) and Walter Todd (Laurens), who have combined to dominate the SCGA’s senior player of the year award for the past seven years, joined forces to win the Senior Four-Ball title at the Reserve Club at Pawleys Island. Todd’s birdie on the third playoff hole secured the championship over the duo of Tim Teaster (Cayce) and Sammy Truett (Surfside Beach). ... USC’s women’s team won two of three matches in competition among nationally ranked teams in the Cactus Cup in Phoenix, Arizona. The fourth-ranked Gamecocks edged No. 6 San Jose State and No. 11 Arizona State and lost to No. 8 Texas. ... USC’s Nathan Franks posted his second straight top-five finish, a tie for fourth, in the General Hackler Championship at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach. Coupled with his tie for second in the Palmetto Collegiate, the performances earned Franks the SEC men’s golfer of the week award. In team competition, the Gamecocks finished ninth. ... Junior Annabelle Pancake placed second individually and led Clemson’s women to a fourth-place finish in the 2023 Clover Cup in Mesa, Arizona. ... Ryan Bozard (Charleston) claimed the boys’ title and Taryn Smoak (Lexington) won the girls’ championship in the SCJGA’s rain-shortened Caddie Classic at Carolina Springs GC in Fountain Inn.

Balsam Range, Haywood County’s sensational bluegrass band, is ready for the next chapter of its acclaimed and chart-topping musical history.

The band announced the addition of mandolin artist Alan Bibey, a virtuoso with numerous Mandolin Player of the Year awards under his belt. After 15 years of performing with the five original band members, this is the first time Balsam Range has named a new band mate.

When founding member and mandolin player Darren Nicholson left the band in December to pursue a solo career, Balsam Range decided to take its time naming a new member.

“The decision was organic, as Balsam Range has always been,” said Balsam Range vocalist and fiddle player Buddy Melton. “When Darren announced he was moving on — and we’re supportive of that — we didn’t post any notices for a mandolin player. Instead, we let it happen as it should.”

Bibey, who performs with the band Grasstowne, contacted Balsam Range shortly after learning Nicholson was leaving.

“Balsam Range is an authentic, amazing band,” Bibey said. “I’ve always been a fan of their music and great songs. They are a great band of brothers.”

Being frequent performers on bluegrass concert stages, Bibey knew Balsam Range, and they knew him.

“Alan started playing with us in January, and we knew from the first show that he was the guy to join our band,” Melton said. “He’s considered one of the best. It’s incredible to have someone of Alan’s caliber join us. I’m such a fan of his.”

Bibey will be the only Balsam Range band member who is not from Haywood County. He hails from the Piedmont area, namely Walnut Cove in Stokes County. There, he started playing music at age 5. His childhood home was full of musical instruments, and he played mandolin, guitar, bass and fiddle.

“I’ve always loved the western North Carolina area,” Bibey said. “While I’m from the foothills, I’m drawn to the mountains.”

Bibey reached out to Balsam Range when he heard about the mill shutdown in the band’s hometown of Canton, wanting to know how to help.

“I’m a North Carolina boy and those mill people are my people,” Bibey said. “We’re all North Carolinians.”

The ‘brotherhood’ of the Balsam Range musicians is something Bibey was seeking. By all accounts, he’s fitting right in.

“With Alan Bibey joining us, we’re inspired, rejuvenated and have new excitement,” Melton said. “It’s now full steam ahead. Here we go to the next chapter.”

Bibey, who currently lives in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, has been playing with Balsam Range since the beginning of January — and rehearsing the Balsam Range repertoire every day. Among his favorite Balsam Range songs are “Trains I Missed” and “Grit and Grace.”

To bond and work on new music, Balsam Range rented a house in South Carolina for the four remaining Balsam Range co-founders to spend time with Bibey, getting to know him and exploring new music.

“It felt natural from the beginning,” Bibey said. “We had good energy — and this feels like home.”

Balsam Range fans will be happy to know the band has been in the studio working on new music. Bibey played and contributed vocals on the new recordings.

“Alan is a great singer,” Melton said. “Balsam Range is known for its songs, and it’s awesome to have four great singers for harmony and changing the lead singer.”

A single recorded with the new line-up, “What the Years Do,” releases March 24, available for pre-order on most streaming platforms.

Bibey describes his style of playing as “bluesy, with my own kind of triplets — a flurry of notes super-fast.” In addition to his band Grasstowne, Bibey also played with top bluegrass bands New Quicksilver and IIIrd Tyme Out. He’s a featured musician and singer at the Carolina Opry Theater in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Happy to encourage bluegrass musicians, Bibey hosts a yearly ‘camp’ for mandolin, guitar and bass players in Surfside Beach.

Bibey said his focus now will be as a member of Balsam Range.

“We are super glad to have him,” said Balsam Range vocalist and bass player Tim Surrett. “Alan seems like a great fit.”

SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Every 10 years, Surfside Beach town leaders sit down and draft A 10-year-year long road map for the future.

Mayor Bob Hellyer said the comprehensive plan is all about creating a vision to help leaders realize how they want to grow and change to keep the town moving in the right direction.

Hellyer said devising a new plan every 10 years is necessary. As the world changes, it is important for the town to keep up, although, he said he thinks many people who live in Surfside Beach do not want any change at all.

“If you ask the residents, the residents don’t want anything to change,” Hellyer said. “Everybody moved here for a reason. They love this place. They don’t want it to change.”

But change is necessary.

“Of course, that’s not realistic because it’s going to [change],” Hellyer said. “It’s just we need to set the rules for the changes and how it’s gonna be made.”

One thing that is important to leadership is keeping the town’s integrity. He said Surfside Beach has grown to have the feel of a quaint “family beach,” and leaders want the infrastructure in the town to match that feel.

“We redid our ordinance that has to do with height limits,” Hellyer said. “You’ll see that the difference between us and all of our neighbors is we don’t have big, high-rise apartments on our beach,” Hellyer said. “We don’t have any 14-story buildings. Everything that we have is 55 feet or below, and that’s what gives us that beach feeling. The Family Beach.”

The town’s leaders want the opinions of residents as they devise the plan, and there will be a meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Dick M. Johnson Civic Center where community members are encouraged to share thoughts and concerns.

“I think that they’re going to give their opinions, and our contractor’s gonna be there to listen to those, and they’re gonna plug everything in, and then they’re gonna make recommendations to the planning commission,” Hellyer said.

He said the comprehensive plan should be completed by the end of the year.

SURFSIDE BEACH — Surfside Beach officials recently announced a long-time Grand Strand ice cream staple will open a location on the under-construction town’s pier slated to open sometime next spring.

The owners of Painter’s Homemade Ice Cream in Murrells Inlet and the south strand town finalized a 10-year agreement at the beginning of November. The financial terms of the lease were not disclosed.

“We hope that Painter’s at the Pier will be a staple of the local community and an active part of continuing our area’s growth as the premier beach destination for decades to come,” stated the business owners in a recent Facebook post.

Originally, Painter’s Homemade Ice Cream started in North Myrtle Beach in 1952. Their ice cream has been featured nationally in magazines, books and on television.

The north strand location, still in operation, and the current Murrells Inlet spot, located at 2115 U.S. 17 Business, have different owners.

Painter’s Homemade Ice Cream is the second business so far that has been named for the upcoming pier. The Surf Diner restaurant, which operated for years at the old pier, is also expected to return to its former oceanfront spot.

Construction continues on the Surfside Beach Pier, six years after it was all but destroyed by Hurricane Matthew.

When finished, it will be the only oceanfront concrete pier in South Carolina — previously it was made with wood. It will also be approximately the same length as the old one, 800 feet, but will be nine feet taller at 25 feet.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency provided $9.5 million for the more than $18 million project, with the town covering the rest of the cost.

Sweet tooth

A national dessert chain recently opened a franchise off of International Drive near Carolina Forest.

The Peach Cobbler Factory, located at 223 Fresh Drive Unit D in the Lowes Foods shopping center, features twelve flavors of peach cobbler and banana pudding as well as six styles of cinnamon rolls.

Some of the cobbler flavors, according to the chain’s website, include peach, blackberry, cherry, caramel apple, sweet potato pecan, mango peach and honey apple. Some of the pudding options include banana, red velvet, Butterfinger, Oreo, Nutella, and peanut butter and jelly.

Among beverage choices are the company’s sweet peachy tea, cold rush coffee, milk and bottled water.

Founded in 2013 in Nashville, Tenn., the Carolina Forest franchise is the chain’s first expansion into the Grand Strand market.

Operating hours are noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Earning rewards

Greg Norman Australian Grille, located at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, recently started a guest loyalty program for repeat customers.

Norman, an entrepreneur and retired professional golfer, opened the restaurant in 1999.

Under the free rewards program, diners earn points for each dollar spent on food and non-alcoholic drinks. Those who join receive 50 points automatically after signing up.

The restaurant said accumulating 500 points results in a $100 off reward. Guests can redeem up to $100 in reward dollars per visit.

Members can also earn double points during specific times of the year, as well as receive news about special events and promotions before the general public.

To learn more visit gregnormanaustraliangrille.com/rewards.

SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - You might start getting into the holiday spirit after Thanksgiving, but one local artist nicknamed Tommy Christmas stays in the zone year-round making handmade holiday decorations.

Tommy Christmas said he actually got into making wooden creations by accident three years ago.

“I did a job with my family, and I took home a piece of plywood. My brother handed it to me and said, ‘go make a Grinch’. So, I made a Grinch,” said Tommy Christmas.

He said the very first six-foot-tall Grinch he made from wood sold within 20 minutes.

So, he started up a Facebook page and the business took off.

Now, Tommy Christmas recently moved into a workshop because he simply outgrew his garage where orders for his handmade Christmas decorations started piling up.

He spends all day in his workshop making Christmas decorations year-round, and his most requested item is still his original Grinch.

I asked Tommy Christmas why he enjoys working nonstop on his Christmas decorations and his answer was pretty simple.

“I love Christmas. Who doesn’t love Christmas? I’m here, everybody loves Christmas in this state. They love Christmas. Everybody does. So, that’s what I know. That’s what I do and that’s what I do best. So, that’s why I do it. I love it,” said Tommy Christmas.

He said he’s sold over 200 decorations this year and is already planning to make another 100 Grinches next month for a big order.

However, he doesn’t only spend his time cutting out six-foot Grinches.

Tommy Christmas also brings holiday cheer to storefronts across the Grand Strand.

You’ll find his Christmas paintings on businesses and Restaurants in Myrtle Beach, Conway, Georgetown, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Murrells Inlet and Surfside Beach.

Tommy Christmas said, at the end of the day, carving wood and making decorations for you and your family to enjoy is not only what he spends most of his time on but what he enjoys doing the most.

“I’ll watch a couple of Christmas movies as I’m going along and keep the door open if people want to come in for the last items for Christmas. I enjoy this. I like doing this. I like when the little kids come in here when they’re gonna pick up their stuff. That’s what I enjoy,” said Tommy Christmas.

He says his goal for next year is to put up a big sign on the front of his shop so people will know where he is.

He also wants to set up a workshop outside for kids to paint small wooden decorations.

You can find pictures and videos of Tommy Christmas’ work on his Facebook by clicking here.

His shop is located at 411 Highway 17 South in Surfside Beach.

You can also reach him at (516) 314-4793.

Copyright 2022 WMBF. All rights reserved.