in a few hours. The Ambassador Members volunteer time and money to the Congaree Foundation, which is the foundation that the club was built around. Approximately 30 minutes north of Savannah, Ga., the entrance to Congaree is one of those blink and youll miss it type of roads (and I didmy GPS first led me to a private driveway that a few excitable watchdogs chased me out of) with a subtle brick wall and white wooden gate. Founded by billionaires Dan Friedkinand the late Houston Texans owner Robert McNair, the club runs weeklong golf academies in which youngsters from around the world are also given intensive training that involves SAT preparation, life-skills lessons, and sessions with an athletic counselor who matches students with colleges. That can make it strong, especially for this level of play. Lucas Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, South Carolina native, and one of Congaree Golf Club's pro ambassadors, also spoke at the event. Congaree is less than 15 miles from the border of South Carolina and Georgia. While also joining one of the best golf courses built in the last 100 years.. The course ranked second among South Carolina courses on Golf Weeks 2020 list of the best private courses state by state. Maeve Cummins of Northern Ireland is among the members of the inaugural Congaree Global Golf [+] Initiative in 2017. Hes succeeded, and perhaps that should come as no surprise for an architect who impressively has 24 courses (including Diamond Creek) ranked among the 100 best modern courses in the U.S. Developed by two men who already owned high-end private golf clubs - Friedkin Group chairman Dan Friedkin with Diamond Creek Golf Club and Houston Texas owner the late Bob McNair with The Golf Club at Briar's Creek - the philanthropic golf facility at Congaree Golf Club is probably unlike any you've come across before. The brawny course is relatively flat, with a change of only about 30 feet from its highest to lowest points, but there are still some cavernous bunkers and vast waste areas, many of which have the sharp edges like those found in the Australian sandbelt. Eleven others went through the program a week earlier. I only heard about the clubs unique vision from a mutual friend in the industry and, intrigued, actively sought to learn more. Bloomberg Surveillance, covering the latest news in finance, economics and investments. Although the course generally doesnt get much wind, Fazio said, its vital to anticipate how the ball moves along the ground. When I read it, I was freaking out, Cummins said. Putting me into Carson Newman, putting me in contact with coaches, I graduated a year early, and now Im in a Masters program. "Ambassadors is a word we chose because. It really feels like Congaree expanded my network, but even further than that, its my golf family. While No. His mother Terri, a collegiate golfer and basketball player at Iowa State, started teaching him the game as a 3-year-old. In replacement of the traditional member system at most golf clubs, Congaree has an extended membership of over 200 Ambassador Members. Ambassadors is a word we chose because the spreading of the word and what we do with our philanthropy here, our ambassadors really truly are ambassadors, Davidson says. The course has been praised as one of the top courses in the country since it opened in 2018. In designing a course decidedly different from those hes done in the past, Fazio was tasked with creating a balance of reward and punishment demanded by whichever teeing area the golfer chooses. The couple of guidance counselors in Jasper County are greatly overextended there are 670 students in nearby Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School and many kids rely on schools to supply the majority of their meals. Its overarching mission is to offer educational, vocational and golf instruction opportunities to underprivileged and deserving youth, with current and prospective ambassadors ranging well beyond titans of industry from an NFL Hall of Famer and national championship-winning coach to a Hall of Fame recording artist and a Grammy Award-winning country singer. You can reach him at joshua_berhow@golf.com. How does Congaree find its club ambassadors? Those 200 or so ambassadors make a healthy contribution each year to the Congaree Foundation, which funds the club's Global Golf Initiative. The dates in game are still on the same 7 day cycle. The club revolves primarily around the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, which combines golf instruction and college prep curriculum to help high schoolers interested in the sport pursue postsecondary education. Our ambassadors go down there and give out food, sometimes $15 -20,000 a day." All of this happens out of a golf club that sits tucked behind a white gate that has no signage and no intention of being found by anyone not intending to go there. He has a long and successful career teaching amateur and professional golfers at all levels, including those on the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, European Tour, Curtis Cup and Walker Cup participants. Bruce Davidson, Director of Golf at The Friedkin Group, is a native Scotsman and long-time golf instructor. All share a love of golf and a passion for helping others. "It's a privilege to welcome THE CJ CUP to South Carolina and Congaree. Robert C. McNair (Jan. 1, 1937 Nov. 23, 2018), a leading businessman, sportsman and philanthropist in Houston, Texas for more than 50 years, was the founder, senior chairman and chief executive officer of the Houston Texans National Football League team. Dan Friedkin is the chairman of The Friedkin group, which is a consortium of businesses that operates in the luxury hospitality, automotive, entertainment, and golf industries. Other private clubs have sought to imitate the Congaree approach in some respects. The fairways arent the only place where the balls will run; the greens are fast, challenging and roll true as a pool table. Live Oaks that are hundreds of years old. [1], Congaree was named Golf Digest's best new private course for 2018, as well as being named the best golf course built during the decade of 201019. They not only promote the club but lend their time and capital. The Golf Channel has called these efforts to help young people succeed academically while promoting the game of golf to the next generation "A new level of philanthropy on a humanitarian level. With a long carry off the tee, including a bite-off-what-you-dare line over a massive waste area, and then a raised green fronted by another vast expanse of sand, some visiting pros have already suggested the 8th hole at Congaree is the hardest par-4 in the world. Through perseverance, therapy and tons of friend support, I was able to get back into it. The Impact of Congaree Foundation In a short amount of time, the philanthropic efforts of Congaree Foundation have been diverse and widespread. OMeara, who won the Masters and Open Championship in 1998, says the shot values at Congaree are unsurpassed.. Dan Friedkin is one of the founding members and, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair is one of the, founders of Congaree. In the words of Jim Nantz, Congaree hosts the third event of the South Carolina swing on the PGA Tour in 2021, alongside Aprils RBC Heritage at Harbour Town and the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in May, with a $7.8 million purse up for grabs for the full 156-player field. A graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, Tom is a PGA Class A Professional. Rather than members, Congaree has roughly 250 ambassadors, prominent individuals who promote the club while lending time and money to a greater cause. Senior tour golfer Bobby Wadkins was there the same time I visited and said the turf was so hard he was having trouble getting tees in the ground. Supported by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and The Friedkin Group, proceeds from the event will benefit Congaree Foundation (PalmettoChampionship.com). Rather than members, Congaree has roughly 250 "ambassadors," prominent individuals who promote the club while lending time and money to a greater cause. Congaree Golf Club is situated at 8589 Grays Highway in Ridgeland, South Carolina. Davidson and McNeely scouted six to eight locations, but the inland property that would become Congaree stood out from its sandy soil perfect for building a golf course to its peaceful hunting grounds and historic feel. Friedkins colleagues say he has an insatiable curiosity, excels at whatever he dives into, prefers to keep a low profile, and is so bright that hell have the answer to your second question chambered before you finish the first. The course is often described as a heathland style course and is inspired by the sandbelt region golf courses of Australia. They are only here a week, but they are a Congaree kid, and if you are a Congaree kid and abide by your charter, which is to work hard, be nice to people and get to college, then well support you forever, Davidson says. A participant in the Congaree Global Golf Initiative putts out during a summer trip to the club in [+] rural South Carolina. General information. This is not a club for the individual. Copyright 2020 Links Magazine, All rights Reserved. Congaree is 40 miles from Hilton Head Island. There is no initiation fee, only dues. Congaree has maintained many of the buildings used in the film some going back to pre-1800 and added a few of their own to blend in with the history. If people are leaving the Augusta area during Masters week, you know it has to be for something special. She was instrumental in the development of the CGGI and continues to contribute to its on-going success. A world-class golf club with a philanthropic mission at its core. Friedkins core business is Gulf States Toyota, a $8.4 billion car distributor serving more than 150 dealerships across five southern states. After McNairs passing in 2018, membership dropped to one. Results Since 2017 138 Program Graduates 48 The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. All sandy expanses at Congaree are deemed natural areas, so players are permitted to ground their club anywhere, anytime. And theyre invited in on an annual basis. There are 26 guest rooms in total, with accommodations spread between various charming cottages and the inn. The membership process is old-fashioned: by referral only. The group of U.S. and international high school students receive the highest level of athletic coaching and academic resource tools, helping guide them through the college admissions process. [12], In September 2019, Congaree made an unsuccessful pitch at hosting the 2025 Presidents Cup. According to Davidson, ambassadors have raised approximately $15.5 million for the Congaree Foundation. ", "A template for the future for private clubs.". The founders of Congaree - Dan Friedkin and the late Bob McNair - set out to create a new philanthropic model that unites ambassador-members with a shared purpose to positively impact the lives of young people, locally and around the globe, by providing educational and vocational opportunities through the game of golf. So this week Congaree hosts Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and the PGA Tour. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. I thought theres no way somebody wants to take you to America and do all this stuff for you. After a tee shot over a road on the 1st, the 2nd (a straightaway par five with a forced carry off the tee) and 3rd (a drivable par four bending left) immediately stick out among the most memorable. We had to build a world-class club to pique the interest of the people that you need in this business model, which doesnt measure return on investment in terms of dollars, says Davidson. In addition to her involvement with Congaree Foundation, Lesley is employed by The Friedkin Group, supporting the Family Office Legal Team and working on special projects. Some of the famous ambassadors of Congaree Golf Club from the world of golf include: Some notable ambassadors from the business world include Jim Crane, Dermot Desmond, and Jim Pallotta. We are trying to get these kids into colleges in America, where they can study and earn a degree, and at the same time play golf.. The Congaree Golf Club will get its chance to shine this week when it hosts the Palmetto Championships, . Will millions of golf fans getting their first glimpse of this amazing golf course north of . Friedkins edict was to find a great piece of land that was accessible from the Eastern seaboard. 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