What started as 38 acres of overgrown shrubs and gnarly pine trees covering an abandoned sand and chalk mine is now a nine-hole golf course. It doesn’t feature the beauty shots of Augusta National or the Aiken Golf Club, although the team that renovated the latter, Three Amigos Golf, was responsible for bringing life to Chalk Mine 9.
It’s a private golf facility for the exclusive use of USC Aiken Men’s Golf and First Tee-Aiken, but as of Tuesday, September 27, the course can now be played by community and corporate players, for a donation.
“The donations provide maintenance for the course where our program teaches golf for elementary students, church programs, and through the YMCA,” according to First Tee-Aiken Executive Director, Heidi Hoffman.
Golf is almost incidental to the life skills and character development of First Tee participants.
“We believe it teaches honesty and respect and develops confidence that can be applied to all aspects of life.”
Hoffman refers to it as a ‘bridge to life.’ She also believes the new facility will help expand the program, which is a charitable arm of the PGA Tour.
Make no mistake, the commercials you see during PGA events for First Tee are a gift to promote and boost the program and are not paid for by First Tee.
As for Chalk Mine 9, award-winning USC Aiken golf coach, Mike Carlisle understands the benefits for both First Tee and his Pacers golf team.
“We practice at Chalk Mine 9 and look forward to the future when another green is built to make it even longer and better for our team,” Carlisle said, “and as far as First Tee-Aiken goes, anything that promotes golf is a great program.”
For land that once mined kaolin and sand, Chalk Mine 9 has taken on a new life for young and older golfers alike. If you build it, they will come? First Tee and USC Aiken’s Pacers are counting on a hole-in-one!
For more information on the donation program and how you can play Chalk Mine 9, visit First Tee Aiken.
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means!
If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
