What's Happening in McCormick County, South Carolina Summer Lake Information:  Lake Thurmond, the largest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project east of the Mississippi River, was built between 1946 and 1954 as part of a comprehensive plan of development for the Savannah River Basin. Lake Thurmond is one of the 10 most visited Corps lakes in the nation, serving about seven million visitors annually. The lake offers camping, day use areas, boating, fishing, hunting, and trails. Baker Creek State Park, Hamilton Branch State Recreation Area, and Hickory Knob State Resort Park are located on the shores of the lake. Check for information about the Corp of Engineers Campgrounds and Day spots around the entire lake including Hawe Creek, Leroys’ Ferry, Modoc and Mount Carmel.   Or for further inf... 05/22/2009

What Do South Carolinians Think? South Carolina, like any other state, faces challenges and needs that affect both personal life and growth within our state.  The Jim Self Center on the Future at Clemson University conducted a survey of South Carolinians to get information on quality of life issues. . Which issues (from the list below) do you think are the most important to South Carolinians?   Tell me your top three and I'll post what the study revealed later!  Also, I added an issue.  Which one of the issues below was not surveyed? Education Economy  Housing Health Care Environment Growth & Development Population Government Service Civil Liberties Crime War Other issues (name your own) Don't know Top three issues in South Carolina:   1. 2. 3. Issue in list above that was not surveyed... 05/16/2009

Planning for College in South Carolina Planning for college for our children is one of the most important decisions we make as a family.  The Strom Thurmond Institute of Government & Public Affairs at Clemson University has prepared a guide, a roadmap to success designed for South Carolina children and families planning for college.  Planning for College - A Comprehensive Guide for Families provides information to help a family make educational decisions from middle and high school, but focuses on higher education in our in-state public and private schools with 2-year and 4-year programs.  Information on financial aid is included.  According to the guide, 'the future of South Carolina rests entirely on the education of its citizens - health, economic development, and overall well being ... 05/14/2009

Hit the Road with Road Warriors in McCormick, South Carolina South Carolina is a beautiful state.  And it takes the cooperation of all residents and visitors to keep it that way.  Springtime is clean-up time and May is the month when South Carolinians get together to make improvements throughout our state.  Keep South Carolina Beautiful is a state affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful campaign and a division of PalmettoPride.  The mission of Keep South Carolina Beautiful is to encourage all individuals to take responsibility for enhancing their local communities.  In McCormick County, the Road Warriors are a part of the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Adopt-a-Highway program.  Originally formed by community members from Savannah Lakes Village, residents periodicall... 05/12/2009

05/02/2009

McCormick Offers More Than Just Golf via Nick MacKay, Hooters Tour Player DOB-5/11/81 27 years old Hometown-Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia Graduated from Jacksonville State University May 2005 (Communications/English) 2004 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year 2004 Ohio Valley Conference Individual Champion 2004 Regional All-American Turned Professional May 2005 Hooters Tour Member 2006-Present HOOTERS TOUR STATS Career Low Round 63 (-9) 2007 Buffalo Run Casino Classic   I was speaking to a fellow player a couple of weeks ago and we were discussing our up-coming schedules. We spoke about the different events we would be playing and off hand I asked if he was playing the tournament at Savannah Lakes. His response?   “Hell yeah! I live for that tournament man!”   There’s a reason so m... 04/30/2009

Welcome Hooters Golf Tour to Savannah Lakes Village & Golf Clubs! The NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour is having its premiere golf tournament, the Savannah Lakes Village Classic at Monticello Golf Course in McCormick, SC this week.  On Sunday and Monday, more than 170 professional golfers arrived in our community to prepare for the tournament.  Monday’s activities included Monday qualifying (10 qualifying spots) and practice rounds, a Junior Golf Clinic conducted for young people from McCormick and the highlight of the day – the Palmetto Angler Fishing Contest.  The fishing contest has become a favorite of the golfers – a way to kick back and relax before the tournament begins. Because McCormick is such a small community, residents of Savannah Lakes Village house and feed these young golfers f... 04/29/2009

'Firewise' Landscaping In a previous blog, How 'Firewise'Is Your Home?,we addressed suggestions for 'Firewise' construction.  This is especially relevant in our area because the woodlands of our state, South Carolina are easily susceptible to fire fires.  But all areas of the country are susceptible to fires to one degree or another.  With the ongoing and devastating fires in the Myrtle Beach(Horry County) area of South Carolina, all home owners should learn and incorporate 'fireswise' practices.    Savannah Lakes Village in McCormick County has been designated as a 'Firewise' Community since 2006.  In the Architectural Expectations for new construction in Savannah Lakes Village, guidelines are given for ‘Firewise’ landscaping. They are as follows:    SUGGESTED FIREWISE LANDSCAPING CHEC... 04/26/2009

Being 'Firewise' With the ongoing and devastating fires in the Myrtle Beach (Horry County) area of South Carolina, we are reminded of the need to be extra careful with any outside burning! This is expecially true in wooded areas. McCormick County is made up of primarily woodlands with much of our county acreage designated as Sumter National Forest, South Carolina Wildlife Management areas, and South Carolina State Parks. The woodlands are part of the charm of our area and provide wonderful resources. However for the sake of fire safety, Savannah Lakes Village in McCormick County has been designated as a 'Firewise' Community since 2006.  Being 'Firewise' in Savannah Lakes means not only understanding the potential of wildfire in our area but taking steps to limit the risk. Although we ha... 04/24/2009

Georgia Bike Ride to Finish in Savannah Lakes Village   BRAG (The Bike Ride Across Georgia), with more than 1,600 riders, will complete their week long bicycle ride through Georgia at Savannah Lakes Village in McCormick, SC on Saturday, June 13. With registration beginning in Hiawassee, Georgia on Saturday, June 6, the riders will ride across Lake Thurmond to Savannah Lakes by way of Dahlonega, Mt. Airy, Athens, Elberton, and Washington. If you’re in the area, keep your calendar free for this amazing sight! The riders will begin to arrive at the Savannah Lakes Resort, just across Lake Thurmond into South Carolina around 11:30 (for the first and fastest finishers). Others will arrive throughout the morning and afternoon until about 2:30 or 3PM. ‘The National Treasures’, the Beauty Become... 04/23/2009

Just like that little ant, we have . . . high hopes, we have high hopes . . .   The Humane Society of McCormick - McCormick, SC needs your help!  We need your vote for our Humane Society in the ongoing Animal Rescue Site Challenge (Partner of Petfinder.com). The grand prize is a $20,000 grant with prizes awarded for the runners-up and state winners. Winners are awarded based on the number of votes a Humane Society receives and you can vote one time daily! The voting began on April 13, 2009 and ends on July 25, 2009 with prizes being announced on July 29, 2009!  All you have to do is to go to the Animal Rescue Site, scroll down to the voting box, enter Humane Society of McCormick County and vote.  Then return to the site daily to vote for McCormick again! It is quite an accomplishment an... 04/22/2009

04/11/2009

It's All about Family - Wednesday at the Masters! Wednesday morning at the Masters Golf Tournament was cold but sunny!  For those who don't know this area of Georgia and South Carolina, it is a short 45 minute ride from our home in Savannah Lakes Village in McCormick, SC to the Masters parking lot!  Thank goodness, Wednesday's wind was not gusting like it did on Monday and Tuesday.  By 1:00 pm, the day had warmed to a balmy 74 degrees for the Par 3 contest.  (Did you know that Augusta National has a Par 3 course adjacent to the regular course?)  In addition to all the famous young golfers of today, it was exciting to be there and actuall see Greg Norman's hole-in-one on #6 and watch from a few feet away as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player played hole #5!  What a day! Many g... 04/09/2009

04/04/2009

A Masters overload?  The Masters tournament has a huge positive impact on the economy of Augusta, Georgia and the surrounding area with the week of the tournament being the most significant economic week of the year!  A recent report on a local radio station stated that there is a higher dollar amount of sales tax generated in Augusta during the Masters than any time of the year with exception of that generated during the Christmas season at the local Mall!  Because everything turns Masters green in Augusta this time of year, the city provides special events for the general public.  Downtown becomes a golf course for Masters week.  Shoppers use a score card as they visit 18 special downtown businesses and compete for prizes!  A giant Mayor's Reception is held each year for the public wi... 04/03/2009

03/31/2009

Are You a Golfer? What's Augusta National Like? Part 2 Drive into the public parking areas of Augusta National and it's hard not to be aware of ‘green.'  Everything you see is lush and green and manicured.  (Most home owners would be happy with grass as beautiful as in the parking lots at Augusta National.)  Most fans arrive early to walk the course and see the golfers - several times!  Many of the ‘big names' make early tee times for practice rounds so when the gates to the course open at 8:00 AM, the long lines have already formed.  Who would want to be late and miss a shot? Augusta National makes its rules very clear in the pre-tournament information.  Cell phones, electronics and beepers are strictly prohibited with the warning that breaking the rules means that you WILL be removed ... 03/31/2009

Are You a Golfer? The Masters Tournament Part 1 Are you a golfer? Do you have anyone in your family who is a golfer? Do you have a client who is a golfer? Do you like to watch golf on television? Do you know a golfer? Answer any of the above questions with a ‘Yes' and you probably are familiar with the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia.  Perhaps you may have watched it on television or you have been to Augusta to a practice round or to a tournament round!  Every April, the Masters, the first ‘major' tournament of the year, takes place at just the exact time when the azaleas in Augusta pop with their awesome color!  For a golfer, playing the Masters is quite an honor; matter of fact, for golf fans, attending this tournament is a real honor!  Precious few gol... 03/30/2009

03/22/2009

Savannah Lakes Village Classic With the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, GA right around the corner, so too is the NGA Hooters Tour event in Savannah Lakes Village in McCormick, South Carolina, located just 45 minutes up the road from Augusta.  The tournament in McCormick is played on the Monticello Golf Course and is known as the Savannah Lakes Village Classic.  PGA golfers who have played in this tournament at Savannah Lakes include 2005 Savannah Lakes Village Classic winner Camilo Villegas, 2 times PGA Tour winner Vaughn Taylor, and Masters' Tournament winner Zach Johnson.  The Hooter's alumni list reads like a who's who in golf.  Lee Janzen, John Daly, Tom Lehman, Jim Furyk, David Toms, Ben Curtis, Shaun Micheel and Chad Campbell highlight the list which goes on and on!  Aiken go... 03/19/2009