DATAW ISLAND SC- Dataw Island Club's popular Cotton Dike Golf Course reopens for play this week following a much-anticipated, multi-million dollar facelift. The Tom Fazio-designed course, renowned for its stunning views of Jenkins Creek and the surrounding tidal marshes, has been updated to meet modern golf standards and improve playability for members and guests.

"The course plays beautifully" said Dataw Club member Sonny Googins, "Cotton Dike is a challenge for the best and average golfer on Dataw and truly a joy to play" John Weaber a Dataw Club member and resident went on to say, "I have watched this come together for the last year and I could not be happier with the results. The course is a pleasure to play. All of the members at Dataw should be quite proud of Cotton Dike".

As part of the six-month renovation project, 17 of the greens were cored out and re-contoured. All of the greens on the 18-hole course, as well as the putting green and chipping area near the Clubhouse, were re-grassed with MiniVerde Ultra Dwarf Bermudagrass, providing a smooth consistent putting surface for players. Fairways were converted to Celebration Bermuda, a grass better suited for shade and heat.

Atlanta's Billy Fuller Golf Design oversaw the work, part of a $5.4-million project that also will include the renovation of Dataw Island's Morgan River course next spring. Cotton Dike's makeover will ensure "the club remains competitive with the marketplace for the next 20 to 30 years," Fuller said. former superintendent of Augusta National Golf Club and Design Associate and Senior Agronomist with Cupp Design, Fuller has completed a number of major renovations of prestigious golf courses across the country since opening the company in 2004. His design work has earned the praise and recognition of Sports Illustrated, the LPGA Tour and Golf Week.

An important element of the Cotton Dike renovation included the replacement of the now-antiquated hydraulic irrigation system that was installed when the course was built in 1985. Once Lowcountry marshland, the course terrain was drained a century ago by dikes built to create additional land for cotton fields during the great plantation days of Dataw Island. Almost half of the 18 holes lie along the marsh and the winding creek. Bunkers also were improved with new drainage, sand and contouring. Lake banks were restored in numerous areas and trees were pruned to allow more sunlight on the fairways and greens.

"The newly renovated Cotton Dike course turned out wonderfully and will be a great improvement in condition and design," said Ted Bartlett, general manager and chief operating officer of the Dataw Island Club. "It's a testament to the club's commitment to maintaining the finest amenities and our investment in the future."

In December, work will begin on Morgan River, the signature Arthur Hills course featuring its own dramatic vistas of the Morgan River and the savannas beyond. The renovation of this Par-72 course is expected to be completed in August 2012.

Located just outside the historic seaport town of Beaufort, S.C., Dataw Island is recognized as one of the top coastal residential communities in the Southeast. The secluded 870-acre gated community offers residents the best in South Carolina Lowcountry living with an impressive array of amenities that includes two 18-hole golf courses, a riverfront tennis and swimming pool complex, a grand clubhouse, full-service marina and a 16,000-square-foot community center.

For more information on Dataw Island and new membership opportunities, call 843-838-3374.

DATAW ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - The board of directors of the Dataw Island Club have announced a new membership offering called the Vacation Membership. It is designed to allow potential future residents to join the Dataw Island Club and enjoy a membership in the Club while vacationing on Dataw or in the Beaufort area. This membership category is available to individuals or couples whose primary residence is 50 miles or greater from Dataw Island and are not Dataw Island property owners. The membership includes 30 rounds of golf per year as well as unlimited access to the Club's eight Har-Tru tennis courts, two croquet lawns, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, community fitness center and three dining facilities. 

"We are very excited about this new membership opportunity" comments Silvia Lalinde, director of membership for the Dataw Island Club. "The Vacation Membership allows people to have access to one of the finest private clubs in the Southeast while they vacation in the Beaufort area and gives them a glimpse of the lifestyle they would enjoy if they decided to purchase property on the island."

The cost to join the Club as a Vacation Member is a one-time initiation fee of $1,500 and annual dues of $1,500.  Accommodation rental costs are not included in this membership fee. 

For more information about membership offerings at the Dataw Island Club, please contact Silvia Lalinde, director of membership, at 843-838-8261 at via email at info@dataw.com.

Dataw Island will host the Beaufort Taste & Toast benefit dinner for Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse with the help of some of Beaufort's restaurants and chefs. The evening of food, wine and cheer will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Dataw Island Clubhouse. Participating restaurants include Breakwater Bar and Grill, Maggie's Pub & Eatery, Saltus River Grill, Southern Graces, The Tooting Egret and the Dataw Island Club. The restaurants will prepare some of their signature dishes. Wines will be selected to go with the dishes. The chefs and wine representatives will be available. Tickets are $40 a person, and money raised goes to CODA.
Details: Anne Brown, 843-838-8428

Read more: http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/07/27/1738387/chefs-come-together-for-taste.html#ixzz1Tt2Ou9iL

The poem below was written by a wonderful member, Sandi Fischer. If you are lucky enough to purchase property on Dataw, Sandi Fisher would be the one to greet and welcome you to the island and pass along wonderful information for new residents of our community. She, along with Harriet Hawkins, run the Newcomer's Committee - consider it Dataw Island's very own Welcome Wagon!

This poem was too cute not to share so please enjoy and have a wonderful holiday season from everyone here on Dataw Island!

A Dataw December - 2009
by Sandi Fischer

Look all around you - the season is here!
It's a Dataw December - let's join in the cheer.
Enjoy every moment, consider it best -
For all of us here are exceedingly blessed.

Living in the Lowcountry of South Carolina brings with it a very different perspective on the holiday season. We don't ever expect a White Christmas, we string twinkling lights on our palmetto trees and we celebrate with family not by dashing through the snow, but instead by strolling on the beach. Honestly, I couldn't ask for anything better during this time of year.

Dataw Island is buzzing with holiday cheer. The community is sprinkled with festive greenery, red ribbons, gilded bows and lots and lots of cheery residents. During this joyous time, Dataw residents give thanks for the community of generous and caring people they live amongst.

As a holiday tradition, Dataw Island residents are gearing up for the annual Santa Claus Open Day on December 13th, 2009. The day begins with Santa's collection of unwrapped toys donated by island residents followed by Santa Claus Open Golf Tournament with a shotgun at noon. At 1 p.m., dependents of military personnel deployed over seas are invited to Dataw Island to have lunch with Santa in our Carolina Ballroom and will be presented with the toys collected earlier. Finally, the day ends with the Santa Claus Open Dinner beginning with cocktails, dinner and a sing-a-long led by our very own Director of Golf, Dave Britton. This very special event is not only a great way to spend time with your friends on the island, but also a chance to give back to our courageous military who fight for our country.

On behalf of the staff, Boards of Directors and residents of Dataw Island, we wish everyone the very happiest of holidays and all the best for the new year!

-Silvia, Director of Membership & Marketing

Hello Again from Dataw Island,

The September 23rd Open House was a great success as more than 200 Dataw residents came out to see the exhibit "Portrait of Dataw" celebrating the extensive history of Dataw Island.

Located in the Dataw Island Welcome Center, "Portrait of Dataw" documents Dataw's heritage dating back to prehistoric times, with historical artifacts from Native American life, the Sams family ownership of Dataw, Dataw after the Civil War and the New Era (covering Alcoa's development on the Island).

The Open House attracted a "Who's Who" of local VIPs including Beaufort Mayor Bill Keyserling; Beaufort County Preservation Officer Ian Hill; Historic Beaufort Foundation Executive Director Evan Thompson; Senior Project Manager of The History Workshop Carol Poplin; noted Charleston archaeologist Eric Poplin; noted archaeologist and tabby expert Colin Brooker; tabby preservation expert Rick Wrightman; renowned South Carolina historian and author Larry Rowland; and members of the Sams family; Reeve and Betty Sams, Dr. Charles and Jeanne Sams Aimar and Charles Airmar, Jr.

Funded jointly by the Dataw Historic Foundation, Dataw Island Owner's Association and the Dataw Island Club at a cost of more than $30,000, the exhibit required 18 months to complete.

Congratulations to members of the Dataw Historic Foundation, Dataw Island Owner's Association and Dataw Island Club who worked so diligently during the last two years to create the informational exhibit of Dataw history for all Island residents and their guests to enjoy.

See you around the Island,

Silvia

Hello Again from Dataw Island!

We all know that Dataw Island is one of the most idyllic communities in the Southeast to call home. We have great weather year round, beautiful scenery just outside our back door, a diversity of wildlife to admire and more amenities than can be enjoyed in a lifetime. But, one of the most important attributes about living on Dataw Island is our residents.

We are blessed to have neighbors on Dataw Island who are more like family than just the people living next door. And, the Dataw community is always ready to take on any project or cause to help others who need help or are less fortunate.

On Monday, August 10, Dataw will hold our third Lowcountry Community Blood Center Drive of the year which will run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be held in the Community Center. All blood donated will be used at Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

Dataw resident Sue Chatham will once again spearhead the Dataw blood drive and has set a goal on collecting 50 units of blood this time. During our May blood drive, 80 units of blood were collected and a second day was added in order to collect all of the donations. Since so many residents are on vacation or out of town, the summer is traditionally a harder time to get people out to donate blood.
Here's a word to the wise - you should probably go ahead and sign up for the blood drive as Sue will definitely be contacting you about participating. One of the reasons for her success with the May Blood drive was her persistence. She'll leave no stone unturned in her attempts to help the Lowcountry Blood Center.

Hope to see you on Monday, August 10!

See you around the Island,

Silvia

Hello again from Dataw Island!

In addition to being one of the best communities in the South Carolina lowcountry, Dataw Island is also home to some of the lowcountry's most historically unique construction materials: tabby.

Tabby is a type of building material that was used in along the coastal Southeast from the late 1500s through the 1850s. True tabby is made of equal parts lime, water, sand, oyster shells and ash. It was normally used as molds for foundations, walls, floors, roofs, columns, and other structural elements.

Maintained by the Dataw Island Historic Foundation, the tabby ruins at Dataw are part of the original Sams family plantation that dates back to 1792, and now sit on what is Dataw Island. In addition to the plantation's tabby ruins, the family cemetery and various outbuildings are also unique features of our community. The Dataw Historic Foundation was established in 1997 to ensure the preservation of the historic structures and oversee the collection of artifacts, compile records and work on the preservation efforts at the ruins. These ruins represent one of the most intact examples of an early nineteenth century plantation community with all of its facilities. Some of the artifacts collected date back over 12,000 years.

In addition to these unique artifacts being enjoyed by Dataw Island residents, the Island opens its doors to area schools to explore the history of Dataw.

Recently, Beaufort's Lady's Island Middle School eighth graders enjoyed learning about the Tabby Ruins on Dataw. More than 40 students toured the ruins and cemetery as part of a history field trip.

These students thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Dataw and soon hopefully you will too.

Until next time,
Silvia

The Cotton Dike Course at Dataw Island, designed by famed architect (and winner of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America award) Tom Fazio, has been a jewel in the South Carolina golf scene since 1985. The club is augmented by numerous facilities, including a 25,000 square foot clubhouse. Dataw Island was cited in Golf Week as "one of the 50 most distinctive development courses in the Southeast United States". Although private, the course has reciprocal agreements with other clubs.

A par 72, with full championship yardage of 6,825 and a slope of 138 on Bermuda grass, Cotton Dike offers a challenge that can be appreciated by all, even the highest caliber of professional golfer. The location of the course is dramatic, with the surroundings of beautiful scenery of Dataw Island and St. Helena as the backdrop.

The course winds through marshlands and a series of dikes that were originally part of the namesake cotton marshes that the course is built upon. These marshlands create some challenging natural obstacles, as almost half of the holes on the course wind along Jenkins Creek, which meanders in and out of play, contesting many shots and forcing precision ball striking from tee to green.

The course is a pleasure to play, though it can be very challenging. While many of the par 4s on the course are relatively short, bunkers and hazards are placed very opportunistically, which makes errant shots especially damaging to scores. Imagination is required when approaching this course, as shot making is placed at a premium due to the relatively modest layout and demands placed by hazards. Careless planning on the part of the golfer is sure to introduce frustration, especially with carefully guarded greens.

The golfer underestimating or overshooting on this course is sure to bring a significant level of frustration to their day. A few holes are particularly memorable. When asked about his own course, architect Tom Fazio mentioned that "From a playability standpoint, the seventh hole offers numerous options as a three-shot hole or a reachable par-5 for long hitters, and if the golfer avoids the forest on the right and the lagoons on the left, a birdie is a distinct possibility".

Hole number 5 has a historical placard, which gives a detailed history of the development and transformation of the area. On this same hole, the high tee box offers a tremendous view of the course area, with miles of visibility across the terrain. The 18th is the challenging par 4, with an intensely undulating fairway that comprises your approach. Further complicating the approach is the slice of green that serves as the final target on the course. The green sticks out, well protected by Jenkins Creek, which guards numerous fairways and greens along the way. The 18th hole is emblematic of the course, where there is always a hint of danger complicating the shot of the golfer.