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.

Beaufort, SC is a charming slow-paced city located on South Carolina's Beaufort River at Port Royal Sound. This low country coastal city is filled with wonders from days gone by, with its collection of antebellum mansions, live oaks draped with Spanish moss, and quaint palm-lined streets. Horse drawn carriages still delight the tourists who visit this beautiful location where time seemingly stands still. The Southern charm and appeal of Beaufort's historic architecture reached all the way to Hollywood when it was featured in the hit movie Forrest Gump in the mid-1990s.

The history of the city dates back almost 500 years. First discovered by Spanish explorers in 1514, Beaufort has been home to several military forts used during the Colonial Wars, Spanish Wars, and the Civil War between the North and the South. Several area museums have retained artifacts from these eras and are displayed most notably in the Beaufort Museum, the Parris Island Museum, and the Heyward House Historic Center. Each of these museums are open to the public year round and provide an excellent account of both military and everyday life within the region.

The area also hosts a number of historical churches. The Tabernacle Baptist Church on Craven St. was built in the 1800s and was later purchased by its 500 black members. The churchyard is the resting place of Robert Smalls, the first black Congressman from SC and a former slave. During the Civil War, St. Helena's Episcopal Church on Newcastle St. was used as a hospital for the Union Army. The founder of Beaufort Town, Col. John "Tuscarora Jack" Bamwell is buried beneath the church's dome vault. After the Civil War, The Brick Baptist Church on Land's End Rd., was used as a community center, school and church during the Reconstruction period, for both Northern abolitionists and slaves that had been freed. The church has now been designated as part of the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District.

The annual Spring Tour of Homes, which allows locals and visitors alike to stroll through the area's magnificent plantation homes and gardens. The event has been hosted by the St. Helena's Women of the Parish group since 1956, and features a candlelight tour, gospel singers, and other local entertainment. Tickets for the accompanying boat tour of the area often sell out weeks prior to the actual event. Throughout the year, additional events are held which spotlight the region's most talented artists and craftsmen, many of whom have created crafts and wares that are indicative of both the Southern culture and the historical aspects of the area.

Beaufort has been repeatedly awarded for its charm, art, culture, and vacation spot appeal. The town has been included in the list for "Best Small Southern Town by Southern Living magazine, and National Geographic's "Top 50 Adventure Towns"; have enjoyed the prestige of being a finalist in the "Top 25 Small City Arts Destinations", and even landed a spot on the sport fishing enthusiasts magazine Field & Streams' "Top 20 Fishing Towns".

Here at Dataw Island, we're excited about the launch of our newly redesigned Web site, www.dataw.com. My name is Silvia Lalinde, director of marketing and membership here at Dataw Island.

As one of the premier, private Beaufort-area communities, Dataw Island prides itself on being the South Carolina lowcountry's best kept secret.

With our new site, both current and prospective residents can learn more about Dataw Island, the numerous activities that take place on Dataw and the Island's Cotton Dike Golf Course and Morgan River Golf Course.

The redesign also includes: a community blog; a news and information section; a list of Dataw organizations and clubs; Dataw Community Center classes and times; Dataw Island Club menus; a Dataw staff directory; an Island photo gallery and available Dataw real estate properties. There's also a plethora of information regarding other activities here in our quiet Beaufort community.

Until next time, feel free to explore the site and let me know your thoughts on what's happening on Dataw.

Best,
Silvia

Beaufort, South Carolina is a gorgeous place to own real estate. There are lots of private and gated communities offering an allusive and very secure feel. A lot of the communities are oceanfront and historic. Beaufort is still a small town with historic mansions, gorgeous shimmering bay, large oak trees and lots of waterways.

Beaufort offers a healthy lifestyle with lots of outdoor pursuits including biking, boating, fishing, hiking and kayaking. One can pursue the sport of fishing year-round here. Usually the fisherman's dilemma is not when to fish but what to fish because of the vast array of options. There are trout, flounder, sheephead and red-fish to name a few. Hiking is a wonderful option at the Hunting Island State Park. There are water sports available there as well as other activities such as crabbing, shelling, swimming and picnicking.

The city is famous for its gorgeous and impressive harbor and for the historic marks and architecture. It is also known for its military establishments. It is also known for having a very southern style of living. It is only one hour away from Charleston. At Beaufort you can enjoy fishing lakes, boat ramp and waterfront lodges. Owning property here would be very enjoyable because it is so easy to relax in a place like this. In August there is the Beaufort Water Festival that lasts for about 6 weeks. It's a great time to visit the city.

The islands offer a beautiful Beaufort private community just along Battery Creek. It is enclosed by greenery, marshes and water and is a great exclusive place to live. You can flee urban congestion there and really be around nature. These private communities offer a chance for anyone to enjoy the true sense of community. It's a place where children can enjoy the afternoon out in the neighborhood and where fishing, crabbing and shrimping are regular activities. Relaxation is a common theme in Beaufort. Many of the properties even have their own private dock.

Once you visit you may recognize Beaufort from "Forrest Gump." Many movies make this city the tranquil background for their movies. But the city does offer the thrill-seeker many options. One can go to the restaurants, shops or to the fun festivals. There are also the water sports such as wake boarding, jet skiing and water-tubing that are fast and adventurous.

Beaufort has all of the charm one would expect from a private community type of lifestyle. The people are friendly and comfortable and always willing to give advice. The many rivers and the Atlantic Ocean are always giving thrills and fun to all that enjoy the water. There is a closeness of family and friends that you just don't find too often these days. The water offers many activities too. The climate and environment are very attractive to people as well. If you enjoy the warm weather, waking up to the scent of the sea breeze, and being close to other Southern cities then Beaufort is for you.

The Morgan River Golf Course at Dataw Island Club offers a great golfing experience at a unique location. Dataw Island Club is located in Beaufort, South Carolina providing a beautiful landscape for this lustrous golf course. The Morgan River Golf Course is the more challenging of the two courses you will find at Dataw Island Club, however, the challenge of this course is met by dramatic beauty. What you will find when you golf at the Morgan River Golf Course is a great atmosphere, a private and serene location and an incredible golfing experience.

The two courses of Dataw Island are Cotton Dike and Morgan River. Cotton Dike was created first out of the two and was designed by Tom Fazzio. It gets its name from the way in which land was developed here. To develop more land for growing cotton, a series of dikes were created that now make up the terrain of Cotton Dike Golf Course. This course follows the marshes and Jenkins Creek on one side of the island while the Morgan River Golf Course follows the other side.

The Morgan River Golf Course was the second of the two designed for Dataw Island Country Club. It was designed by Arthur Hills and offers 18 challenging holes of golf that follow the Morgan River. As mentioned earlier, the Morgan River course is the more challenging of the two. This is mainly due to the narrow fairways that were incorporated in its design. This narrowness calls for skilled and precision shots while rewarding the player with a beautiful landscape overlooking the savannas and the river itself. It is one of 64 incredible islands to be found in Beaufort County.

This island is surrounded by the Morgan River in the north and Jenkins Creek in the east, south and west. It is also located 6 miles from Beaufort, South Carolina where Beaufort County Airport is a great way to travel to and from Dataw Island. The average yearly temperature at Dataw Island is 65 degrees and the temperature matched with the beautiful Savannahs, waterways, and oaks make for a great environment for golfing. Dataw Island Club also provides a great atmosphere for golfing. Along with a clubhouse, this club features a community fitness center, eight tennis courts and a marina.

There is so much to do at Dataw Island Club that the golf enthusiasts can take a vacation for themselves while providing a great vacation experience for the rest of their family. The green fees are reasonably priced for this great golfing atmosphere. Overall, the Morgan River Golf Course is one golfing experience every golfing enthusiast should take the opportunity to have. The serene landscape and privacy of Dataw Island provide an environment second to none while the great detail in design of the course itself provides a challenging and rewarding golfing experience. Whether you are a family vacationer or a private traveler, Morgan River Golf Course makes for a great trip all around.