“I just hope the public stays out of the range of some of these guys,” Carson said. “There are no scratch golfers among the group. And I think everybody is subject to hitting some errant shots every once in a while. I know when I’m hitting, they’d better be standing behind me.”
Indeed, CCSC probably isn’t the place to be Saturday for those who want to see a lot of high-quality golf.
But for fans whose fancy is star-gazing, a $5 admission fee (free for school-age children) will get them in at CCSC to bask in the presence of some former and present-day sports heroes.
Spectator gates open at 8:30 a.m. A celebrity long drive contest is at 9 and the tournament’s shotgun start is scheduled for 9:30. Proceeds from the tournament go to The School Foundation, a private endowment that provides financial help for students in Florence District 1.
Trip Dubard, chairman of The School Foundation board of directors, is counting on the celebrity factor to get fans out to CCSC. Dubard, by his own admission, isn’t a golf nut by any means, but had an eye-opening experience at last year’s inaugural event during a breakfast.
“When you’re sitting in a room and have six hall-of-famers elbow to elbow with you, that’s pretty darn cool,” he said.
Fans at today’s event might not be able to share a meal with the likes of Carson, Deacon Jones or Michael Strahan, but they will be able to get plenty of looks at their heroes. Fans will be able to watch players on the holes near the CCSC clubhouse, as well as on the driving range and putting green. There will also be an autograph area.
“We’re from a small town, and when you see some of these famous people, it’s worth walking across the street for, so to speak,” Dubard said. “People enjoy coming to see their heroes and people they’ve admired. And we want this to be something the whole community appreciates and is proud to have in town.”
The group of celebrities scheduled to participate in today’s events includes mostly former NFL stars — Ted “Mad Stork” Hendricks (Colts, Packers, Raiders), former Clemson and 49ers standout Jim Stuckey, former Steelers’ standout L.C. Greenwood are on the list. There are also some present-day NFL stars scheduled to attend, like the Giants’ Strahan and Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.
Other sports will be represented as well. College of Charleston basketball coach Bobby Cremins and boxer James “Bonecrusher” Smith are scheduled to play.
“This gives the public an opportunity to come and speak to some of the celebrities they’ve perhaps only heard about or watched on TV,” Carson said.
Last year’s event was not open to the public, Dubard said, mostly because tournament organizers weren’t sure exactly what to expect by putting on a golf tournament for the first time.
“I still wouldn’t claim that we know what we’re doing, but we really didn’t know what we were doing last year,” Dubard said. “This year, we’re opening it up and the rest of the town can enjoy it. And Harry wants it that way.”
Dubard’s hope, though, is that the community will see the event as more than just a fund-raiser and an opportunity to hang out with some of their sports heroes.
“I hope they will see that this is really potentially a lot bigger than The School Foundation,” Dubard said. “You build a strong school system, then that begets industry coming to the Pee Dee, then you build stronger school systems throughout the Pee Dee and then more business.
“I hope the community sees this as not only helping public education, but as a quality of life issue.”
