The Golf Center is closed for business
The Golf Center, a long-time practice facility and par-3 course in Northeast Columbia, has closed and the property was sold for development.
“It’s a sad day around here,” said Kurt Sokolowski, the PGA of America professional who has handled the operations for a partnership the past two years. “We’re officially closed. The land’s there and the buildings, and the weeds are growing.”
The Golf Center is the area’s second high-profile driving range to close for development in the past year. Weed Hill, in Irmo, ended operations late in 2015.
“Unfortunately for golf enthusiasts, land becomes more valuable for other purposes,” said Happ Lathrop, executive director of the South Carolina Golf Association.
LPGA pro Suzy Ellison opened The Golf Center in 2002 on the 43-acre property off Hardscrabble Road, moving and expanding her operation from a driving range she had run for 15 years in Pontiac. A partnership bought the business, which includes a driving range and the par-3 course, and leased the land, in 2014.
Sokolowski, a PGA pro for 35 years who worked at clubs in New England and at military bases, retired in 2013 as head professional at Fort Jackson Golf Club, said he had “no intention of going back to work and no plans to get back into the golf business until this opportunity came along.”
He developed a thriving junior golf program, had an active lesson program, hosted clinics and invited high school teams to practice free of charge. The South Carolina Junior Golf Association staged events at The Golf Center. He said the partnership tried to purchase the land from Arthur State Bank without success.
“We had a lot of great clients and a very pleasant time,” Sokolowski said, “but the thing I wonder about is, where will the young people who came to the Golf Center go now?
Losing Sokolowski, 69, and his expertise is a blow to the area golf community, too. Prior to coming south, he was president of the PGA of America’s New England section for three years in addition to working at private clubs. He received the 1994 William Strausbaugh award, which is presented to the PGA members who in their daily efforts have distinguished themselves in the field of club relations, causing dramatic improvements in employment condition in the Section and/or the PGA of America
He owned a club in the Savannah area and worked at military courses for 15 years – director of golf at Fort Benning and Fort Stewart before becoming head pro at Fort Jackson.
“We’re planning to move to Savannah,” he said, “and I’ll try to retire again.”
Chip shots
Steve Liebler (Irmo), Frank Ford III (Charleston) and Geno Berchaitti (Greenville) all qualified for match play in the U.S. Senior Amateur in St. Louis. Leibler won twice before falling in the round of 16. Ford and Berchaitti dropped their first-round matches. … In the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in Wellesley, Mass., Lea Ann Brown (Mt. Pleasant) advanced to match play and won her first match before losing in the round of 32. … In the PGA Junior Golf League Southeast Regional played in Savannah, the Columbia Par Tee All-Stars finished second, losing to the Alpharetta, Ga., squad in the championship match. … Trent Phillips (Inman) added another victory to his incredible summer, defeating a star-studded field to win the Bobby Chapman Invitational at the CC of Spartanburg. A junior at Boiling Springs High who has committed to play at Georgia, Phillips defeated high school teammate Jacob Bridgeman (Inman) by two strokes. Phillips’ wins this summer include the Palmetto Amateur in Aiken, against older competitors. … Thomas Todd III and Matthew Wiggins teamed to capture the SCGA Players Better Ball title at Columbia CC, edging Bryan Newton and Robert Lutomski in a playoff. … One of the 12 tournaments that constitute the first stage of the PGA Tour’s qualifying school, which leads to the Web.com Tour, will be played on Thursday-Friday at Florence CC. … Dawn Woodard (Greer) won her sixth WSCGA Match-Play title, defeating Lea Venable (Simpsonville) 2-up in the final at Oldfield Club in Okatie.