SCGA’s need for bigger headquarters another way to show golf’s growth in state

Nothing illustrates the growth of amateur golf in the state more than the South Carolina Golf Association’s recent purchase of a building complex that will become the organization’s headquarters.

“A big deal,” said Biff Lathrop, the SCGA’s executive director.

A through-the-years timeline tells why.

Happ Lathrop, Biff’s dad who headed the SCGA for more than 40 years in a Hall-of-Fame career, took over the operation in the 1970s and had a staff of one: himself. He worked either at his kitchen table or in his car.

In the early 1990s, the SCGA bought its first office building, in Irmo, and moved in with a staff of two, Lathrop and Matt Harbin. Paul Roullard came soon thereafter to set up the junior program.

They utilized half the building and rented out the rest.

Fast forward through the years. The staff kept growing and the demand for space increased. Taking over the full building plus some additions helped for a while, but the place is bursting at the seams now.

“We have four desks in what once was a storage area,” Lathrop said, noting his staff has grown from eight when he became executive director in 2017 to 15 workers today.

“Needing a larger staff is a good problem to have. It shows how golf is growing, and that’s why the new facility is a big deal. The new building is a big step for the SCGA and will provide for opportunities to do more things.”

The deal for the new headquarters, in Irmo, closed Monday and came to fruition after four years of discussions and planning.

“I told the board then (2021) we were OK for now, but we needed to be looking ahead in terms of the space we would need,” Lathrop said. “Two years ago (with a staff of 11), I told them, ‘We really need to start looking.’”

The addition of four more staffers this year pushed the space situation into critical territory.

Lathrop laughed and said, “Even (staff) parking (at the current building) can be a challenge.”

The organization’s first shot at change, property off Interstate 26 near exit 101, fell through earlier this year before they found the Irmo building that includes 6,500-plus square feet of office space in addition to 1,000 square feet for storage.

“We’ve had pretty significant growth (in personnel), and we needed that to maintain the quality of tournaments, development of young players and everything we do,” Lathrop said. “We have three organizations (SCGA, South Carolina Junior Golf Association and South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation) under one roof, and now we will have the opportunity to grow even more.

“An added benefit is the storage space. We’re renting space in two places now, and we will have everything together in the new building.”

Securing permits is the next step, then Springhill Construction will begin renovation. F3 Concepts is providing the interior design, much of which, Lathrop said, has been completed.

The schedule calls for the SCGA to move into the new facility in June or July, which is a time that office space is in less demand with the staff on the road running tournaments.

“But that’s OK,” Lathrop laughed. “We’re excited about the future. The game’s growing, and we’re growing, too.”