Hilton Head Sports

Cultivating camaraderie

SPEARHEADED BY PRESIDENT DENNIS MCCORMAC, GOLFWEEK AMATEUR CONTINUES GROWTH AS A COMPETITIVE TOUR

When John Robinson’s regular Saturday golf group all but dissolved because several members joined the Golfweek Amateur Tour, Robinson reluctantly followed despite reservations about playing the game he loved in a competitive environment.

The Christmas Day game of 1862

CIVIL WAR-ERA CONTEST BEGINNING OF HILTON HEAD’S DEEP BASEBALL HISTORY

Baseball was a popular pastime with Union prisoners as seen in this lithograph by Act. Major Otto Boetticher. Salisbury, N.C. 1863 Image: Wikimedia Commons

Remarkable as it may seem, Hilton Head Island played a key part in the infancy of baseball.

Hidden gem

Sgt. Jasper Park showcases Lowcountry’s beauty and abundant recreation activities

Tucked behind Coastal Carolina Hospital, just a stone’s throw from US 278 and Interstate 95, sits a hidden gem that showcases much of the natural beauty and outdoor recreation that makes the Lowcountry great. And it’s largely unknown, even to some longtime residents.

Hockey Hotbed

BUZZ BUILDS FOR SAVANNAH GHOST PIRATES DEBUT

BY ANTHONY GARZILLI | PHOTO SUPPLIED

Hockey is hot. The Savannah Ghost Pirates, a professional minor league hockey team set to make its debut in October, plan to bring a “major-market experience” to the area, said Bryan Sklover, community relations director.

DROP A STONE BUILD A WAVE

WORLD CHAMPION SURFER SHAUN TOMSON BRINGS MESSAGE TO TEDXHILTONHEAD

BY ELLEN LINNEMANN

Known as one of the greatest surfers of all time and one of the most influential surfers of the century, Shaun Tomson has been riding waves since 1965 when, as a 9-year-old boy in South Africa, he stood up on a surfboard for the first time.

REEL ‘EM IN

TIPS FOR LOWCOUNTRY FISHING

SPECIAL TO HILTON HEAD MONTHLY

Fishing is a year-round activity in the Lowcountry. For those that want to keep their feet on the land, lagoon and surf fishing are popular choices. For those looking for a bit more adventure, inshore and offshore fishing may be the ticket.

Skills on the boards

BY JUSTIN JARRETT | PHOTO SUPPLIED

VITTO ALSO HONED HIS SKILLS ON A SURFBOARD AS A RESULT OF HIS TIME WORKING AT THE SUNSET SURATT SURF ACADEMY

Alex Vitto was born on Hilton Head Island. Raised here. Rooted here. He did all the things a privileged kid growing up at the beach should do — he fished, he surfed, he worked food service.

But it wasn’t until Vitto left for another island — an archipelago, to be exact — that he found himself and the life he wanted to lead when he came back home.

Set up for success

MAKENNA MASON PROVIDES LEADERSHIP ON THE VOLLEYBALL COURT

BY JUSTIN JARRETT | PHOTO BY RITTERBECK PHOTOGRAPHY

Makenna Mason grew up on the volleyball court — or nearby — hanging around while her mom coached the middle school team at St. Francis Catholic School. She eagerly awaited her ascension to fifth grade, when she could join the team.

CALLING THE SHOTS

MARK RENNIX RELISHES TENURE AS LONGTIME OFFICIAL

BY JUSTIN JARRETT | PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMANN

If you’ve been to a sporting event in Beaufort County in the past two decades, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Mark Rennix. If you’re the type who must let officials know every time they missed a call — or made a borderline call one way or the other — you’ve probably yelled at him.