Tag: South Carolina

Photos: The new Broomsedge Golf Club in South Carolina open for preview play

Check out the photos of one of the most interesting new courses of the year.

The mostly private Broomsedge Golf Club in Rembert, South Carolina, has opened for preview play, giving its members a first taste of the course designed by Kyle Franz and Mike Koprowski.

Broomsedge sits about 30 miles east of Columbia and was built atop sandy soil that features surprising elevation changes for the region.

“Members are going to love the intimate routing and optionality among the holes,” said Franz, whose design credits include the new Karoo course at Cabot Citrus Farms in Florida as well as restorations to Mid Pines, Pine Needles and Southern Pines in North Carolina and the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina.

“No hole even remotely resembles another, which speaks to how much topographical diversity existed within a relatively small footprint,” Franz said in a media release announcing the start of preview play at Broomsedge. “It was always a freakishly good site for golf, and I think the routing and hole concepts maximized every bit of that inherent advantage.”

Perhaps best of all, Broomsedge will allow limited outside play for non-members. Such practice is common at many great clubs in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Broomsedge’s operators plan to adopt such a “U.K. model” – they have included a form for prospective guests on the club’s website. The amount of outside play to be allowed eventually is still being determined, but it likely won’t include more than a couple foursomes a day.

Check out a selection of photos of Broomsedge below.

The experts weigh in on the Texas A&M vs South Carolina matchup in Week 10

No. 10 Texas A&M is a narrow favorite over South Carolina and the experts are split on who will come out victorius

No. 10 Texas A&M is on upset alert this weekend when the Aggies travel to Columbia (SC) to take on a tough South Carolina team. A&M will enter Williams-Brice Stadium 5-0 in the SEC, an excellent chance to create more distance in the standings.

Coach Mike Elko has the Aggies in a position they have not been in for a long time, and that’s in line to play for a conference championship. If they can withstand this heavyweight fight, they will have a bye week to heal and refocus to close the season with a bang.

South Carolina has one of the better defenses in the conference and has played up to the competition all season long. Only a few turnovers away from possibly being a six-win team already, they also had a big win, blowing out Oklahoma 35-0 for their second conference win.

Here is who the experts are picking to come out victorious in this week’s matchup:

Rece Davis / College Game Day Host

Joe Klatt /The Joe Klatt Show

Eddie Timanus / USA Today

Shehan Jeyarajah / CBS Sports

Dennis Dodd / CBS Sports

Texas A&M will travel to South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ABC/ESPN +.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

South Carolina takes top spot in preseason women’s basketball coaches poll

The USA TODAY Sports preseason women’s basketball coaches poll was released on Thursday. South Carolina, UConn, and USC are leading the way.

The NCAA women’s basketball season will officially tip-off on Monday, Nov. 4. Caitlin Clark might not be on the hardwood at the collegiate level this season but there is still plenty of exciting action that will take place. It will be up to players like JuJu Watkins of the USC Trojans to carry the torch this season.

The defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks check in with the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY Sports preseason coaches poll after finishing with a perfect 38-0 record under Dawn Staley. It was the first time she achieved perfection after coming close in 2020 and 2023 where South Carolina finished with just one loss in each of those seasons. 2020 ended early when the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19 and the 2023 team’s run at perfection was ended by Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Final Four.

South Carolina is joined by six other teams in the SEC to give them seven altogether. The Gamecocks edged out the UConn Huskies and USC Trojans for the top spot by a substantial margin. These three teams were the only ones to earn first-place votes. UConn will welcome back Paige Bueckers who bypassed the WNBA draft for another run at the title.

2024-25 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll

Rank School (Last Year’s Record) Points First Place Votes
1 South Carolina (38-0) 770 27
2 Connecticut (33-6) 734 3
3 Southern California (29-6) 716 1
4 Texas (33-5) 670 –
5 Notre Dame (28-7) 629 –
6 UCLA (27-7) 612 –
7 LSU (31-6) 567 –
8 North Carolina State (31-7) 533 –
9 Iowa State (21-12) 487 –
10 Oklahoma (23-10) 457 –
11 Duke (22-12) 449 –
12 Baylor (26-8) 434 –
13 Kansas State (26-8) 407 –
14 Ohio State (26-6) 405 –
15 West Virginia (25-8) 285 –
16 North Carolina (20-13) 263 –
17 Louisville (24-10) 261 –
18 Maryland (19-14) 254 –
19 Florida State (23-11) 177 –
20 Creighton (26-6) 150 –
21 Mississippi (24-9) 135 –
22 Kentucky (12-20) 106 –
23 Nebraska (23-12) 92 –
24 Indiana (26-6) 75 –
25 Alabama (24-10) 57 –

Others receiving votes:

Gonzaga (32-4) 49; TCU (21-12) 37; Stanford (30-6) 32; Tennessee (20-13) 32; Iowa (34-5) 28; Utah (23-11) 25; South Dakota State (27-6) 22; Oregon State (27-8) 21; Princeton (25-5) 18; Colorado (24-10) 15; Virginia Tech (25-8) 10; Illinois (19-15) 9; Middle Tennessee (30-5) 8; Fairfield (31-2) 7; California (19-15) 6; Richmond (29-6) 6; Auburn (20-12) 5; Florida Gulf Coast (29-5) 4; Miami (Fla.) (19-12) 4; UNLV (30-3) 4; South Florida (19-14) 3; George Mason (23-8) 2; Cleveland State (29-6) 1; Michigan (20-14) 1; Saint Joseph’s (28-6)

The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2024-25 season: Ashleen Bracey, Illinois-Chicago; Jen Brown, Queens University; Dan Burt, Duquesne; Fred Chmiel, Bowling Green; Janell Crayton Del Rosario, Bethune-Cookman; Denise Dillon, Villanova; Carrie Eighmey, South Dakota; Dalila Eshe, Yale; Heather Ezell, Wyoming; Bill Fennelly, Iowa State; Cindy Fisher, San Diego; Aqua Franklin, Lamar; Ty Grace, Howard; Hana Haden, Georgia Southern; Johnnie Harris, Auburn; Brian Holsinger, Montana; Rick Insell, Middle Tennessee; Renee Jimenez, UC Santa Barbara; Chris Kielsmeier, Cleveland State; Mike Lane, NJIT; Amy Mallon, Drexel; Mike McGuire, Radford; Kim McNeill, East Carolina; Lynn Milligan, Rider; Dan Nielson, Utah Valley; Shawn Poppie, Clemson; Samantha Quigley Smith, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville; Missy Traversi, Army; Jonathan Tsipis, Western Carolina; Way Veney, Central Connecticut State; Coquese Washington, Rutgers.

Sean Payton says Broncos scouted Saints QB pre-draft, ‘the whole nine yards’

Sean Payton says the Broncos thoroughly scouted Saints QB Spencer Rattler before the 2024 draft with meetings and a private workout: ‘The whole nine yards’

Spencer Rattler will have a big fan on the opposing sideline when his New Orleans Saints kick off with the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. Sean Payton said the Broncos thoroughly scouted the rookie quarterback ahead of  this year’s NFL draft, and he was impressed by what the South Carolina product showed him.

Payton and the Broncos college scouting department invested just as much time in evaluating Rattler as they did the other quarterbacks in the draft class, including their new starter Bo Nix.

“We spent a lot of time with him. I’d say there was five. Pro day and then we had a private workout. We were all in Phoenix, the Scottsdale area, where he’s from,” Payton recalled Tuesday. “Steak dinner, the whole nine yards. Tested in the morning (and watched him) throw. He did really well.”

So Payton wasn’t exactly blown away when the Saints immediately chose to  start Rattler after Derek Carr’s injury last week. He’s seen the young quarterback tackle everything college football could throw at him, and he knows the Broncos defense will need to work hard to pressure Rattler in his second career start.

Payton continued: “It’s not surprising to see (him do well). There is, again, I’m going to use an analogy. There’s a calmness when he plays. He too has been through the adversity early on. Coming out of high school, to Oklahoma and then transferring. There is a confidence when he’s on the field. You see that in the preseason and last week. It’s not too big for him, and he has a live arm. We were really impressed.”

At the same time, that exposure could have given Payton and his coaches some insight on how to, well, rattle Rattler. They didn’t draft him when they had the chance, but that’s probably more due to having taken Nix in the first round while lacking enough picks to address higher-priority needs. But if Rattler impresses on Thursday night and hands Payton’s team a loss? It sounds like the former Saints coach would be first in line to shake his hand.

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Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort completes renovation of Ocean Point course in South Carolina

Major bunker upgrade completed at Ocean Point Golf Links on barrier island in South Carolina.

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort in South Carolina announced this week the completion of a renovation to one of its two courses, Ocean Point Golf Links, which has reopened for play.

The layout – built on a barrier island near Beaufort – originally was designed by George Cobb and opened in 1964 with five holes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

The mother-son architect team of Cynthia Dye McGarey and Matt McGarey of Dye Designs Group completed the renovation that touched every hole. More than 50 bunkers were reshaped, and 11 greenside bunkers were added in addition to multiple new fairway traps and 5.5 acres of sandy waste area. Extensive work on the tees also was included, and more than 13,000 native plants will be planted. Golf Course Services Inc. was the construction partner.

“Ocean Point epitomizes the best of the Lowcountry golf, something my family knows well,” Matt McGarey said in a media release announcing completion of the project. “We enjoyed partnering with the Fripp Island Resort to bring about a more modern playing experience that capitalizes on the unique Lowcountry elements – all with an eye toward the intent of Mr. Cobb’s original design.”

The resort is also home to the Davis Love III-designed Ocean Creek course. The resort was named by USA TODAY in 2023 as one of the top island vacation destinations in the U.S.

Harbour Town in South Carolina to close for major restoration in 2025

David Love III will serve as a consultant to the Harbour Town restoration.

Harbour Town Golf Links at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, announced it will close for six months in 2025 for a restoration of the Pete Dye-designed layout that opened in 1969.

Part of Sea Pines Resort, Harbour Town is ranked by Golfweek’s Best as the No. 2 public-access layout in South Carolina. It also is the No. 21 resort course in the U.S. and the No. 59 modern course built in the U.S. since 1960. Much of the layout plays tight through trees until reaching Calibogue Sound for its final holes, with the 18th playing along the water toward the famed lighthouse beyond.

The course will close May 5, 2025, and is scheduled to reopen in November.

The work is being done to restore championship-level conditions. The course has been home to the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing (and all the tournament’s previous names) since the year it opened.

All the greens, bunkers and bulkheads will be rebuilt alongside improvements to agronomy and maintenance. The turf will remain as TifEagle Bermuda grass on the greens with Celebration Bermuda on the fairways, tees and rough.

“Everyone at The Sea Pines Resort is committed to honoring the legacy of Pete Dye’s design,” John Farrell, director of sports operations at Harbour Town, said in a media release announcing the restoration. “We will protect the shot values, both long and short, that have come to define Harbour Town Golf Links for nearly six decades.”

Davis Love III and his design company will serve as consultants to the restoration. Love won the RBC Heritage five times, and he designed the Atlantic Dunes course at the resort.

“I’m both honored and excited to be working with The Sea Pines Resort’s Harbour Town Golf Links team on the restoration of Harbour Town,” Love, who spent much of his youth on the island, said in the media release. “Given my success on the course over the years, it is a layout I know and love. We’ve already begun a thoughtful process for protecting the integrity of this Pete Dye masterpiece.”

South Carolina commit Jaquavious Dodd receives USC football offer

USC thinks a South Carolina commit isn’t 100-percent secured by the Gamecocks, and that there’s a chance for a flip in this case.

2025 South Carolina Gamecocks edge rusher commit Jaquavious Dodd has been offered by the USC Trojans.

According to the new player recruiting rankings from On3, edge rusher Jaquavious Dodd is one of the biggest risers in the country. The four-star, 6-foot-5 and 225 pound defensive end is ranked as the No. 98 overall prospect and No. 11 EDGE in the country.

Cody Bellaire, a national On3 Sports scout, wrote this about Dodd:

“Jaquavious Dodd is someone that On3 has been higher on than the industry. Early on in his high school career, we felt that the physical and athletic tools were there and we’ve been waiting to see them reach their full potential. Fast forward to his senior season and early returns have shown that Dodd has become a complete game wrecker. His length combined with his burst and power are rare coming off the edge. He still needs to fill out his frame and become a more complete run defender, but his ability as a pass rusher and willingness in the run game with his size and fluidity are extremely strong indicators towards future success.”

USC has a loaded defensive 2025 class which includes linebackers Jadon Perlotte, Matai Tagoa’i, Ty Jackson, defensive end Hayden Lowe, and cornerback Trestin Castro.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Spencer Rattler is the Saints Player of Day 18

Taking a look at quarterback Spencer Rattler with just 18 days until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2024 regular season:

Just 18 days stand between now and the kickoff the 2024 NFL season for the New Orleans Saints.

And perhaps one of the most-watched players in the coming months who its not taking the field as a starter in the coming months is none other than former South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler.

Here’s a look into everything to know about the player who dons No. 18 for the Saints:

  • Name (Age): Spencer Rattler (23)
  • Position: Quarterback
  • Height, weight: 6-foot, 211 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 4.00
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $879,120
  • College: Oklahoma, South Carolina
  • Drafted: Round 5, No. 150 overall (New Orleans Saints, 2024)
  • NFL experience: Rookie

Spencer Rattler is one of the most intriguing stories over recent college football history, going from a player who was once projected to be a No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick to a quarterback who was benched during the season in favor of backup Caleb Williams at Oklahoma.

Williams ultimately went on to fulfill a prophecy that it seemed was originally set for Rattler, winning the Heisman Trophy (an honor Rattler was once considered the early frontrunner for) and going first overall to the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Rattler wouldn’t quite reach the same heights, but did get his feet back under him when he joined Shane Beamer in Columbia with the South Carolina Gamecocks, going on to become the Senior Bowl MVP during offseason showcases.

The signal-caller got better in his own right in a way that wasn’t always noticed because of the subpar offensive line and supporting cast he was surrounded by. South Carolina as a whole looked lackluster when it finished out the 2023 season with a 5-7 overall record, but Rattler didn’t, ending out the year with a 68.9% completion rate, 3,186 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

Up next, Rattler will continue battling another former Senior Bowl MVP in ex-Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener for the backup position. Haener has somewhat of an edge intellectually, given that he’s spent one year in the Saints offense, though some may argue it is Rattler who has the higher ceiling and upside.

Heading into that opportunity, Rattler has full confidence in himself.

“I can make any throw on the field. I’m a quick learner, fast processor and can get in and out of the huddle and move the team,” Rattler told me in January. He continued, “I’m just confident in my ability. I, humbly, believe I can stack up against anybody. I truly believe that.”

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Notre Dame-UConn rematch at Purcell Pavilion scheduled for Dec. 12

Mark your calendar!

One of the highlights of a terrific 2023-24 season for Notre Dame was a road win over UConn on national TV. While it didn’t mean anything as far as conference play, the rivalry that has developed between the programs during the 21st century made it a big moment. Now, the date for the rematch between the women’s basketball blue bloods has been set.

UConn has released its nonconference schedule for the 2024-25 season. In doing so, it revealed that the Irish will welcome the Huskies to what surely will be a packed Purcell Pavilion on Dec. 12. The Huskies also will face USC, Tennessee and South Carolina, all of them women’s basketball powerhouses.

With both the Irish and Huskies expected to do big things during the upcoming season, this will be a game no one with a heavy interest in women’s basketball should miss. What’s more, the Irish have beaten the Huskies in each of the past two seasons, and they’ll do everything they can to make it three in a row.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Former UCLA Football GM to head to South Carolina

On the move again.

As we all know, the transfer portal is alive and well for college athletes around the country. Football is one of the most guilty of all the sports. But, it’s not just the athletes, it’s also the coaches and directors.

Former UCLA Football GM Darren Uscher has found another new job. He was hired at UCLA this winter, away from Oregon. Then 19 days left head coach Chip Kelly left for Ohio State.  After Kelly left, Uscher left and went back to Oregon under a new title.

The job makes sense for him, as he is a graduate of South Carolina, back in 2009. He once worked inside the Gamecocks marketing department. He also worked at Auburn several years ago.

The move was first reported by Matt Zenitz via X:

Coach Uscher is elated to be back at his former school and working with Coach Beamer. He announced his move as well via X: