Published: Wednesday, Sep. 09, 2009 / Updated: Wednesday, Sep. 09, 2009 01:31 PM
Fore! Is pro golf coming to Tega Cay?
Paula Creamer teeing off in Tega Cay? Michelle Wie enjoying oysters at Steve's and Lorena Ochoa singing karaoke at McHale's? That could be the scene a little more than a year from now if Tega Cay is successful in a televised LPGA tournament.
Talks have been underway to make the Tree City a stop on the tour next year. If a third party negotiating for the town can make it happen, officials estimate it could mean a tourism boost that would bring up to 80,000 visitors and between $10 million and $20 million to the township and surrounding area over the course of a multi-year agreement that would bring the LPGA back to Tega Cay through 2014.
This is not the first time the city was involved in talks involving professional sports. Several years ago, Tega Cay was approached about a deal to develop a championship tennis center that would attract WTA tournaments. It sounded promising at first, but that idea eventually withered and died on the vine.
Bringing major pro golf to the city is much more likely. For starters, the infrastructure is already in place. Even the recent demise of turf on half the holes the city owns doesn't seem to be an issue and that may be due in part to quick action by city officials to begin work that will mitigate the problem. Even more promising is the revelation that negotiations have been going on since June. It's unlikely the LPGA would engage in talks for that long if it wasn't interested.
As good as it sounds, we'd like to hear more details before declaring it the deal of the century, however. The city kept the talks under wraps for months and much of what it has discussed is widely hypothetical.
We're certainly eager to hear more. What's the plan to handle traffic, for instance? Under the right circumstance, though, its seems like bringing the LPGA to Tega Cay next year could be the start of something big.
We lost a great citizen
Harry Hallman was our past, but he was also our future.
The former Fort Mill Mayor, who passed away Sept. 1 at age 78, had a vision. In the early and mid 1980s, he saw the growth spurt that would come before long and orchestrated the investment in infrastructure that would help usher it in. Fort Mill continues to grow and it wouldn't be possible without the foundation he helped build.
Hallman, was one of our most beloved citizens, the type of man who shared bits of wisdom his Little League players would take to heart and use to help guide them as adults. That's what more than a few grieving residents have shared with us the past few days.
But that's not all.
As progressive as Hallman was, he was wise enough to know the appeal of Fort Mill was in its traditional, small town charm and he wanted to see that preserved.
He succeeded. More so, his successors, Charlie Powers and Danny Funderburk, are cut from the same mold and both can't say enough about their mentor.
Rest in peace, Harry Hallman. We thank you for all you did and you will never be forgotten.
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