Haig Point Club

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Haig Point Club
Type Private
Founded 1986
Headquarters Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, USA Flag of the United States
Parent Haig Point Club and Community Association, Inc.
Website Haig Point Club[1]

Haig Point Club, commonly referred to just as Haig Point and legally known as The Haig Point Club and Community Association, Inc., is a private 1,040-acre (4.2 km²) plantation on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina owned by its members as of 2001, though it was founded by International Paper in 1986. Haig Point is, however, managed by Troon Golf on behalf of its members. Haig Point was ranked as one of the top 100 private golf course communities in the country by Golf Digest Magazine[2] in the mid-2000s. Haig Point's Championship golf course, designed by Rees Jones in 1986 and being renovated by him in 2007, is considered one of the top 100 courses in America, having ranked #72 on Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses list in the 1997-98 season.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Pre Settlement (8,000BC-1711AD)

Native American Indians occupied Daufuskie Island for thousands of years. Many artifacts have been found at Haig Point dating back to this time. Tabby Ruins still exist on the property, dating back to the Colonial Period.

[edit] The Haig Era (1711-1810)

In 1711, James Cockran, an Indian trader and planter, acquired 500 acres (2.0 km²) of Haig Point (not yet called such). Five years later, the property was left to Richard Cockran Ash, who sold it to Archibald Niele in 1735. Having never occupied the property, Niele sold it to George Haig I later in the same year. Following Haig's death, Haig Point was left to George Haig III in 1790. In 1810, Haig put the property up for sale. While this was the end for the Haig family at Haig Point, the property remains to be called Haig Point to this day.

[edit] The Expansion Era (1810-1850)

Haig III sold Haig Point to John David Mongin for his son, David John Mongin in 1810. Sometime before 1823, but after 1810, the Mongins acquired the 600-acre (2.4 km²) Freeport Plantation. This created the nearly 1,100-acre (4.5 km²) plantation now known as Haig Point. Having died in 1823, David John Mongin left Haig Point to his wife, Sarah. Two years later she married Reverend Herman Blodgett. Sarah Mongin Blodgett died in 1833 and Rev. Blodgett bought Haig Point from the Mongin family. After remarrying and starting construction on a new plantation house, Blodgett eventually sold Haig Point to William (Squire) Pope of Hilton Head Island.

[edit] Trouble, Turbulence and the Trust (1861-1980)

In 1861, due to tax issues, Haig Point was confiscated by the U.S. Government. Five years later, Pope's heirs paid the taxes and reclaimed Haig Point. In 1872, the Popes sold the historic Haig Point Lighthouse and the 5 acres around it to the U.S. Government. Nearing the turn of the century in 1899, William Scouten bought Haig Point from the Popes for $2,500. The property stayed in the Scouten family for 58 years until in 1957 it was sold to Stiles Harper for $44,000. Harper then sold it to George Bostwick for $134,000. Bostwick then bought back the famous Haig Point Lighthouse from the U.S. Government. Drawing this chapter of Haig Point history to a close, Charles Cauthen and Daufuskie Island Land Trust bought Haig Point, the Webb Track and Oak Ridge for $2,875,000.

[edit] The International Paper Era (1984-2001)

In 1984, International Paper bought Haig Point from Charles Cauthen and the Daufuskie Island Land Trust for $8,453,328.18. Two years later, International Paper had set up extensive infrastructure, the lighhouse had been restored and Rees Jones had built the golf course. Also at this time (1986), the Strachan Mansion was moved from St. Simons Island, GA to Haig Point. The Mansion was essentially given away to International Paper by the Sea Island Company as they wanted the Mansion removed. The Mansion was barged up the Intracoastal Waterway and restored to its present state.

[edit] The Member Owned Era (2001-present)

In 2001, the members of Haig Point Club bought all of Haig Point from International Paper.

[edit] Geography

Map of Daufuskie Island showing Haig Point.
Map of Daufuskie Island showing Haig Point.

Haig Point Club is located on the northeast end of Daufuskie Island. The island is one of the southernmost sea islands in South Carolina with both Hilton Head Island (to the northeast) and Savannah, GA (to the southwest) only a short distance away.

To the east lies Calibogue Sound and Hilton Head Island; to the south is the Daufuskie Island Resort at Melrose and the Atlantic Ocean; to the west there is the Webb Tract and the mainland; and finally, to the north lies the Intracoastal Waterway and Bull Island.

Haig Point and all of Daufuskie Island experiences large tides that can swallow and reveal large portions of the beach.

Haig Point has also preserved many of the oyster beds that line the Atlantic side of the island.

[edit] Haig Point Golf Club

Haig Point Golf Club
Club Information
Location: Daufuskie Island, South Carolina,USA Flag of the United States
Established: 1986
Type: Private
Owned by: HPPCA
Operated by: HPPCA
Total holes: 29
Website: Haig Point Club[3]

Signature Course
Designed by: Rees Jones
Par: 72
Length: pending

Osprey
Designed by Rees Jones
Par: 36
Length: Haig: 3,595 Calibogue: 3,375
Course Rating: Haig: 37.6 Calibogue: 37.5

The Haig Point Golf Facility consists of 29 holes of golf, a two-way driving range, two practice greens and a clubhouse. The Club's General Manager is Mark Nordman, Clubhouse Manager is Shaun Lee and Director of Golf is Jason Cherry.

[edit] Signature

Haig Point features a 20-hole, Rees Jones Signature Championship golf course that offers two slightly different feels depending on whether one plays the Haig or Calibogue variant. Designed in 1986, Rees Jones returned in 2005 to help with course renovations that will come to an end in late 2007. These renovations are a part of Haig Point Club's Strategic Plan.

[edit] Osprey

The Osprey is Haig Point's 9-hole golf course (giving Haig Point Club an exclusive 29 holes of golf). Multiple holes offer Calibogue and Haig options, giving the golfer two unique experiences on the same course. The Calibogue tees usually have the golfer hitting over water or marsh (much riskier shots), while the Haig tees usually have more rough and trees.

[edit] Amenities

[edit] Beach Club

The club's Beach Club is located near the beach on the east side of the property overlooking Calibogue Sound, a major waterway connecting the Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic Ocean. While the current Beach Club has a pool, bar and barbecue, Haig Point has plans for a larger structure to be constructed just north of the current beach club to accommodate growing dining and recreational demands.

[edit] Dining

[edit] Equestrian Center

[edit] Haig Point Club and Community Association Inc.

[edit] Board of Directors

View from Osprey #2 green.
View from Osprey #2 green.

As of 2007, the HPCCA Board of Directors is as follows:

  • President & Executive Committee Chair: Wayne Huff
  • Property and Facilities Committee Chair: Don Glenn
  • Secretary & House Committee Chair: Debbie Hull
  • * ARB Board Chair: Ed Belcak
  • * Golf Committee Chair: Arthur Helmus
  • Sports & Wellness Committee Chair: Arthur Helmus
  • Membership & Communications Committee Chair: John Rigg
  • Finance Committee Chair: Kate Woodward

[edit] Committees

  • Architectural Review Board
  • Audit Committee
  • Ferry Company Board
  • Finance Committee
  • Golf Committee
  • Green Committee
  • House Committee
  • Membership Committee
  • Property, Facilities and Grounds Committee

[edit] The Strachan Mansion

[edit] Haig Point Lighthouse

[edit] Haig Point Ferry Company

Haig Point has its own private Ferry Company that transports its members, employees and associates to and from Daufuskie and Hilton Head Island. The Embarkation Centre on Hilton Head serves as both a ferry terminal and parking lot (as no cars are allowed in Haig Point).

The Haig Point Ferry Company has two large ferries (Haig Point I & II), two smaller ferries (Osprey & Pelican) and two smaller water taxi (Haig Point III & Sandpiper). As a part of the club's Strategic Plan, one more large ferry (Haig Point IV) was built in 2007 and is now an active part of the fleet.

Haig Point Private Ferry Terminal and Dock at Daufuskie.
Haig Point Private Ferry Terminal and Dock at Daufuskie.
Dolphins swimming in front of the Haig Point I
Dolphins swimming in front of the Haig Point I

[edit] Wildlife

Haig Point is home to a variety of different animals including deer, eagles, osprey, falcons, squirrels, lizards, snakes, alligators and many different types of fish and sharks.

[edit] Popular Culture

Pat Conroy's book, The Water is Wide, is a recounting of the year (1969) he spent as a teacher on Daufuskie Island.

[edit] Awards

  • Ranked No. 72 on "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses" by Golf Digest, 1997-98.
  • Named a "Top 10 Best, Private-equity, Country Club in America" by The Golfer magazine[4].
  • Ranked No. 43 on "America’s Best Top 100 Residential Courses" by Golfweek Magazine[5], 2005.
  • One of "America's 100 Premier Properties" by the Editors of LINKS Magazine[6], 2006/2007 & 2007/2008.

[edit] See also