Clarendon County in South Carolina boasts one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States. Lake Marion was completed in 1941 as part of a national rural electrification initiative. Since the late 20th century, the dam's generation of hydroelectric power has stimulated the economic development and industry in the region.
As you can imagine, fishing is popular in this part of the state. While the county is known for its championship-level catches of striped bass, Reader’s Digest magazine once rated Lake Marion as one of “America’s 100 Best” for fishing, specifically catfish. Recently, anglers from all over the country competed at the Bassmaster Elite Tournament.
Clarendon County sits tucked away between several well-known golf destinations and is home to some hidden gems. As a golfer, there are three courses in Clarendon County that you should know about.
Nestled along the shores of Lake Marion you’ll find The Players Club at Wyboo. It’s probably the most player-friendly golf course in the area and is a tremendous reclamation story. The course originally opened in 1999 to rave reviews and a ton of play. Unfortunately, things were not always rosy and in 2015 the course closed. The Players Club is part of the Wyboo Plantation golf community and homeowners were horrified and afraid that without the course, their homes would lose a lot of value. In 2017, several residents and former members banded together and purchased the course back from the bank. After a lot of hard work by the owners and newly formed maintenance staff, The Players Club at Wyboo reopened and has been voted Best Golf Course in Clarendon County for the past 5 years by the Sumter Item newspaper.
The Players Club at Wyboo is currently semi-private, which is a unique way of saying it’s open to everyone. According to Head Golf Professional Taylor Smith, “It’s very player friendly, with large undulating greens and a lot of wooded terrain. There isn’t much sand or water on the course either, making it “maintenance-friendly!” Manicured fairways lead to smooth Tif-Eagle greens. What the course lacks in bunkers, it more than makes up for in rolling terrain and mounding, which can leave to the dreaded uneven lie.
For me, getting out and exploring local “mom-and-pop” restaurants is a fringe benefit to what I do. Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the restaurants in the area all offer something unique. Of course, you can never go wrong with breakfast at Shoney’s and their buffet!
Georgios is one exit down I-95 and has some of the best pizzas in the area. They also offer some delectable Italian food as well.
The Mill Street Grill features a laid-back atmosphere and some great food. Their deep-fried pickles were outstanding, and most entrees include at least one trip to a well-stocked salad bar. The menu features a little bit of everything from burgers and fries to prime rib on the weekend.
It’s easy to find lunch at one of these little hometown restaurants. Sub Station II is located near downtown Manning and serves some first-rate sandwiches: the meat is cut right in front of you. Their menu may seem somewhat limited but no matter what you order, it’ll taste great.
Currently, none of the local Clarendon County golf courses offer any lodging. A great hotel just off I-95 is the Hampton Inn. They offer a complimentary breakfast buffet with both hot and cold items, fruits, yogurts, breads, and pastries. They are also centrally located; less than 15 minutes to each course.
Burger Chick was my favorite; the servings were plentiful and delicious. My wife went for the giant hamburger basket and said it was one of the best burgers she has had in a while. I had the two-piece fish dinner and had trouble finishing it. Their cole slaw is incredible!
If these golf courses were in a more populated area, they would probably receive a lot more play. That’s good news for golf travelers, who will find that booking tee times and lodging is easy and...
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