Issuu

the bluff Fall / Winter 2022

In South Carolina’s Lowcountry lies Palmetto Bluff, a protected sanctuary of natural wonder you can call home. Here, wandering at your leisure invites the biggest discoveries. Twenty thousand acres of pristine land and 32 miles of riverfront offer something for the curious-minded. Stay for a little or stay for a lifetime, it never leaves you.

For real estate inquiries, call 843.547.9954 or explore palmettobluff.com/bluffmag

Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy where prohibited by law. The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor. File no. H-110005

Some places you visit...

others you stay generations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

.....................................................................................................................................

12 | OWNER PROFILE

ESTEEMED EQUINE

STEWARDING THIS

32 | THE OUTDOORSMAN

Portrait photographer Gately

FEATURETTES

34 | REIMAGINING RIVER HOUSE 101 | THE FALL KITCHEN

Williams captures the spirit of Long eld Stables’ nine beloved horses.

105 | LOCAL CHARACTER

14 ANCIENT HARVEST Three generations of oystermen take a tour of the May River, discussing

50 SHANNON WHITWORTH The mystery of the mountains and

history is yet to be written. Follow the evolution of an ethos that will de ne this land for generations to come.

Jay Walea explores the the four pillars of his organization.

78 THE BIRTH OF GULLAH GEECHEE

collides in Shannon Whitworth’s

Local historian Luana Graves Sellars

music and paintings.

explores the origins of the Gullah Geechee people.

24 The next chapter of Palmetto Blu ’s

Conservancy Director

the lambent hum of the Lowcountry

history and food, culture and ecology.

THE ROAD TO ANSON

GREAT LAND Palmetto Blu

A DAY WITH

MR . PALMETTO BLUFF

A GUIDE TO THE MAY

Since retiring, Palmetto Blu

RIVER GOLF COURSE

resident Bob Newbert has reinvented

Brush up with this hole-by-hole

himself into a Lowcountry

handbook of the Jack Nicklaus

outdoorsman.

masterpiece.

OPPOSITE: FURTHER TO FLY | SHANNON WHITWORTH ON THE COVER: AERIAL OF LOWCOUNTRY MARSH | L AWSON BUILDER FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

THE ARTS INITIATIVE Presents

Located on the bank of the May River in the heart of Wilson Village, FLOW Gallery + Workshop is a curated collection of southern artists and the physical showcase of our Palmetto Bluff Artist in Residence program. The gallery’s diverse lineup of more than 25 artists includes oil and watercolor painters, potters, custom jewelers, textile artists, photographers, and many more celebrated southern creators. Like the eternally rolling waters of the May River, FLOW Gallery + Workshop is in constant motion. An ever-changing roster of creative workshops, art exhibits, and distinctive merchandise encourage

OPEN

regular visits to keep abreast of all things artful and new.

Tuesday - Sunday 10am to 6pm

UPCOMING EVENTS AT FLOW GALLERY + WORKSHOP

September 14 - 17, 2022 : Artist in Residence

November 12, 2022

BLAKELY MADE, PAINTER

THE ARTISTS OF PALMETTO BLUFF 2022 AUTUMN SHOW

October 5 - 8, 2022 : Artist in Residence

December 4, 2022

MARCUS AMAKER, POET LAUREATE

October 28 - November 6, 2022 THE ART OF MATT BAUMGARDNER EXHIBIT

November 9 - 11, 2022 : Artist in Residence TERESA ROCHE, ART & TEXTILES

ARTISAN HOLIDAY MARKET

December 7 - 10, 2022 : Artist in Residence CHI DESIGNS – INDIGO TEXTILES

February 11, 2023 THE ARTS INITIATIVE GALA OF GIVING

@flow p a l m e t to b l u f f

76 Boat House St | Bluffton, SC • 843.706.5483 •

owpalmettobluff.com

cr e at ed by a n d for t hose w ho lov e t h is speci a l lowcou n t ry i dy l l EDITOR AND DESIGNER

CONTRIBUTORS

Hailey Wist

Lawson Builder

COPY EDITOR

Justin Hardy

Sunny Gray

Barry Kaufman Patrick O'Brien

MANAGING EDITOR

Luana Graves Sellars

Maggie Hackett

Jay Walea PUBLISHER

Gately Williams

Palmetto Bluff

Cameron Wilder

SPECIAL THANKS

Amy Anderson

Boo Harrell

Woody Platt

Cyrus Buffum

Erica Martin

Kaelya Sommer

Ashlyn Blakenship

Jon McGaunn

Rhy Waddington

Jeff Dekruif

Greyson Miller

Shannon Whitworth

BJ Dennis

Richard Mitchell Jr.

Ali Wolfe

Lucinda Detrich

Richard Mitchell Sr.

Brian Wolfe

Jean Fruh

Bob Newbert

Christine Wrobel

Stephanie Gentemann

Mark Permar

Greg Wrobel

PA L M E T TO B L U F F. C O M

R E A L E S TAT E S A L E S

H OT E L R E S E R VAT I O N S

843.380.6856

843.896.2362

LET'S BE SOCIAL

/PalmettoBluff

@PalmettoBluff

A DV E R T I S I N G I N Q U I R I E S : M AG A Z I N E @ PA L M E T TO B L U F F. C O M

The Lowcountry’s Premier Provider of Interior and Exterior Surfacing Materials Photography by

StoneImpressions

(843) 784-6060 | SAVANNAHSURFACES.COM

UPCOMING EVENTS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE MARCUS AMAKER, POET LAUREATE

October 5–8

FIELD + FIRE THE ART OF PLAY AND PALATE

October 7-8

THE CANEBRAKE

It has been such a joy to get to know this remarkable community. In the past few months, I have spent hours on the May River, spotted the beloved

MEN’S MEMBER GUEST TOURNAMENT

October 13-15

resident alligator at the causeway, lunched in the sunlit dining room of the

FLOW GALLERY + WORKSHOP

new River House, and bumped down dirt roads in the back of Jay Walea’s

MATT BAUMGARDNER EXHIBIT

truck. I feel as though I’ve been indoctrinated, brought in on a wonderful

October 28 - November 6

secret. To put it bluntly, I get it now. Palmetto Blu

is at an in ection point. With new ownership will

come exciting change and infusions of new energy. But in writing “The

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE TERESA ROCHE , ART AND TEXTILES

November 9-11

Road to Anson” (pg. 2 ), I was struck again and again by the foundational philosophy of early planners and the incredible potency of the Palmetto Blu

Conservancy. This land has been stewarded with great care and will

continue to be de ned by a culture of community value. In my inaugural issue, I hope to build on the tradition of this great publication. But more than anything, I want to celebrate this place and its people. Enjoy

THE ARTISTS OF PALMETTO BLUFF AUTUMN SHOW AT FLOW GALLERY + WORKSHOP

November 12

PALMETTO BLUFF CONSERVANCY BURN DINNER

December 3

HOLIDAY ARTISAN MARKET

Hailey Wist Editor and Designer

December 4

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE CAROLINE HARPER, INDIGO TEXTILES

December 7-10

THE PALMETTO BLUFF CONSERVANCY BUFFALO RUN

We are thrilled to take part in the future of

December 11

this extraordinary community. We hope to enrich Lowcountry living and enhance the long-term experience

THE ARTS INITIATIVE

for our members and guests. We appreciate your

GALA OF GIVING

readership and hope to see you soon around the Bluff! PATRICK , WILL, JORDAN, AND CHRIS SOUTH STREET PARTNERS

February 11

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT:

palmettobluff.com

CONTRIBUTORS

..................................................................................................

GATELY WILLIAMS | PHOTOGRAPHER

CAMERON WILDER | PHOTOGRAPHER

Originally from the Midwest, Gately

Cameron

Williams

Charleston,

has

called

Charleston,

South Carolina, home for

Wilder

South

based

Carolina.

fteen

Growing up in Blu ton, Cameron

years and lives there with his wife

fell in love with the landscapes and

and daughter. When he does not

people that make the Lowcountry

have a camera in his hands, he can

a special place and home to such

be found on his bicycle.

a vibrant culture. He is honored to document and tell the stories of the folks who make the Lowcountry PATRICK O’BRIEN | PHOTOGRAPHER

what it is today.

For twenty- ve years Patrick O’Brien has created memorable photography for clients across the globe. He has been honored to collaborate with art directors, designers, and clients who share his passion for creating images that inspire and surprise. LAWSON BUILDER | PHOTOGRAPHER

Lawson Builder is an advertising and editorial photographer based out of Charleston, South Carolina. His focus includes the outdoors, tradecraft, and food. When he’s not clicking buttons on cameras, you can nd him

shing with friends or

stirring it up in the kitchen. LUANA GRAVES SELLARS | WRITER

A native-born New

orker, Luana

Graves Sellars has a degree in Journalism with a dual minor in Business and Black History. Living on Hilton Head Island has motivated her

become

contributing

writer for local magazines with a focus on Gullah culture, its history, people, and native island issues. She is the owner of Sankofa Communications, founder of the BARRY KAUFMAN | WRITER

Barry

aufman has been writing

professionally for twenty years, when he

rst realized that every

other vocation involves actual work. He is the owner of local copywriting rm

aufman Copy.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

nonpro ts Lowcountry Gullah and the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation, a

speaker,

writer,

lmmaker,

activist, and cultural in uencer. She is dedicated to preserving Gullah culture for future generations.

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How did you two meet? Ali: I grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey, right outside of the city. Brian grew up in Los Angeles.

Brian & Ali Wolfe PA L M E T TO B LU F F C LU B M E M B E R S G R E E N W I C H , CO N N E C T I C U T

I had lived in Los Angeles and was planning on moving back when I

and the weather in Greenwich was

the

met Brian at a birthday party in New

atrocious, so we reached out to

French in uences of Savannah. We

York City. We began dating when I

Montage about renting a place for

found a fantastic local artisan who

moved back to Los Angeles. I think

the month of May.

added all the custom millwork.

it was our second or third date that we gured out that our fathers grew up a town over from each other. Brian: Right after we got engaged in 2005, my job moved me to New York City. We’ve been on the East Coast ever since and eventually settled in

What were your

rst impressions?

Ali When we

rst arrived, there

was

nothing

open.

and

inn

were

The

closed,

and

pools the

restaurants were carryout only. But I immediately fell in love with the property and scenery. I would sit

Greenwich, Connecticut.

outside on the patio and read for hours. It was surreal.

What do you do? Brian: Investment banking on the capital markets side. I’ve worked at Je eries Group for twenty-seven years.

Lowcountry,

especially

the

What does your life look like when you’re here? Brian: My son, Derek, and I play a lot of golf. We also love to charter boats and have a captain take us around. Ali: We fell in love with pickleball, and my daughter, Beatrice, and I both take tennis lessons. It’s great to have Cole’s next door with the

When did you decide to buy?

bowling alley and the pool.

Brian: Ali was immediately touring real estate. And I was like, The

What is it about living here that

nd Palmetto Blu ?

world’s coming to an end. We’re

you love?

Ali: We are good friends with [one of

not buying! The next month we put

Ali: I feel like I have created my own

our son] Derek’s soccer teammate’s

down a deposit on this townhouse.

Hameau de la Reine! Waking up to

family, the Schieles. They own a

They hadn’t started construction

the spectacular views of Spanish

home around the corner from here in

yet, so we could make nish changes

moss and the marsh, I feel very

Moreland [Village]. At the beginning

and move walls around. We knew we

lucky. There’s something about the

of the pandemic, Lisa Schiele was

didn’t want to live here all the time,

Lowcountry,

posting pictures of a place with blue

so this was plug and play and no

It’s oftentimes indescribable. We

skies and water. I asked her, Where

maintenance. It just felt very easy.

are also so fortunate to live in

are you where the sun is shining?

Ali:

She told me about Palmetto Blu

and

townhouse our own. I worked with

preserving the environment. I wish

encouraged us to rent a place. The

my decorator in Greenwich, and we

every place was like this.

children were being homeschooled

drew inspiration from old homes in

How did you

certainly

made

this

community

something

that

magical.

cares

about

PICTURED HERE WITH DEREK AND BEATRICE

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

ANCIENT

HARVEST There is a spirit to our waterways. It speaks to us through the pluff mud, whispering its secrets from between blades of spartina grass. It is steeped in tradition, sustained through generations. It is the oyster, and it was here long before us.

STORY BY BARRY KAUFMAN || PHOTOGRAPHS BY LAWSON BUILDER

raveling the waters that snake between islands and expanses of marshland, it’s easy to get a sense of the eternal in the Lowcountry. My

rational mind knows that it is safely aboard a thoroughly modern plexiglass-hulled center console

shing boat,

but my imagination soars around each bend in the river. From the water, I can picture these banks playing host to Native American hunting parties. I can see the great shrimp boats, steamers, and packets that once chugged along the waves. I can smell the same salt air that once scented the Cretaceous period. The river is as the river has always been. And the one creature that has connected all these chapters in its story is also the most overlooked. It’s the oyster, and its story is more integral to the grand saga of the Lowcountry than you might think.

A Boat Ride Through History Sitting on the bench of a bay boat, it is a little easier to see through the veil of history. This is a select group of enthusiasts, thrown together by fate to experience the full breadth of the oystering world together. Manning the helm is Boo Harrell, a guide for Outside Hilton Head who grew up on these waters, exploring the tides in a little jon boat. Father and son Richard Mitchell senior and junior have been working an oyster lease on Hilton Head Island’s Broad Creek since the days before a bridge connected it to the mainland. Jean Fruh, with the Outside Hilton Head Foundation, has been using cast-o shells to help maintain the eternal beauty of these waters. Lowcountry culinary icon BJ Dennis and oysterman Cyrus Bu um of Seaborn are also along for the ride. Dennis is renowned as a keeper of Gullah Geechee foodways

and

responsible

for

bringing

today’s

group together. Bu um represents a new generation of oystermen in the Lowcountry who strive to keep old traditions alive. The boat ride is like a trip back in time. Mitchell senior talks of the old days, about oystering in the dark, about mountains and mountains of oyster shells, and

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

The oyster has been utilized by man for nearly 4000 years in South Carolina. Shell middens and circular arrangements date back to 2000 BC and indicate that Paleo-Indians used oysters for food and shells for tools and trade. A shell pile the size of three football fields was discovered near Awendaw in the 1960s and evinces long-term occupation of the area.

LEFT: RICHARD MITCHELL JR. | ABOVE: JEAN FRUH | RIGHT: CYRUS BUFFUM

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

long shifts at the cannery. This is a man who knows

into a legacy that remains today. At South Carolina’s peak

the ebb and ow of the tides deep in his bones. Hearing

in the early twentieth century, as many as three million

these stories, and seeing the old photos, you truly gain

bushels a year were shipped from the Lowcountry across

an appreciation for the oversized role these creatures

the world. Even in our own quiet waters, the oyster industry

played in the evolution of the Lowcountry. It is, in fact, thanks to oysters that we know

brought livelihoods to thousands. Canneries sprung up

anything at all about the Lowcountry’s Stone Age past.

around Hilton Head Island and up and down the May

Paleo-Indians came here just after the glaciers receded,

River. Today the only remnants of that bygone era are

spending the

The Old Oyster Factory restaurant on the island and the

rst winters after the end of the Ice Age

in the warmer climate of our shore. And we know that because of the shell rings they created, vast piles of

Toomer family’s operation at Blu ton Oyster Company. The elder Richard Mitchell

rst learned to harvest

discarded shells that outlasted the long drumbeat of

oysters at the age of six, led out to the banks by his

their history.

mother Evalina and taught the ner points of raking and

Just as the oyster drew the rst men here, it created

harvesting. “These days all kids want is a cell phone,” he

a way for people to call this area home when it was still a

tells me. “Nobody wants to get up at one and go back at

wild tangle of barrier islands at the edge of civilization.

ve in the morning.”

In a later era, freed from the bonds of slavery, the native Gullah were able to subsist on the harvest they’d

In most of its range Crassostrea virginica grows subtidally, fully submerged throughout its life cycle.

along the banks of these waterways, in addition to what

In the Lowcountry, however, the Eastern oyster grows

they could farm. With that bivalve bounty came industry,

intertidally, in the zone between high and low tide.

giving families a living wage in the wilds of commerce.

Competing for space along the muddy banks of rivers

When Harrell pushes forward on the throttle and tells the gathered crew that we’re about to visit the most

and creeks, these oysters grow in dense clusters and often have a distinct blade shape.

beautiful oyster beds we’ve ever seen, Mr. Mitchell just laughs. Because he remembers when healthy oyster beds stretched as far as the eye could see.

The Advent of Industry We may be a powerhouse of tourism today, but there was a time when oysters ruled South Carolina. During the Gilded Age when oil and steel barons began building the mansions that would establish them as American royalty, the Lowcountry’s oystermen were just working the tides to feed their families. Slowly, however, an industry began to form around Charleston. There, the oysters were packed up at shucking plants that dotted the coast, sealed up with then-revolutionary advancements in canning and refrigeration and shipped around the country. The industrialists of the era smelled money in our waters. Before long, people like the Maggioni family had found a way to turn this harvest

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

RICHARD MITCHELL SR.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Just as the oyster drew the first men here, it created a way for people to call this area home when it was still a wild tangle of barrier islands at the edge of civilization.

ABOVE: CYRUS BUFFUM, RICHARD MITCHELL JR., AND CHEF BJ DENNIS

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Foundation have planted. Each bushel, comprised of thousands of shells collected from seafood restaurants around the Lowcountry, is acting to control erosion and help give oysters a new lease on life. “If you look at the architecture of how they’re stacked and all those nooks and crannies, they’re really good at absorbing force,” she says, pointing to a stretch of sand along the shore. Here, two years have passed since the oyster bales were put in place, and it’s easy to see the e ects. Follow the water, and you’ll see a silty slop of plu mud transform into a healthy emergence of spartina grass just past the breaker. “Hopefully it’ll help slow the erosion and help that bank creep back.” This spot is just one of dozens that the Outside As we meander along the river, Bu um produces a binder

Foundation is saving from erosion. And thankfully,

packed with printouts and maps. Stained and creased

the Lowcountry’s appetite for oysters keeps them well

black-and-white photos show massive oyster houses and

supplied. Even more fortunate, the next generation of

canning facilities that stood where condos and lavish

culinary stars has demonstrated that they’re equally

beach houses now face the water.

interested in preserving the legacy of oystering in

By the time Mitchell had started working his oyster bed, the big canning plants had all gone. Pollution from

the area as they are in turning these delicacies into epicurean masterpieces.

the Savannah River had seen to that. When the federal

Bu um still harvests his oysters wild just as those

government shut down all of Daufuskie Island’s oyster

before him have done for centuries. He began his career

beds in the 1950s, the canneries soon followed. But even

looking at the water from a scienti c perspective, but his

in the absence of industry, Mitchell still was able to coax

passion balances modern-day practicality with a deep

a living out of the plu mud, selling his bounty to Savannah.

reverence for oystermen who have come before him. “I haven’t had the bene t of seventy years of

Coming Full Circle

knowledge, so I’ve had to try to leverage the archives, to

Today oysters may not be one of the main staples of the

leverage the sciences and my background,” says Bu um.

Lowcountry diet. They may not be the driving force

“There’s a whole rich history that I only know little pieces

behind the state’s industry. Richard Mitchell is just one of

of. The majority of it is between Mr. Mitchell’s ears.”

a handful of oystermen left, where before they had been

To that, Mr. Mitchell once again only laughs. Because

a legion, supplying an industry that employed thousands.

he knows how much history oysters carry. Far more than

And to hear him tell it, he might be one of the last. As

what’s between his ears, far more than anyone can learn

travel, tourism, and hospitality became the buzzwords of

from any archive. The stories are in nite, each one a

the region, bringing with them big-money investors from

thread that binds the Lowcountry together. There are the

points north, oysters returned to being, at best, a cottage

glory days, when folks raised families on the bounty of

industry. But that doesn’t mean the oyster’s story is over.

our oysters. And there are greater days ahead, as a new

From the boat, Fruh points out spots along the river

generation continues on the story of the oyster.

boasting the arti cial oyster beds she and the Outside

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

THE ROAD To

ANSON THERE IS AN ENERGY HERE, A SORT OF VORTEX OF NATURAL SYSTEMS THAT FEELS RARE AND SINGULAR. PERHAPS IT’S THAT THIS LAND FEELS UNFATHOMABLY ANCIENT, THAT IT HOLDS THE MYSTERY OF THE LOWCOUNTRY’S EARLIEST INHABITANTS, ARRIVING HERE AFTER THE GLACIERS RECEDED WITH THE END OF THE LAST ICE AGE, CARVING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE STRATA OF THE EARTH AND TRAILING MELTED WATER THAT SNAKED ITS WAY TO THE OCEAN. IT WAS THIS GRADUAL MOVEMENT THAT SHAPED THE REGION, FORMING THE CHANNELS BY WHICH SEA WATER EBBS AND FLOWS FROM THE MAY RIVER. IT IS A MORE RECENT HISTORY, FROM LORDS PROPRIETORS TO THE ANTEBELLUM, FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO RECONSTRUCTION. THIS LAND HAS HELD GENERATIONS, CRADLED THE PAIN AND JOY OF COLONISTS AND EXPLORERS, OVERSEERS AND ENSLAVED PEOPLE, FARMERS AND FREEDMEN. AND IT IS THE NATURAL BEAUTY—THE IRIDESCENT GREENS OF THE MARSH IN SUMMER, THE ANCIENT CANOPIES OF OUR LIVE OAKS. IT IS THE SMELL OF SANDY SOIL AND THE MARITIME FOREST, THE WAXY RUSTLING OF PALMETTO FRONDS IN THE SEA BREEZE.

Story by Hailey Wist Photographs by Patrick O’Brien

his

land

loved,

revered

even.

This

The

authenticity

continues

extraordinary amalgam of history and nature

fundamental to the land plan. When South Street

has been at the heart of Palmetto Blu

Partners took over the stewardship of Palmetto Blu

since

the early stages of development. In the original vision

June 2021, they knew they were taking on an important

statement, Jim Mozley and David Howerton reimagined

legacy. “The built environment at Palmetto Blu

the

establishing

the best, if not the best, I’ve probably ever seen anywhere

neighborhood guidelines that favored deep porches and

in terms of execution, quality, and consistency,” says

white picket fences over McMansions and double-wide

Chris Randolph at South Street Partners. “There’s a

driveways. They wanted to create something with the

higher bar here. So we’re going to have to not only meet

charm and romance of historic Beaufort and the storied

it, but exceed it.”

planned

community

concept,

is one of

Anson Village ushers in a new era for Palmetto

streets of Savannah. The result was Wilson Village, Palmetto Blu ’s beloved neighborhood and beating

Blu

heart of the larger community. Its streets are shady and

team. It’s not a project the partners are taking lightly.

narrow, its homes the picture of the Southern ideal.

They have brought David Howerton and the team at Hart

But

importantly,

Mozley

and

Howerton

and an exciting opportunity for the South Street

Howerton back to Palmetto Blu

as a key development

prioritized the natural environment, raising standards

partner. They’ve also enlisted land planner and architect

for water protection, enlarging setbacks, and identifying

Mark Permar. Permar contributed to the development

specimen trees. They set aside buildable waterfront

of Wilson Village back in the early 2000s and has been

property for parks and nature corridors and forewent

instrumental in the planning of renowned Kiawah

individual dock permits. Their early vision is the reason

Island. Returning to Palmetto Blu

the May River looks much like it did one hundred years

challenge for Permar. “When you take a break from a

ago, with only the gables and roo ines of homes peeking

location and then reconnect,” he says, “it’s an opportunity

from the dense shoreline canopy.

to see the place with fresh eyes again.”

Essential to this process was the inception of the Palmetto Blu

poses an intriguing

And with fresh eyes, visionaries like Howerton

Conservancy. Organized by the Palmetto

and Permar see endless opportunity to innovate, work

Company in 200 , the Conservancy has played

closer with nature, to yet again reimagine the planned

an important role in land planning and preservation

community. Permar has seen the stark contrast between

at Palmetto Blu . The Conservancy team weighs in

development that works with nature and development that

on roads, the lagoon systems, setback guidelines, and

conquers it. “Our team doesn’t think like that,” he says.

landscaping. They educate homeowners on sustainability

“We understand that we are part of a continuum.” And

and identify sentinel trees to protect in the home siting

this continuum began with a philosophy of responsible

and construction process.

development cultivated since the

Blu

Twenty years later, this development foresight has evolved into a celebrated cornerstone of the Palmetto Blu

emphasis

rst shovel full of dirt

was turned in Palmetto Blu ’s modern era. “Just

person,

communities

have

value

community. From Wilson Village, the neighborhoods fan

systems,” explains Permar. “We make choices that

out into larger and larger parcels. Whereas the town lots

reinforce those values.” For Permar and the South Street

of the Village might be .1 acres, the country lots can be

team, reinforcing those values means weighing every

as large as 0 acres. This variation has a naturalizing

decision against what is right for the land. Even in these

e ect, and it feels like these neighborhoods have been

early stages, the team is taking a close look at existing

here much longer than they actually have.

waterways, teasing out how to work with the land in

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

WITH ANSON, SOUTH STREET PARTNERS WANTS TO CREATE A

HART

HOWERTON,

COMMUNITY WITH THE SAME WALKABILITY AND CLUSTERED

THE

HOUSING THAT DEFINES WILSON VILLAGE, PALMETTO BLUFF’S

PARTNERING WITH SOUTH STREET PARTNERS

ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS DENSER CONFIGURATION IS

ON ANSON VILLAGE AND WILL BE CRUCIAL IN

NESTLED WITHIN TRACTS OF INTACT NATURAL HABITAT.

THE EARLY STAGES OF LAND DEVELOPMENT.

CREATION

KEY

PLAYER

WILSON

VILLAGE,

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD WORKS IN CONCERT WITH THE CONSERVANCY TO MAINTAIN STRICT REQUIREMENTS FOR TREE REMOVAL. THE IDEA IS TO CREATE A FILTERED VIEW, SWATHS OF MARITIME CANOPY TO SOFTEN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

meaningful ways. “If you work with natural systems as opposed to

ghting them, you’re more e cient, and—

more importantly—responsible,” he explains. “Where would a waterway be naturally? Where are the natural low-lying areas?” Again, the Conservancy is central to this bigpicture planning. As the development team explores the southwest end of the property, they are working closely with

Conservancy

director

Jay

Walea—identifying

specimen trees, wildlife corridors, and areas of historic use. Exploring the site of the future Anson marina has been particularly exciting for Permar. “There are signs of prior settlement where the marina will be located,” he notes. “Part of the exercise over the next six months will be to reveal that.” This deliberate, methodical approach gives the land planning team room to dream, to imagine. And as the planning moves from macro to micro, South Street Partners hopes to set even higher standards, to build on the magic of Wilson Village but also innovate and reimagine. “It’s exciting. Anson is such a unique and dynamic setting,” says Randolph. “And we get to put our ngerprints on it.” For Director of Design Stephanie Gentemann, the Anson project is an opportunity to create another iteration of Lowcountry architecture. “Each village has a unique

avor,” she says. “I hope we can

create something distinctive and special with Anson.” Planning the road to Anson, the team is not only looking backward on the continuum, but forward. “This is our evidence to the world. This is what our values are and the hope is that future generations will continue to nd ways to enhance those values,” says Permar. “The choices we make now will say who we are later on.” The next era in Palmetto Blu ’s history—a history that stretches back to the days when walls of ice carved it from the earth—is just starting to be written.

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The way home. PO Box 1928 | Bluffton, SC 29910 | (843) 247-5452 | csthomasconstruction.com

the

Outdoorsman BY JUSTIN HARDY L A N D A N D W I L D L I F E M A N AG E R FO R T H E PA L M E T TO B LU F F CO N S E RVA N CY

With a title like “The Outdoorsman,” you may be hoping

list goes on. If you want a tour, River Road Preserve and

I’ll wax on about the time I ate rib meat o a fresh kill in an

Sand Hill Loop Nature Trail truly shine with color. These

ice storm during an earthquake when eight of my ngers

locations are unique and easily accessible with miles of

were broken from ghting a bear in shark-infested waters.

hiking and biking trails. When you are in these places,

But no. Not today… Today, it’s all pretty leaves and

you won’t have to search very hard to

nd the colorful

oddballs. They stand out like an ostrich at a chicken ght.

owers in the fall. The deciduous forests of the northeastern United

The South also has a plethora of owering plants well

States are famous for their fall color change. This annual

into October. The Oak Island area of Palmetto Blu

wham-bam of color is spectacular, sure, but it holds

October is our crown jewel. Deep green pine tops and

ominous notions. It signi es the beginning of a long,

scattered live oaks are the overstory of an ocean of purple

wet cold that a Southern bumpkin like me can’t fathom.

blazing star, yellow goldenrod, and white boneset. The

After a brief explosion of color comes gray and drab. It

bronze-colored native grasses have pu y, white seed

is true that I have zero experience with actual winter as

heads that sway in the breeze at eyebrow height. Four-

I have rarely left my Southern comfort zone. “Winter,”

forty- ve in the afternoon is the perfect time to visit. The

down here is…well…it ain’t bad and that’s just

light hits at just the right angle and everything shines like

ne. Our

mild winters mean that the forest is always green, always alive, and always loud to the eye. Hell, they should call it the “fall color stay” down here.

tinsel at Christmas…a seventy-degree Christmas. Alone in the forest on a fall afternoon, a cool breeze from the north slides in and breaks across my shoulders.

Though the South doesn’t display a dramatic,

The chill is short-lived but it reminds me to be grateful

landscape-wide color change, we do have several species

for the temperate beauty I’m standing in. I’d imagine our

that show o . This pageantry occurs in easy-to- nd

wild neighbors share the sentiment.

patches scattered throughout our perma-green maritime forest. Hickory trees and witch hazel show bright yellow. Sweetgum and sparkleberry trees get a swirl of purple and red. Sassafras, bright red. Creeper vines, purple. The

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

MY THREE TAKEAWAYS: • PA L M E T TO B LU F F I S ST U N NI N G I N T H E FA L L . • I WO U L D N ’ T K N OW W I N T ER I F I T B I T M E O N T H E H I N D Q UART E R S . • R E A L O U T D OO R S M E N L I K E F LOW E R S AN D P R E T T Y L E AV E S.

BUILDING TO A HIGHER STANDARD P.O. Box 902 • 33 Boundary Street • Bluffton, SC 29910 • 843.757.8220 (of ce) • www.genesis-construction.com

SIGNATURE DISHES INCLUDE OYSTERS FROM BOTH COASTS, A FRESH SPIN ON CRAB LOUIE, PRIME DRY-AGED STEAKS, BLACK TRUFFLE CREAMED CORN, AND A STUNNING SEAFOOD TOWER.

Reimagining

RIVER HOUSE In spring 2022 Palmetto Blu

celebrated the long-awaited

return of River House, the beloved restaurant overlooking the May River. The rst restaurant opened within Palmetto Blu , this landmark venue was redesigned by South Carolinabased Court Atkins Group. With

oor-to-ceiling windows and endless river views,

the restaurant includes a trim thirteen-seat bar, an al fresco lounge within a screened-in porch, and a bourbon wall that serves as both a functional and focal piece of art within the space. While paying homage to Palmetto Blu ’s original culinary experience, the new River House features distinctive touches with a curated collection of sterling silver carefully sourced from antique boutiques, tableside cocktail and culinary preparations and saucing. The menu, overseen by Chef de Cuisine Daniel Vesey, focuses on quality steaks and seafood, seasonal ingredients, and detailed presentation, creating visually striking gastronomy.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

new place to celebrate in the Lowcountry.

Introducing River House at Montage Palmetto Bluff. River House is a celebration of Lowcountry culture and cuisine—an instant favorite. This intimate connection between land and sea intertwines seasonal harvests, thoughtfully sourced meats, fresh catch, cocktails and wines, curating an experience as unforgettable as the Lowcountry itself. Now accepting reservations.

RIVERHOUSESC.COM

(855) 774-1286

esteemed equine EQUESTRIAN MANAGER KAELYA SOMMER INTRODUCES THE BELOVED RESIDENTS OF LONGFIELD STABLES PHOTOGRAPHS by GATELY WILLIAMS

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

JOAB 15 YEARS | 14.1 HANDS | MARSH TACKY | DUN Joab is so sturdy and un appable, we’ve had a trained ninja back ip o

his back! He is a bit

lazy and prefers to be petted and cuddled above all else. Deacon is his best friend, and when the two are separated, they call to each other. When you meet him, notice the classic Marsh Tacky dorsal stripe down his back.

DEACON 12 YEARS | 17.3 HANDS PERCHERON FRIESIAN MIX | BLACK Deacon is our largest horse. He was trained to fox hunt in Aiken, South Carolina, and New York and can jump up to four feet. We often put advanced riders on Deacon. His best friend is Joab. They are inseparable! Deacon thinks he runs the stables, and even when he’s out working he will whinny to the other horses to let them know he’s still in charge.

YOUR HAND TURNED HORIZONTAL IS ABOUT FOURINCHES LONG. THIS IS HOW WE MEASURE THE HEIGHT OF A HORSE!

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P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

BRAVO

PHOENIX

15 YEARS | 15.1 HANDS | MARSH TACKY | RED DUN

15 YEARS | 14.3 HANDS | KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN

ravo is Joab’s cousin. He is super sweet and the

HORSE | CHESTNUT WITH FLAXEN MANE AND TAIL

most versatile horse in our stables.

ne year, for a

hoenix is a gaited horse and has a comfortable

Marsh Tacky demonstration, we taught

ravo to

third gait called an amble. So he is ideal for trail

jump while his rider

aint the

riding! t’s like riding along on the couch. He loves

ew a kite. He does

ony, trail rides, lessons

you name it!

water and, given the chance, will drop down and roll in the mud! He’s very special to me personally

MARSH TACKIES ARE SMALL AND STURDY BREED

because he had lymphoma, and

BROUGHT OVER BY THE SPANISH IN THE SIXTEENTH

nights with him at The

CENTURY. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY BRED FOR HUNTING

colic surgery. He has recovered beautifully!

AND ARE INCREDIBLY SURE-FOOTED IN THE BOGGY

spent multiple

niversity of

eorgia for a

LOWCOUNTRY TERRAIN.

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ROXY

RAFIKI

15 YEARS | 15.1 HANDS | MARSH TACKY | RED DUN

15 YEARS | 16.3 HANDS | HOLSTEINER | BAY

oxy came to Long eld with one of our e uestrian

a ki is trained in dressage up to level three, but

members. She does everything from beginner rides

he prefers the trails to the sandbox so we use him

on the lunge line to pony rides. She can also jump

as a trail horse! He prefers to be out on the open

up to two and a half feet with lead changes. And

trail to fancy horse dancing. He has one of the most

she absolutely loves trail riding. She has a lot of

comfortable canters ’ve ever ridden! His favorite

personality and can be sassy with her friends!

treat is Twizzlers, and his best friend is heonix.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

SCARLETT 19 YEARS | 15.2 HANDS | QUARTER | CHESTNUT Scarlet is our local sweetheart from

elion,

South Carolina. She just wants to cuddle! She does pony rides even though she’s not a pony.

WINTER 25 YEARS | 13 HANDS | PONY | WHITE Winter is pure white with pink skin, which is very rare. She has to wear sunscreen all the time! She was a rescue and is our calmest and sweetest pony. Her favorite activity is

aint the

ony, and she often falls asleep in the middle of it. She has been featured in weddings and even a alph Lauren photo shoot. She wears a unicorn horn on special occasions!

A PONY IS 14.2 HANDS HIGH AND BELOW, A HORSE IS 14.3 HANDS HIGH AND ABOVE.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

VIRGINIA 17 YEARS | 13.2 HANDS | PONY | PALOMINO

irginia comes from

nyxford arm in

irginia,

which breeds fancy hunter show ponies. Her full name is

nyxford’s Miss

irginia.

irginia is one

of our tried and true lesson ponies and works well with everyone from beginners to advanced jumpers. She’s also featured in our

aint the

ony series. She’s very sweet and trustworthy.

KAELYA SOMMER HAS WORKED AS THE EQUESTRIAN MANAGER AT LONGFIELD STABLES SINCE 2019. FOR THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS, KAELYA HAS MANAGED AND TRAINED HORSES AT PRESTIGIOUS, MULTIDISCIPLINE STABLES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST. LONGFIELD STABLES OFFERS EVERYTHING FROM PONY RIDES TO JUMPING LESSONS, HORSEMANSHIP CLASSES TO TRAIL RIDES THROUGH THE MARITIME FOREST. PAINT A PONY OR STOP BY FOR A STABLE TOUR. LESSONS ARE IMMERSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HORSEMANSHIP AND CARE.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

M Y L A G O S M Y W AY

THE SHOPS AT SE A PINES CENTER | 71 LIGHTHOUSE ROAD 863.671.7070 | FORSY THEHHI.COM

D e s i g n T h a t B eg i n s Wi t h Yo u .

BLUFFTON

•

CHARLESTON

•

PA L M B E A C H

K E L LY C A R O N D E S I G N S . C O M

SHANNON WHITWORTH I am standing knee-deep in the French Broad River as a low mist drifts in. It’s a warm June afternoon and sunlight streams through the sycamores, yet this odd precipitation slides along the riverbank, collecting in its eddies and angles. Shannon points upriver where it hovers over the water in a narrow wisp, a spectral shadow of the river below. “Look at that,” she says. “If it was a note, it would be something strong and hopeful. It would be a major key.” She hums a single note as tiny sh nibble my toes.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY HAILEY WIST

love mingles with family and poetry, music and nature. In her moody riverscapes there is a deep well of feeling. In her silhouettes of cowboys and medicine men there is the ghost of musical tradition, mysticism, and healing. Likewise, her music rides a wave of emotion, sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes exalting, her smoky voice shaping melody into something deeply personal.

Growing

northern

Virginia,

Shannon

was

endlessly writing and drawing. Looking at the scope of her career, this instinct for music and art was forged in hen I

rst meet Shannon Whitworth at the

FLOW Gallery + Workshop at Palmetto Blu , she is deep in conversation with a buyer.

They have moved past art and are talking relationships and heartache. Shannon is like that. It’s as if her heart is cracked open and on display. And people respond to it, spilling secrets they didn’t know they had. Like Whitman

she was writing little poems and singing made-up melodies. In kindergarten she sang a Barbra Streisand song in a school talent show. She remembers the shock on her parents’ faces. “I was the third child and sort of camou aged in with everybody. It was the rst time they were like, Wow. can’t believe you did that.” In middle school her parents bought her an easel,

and Dylan, the great artists that came before, Shannon

and she rearranged her room around it to paint by the

contains multitudes. She has a big laugh. She loves dogs,

window. As a teenager Shannon

mermaids, and chewing gum. She is a mother and a wife. In all these things she is accessible and warm, empathic even. But Shannon is also a gale force. With a potent and expansive energy she has created an auspicious career in art and music. Her paintings are featured in galleries and collections across the country. She has released three

lled notebook after

notebook with poems and sketches. When her older brother’s girlfriend (now wife) brought over a guitar and taught her a few chords, her life changed forever. “That’s all I needed,” she says. “These books and books of poems, I could put them to melodies. It was like,

h my

od.

can communicate.

solo albums, a duets album, and two albums with the

It was also during this time that Shannon started

bluegrass band The Biscuit Burners. Her dual love of art

spending summers on Hilton Head Island with her

and music has been dazzling for decades. Sitting in her studio in Brevard, North Carolina, I ask Shannon which came rst, music or art, and she responds, “Professionally? Or cellularly?” Maybe that’s it—when you see Shannon’s paintings or listen to her music, it feels cellular. She has put her whole heart into her work, and somehow her paintings speak to that. It’s all integrated—

her childhood and teens. Even in her earliest memories,

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

Grandma Nancy. Growing up with brothers, Shannon had always been a tomboy, a creative odd duck. Nancy was well traveled, sophisticated, and feminine, and their one-on-one time was like an initiation into womanhood. “I went down there playing with Barbie dolls, and I came back wearing a training bra,” Shannon laughs. She also

LEFT: THE SEA BOUNTY | EXCERPT | 12X12 INCHES RIGHT: WINTER CREEK STUDY | 5X7 INCHES

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

PEACE LIKE A RIVER | EXCERPT | 12X16 INCHES

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

fell in love with the Lowcountry, the sultry summers. “Every day I got to watch the sun break through the clouds,” she says. “It’s in my DNA—the smells, the skies, the water.” Her summers with Nancy were also musically formative. It was during her visits to Hilton Head that Shannon became acquainted with the classics—Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Julie London. “There were clock radios in every room playing WLOW 107.9 Classic Radio,” she remembers. “It created this amber buzz throughout the house.” The music, the setting, and the in uence of Grandma Nancy, with her gold bangles and vodka martinis, expanded Shannon’s world, giving her the clay from which she’d mold her art and her music.

THREE SISTERS | 20X24 INCHES

For the longest time, Shannon only played music

up from local gigs to national tours, and Shannon was

by herself or with her two brothers. She tried new

catapulted into bluegrass fame. During her time with

things, traveled. She worked on

shing boats and at a

the band, The Biscuit Burners released two critically

reservation in Arizona. She lived in the cook’s cabin of

acclaimed albums. It was also during that time she and

an old summer camp and taught art. But she was always,

Woody fell in love. They were both touring constantly

endlessly writing songs. When she moved to Brevard,

but moved into a little log cabin together in Brevard.

Shannon fell in with a group of musicians including Woody Platt, her future husband and founding member of the Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers.

Woody and Shannon’s restored farmhouse is situated at

One fateful night at Jack of the Wood in Asheville, a

the con uence of the French Broad River and its north

friend coaxed Shannon onstage during a bluegrass jam,

and east forks. When I visit in June, Shannon tours me

and for the

rst time Shannon played for a crowd. She

around in an old golf cart on mowed paths through head-

played all night, in fact, jamming into the wee hours. “I

high grass and wild owers. We make our way down

felt like I had just met the love of my life,” she remembers.

to the river where she and Woody have restored their

“I was giddy.”

stretch of the bank. Where the water once rushed past

After the all-nighter at Jack of the Wood, Shannon

and eroded the land, there is now a slow curve and a

was asked to play with an all-girl bluegrass group, the

sloping sandbar. The trout have returned and Shannon

band that would later become The Biscuit Burners.

tells me about y shing with Woody and friends in the

The chemistry was electric and Shannon remembers

shallow waters.

playing their rst gig to a packed house. “I felt like I was

When she left The Biscuit Burners in 2006, Shannon

levitating,” she says. The Biscuit Burners quickly spun

released a series of solo albums and a duets album with

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

encouraged her to post her paintings on Instagram, and when she did, the series sold out in a day. Her paintings started selling in galleries and online. “I never wanted to self-promote,” she tells me. “But it was crazy. All of a sudden my paintings started selling.” Since then, Shannon has been proli c.

On her

nal night at Palmetto Blu , Shannon is joined

by Woody and Rivers. It’s a clear spring evening, and the lawn next to Cole’s is spangled with picnic blankets and lawn chairs. Shannon and Woody stroll over to the blu Steep Canyon Rangers bassist Barrett Smith. She toured

to tune their instruments and check in. Until now I’ve

with Chris Isaak, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Raul Malo.

only ever seen Shannon as an artist, and it is a thrill to

She lived on the road and spent most weeks away from

see her settle down behind the microphone and dazzle

Woody. This breakneck whirlwind left little time for her

the audience out loud. She and Woody play You Are in

other love. “When I was on tour, I always felt like I was

Love with Me from her most recent album, and you can

cheating on my art,” she says. “I felt very imbalanced.”

feel the e ect on the crowd.

She’d sketch on the road and at home put paint to canvas.

Back in her studio in Brevard, we talk about

The “music man” series that has so captured her followers

family, about motherhood and the joy of raising Rivers,

came out of this time.

now six. Lately Shannon has been painting a lot of

Outside the FLOW Gallery + Workshop, I watch

landscapes, especially the wide expanses of the Carolina

Shannon teach a painting workshop to a group of ladies.

Lowcountry from her summers with Nancy. “I never

She moves between the easels, stopping occasionally to

thought landscapes were my thing. I want to be open to

help solve a puzzle or suggest a brush. I am struck by

go anywhere, but landscapes are a way of journaling.

how natural she is, so open and easy with her guidance

It’s like a heart map, where you’ve been and where you

and praise. Shannon isn’t holding onto or protecting

want to go.” I’m aware that I’m catching Shannon in a

anything, quite the opposite. She wants everyone to feel

mere moment of her character arc. It seems that up to

what she feels; she wants magic and love to ow from her

this point she has truly operated on instinct, following

paintings and out into the world.

her nose to the next right thing. “Everything has been

In 2015 Shannon and Woody welcomed a baby boy

through feeling, with my eyes closed, just by touch,” she

into the world. Motherhood grounded Shannon, literally.

con rms. It’s all there in her paintings—unalloyed truth.

She put a pause on music and put all her energy into

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SHANNON WHITWORTH, STOP BY FLOW GALLERY + WORKSHOP IN WILSON VILLAGE OR VISIT FLOWPALMETTOBLUFF.COM

Rivers and her art. When the pandemic swept the globe, Woody, Rivers, and Shannon were at home on the French Broad. It was a disorienting time, to say the least. A friend

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

RIGHT: SHANNON ONSTAGE AT MORELAND CROSSROADS WITH HER HUSBAND, WOODY PLATT

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

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A DAY WITH

Mr. Palmetto Bluff

STORY and PHOTOGRAPHS by HAILEY WIST

I meet Bob Newbert at Wilson Landing on a humid

Pat Conroy’s The Water is Wide. Bob is like a well-oiled

morning in late July. The day is already blindingly

machine, and his stories are infused with an infectious

bright, and we are both slathered in sunscreen. Bob has

enthusiasm for the area, its people, and its rich cultural

organized a full schedule for the day, and I fall into step

heritage. Emblazoned across his ball cap, in fact, is:

as he strides o

“Captain Bob’s Lowcountry Tours,” a tongue-in-cheek

down the dock.

I heard of Bob months before in an editorial meeting. Around Wilson Village he’s known as “Mr. Palmetto

Father’s Day gift from his daughter along with a matching t-shirt and windbreaker.

Blu ,” a kind of paragon retiree with a wild enthusiasm

As the sun reaches its apex, we motor into a small

for all things Lowcountry. Since his retirement in 2009,

tidal creek and drop anchor for lunch. This is one of Bob’s

Bob has thrown himself into a multitude of hobbies. He

favorite “hidden happy hour” spots to take friends. “We

took shooting lessons, learned how to shrimp, and got his

pull in here and break out a bottle of wine and a cheese

US Coast Guard Master Captain license. He has perfected

board. It’s great fun.” He has packed us chicken salad

the Lowcountry boil, hunted marsh hen, and learned

sandwiches and peaches, and we sit chatting over lunch.

the intricate maze of tidal creeks in a 100-mile radius of

“All I did was work,” he tells me. For thirty years, Bob

the Blu . He has educated himself on local history and ecology and now leads excursions for organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, even devising itineraries for the Wilson Landing Boat Club. And let me tell you, Bob Newbert is having the time of his life. Our rst item on the itinerary is a boat tour along the May River. Bob is an expert at the helm, and we careen through narrow waterways, speeding past wild islands and stopping occasionally at predetermined locations for a funny anecdote or quick history lesson. He tells me all the early lore about Alfred Lee Loomis (who once owned a signi cant portion of Hilton Head Island) and the menagerie on Bull Island. He explains the oystering industry, the anatomy of a brown pelican, the origins of

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

CRABBING BOB TEARS OPEN A FOUR-PACK OF TURKEY NECKS AND PLACES EACH AT THE CENTER OF HIS TRAPS. I USED TO USE STRING TO TIE THEM ON, BUT THE CRABS WOULD BITE THROUGH IT AND TAKE OFF WITH MY TURKEY NECKS. HE USES THICK ZIP TIES TO SECURE THE MEAT TO THE METAL BASKETS AND THEN LOWERS THEM HAND OVER HAND INTO THE SHALLOW WATER BELOW THE DOCK. NOW NORMALLY THIS IS A SOCIAL ACTIVITY. WE’D CRACK A COUPLE BEERS AND SET UP SOME BEACH CHAIRS IN THE SHADE, CHECKING OUR TRAPS EVERY SO OFTEN. IT’S GREAT FUN.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

SHRIMPING WE’RE BOBBING AROUND ON THE MAY RIVER OVER A SHRIMP HOLE, A DROP-IN DEPTH WHERE BOB TELLS ME THE SHRIMP HANG OUT. ALL OF THE SHRIMPERS HAVE THEIR FAVORITE HOLES. HE PULLS A BRIGHT GREEN CAST NET FROM HIS BUCKET AND STARTS TO SORT THE WEIGHTS, ARRANGING THE NET JUST SO BEFORE HE CLIMBS UP TO THE BOW AND FLINGS IT OVERBOARD. IT’S LIKE A TREASURE HUNT EVERY TIME! THE NET IS ATTACHED TO A LINE THAT TAKES IT TWENTY FEET DEEP. AFTER A LONG PAUSE, HE STARTS TO HAUL IT BACK UP TO THE BOAT. WE’RE A LITTLE EARLY IN THE SEASON, AND THE NET COMES UP EMPTY. BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME!

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

SPORTING CLAYS THE FORMAT IS NOT SO DISSIMILAR TO A GAME OF GOLF. AT EACH STATION BOB INSERTS A MEMBER CARD INTO A CARD READER THAT ACTIVATES THE FIELD. I TRIGGER THE TRAPS WHEN BOB YELLS “PULL!” AND THE CLAYS FLING INTO THE AIR AT VARYING SPEEDS, DISTANCES, AND PATTERNS, SIMULATING THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF LIVE GAME. BOB TEACHES ME THE SHORTHAND OF SHOOTING CLAYS: THE DEFINITION OF A TRUE PAIR VERSUS A REPORT PAIR, THE ETIQUETTE WITHIN A SHOOTING SQUAD, THE SPECIAL LEATHER TAB ATTACHED TO HIS SHOE SO THAT HE CAN REST HIS GUN WITHOUT WEARING THROUGH THE LEATHER.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

remembers. “I’m out doing things all the time, and it just keeps me energized.” True to form, we land at Wilson Dock and Bob springs from the boat, unloading our gear before I even have my shoes on. After a midday break, I meet Bob at the Palmetto Blu

Shooting Club for a lesson on sporting clays. We

climb into a golf cart with special gun racks and head into the forest. I’m struck by the sheer beauty of the landscape, massive oak species and a lush understory make up a dense, Jungle Book-like setting. The course is massive, boasting thirteen stations and a state-of-theart ve-stand station and a wobble deck. We start at the ve-stand, and Bob teaches me how to load and shoot, his voice mu ed through my ear plugs. I discharge

ve or

six fruitless rounds into the woods. We switch places and owned a high-pro le ad agency in Providence, Rhode

Bob settles into position. “Pull ” I trigger the trap and he

Island. He was the quintessential “suit” and dedicated all

res, blowing the clay to smithereens.

his time and energy to his career. I wonder aloud if he

Like boating, shooting is only a recent passion.

pre-planned retirement and all the hobbies he would take

“I didn’t even know which end of the shotgun to shoot

up. He laughs in disbelief. “No All I thought about was

from,” he tells me. “I was a complete novice.” But he took

work ” It’s not that he didn’t have a vibrant life during

lessons and joined regular shooting groups. Now he is

his working years—quite the opposite. He was founder,

an excellent shot. He misses nary a clay during our hour

chairman, trustee, and board member to a long list of

tour of the course. He has also fallen in with the robust

organizations, associations, and institutions. He and

local shooting community. He is invited to seasonal duck

his wife, Mary-Jane, supported the arts, educational

hunts and pheasant shoots on neighboring plantations

programs, and conservation e orts. The enthusiasm was

and has joined a few shooting clubs outside Palmetto

always there, but he was never really out in it. Retirement,

Blu . He has learned to shoot marsh hens, a local rail

he tells me, gave him the opportunity to reinvent himself.

species that hides in the spartina grass around the Blu .

And Palmetto Blu

(He always eats what he kills but jokes about the marsh

was his proving ground.

The tide is swiftly receding so we pull anchor and

hen. “ ou know the best recipe for marsh hen?” A sly

head for Wilson Landing. Bob wants to show me how to

smile. “Pluck the feathers o

the bird. Throw away the

shrimp, and we need to switch to a di erent boat. As the

bird. Eat the feathers.”) In short, he’s all in. Shooting has

warm air whips past, I ask Bob if he’s ever been stranded

become something he’s not only passionate about, but

in a tidal creek at low tide and he laughs. “Oh yes ” he

also really, really good at.

shouts over the roar of the wind, “I won’t lie about that ”

We say goodbye as the sky starts to darken, the

What I like about Bob is his complete lack of cynicism

fat thunderheads of a summer deluge rolling in. Bob

or pretension. He’s quick to laugh, ready to learn. Over

promises to introduce me to his daughter, Marcia, and

lunch I had marveled at the sheer energy required to

I promise to bring my husband down for a shoot. I pull

learn and maintain these sundry hobbies. He told me that

onto Highlander Road, toward home, feeling a strange

his grandfather, upon retirement, sat down in a rocking

buoyancy. A day with Bob has reminded me of the

chair and never really got up. “He got old so quickly,” he

importance of play, of learning for the sheer joy of it.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

Stewarding This Great

LAND STEWARDSHIP: THE ART OF TAKING CARE OF SOMETHING, SUCH AS AN ORGANIZATION OR PROPERTY The simplicity of this definition belies its importance. The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy is the safeguard of this land. We are the voice for native inhabitants who live here and deserve to flourish. We are the voice for the ghosts of Palmetto Bluff’s past, generations of families who carved out a place to call home beneath the live oaks and longleaf pines. We are dedicated to the planning, protection, and management of land, water, wetlands, open space, ecosystems, and archaeological sites contained therein for the benefit of present and future generations.

STORY by JAY WALEA PHOTOGRAPHS by CAMERON WILDER

PREVIOUS: AARON PALMIERI SURVEYS ONE OF THE CAVITY NEST BOXES PLACED THROUGHOUT PALMETTO BLUFF. TOP LEFT: JUSTIN HARDY INSPECTS CHUFA GROWTH IN ONE OF THE CONSERVANCY FOOD PLOTS. TOP RIGHT: BRIAN BYRNE MOWS GRASSES AND WEEDS THAT ARE TRYING TO OUTCOMPETE CROPS PLANTED FOR WILDLIFE. BOTTOM: AARON PALMIERI, BRIAN BYRNE, JAY WALEA, AND JUSTIN HARDY OF THE PALMETTO BLUFF CONSERVANCY

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE LAND

This quote was made locally famous by Jim Mozley, the original land planner for the Palmetto Blu we know today. Mozley was a visionary. He knew that conservation could actually be a cornerstone of successful development, that developmental restraint could enhance property value. Fast-forward twenty-two years and we have proven it. It is vital that land and wildlife are integrated and part of our community and cultural heritage. The Conservancy’s four pillars uphold this mission statement.

LAND MANAGEMENT

Our land and wildlife team is tasked with a robust wildlife

strike entirely tractable. Our land and wildlife crew

and forestry management program here at Palmetto

takes great pride in manipulating these elds and forests

Blu . We manage strictly for the eastern wild turkey, an

in the name of true conservation. And we believe that

umbrella species, which indirectly protects the larger

conservation is maximizing, but also utilizing, our natural

ecological community on the property. We use seasonal

resources.

food plots to provide supplemental feed for wildlife. HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Springtime plots include protein-rich plants to ensure that mammals and birds have enough protein to support

Not all of our resources are biological. The Conservancy

their young. The fall planting is all about carbohydrates

is also the guardian of Palmetto Blu ’s historic and

and sugars with big leafy greens and clovers. This is

prehistoric sites. Typical developers hire a

to ensure the species feeding from these plots have

complete shovel tests and excavate any found sites.

rm to

enough carbohydrates to sleep well on cold nights. Good

Reports are often completed after development has

sleep aids good health We encourage a healthy insect

commenced. The Conservancy knew early on that this

population by letting wild forbs grow. These weeds are

status quo was not comprehensive enough. We wanted

good for wildlife, pollinators, and soil quality.

to tell the stories of Palmetto Blu

from start to

nish.

re is our best practice for land and

Our dedicated archaeologists create reports from each

wildlife management. The Conservancy burns over two

and every building site. Once a site is cataloged, it is

thousand acres a year to enhance the health of our wildlife

turned into the State to ensure the protection of artifacts

and timber stands. Controlled burns exponentially raise

in perpetuity. Dr. Mary Socci and her team have spent

the carrying capacity of the land (how much of any given

countless hours researching the vast history of Palmetto

species the land can sustain healthily) and promote new

Blu

growth bene cial to all wildlife. What’s more, seasonal

These archaeologists have restored cemeteries, excavated

res

the

countless historic buildings, identi ed and cataloged

majestic overstory tree species with natural fertilizer

prehistoric artifacts. They have an amazing following,

in the form of ash. Fire also protects our residents.

both resident and public, and conduct lectures, eld trips,

Controlled burns remove excess fuel from the forest

and informational hikes. Every year, their knowledge of

oor and render wild res from a lit cigarette or lightning

this place expands.

Prescribed

remove

hardwood

competition,

providing

to ensure that these narratives will not be lost.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

TOP RIGHT: DR. MARY SOCCI, ARCHAEOLOGIST, IN FRONT OF THE WILSON RUINS. BOTTOM LEFT: LYDIA MOORE, RESEARCH & EDUCATION COORDINATOR, HOISTING A MIST NET IN RIVER ROAD PRESERVE FOR BAT RESEARCH. BOTTOM RIGHT: ANIMAL BONES USED FOR IDENTIFYING BONE FRAGMENTS FOUND AT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION As stewards of Palmetto Blu , it is imperative to ensure that our resident species are not harmfully a ected by land use. To do this, our researchers pay close attention to indicator species. An indicator species is a ected rst by habitat alterations and serves as a proxy to diagnose the health of the greater ecosystem. Our team spends countless hours on research projects, ranging from alligators to bluebirds. Currently our researchers are focused on bats of the coastal plain. While most of the national funding for bat research goes to endangered species, bats in the coastal plain are historically understudied. The Conservancy’s researchers have the exibility to use their funding to study common species, like the Seminole bat, that are still found in abundance here at Palmetto Blu . If this species is negatively a ected in the future by development, disease, and or climate change, we will have baseline documentation to share with the world (rather than beginning research once a species is in peril). This keeps us at the forefront in acquiring this knowledge and prevents the species from su ering.

OUTREACH AND EVENTS Outreach integrates these pillars and provides the Palmetto Blu

community with a better understanding

of our environment. The Conservancy is a conduit, instilling our residents with a love for the land, and we have over two hundred programs on our annual calendar. We bring local historians, authors, scientists, and educators to the Blu

to lecture on topics important

to our cultural heritage, our unique ecosystem, and our way of life. We conduct hikes, tours, and

eld trips that

highlight important habitats and endemic species. Our summer camps connect kids with nature at an early age, and our year-round programming is for all ages. We rely on this outreach and education to create passionate ambassadors for the Conservancy and for Palmetto Blu . TOP: DR. SOCCI HOLDING ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF ARTIFACTS FOUND AT PALMETTO BLUFF DURING THE EXCAVATIONS. BOTTOM: JAY WALEA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CONSERVANCY, HAS BEEN AT PALMETTO BLUFF FOR THIRTY-ONE YEARS.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

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THE BIRTH OF

GULLAH GEECHEE LIFE IN THE LOWCOUNTRY IS SPECIAL. IT’S A GIFT OF MILD WEATHER, SPANISH MOSS WAVING IN A SUN-KISSED BREEZE, SERENE WATER VIEWS, AND SPECTACULAR SUNSETS. THE LOWCOUNTRY ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THESE THINGS AND SO MUCH MORE. ITS BEAUTY IS ONLY A BACKDROP TO ITS RICH CULTURAL HISTORY, ONE THAT MAKES LIFE HERE NOT JUST EXCEPTIONAL BUT ALSO STEEPED IN A UNIQUE PAST THAT PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SHAPING OUR NATION.

Story by Luana M. Graves Sellars

istory books may not say much about our area,

but Beaufort County, speci cally the towns of Blu ton and Hilton Head Island, had direct

impacts on the years prior to and after the Civil War. As quiet as it’s kept, the area was pivotal to the foundational issues that lead the country to war, but also the ultimate trajectory and Union victory. In addition to the vast wealth that Southern states, and particulary the Lowcountry, amassed from slavery, Blu ton was the heart and origin of the seccessionist movement. Blu ton’s political in uence throughout the state and the larger South, coupled with its strong strategic position, contributed greatly to the Union Army’s choice of Hilton Head Island as their Headquarters of the South.

Rice Country Prior to the Civil War, the environment and terrain of the Lowcountry provided the perfect elements for luxurious living and the opportunity to harvest a variety of crops— mostly rice, indigo, and Sea Island cotton. Blu ton was home to several large plantations, some were extended holdings or vacation homes for local families. Palmetto Blu alone had fteen plantations, averaging one thousand acres each, owned by local family names like the Baynards and the Draytons, who also owned plantations in other locations, including Hilton Head. Rice was a particularly lucrative crop, and the agricultural leader in the country at one point. The monetary gains of these local families brought about great political clout, and this area became a major economic driver for the Confederate states. Rice requires humid and swampy conditions, as well as a proximity to fresh and salt water. The Lowcountry provided an ideal combination of economic opportunity, land, and climate for plantation owners. But rice is not an easy crop to grow. It was labor-intensive work and required hundreds of enslaved people per acre. These men and women were tra cked from several countries along the Western Coast of Africa, including Angola, the

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

BY JOHN

LEFT: THE OLD PLANTATION [EXCERPT] BY

ANTROBUS. THIS PAINTING IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW

JOHN ROSE | THE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

ANTEBELLUM ARTWORKS TO CAPTURE THE INTERIOR

FOUNDATION,

WORLD

ROCKEFELLER

PREVIOUS PAGE: A PLANTATION BURIAL

AFRICAN

AMERICANS

THE

SLAVE-

GIFT

RIGHT:

ABBY

ALDRICH

ENGRAVING

HOLDING SOUTH. BURIALS WERE OFTEN HELD AT NIGHT,

ENSLAVED PEOPLE PLANTING RICE ON A

AFTER THE DAYS WORK WAS DONE, AND THE PAINTING

CAROLINA

PROVIDES A WINDOW INTO THE RICH WORLD OF

HARPER’S MAGAZINE, 1895.

PLANTATION.

PUBLISHED

AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

LEFT: “HOEING RICE, SOUTH CAROLINA USA” | NIDAY PICTURES / ALAMY RIGHT: “UNLOADING RICE BARGES”, SOUTH CAROLINA [HAND-COLORED WOODCUT] “THE MEN AND WOMEN AT WORK IN THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS WERE UNDER THE CONTROL OF FIELD-MASTERS. THE WOMEN WERE DRESSED IN GAY COLORS, WITH HANDKERCHIEFS AROUND THEIR TEMPLES...” (EDWARD KING, FROM “THE GREAT SOUTH”, SCRIBNER’S MONTHLY, 1874). THIS ROMANTICIZED ACCOUNT OF LIFE FOR ENSLAVED PEOPLE ON A RICE PLANTATION FROM 1875 IS FAR FROM REALITY. PROVIDED WITH USED RAGS TO WEAR IN EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES, RICE HARVESTING WAS GRUELING AND BACKBREAKING WORK PERFORMED UNDER HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS THAT OFTEN RESULTED IN AN AVERAGE AGE OF TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS.

Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, where rice technology and cultivation had been successful for generations. The sheer number of enslaved people necessary to

was responsible for the entire plantation’s output, yet it

fuel the South’s agricultural engine forced a blend of

enabled the enslaved a degree of autonomy once their

people from

ve-to-seven cultures for extended periods

tasks were completed. In some cases, open or free time

of time—from the beginning of captivity in Africa (often

a orded them the ability to sh or even farm small plots

months in slave castles or holding pens), to several more

of land. These less-stringent labor practices, the isolation

months to cross the Atlantic, and then on to seasoning

that came with Sea Island living, and the ability to openly

camps. The commonality of fear and circumstance led to

maintain West African traditions and customs allowed

what is now known as Gullah Geechee.

Gullah Geechee culture to ourish. After the Civil War and the Confederacy dissolved,

The Birth of a Culture

most of the Gullah Geechee were abandoned, which

The Gullah Geechee culture is the uni cation of language,

left them virtually untouched by outside in uences

tradition, and cultural practices that enslaved people

throughout the islands, as well as several inland areas

were able to maintain from their countries. Back then,

like Palmetto Blu . Gullah Geechee culture thrived,

coastal living didn’t include the creature comforts that

upheld by traditional lifestyle and practices.

we enjoy today, and diseases like malaria were prevalent

Rooted in religion, the Gullah church was and

in the area. As a result, many enslavers stayed away from

continues to be the foundation of culture. With the fusion

the coast and their plantations for large portions of the

of spiritual practices, including Christianity, the Gullah

year, while enslaved people maintained a work ow.

church was central to daily life. Joining the church was

Slavery utilized two di erent types of labor. In most

considered a rite of passage for children and was rooted

inland areas of the South, the brutal and cruel “Gang

in the practice of “seeking”—the interpretation of a dream

System” of labor demanded an unwavering level of work

or spiritual communication that might take days or even

and production throughout the day and sometimes late

months to achieve. Participating in religious services at a

into the evening, until the outcome was deemed su cient.

local praise house a few times a week was common, and

In the Lowcountry, a di erent type of slave labor

services often lasted the majority of the day.

was used. Considered to be less harsh than the Gang

Originating from slavery, the heritage of the

System, the “Task System” employed an overseer who

Gullah Geechee is grounded in oral tradition, passing

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

LEFT: COFFIN POINT PRAISE HOUSE BY ARTIST MARY INABINETT MACK FROM THE ST. HELENA ISLAND ANN FRIPP GULLAH COMMUNITY. SLAVERY OFTEN FRACTURED AFRICAN FAMILIES. THESE PRAYER/PRAISE/PRAYS HOUSES GAVE ENSLAVED PEOPLE A GATHERING POINT AND SENSE OF IDENTITY WHEN FAMILY CONNECTIONS WERE BROKEN. THIS SHARED IDENTITY WAS VITAL TO BUILDING COMMUNITY AND PLACED RELIGION AT THE VERY HEART OF GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE.

information down generationally from community elders to the youth. Over time, African proverbs were shared through easily remembered sayings like It takes a whole village to raise a child; Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped; Wherever a man goes to dwell, his character goes with him; Once you carry your own water, you’ll remember every drop; and One falsehood spoils a thousand truths. These sayings not only helped the Gullah bridge and maintain a connection to Africa but also provided a framework for parenting within Gullah Geechee culture. Strong character and kindness are revered traits in Gullah Geechee society. If one had, then all had. Sharing resources, skills, and the bounty from land and sea was essential and emblematic. The community was intertwined in supporting and doing for each other. Regardless of need, everyone was taken care of. If a house needed to be built, the community would come together to build it. This sense of giving, community, and respecting the integrity of the land is how the Gullah Geechee have lived in our area for generations. Southern hospitality and the gentile nature of the Lowcountry is not accidental, it’s the culmination of rich Gullah Geechee traditions blended into the fabric of American culture.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

HOLE 14 THE MAY RIVER AT SUNRISE

A HOLE-BY-HOLE GUIDE TO THE MAY RIVER GOLF COURSE HEAD PRO GREG WROBEL OFFERS AN INSIDER LOOK AT THE JACK NICKLAUS MASTERPIECE SITUATED ALONG LOWCOUNTRY MAJESTY. TAKE IN THE GRANDEUR OF CENTURY-OLD LIVE OAKS AND SERENE NATIVE LANDSCAPES AS YOU LINGER ON THE SCENIC, 18-HOLE JACK NICKLAUS SIGNATURE COURSE. A TOTAL OF 7,171 YARDS WEAVE THROUGH THE MARITIME FOREST, WITH SEVERAL HOLES ON THE BANKS OF THE MAY RIVER.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PATRICK O’BRIEN

HOLE 15 A WINDY PAR FIVE

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

YOU

ARE

STANDING

ADMIDST

ANCIENT MARITIME FOREST. OAKS AND OTHER HARDWOOD TREES CREATE A THICK CANOPY AND SAWTOOTH PALMS MAKE UP THE UNDERSTORY.

HOLE #1 || PAR 4 || 350-429 YARDS STARTING OUT WITH A DOG LEG TO THE RIGHT. YOU’LL NOTICE A VERY LARGE PINE TREE GUARDING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FAIRWAY AND A BUNKER GUARDING THE RIGHT. THE EASIER TEE SHOT IS HITTING STRAIGHT AT THE FAIRWAY BUNKER, WHICH LEAVES YOU THE BEST ANGLE INTO THE ELEVATED GREEN. PLAYING THE BALL LEFT AND SHORT OF THE FAIRWAY BUNKER IS A GREAT OPTION; HOWEVER, IT DOES LEAVE A MORE CHALLENGING SECOND SHOT. THE GREEN IS GUARDED BY BUNKERS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND A LARGE FALSE FRONT ON THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE GREEN, WHICH WILL COLLECT MIS-HIT SHOTS. NOTICE THE WISHBONE OAK BEHIND THE GREEN!

HOLE #2 || PAR 3 || 127-206 YARDS OUR FIRST PAR THREE. WE HAVE FIVE PAR THREES ON THE COURSE, WHICH IS QUITE UNIQUE. NUMBER TWO PLAYS UP TO 210 YARDS FROM THE BACK TEE. THIS HOLE PLAYS SLIGHTLY UPHILL AND IS GUARDED BY TREES, SO THE WIND CAN BE TRICKY. FROM THE TEE, YOU HAVE TO CROSS A SLIVER OF WETLAND TO A SMALL ELEVATED GREEN. CENTER OF THE GREEN OR SHORT FRONT OF THE GREEN IS IDEAL. TRY NOT TO HIT LONG OR LEFT. THE LEFT IS GUARDED BY A HUGE BUNKER, WHICH MAKES GETTING THE BALL UP AND DOWN DIFFICULT.

HOLE #3 || PAR 4 || 307-428 YARDS THIS IS A STRAIGHTAWAY PAR FOUR WITH A LARGE LAGOON GUARDING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FAIRWAY. THE SAFER PLAY IS AWAY FROM THE WATER BUT THAT LEAVES YOU WITH A DEMANDING SHOT OVER A SMALL LIVE OAK AND A BIG WASTE BUNKER ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOLE. THE BEST ANGLE IS HITTING CLOSER TO THE WATER. IT’S RISKIER OFF THE TEE BUT ALLOWS FOR A STRAIGHTER SHOT ONTO THE GREEN. THE GREEN IS WELL GUARDED BY BUNKERS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE MISS HERE WOULD BE SHORT OF THE GREEN. A GOOD SCORE ON THREE WILL START YOUR DAY OFF RIGHT!

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

HOLE #4 || PAR 5 || 402-565 YARDS

HOLE #6 || PAR 3 || 117-175 YARDS

THIS IS OUR FIRST PAR FIVE! IT’S A LONG HOLE FROM THE BACK

THIS IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PAR THREE ON THE COURSE. THIS IS

TEES, PLAYING 565 YARDS. BUNKERS GUARD THE RIGHT SIDE, AND

THE FIRST VIEW OF THE MAY RIVER AND A GORGEOUS BACKDROP.

THERE’S A SMALL POT BUNKER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY.

THIS HOLE PLAYS BETWEEN 117 AND 175 YARDS, AND THE GREEN IS

THAT’S A GREAT PLACE TO AIM. LONG HITTERS CAN GO FOR THE GREEN IN TWO BY CARRYING THE FAIRWAY BUNKER. IF YOU DON’T GO FOR IT IN TWO, THERE’S A WASTE BUNKER 150 YARDS SHORT

SURROUNDED BY BUNKERS ON THE FRONT, BACK, AND LEFT SIDES. THE MARSH COMES INTO PLAY FOR ERRANT TEE SHOTS SHORT AND LEFT. THE GREEN IS BISECTED BY A LARGE SLOPE THROUGH THE MIDDLE, WHICH MAKES A TWO-PUTT A WIN. YOUR BEST BIRDIE

OF THE GREEN THAT YOU WOULD LAY UP IN FRONT OF. THIS IS OPPORTUNITY IS IF THE PIN IS LOCATED AT THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE

PROBABLY THE BEST ANGLE ONTO THE GREEN. IF YOU WANT TO GET A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE, TRY A HYBRID OR LONG IRON SECOND SHOT AND A SHORT WEDGE INTO THE HOLE. THE

GREEN. IF THE PIN IS CUT TO THE BACK LEFT, A PAR THREE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND. I’D SAY THIS IS PROBABLY THE PRETTIEST PAR THREE

IN THE LOWCOUNTRY.

ELEVATED GREEN IS GUARDED BY A VERY DEEP BUNKER ON THE RIGHT SIDE WITH A DRAMATIC FALSE FRONT ON BOTH SIDES. THIS

LOBLOLLY PINES FRAME THIS HOLE FROM THE TEE. A NATURAL SLOPE TAKES YOU FROM HIGHLAND TO LOWLAND AND ACROSS GREENLEAF

IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT APPROACH SHOTS ON

CREEK. AS YOU CROSS THE BRIDGE, YOU’LL SEE BLACK NEEDLERUSH

THE FRONT NINE! A BIRDIE HERE IS WELL DESERVED.

ON THE BANKS OF THE CREEK AMONG RED CEDAR AND LIVE OAK.

HOLE #5 || PAR 4 || 325-442 YARDS

HOLE #7 || PAR 4 || 224-336 YARDS

ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PAR FOURS ON THE GOLF

LENGTH IS NOT A FACTOR HERE, BUT PRECISION. SOME PLAYERS

COURSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING. THE HOLE IS

PREFER TO LAY BACK WITH A MID-IRON OR HYBRID OFF THE TEE,

A SLIGHT DOG LEG TO THE LEFT. BEAUTIFUL LIVE OAKS GUARD

WHICH GIVES THEM A FULL WEDGE SHOT ONTO THE GREEN. THE

BOTH SIDES OF THE FAIRWAY AND MAKE FOR A VERY DEMANDING

AGGRESSIVE PLAY IS TO HIT IT AS FAR DOWN THE FAIRWAY AND

TEE SHOT. THE UNIQUE GREEN COMPLEX IS VERY NARROW FROM

AS CLOSE TO THE HAZARD AS POSSIBLE, WHICH LEAVES A SHORT

FRONT TO BACK AND WIDE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. DEPENDING

LITTLE PITCH SHOT INTO THE GREEN. YOUR SECOND SHOT IS OVER

ON THE HOLE LOCATION, CHIPPING AND PUTTING CAN BE

A HAZARD TO THE NARROW GREEN, SURROUNDED BY HAZARDS

CHALLENGING. [JACK] NICKLAUS LEFT A SINGLE PALMETTO TREE

ON THE BACK, FRONT, AND LEFT SIDES. IF THE PIN IS LOCATED

SHORT, FRONT OF THE GREEN, AND THIS WILL LIKELY COME INTO

ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GREEN, NEVER HIT TOWARD IT! TRY TO

PLAY. DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE WATER ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE

BAIL OUT A BIT LONG OR TO THE RIGHT. IF YOU CAN GET AWAY

OF THE GREEN AS WELL! THE STRATEGY HERE IS TO FIND THE

WITH A PAR FOUR HERE, YOU’RE GOING TO BE SMILING EAR TO

CENTER OF THE GREEN. THERE IS A BIG SLOPE SPLITTING THE

EAR ON YOUR WAY TO EIGHT.

GREEN INTO LEFT AND RIGHT SECTIONS, AND TWO-PUTTING CAN BE A CHORE. A PAR FOUR HERE IS VERY WELL EARNED!

HOLE 7 STRATEGIC PAR FOUR

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

HOLE 8 GUARDED BY BUNKERS

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

HOLE #8 || PAR 5 || 463-555 YARDS EIGHT IS A LONG PAR FIVE, SLIGHT DOG LEG TO THE LEFT, WITH A CLASSIC NICKLAUS POT BUNKER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY. DRIVER IS DEFINITELY THE PLAY OFF THE TEE AS THE LONGER HITTERS CAN BITE OFF SOME OF THE DOG LEG. THE MORE CONSERVATIVE PLAY WOULD BE A TEE SHOT SHORT OF THE POT BUNKER, AN IRON SECOND SHOT, AND A FULL THIRD INTO THE GREEN. ACCURACY IS A PREMIUM ON YOUR SECOND SHOT. A LARGE WASTE BUNKER GUARDS THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE FAIRWAY, AND THREE SMALL POT BUNKERS GUARD THE RIGHT. THE GREEN IS ELEVATED WITH LARGE SLOPES ON ALL SIDES. ANY BALL THAT’S NOT IN THE CENTER OF THE GREEN IS GOING TO GET KICKED OFF TO THE EDGES, MAKING PAR A CHALLENGE AT BEST!

HOLE #9 || PAR 4 || 336-471 YARDS THIS IS ONE OF THE LONGEST PAR FOURS ON THE GOLF COURSE. YOU’LL NOTICE AN INVITING FAIRWAY WITH A LARGE OAK TREE GUARDING THE RIGHT SIDE. A SHOT THAT VEERS RIGHT MIGHT BE BLOCKED OUT BY THE TREE, AND YOU’LL HAVE A PUNCH OUT TO GET BACK INTO PLAY. A PERFECT TEE SHOT DOWN THE LEFT SIDE WILL FIND A SPEED SLOT AND THE BEST ANGLE INTO THE GREEN. FOR THE SECOND SHOT, A LONG IRON, HYBRID, OR EVEN A FAIRWAY WOOD WILL BE NEEDED. A CLUSTER OF BUNKERS GUARD THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GREEN, AND THE LEFT SIDE FEATURES A LARGE FALSE FRONT. IT REALLY PUTS A PREMIUM ON HITTING THE CENTER OF THE GREEN—ANYTHING AT THE EDGE IS GOING TO GET REPELLED DOWN THE STEEP SLOPE LEAVING AN UPHILL CHIP TO GET BACK ON THE GREEN. IT’S A CHALLENGING HOLE TO END THE FRONT NINE, BUT GOOD NEWS—THE CLUBHOUSE AWAITS YOU FOR A SNACK OR BEVERAGE TO START THE BACK NINE!

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

HOLE #10 || PAR 5 || 426-556 YARDS NUMBER TEN IS A STRAIGHTAWAY PAR FIVE. THERE’S A LOT GOING ON VISUALLY HERE. BUNKERS GUARD THE LEFT SIDE, THE RIGHT SIDE, AND AGAIN THAT FAMOUS NICKLAUS POT BUNKER IN THE CENTER OF THE FAIRWAY. IF YOU GET INTO ANY BUNKERS, YOU’LL HAVE TO LAY UP SHORT OF THE WETLAND HAZARD CROSSING THE FAIRWAY. A GOOD TEE SHOT HERE WILL GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO GO OVER THE HAZARD IN TWO. BUT BEWARE! THE LAYUP AREA IS SMALL WITH POT BUNKERS SCATTERED IN THE LANDING AREA, AND THE MAY RIVER IS IN PLAY ALONG THE RIGHT. PLAYERS WHO HIT A SHORTER TEE SHOT WILL HAVE TO LAY UP IN FRONT OF THE HAZARD, WHICH LEAVES ROUGHLY 160 TO 180 YARDS INTO THE GREEN. THE UNDULATED GREEN IS GUARDED BY THREE BUNKERS AND IS EXPOSED TO THE WIND OFF THE RIVER. CHECK OUT THE VIEW FROM THIS GREEN! A FUN HOLE TO START THE BACK NINE AND A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR BIRDIE.

HOLE #11 || PAR 3 || 103-169 YARDS A SHORTER PAR THREE FOR MOST, BETWEEN 103 AND 170 YARDS. A LARGE LAGOON GUARDS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GREEN. THE GREEN IS VERY LONG FROM FRONT TO BACK, NEARLY 50 YARDS DEEP, WITH A LOT OF SLOPING AND UNDULATION. THE PREMIUM SHOT HERE IS A GENTLE LEFT-TO-RIGHT SHOT THAT COVERS THE CENTER OF THE GREEN. ANYTHING RIGHT WILL CAROM INTO THE LAGOON, LEAVING THE BALL IN A WATERY GRAVE.

HOLE #12 || PAR 4 || 282-402 YARDS TWELVE IS A PAR FOUR DOG LEG TO THE LEFT. THIS IS A SHORT BUT UNDERRATED HOLE. IT’S GUARDED BY A LARGE WASTE BUNKER ALONG THE LEFT THAT RUNS FROM THE TEE ALL THE WAY TO THE GREEN. THERE’S ANOTHER NICKLAUS POT BUNKER IN THE CENTER OF THE FAIRWAY THAT CAN BE USED AS AN AIMING POINT. IF YOU’RE OK GETTING A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE, A DRIVER OFF THE TEE WOULD GET YOU OVER THAT POT BUNKER AND LEAVE A SHORT WEDGE SHOT ONTO THE GREEN. THE MORE CONSERVATIVE PLAY IS A HYBRID OR FAIRWAY WOOD RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE POT BUNKER. THIS IS GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH A LITTLE MORE OF A CHALLENGING SHOT WITH A MID TO SHORT IRON. THE GREEN IS VERY NARROW AND SURROUNDED BY BUNKERS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. A CUT SHOT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WOULD LEAVE A PRETTY GOOD PUTT FOR BIRDIE.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

HOLE 14 SIGNATURE HOLE

HOLE #13 || PAR 4 || 297-472 YARDS

HOLE #14 || PAR 3 || 110-190 YARDS

ANOTHER FAVORITE PAR FOUR. THIRTEEN IS A SLIGHT

IF THE COURSE COULD HAVE ONE SIGNATURE HOLE,

DOG LEG TO THE LEFT WITH A VERY GENEROUS

THIS IS IT. THE PAR THREE PLAYS BETWEEN 110 AND

FAIRWAY. THE LANDING ZONE IS FAVORABLE BUT

190 YARDS, AND THE WIND CAN BE A HUGE FACTOR.

DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE! THERE ARE BUNKERS

IF IT’S COMING OFF THE RIVER FROM RIGHT TO LEFT,

IN THE FAIRWAY AND A WATER HAZARD IF YOU HIT IT

IT MAKES HITTING THE GREEN A TOUGH TASK. YOU’RE

TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT. A GOOD TEE SHOT LEAVES

NAVIGATING THE WATER AND BUNKERS TO THE

MOST PLAYERS WITH A REASONABLE APPROACH TO

RIGHT AND A LITTLE BUNKER ON THE LEFT, WHICH

THE GREEN. WATCH THE LITTLE POT BUNKER JUST IN

SEEMS TO COLLECT MANY TEE SHOTS. THE GREEN IS

FRONT OF THE GREEN—IT CATCHES A LOT OF MISSED

LARGE. IF YOU MISS A LITTLE SHORT AND LEFT, YOU

SHOTS. DEPENDING ON THE HOLE LOCATION, THIS IS

STILL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR BIRDIE.

AN UP AND DOWN. WHEN STANDING ON THE GREEN,

A BIT OF VISUAL TRICKERY: IF YOU’RE STANDING ON THE

LOOK BACK TO YOUR RIGHT AND YOU WILL SEE THE

GREEN AND LOOKING BACK TOWARD THE FAIRWAY, ALL

BLUFFTON OYSTER CO. AND MAYBE A DOLPHIN!

THE BUNKERS IN THE FAIRWAY DISAPPEAR!

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

HOLE #15 || PAR 5 || 400-535 YARDS

HOLE #17 || PAR 3 || 135-234 YARDS

FIFTEEN IS A STRAIGHTAWAY PAR FIVE AND CAN OFFER UP SOME

THIS IS OUR LAST AND LONGEST PAR THREE, PLAYING BETWEEN

PRETTY CHALLENGING WIND CONDITIONS. OFF THE TEE YOU’RE

135 AND 240 YARDS. GUARDED BY A LARGE BUNKER ON THE

WORKING WITH WATER ON THE RIGHT AND BUNKERS GUARDING

RIGHT AND SOME BUNKERING AND FALSE FRONTS ON THE LEFT,

THE LEFT. HITTING THE FAIRWAY IS PREMIUM. LONGER HITTERS

WHICH CAPTURES MOST OF THE TEE SHOTS. IF YOU MISS THE

CAN HIT THE GREEN IN TWO, BUT SHORTER HITTERS WILL NEED

GREEN LEFT, IT RUNS OFF AND LEAVES YOU WITH AN UPHILL SHOT

TO LAY UP JUST SHORT OF THE GREENSIDE BUNKERS. THIS IS

TO AN ELEVATED GREEN. SHOTS THAT LAND RIGHT LEAVE YOU

PROBABLY THE MOST UNIQUE GREEN COMPLEX ON THE COURSE.

WITH A VERY CHALLENGING UP AND DOWN FROM THE BUNKER.

MOST GREENS ON THE COURSE ARE SHAPED LIKE UPSIDE-DOWN

SOMETIMES THE SMART PLAY IS SHORT OF THE GREEN, LEAVING

SAUCERS, BUT THIS IS JUST THE OPPOSITE. IT’S SHAPED LIKE A

A PUTT OR CHIP SHOT TO THE UNIMPEDED HOLE. THIS PAR 3 HAS

BOWL, SO EVERYTHING RUNS TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE

DECIDED MANY MATCHES HERE AT MAY RIVER.

GREEN. IF YOU HIT A SHOT LEFT, IT’S GOING TO FUNNEL TO THE RIGHT. IF YOU HIT A SHOT RIGHT, IT’S GOING TO FUNNEL TO THE LEFT. FIRST-TIME PLAYERS ARE TRICKED INTO THINKING THAT THE TWO BUNKERS SHORT OF GREEN ARE DIRECTLY ADJACENT. BUT ONCE YOU GET DOWN THE FAIRWAY, YOU REALIZE THOSE BUNKERS ARE A GOOD TWENTY YARDS IN FRONT OF THE GREEN. MORE VISUAL TRICKERY FROM MR. NICKLAUS. LONG HITTERS CAN DEFINITELY MAKE BIRDIE OR EVEN EAGLE HERE. SPEAKING OF WHICH, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS BALD EAGLE NESTS IN THE PINE TREES ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOLE! THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST TRUE BIRDIE HOLE ON THE BACK NINE.

HOLE #18 || PAR 5 || 476-570 YARDS VISUALLY OFF THE TEE, YOU’RE STARING AT WATER. WATER GUARDS THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE FAIRWAY AND A LARGE OAK TREE GUARDS THE RIGHT. THIS IS A RISK-REWARD HOLE WHERE LONGER HITTERS CAN REACH THE GREEN IN TWO SHOTS, SEARCHING FOR A LOW SCORE, BUT THE PENALTY IS A BALL IN THE WATER. THE TRADITIONAL SECOND SHOT IS DIFFICULT WITH A POT BUNKER DOWN THE CENTER OF THE FAIRWAY. THE PLAY IS TO EITHER LAY UP SHORT OF THAT POT BUNKER, WHICH WILL LEAVE A WEDGE OR SHORT IRON ONTO THE GREEN. IF YOU’RE FEELING CONFIDENT, CARRY THE POT BUNKER, WHICH LEAVES

HOLE #16 || PAR 4 || 288-436 YARDS

A SHORT PITCH SHOT. BUT BEWARE, THE FAIRWAY NARROWS AS

THIS IS THE LAST PAR FOUR, A SOFT DOG LEG TO THE RIGHT. THIS

YOU GET CLOSER TO THE GREEN. BE STRATEGIC IN YOUR LAY UP.

HOLE HAS A DEMANDING TEE SHOT BECAUSE OF THE FAIRWAY

THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FAIRWAY WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST ANGLE

BUNKERS GUARDING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FAIRWAY AND THE

INTO THE GREEN. BUT TOO FAR LEFT AND OUR 200-YEAR-OLD

UNIQUE “TUNING FORK” PINE TREE JUST OFF THE TEE ON THE

OAK TREE COMES INTO PLAY. IF YOU LAY UP TO THE RIGHT, YOU

LEFT. BE CAUTIOUS THERE. ONCE YOU FIND THE FAIRWAY, IT

BRING WATER INTO PLAY. THE FINAL CHALLENGE IS THE GREEN

LEAVES A LONG SECOND SHOT WITH ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT

ITSELF. IT’S A LONG PUTTING SURFACE FROM FRONT TO BACK

GREENS TO HIT ON THE BACK NINE. IT’S ELEVATED WITH A FALSE

WITH THREE DISTINCT TIERS. THE BACK RIGHT HOLE LOCATION

FRONT ON ALL SIDES. THERE’S ONE DEEP BUNKER TO THE LEFT,

CAN SCARE EVEN THE BEST PLAYERS. A BIRDIE ON EIGHTEEN

WHICH IS A BIG NO-NO. FIND THE CENTER OF THE GREEN, AND IF

IS WELL DESERVED AND CAN BRING APPLAUSE FROM THE

YOU HAPPEN TO MAKE A PAR IT IS WELL DESERVED.

CLUBHOUSE PATIO!

THIS HOLE IS SURROUNDED BY A PREHISTORIC SITE, OCCUPIED BY

DON’T MISS PALMETTO BLUFF’S SIGNATURE TREE. THIS MASSIVE LIVE

HUMANS AS EARLY AS 200 BC. NOTICE THE UNIQUE CLUSTER OF SABLE

OAK SITS AT THE END OF THE FAIRWAY AND IS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER

PALMS BEHIND THE GREEN.

250 YEARS OLD.

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

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The Fall Kitchen CHEF RHY WADDINGTON’S DIVERSE RÉSUMÉ HAS TAKEN HIM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND GARNERED PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS AND HONORS. AN EARLY ADOPTER OF THE FARM-TO-TABLE PHILOSOPHY, HE BRINGS A HOLISTIC ETHOS TO THE KITCHENS OF PALMETTO BLUFF. ENJOY THESE TWO SEASONAL RECIPES WITH WINE PAIRINGS FROM SOMMELIER GENE CASTELLINO OF BOUNDARY BOTTLE COMPANY.

Drawn

kitchens

Waddington

left

early

school

his

age,

native

Australia to train under culinary giant Noelle

uinn. After working in a variety

of restaurants, Waddington returned to his childhood home and opened Waddingtons at Kergunyah, a farm-to-table restaurant that sourced ingredients from the surrounding family

property.

Waddington

was

early adopter of this slow food philosophy and garnered immediate attention for his innovative interpretation of whole foods. After

his

Waddington

success

moved

Australia,

the

critically

acclaimed Bondi Bar and Kitchen in San Diego, California. During his tenure, he was voted one of the Top

ive Chefs in

Southern California. Next, Waddington spent twelve years as Winged

oot

xecutive Chef at

olf Club. t was during this

time that he was invited to cook at the famed James Beard House in New York City. Waddington was hired by Palmetto lu

in Spring

for his visionary

approach to cooking but also for his holistic perspective. Sourcing much of his ingredients from the The

arm at

almetto

lu , Waddington feels like he is returning to his roots, imagining dishes inspired by local, seasonal produce. PHOTO BY CAMERON WILDER

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

101

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Banana Pepper Vinaigrette BANANA PEPPER VINAIGRETTE 4 ROASTED BANANA PEPPERS 2 CLOVES GARLIC, ROASTED 1 SHALLOT 1 SPRIG ROSEMARY, STRIPPED 1 CUP MOSCATO VINEGAR 2 CUPS EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL PLACE PEPPERS, GARLIC, SHALLOT, ROSEMARY LEAVES, AND MOSCATO VINEGAR

BLENDER

AND

PUREE, WHILE SLOWLY ADDING IN THE EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL UNTIL EMULSIFIED. PICKLED MUSTARD SEEDS 1 CUP CHAMPAGNE VINEGAR ½ CUP SUGAR 1 CLOVE GARLIC, MINCED 1 PC STAR ANISE 2 SPRIGS THYME ¼ CUP YELLOW MUSTARD SEEDS COMBINE ALL AND SIMMER FOR TEN MINUTES.

ROASTED VEGETABLES 2 BUTTERNUT SQUASH

PAIR WITH A BOTTLE OF 2020

CUT

SQUASH

EIGHTHS,

TOSS

DANIELE

FRIULI

LENGTHWISE.

12 BANANA PEPPERS

SQUASH, PEPPERS AND BEECH

4 SPRIGS THYME

MUSHROOMS,

2 SPRIGS ROSEMARY

AND ROSEMARY WITH ½ CUP OF

almonds.

6 CLOVES GARLIC

OLIVE OIL AND SEASON WITH

balanced with attractive white fruit

½ CUP OLIVE OIL

SALT AND PEPPER. ROAST AT 350

flavors and an elegant finish.

2 HEADS BABY GEM LETTUCE

DEGREES FOR THIRTY MINUTES.

4 TBSP PICKLED MUSTARD SEEDS

WASH THE GEM LETTUCE.

GARLIC,

TO SERVE PLACE ROASTED SQUASH, BANANA PEPPERS, AND BEECH MUSHROOMS ON THE PLATE. GARNISH WITH BABY GEM LETTUCE AND PICKLED MUSTARD SEEDS. DRESS WITH BANANA PEPPER VINAIGRETTE AND FINISH WITH SEA SALT.

102

SAN

ISONZO PINOT GRIGIO

4 HEADS BEECH MUSHROOMS

THYME,

THE

BORGO

P A L M E T T O B L U F F. C O M

This Italian wine is dominated by ripe fruit aromas, particularily pear. Notice hints of straw and toasted The palate is soft and

RINSE SHISHITO PEPPERS. SLICE ONE SIDE TO

TO SERVE

REMOVE THE SEEDS AND CREATE A CAVITY

FRY THE SHISHITO PEPPERS FOR THREE

Butternut Coconut Bisque with Shrimp Stuffed Shishito

FOR THE SHRIMP FARCE. FINELY DICE THE

MINUTES AT 375 DEGREES OR UNTIL SHRIMP

PAIR WITH A BOTTLE OF MAISON

SHRIMP. ADD GINGER, GARLIC, SESAME OIL,

ARE FULLY COOKED. POUR BISQUE INTO THE

PICKLED ONIONS

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND COCONUT BISQUE

COMBINE RICE WINE VINEGAR THROUGH

PEEL AND DICE BUTTERNUT SQUASH. COVER

CORIANDER SEEDS IN A SMALL SAUCEPAN

WITH COCONUT MILK AND ADD GINGER AND

AND BRING THE LIQUID TO A SIMMER, THEN

LIME LEAF. SIMMER UNTIL THE SQUASH IS

REMOVE AND COOL. ADD SLICED ONION AND

FULLY COOKED AND THEN PROCESS IN A

LET PICKLE FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO HOURS.

BLENDER UNTIL SMOOTH. ADD BROTH FOR CONSISTENCY, THEN SEASON TO TASTE.

SHRIMP STUFFED SHISHITO PEPPERS

DARRAGON VOUVRAY BRUT

A flattering nose offers aromas of

FISH SAUCE, AND CILANTRO. MIX, SEASON

MIDDLE OF EACH OF FOUR PLATES. PLACE

WITH SALT AND PEPPER, AND BIND WITH

FOUR

TAPIOCA STARCH AND EGG WHITE. PLACE

BISQUE AND GARNISH WITH PICKLED ONION,

is an attack of smooth effervescence,

THE SHRIMP FARCE IN A PIPING BAG AND FILL

AROMATIC HERBS, AND HALF OF A LIME.

volume, and richness with aromas of

THE SHISHITO PEPPERS AND SET ASIDE.

STUFFED

PEPPERS

AROUND

THE

white fruits, such as pear and apple. The mouth feel of this Touraine wine

honeyed flowers and spices.

INGREDIENTS 1 RED ONION, SLICED 1 CUP RICE WINE VINEGAR ¼ CUP SUGAR ½ LIME 1 STAR ANISE 1 TSP TOASTED CORIANDER SEEDS 16 SHISHITO PEPPERS ½ LB OF LOCAL SHRIMP 1 OZ GINGER, MINCED 1 CLOVE GARLIC, MINCED 1 TSP SESAME OIL 1 TSP FISH SAUCE ¼ CUP CILANTRO, CHOPPED 2 TSP TAPIOCA STARCH 1 EGG WHITE 1 BUTTERNUT SQUASH 2 OZ GINGER, GRATED 1 PC KAFFIR LIME LEAF 2 QT COCONUT MILK SALT AND PEPPER 12 THAI BASIL LEAVES 12 CILANTRO SPRIGS FENNEL BLOSSOM 2 LIMES CUT IN HALF

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

103

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LOCAL CHARACTER

Jon McGaunn GENERAL MANAGER MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF

people; I love hearing their stories. In my

rst months

here, I’m trying to sit down with every leader and really get to know them, to

nd out why they’re here and what

they love about this place.

ou have to listen and get to

know your team in order to be successful in this business.

What goes through your mind as you drive into Palmetto Blu ? My rst day here was March 19th. Driving in, it was almost as if all the sound around me dropped away. I realized that this was going to be my new world, this was going to be my new life. I came around the corner and saw this endless tunnel of trees and alligators at the bridge.

What is something people don’t know about you? I come from a very big family. I’m the youngest of ve I have three sisters and one brother. I have a lot of great nephews and nieces, and the majority of them are still up in New Hampshire. What makes you laugh? I have to go back to my kids. They send me these TikTok

know, some cars might have passed by me, but all I heard

videos, and I’ll just start laughing hysterically. So now my

was nature, this corridor of beauty. It’s pretty spectacular.

sta

Where are you from and how did you get here? I grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire. My dad grew up with the Dunfey brothers, and they developed a hotel company called Dunfey Hotels, which later became Omni Hotels

will know why I’m laughing by myself in the o ce

My kids are pretty fun, and I like to stay connected to what they’re doing. We talk all the time. What is your favorite spot at Palmetto Blu ? Grace Dock. I haven’t seen all 20,000 acres yet, but I think

Resorts . So I grew up in the industry, in the

I found my spot. It is so serene. Every single morning I

culture of serving. I went to school for it and worked for

take a picture and send it to my family and friends. I’ve

Disney for a couple summers in their College Program.

fallen in love with these sunrises—no two alike.

Then I went to work for Omni, and after that I spent twenty years with The Ritz-Carlton, most recently in Naples at the beach resort for eleven years. What is your most marked characteristic? I’m a relationship person, and I think you have to be in this industry. I just have a genuine interest in other

What is the last book you read? I’ve become good friends with an author by the name of Tommy Spaulding. He wrote the book The Heart Led Leader. It goes hand in hand with my beliefs of leading from the heart and making emotional connections with your team.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

105

LOCAL CHARACTER

Jeff Dekruif GENERAL MANAGER PALMETTO BLUFF CLUB

have any interest to lead the club team at Palmetto Blu . It was an opportunity to be part of something remarkable, and one thing led to another. Here we are What is your most marked characteristic? My most marked characteristic is probably that I care tremendously about my craft. I love club management and I love people. A few years ago, I went out to lunch with Robert Sereci, the chief operating o cer of Medinah What goes through your mind as you drive into Palmetto Blu ? I always roll my window down and make the e ort to say good morning to our wonderful security sta . I cross the bridge, looking for a glimpse of an alligator. I listen to a few songs on the radio, clear my head, and prepare for the day. I don’t think it’s possible to take for granted the sheer beauty of Palmetto Blu

and just how lucky we are to call

this place home. Where are you from and how did you get here? I spent most of my life in Arizona. I’ve been around golf since I was a young kid and have worked at private clubs

Country Club. Robert has always been a wonderful mentor to me. He asked me if I understood the di erence between passion and purpose. My passion might be golf and private clubs, but I’ve realized my purpose is leadership and helping others to improve their lives. Robert has always pushed me to follow my purpose. What is something people don’t know about you? I can play a little country music on the guitar, and my wife often nds me sitting in our home o ce strumming chords and singing songs. What makes you laugh? Our two beautiful daughters, Hayden and Holland, who

since high school. I spent twelve years working in nance

are the light of our lives. They are eight and seven, so

for Troon, the world’s largest club and golf management

they are at really fun ages. I know it won’t always be like

rm. In 2017 Troon sent me to Blu ton to be the chief

this, so I treasure every bit of time we can spend together.

nancial o cer at Belfair golf club. After a few years, I was recruited by Blackhawk Country Club outside of San Francisco to be their assistant general manager and CFO.

What is the last book you read? I’m currently reading a book called eople

irst by Three

When COVID happened my wife and I decided that we

and Jackie Carpenter. The Carpenters are former club

wanted to eventually move back to our home in Blu ton.

managers who now travel the country speaking to club

In 2020 I was recruited by Berkeley Hall Club, so we

leaders about high-performing work cultures in the

returned to the Lowcountry. Around Christmas of 2021,

private club business. When you take care of employees

I received a call from South Street Partners asking if I’d

rst, membership satisfaction will fall into place.

FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

107

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herein may be in formative stages and based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice. No guarantee is made that certain of the facilities, features or amenities depicted or otherwise described herein will be built or, if built, will be of the same type, size or nature as depicted or described herein. Use of recreational facilities and amenities for may require separate club membership.

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high value homeowners | automobile | watercraft | jewelry, art & collections | personal excess liability | flood | fraud & cyber PURE Insurance is the marketing name used to refer to Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE), a Florida domiciled reciprocal insurer. PURE Risk Management, LLC (PRM), a for-pro t entity serves as PURE’s attorney-in-fact for a fee. PRM is a subsidiary of Privilege Underwriters, Inc., a member of the Tokio Marine Group of Companies. This material is descriptive only. The precise coverage o ered is subject to the terms and conditions of the policies issued. PURE membership requires an executed Subscriber’s Agreement & Power of Attorney. Allocations to Subscriber Savings Accounts are subject to the terms of this agreement and approval by the Florida O ce of Insurance Regulation. This agreement and additional information are available at pureinsurance.com. Trademarks are property of PRM and used with permission. ©2022 PRM. All Rights Reserved. 44 South Broadway, Suite 301, White Plains, New York 10601. PURE HNW Insurance Services, CA Lic. 0I78980.

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