Shannon Greens Golf Club, Manning, SC

Clarendon County in South Carolina boasts one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States. Lake Marion was completed in 1941 as part of a national rural electrification initiative. Since the late 20th century, the dam's generation of hydroelectric power has stimulated the economic development and industry in the region.

As you can imagine, fishing is popular in this part of the state. While the county is known for its championship-level catches of striped bass, Reader’s Digest magazine once rated Lake Marion as one of “America’s 100 Best” for fishing, specifically catfish. Recently, anglers from all over the country competed at the Bassmaster Elite Tournament.

Clarendon County sits tucked away between several well-known golf destinations and is home to some hidden gems. As a golfer, there are three courses in Clarendon County that you should know about.

Shannon Greens is the perfect golf course for those that are new to the game or are wanting to get in a good practice round. Experienced golfers will find that the greens are a little smaller which will test your accuracy. Several holes are short with hazards along the way, meaning you can’t hit your driver on every hole, so course management can become a challenge. Most of the greens are protected by bunkers, too. The 2nd hole is a challenging par 5 that plays 458 yards. It’s a dogleg left that doesn’t really turn until the end. Although short, getting there in two can be a challenge because of the stream that crosses in front of the green. Number 7 is the course’s signature hole and a little touch of TPC Sawgrass. It's a 140-yard par 3 with an island green.

For me, getting out and exploring local “mom-and-pop” restaurants is a fringe benefit to what I do. Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the restaurants in the area all offer something unique. Of course, you can never go wrong with breakfast at Shoney’s and their buffet!

Georgios is one exit down I-95 and has some of the best pizzas in the area. They also offer some delectable Italian food as well.

The Mill Street Grill features a laid-back atmosphere and some great food. Their deep-fried pickles were outstanding, and most entrees include at least one trip to a well-stocked salad bar. The menu features a little bit of everything from burgers and fries to prime rib on the weekend.

It’s easy to find lunch at one of these little hometown restaurants. Sub Station II is located near downtown Manning and serves some first-rate sandwiches: the meat is cut right in front of you. Their menu may seem somewhat limited but no matter what you order, it’ll taste great.

Currently, none of the local Clarendon County golf courses offer any lodging. A great hotel just off I-95 is the Hampton Inn. Rooms are spacious, comfortable, and well equipped with cable TV and coffee makers – two of my hotel necessities. They offer a complimentary breakfast buffet with both hot and cold items, fruits, yogurts, breads, and pastries. They are also centrally located; less than 15 minutes to each course.

Burger Chick was my favorite; the servings were plentiful and delicious. My wife went for the giant hamburger basket and said it was one of the best burgers she has had in a while. I had the two-piece fish dinner and had trouble finishing it. Their cole slaw is incredible!

If these golf courses were in a more populated area, they would probably receive a lot more play. That’s good news for golf travelers, who will find that booking tee times and lodging is easy and inexpensive.

Course is not as friendly as it once was with all "No Trespassing" signs every. Takes away from all the improvements that they have made. I guess they are just are not as community friendly as they once were. Sad!