Skip to main content

Wedding & Event Venue Near Ridgeland, SC.

Platform Lifts-phone-nuber864-980-8004

Wedding Consultation

Your Magic Moment Awaits

Your wedding day. Without a doubt, it's one of the most significant events you will ever experience - when you and the love of your life officially seal the deal and get married. On this day, your friends and family will gather to celebrate the next step in your life. Photographers will be running around snapping photos, catering plates delicious food for guests to enjoy, and the DJ sets the mood for a night of fun and libation. You've worked extra hard to make everything look perfect and run smoothly. You have examined every moving part down to the tiniest detail. At the center of all your effort is your wedding venue in Ridgeland, SC.

Your event space can mean the difference between an unforgettable event and an average occasion. Capturing your uniqueness as a couple is paramount to a memorable wedding. But, without the right venue location and staff, your unforgettable event can turn into a painfully average occasion. Fortunately, at Abney Hall, you won't ever have to worry about dingy reception spaces and crummy chow halls.

Constructed in Ridgeland, SC, in 1962, Abney Hall is 15,000 square feet and sits on 500 acres of land, making it a large wedding venue unlike any other. Abney Hall was originally the home of Mrs. Josephine Abney, a Ridgeland native who was a lifelong philanthropist. Mrs. Abney devoted much of her time and effort towards supporting charities, educational institutions, hospitals, and other noble efforts. Today, Abney Hall stands tall as a symbol of love, both in our community and for the couples who choose to get married here.

Abney Hall is an exclusive event experience unlike any other, surrounded by verdant forests and sparkling ponds. Our venue is a natural fit for several occasions, including:

Special Event Space Ridgeland, SC

Weddings

 Event Venue Ridgeland, SC

Bridal Showers

 Event Space Ridgeland, SC

Bridal Portraits

 Rehearsal Dinner Venue Ridgeland, SC

Rehearsal Dinners

 Bridal Shower Venue Ridgeland, SC

Corporate Events

 Business Event Space Ridgeland, SC

Much More!

 Wedding Space Ridgeland, SC

The Top Wedding Venue in Ridgeland, SC

The beginning of your life starts at Abney Hall. With our team by your side, we can create the fairy tale wedding you have dreamed about since childhood. Whether you have 100 guests or 1,000, our waterfront ceremony locations and French-inspired courtyard are perfect for your big day. Celebrate in luxurious style surrounded by shady magnolia trees, a private forest, large ponds, and the beauty of Mother Nature. While our venue location and aesthetic have been praised far and wide, so too have the practical aspects of Abney Hall. Looking for a relaxing, comfortable spot for your bridal party to get ready in? We offer an entire floor in the Abney Hall residence to get the bridal party ready. Want to make your groomsman feel extra-special too? We've got a private, plush house just feet from a sparkling pond that is a proper hangout spot for the guys in your group.

To make life easier on you, we also offer Abney Hall as your go-to spot for rehearsal dinners. Why book an expensive restaurant or travel to another location when unmatched beauty and convenience are right at your fingertips? Abney Hall is just the place for that very important dinner the night before your big day. We are also happy to host your bridal shower at Abney Hall. Our venue makes for one of Ridgeland's most unique bridal shower settings, where your family and friends can gather to give gifts and be merry before you walk down the aisle.

With such a large, magnificent house and a vast property, Abney Hall also makes for an unforgettable location for your bridal portraits and other wedding-related photography needs. Don't take our word for it - book a tour and see for yourself why so many new brides and grooms choose Abney Hall as their wedding venue in Ridgeland.

 Wedding Venue Ridgeland, SC

What Sets Abney Hall Apart from Other Wedding Venues in Ridgeland?

You've already found the person you want to spend the rest of your life beside. The next step? Finding the perfect wedding venue for your ceremony, reception, and celebration of your lifelong commitment to one another. Remember, the backdrop for photos, dancing, eating, and all other activities will be at your wedding venue. That's why we work so hard to set Abney Hall apart from our competitors - so you and your guests can focus on love and living your new life while we work with your vendors and photographers to make your magic night a reality.

Here are just a few reasons why guests choose Abney Hall as their wedding venue in Ridgeland, SC, along with some helpful tips from our experienced wedding venue staff:

Venue Size

Choosing the appropriate-sied venue for your desired guest count is a critical decision. A venue's capacity affects the number of people you need to consider having at your ceremony and reception. As you're first starting out, we recommend having a guest count in mind as you're searching for the right venue. Try to stick with that number. You may fall in love with a particular venue, but if its max capacity can't accommodate your guest count, it may be time to cross them off your list.

 Corporate Conference Hall Ridgeland, SC
Abney Hall Pro Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip:

Keep in mind that this is your big day. You shouldn't feel obligated to invite the college roommate you shared a dorm with for one semester. At the end of the day, your wedding venue should be one that can accommodate those closest to you. Abney Hall is equipped for both small and large weddings, consisting of 500 acres of forest, ponds, and lush natural beauty. Whether you want an intimate wedding with only your best friends or a grand ceremony with hundreds of people, we have the right amount of room to make you comfortable.

Location and Nearby Lodging

On your big day, you're likely to have friends and family traveling in from other parts of the state or country. These folks will need a place to stay during and even after your wedding. Accessibility and ease are important factors when it comes to choosing your wedding venue for both you and your guests.

Located in Ridgeland, SC, Abney Hall is situated in a memorable, natural setting, giving your wedding a private vibe in the midst of Mother Nature. While we pride ourselves on having a secluded wedding event space, our venue is within an easy driving distance of hotels and vacation rentals.

Abney Hall Pro Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip:

When you contact us for a tour, make sure to speak with our experienced venue manager about nearby hotels and shuttle service options. We understand that your guest's comfort and convenience are important, and we're happy to work with you to figure out the best way to get your guests to Abney Hall.

Venue Staff

At Abney Hall, our staff has earned its reputation as one of the industry's most friendly, accessible teams. We will provide you with a purpose-minded point of contact that can help answer questions relating to timelines, preferred vendors, and every aspect of your wedding. When you tour our wedding venue in Ridgeland, SC, for the first time, we want you to feel like you have all the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision.

We would be happy to go over:
  • Venue Pricing
  • Ceremony Specifics
  • Reception Specifics
  • Catering Possibilities
  • Decorating Possibilities
  • Entertainment Options
  • Photography and Photo Opportunities
  • Venue Amenities
  • Bridal Party Needs
  • Groomsman Needs

At Abney Hall, our goal is to be your first resource when it comes to setting up and coordinating the details of your wedding day.

Decor

When it comes to your wedding's decor, you probably already have a few ideas in mind. We love it when our brides and grooms have a vision in mind because one of our greatest joys is turning that vision into a reality. At Abney Hall, our team is available to help you and your decorator fit, accent, and accommodate your fairy-tale wedding - whatever that may be.

Are you looking to dress up your wedding with decorations galore? Just want to add a few accents that tie into your preferred color palette? Abney Hall is versatile and ready to help however we are able.

 Reception Hall Ridgeland, SC
Abney-Hall-Pro-Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip:

If you're thinking about bringing in your own greenery, lighting, floral pieces, and more, we recommend discussing your vision with us on your initial tour of our event space. That way, we can get a head start on making your big day exactly how you envision it.

Photo Opportunities

10 years from now, when you and your spouse are celebrating your anniversary, you will pull out photographs from your wedding and will reminisce about the unforgettable time you spent at Abney Hall. Your wedding photos will be with you forever, and as such, we work closely with you and your photographer to suggest extra-special photo op spots that you can only find on Abney Hall grounds.

From the grand staircase and French-inspired courtyard to our manicured gardens and lovely pond, there is no shortage of photo-op locations for your photographer to choose from. As one of the most popular wedding venues in Ridgeland, SC, we have worked with dozens of photographers over the years.

Our experience has allowed us to cultivate a list of preferred photographers - all of whom have the talent to take your pictures to the next level in a setting they're familiar with. We encourage you to check out our gallery to get a sense of the scope of our wedding venue and gain inspiration from other happy couples.

Abney-Hall-Pro-Tip

Abney Hall Pro Tip

The gallery on our website is extensive but be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages as well. We keep our social pages updated with recent wedding photographs, giving you an incredible resource that you can use for your own photography purposes.

Special Event Space Ridgeland, SC

The Premier Corporate Event Venue in Ridgeland, SC

Abney Hall is known across the United States for our stunning weddings, but we also play host to some of the largest corporate events in South Carolina. Why choose a bland, lifeless meeting space when you can enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature coupled with a professional atmosphere? If you have an important team-building event or corporate conference that you have to coordinate, look no further than Abney Hall.

The epitome of class and style, our corporate event space is large, lavish, and chock-full of onsite amenities for you and your co-workers to enjoy. If your team needs a morale boost, don't bring them to the local Olive Garden for a cheap lunch. Treat them to a refreshing experience in our main dining room, where we can work with you to incorporate your catering options with the goals of your event.

When the hard work is done, and your team needs a breather, what better way to relax than with a quick dip in our pool? To burn off a little steam, head over to our brand-new tennis court - the perfect place to get some exercise in an ultra-private setting while you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Don't forget to bring your fishing poles for a couple of hours of fishing. There's even an opportunity to go hunting if you wish.

 Event Venue Ridgeland, SC

Elegance at Its Finest - Only
a Phone Call Away

If you're ready to learn more about Abney Hall as your wedding venue, don't hesitate to reach out. We would love to hear more about your plans, your vision, and your needs. We know that planning a wedding isn't easy. It takes time, attention to detail, and a whole lot of patience. Our goal is to help provide you with all the info you need to learn more about our venue. Once you decide on a date, we'll work closely with you and your vendors to craft a wedding experience that you will treasure for the rest of your life.

Our available dates for your big day are going quick, especially during peak seasons like spring and fall. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Contact us today for a FREE initial consultation
 Event Space Ridgeland, SC

Latest News in Ridgeland, SC

Jasper State of the County luncheon brings updates from county's leaders

Jasper County leaders want its citizens to know the county continues to grow stronger each year as they continue to all work together in all municipalities.This is the message that was sent to those attending the State of the County luncheon on Feb. 22 in Hardeeville. Leaders from around Jasper County and many guests made the trip to Hardeeville for the annual event.The luncheon at Lake Latitude Club was hosted by the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce. Local leaders provided the latest updates from the past year....

Jasper County leaders want its citizens to know the county continues to grow stronger each year as they continue to all work together in all municipalities.

This is the message that was sent to those attending the State of the County luncheon on Feb. 22 in Hardeeville. Leaders from around Jasper County and many guests made the trip to Hardeeville for the annual event.

The luncheon at Lake Latitude Club was hosted by the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce. Local leaders provided the latest updates from the past year.

Ridgeland Mayor Joey Malphrus, who is serving his 23rd year as mayor, discussed projects around town either completed or under way. He said the town, in the latter part of last year, completed decorative crosswalks and reinstalled raised crosswalks and speed bumps in front of the United States Post Office on West Main Street.

"The highway department repaved Main Street in front of the post office, and (it) turned out great, but that took away our crosswalks," he said. "We got the crosswalks replaced with a highway department mandate, but we were able to get that done. Traffic control was a good part of that expense."

Malphrus also mentioned another building that is under construction across the street from the Ridgeland Post Office, the Antioch Medical Training Facility. He said the town is "looking foward to it being a great facility." He also commended Polaris Tech Charter School, which held a groundbreaking for its new addition that will allow it to expand to allow for academic opportunities in all grades.

The town, Malphrus said, has also installed LED light fixtures around the area, making it "much brighter." He said he is hopeful this addition will make the sidewalks easier and safer to walk on late at night or in the morning. The town, Malphrus said, is in the process of building a sidewalk from Main Street up to around Logan Street.

"There's a lot of young people along there especially, and we are looking forward to getting those sidewalks built," Malphrus said.

Last December, the town held a meeting with developers of Tickton Hall investments, LLC, and Pepper Hall, LLC, with consent of Chelsea Plantation, LLC, which originally requested to annex up to 1,500 acres of Tickton Hall into the Town of Ridgeland. The request also included a development agreement and a request to change zoning of the land from rural preservation to large, mixed-use development. Malphrus said there had been numerous meetings and workshops concerning the request; however no action had been taken as of the day of the State of the County luncheon.

"As of now, there's not a vote scheduled, there's certainly not been any vote taken by the town council, and there's not even a vote scheduled as of now to annex or under what terms and conditions if the property is ever annexed," Malphrus said.

Five years ago, Hardeeville Mayor Harry Williams spoke during the State of the County meeting and discussed community development and pride.

"Since that time, Hardeeville has taken great strides to build that pride as new industry and new commerce now dot our landscape" he said.

One of the new businesses coming into the area was announced last September when Home Depot said it would be adding a new distribution center at RiverPort Commerce Park in Hardeeville. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved a $100,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to assist with costs related to the project, a news release said. The expansion is to create almost 100 new jobs, including 14 in Jasper County.

Williams told the crowd RiverPort now has three warehouses operating, in total, with 1.1 million square feet of space and four tenants. He said there are another four buildings that have permits and are in progress that total another 1.5 million square feet with another two tenants in the process of upfitting.

The city also welcomed Fire Station 84 which opened in RiverPort, and the city is constructing a new communications tower, Williams said.

Hardeeville, in partnership with Jasper County and Motorola, broke ground for a new communications tower off US 17, Speedway Boulevard in December. The city said the new tower will provide much-needed coverage for emergency communications in the southern part of the community. Though primarily focused on increasing Emergency Services coverage, the city said, the tower also is designed to hold up to four cellular carriers.

"Thousands of new homes have also been built, doubling our population," Williams said.

With housing in mind, Williams said Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head, which has been established in the city for five years, began with 200 homes in the development. That number rose when officials with the company announced last year its expansion with 20,000 new homes. The latest addition to Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head is the final phase of the resort-style amenities that were completed in December, including a theater and a Workin' N' Playin' Center. The center will include a business center, conference center and work stations.

Williams said, "A strong Hardeeville will bring Jasper County new and better-paying jobs as well as a higher-skilled workforce and new tax revenues for infrastructure and the schools.''

"Perhaps, we can even begin to eliminate the poverty that has plagued our county for generations," he said. "We've had our struggles along the way, but we have moved forward."

Williams said in the past six years, both Hardeeville and Jasper County have become stronger.

Jasper County Council Chairman Marty Sauls said the county and region are looking at a positive economic outlook heading into the future.

"Our county as well as our region has certainly emerged from the pandemic with the most robust economic development outlook ever," Sauls said. "While our supply chains and lives as a whole were severely disrupted over the past two years, it did not stop our efforts to attract capital investment, high-paying jobs and career opportunities right here in Jasper County."

Sauls said since 2020, the county has "experienced banner years."

"I believe the success is due in part to the momentum we have built with our partners and allies in the years prior to the pandemic through good economic development," he said.

Sauls said some examples of the momentum included announcements from previously mentioned Home Depot, Builders FirstSource and Hardee Greens, LLC, over the past year.

Builders FirstSource, a supplier of structural building products, announced its plans to establish operations in Jasper County, a $16 million investment that will create 126 new jobs over the next five years.

Hardee Greens, LLC, a startup indoor, vertical farm company, announced Oct. 5 of last year that it plans to establish operations in Jasper County. A vertical farm grows crops in vertically stacked layers inside a building. The company was established by South Carolina natives and will grow fresh green herbs and salad greens. The new business in Hardeeville said it would invest $1.3 million in the area and bring 58 new jobs.

"As a seven-county region represented by the Southern Carolina Alliance Regional Economic Development Alliance, over $1.5 billion in capital investment and nearly 4,800 jobs were announced since 2020, and Jasper County accounts for over 35 percent of those figures," Sauls said.

Sauls also discussed the county's initiative, Keep Jasper County Beautiful, which he said had been "embraced by many."

"Our municipalities have been some of our biggest supporters, as well as over 600 volunteers in this program," Sauls said.

Sauls said the 612 volunteers have contributed 2,158 hours to the effort.

He added there were 17 Adopt a Highway groups in the program, and it has also reached 2,096 students.

Sauls also commended the owners and those associated with Congaree Golf Course, on the CJ Cup, a PGA golf tournament that took place in Jasper County.

"The CJ Cup has brought Ridgeland and Jasper County global recognition and over an $80 million economic impact, even with limiting attendance to 7,500 people," Sauls said.

The Ridgeland Claude Dean Airport has also grown, and Sauls updated the crowd on its impact.

"One of our most impressive economic engines which facilitated the CJ Cup is the Ridgeland Claude Dean Airport expansion. Before this expansion, this 2,200-foot runway injected approximately $450,000 into our local economy, but now with the new taxiway, a 4,200-foot runway, new terminal, an airline parking apron with jet aircraft fueling station, our airport, once completed, will have a $10 million annual economic impact here in Jasper County."

Sauls said he hoped that his speech would motivate citizens to participate in the county's government.

"Your county is strong because of the people, and we, as a council, are committed to making Jasper County stronger," he said.

THE CJ CUP to be contested at Congaree Golf Club in South Carolina this October

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.– PGA TOUR and CJ Group officials today announced that THE CJ CUP will be contested at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina, the week of Oct. 17-23, 2022. The tournament name will be changed to THE CJ CUP in South Carolina.The tournament was launched as Korea’s first official PGA TOUR tournament in 2017 and was played for three consecutive years at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island before being relocated to the U.S. due to the challenges of COVID-19.This will be the first time THE CJ CUP ...

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla.– PGA TOUR and CJ Group officials today announced that THE CJ CUP will be contested at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina, the week of Oct. 17-23, 2022. The tournament name will be changed to THE CJ CUP in South Carolina.

The tournament was launched as Korea’s first official PGA TOUR tournament in 2017 and was played for three consecutive years at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island before being relocated to the U.S. due to the challenges of COVID-19.

This will be the first time THE CJ CUP will be played in the Southeast region of the U.S. following the staging of the tournament in Las Vegas, first at Shadow Creek Golf Course in 2020 and The Summit Club last year.

“Thanks to the tremendous commitment from CJ Group, the PGA TOUR is thrilled to bring THE CJ CUP in South Carolina to the United States this October,” said Christian Hardy, the PGA TOUR’s Senior Vice President, International. “This event has provided a great platform on which to showcase golf’s top Korean players, and we are confident that Congaree will once again serve as a fantastic venue for hosting one of the TOUR’s premier tournaments.”

THE CJ CUP in South Carolina will feature a 78-man field comprised of five players designated by the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), as well as the top-3 available players of Korean nationality from the Official World Golf Ranking as part of CJ Group’s vision to support the development of professional golf in Korea. The remainder of the field will be made up of the leading players from the 2021-22 FedExCup points list and sponsor exemptions. There will be no 36-hole cut.

“We are excited to host THE CJ CUP at Congaree this October. Over the last five years, our tournament has established itself on the PGA TOUR through the caliber of champions who have emerged, and we are also proud the tournament has been well received by players, thanks especially to our bibigo chefs who help deliver an amazing dining experience on site,” said Wookho Kyeong, Chief Marketing Officer of CJ Group. “We look forward to engaging with our fans in a new region and celebrating another fantastic week of golf.”

Congaree, a Tom Fazio design, is located about an hour northwest of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The club, which debuted at No. 39 in Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses last May, hosted the PGA TOUR’s Palmetto Championship at Congaree in June of 2021, won by South African Garrick Higgo. The course was built to challenge the world’s top golfers and has earned widespread praise among PGA TOUR players.

Congaree was founded with a philanthropic mission to positively impact the lives of young people through the game of golf. The Congaree Foundation supports a number of educational and vocational initiatives within its local community and internationally through the Congaree Global Golf Initiative. Instead of members, the club invites “ambassadors” to join who are passionate about supporting Congaree Foundation’s philanthropic programs and becoming personally involved through a shared devotion to the game and giving their time to mentorship opportunities.

“It’s a privilege to welcome THE CJ CUP to South Carolina and Congaree. From day one, our steadfast belief has been that Congaree can be a conduit to make a difference in the lives of young people locally and around the world,” said Dan Friedkin, founder of Congaree. “In addition to providing a significant economic impact for the state, THE CJ CUP will enable Congaree Foundation to give back to youth in the Lowcountry and beyond in even more meaningful ways.”

THE CJ CUP in South Carolina will be held in partnership with The State of South Carolina, which also supported the Palmetto Championship.

With more than 300 courses and an annual economic impact in the billions, golf is one of the most important markets in South Carolina’s tourism industry. THE CJ CUP in South Carolina joins the list of other significant tournaments in South Carolina in 2022, including the annual RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, and the Korn Ferry Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation in Greenville.

“In 2021, South Carolina caught the eye of the golf world by hosting three highly successful tournaments in the PGA Championship at the Ocean Course, the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, and the Palmetto Championship at Congaree Golf Club,” said South Carolina Governor, Henry McMaster. “This success, coupled with the rapidly growing popularity of golf in our state, has made South Carolina a top destination for major golf events. We look forward to continuing to grow this reputation with THE CJ CUP in South Carolina and beyond.”

Final field set for THE CJ CUP in South Carolina

RIDGELAND, South Carolina – Featuring a field of 53 PGA TOUR winners, THE 2022 CJ CUP in South Carolina is set to begin at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina from October 19-23.The 78-man limited field event will include 23 players from the top 30 in the 2021-22 FedExCup Playoffs & Eligibility Points List, featuring four FedExCup Champions (Billy Horschel, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas) and 15 players from the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking.McIlroy will defend his title, which ...

RIDGELAND, South Carolina – Featuring a field of 53 PGA TOUR winners, THE 2022 CJ CUP in South Carolina is set to begin at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina from October 19-23.

The 78-man limited field event will include 23 players from the top 30 in the 2021-22 FedExCup Playoffs & Eligibility Points List, featuring four FedExCup Champions (Billy Horschel, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas) and 15 players from the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

McIlroy will defend his title, which he won last year at The Summit Club in Las Vegas for his 20th career PGA TOUR title and first in his season debut. The Northern Irishman went on to win twice more during the 2021-22 season, including the season-ending TOUR Championship where he claimed a record third FedExCup title.

Thomas won the inaugural CJ CUP in 2017 when it was launched as Korea’s first official PGA TOUR event and repeated as champion in 2019, securing both victories at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island before the tournament was relocated to the U.S. due to the challenges of COVID-19. This will be the first time THE CJ CUP will be played in the Southeast region of the U.S. following the staging of the tournament in Las Vegas, first at Shadow Creek Golf Course in 2020 and The Summit Club last year.

Twenty players who featured in the recent Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow will also tee it up at the Tom Fazio-designed course, including nine members of the victorious U.S. Team (Sam Burns, Max Homa, Horschel, Kevin Kisner, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Spieth, Thomas, and Cameron Young) and 10 members of the International Team (Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Corey Conners, Cam Davis, Sungjae Im, Si Woo Kim, Tom Kim, K.H. Lee, Hideki Matsuyama, Sebastián Muñoz, and Mito Pereira).

The field for THE CJ CUP in South Carolina will also feature 10 sponsor exemptions, five players designated by the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), and the top-3 available players of Korean nationality from the Official World Golf Ranking as part of CJ Group’s vision to support the development of professional golf in Korea. There will be no 36-hole cut.

+ Sponsor Exemption

* KPGA

# OWGR Ranking

Daily Grounds tickets are available for purchase at CJCUPSouthCarolina.com, with a maximum of two (2) children ages 15 and under admitted free per ticketed adult.

To honor the men and women who serve our country in the Armed Forces, THE CJ CUP in South Carolina is pleased to offer active duty, retirees, veterans, and National Guard members up to four (4) complimentary tickets per day, October 19-23. Please note military members will need an active GovX account to verify military status and unlock ticket offer. If military members don’t have one tied to their military credentials, they must visit GovX.com to create an account.

For more information about the THE CJ CUP in South Carolina, please visit CJCUPSouthCarolina.com.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

5 things to know about Congaree Golf Club and the 2022 CJ Cup tournament

The CJ Cup in South Carolina, a PGA Tour limited-field event, features 15 of the top 20 players in the World Golf Rankings who are competing at Congaree Golf Club. It’s airing on the Golf Channel from 3-6 p.m. daily through Sunday.Here’s what to know about Congaree:The Congaree course is located off of Interstate 95 in rural Jasper County in Ridgeland, South Carolina. It’s more than 90 minutes west of Charleston and about an hour north o...

The CJ Cup in South Carolina, a PGA Tour limited-field event, features 15 of the top 20 players in the World Golf Rankings who are competing at Congaree Golf Club. It’s airing on the Golf Channel from 3-6 p.m. daily through Sunday.

Here’s what to know about Congaree:

The Congaree course is located off of Interstate 95 in rural Jasper County in Ridgeland, South Carolina. It’s more than 90 minutes west of Charleston and about an hour north of Savannah, Georgia, and about two hours from Columbia.

It is a private club, and the mission has never been about prestige for themselves. The billionaire businessmen who founded the club wanted to use the golf course in a positive way.

The Congaree Foundation’s top program is the Congaree Global Golf Initiative, a week-long training camp each summer. The program identifies aspiring golf with talent but not necessarily the resources for college golf. Participants get access to elite instructors and the high-quality facilities.

Among other projects is the Sergeant Jasper Golf Club that the club bought in 2021 to provide a home for area high school golf teams.

No. Congaree is a private club that has had only two official members, its founders Dan Friedkin and Bob McNair, the latter a University of South Carolina graduate. McNair, who also owned the NFL’s Houston Texans, died in 2018, leaving the club with one member.

Rather than members, Congaree has approximately 250 “ambassadors,” prominent individual who promote the club while lending time and money to the cause.

No. All 78 players in the field will compete over 72 holes for shares of a $10.5 million purse. The winner earns $1.89 million and $1.134 million goes to second place.

Bruce Davidson, director of golf for The Friedkin Group, and colleague John McNeely had the job of finding a large property for a firm, fast golf course. They first saw the property in 2013 and liked the look of sand.

Davidson said the land reminded him of Pinehurst No. 2 and Pine Valley. Others have linked the property to Royal Melbourne in the Australian sand belt.

“We thought, ‘No, it can’t be. We can’t be this lucky,’ ” Davidson said. “I don’t know what happened hundreds of millions of years ago, but the sea was probably there and left the deposit of sand.”

Officials outline progress at Ridgeland-Claude Dean Airport

Ridgeland-Claude Dean Airport has made an abundance of progress over the years and it continues to grow, officials told Jasper County Council.A May 20 workshop with local and state officials outlined some of the airport's latest updates.South Carolina Aeronautics Commission director James Stephens said the Ridgeland airport’s economic impact has increased significantly. A statewide survey estimated that its annual impact was $425,600 in 2006. The latest study in 2018 found that number had jumped to $8.3 mil...

Ridgeland-Claude Dean Airport has made an abundance of progress over the years and it continues to grow, officials told Jasper County Council.

A May 20 workshop with local and state officials outlined some of the airport's latest updates.

South Carolina Aeronautics Commission director James Stephens said the Ridgeland airport’s economic impact has increased significantly. A statewide survey estimated that its annual impact was $425,600 in 2006. The latest study in 2018 found that number had jumped to $8.3 million.

Stephens said the 2018 study found that there were 54 jobs in the Beaufort/Jasper area connected to the airport, along with $2.1 million in annual payroll and $6.1 million in spending.

Ken Holt, of Holt Consulting Company, said an airport update plan was created in 2014 in conjunction with the county, the state and the Federal Aviation Administration. Holt Consulting has worked with the county from the beginning of its airport upgrades.

Holt said new infrastructure over the past few years has included a new runway, taxiways, airfield lighting, security fencing and an aircraft parking apron.

Project manager Kevin Morris said the total investment at the airport to date is $22.4 million, most of which comes from the FAA with $19.5 million. The aeronautics commission has invested $1.2 million and Jasper County has contributed $1.7 million.

Some additions that are still needed, Morris said, are a terminal building, fuel farm, fuel trucks and storage hangar. He said funding for the projects, which is estimated to be $8 million, would come from the FAA ($1.52 million), aeronautics commission ($548,000), S.C. Department of Commerce ($2.5 million) and Jasper County ($3.27 million).

Morris said the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a program that encourages the renovation, expansion and building of airport terminals. He said an application will be submitted next year for funding for the planned terminal in Ridgeland.

"If you look back and you look ahead, in about a dozen years we will have taken the existing facility to a modern, up-to-date, safe facility with a long runway, navigational aids, GPS approaches, fuel," he said.

Councilman Curtis Brantley said it had come to council's attention that there was a misunderstanding in terms of who is responsible for the operations of the airport.

"County Council is responsible and we are designating that authority to our county administrator and to our airport manager,” he said. “Without rules and regulations, you have nothing. From this point forward, our administrator and airport manager will be totally responsible for the operation and enforcing of the rules and regulations of the airport."

State Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton, a longtime pilot, attended the meeting. His district includes parts of Jasper and Beaufort counties.

"Quite frankly, I left Hilton Head Airport because there was no pilot camaraderie," he said. "I came to Ridgeland because it has some of the best maintenance facilities, I think, in the state, if not the Southeast. Let's make no mistake; progress follows an airport, and you see jobs, you see industry when you have a good airport, and we are on the right track on that."

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.