Golf course superintendents in the Carolinas Lowcountry have raised nearly $20,000 to help a colleague in his battle with illness. The money will go to the family of Bob Spearman, a past president of the Coastal Plains Golf Course Superintendents Association. Spearman was most recently superintendent at Wrenwoods Golf Course at Charleston Air Force Base, which he joined in 1996. Previously he worked at Dunes West Golf Club and Wild Dunes Resort.
“Bob has had serious health problems over the last few years,” current Coastal Plains GCSA president Jason King says. “With a mountain of medical bills accruing, family friend Eric Nelson of Nelson Printing, brought this to the attention of the Coastal Plains board members and a tournament was set. The support was so great that both the Ralston and Beresford Creek courses at Daniel Island had to be used for the field of 160 players.”
Coupled with gifts from the Carolinas GCSA and Midlands Turfgrass Association, the tournament raised $15,000. Soon after, another $4,000 was raised at an annual challenge match between the Coastal Plains GCSA and Lowcountry GCSA at Brays Island Plantation. In its ninth year, that event attracted a record field with the initial goal of raising money for a memorial in honor of the late Charles Jones, son of longtime golf industry supporter in the region, Charles “Bubba” Jones, of Murray Sand.
Learning of Spearman’s battle, the Jones family asked that the money raised be forwarded to help defray medical costs. “Their decision to give the memorial fund to the Spearmans is an inspiration to us all and a wonderful gift in memory of their son, Charlie,” says Chris Mahoney, host superintendent at Brays Island.
To contribute to the effort to support the Spearman family, call Jason King at 843-856-2438 or e-mail jason.king@danielislandclub.com.
