Beach Time
People always ask why
I still live in South Car-
olina, and it’s so easy
to understand once
you visit. The genuine
people, the laid-back
energy and the natural
beauty here are truly
something special. I
love the beach. There’s
nothing that beats
waking up in the morn-
ing and looking out to
that view of Sullivan’s
Island—especially at
high tide! It’s also sucha great community and
a perfect place to raise
our kids. I love walking
and just enjoying this
magical spot we get to
call home. Whether
that’s along the beach
where we live or across
the Arthur Ravenel Jr.
Bridge, which connects
Charleston to Mount
Pleasant, it’s a great
way to enjoy the beau-
tiful area and unwind.
Getting to combine that
with golf? Unbeatable.Teeing it Up
Cassique and the River
Course at the Kiawah
Island Club are beau-
tiful and always a good
challenge, as is the
Ocean Course. I love
the Bulls Bay Golf
Club in Awendaw and
the Country Club of
Charleston as well. If
I want to get in a little
practice time, we have
a simulator at home,
and our yard is basical-
ly a short-game area.Off Course
I love going down to
The Battery to walkaround. King Street
is great for shopping
or for stopping to buy
Belgian Gelato for
a treat. There’s so
much history here and
some great tours, like
Tommy Dew’s, that do
a great job of showing
that. Between the
natural beauty and
the history, you really
can’t go wrong.
I love FIG—it’s where
I send anyone who
asks for a Charleston
dinner recommenda-
tion. Their Gnocchi
Bolognese is to die
for. The Obstinate
Daughter on Sulli-
van’s Island is great,
too. They have a more
laid-back vibe since
they’re out by thebeach. For casual eats,
TBonz downtown is
awesome. There’s also
one in Augusta.
For nightlife,
The Commodore in
downtown Charleston
is a classic. Their cover
band is amazing—
that’s the place to be
on a Saturday night.
I love the Windjam-
mer on Isle of Palms,
too. We’ve played
there in the past, and
it’s a great place to
have a drink and listen
to great live music.
And in Mount Pleas-
ant, Art’s is always
Art’s! And then, of
course, on Saturdays
in the fall I head up to
Columbia to catch the
Gamecocks at every
home game I can!
Charleston has
always been home for
me, and I wouldn’t want
it any other way.Cl
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TClockwise from opposite, top:
Cassique’s 15th green juts
dangerously into Captain
Sam’s Inlet; locals are active
in The Battery park; sun-
down melts into Charleston
Harbor; Rucker rocks his
hometown; and FIG rocks
the Gnocchi Bolognese.105