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Columbia, S.C. - As the governing body of amateur golf in South Carolina, the South Carolina Golf Association's (SCGA) focus and driving purpose is to promote, preserve and serve the game of golf. Along with supporting and growing the game through the South Carolina Junior Golf Association (SCJGA) and supporting educational and recreational opportunities through the fundraising efforts of the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation (SCJGF) - the yearly schedule of events would not be possible without the continuous loyalty from member clubs, members, volunteers and donors.

Each year, during the annual South Carolina Golf Day, the SCGA recognizes a member club and two individuals that have exemplified their efforts and intentional movement to join the mission of the association. This year, due to Covid-19, South Carolina Golf Day has been cancelled but recognizing those that have stepped up yearly to perpetuate the game has not been postponed.

Hosting events as elite as the Amateur Championship all the way to junior One-Day events, Columbia Country Club has exhibited the ultimate display of how a member club pushes the needle to provide more opportunities, certifying them as the award recipient of SCGA Club of the Year. As the host site of the 89th SCGA Amateur Championship, it was no surprise preparations began three years early to make sure this year's major provided the desired test for competitors.

Head Superintendent Sam Friar welcomed players to the facility as quick green speeds, tight fairway lies and added length were just a few of the highlights of the championship. The 89th championship was the seventh South Carolina Amateur Championship hosted at the Club and even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the qualifying fields topped record numbers leading up to the event. Upon receiving the news of the award, General Manager Chris Sparrow was elated and expressed his appreciation saying, "The members and staff of CCC are honored to be chosen as the 2020 SCGA Golf Club of the Year. We take tremendous pride in supporting the game of golf and strive to give back every chance we can. We look forward to continuing our longstanding relationship with the SCGA for many years to come."

The Charles Drawdy Distinguished Service Award recognizes the special efforts of an SCGA member who has gone over and beyond to help grow the mission of the SCGA and the SCJGA. A staple name in the journalism arena, Trent Bouts was an deserving selection, honoring his authentic service in helping promote the game in South Carolina. Bouts first got his start as a sports writer covering the game of cricket for The Australian, the country’s national newspaper. In the mid-1990’s Bouts moved to the states and fell into golf writing after meeting Chuck Borman, then the new executive director of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association, believe it or not, on a golf course. Bouts soon began writing stories for the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association’s (CGCSA) magazine.

In more than 20 years since, he now produces Carolinas Green for the CGCSA, as well as similar magazines for the superintendent associations in the states of Florida and Georgia. Bouts has also been producing the Palmetto Golfer for the SCGA since Jay Haas appeared on the cover back in 2007. “[His] ability to tell the many stories of the game in a way that everyone involved with golf can relate to speaks to the true professional [he] is in this industry,” stated SCGA Executive Director Biff Lathrop. Prior to his professional production and editorial successes, Bouts was a golf writer for South Carolina Magazine and in that role helped with the formation of the South Carolina Golf Course Ratings Panel.

Bouts is married with five children and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina.

The Tom Fazio Service to Golf Award recognizes efforts that especially help enhance and promote the game of golf with an emphasis on the South Carolina Junior Golf Association and junior programs. With a heart for growing the game from beginners to elite players, John Orr is a sincere ambassador for the game of golf in South Carolina.

Orr, a former pupil of the famed Grant Bennett as one of his junior mentees and part of the ‘Big Three’ (Orr, Billy Womack and Buddy Baker), has been giving back to the game and the community in which he has been a part of for decades. In every aspect of Orr’s generosity, he makes sure to deflect attention and give credit to the impact Bennett had on him, hundreds of other juniors and the game of golf in the Carolinas. Upon following up an extremely successful junior golf and high school golf career, winning several state championships and participating in multiple US Junior Amateur Championships, Orr went on to play college golf at the University of South Carolina. After finishing college, Orr enlisted in the Navy and served five years as a sub-mariner. Following his service to our country, Orr returned to Florence and started the Orr Company with his father where they owned and franchised Arby’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in the Florence area.

“As a long-standing member of the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation Board, [Orr’s] support and presence have been invaluable in the growth of golf in South Carolina. [His] influence on the Junior Golf Foundation, the John Orr Leadership Camp, the Annual pre-tournament dinner for the Harry Wilson Super Senior Championship and, most recently, the Grant Bennett Teaching Center at Florence Country Club are just examples of the impact [he has] had on golf in our State,” Lathrop commented about Orr.

Not only has Orr been instrumental in the development of junior golf programs across the state, he has been involved in many other organizations’ successes in the Florence and Pee Dee area. He served 20 years on the McLeod Health Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Board of Methodist Manor – an assisted-living and Alzheimer’s care facility in Florence. Orr is also very involved at his church, Central United Methodist Church.

Orr is married, residing in Florence and has one daughter.

With the postponement of the 2021 South Carolina Golf Day, award winners will be recognized and honored in individual presentations throughout the year.