PGA Perks

Whether you’re a golf aficionado or still struggling to cultivate your putt-putt skills, the PGA Championship’s arrival at Kiawah’s Ocean Course is something for everybody to celebrate. And you don’t have to have a ticket to the tournament to join in the fun at Freshfields Village.

Beginning at 11 a.m. every day through August 12, make yourself comfortable at the open-air 19th Hole Pavilion or the SeaCoast Sports Tournament Tent to savor a cold drink, some tasty fare, and live tournament coverage. At another watering hole, The Hook & Ladder Draft House, you’ll find a refreshing selection of beers, burgers hot off the grill, and live music performances. And a variety of food trucks pull in daily at 4 p.m. to offer up creative take-away options.

But there’s a lot more than eats, drinks, and tournament viewing going on throughout the village—especially for sports fans. Today, take the Bridgestone Golf Challenge to discover the best ball for you and stop by the TaylorMade Golf Experience to test out some of the newest gear.

Through Sunday, obtain access to live tapings for Golf.com as well as golf instructors and sports writers from around the country in the Sports Illustrated at the Majors area. Visit the ScoreBand Interactive Tent to test out multi-sport digital scorekeeping wristband watches (invented, developed, and based in the Holy City!) while playing games such as Ping-Pong and cornhole. And head over to the Island Golf Green Challenge to try a 100-yard wedge shot to a 24-foot island green in the middle of the lake. Proceeds from your attempts will benefit The First Tee of Greater Charleston, and you’ll have a chance to win some pretty cool prizes.

As the sun goes down, the entertainment only heats up. Tonight at 7 p.m., U2 by UV (A U2 Tribute Show) kicks off three evenings of Concerts on the Lake. Catch Jimmy Buffett tribute band A1A on Friday and ’70s light rock group Yacht Rock Revue on Saturday.

With all of Freshfields’ top-notch stores and restaurants staying open late and offering special deals throughout the week, there’s no reason to be anywhere else (unless you’re Keegan Bradley or Steve Stricker). And while you’re strolling from booth to booth, be sure to stop by the Charleston Magazine Club Tent, located right beside the main music stage. With help from Grey Goose Vodka, Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Small Batch Tonic, and Scales Bloody Mary Mix, we’ll be offering a complimentary “Very Charleston Happy Hour” from 4-6 p.m. today through Saturday. We hope to see you there!

For a full schedule of Freshfields Village events, click here.

To read our August feature on Pete Dye, designer of the Ocean Course, click here.

To keep up with all the action on and off the course, visit Jason Stemple’s PGA Photo Blog here.