Dataw Island Golf Association (DIGA)
The Dataw Island Golf Association (DIGA) is the men's golf association of Dataw Island. DIGA is open to any male who is a member of the Dataw Island Club (DIC) with golf privileges and to renters who have purchased golf privileges.
DIGA was formed to develop golf activities, in coordination with the Golf Staff, that are aimed at fostering camaraderie among male golfers on the Island. In the recent past, golf memberships have evolved to the point where there are many men who play golf but who do not have unlimited golf packages. Regardless of your chosen package, we encourage you to join DIGA so that you can participate in DIGA sponsored golf events and in the various social events that we hold during the year.
DIGA sponsored golf activities include: Men’s Days, Home and Home Events with other local clubs, and the three (3) DIGA Major Tournaments (Dataw Cup, B.B. Sams Cup, and DIGA Holiday Tournament). DIGA also plans, in coordination with the DIC Director of Golf and his staff, the Men’s Member-Guest Tournament and the Men's Club Championship. DIGA funds are often used to subsidize the various tournaments to help defray part of the costs such as the purchase of awards/trophies.
Sweeps (pro shop credit) are earned for playing in the Men’s Days and the DIGA Major Tournaments. DIGA events are open to all DIC Men with golfing privileges. DIGA Members, however, receive an entry fee discount to play in all events.
DIGA Functions
- Men’s Day:
DIGA hosts a Men's Day on most Tuesday mornings with a variety of game formats each week. Most formats are team events (either twosomes or foursomes) with the first Tuesday of the month reserved for Individual Play. The current cost to play is $10 with DIGA Members receiving a 50% discount to $5. An e-mail is normally sent out on the Friday and Monday preceding Men's Day communicating the format and starting time. There are both 9-hole and 18-hole events.
- Major Tournaments:
DIGA hosts three major tournaments throughout the year. The costs for these tournaments vary from event to event but DIGA members receive a discount. The three major tournaments are:
– Dataw Cup – The Dataw Cup kicks off our tournament year. The event is a Flighted, Four-Ball (Better Ball of Partners) Match Play event contested over Five 9-Hole Matches. A Shootout between the Flight Winners determines the Dataw Cup Champion.
– B.B. Sams Cup – The B.B. Sams pays homage to Berners Barnwell (B.B.) Sams who, with his brother Lewis Reeve Sams) owned Dataw Island from 1798 through 1861 when they fled the Island as the Union Army advanced on Beaufort. The B.B. Sams Cup is a Flighted, Four-Ball (Better Ball of Partners) Stroke Play event contested over 36 Holes.
– DIGA Holiday Tournament – The DIGA Holiday Tournament is our final major tournament of the year. This tournament culminates the golf year for DIGA. The tournament format is Better Ball of Partners, Stableford Scoring contested over 18 Holes.
- Charity Events:
DIGA and the local Military Order of Purple Heart Chapter co-sponsor a tournament to support the OnCourse Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project. These are wonderful opportunities to honor veterans who have served our country honorably and have suffered injuries in that service. The funds raised assist wounded veterans with financial aid, career counseling, sports, clothing, phone cards, handicap assisted housing costs, transportation and transition workshops.
- Home and Home Events:
DIGA provides opportunities to meet golfers from Clubs around the area by sponsoring Home and Home Events. These events allow for a group of DIGA Members to travel to other Clubs and engage in a spirited competition with their members followed by a hosted lunch and then host that same Club at Dataw. Based on the overall score of the two matches, a plaque is awarded to the winning Club to be retained until the next year. Previous Home and Home events have been held with Fripp Island Golf Club, Palmetto Hall, and Callawassie Golf Club.
DIGA Meetings:
DIGA schedules periodic breakfast meetings with the membership at the Club, followed by our normal Men's Day event. The breakfast meetings will normally feature a lecture or discussion of golf topics of interest to the membership. The December breakfast also serves as the DIGA Annual Meeting during which DIGA Board members are voted upon.
Please click here to download the DIGA By-Laws.
DIGA Board:
The DIGA membership is represented by a Board of Directors that is responsible for developing and conducting golf activities for members and representing the members’ interests with the Golf and Greens Committee of the DIC Board.
The 2018 Board has the following Officers:
• President – Terry Giffen
• Vice President – Jim Drew
• Tournament Director – Don Farris
• Secretary – Pete Bongiavanni
• Treasurer – Sandy Morse
• 9-Hole Representative – Steve Peskoe
• Handicap / Rules Representative (At-Large Member) – Dave Dolan
The DIGA Board meets the first Tuesday of each month. The meeting is held at the Club at 3:00 PM and is open to any member. Any questions, comments or recommendations should be addressed to the DIGA Board by emailing [email protected].
Cost:
In order to accommodate all golfers, DIGA offers two membership options – Full Membership at a rate of $40 per year and Fractional Membership at a rate of $25 per year (for those golfers who have purchased restricted golf, individual rounds, or monthly packages). Benefits are identical for both types of membership.
How to Join:
DIGA membership applications are available from the Pro Shop or by contacting any of the DIGA Board members.
Please click here to download an application