Yesterday, at the time of writing, I had the opportunity to support Osprey Village by volunteering (well… sort of) at the 7th Annual Osprey Village Golf Tournament at the Golden Bear Golf Club in Indigo Run on Hilton Head Island. This tournament is one of the key ways Osprey Village raises funds to help make its planned community in Hardeeville a reality. And it wasn’t just a casual round of golf—far from it. We had breakfast from Nectar Farm Kitchen, Starbucks coffee, contests on every Par 3, a buffet luncheon prepared by Tina and Joedon Boney, craft beer from Lincoln & South Brewing, and a 50/50 raffle and silent auction featuring everything from delicious treats to one-of-a-kind experiences.
A massive thank-you goes out to the 115 golfers who cleared their schedules to participate, as well as to our generous sponsors who made the entire event possible. The support truly means a great deal—so if I sound a bit repetitive when thanking everyone, it’s only because the gratitude is real.
Now, for my part in all this. If you were at the tournament, you may have seen me out on the course. I spent the day taking photos of players, covering everything from action shots to group pictures. We tried to make it to all 18 holes and capture as many teams as possible. On the front nine, that meant following groups from a distance in the golf cart. By the back nine, we had taken on an additional role—delivering cold drinks to golfers (and learning a valuable lesson about where golf carts should not go).
As for the photos themselves, I’ll admit—I got some shots I’m pretty proud of. A few good action captures, some fun group moments, and a handful that made it onto Osprey Village’s Facebook page. But it was definitely a challenge. I’m not deeply familiar with golf rules, and there were moments where I tried to get too creative and ended up in someone’s line of sight while they were putting. Luckily, the golfer was forgiving.
I was also working solely with my phone, which added a layer of difficulty. If it went inactive, I had to wake it up again, and sometimes that meant missing a moment. It’s been a while since I’ve photographed anything professionally, and even longer since I’ve spent time on a golf course. So yes—there was a learning curve.
Still, the experience was rewarding. I got photos I’m happy with, learned a lot, and contributed to an event that supports a mission I believe in. Some of my favorite shots didn’t make it online, but that’s just motivation to keep improving.
That’s all for this week. I’ll see you next time for our regularly-scheduled articles!
