Bob was first exposed to golf as a 12-year-old growing up in Orangeburg. His parents, both avid players, insisted he and his 9-year-old brother take a week of introductory lessons that summer. David, perhaps sensing it might prove beneficial to him as a doctor 20 years later, loved the sport and later won the Country Club of Orangeburg’s junior championship. Alas, Bob moved on to other sports, in none of which he had any future.

After graduating from the University of South Carolina, though, the golf bug bit hard and never let go. Today, after 35 years as a sports writer with three newspapers, the last 30 at The State in Columbia, he plays as often as semi-retirement allows. Covering golf gave him access to the state’s 362 courses – public, resort and private – and the dedicated folks who make their living in the golf industry, many of whom he counts as friends.

Bob lives in Columbia – convenient to courses from the coast to the mountains – with Jane, his wife of 22 years, who endures/encourages his love of the game. He has won national, regional and state awards for golf writing, and he considers two of his greatest achievements are having covered Hilton Head Island’s PGA Tour tournament, the Heritage, every year since 1977, and the Masters since 1979.

Because Bob has shot par once, for nine holes, he has plenty to see, do and learn as South Carolina’s Golf Insider. Hopefully, readers and golfers will feel the same way.