So I finally made it out to Sanctuary Golf Course on Cat Island last week. Been meaning to check this place out forever since I kept hearing weird rumors about feral cats roaming the fairways.
Prepping for the Trip
Tossed my clubs in the trunk around sunrise – figured I’d beat the heat and the crowds. Grabbed extra sunscreen and like three bottles of water cause man, South Carolina summers ain’t playing. Forgot bug spray though. Big mistake.
First Impressions Onsite
Paired up with this retired couple at the clubhouse. Nice folks until we hit hole #3. That’s when I spotted the first cat colony. Dozens of ’em just chilling in the palmetto bushes like they owned the joint. The wife freaked when a tabby rubbed against her golf cart.
- Orange toms stalking the roughs like predators
- Kittens batting at lost balls in the sand traps
- Big mama cat hissing from the #7 water hazard
Course marshals just shrugged when I asked about it. Apparently management stopped trying to relocate ’em years ago.
The Back Nine Chaos
Things got wild after the turn. One of my playing partners topped his drive straight into a cat bed near hole #12. Three kittens pounced on that ball like it was catnip. We all stood there awkwardly while he tried to shoo them away with a pitching wedge.
Highlight reel:
- Putting with three cats weaving between my legs on #14 green
- Watching a grey tom carry off somebody’s expensive golf towel
- Finding half-eaten lizards in every other cup
Shot 20 over par. Blaming the feline distractions.
Wrapping Up
Clubhouse bartender laughed when I ordered a drink. Said the cats started hanging around after hurricane floods years back. Now they’re like mascots – tourists even leave cat food donations at the pro shop. Weirdest golf experience of my life, but hey, at least the beer was cold. Might go back next month just to see if that one-eyed cat still guards the 18th hole bunker.
