Hilton Head Life

Will they Ban Smoking Here?

It would sure be nice if they banned smoking here in Hilton Head/Beaufort County.  It's easy for me to rant about this as: 1) I'm a non-smoker and 2) I enjoy eating at the bar.  My lungs have likely already been irrevocably damaged from too many visits to crowded, smokey Boston last call dives for years.

But sure enough, my first night on the HHI I decided to dine at the reliable Outback Steakhouse on 278. Just as my Queensland Chicken and Shrimp shows up some dude sits down (two seats away) and lights up. Do you mind? At least it wasn't a cigar.

Of course as the weather warms up here in Hilton Head, this will be less of an problem. Hopefully I'll be dining out at more at outdoor establishments where stinky smoke drifting over my dinner will not be an issue.

One Hot Mama's

Popped into One Hot Mama's in Bluffton Saturday for drinks and to take in the local scene. From the outside the bar looks like it might be filled with a biker gang (maybe is was the Harley Davidsons parked outside).  However, this is not the case.

First off, when I approached the bar (I was alone) there were a number of people hanging around outside. A woman outside said to me "Hi, how are you doing?" as I walked by.  Being from Boston, I was completely unprepared for this type of pleasantness. I muttered out a puzzled "good" as I walked by. 

In Boston, when strangers talk to you either there is something wrong with them (mentally), they want something from you (money for drugs) or they're starting trouble with you (hello Testosterone filled Southie).  I have to get this thinking out of my head.

Inside was plenty of tables and a medium sized square bar with great seating to view the band and people watch.  The music, by Zach Deputy, was excellent.  They played a funky acoustical set with both fast and slow songs. Zach's original songs are truly contagious, and the songs he does cover he easily turns into his own.

The atmosphere inside the bar was a great mix. Several bikers. Attractive females. Clicky Blufftonians. A few drunk rednecks. It was fantastic!

I did not partake in any of the food offerings at One Hot Mama's. However, their Captain & Cokes sure hit the spot....I will be back.

Red Breasted Merganser

Today I viewed two Red Breasted Mergansers (one male with it's unmistakable dark green crest, one female) drift by the back of my house. Both were diving and resurfacing every few moments. By the time I got the camera they were gone.

Executive Golf Club

I'm decided to try and improve my game so I won't embarrass myself when I play the nicer courses of Hilton Head Island. I have not touched a golf club since August of last year. So when I decided to get back into the swing of things (intended) I paid a visit to the Executive Golf Club in Bluffton (right next to the Hilton Head National Golf Club).

It's a short 9 hole Par 3 course. No hills. Perfect! The first hole is 200 yards or so and then the rest of the holes are in the 100-130 yard range except for the 300 yard or so 8th.

The most difficult hole is the 7th, an 80 yard (the shortest on the course) chip shot with a green surrounded on all sides by water.  Also, you'll want to aim to the right on the 9th to avoid losing a ball in the tall grass.

The greens are in rough shape. If you putt to within a foot of the hole, it should be considered in. This is not the course to warm up on your putting game. But if you want to loosen up and get used to swinging your irons again this is the place to do it in Bluffton.

What I like about the course is that everyone else who plays here is just like me -- they aren't very good. I went out twice in January and I was the only one on the course. There is nothing like golfing when there's no pressure on how long you take to take your next shot.

Fees are an affordable $12.50 for nine and $10 more if you go around again. So you really can't complain about the course conditions.

Note: you won't need to rent a cart (or a pull cart) here.

Phone: 843-837-6400

Traffic

In my short time living here in Hilton Head I've noticed that many here complain about the traffic. This amazes me because although there is some congestion getting on and off the Island around rush hour, the traffic at least moves along. 

After spending years battling traffic in Boston I'm not even sure what happens on US278 should even be called traffic. I sat on the GW Bridge on 95 and went a mile in 3 hours. Now that's traffic.

White Ibis

Couldn't miss a gaggle of White Ibis (20 to 30) probing the marsh together for lunch in Moss Creek.  I'm not sure what they were eating, but I suspect is was beetles. 

These birds with their wonderful, long curved beaks motor around quickly, looking at me as if I was in the way.

The Upper Crust

Stopped into the Upper Crust (Moss Creek Village) for a pie to go. The bartender told me that pizza was their specialty. After looking at the menu, we decided on a large roni. During our wait, we enjoyed a few wines at the bar with an order of delicious garlic bread.

Well, we took the pizza home and it was -- outstanding. One of the things I've been trying to do in Hilton Head is eat healthier. The Upper Crust isn't going to make it easy for me....and they deliver!