Lowcountry Hall selects Karen Ferree, Cary Corbitt as new additions

Considering Karen and Jim Ferree already hold distinction as the only husband-wife tandem in South Carolina's Golf Hall of Fame, it figured to be just a matter of time before Karen would join her husband in the Lowcountry's budding shrine.

As it turns out, it didn't take long at all.

The grande dame of Hilton Head Island golf will take her place as part of the Lowcountry Golf Hall of Fame's second induction class, voted in late Wednesday along with longtime Sea Pines Resort executive Cary Corbitt.

"How about that?" Karen Ferree said Thursday. "I was very excited. It's a very elite group, and it's just a real honor to be part of that group."

Jim Ferree was part of last year's inaugural class, along with fellow Lowcountry professionals Mike Harmon and Tim Moss, Sea Pines founders Charles Fraser and Joseph Fraser Jr., golf writer Charles Price and decorated amateur Kevin King.

Karen Ferree, a winner of 17 state or Carolinas amateur titles, and Corbitt will formally join their ranks April 2 during dinner ceremonies at Hampton Hall.

"I was there last year and was with the Fraser family," said Corbitt, soon to embark on his 40th year at Sea Pines. "It was pretty awesome. Everyone that's gone in ahead of me has certainly been worthy, all key players in the golf community."

One notable absence remains that of architect Pete Dye, builder of iconic Harbour Town Golf Links, and four other well-esteemed courses in the area. Hall bylaws limit the number of new enshrinees to two in any year, though a third can be added in selective circumstances.

The selection committee opted not to exercise that option this year, even though there was a tie for the second inductee. A second vote was taken to break that deadlock.

"It wasn't brought up," said Bob Collar, the hall's executive director, noting the committee was hesitant about setting precedent. "I don't think anyone really wanted to go there because then in any year we had a tie ..."

Collar would not disclose which inductee fell short in the tiebreaking vote, or the other four finalists, in keeping with hall policy. The seven finalists were recommended by a panel of the four living Hall of Famers, taken from an original list of 21.

Karen Ferree has compiled a wide-ranging portfolio that includes her competitive record, her work as a PGA of America professional and dedication to junior golf and similar efforts.

She was the head pro at Long Cove Club in its early days, at the time one of the few female head professionals at a major club. She stepped down after marrying Jim in 1987, regained amateur status six years later and picked up most of her hardware after that.

Ferree is a five-time Women's South Carolina Golf Association senior champion, captured the Carolinas senior championship in 2003 and twice won the prestigious Ione D. Jones/Doherty Senior Amateur in Florida.

She speaks most enthusiastically, though, about her work with junior golf. She helped establish the Hilton Head Island Junior Golf Association (with Corbitt among the co-founders) and works closely with The First Tee of the Lowcountry and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf.

"That's the big part of it," Ferree said. "That's helping the next person because somebody helped us. And if somebody helps these young people, they're going to help someone else."

Corbitt began his Sea Pines career in 1977 as a staff professional, rising to become the head professional at Sea Pines Plantation GC and later director of golf for the resort's three courses. For the past 25 years, he has overseen Sea Pines' sports and operations.

"I came here to get into the golf business," Corbitt said. "It's what I wanted to do all my life and I was fortunate to be given the opportunity with Sea Pines. It's been a pretty awesome career."

Corbitt's tenure has seen the resort go through some tumultuous times, including three ownership changes in a five-year span in the 1990s, but it's now on solid footing as some $70 million in upgrades -- including full makeovers to the old Sea Marsh (now Heron Point) and Ocean courses -- nears completion.

"There are so many great aspects," he said. "The rebuilding of our golf courses has been extremely satisfying."

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 11:36 PM with the headline "Lowcountry Hall selects Karen Ferree, Cary Corbitt as new additions."