SCOVG20 digital edition-1 - Flipbook - Page 6
ANGIE MOSIER
GOLF ON THE WATER
South Carolina is home to several world-class golf
courses, and that suits Rucker just fine. Be it his
home course at Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw or
teeing off with old friends at the Greenville Country Club, anywhere he goes, a great game of golf
awaits. But it’s those incomparable water views that
are the biggest draw for Rucker, and he thinks you’ll
love them, too.
“We have some great public courses in South Carolina, and Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms is one I play
all the time,” he says. “Both courses at Wild Dunes
are right along the water. One has views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the other of the Atlantic Ocean.
They both are breathtaking courses.”
TAKE A BEACH DAY
Miles and miles of shoreline, spectacular ocean
sunrises and sunsets, warm weather and watersports
are some of the best perks of South Carolina living.
When you’re on the road as much as Rucker, it’s the
place to go to refocus.
“I go down to Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island
for relaxing walks on the beach,” says Rucker. “Both
are close to home and not too crowded.”
When his children were younger, hitting the local
beaches was also a way to enjoy family time. “I used
to go sit in the sand and watch my kids surf,” he says.
“
”
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A
WARM SOUTH CAROLINA
DAY ON A BOAT.
Top:
Rodney
Scott’s
BBQ
Bottom:
Lowcountry
salt flats
4
GO BOATING WITH BUDDIES
While Rucker doesn’t yet own a boat, he says he’s
poised to do so. In the meantime, he puts out on
local waters courtesy of friends. “In Charleston, if
you don’t have a boat, you have friends with a boat,”
he laughs. “My buddies and I love riding on the ocean
or cruising the inlets while we listen to music and talk,
just feeling the breeze in our faces.”
Rucker emphasizes that boating isn’t limited to the
coast. Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie span 450
miles of shoreline. “In every South Carolina county
where there’s a lake, boating is a huge part of life,”
Rucker says. “There’s nothing like a warm South
Carolina day on a boat.”
TAILGATE, SOUTHERN STYLE
Okay—not everyone is a fan of college football. But
you would be if Rucker, a proud University of South
Carolina graduate, had his way. “I go to football games
several times a year,” he says. “I love that there are
85,000 people in that stadium and 82,000 of them
are cheering for the same team I’m cheering for.”
Experience the energy of South Carolina football,
including one of Rucker’s favorite game-day traditions. “We’ve got a great tailgate spot,” he says. “I meet
up with old buddies of mine and everybody brings their
favorite dish.” For Rucker, that means a stop at Yesterdays Restaurant. “The macaroni and cheese is great. I
eat there almost every time I come to Columbia.”
EXPERIENCE REAL BARBECUE
South Carolina’s claim to barbecue fame lies on the
shoulders of native son, pitmaster Rodney Scott. Named
“Best Chef: Southeast” by the James Beard Foundation
in 2018, he got his start as a boy serving whole hog barbecue cooked “low and slow” over pits he designed. Now
he has his own place in Charleston. His rustic techniques
yield smoked meat that is second to none, and critics the
nation over agree. So does Rucker.
“Rodney Scott’s BBQ is absolutely mind-blowing,”
he says. “I mean, every time I eat there, everything is
perfect—the way he slow cooks the meat, the flavors
he comes up with. And the sides taste like my grandmother made them. I love that.”
TRY A NEW DISH
Rucker lives in the culinary mecca of Charleston,
where he routinely tries new dishes. “I went to FIG
and ordered the goose liver pate,” he says. “The flavor, the texture—I love everything about it. In fact,
right now just talking about it, my mouth is watering!
It’s one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.”
Other places Rucker frequents include Hall’s
Chophouse, a Charleston original that now has
locations statewide, and the Obstinate Daughter,
a romantic eatery on Sullivans Island.
“Going out to eat is so much a part of being on
vacation in South Carolina,” says Rucker. “So do it!”
DiscoverSouthCarolina.com
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