Hall of Fame golf professional Terry Florence dies

Terry Florence, who for many years has been the face of Charleston golf, died Monday after a six-year battle with cancer. Florence, 63, was a member of both the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame and the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame.

Florence played golf and basketball at the College of Charleston before transferring to Gardner-Webb College in Boiling Springs, N.C., where he helped his golf team win a national championship. He played golf’s mini-tours for several years and missed qualifying for the PGA Tour by one shot in 1974.

He took a job as an assistant pro at Charleston Municipal and worked there for several years before landing the head professional job when Wild Dunes Resort opened in 1980 on the Isle of Palms. Florence remained there for 20 years, then resigned to take a shot at playing the Senior PGA Tour. He was named the director of golf at Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw in 2002, a position he held until his death.

Florence had numerous achievements as a golfer, winning numerous sectional championships and playing in four PGA Championships, but was best known for the family atmosphere he developed with his employees, many of whom went on to become successful head pros themselves.

See more in Tuesday’s Post and Courier