The Cookie Lady of Hilton Head

Two ladies seated at a shaded table behind the 18th grandstand here at Harbour Town Golf Links weren't getting much business when I walked past Friday afternoon, and it made me feel embarrassed.

They were selling cookies to raise money to send boxes of cookies to American soldiers overseas as part of Treat the Troops, a non-profit program that was started by Hilton Head Island resident Jeanette Cram, who's been doing this since the first Gulf war. It's an all-volunteer effort to support U.S. soldiers.

Jeannette is the Cookie Lady, and her helpers are officially known as the Crumbs. Friday, her crumbs behind the 18th green were having only modest success convincing spectators to buy a homemade cookie for $1 or sponsor a box of homemade cookies to be mailed to soldiers.

Their sign featured photos and notes of thanks from soldiers. Here was one from the Seabees: "Our appreciation is beyond words. A single cookie is enough to make my fellow troops realize again why we are here."

Here's another from a soldier named Tim: "Today, you made a bunch of Marines smile."

A staff sargeant stationed in Afghanistan expressed his deep thanks and wrote, "I shared the cookies with my whole platoon!"

Cram and her Crumbs make the batter, bake the cookies, pack them and ship them to soliders stationed around the world. They also include notes and letters from those who donate.

One more note from a solider in Iraq: "There are solders here who go all year and don't receive a package. It makes a difference!"

For details, go to treatthetroops.org. It's a 501 (c) (3) charity. I spent my recent NCAA basketball pool winnings to sponsor some boxes. How about you?

 

The Ferry Ride

Hilton Head is a party town. There are restaurants and bars all around the lighthouse, and a common sight on the course is the kid on spring break in flip-flops, drink in hand. It's not sloppy drinking, like you might see in the French Quarter in New Orleans or in Fort Lauderdale, but in Hilton Head the party starts early and ends late.

And then there's a world away, maybe a half-mile across a briny bay from the Hilton Head lighthouse, on the island called Daufuskie. Maybe you've read the Pat Conroy book, "The Water is Wide," about his experiences teaching on that island, long before golf ever came there. Now there are three courses on the island. It's a resort, but it's still a world away. There are no cars on the island, no bars, just a few restaurants -- and 63 holes of golf.

Matt Kuchar, the Tour player, took the small, charming water taxi to the island on Wednesday and played the Rees Jones course there. The brackish breeze on the trip over will clear the cobwebs. Maybe that helps one's golf, maybe it doesn't. No matter. A change of scenery is a good thing.

View Larger Map

The road less traveled

Players, years ago, used to drive the Tour. Now, of course, they fly. In Florida, every so often, players will drive from one stop to another, but the Florida schedule has changed in the past couple years, so the well-worn paths have changed. There's only one tried-and-true drive left: Augusta to Hilton Head.

The Hilton Head tournament has followed the Masters for decades and every year there's a dozen or so players who make the drive from the Deep South to the Carolina Lowlands. There are many ways to go. One route is SC-78, through Bamberg, S.C., hometown of the great Mookie Wilson, the old New York Met.

It's a wonderful drive, miles of nothing and farms and little towns, and a reminder of what used to be and what, it's nice to find out, still is.

View route to Hilton Head through Bamberg, S.C.