Teeing up an autographed ball, Annika issued the challenge: “Whoever hits it the closest can keep my ball.” With that, she smoothly swung an 8-iron and stuck her shot to about 10 feet. Sörenstam did this for every group in the event, and while her proposal ratcheted up the pressure, the resulting shot that she hit usually dissolved some of it too. After all, each two-player team had the opportunity to take Annika’s shot as their own in the best-ball competition. Not surprisingly, it suddenly became easier for Kingdom Cup participants to make good swings when they knew they already had a makeable chance at birdie in their pockets.

Beyond that third-tee interaction, Kingdom readers in attendance for the annual Kingdom Cup tournament had a chance to meet and mingle with a bevy of golfing greats. In addition to Sörenstam, that guest list included Jack Nicklaus, Matt Kuchar, PGA Tour caddie Geno Bonnalie, and professional golfer Kasia Kay. Other notable guests included Golf Channel correspondent Alexandra O’Laughlin, actor Rob Riggle, and senior golf course architect Brandon Johnson. In fact, the event’s competitive rounds concluded with the biggest surprise of all. A chance to meet the Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus, on the 18th tee of the Arthur Hills course at Palmetto Hall Golf & Country Club.

“The event seemed to be a huge success,” Nicklaus said later, “and it was nice to spend time with the guests. I hope those in attendance enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed being there.”

Island Lifestyle

From the moment guests arrived at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport–a hub that makes for easy flights in and out of the Lowcountry–it was clear that Kingdom’s contingent of avid golfers would be treated to the epitome of Southern hospitality.

The event kicked off on Thursday evening with a spirited putting contest on a ForeverLawn synthetic green, then transitioned to spirits of a different kind, as Dewar’s led a private tasting of its new Double Double 37 Year Old, a limited-release blended malt from master distiller Stephanie Macleod. Dewar’s was on hand throughout the weekend, including at comfort stations on the golf courses to serve up the brand’s signature Lemon Wedge cocktail. (Dewar’s also provided exclusive bottlings as prizes for the tournament’s top finishers.)

Regional flavors took center stage each evening. During the welcome reception staged inside Sonesta Resort’s 7,000-square-foot Pavilion, for example, guests were treated to a seemingly never-ending spread of southern delicacies, including chicken and sausage gumbo, jumbo lump crab cakes and Lowcountry boil complete with fresh hushpuppies and honey butter. At The Sea Pines Resort’s Quarterdeck the following night, oysters on the half shell (among other indulgences) provided the flavor, while the venue’s elevated position offered spectacular views of Harbour Town Golf Links’ 18th hole and Calibogue Sound. On the final night, lobster paella and other creative seafood fare was served up in the Ocean Lounge and Atlantic Room at the Sea Pines Beach Club, where panoramic vistas of the beach commanded many guests’ attention–that is, until Nicklaus sat down with O’Laughlin for a candid, post-dinner conversation.

Gifts Galore

The event was all about surprises, especially ones that delivered a steady stream of enviable gifts. When participants returned to their guestrooms on the evening before the first round of golf, they found Vessel backpacks waiting for them. These high-end leather accessories served as Kingdom Cup’s welcome bags, in which a handful of other favors were waiting. Those gifts included a pair of embroidered Stitch polo shirts, a Bay Hill-embroidered clubhead cover courtesy of the Arnold Palmer company, Puttview yardage books for both tournament courses, tins of Hubs’ peanut brittle, travel kits of Natura Bissé skincare essentials, Bask sunscreen and gift cards redeemable for Mizzen + Main apparel. Lohla Sport also provided apparel for non-golfing guests.

When participants arrived at Wexford Golf Club the next morning, they found complimentary Eagle Eye rangefinders in their golf carts (along with sleeves of Srixon golf balls); and when they returned to their rooms that night they discovered pairs of True Linkswear slides tucked inside Penfold shoe bags. The gifts kept coming the following day, too, as golfers discovered Weatherman umbrellas in their bags. Thankfully, the day’s forecast called for pleasant conditions, so players didn’t need to put those umbrellas to immediate use.

The Kingdom Cup also featured a silent auction, where significant items were up for grabs.  Guests had the chance to win a one-year membership to any one of the Dormie Club Network’s, while those who wanted to contribute to a good cause could bid on entry into the junior-am at the Annika Invitational, an American Junior Golf Association event put on by Annika Sörenstam’s foundation (the winning bidder also received a Lohla Sport gift card). Elsewhere on the docket, a stay-and-play package for two at Treetops Resort in Michigan, an all-inclusive four-night stay for two at one of several Sandals Resorts locations in the Caribbean, and a two-night stay at the Four Seasons Lanai had avid travelers dreaming of their next getaway. No doubt those guests were also looking at the collection of four stylish Revo sunglasses up for grabs.

The lineup of silent auction items was even more varied. A mixed case of wine curated by VinPorter with a virtual or in-person tasting in Napa Valley tempted oenophiles, while the Dewar’s gift pack featuring the brand’s Double Double 37 Year Old with Baccarat crystal glasses excited whisky enthusiasts. Kingdom Cup guests who were looking to bolster their everyday rounds of golf were enticed by the Stewart Golf Q Follow motorized golf cart, and those who wanted a special keepsake from the event had a chance to win a 16×20 photo of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, signed by the Kingdom Cup’s guest of honor. Participants also had a chance to win a Vestaboard, a unique piece of technology that ushers analog communication into the digital age.

But that’s not all. Other silent auction items included: an assortment of Diamond Collection brand icons from Natura Bissé, paired with a limited-edition Malbon Golf x GIRL golf bag; a duo of $500 gift cards–one for Mizzen & Main and the other for Hubs Peanuts; a selection of Revo sunglasses; and two rounds of golf hosted at any of Heritage Golf’s stellar courses across the country.

Acclaim & Anticipation

While the Kingdom Cup inspired jovial banter, the camaraderie of the friendly on-course competition carried over to the tournament’s nightly events. It all added up to a fun-filled weekend that was true to the golf-loving spirit of Kingdom co-founder Arnold Palmer. It also had many guests eagerly awaiting next year’s Kingdom Cup, which will return to Hilton Head Island September 12 to 15 with rounds of golf played on two of The Sea Pines Resort’s courses: Heron Point and the world-renowned Harbour Town Golf Links.

As this year’s event wrapped up, participants raved about the festivities. “It exceeded all expectations in every way,” one guest said, while another declared the Kingdom Cup to be “an amazing event for fans of the game of golf.” Perhaps the best description, however, came from one player who said it’s “a magical weekend for any golfer to get intimate access to golf legends, to make new friends and to enjoy friendly competition.”

Speaking of golf legends, the Kingdom Cup’s honorable guests were just as effusive in their praise. “I knew Mr. Palmer well, and in turn got to know the team at Kingdom, so it’s always nice to see them and experience the great programs they put together,” Sörenstam said. “This was a special event in a beautiful setting that brought it all together.”

Ready to experience it for yourself? If you’re interested in joining Kingdom magazine for its third annual Kingdom Cup, taking place September 12 – 15, 2024, share your email here to be notified when tickets go on sale:

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