We’re always feeling a little sporty here at TOWN, because we’re part of a thriving, growing community where sports are embraced and celebrated. It’s why we dedicate a section to the idea of sports and the sporting life and are always on the search for the best stories from right here in the Upstate.
This year, we’ve heard from a Clemson football legend, we’ve unlocked some of Swamp Rabbit Trail’s hacks, and we’ve reported on new developments for golfers, skateboarders, and pump track bicyclists alike.
These are five of our top sporting stories.
Five Top Sports Stories
The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail is almost 30 miles long now, enough for even the hardiest cyclist or day-tripper to enjoy. But with so many routes to choose from, it may be difficult to decide where to hop in, and where to hop out for a snack or drink along the way. Use this list to determine how best to tackle the trail by bike, electric bike, or on foot.
Former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd broke records during his time at Clemson University, where he is widely considered one of a handful of players who helped springboard the program into the national spotlight, where it has been ever since. Now back in Death Valley as a coach, after a brief stint in the National Football League, Boyd is celebrated in this thoughtful piece that highlights the man he has become and offers insights into the moments—and men—who have helped shape him.
Feel like a kid again with mountain biking
They don’t teach mountain biking in school, and that’s why local riders Sam Smith and Matt Griffin encourage anyone who can ride a bike to embrace their inner child and hit the trails. Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina offer a plethora of mountain biking options for all skill levels. There are easy trails, single-track rides, technical rides, and downhill trails dotting the map from Paris Mountain State Park in Greenville and Issaqueena Trail System in Clemson to Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, North Carolina.
Skatepark and pump track in motion
Though Greenville is known as a place for outdoors enthusiasts, some activities, like skateboarding and pump track bicycling, are underrepresented. Now, after a couple of years of advocacy and mobilization from community leaders and organizers, a new skateboard park and pump track is in the offing, with plans for a new park just off the Swamp Rabbit Trail near Greenville Downtown Airport.
Developers announced in March plans to bring an 18-hole golf course to a 290-acre tract along the Reedy River near Fountain Inn. Kawonu (Cherokee for “duck”) Golf Club puts golf in full focus—no other facilities, like tennis courts or pools, are part of the plans. Expected to open in 2027, the private club will be invitation only, and membership will be capped to preserve the course.
