Welcome to Columbia County, visitors

According to the national media, none of you, our Masters guests, should be here. You can't afford this trip. You shouldn't be traveling. How can you rationalize being here spending money when our nation is in such economic turmoil?

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Columbia County, Georgia salutes your bravery whether you are a first-time visitor fulfilling a dream of attending the world's premiere sporting event, or a repeat visitor who joins our community as we ignore what the national media is telling us about our dire financial situation.

If you or any of us cancel our travel plans, we would be in a horrible economy. As citizens of the planet, it is our responsibility to provide our own personal "bailout." We need to travel, to spend money in our restaurants, hotels, retail establishments, gas stations - and yes, even Augusta National Golf Club's pro shop.

Since you've made the daring decision to be here, it is my pleasure to give you a few suggestions to help you develop an "economic stimulus package" while you explore our gorgeous region.

- Oliver Hardy was born in Columbia County's city of Harlem. His legacy and that of his comedic partner, Stan Laurel, is celebrated every day at the Laurel and Hardy Museum (free admission).

- A portion of the largest U.S. Corps of Engineers project east of the Mississippi River is located in Columbia County. Locally known as Clarks Hill Lake, J. Strom Thurmond Lake & Dam at Clarks Hill offers water sport enthusiasts 71,000-unspoiled acres of water with 1,200 miles of shoreline featuring some of the best freshwater fishing in the United States.

- You can get your game on at Adventure Crossing, an entertainment/sports facility with a 6,100-square-foot laser tag arena, go karts, batting cages, and miniature golf courses.

- Two public golf courses (Bartram Trail Golf Club and Jones Creek Golf Club) still have a limited number of tee times available this week.

- We're home to the International Disc Golf Center, managed by the Professional Disc Golf Association, and are blessed with several championship disc golf courses.

- Trained staff wait to help you with directions, restaurant suggestions, or shopping recommendations at the Savannah Rapids Regional Visitor Information Center, open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While mentioning tourism heroes, I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to mention another hero in our community. On Friday, Feb. 13, my Mom (who is a tourist from Independence, Mo.,) fell while out running errands.

During the incident, this wonderful woman - "Kate" is all my Mom can remember - was in front of her in line and stayed with her making her as comfortable as possible until the ambulance got there (she even sat and prayed for her right there on the floor of the Evans Post Office). Nothing in this world could have meant more to my Mom and to my family than this one random act of kindness by "Kate."

Kate, and the thousands of folks like her here, is the reason why I consider myself fortunate to represent Columbia County. Every visitor and tourist - my Mom, golf fans, and the thousands of folks who pull off our Interstate 20 exits each year - have no idea that they've entered a place filled with folks like Kate who care about others randomly with no agenda other than because that's the way they roll.

That's the message the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau is privileged to share. We're not Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbia, Columbus, Orlando, Savannah or even Augusta - but we're pretty darn cool.

I extend my most sincere thanks to "my" Kate and all those other "Kates" out there who make Columbia County a great place to live, work and play. Visit our Web site, www.choosecolumbiacounty.com for additional information and please come back and see us soon.

Beda Johnson is director of the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau.