Tidelands Health team members got a kick watching the RBC Heritage golf tournament on TV last month and seeing their names on the caddies’ bibs as a shout-out to health care workers across South Carolina.
Imagine their excitement when the same bibs showed up for them to keep.
“It’s pretty cool,” Jeff Malinski, general manager of support services, says after getting his bib, which was worn by the caddie for golfer Nate Lashley. “I was looking on TV for him – he didn’t get much camera time,” he says, chuckling.
The names of South Carolina health care workers – including 14 Tidelands Health team members – were inscribed on the back of RBC Heritage caddie bibs alongside player names during the 52nd RBC Heritage golf tournament last month on Hilton Head Island. The PGA tour wanted to honor health care workers’ selfless commitment, sacrifice and courage amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament provided the bibs to the health care workers as a memento from the event.
Tournament winner
The bib for Gina Trotter, a physical therapist assistant at Tidelands Health Rehabilitation Hospital at Little River, an affiliate of Encompass Health, has an extra name on it – an autograph from her golfer, Webb Simpson, who narrowly edged out several competitors to take the win and earn the coveted RBC Heritage plaid jacket.
As Gina, who is still recovering from COVID-19, and her golf-loving husband watched the tournament, she even said, ’Watch – he’s going to win.’ And sure enough, he pulled through with the victory.
“That is very cool,” Gina says when she saw the autographed bib. “That’s really neat and so thoughtful of them.
Golfer Webb Simpson, who won the 52nd RBC Heritage golf tournament last month in Hilton Head, signed the bib worn by his caddie to honor Gina Trotter.
“It means a lot that they recognize the people out there working in health care and making the sacrifices. It just means a lot that they recognize us.”
Kathy Dowling, director of employee health and safety, has her bib from professional golfer Chesson Hadley draped over a chair in her office.
“I was so excited when I got it,” she says. “It’s even got a little dirt on it, so you know it’s the one that’s been worn.”
The Heritage Classic Foundation, the non-profit organization that hosts the golf tournament, also has launched a “Plaid Pledge” initiative to raise money to support physicians, nurses and other health care professionals.
Interested in showing your support for the tireless efforts of Tidelands Health team members on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic? Click here to learn how.
