Even the best-designed layouts require a refresher every two decades or so to keep the course in top playing condition . The Plantation Course at Sea Island has gone through several updates over the decades and most recently reopened in 2019 after a complete redesign by Davis Love III and his brother , Mark , of Love Golf Design . The refresh draws on the golden age of golf architecture , with influences including Seth Raynor , Charles Blair Macdonald , Donald Ross and Walter Travis , the original architect at Sea Island .
Bunkering was decreased from about 250,000 square feet to about 90,000 , and steep , flash-face bunkers were replaced with flat-bottom bunkers , which are easier for players to get in and out of — and less of a maintenance challenge . Among the other major changes were the greens complexes , which are larger , offer a wider variety of pin placements and include
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features such as a thumbprint on the 11th hole . Golfers now find the Principal ’ s Nose on the No . 10 green and a few of Travis ’ chocolate drops here and there , along with views of the ocean .
“ The word that I hear most often from our members and guests is that it ' s a fun golf course to play ,” states Brannen Veal , director of golf at Sea Island Golf Club . “ It ’ s challenging but it doesn ' t beat you up , and Mark and Davis figured out a way to make it visually more memorable .”
Throughout 2023 , the course at Ocean Forest Golf Club on Sea Island is receiving a refresh of its own . The private club was purpose-built in 1995 to hold championships , and it has lived up to that as the host of the Walker Cup in 2001 and the annual Jones Cup Invitational since then .
The remodel will balance testing the skills of elite ball-strikers while making it enjoyable for a wider swath of players .
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The planned changes will create larger , less elevated , but more-contoured greens that will demand precise approach shots for players looking to score . Adjustments to the undulating greens will also include more playable space surrounding the putting surfaces with fewer bunkers and short-cut grass in the surrounds to promote creative recovery options . Many of the holes will add new forward tees , while others will back up the tips to accommodate ever-longer hitters .
Beau Welling of Beau Welling Design says : “ Being a challenging test of golf has always been a big part of the DNA of Ocean Forest . The site itself is already so magnificent , with spectacular live oak trees and holes along the Atlantic Ocean and Hampton River .”
The course refresh at Ocean Forest began in February 2023 and will continue into early fall . The course is expected to be ready for play by the end of 2023 .
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COURTESY OF @ JMCMURCHIE77 |
54 SEA ISLAND LIFE | SPRING / SUMMER 2023 |