Local Golf News

Arnold Palmer Day on Hilton Head Island

The completely remodeled and newly renamed Arnold Palmer Course at Wexford Plantation reopened on October 20 with The King himself in attendance and Hilton Head Island Mayor Drew Laughlin proclaiming the day in his honor. The significant Wexford course work by the Arnold Palmer Design Company included the repositioning of tee complexes, the elimination of a number of bunkers and modification of others, tree removal to widen some fairways and major upgrades to all of the greens. “We hope the strategy, options and variety of play challenge your intellect and … your personal game,” Palmer said to Wexford members and other local officials after touring the course.

Williams to retire at Dolphin Head

Burrell Williams, Head Professional at Dolphin Head Golf Club in Hilton Head Plantation since 1986, will retire in June 2012. “On a daily basis, members or guests of the club make a point to express their gratitude for the service, attention, and genuineness provided by Burrell. He has become a legend at Dolphin Head and he will be greatly  missed by everyone at the club, “ said Dolphin Head General Manager Kristy Stewart.

Long Cove to host new collegiate event

Long Cove Club announced last month that it will host the inaugural Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Ladies Invitational Tournament from March 1-4, 2012. The event was the brainchild of Long Cove’s Head Golf Professional Bob Patton and his long-time friend Puggy Blackmon, the University of South Carolina’s Director of Golf. Blackmon then contacted his friend Darius Rucker, a native South Carolinian, a huge golf fan and now a solo artist after gaining fame with “Hootie and the Blowfish.” Rucker agreed to lend his name to the event and will play a private concert for the tournament participants and Long Cove members. Event competitors will include women’s golf teams from schools in the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12, plus Notre Dame and others. Long Cove has committed to hosting the 72-hole event for the next five years. The public is invited to join the gallery.

Dye tunes up Harbour Town

Course architect Pete Dye has completed a series of minor renovations to his Harbour Town Golf Links that included lengthening the layout by 150 yards, expanding or reshaping a number of bunkers and removing some trees to improve sight lines and create new strategic opportunities. Harbour Town has hosted the PGA TOUR every year since 1969 and welcomes new title sponsor Royal Bank of Canada in 2012 to the RBC Heritage Classic during the week of April 9.

Players Am heads to Berkeley Hall

After 12 years at Belfair, the Heritage Classic Foundation Players Amateur is moving to Berkeley Hall in 2012. The tournament dates are July 9-15. Past winners of this prestigious amateur event include Rickie Fowler and Camilo Villegas. This year’s winner will earn a sponsor’s exemption to the 2013 RBC Heritage Classic.

Bloody Point to reopen

The Bloody Point golf course on Daufuski Island is set to reopen in 2012. Davis Love III’s design company will be working on the project to restore the original design by Ben Wright and Tom Weiskopf.

Recent honors

Bill Sampson, Director of Golf at Old Tabby Links at Spring Island, has been named the 2011 “Carolinas PGA Golf Professional of the Year.”

Kevin Morgan, superintendent at Crescent Pointe and Eagle’s Pointe, was named 2011 “Employee of the Year” by the Lowcountry Golf Course Owner’s Association.

Nicole Weller, head golf teaching professional at The Landings Club, was named “Teacher of the Year” for 2011 by the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals Southeast Section.

Old South Golf Links has been named the 2011 “Golf Course of the Year” by the Lowcountry Golf Course Owner’s Association.

Works in progress

Construction on the Argent Lakes golf course at Sun City Hilton Head has passed the halfway point: Architect Tim Freeland has completed 12 holes on the layout, which is designed as a short course with only par threes and fours. The remaining six holes will be completed by mid-2012.

The Cotton Dike Golf Course at Dataw Island Club reopened in November following a six-month renovation by Billy Fuller Golf Design of Atlanta. The layout’s hydraulic irrigation system was completely replaced, 17 of the greens were recontoured and all of the putting surfaces now sport MiniVerde Ultra Dwarf Bermuda. In December, Fuller began a comparable refurbishment of Dataw’s Morgan River Golf Course to be completed by August 2012.

The Belfair East Course also had new MiniVerde Ultra Dwarf greens installed last year, along with renovations to all of the bunkers. Similar bunker work on the West Course will be undertaken in 2012, when Belfair members will also decide about a planned clubhouse expansion.