By Len Ziehm
Golf is always in season in Myrtle Beach, where the lead-in to the 39th annual Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship is underway, even though the tournament will not be held until September.
Early entries are already at 1,400 and will reach over 3,000, assuring once again, that it will remain the world’s largest golf tournament. In a major announcement, organizers have moved the Flight Winners Playoff, the climax of five days of competition, from Grande Dunes Golf Club to TPC Myrtle Beach.
Grande Dunes was scheduled to host the finale until the decision was made to conduct a massive renovation. Long one of the area’s most acclaimed layouts, Grand Dunes will close on May 16th and not re-open until September 15th. Architect John Harvey, who worked with Roger Rulewich on the original design and construction of the course in 2001, will lead the renovation project.
The greens will be restored to their original size, reclaiming nearly 40,000 square feet of putting surface, that had been lost through the ravages of time.
TifEagle ultradwarf bermudagrass will be installed on the greens, plus every bunker will be renovated with a Capillary Concrete liner installed to eliminate washouts and drastically improve drainage. The clubhouse will also be expanded with the pro shop to grow by 400 feet. An indoor/outdoor bar will be added, plus the outdoor seating will be greatly expanded.
“Grande Dunes is one of Myrtle Beach’s crown jewels, and this renovation project will ensure the course continues to provide the type of experience golfers have come to expect,’’ said Steve Mays, president of Founders Group International, the course’s parent company and owner of 21 Myrtle Beach courses.
Scott Tomasello, the World Am tournament director, has no qualms about the move to TPC Myrtle Beach, a Tom Fazio design that displays many of Dustin Johnson’s trophies in its clubhouse and hosts DJ’s World Junior Championship among many big events.
“We knew TPC would be a perfect landing spot,’’ said Tomasello. “We look forward to showcasing their beautiful property.’’
The final shootout follows 72 holes of age group net competition that begins on August 29th. Over 50 other MB courses will be used in the preliminary rounds. For more information checkout www.myrtlebeachworldamateur.com.
Golf Travel Notes:
FLORIDA: Saddlebrook Resort, in Wesley Chapel, has new owners with big plans and the course will be closed for a major overhaul.
Saddlebook opened in 1981 and includes two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses, as well as the 45 tennis courts with the Harry Hopman Tennis Academy.
Camilo Miguel, chief executive officer of new owner Mast Capital, said his firm is in the early stages of a major renovation of the entire property.
“There is a lot of opportunity in elevating the property and bringing back some of its luster,’’ said Miguel. “There hasn’t been much investment in the property in decades.’’
WISCONSIN: Sand Valley is adding a third course and will eventually a fourth. Plus there is The Sandbox, a short course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.
Sand Valley, the namesake course is also a Coore/Crenshaw creation and David McLay Kidd designed Mammoth Dunes.
Tom Doak will begin work on Sedge Valley this year and is scheduled to open in 2024. The more intimate par 68, Lido will open to members and resort guests in 2023.
“The golf experience at Sedge Valley is completely different from anything else on the property,’’ said Sand Valley co-owner Michael Keiser. “Tom Doak moves so easily from the large-scale engineering project of the Lido to this much more intimate design. Watching him identify and work his routing to these incredible natural green sites was a true `pinch me’ moment. This is how the great ones have always done it.’’
