Grande Dunes Resort Course, one Myrtle Beach’s more acclaimed layouts, has reopened following a comprehensive greens, bunkers and clubhouse renovation project.
Architect John A. Harvey, who worked with Roger Rulewich on the design and construction of the course in 2001, led the four-month effort, which will ensure Grande Dunes maintains its spot among the best public layouts in golf-rich South Carolina.
Here’s a look:
● At the heart of the work was the installation of new TifEagle ultradwarf bermudagrass greens and the restoration of the course’s putting surfaces to their original sizes. Harvey and his team surveyed every putting complex, finding the original rock foundation, which allowed them to restore the greens to their intended dimensions.
● Grande Dunes reclaimed nearly 40,000-square feet of putting surface, an increase of 33 percent.
● The bunkers at Grande Dunes also had their original shapes and contours restored, significantly improving their visual appeal.
● Installation of new Capillary Concrete bunker liners guarantees the conditioning and playability of the bunkers will be significantly improved.
● Grande Dunes collectively expanded its fairways by eight acres, giving players few excuses to miss some of Myrtle Beach’s largest fairways.
● The improvements to the course are complemented by the overhaul of the Grande Dunes clubhouse, which now includes a new restaurant, dramatically expanded outdoor seating, and a larger pro shop.“Grande Dunes will again play as it was originally intended, challenging golfers with bold greens complexes and the strategic decisions that make the game so enjoyable,” said Steve Mays, president of Founders Group International. “Watching the project come together over the last four months has been a treat. The course is in pristine condition, and we look forward to welcoming golfers back to Grande Dunes.”
Founders Group International owns 21 Myrtle Beach golf courses, making it one of the larger management companies in the Southeast. FGI has also undertaken significant capital improvement projects at Pine Lakes, Aberdeen Country Club, River Hills, Tradition Club and the PineHills and Palmetto courses at Myrtlewood over the last four years. www.GrandeDunesGolf.com. www.FoundersGolf.com. Photo Courtesy of Founders Golf