Courtesy of Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort
Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort is planning a multi-million dollar renovation for its Ocean Point golf course in Fripp Island, South Carolina. The resort has contracted with the Dye Designs Group (DDG) to oversee the project, which is scheduled to begin in June.
DDG was selected for its experience designing world-class courses, its innovative approach and its commitment to sustainability. The planned renovations will modernize the classic Ocean Point layout to elevate the overall playing experience for golfers of all skill levels while paying tribute to the course’s original designer, George Cobb. A key objective of the project is to incorporate several Cobb design elements throughout the course. DDG reviewed original Cobb design plans from multiple courses to gain inspiration for the Ocean Point project.
To maximize the natural coastal beauty of the course and create an interesting design element, more than 200,000 square feet of grass will be converted to sand-based waste areas. This is a common Cobb design element and a feature DDG has used to elevate the aesthetic of premier Lowcountry courses.
The full scope of the renovations will enhance both the course design and the surrounding facilities. Bunkers on all 18 holes will undergo substantial reconstruction, with many being completely reshaped. DDG will also replace most of the cement cart paths with crushed limestone that ties into the area’s natural elements, as well as level several tee boxes. The project also includes the purchase of several new state-of-the-art course maintenance equipment units, and a refresh of the Ocean Point clubhouse interior.
The Ocean Point modernization is the latest in a series of investments announced since Seascape Hospitality Group purchased Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort in 2023.
“This project is one of many significant capital improvements planned for the entire resort, with several already underway,” resort COO John Scappatura said. “These renovations will significantly enhance the overall golf experience for our members and guests to enjoy. The totality of the facilities upgrades underway embody our unwavering commitment to this area. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of Fripp Island.”
The approved renovation plans were completed by DDG and led by Cynthia Dye, who is following in the footsteps of her late uncle, Pete Dye, and her father, Roy Anderson Dye. The firm also includes Cynthia’s son, Matthew McGarey, who has more than 20 years of golf course design and construction experience. The mother-and-son duo are both personally engaged in the Fripp Island Ocean Point project.
The Dye family of golf course architects has designed, built, and renovated more than 250 golf courses worldwide since 1922, spanning 28 countries and five continents. Cynthia herself has more than 45 years of experience as a golf course architect and is a full member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.
“With five holes of unobstructed oceanfront views, Ocean Point golf course is undoubtedly an architect’s playground,” Dye said. “The premier course location coupled with its natural Lowcountry elements provide a solid foundation for our design team to elevate. We’re excited to bring our modern course vision to life while preserving historic elements inspired by Cobb’s original design.”
The resort also features the Davis Love III-designed Ocean Creek course, which features five holes edged by marsh and another six that incorporate interior wetlands, preserved and connected to the course through a network of wooden walkways and bridges.
Cobb was known for his work particularly shaping many courses in the Carolinas, earning him a spot in the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2019. Among his most notable achievements is the nine-hole Par 3 course at Augusta National, designed in 1958.