Courtesy of Grande Dunes Resort Club
Grande Dunes Resort Club in Myrtle Beach will undergo an extensive greens, bunker and clubhouse renovation project this summer, led by architect John Harvey, who worked with Roger Rulewich on the original design and construction of the course.
Grande Dunes, which features five holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway, will close May 16 to begin work and reopen on Sept. 15 in anticipation for the area’s popular fall season.
Project highlights include:
- The greens at Grande Dunes, already among the area’s largest, will be renovated and restored to their original size, reclaiming nearly 40,000 square feet of putting surface that has been lost over time, an increase of 33 percent.
- Installation of new TifEagle ultradwarf bermudagrass greens, a hearty strain of grass that has performed well in Myrtle Beach’s subtropical climate.
- Every bunker on the course will be renovated and have a Capillary Concrete bunker liner installed. Premium bunker sand will also be installed.
“Two of the most common things people talk about on a course are the greens and bunkers,” Harvey said. “People will notice right away that the putting surfaces will be larger and more diverse with the pinning areas, allowing for more variety and strategy. The reshaping of the bunkers will add to the course’s visual appeal and the new sand will significantly improve playability.”
“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, Grande Dunes’ parent company. “John Harvey, who worked side-by-side with Roger Rulewich to open Grande Dunes in 2001, is the ideal person to lead this project, and, after a great spring season, we can’t wait to get started.”
Founders Group International owns 21 Myrtle Beach golf courses, making it one of the largest management companies in the Southeast, and FGI has reinvested in its courses in recent years. 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.
