Courtesy of Sun City Hilton Head
Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton, South Carolina, recently reopened its Okatie Creek Golf Course following a six-month course renovation project. The $4 million project focused on enhancing turf conditions through re-grassing and improving drainage, as well as restoring greens to their original size to gaining more putting surface.
The course reopened October 1 with a ribbon cutting ceremony highlighted by an opening tee shot by adaptive golfer Ron Danko.
During the renovation, crews from TDI golf course construction laid 25 miles of XGD drainage in fairways and delivered 577 truckloads of sand to help improve drainage. Crews also hulled out greens and re-grassed with TifEagle turf, while fairways and tee boxes were re-grassed with Celebration turf. With new turf and improved drainage in place, year-round playability will improve on the 6,719-yard, par-72 golf course.
“We immediately saw the benefit of all the new drainage on opening day,” director of golf Charlie Kent said. “Our other two courses were cart path only due to a recent rain event, but on Okatie Creek we were able to open the fairways to cart traffic.”
The practice facility was also renovated and increased in size by 50 percent. The updated practice facility now features an expanded practice tee to accommodate as many as 50 hitting stations and an all-new short game area with a dedicated putting green, chipping green and bunker practice green.
Originally designed by former PGA Tour professional Mark McCumber in 1995, Okatie Creek winds its way through the pines and marshes of the Carolina Lowcountry and has 15 lakes spread throughout the property. Sun City Hilton Head is home to three 18-hole golf courses — the executive-length Argent Lakes Golf Course, the casual Okatie Creek Golf Course, and Hidden Cypress Golf Course.
Sun City Hilton Head’s golf operations are managed by Troon Golf, the resort and daily-fee course management division of Troon.
