Weed completes Jacaranda renovation

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – Weed Golf Course Design completed a substantial redesign of Jacaranda’s East Course in Plantation, Fla., just outside Ft. Lauderdale.

During the summer, Weed Design began a maintenance and renovation upgrade for the East Course, originally designed by Mark Mahannah in 1970 for Gulfstream Properties. The updated par-71 layout stretches to 7,245 yards and borders lagoons and is vegetated with live oaks, mahogany, ficus and palm trees, which abound at the public facility.

“Jacaranda East was a solid Mahannah design that was in need of infrastructure, agronomic and playability upgrades,” designer Bobby Weed, ASGCA says. “Our biggest challenge was Mother Nature, as the project endured four named hurricanes during construction. Having a quality owner, operator in Scratch Golf Company, afforded us the opportunity to revive and polish a well-known gem in South Florida.”

The golf course contractor was Lepanto Golf, of Pomona Park, Florida.

The design-build project encompassed comprehensive replacement of the drainage and irrigation systems along with substantial agronomic upgrades, including new greens and turfgrasses, replacing the outdated varieties of the 1970s. Seadwarf paspalum was planted on the tees and fairways while TifDwarf Bermudagrass is on the greens, collars and approaches. New concrete cart paths and a significantly enhanced landscape palette were also part of the project.

“The paspalum is a significant turfgrass upgrade and should prove to be very playable,” Weed says. “The greens and approaches are the same TifDwarf Bermudagrass variety, a novel solution that offers a seamless look and will let the ball bounce and run-out, making for a more interesting game.”

A final component to the project was the expansion of the clubhouse area to create the opportunity for potential enclave development. Five holes also were re-routed.

“Any future land use has to be integrated appropriately with the golf course,” Weed continues. “Our in-house land planning services allow us to provide substantial benefits without adding to the cost of the project. At Jacaranda, we found that a few minor shifts of some tees and greens could significantly enhance the value of the whole property, expand our client’s exit strategy options and ensure that the integrity and operation of the primary asset, the golf course, would not be compromised. It was an opportunity that begged to be seized.”

Weed Design also recently opened Florida renovation projects at historic Pine Tree and Brooksville Country Club.