“Golf Course Architecture” reports on the work of Bill Coore, ASGCA, and Ben Crenshaw on their renovation at Chechessee Creek Club in Okatie, South Carolina. The pair renovated the course 16 years after the initial opening.
“The project began as a simple re-grass of fairways and greens, about 30 acres,” said Bill Kennedy, director of grounds at Chechessee Creek Club. “After 16 years we felt that better grasses were available and wanted to remain relevant in an extremely competitive market. It evolved from that to trying to not only be competitive but to be the very best.
“Bill Coore spent eight days over two visits and really helped us reestablish the vision he and Ben had for the course,” explained Kennedy. “We also had Coore/Crenshaw team members here during the actual project on numerous visits.”
Coore made numerous design suggestions for the project, including the addition of forward tees on eight holes, four formal bunkers to replace a waste bunker on the fifth hole, and the reworking of bunkers on seven holes using the Better Billy Bunker method.
Work began in April 2015, and the course reopened for play on 4 September.
“Our goal for the project was to offer our members and guest a world class golfing experience in a subtle and understated way,” Kennedy added. “We also wanted to accentuate what makes Coore/Crenshaw courses the draw that they are. The course is amazing and better for having done the work we have done.”