Scot Sherman, ASGCA (Love Golf Design), has begun a restoration of the golf course at Camden (S.C.) Country Club. “The course is one of a handful where both Walter Travis and Donald Ross have worked – beginning over 100 years ago,” said Sherman.
Originally known as the Kirkwood Links, Travis was approached in 1922 to design a full 18 hole course as a new amenity for the adjacent Kirkwood Hotel. At the time, most greens in the South were simply flat sand surfaces with little contour. Travis’ new idea was to create sand greens with contour at Kirkwood – and the experiment was a great success. As golf grew in the South, turfgrass greens became the standard, so the Kirkwood Links decided to cultivate turf on their well-regarded layout. Since Travis had passed away in 1927, the Club reached out to Donald Ross for a redesign in 1939. During that year, Ross only designed three courses, and the new Camden Country Club was one of them. Due to a light work load he was able to devote much of his time to overseeing the construction of the course – something that Ross admitted he did not have the chance to do on many of his projects.
Donald Ross and Walter Travis had known and respected each other during their design careers. Travis actually consulted with Ross on the design of Pinehurst #2 and they frequently talked about their principles of golf course design. Therefore, when it came to redesigning Camden, Ross did not completely demolish the existing course. Instead, he used some of Travis’ concepts and features in the design of new greens and the golf course as a whole. “This mixture of Travis and Ross influence truly makes Camden’s course unique. I have been fortunate to work on several Ross courses and this layout is special,” notes Sherman. “It is a study in exquisite routing, strategy, aesthetics, simplicity, and a timeless challenge on every putting surface. When coupled with the wonderful site set among the Sandhills region of South Carolina, this is a course worth restoring, preserving, and showcasing – its design will easily stand the test of time.”
“So far, the Club has focused on turf conditions and restoration of native sandy areas,” said Sherman. “Looking ahead, the Club has a wealth of original Ross and Travis sketches and plans. So, the scope of the restoration and construction project includes study of these historic documents to determine the path forward. From there, all greenside bunkers will be restored first, fairway bunkers will then be restored in a following phase. During this process the native sandy areas, wiregrass, and broomsedge will be infused into the layout on an ongoing basis. Finally, after much consideration and study, the greens will be re-grassed in the last phase.”
Construction commences in 2025 with future phases continuing during the summer of 2026. Environmental Landscaping, Inc., based in South Carolina, will be handling most aspects of the construction. Nick Price, golf course superintendent, will oversee the project day to day as the work progresses.