Golf Travel Notes from Len Ziehm

  • by Fred
  • 5 Years ago
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REYNOLDS LAKE OCONEE 

Few places have been making as many positive changes as the 99-hole Reynolds Lake Oconee resort, which sits midway between Atlanta and Augusta.

An 18-month renovation of the resort’s premier course, the Jack Nicklaus-designed Great Waters, has been completed and a multi-million-dollar transformation of The Ritz-Carlton hotel is now in the works, setting the stage for an exciting 2020 season.

 

AUDUBON GOLF TRAIL

 

Louisiana’s already impressive Audubon Golf Trail continues to grow with three new courses added.

LaTour, in Mathews, a David Toms design, Oak Knoll, in Hammond, and Koasati Pines at Coushatta Casino Resort, bring the total courses on the trail to 18.

TPC Louisiana, best known of the other courses on the trail, now has new grass surfaces thanks to a $2 million enhancement project. It will continue to host the PGA TOUR’s Zurich Classic.

PINEHURST   

The Manor Inn has re-opened after an extensive renovation. It’s the youngest of the North Carolina village’s three historic hotels. The Manor Inn opened in 1923, which pales in comparison to the Holly Inn (1895) and Carolina Hotel (1901). All of Manor Inn’s interior was renovated, with only 15 percent of the interior framing remaining.

The resort has also announced that it will host both the Boys and Girls High School Golf National Invitational for the second straight year in 2020. The girl’s version will feature 216 players and be contested from June 24-26. The boys, with 324 players, will run from June 29-July 1.

MYRTLE BEACH

 

There’s never a slowdown at the golfing mecca of Myrtle Beach. The sixth annual Preseason Classic, a two-person 54-hole team event, will be played over six courses from Jan. 26-29.

Myrtle Beach will also have a notable new look, as 11 of its premier courses will go wall-to-wall green in 2020. Founder’s Group International over seeded its courses, ensuring players will enjoy lush green grass throughout the winter and spring. Those courses include TPC Myrtle Beach, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, Pawley’s Plantation, Long Bay Club, World Tour, the Palmetto and Pine Hills courses at Myrtlewood, Wing Win Avocet, Tradition Club, River Club, and Willbrook Plantation.

What Myrtle Beach Golf Club is the Best?

MyrtleBeachGolfTrips,com has released the results of an anonymous survey to answer to answer to the frequently-asked question, Which is the area’s BEST course?

The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design was the clear No. 1. There’s sure to be more debate, though. Rounding out the top 10, in order, were Tidewater, Grande Dunes, Prestwick, TPC Myrtle Beach, True Blue, the Fazio Course and Dye Course at Barefoot Resort and King’s North.

 

PGA OF AMERICA News

While the PGA of America is anticipating its eventual move to Texas, it’s winter home in Port St. Lucie has been very busy. Several club professional events have been ongoing during the winter months. The PGA Golf Club hosted the PGA Assistants’ Championship in November and landed two other big championships for the future.

PGA Golf Club will host the PGA Boys and Girls Junior Championship, July 13-31,  2020 and the PGA Professional Championship in 2021.

Ground-breaking was held on October 18th at the PGA of America’s eventual new headquarters in Frisco, Texas. The construction timetable calls for golf course construction to be finished in the fall of 2021, play to start in the spring of 2022 and the grand opening of the overall development in June, 2022.

 

Bandon Dunes to Open Sheep Ranch

The Sheep Ranch, newest course at Oregon’s Bandon Dunes, is scheduled to open on June 1. The design team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw created a par-71, 6,785-yard layout, that will give golfers one more option on their must-play list.

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