Design Notes

Dye Designs debuts the renovation of Ocean Point at Fripp Island

Agustin Piza breaks ground on Mexico’s Zitara; MacCurrach ugrades Florida’s King & Bear at World Golf Village

Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort has reopened its Ocean Point course following a renovation by Dye Designs Group (DDG). Designed originally in 1964 by George Cobb, the aptly named South Carolina island course sits on a barrier island in the Atlantic, 90 minutes from Hilton Head Island and 19 miles from Beaufort.

Cynthia Dye McGarey, Pete Dye’s niece, led the renovation, in tandem with her son, Matt McGarey. The duo spearheaded an effort that involved reshaping more than 50 bunkers and adding 11 greenside bunkers. Also new were a smattering a fairway bunkers, five-and-a-half acres of waste area and native dunes, constructed to boost the visual appeal. They also added new boxes and leveled others for maximum playability.

Ocean Point Renovation Image.jpg
Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort, Ocean Point course, Fripp Island, South Carolina.

“Ocean Point epitomizes the best of Lowcountry golf, something my family knows well,” said DDG senior design associate Matt McGarey. “We enjoyed partnering with the Fripp Island Resort to bring about a more modern playing experience that capitalizes on the unique Lowcountry elements — all with an eye toward the intent of Mr. Cobb’s original design.”

The final phase of the renovation will introduce more than 13,000 native plants to various areas on and adjacent to the playing areas, a nod to DDG’s focus on sustainable course design.

“We are delighted to work with the world-renowned Dye Designs Group team to bring our shared vision for Ocean Point to life,” said John Scappatura, COO of Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort. “The end result has exceeded our expectations and we are confident that our members and guests will enjoy this refreshed layout that offers a fun and rewarding experience through our beautiful Lowcountry surroundings.”

THE SOCIAL ASPECT

    

PIZA GOLF AT CENTER OF MEXICAN DEVELOPMENT
Piza Golf, led by architect Agustin Piza, has broken ground on its Zitara Ciudad Residential and Golf Club project in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Located in the central part of the country, some 300 miles northwest of Mexico City, Zitara is a master-planned community from Grupo Plusvalterra that will incorporate golf, residential and retail. As the first expansive project in Aguascalientes, Zitara covers 480 acres and includes an integrated development encompassing residential, commercial, sports, and cultural zones. It also aims to become a regional benchmark with its top-tier amenities.

The project is set to unfold in five stages across a decade, creating 1,700 direct and 13,500 indirect jobs. Zitara will feature a business center, medical cluster, commercial zones, an event garden, a sports and cultural club, a championship golf course and residential condominiums.

Alfonso Davalos, the director of the Zitara Cuiudad Residencial and Golf Club project, along with Bernardo Pozas, the designer of the Club Zitara, and Piza, the master planner and designer of the Zitara Golf Course, celebrated the laying of the first stone at a groundbreaking ceremony.

“I am thrilled to be part of such a prestigious and ambitious project like Zitara Golf,” Piza said. “I want to thank Plusvalterra for placing their trust in our firm and letting us create what should be the best 18-hole experience in inland Mexico.”

The upscale Zitara master-planned community will feature the championship course with six illuminated holes and lights on the driving range for nighttime enjoyment. This area will not only be lit but will also offer music, fire pits, and food and beverage services to create the ultimate golf experience.

KING & BEAR BOUNCE BACK
The World Golf Village may no longer be home to the World Golf Hall of Fame, but its King & Bear course has bounced back to an exceptional standard thanks to a recent agronomic renovation by MacCurrach Golf.

The first and only design collaboration between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, King & Bear opened in 2000. The front nine has an open feel, while the back nine winds through loblolly pines and 200-year-old oaks. During a 2001 Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf match at the course, Palmer shot his age, 71, and beat Nicklaus by four shots.

The five-month, $2.5 million restoration revolved around replacing the existing putting surfaces with TifEagle Bermudagrass. In addition, upgrades to the irrigation system and drainage have resulted in healthier turf, and improved playing conditions. In another aspect of the restoration, every bunker received new liners and sand. Eight of the layout’s bunkers were treated to top-to-bottom refurbishment, so yield better drainage and ideal consistency.

“Our goal with this restoration was to elevate the playing experience while maintaining the integrity of the course’s original design,” said Lon Grundy, COO of World Golf Village’s King & Bear and Slammer & Squire courses to Golf Course Industry magazine. “We’re excited to welcome golfers back to enjoy these improvements and experience a course that is both visually stunning and exceptionally playable.”


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