Whistler Golf Club, in Whistler, British Columbia, will undergo a major renovation later this year. The transformative, $10 million project is part of a comprehensive master plan redevelopment.
Originally designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in 1983, the 6,722-yard, par-71 Whistler is now 42 years old. The extensive renovation, set to begin Sept. 2, 2025, aims to elevate the golf experience and enhance the course’s playability.
"This master plan has been years in the making, and we’re excited to see it finally come to fruition," said Alan Kristmanson, general manager of Whistler. "We began this journey over three years ago with a vision to elevate our course to new heights. We look forward to getting underway this fall."
Under the direction of Thad Layton, formerly the longtime senior design associate at Arnold Palmer Design Company, the project will feature significant enhancements, including:
> A complete rebuild of tee complexes to suit golfers of all skill levels.
> Repositioning, rebuilding or eliminating bunkers in select cases to improve playability.
> Reconstruction of multiple fairways and a reimagining of holes four, eight and 18.
> The greens on holes three and 12 will be shifted to improve sightlines and ensure optimal player safety.
> Updates to cart paths, including replacement, realignment and removal in select areas for enhanced flow.
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The large-scale renovation will result in the temporary closure of Whistler Golf Club from September 2025 through early summer 2027, when the course will reopen to showcase its contemporary new design.
MAKING INROADS AT KAWONU
Restoration specialist Andrew Green has begun making inroads with his original designs.
Next up for Green is Kawonu Golf Club in Simpsonville, South Carolina, which is slated to break ground within the first few months of 2025. Located approximately 30 minutes southeast of Greenville, Kawonu will be the first private, golf-only club to debut in the region in more than three decades.
The development is spearheaded by industry veterans Scott Ferrell and Barton Tuck. Ferrell has vast experience with Gary Player Design, the PGA Tour and TPC properties, while Tuck has been involved in the building, management and ownership of more than 60 golf courses in the southeastern U.S., among them Forest Creek in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Kawonu will unfold atop a 290-acre parcel next to the Reedy River that once was home to members of the Cherokee Nation. The name "Kawonu" is derived from the Cherokee word for the ducks that populate the ponds and streams on site. The water features will be utilized in the course routing, which also navigates rolling terrain and wooded, boulder-strewn bluffs.
"It’s a stunning piece of ground," Green told the Greenville Journal during a September 2024 visit. "At the forefront of our mind is to enhance and amplify it, not to destroy. It is such a magical place. There is so much that’s already inherently here that we can draw from. The principles that have guided the best golf in the United States are in place here. The idea is that we utilize the ground really well. We find unique ways to play over, around, across it. Those are critical."
Ferrell, who set up nearly 100 course design contracts worldwide on behalf of Gary Player Design, knows a great site when he sees it.
"Somebody said earlier it’s like nature’s already moved the dirt for us, and that’s a nice way to put it," he said. "It’s a tremendous site with tons of variety. It’s just really tailor-made for a championship golf course. We’re creating an enclave that will add a unique concept to the golf landscape of the Upstate. Local members will not have to travel to 'get away' and national members will not only enjoy the relaxed club environment but take in the wonderful town of Greenville."
THE SOCIAL ASPECT
We have been methodically working our way through the Fall green expansions at St. Davids Golf Club in Philadelphia in prep for the 2025 restoration and regrassing. As you can see from the photos, the existing greens were circular and oval. We’re striving to get back the old… pic.twitter.com/sNZ0KOOoBE
— Tyler Rae (@TylerRaeDesign) December 19, 2024
ERNIE ELS CREATES A FIRST IN EUROPE
Four-time major winner and former world No. 1 Ernie Els is partnering with owners Arrow Global to bring the first Els Club to Europe and the first private members’ golf club to the Algarve, Portugal, when the Els Club Vilamoura, an Ernie Els Design course, opens in summer 2025.
"This one is really special," said Els, who has opened four of his exclusive Els Clubs around the world to date, adding he was delighted to finally bring the luxury concept to Europe. "We have been keeping this one under wraps, as we know the standing this property has in the eyes of the golfing public and wanted to hit the mark with the design. I have loved the challenge of creating something exceptional for this part of the world — and I can’t wait for people to see it."
The South African legend was handpicked by Arrow Global to redesign the Victoria Course, the former home of the Portugal Masters, acquired as part of a major investment in Vilamoura in 2023. Arrow shuttered the course, which will reopen with Els’ comprehensive redesign. Els’ team broke ground early in 2024, alongside Details, the management company owned by Arrow Global that manages sports and hospitality assets in Portugal, including golf courses and hotels in Vilamoura.
"Any chance you get to work with an ownership group with a clear vision and mission, it allows us to focus our creative efforts in how we design a product and experience that will stand the test of time," Els said. "The Algarve, and in particular Vilamoura, are outstanding destinations and for me to see The Els Club proposition take its first steps in this market is a watershed moment for our firm. We couldn’t be prouder."
