South Street Partners, developers of Palmetto Bluff near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, announced the February opening of Anson Point, a new 18-hole course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Named after Admiral George Anson, 1st Baron Anson — a famed British naval officer and explorer — the course embodies a spirit of exploration and a timeless connection to the land.
Known for their minimalist approach, Coore & Crenshaw favor natural landforms and organic routing over dramatic alterations and artificial flourishes. Their philosophy of shaping the game around the land — rather than reshaping the land to fit the game — aligns seamlessly with the mission of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, a nonprofit founded in 2003 to protect the surrounding wetlands. The site’s defining feature, a long-abandoned quarry, was first spotted by Coore decades ago during a previous ownership group’s exploration. Its rediscovery during modern planning became symbolic of the course’s identity: a journey into the past, guided by land and legacy.
Sited on approximately 500 acres, only 80 are designated for fairways, greens and bunkers. The remainder will be left undisturbed, with the Conservancy managing the surrounding native areas through methods such as prescribed burns. The course weaves through four distinct Lowcountry ecosystems: upland pine, maritime forest, live oak groves, and expansive salt marshes framed by sabal palms. This variety gives each hole a unique rhythm, creating a course that feels alive and constantly in motion — built not for spectators or showmanship, but for those who see golf as a purposeful walk through nature.
The course’s logo, the Eastern Wild Turkey, serves as a visual emblem of this ecological philosophy. Considered an "umbrella species" at Palmetto Bluff, the health of the turkey population is a key indicator of the broader ecosystem’s vitality. As the Conservancy often notes, “If the turkey thrives, everything thrives.”
The private, par-71 layout features five par-3s and can be stretched to nearly 7,000 yards. Anson Point was designed to offer a strikingly different experience from the community’s existing Jack Nicklaus Signature course, May River. While May River offers bold visuals and elevated shotmaking, Anson Point leans into subtlety, texture, and restraint. Together with Crossroads, the reversible nine-hole course from King-Collins, the community now offers three distinct perspectives on Lowcountry golf.
“As we studied the site that would become Anson Point, we came to believe it had the potential to yield a golf course of strong individual character — one that would provide highly interesting golf while showcasing the natural beauty of the Carolina Lowcountry,” Bill Coore said. “Now upon completion, we think those goals have, or will be, attained. Although still in its early evolutionary stages, Anson Point is a golf course of which we are very proud."
Added Crenshaw, “We were given a special piece of land to work with at Palmetto Bluff and feel that the Anson Point course nicely complements one of the most beautiful and historic communities in the South. We hope with this new course that we have created a memorable experience that golfers will find both enjoyable and challenging.”
Located on Palmetto Bluff’s East End, anchoring the future village of Anson, the course embraces a "golf-first" design. Unlike most Lowcountry courses, which are laid out to accommodate residential real estate, South Street Partners requested that Coore & Crenshaw design without a land-planning model dictating the routing. The absence of homes on the course preserves vital wildlife corridors and ensures a pure golfing experience.
EGYPT VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB | Ada, Michigan
Michigan’s Egypt Valley Country Club, located in the Grand Rapids suburb of Ada, revealed plans in early May for a two-phase renovation of its courses. The $9.5 million capital investment is primarily dedicated to irrigation system enhancements (which began this spring) and bunker restorations (slated to begin this summer). The bulk of the work is expected to conclude by the end of 2026.
Architect Chris Wilczynski was retained to direct the renovation, which includes subtle design tweaks to both the Ridge and Valley courses. Both were originally designed in 1991 by Wilczynski’s mentor, Arthur Hills. Wilczynski intends to expand playing corridors, widen approaches, improve green visibility, and completely reimagine the bunkering.
Egypt Valley’s roots date back to 1921, though the club adopted its current name and location in the late 1980s. It has served as a regular venue for notable events, including the Champions Tour’s Farmers Charity Classic from 1994 to 2004.
The club also hosted the 2010 U.S. Junior Amateur. The field of competitors who made the match-play portion that year included future stars Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. Notably, the bracket featured a first-round matchup between Bryson DeChambeau and Will Zalatoris, which DeChambeau won 4 and 2.
BOUKCOTT'S FARM HERITAGE GOLF CLUB | Wellington, New Zealand
Renovations are currently underway at New Zealand’s Boulcott’s Farm Heritage Golf Club, led by architect Kristine Kerr of Kura Golf Course Design. Located near Wellington, the club was formed in 2010 following the merger of the nine-hole Boulcott Golf Club and the 18-hole Hutt Golf Club. The merger facilitated the development of a retirement community and enhanced flood protection via a traversing embankment.
Following the merger, six holes from the original Hutt circuit remained untouched (the current fifth, seventh and 10th through 13th), causing them to feel aesthetically disconnected from the rest of the course. In 2024, Kerr created a master plan to bring these holes in line with the others in terms of strategy and playability.
The club sold land in 2024 near the ninth and 10th holes, requiring Kerr to redesign both. While the 9th hole's tee and green remain in their original positions, the fairway has been completely realigned.
— The Ninth Hole: Work involved tree removal and earthworks to raise the fairway to meet the flood-mitigation bank. "Foreboding bunkers on the left reflect the horizon line of the mountain range in the distance and aim to guide play right," Kerr noted.
— The 10th Hole: This hole is entirely new, as the previous par-5 lost half its acreage to development. It is now a 275-meter (300-yard) par-4 where wind plays a significant role. The elevated green falls away on both sides and is protected by bunkers on the front left and right.
Construction on the ninth and 10th holes began in February, with a scheduled reopening in October. Kerr is slated to begin additional redevelopment on four more holes in the coming months, addressing safety issues near a new road turnaround and seeking opportunities to add length to the course.
