2023 Pawleys Plantation Renovation
Comprehensive Course and Pub Restoration
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, one of Jack Nicklaus’ most popular designs, reopened Oct. 2, 2023, after a transformative greens, bunkers and clubhouse restoration project.
Founders Group International (FGI), Pawleys’ parent company, contracted with Nicklaus Design Group and its Design Associate Troy Vincent to lead a project that modernized one of the Myrtle Beach area’s premier courses while maintaining the integrity of Nicklaus’ original work.
The seeds for the renovation of Pawleys were planted during a trip Nicklaus made to the acclaimed course in 2018. The Golden Bear toured the layout, providing detailed notes on how to best update a design that has been among South Carolina’s best since its opening in 1988.
At the heart of Nicklaus’ vision was a layout that was more playable for average golfers without diminishing the challenge for more skilled players, and his team delivered.
Over time, trees had encroached on the course, narrowing fairways corridors beyond the original intent, and the size of the greens complexes had shrunk dramatically. To create more room, Vincent and his team eliminated the sprawling bunkers that lined more than half of the layout’s holes, replacing them with additional fairway space and native areas, and removed trees when necessary to create optimum conditions.
“We followed Jack’s ideas from 2018,” said Vincent, who worked alongside the golf legend for 15 years. “It was our intention to make the course more playable, to give players more options, and we have carried that out. I think everyone will be happy.”
While there is more fairway to find, the challenge on and around the greens is more substantial as the number of pinnable areas significantly increased, placing greater demands on the short game.
Highlights of the project include:
● Every green complex and the surrounding fringe was stripped, tilled and restored to its original specifications, netting nearly 40,000 square feet of additional putting surface.
● The new greens feature TifEagle Bermudagrass, an ultradwarf strain that has performed exceedingly well at other FGI layouts, including the Grande Dunes Resort Course and River Hills Golf Club.
● The collar around every green was resurfaced with Tahoma 31, a hearty variety of bermudagrass that can withstand close mowing and is resistant to mutation.
● The sprawling bunkers on holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 18 were replaced by smaller fairway bunkers, native areas and expanded fairways, enhancing the course’s playability for mid to high handicappers without reducing the challenge for more skilled players.
● In addition to the on-course work, Palmetto Jacks, Pawleys Plantation’s new clubhouse restaurant, offering golfers and the public a memorable dining experience. Nestled within the breathtaking landscape of the golf course, Palmetto Jacks boasts a creative menu, expansive indoor/outdoor seating, and panoramic views of a picturesque tidal marsh.
● Palmetto Jacks is open daily from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., serving breakfast until 11:00 a.m. before giving way to a lunch menu that is served the rest of the day. A wide selection of dinner entrées is available beginning at 4 p.m. Dinner entrees are offered Tuesday through Saturday.
We hope you enjoy your day at the “new” Pawleys Plantation!
