Symbolic renovation

Bobby Weed Golf Design has started a renovation at Love Cove Club, in Hilton Head Island, S.C. The course, designed by Pete Dye, opened in 1981. The project is especially significant to Bobby Weed Golf Design.

“Long Cove was my first assignment with Pete and the genesis of Bobby Weed Golf Design,” Weed says. “After having met him at Amelia Island Plantation in the mid ’70s, Long Cove was the beginning of my career in design and construction and of my nearly 40 years relationship with Pete. To be back at Long Cove is very special for Bobby Weed Golf Design and to me personally.”

The renovation work, which will be executed by MacCurrach Golf, is scheduled for completion in late August, with the course to reopen in early October. The scope of work includes refurbishing all bunkers and native areas with new drain lines, sand and coquina shell material; regrassing greens and fairways; replacing corroded metal lake connectors and drain lines; reconstructing original bulkheads; repairing overlay of cart paths; and select tree removal.

Weed and Dye assembled a crew of college graduates, interns and low-handicap golfers for the memorable original construction. Many Long Cove alumni later embarked on their own careers in the golf design business, including Weed, Tom Doak, PB Dye, Scott Pool and Ron Farris.

“For me,” Weed says, “returning to Long Cove conjures up fond memories of insane hours of construction, working alongside Pete Dye every day and fashioning a course out of the Lowcountry with a passionate team of golf junkies. And doing all of this while covered in sunscreen, no-see-ums and chiggers, and loving every minute!”

An exacta in Dublin

A trip to Dublin last month produced a double dose of industry fun and outreach.

No, we didn’t travel to Ireland. But Dublin, an expanding city in suburban Columbus, Ohio, served as the site for a GCBAA Regional Meeting and Keepers of the Green golf outing.

The meeting featured an educational element, including sessions about backfilling and compaction and Dr. Michael Hurdzan’s presentation on Erin Hills, an Ireland-inspired Wisconsin course that hosted the 2017 U.S. Open. Another Ireland-inspired course designed by Hurdzan and former partner Dana Fry, The Golf Club of Dublin, then hosted the KOTG charity event.

Founded in St. Andrews, Scotland, KOTG raises funds to buy wheelchairs for those in need. The 18th annual tournament hosted by Hurdzan and fellow architect David Whelchel attracted 29 industry sponsors, including GCI.

Tartan Talks No. 24

We celebrated a Tartan Talks milestone by reuniting with the series’ first guest.

Andy Staples returned to our airwaves to discuss a variety of subjects, including how an architect views Poa annua, why he takes risks in designs, environmental golf and choosing a profession where rejection is the norm.

Tartan Talks launched in 2016 following a tour of the Staples-led renovation at Meadowbrook Country Club in suburban Detroit. Staples has returned to Meadowbrook, site of the 1955 PGA Championship, multiple times since it reopened last year. “One of the joys of our job is to go back to a course on an annual basis,” he says.

And one of the joys of podcasting is furthering the conversation with entertaining guests. Enter https://goo.gl/oPxtYU into your web browser to hear the episode.