Chip Shots
Virginia might be for lovers, but the Commonwealth is shaping up nicely for golfers as well in 2019. Poplar Grove Golf Club, legendary Sam Snead’s final design collaboration before his passing in 2002, is being completely overhauled and updated by its new D.C.-area based owners. Virginia’s own Ed Carton, who worked with Snead on the original layout, is overseeing the restoration.
Have-clubs-will-travel types would be wise to put Poplar Grove on their collective hit list for next season. It is located just 20 minutes from hip and historic Lynchburg, 45 minutes from storied Charlottesville and around three hours from the D.C. area. Despite record precipitation throughout the East Coast, the new-look Poplar Grove is pacing nicely for completion just ahead of the upcoming golf season.
“Poplar Grove was one of the best courses in Virginia, if not the country, when it opened in 2005,” says Frank Murphy, CEO of Poplar Grove. “With Carton’s leadership, he will return the course to what he and Snead envisioned years ago.”
The $3 million renovation includes rebuilding bunkers, teeing grounds and green complexes, updating drainage, clearing trees, remodeling practice areas, and renovating cart paths with a new fleet of golf carts. The course will remain open for play during the project, with completion of Phase I projected for early spring 2019.
Phase I of the project is making swift progress as bunkers have been cleared and prepared for drainage replacements. Seven new tee boxes will add length to the course, returning it to a formidable test, designed to stand up to golf’s elite players while providing playability for the everyday amateur.
Select tree removal will provide golfers with more strategic options and better views. Snead, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, was inspired by courses he played during his career – a career that accumulated a record 82 PGA Tour wins, including seven majors. As a result, Poplar Grove will continue to feature elevated tee shots on 15 of its 18 holes.
The historic Manor House, the property’s storied centerpiece built in the 1700s, will also be restored and expanded to provide for larger groups and events. A 100-seat indooroutdoor dining space, luxury member, several member-exclusive areas and overnight accommodations are among the planned additions for Phase II of the project.
The two also teamed up to design nearby Spring Creek in Charlottesville, one of Golf Digest’s “100 Greatest Public Courses in America.” Poplar Grove, a Golf Digest “Best New Upscale Public Course” in 2005, is poised to return to its heyday under the close watch of Carton, the man who initially brought Snead’s blueprint to life.
Located in Amherst, Virginia, Poplar Grove is 20 and 45 minutes from Lynchburg and Charlottesville, respectively. The surrounding Blue Ridge foothills are alive with breweries, distilleries and wineries, constituting the perfect getaway for couples and buddy groups.
For more information, visit http://www. poplargrovegolf.com.
Led by Tidewater Golf Club, Spring Elite Package is One of Myrtle Beach’s Best Offers
CHERRY GROVE, SC – As golfers begin making preparations for their next trip to Myrtle Beach, group leaders are increasingly turning to the Spring Elite package, a deal anchored by Tidewater Golf Club, one of the area’s premier layouts.
The rising popularity of the Spring Elite package is based on the strength of its golf course offerings. In addition to Tidewater, the Spring Elite features Arrowhead Country Club, Prestwick Country Club, Arcadian Shores and the Jones Course at Sea Trail.
Groups have the opportunity to experience the Spring Elite as a three to five-night trip, based upon their needs, and can stay in accommodations ranging from oceanfront to golf course condos
With eight holes playing along either Cherry Grove Inlet or the Intracoastal Waterway, Tidewater is the Grand Strand’s most scenic layout. The stunning visuals are highlighted by the third and 12th holes, a pair of stunning par 3s that play along the inlet, and No. 13, a par 5 that offers a distant view of the Atlantic Ocean.
The layout has been ranked among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, and Tidewater is a bucket list course in Myrtle Beach and all of South Carolina.
While a round at Tidewater may highlight the trip, it’s complemented by a quartet of quality layouts. Prestwick Country Club is among the area’s most underrated courses. The P.B. Dye track provides a stern challenge that leaves players talking long after they return home.
Arrowhead Country Club, a 27-hole facility, is home to multiple holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway, but the Raymond Floyd course is most known for its superior conditioning. Arrowhead overseeds wall-to-wall during the winter months, ensuring lush, green grass throughout the year.
Arcadian Shores is the area’s fastest rising course. Rees Jones’ first design, Arcadian underwent a 2017 renovation that included the installation of new greens, cart paths and the construction of a new clubhouse, among other enhancements.
The Jones Course is the premier layout at Sea Trail Golf Resort, a 54-hole facility just across the state line in Brunswick County, N.C.
For more information on the Spring Elite package, go to www.TidewaterGolf.com.
Led by Tidewater Golf Club, Spring Elite Package is One of Myrtle Beach’s Best Offers
Maui, Hawaii (January 2, 2019) – Kapalua Golf’s Plantation Course, home of the PGA TOUR’s Sentry Tournament of Champions and one of the top 100 golf courses in the world, will close on February 11, 2019 to undergo a multi-million dollar enhancement project aimed at refining and revitalizing the 27-year-old golf course. The project will be completed in November 2019, in time for the award-winning course to host the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions in early January.
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the original Plantation Course design team, will assist with the extensive course enhancement project. Troon’s Design/Development/Agronomy team, as well as long-time Maui resident and Golf Channel personality Mark Rolfing, will also provide input on the project.
“All of the Plantation Course refinements will be focused on improving the playability of the golf course for our guests, while also providing new challenges for PGA TOUR professionals,” said Alex Nakajima, general manager, Kapalua Golf & Tennis. “For all of the changes, it’s important to note that the overall Plantation Course layout and routing will remain the same.”
“This will be a very thoughtful restoration and refining process, but it’s not a redesign. We are very happy with the way the course looks and the way it has gone through the past nearly three decades,” said Bill Coore. “It’s like when you have a special piece of art, or something really special to you, and you get a chance to dust if off and make it new again.”
For more information on Kapalua Golf, visit www.GolfAtKapalua.com or call 1-877-KAPALUA.