Wexford Plantation

[Mac Plumart]

A group of GCA'ers got together last weekend for some golf in The Lowcountry.  For me, the highlight of the golf side of that equation was Wexford Plantation which was recently rennovated by Brandon Johnson of Arnold Palmer Design Company.  Now, I didn't have the chance to play Wexford prior to these rennovations so I can't compare and contrast.  But I can say that I VERY much enjoyed my round there this past weekend.  Enough so to start a thread on the course.

I guess in the end, I'd like to know just how good this course is.  I personally think it deserves consideration for Top 100 Modern US and I am wondering if after some grow-in time and some tweaks, if it deserves to be regarded higher than that.  Now, please recognize I am seeking input from others and asking for their opinons, assuming they've played the course.  If they haven't, I think the course is worthy of travel to see.  And I'd love to, over time, get some good back and forth going on this one.  I think it is worthy of discussion...at the very least.


General thoughts and observations...


The first thing that really struck me was that the course was stunningly beautiful.  And I suppose the apex of that beauty were the bunkers.  But the kicker is that the bunkers weren't just beautiful, they were well placed, added strategic value, excitement and interest.







The next thing that smacked me in the face were the fast and firm conditions of the course.  That ball popped around on the ground just like it did at Yeamans Hall.  Not quite as much as in Scotland, but certainly enough to make me think of Scotland.  Now that was cool.

Question on this...

See this photo, and please overlook the fact that Eric is using a putter from 120 yards   , but see the grass and the condition of it?  Over time the grass should grow into those bare spots, right?  I am wondering if this will slow down the fast and firm conditions of the fairways.  I hope not and maybe adequate maintenance can get the grass to grow in uniformly but still be fast and firm.




Okay...the next thing that got me was the bold and sweeping contours of the greens.  Check out these par 3's.  Note the left slope on the first photo and the right slope on the second (a wonderful redan again similiar to Yeamans).  I didn't include the photo of the Biarritz, but it has some incredible sweeping contours as well.  (Case of beer green, in fact.  Get a case of beer and enjoy it while hitting putt after putt on that great green).






Two knocks on the course are:

#1--the hole that is similar to Augusta National 13.  The ridge/slope on the green is too severe and needs to be fixed and/or the grass between the pond and the green needs to be grown up like rough.  I really don't think this is a controversial statement, but maybe I am wrong.  Thoughts from those who have played that hole?  But in the end, Sebonack has a hole with a ridge just like this...the only issue is the green in quesiton at Sebonack doesn't have a pond fronting that green.

#2--the transition from 9 to 10 is way too long...similar to Kiawah Ocean.  Nothing the architect could do on this one at Wexford, I think, but it is what it is.  Park a cart by 9 green (a great Road Hole-esqu green by the way), ride it to 10, and walk the rest of the course.


Now for my favorite hole on the course...14!!!  WOW!!!!

You've seen this tee shot in a photo above, but it is worth showing again.



Here is the approach if you split those bunkers on the tee shot.



And, hey, who knew you could putt from the rough from about 100 yards out!!!  




In all seriousness, this course is good.  I am just a bit confused on just how good it is.  Any input would be appreciated.

EDIT...

I forgot to add some golf course erotica to this thread.  Look at this bunker, which is the one on the redan hole I talked about above.



OMG!!!

[Eric Smith]

Mac,

Having worked at Wexford some 16 years ago, playing it dozens of times in those days, I can say with absolute certainty that this golf course is nowhere near what it used to be other than the fact that it is routed between the same houses and yachts. Wexford in my opinion is certainly now a must play, assuming access arrangements, along with the handful of other Hilton Head area heavyweights. It really is that good. GCA fans will love it, judging from the on and off course commentary of our band of 19.

The 16th's Biarritz green was tremendous fun. I recall playing into it from 135ish, fully utilizing its trough feature to make my half assed runner end up much more respectable than it would have been otherwise without this feature.





More later.

[Terry Lavin]

Hilton Head Island is a phenomenal destination and Wexford may have vaulted into the top five must plays. Great redo.

[jeffwarne]

Mac,

Having worked at Wexford some 16 years ago, playing it dozens of times in those days, I can say with absolute certainty that this golf course is nowhere near what it used to be other than the fact that it is routed between the same houses and yachts. Wexford in my opinion is certainly now a must play, assuming access arrangements, along with the handful of other Hilton Head area heavyweights. It really is that good. GCA fans will love it, judging from the on and off course commentary of our band of 19.

The 16th's Biarritz green was tremendous fun. I recall playing into it from 135ish, fully utilizing its trough feature to make my half assed runner end up much more respectable than it would have been otherwise without this feature.





More later.

Having worked next door at Long Cove for three years and 9 months before that at Palmetto Dunes across the street, and having made numerous visits to Hilton head over the years, it's amazing how off the radar screen Wexford was for me, despite playing it 2-3 times while I was there.
Did it feel tight?
because it always felt that way to me(my only memories of the course were huge homes and boats), but perhaps I was really crooked then

[Joel Zuckerman]

Posted by: Terry Lavin 
Hilton Head Island is a phenomenal destination and Wexford may have vaulted into the top five must plays. Great redo. 

Phenomenal for beach/bike vacationers yes..for golfers?  IMO hardly!

Most everything golf-wise on the island itself is pretty predestrian, other than the usual suspects HT, Long Cove, now Wexford.

"The good stuff" is off HHI...Haig Point, Colleton Dye & Nicklaus, May River, Chechessee, Old Tabby, etc.

I think the typical retail golfer who comes to HH doesn't see anything too special, unless they dig deep for a round at HT.  If you have access to private clubs, that's a whole different situation.

[Mac Plumart]

Jeff...

I didn't feel tight to me, but I can't compare to what it was like.

Isn't Brandon a GCA'er?  If so, perhaps he could comment on if he took out trees to widen the fairways.

[Terry Lavin]

Joel: 

Thanks for the bold type. It's like getting greened by Mucci!  I'm not so territorial as to exclude Beaufort from HHI. Heck, I even include Haig Point. While I'm at it, I include Long Cove which is private but obtainable. Why so harsh?  Hilton Head has a lot going for it. Even if you have to go off island from time to time!

[Mac Plumart]

Terry...

I am with you in regards to how I look at that area.  Colleton River, May River, etc, etc, etc are part of the Hilton Head area in my book.

[Bart Bradley]

I like Hilton Head.  I enjoy playing golf and spending time in the area.  But it does lack the truly great golf of other destinations.   I couldn't give any course in the HH area better than a Doak 7.  You?

[jeffwarne]

Joel: 

Thanks for the bold type. It's like getting greened by Mucci!  I'm not so territorial as to exclude Beaufort from HHI. Heck, I even include Haig Point. While I'm at it, I include Long Cove which is private but obtainable. Why so harsh?  Hilton Head has a lot going for it. Even if you have to go off island from time to time!

+1

[Mac Plumart]

I like Hilton Head.  I enjoy playing golf and spending time in the area.  But it does lack the truly great golf of other destinations.   I couldn't give any course in the HH area better than a Doak 7.  You?

Bart, you might be correct.  I haven't played enough of the courses there to be an expert.  But I hope to go back every year for golf in the area, so it is good enough for my taste...and close enough which probably plays a role in it for me.

[Bart Bradley]

I like Hilton Head.  I enjoy playing golf and spending time in the area.  But it does lack the truly great golf of other destinations.   I couldn't give any course in the HH area better than a Doak 7.  You?

Bart, you might be correct.  I haven't played enough of the courses there to be an expert.  But I hope to go back every year for golf in the area, so it is good enough for my taste...and close enough which probably plays a role in it for me.

Mac:

Have you played a course in the HH area that meets the quality of the Ocean Course at Kiawah or any of the courses at Bandon or even the courses at Kohler.

Yes, it is easy access for those of us in the SE and the low country has wonderful appeal...but the golf could even be better, IMO?

[Sam Morrow]

Everything I've seen this week on Wexford makes me think that a group or two need to go over there around Dixie Cup.

[JNC Lyon]

Is Wexford public or private?  I had a tough time telling from the website.

The course looks very cool--how about centerline bunkers, a redan, and a biarritz on a modern low country course?! These features/holes would be so easy to build on a flat site, yet this is one of the first times I've heard of such a thing.  Hopefully I get to see the course in the future.

[Tom_Doak]

Mac:

Have you played a course in the HH area that meets the quality of the Ocean Course at Kiawah or any of the courses at Bandon or even the courses at Kohler.

Bart:

Every single course on Hilton Head or in the outlying area is a real estate development course.  The only one of them that gets away from the real estate at all [from looking at pictures, I haven't played it] is the Dye course at Colleton River, where several holes are out in the river.

Comparing that situation to a bunch of courses with no real estate [and all but one of them on more undulating ground than anything in the "Lowcountry"] is kind of silly.  Of course, they're not as interesting.  But no one is going to build Whistling Straits in the Lowcountry.  And why would you want them to?


Mac:

Is every one of the holes on the course modeled after a famous hole somewhere else, or are those the only holes which grab your attention? 

[Bart Bradley]

Tom:

There are at least several courses that have little or not intrusion by real estate:  for example:  Chechessee, Secession, and May River (so far).  I was addressing my comments to support Mr. Zuckerman's contention that HH may not be the greatest golf destination.  Sorry that you found it silly, but I do think the golf could be even better.

Best,

Bart

[Terry Lavin]

In terms of the greatness of the collection of courses, HHI ain't no Bandon or Pinehurst but there are a lot of other diversions there that help fill up a great vacation. Tennis, great dining, fishing, boating, biking, hiking etc. It has the total package, IMHO. As for grading the courses, Long Cove and Harbourtown are terrific, a Doak 7 wouldn't be a stretch for either one.

[Anthony Gray]

  Those greens look slick. How fast did they p[lay?

 

[Joel Zuckerman]

Posted by: Terry Lavin  
Joel:  
Thanks for the bold type. It's like getting greened by Mucci!  I'm not so territorial as to exclude Beaufort from HHI. Heck, I even include Haig Point. While I'm at it, I include Long Cove which is private but obtainable. Why so harsh?  Hilton Head has a lot going for it. Even if you have to go off island from time to time!

Terry--the "insert quote" feature doesn't work for me for some reason..so I always bold the previous comment I am referring to.  LC might be obtainable for you and I (well..you anyway) but for the Schenectady foursome coming down for a golf jaunt with no connections, they are faced with a steady diet of Golden Bears, CC of HH, Shipyards, etc...blah!

Posted by: Sam Morrow  
Everything I've seen this week on Wexford makes me think that a group or two need to go over there around Dixie Cup.

Stay tuned for a pre-Dixie Cup surprise that is in the works....

[Bruce Wellmon]

Mac, You asked if Wexford was worthy of top 100 modern. Other courses ranked by GolfWeek include #42 Harbour Town, #71 Long Cove, #98 Secession, #112 Chechesee Creek, #135 May River, And #140 Spring Island/Old Tabby. Are Haig and Colleton not ranked?
         Is Wexford in this group? IMO, yes.
         The corridors are the same. The bunkering (fairway and greenside) and greens are world's apart. We saw huge backstops, tabletops, longitudinal ridges, redans, biarritz, punchbowl elements, huge collection areas, plenty of room to be creative. I wish I had taken more pictures.
           Brandon, I can't wait to see more of your work. 

[Mac Plumart]

Mac:

Is every one of the holes on the course modeled after a famous hole somewhere else, or are those the only holes which grab your attention? 

Hmmm...

Tom, I don't think every hole is modeled after a famous hole elsewhere...but I could be wrong.  And the redan's, biarritz's, Road holes were not the only holes I liked.  Not at all.   I liked the fast and firm conditions.  I liked the bunkering, in terms of beauty and placement, I liked the greens (sometimes bold and sweeping, sometimes smallish and slanting), I liked every hole (but the one green needs to be fixed).

[Mac Plumart]

I like Hilton Head.  I enjoy playing golf and spending time in the area.  But it does lack the truly great golf of other destinations.   I couldn't give any course in the HH area better than a Doak 7.  You?

Bart, you might be correct.  I haven't played enough of the courses there to be an expert.  But I hope to go back every year for golf in the area, so it is good enough for my taste...and close enough which probably plays a role in it for me.

Mac:

Have you played a course in the HH area that meets the quality of the Ocean Course at Kiawah or any of the courses at Bandon or even the courses at Kohler.

Yes, it is easy access for those of us in the SE and the low country has wonderful appeal...but the golf could even be better, IMO?

Bart...like I said above; You are probably correct.  But I can't say for sure, as I haven't played all the courses in the area.  Biggest omissions for me are May River (which looks fantastic to me), Long Cove, and the Colleton River courses.  And I agree Kiawah Ocean is great.  In fact, I think I like it more than you do.  And Bandon's courses are all world class.  But I do think Harbour Town is a must see, and I can see where some wouldn't like it...but I love it.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I am the first one to find real estate lined courses to be a big negative. However there are a large number of good solid and a few really good courses in this area. I did not find anyones so called best course or even top few of their list. I did completely enjoy the golf and atmosphere of the low country golf experience. I do hope to have a few more trips to the area. By the by the beaches or traffic are certainly not the high points of traveling there. The golf, local culture(not in high season) and architecture of places like Beaufort and Charleston are. 

[Mac Plumart]

I am the first one to find real estate lined courses to be a big negative. However there are a large number of good solid and a few really good courses in this area. I did not find anyones so called best course or even top few of their list. I did completely enjoy the golf and atmosphere of the low country golf experience. I do hope to have a few more trips to the area. By the by the beaches or traffic are certainly not the high points of traveling there. The golf, local culture(not in high season) and architecture of places like Beaufort and Charleston are. 

Tiger...if we are including Charleston in this discussion, I have to disagree with you (with all due respect) regarding the beaches.  The beach area outside The Sanctuary at Kiawah is off the charts amazing IMO.

As far as the rest of it, I think you've nailed it, particularly the atmosphere of the Low Country.  Very cool!

[Matt MacIver]

HarbourTown is for the most part lined with houses, but are far enough off-line that they never intruded. 

I think HT is a must-play in order to see something radically different, esp. if you're a gca-type.  But I have good golfer / non-gca friends that (almost ) won't talk to me anymore bc I directed them to HT, they were that put off by the "nothingness" of it, plus all the damn trees in the fairways...

The only other HH courses I've played are a few of the Palmetto Dunes, which I found acceptable but uninspiring. 

Looking forward to Chechessee and Secession this Dixie Cup.  Joel thanks for setting up May River I'll have to see if I can get down there a day early, would love to see it. 

The course that most intrigues me in the area, aside from the above and Long Cove, is Old Tabby.