Wexford Plantation

[Terry Lavin]

Old Tabby is a very good Lowcountry golf course and a great golfing experience.

[Eric Smith]

Old Tabby is a very good Lowcountry golf course and a great golfing experience.

I agree. One of the best experiences down there. Brandon informed us that his team will soon be doing a renovation at Old Tabby as well.

[ward peyronnin]

I have been fortunate enough to play this track twice now and with Brandon and able to hear what they faced and were trying to accomplish.

I am astounded at the creativity and dedication it took to transform this place. No Tom this is not a redo of famous holes ( the Biaritzz green is on a par four) but they do incorporate many features that we all recognize..spines, bunker shapes, cornered greens, false fronts and cornering, collection areas, pot bunkers, very active internall green movement, rumpled fairways.

This after a course that relied on containment mounding and tilted greens for character. The three shotter fifith demonstrates this as the right side had to remain the same as mature trees had colonized the mounds and made it impractical to renovate. Questionable remaining features were often similarly restrained such as the pond fronting that green which , as a wetland, simply wasn't justifiable to remove during the renovation.

The main complaint i had was the two tiered 15th green which, even tho another layup par five, had to little top shelf surface area and a lower tier that was angled toward right rough/trees and very awkward from acceptable lines of play. The redan IIMO was insufficiently banked at the back to prevent a well struck ball either played as a runner or at the target  from running over the back tilting main green area

As I told Brandon tho this was a course i could play everyday

[Tom_Doak]

Ward:

I don't know if you've been to North Berwick or not.  It took me a few visits to realize that the play at the Redan is to be long, not be afraid of running through the green, and then chip back up the slope.  The interesting part is that the back area of the green [between the green and the wall] is relatively flat, rather than an extension of the ridge or a steep drop at the end of the ridge, as you see in most copies of the Redan.

[ward peyronnin]

I had forgotten that Tom as I went long one of the two rounds
I was recalling Chicago and yeamans and ngla nd others here
However Brandon hit a gorgeous hi five iron to a left center hole just over the bunker 20 feet
Short of the hole and still roled off the green ; perhaps a bit severe especially with a
Lower collection area past the green . Maybe its a good redan and I just haven't played enough

[Brandon Johnson]

Mac,

I’m glad you and others had fun playing Wexford. Hopefully the fun Thad Layton and I had working on the project came through in the design.

To answer your question about tree removal and corridor width, we had to remove a large number of trees to 1) Reduce shade and allow more sunlight to hit turf to promote better growing conditions. The existing tress, mainly pines, were tall and crowded the golf course.  2) Help open up the existing playing corridors. They were extremely tight and penal.

Before the trees were removed the golf course was claustrophobic at best. You almost needed to walk single file!

In addition to the many trees lining the fairways inside/outside the cart path, there were approximately 250,000 sq. ft. of FW and greenside bunkers. Most of the FW bunkers were barely visible from the tee and they constricted every landing area. Each green had huge bunkers surrounding the putting surface only leaving a small opening to run a ball between them. Recovery shots around the greens were one-dimensional. Large containment mounds with Bermuda rough were the common theme.

By removing trees and bunkers it allowed us to incorporate them into the strategy of each hole differently then the previous configuration. The widened fairways now have preferred sides depending on pin locations or tee shot placement.

Turf Conditions – Brian Murry has done a phenomenal job getting Wexford in great condition in a short period of time. After walking around with him last week, he is also confident that the firm, fast conditions will remain after the grass has completely filled in. I was excited to hear that as well.

The front nine was planted last with holes 1,4,8,9 coming at the end. That picture of Eric with the putter is on 9 so all those thin turf areas will disappear this growing season.

Ward, I wish I could bottle that 5 iron up!

[Mac Plumart]

Thanks Brandon.  Again, great job out there!

It will be cool to see in the coming years how this course rises in the rankings, assuming the right people take the time to get out there and experience it.  I know it makes for a fun day's golf and I think the course deserves some critical acclaim as well.

Keep up the good work!!!

[David Lott]

Add Spring Island's Old Tabby to the list of Low Country courses where real estate does not intrude.

We close the course March 12 for a 7 month renovation project, also designed by Brandon Johnson.

[Mac Plumart]

David/Brandon...

any chance of keeping us posted on the progress on Old Tabby?  I always love those threads/pictures.

[Brian Finn]

During my trip last week to HHI, I had a chance to play Wexford, and it was terrific.  The greens and surrounding areas were the absolute highlight.  The big, bold contours (as previously mentioned by others) made approach shots, chipping, pitching, and putting incredibly fun.  Options to bump and run, putt, or fly the ball to the hole kept me thinking at every spot.  The turf was firm and fast, and impeccably maintained.  The grow in (referenced in February posts) was successful by any measure.  The bunkering was excellent as well.  The shape/look was great and the bunkers were very well placed from a strategic perspective, forcing thought on line of play as well as club choice.  I loved the redan (actually played it a couple of times) and found the Biarritz style green really fun (despite the fact that the middle left pin repelled my approach and first 2 putts).   The homes on the course (most of which were quite large) were set back enough as not to intrude on actual play, or the feel of the course (IMO).  I did find the one green (15, i believe) too severe, and would think members would seek to change it somehow.  I have been going to the area for 10+ years and do enjoy low country golf.  Wexford would fit in pretty well with my favorites (chechessee, harbour town, long cove) and seems to be a course I could play over and over.  The course was walkable, and several members I met walked primarily.  I did see carts left at 9 and 18 green, which I imagine was to keep play going (long walk along the harbor as Mac mentioned).  Overall a terrific course that I figure will gain additional notoriety as more folks get to see it.

[Mike Hendren]

Post Dixie Cup bump in lieu of a new thread.   More to follow.

Bogey

[Bill_McBride]

Ward:

I don't know if you've been to North Berwick or not.  It took me a few visits to realize that the play at the Redan is to be long, not be afraid of running through the green, and then chip back up the slope.  The interesting part is that the back area of the green [between the green and the wall] is relatively flat, rather than an extension of the ridge or a steep drop at the end of the ridge, as you see in most copies of the Redan.

That's the way the Redan at Wexford is designed, with the area behind the green dead flat.   Good solid Redan. 

[Bill Gayne]

What I liked:

The principal nose bunker on the second hole.
The chip from the right of the third green to the far left pin.
The visual deception on the short par three sixth hole.
The redan green at number 13.
I interpreted the 14 hole as an alps hole full of strategy.
Biarritz green on 16 and the visual deception from the fairway.
17 is a very scenic hole.

What I didn't like:
Soft collars with very firm greens.
The fifth hole. I don't know how the ended up with an uphill par five in the Low Country with a pond on top of the hill. The green was too harsh for the shot in.
Number 18 is an ok hole if it came earlier in the round but the course deserves a better finish.

[Mark Steffey]

i am heading down to HHI on wednesday after work and this is the last piece of my golfing puzzle.  i go check out the website and see a 'testimonial' page that has many familiar names!!   

thanks for the pix and preview.  i'm looking forward to this place now.

[Brian Joines]

I thought this was a good opportunity to bump this thread although it's not directly related to Wexford. I had the opportunity to play Old Tabby today and Brandon's work here is fantastic as well. I had played Old Tabby several times in the past and was really blown away by the changes made.

Most of Mac's praise for the work at Wexford holds true at Old Tabby. All the bunkers and green complexes were redone at Old Tabby (and at least one greenside pond removed and replaced with short grass. . The bunkering is fantastic. From what I understand, the number of bunkers was reduced significantly but I felt more were in the line of play then prior to the renovation. Several centerline bunkers were added and the new greenside bunkers are far more strategic than before. The greens were expanded on several holes with lots of interesting new pin positions. And the greens were rock hard and had slopes that could be used to feed the ball towards hole locations.   You could have a blast just hanging out and putting on these greens all day.

The fairways still need to grow-in but I would highly recommend a visit if you can arrange. The course is a blast to play and a huge improvement over the original design. I will post some pics when I'm back home. Great work Brandon!