Nicklaus Design, Troy Vincent to renovate Pawleys Plantation in South Carolina

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Founders Group International, the parent company of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club, announced in late February that the Lowcountry layout at the southern edge of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, will receive a makeover this summer.
As reported by MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com, the course will close in late May to launch a four-month greens, bunkers and clubhouse renovation project that will reinvigorate the course.
FGI has contracted with Nicklaus Design and architect Troy Vincent, who spent 15 years with Nicklaus Design, to handle the first significant renovation of Pawleys Plantation since its opening in 1989.
"Jack Nicklaus is not just an iconic golfer but also an iconic architect, so if we are going to touch one of his best courses, we want to make sure we are working with him and one of his architects," said Steve Mays, FGI president. "Troy is going to do a fantastic job not only in restoring Pawleys but taking the course to a new level."
Vincent was onsite Feb. 20, meeting with FGI leadership as he prepares final plans, but his topline goals are clear:
— Every green on the course will be resurfaced and restored to its original size and specifications, an effort that will increase the number of pinnable areas on each green complex.
— All greenside bunkers will be overhauled, returning shape and character to them, in addition to the installation of Concrete Capillary Bunker Liners, which will significantly improve conditions throughout the year.
— All of the course’s sprawling fairway bunkers will be evaluated with many being reduced in size or eliminated entirely. In place of acres of sand will be additional fairway — and in some instances, a more native look.
— There will be significant tree removal throughout the property, an effort that will provide more room off the tee and just as importantly, provide better conditions for turf growth.
Collectively, the renovations will produce a layout that is more playable for mid- to high-handicappers while maintaining its ability to test more skilled players. The renovation will also extend to the Pawleys clubhouse where a completely reimagined pub and dining experience will take place.
Upon the course’s reopening, the bar will offer an expansive view of the marsh and there will be outside dining, among other enhancements.
In recent years, FGI has commissioned major renovation projects at Grande Dunes Resort Course, Pine Lakes and River Hills and the effort at Pawleys Plantation will be the biggest to date.
"There is more interest in golf and Myrtle Beach than there has been in a long time,” Mays said. “We want to make sure we continue to reinvest in our courses and make the experience the best it can be."

[Tim Gavrich]

Pawleys is the golf course I've played the most in my life. It's tough - sometimes seemingly unrelenting - but it's also a really beautiful place, with its back nine stretch of marshside holes. Restoring the original size of the greens will have the biggest impact on playability, as will adding back lost fairway-length grass in the landing areas and around the greens. Prudent tree removal will also help the place breathe much better.


I've got high hopes for the renovation and look forward to it happening.

[Bill Crane]

Couple questions:

Is this course interesting from an architectural and strategic viewpoint?
Is it walkable?   Certainly the area has no meaningful elevation issues so that would really just be walks between holes.
Does anyone walk - especially members?
Is the community interesting?

Have not been to the greater MB area in some time and it always seemed that Pawleys Island was more sane, maybe even mature.
Nearby Georgetown is an interesting and historic small town that seems like it has had a bit of a renaissance.
Could be an interesting area for a winter snow bird looking for mild temps, ample golf and an interesting historic community.

[Tim Gavrich]

Couple questions:

Is this course interesting from an architectural and strategic viewpoint?
Is it walkable?   Certainly the area has no meaningful elevation issues so that would really just be walks between holes.
Does anyone walk - especially members?
Is the community interesting?

Have not been to the greater MB area in some time and it always seemed that Pawleys Island was more sane, maybe even mature.
Nearby Georgetown is an interesting and historic small town that seems like it has had a bit of a renaissance.
Could be an interesting area for a winter snow bird looking for mild temps, ample golf and an interesting historic community.

Bill--


I'm biased a bit in its favor because I've played it so many times and I have affection for it, so feel free to take what I say with a grain of salt.


- I do think Pawleys is interesting, with the caveat that time has taken some of the interest away, e.g. green shrinkage has rendered certain gathering contours less effective than I think they were originally meant to be. This is something I believe the renovation should address. There is some strategy, but I can't say it's the most strategic of courses ever built. It mostly comes in the form of asking the golfer to be realistic about the chances he or she wants to take. The smallish, often angled greens present many sucker pins, and it's up to you how aggressive you want to be. There's some other good stuff, like the centerline bunkers off the fourth tee, but most of the course is fairly linear and prescriptive. There is also a fair amount of penal golf - some forced carries, and the par 3s on the back are very feast or famine (a lot of the latter). I personally place great value on courses that make me want to be a better player, and Pawleys Plantation is absolutely such a course; it is a complete test of your golf game for sure.


- Pawleys is quite walkable. I know the company that owns it opened it up to walking at the onset of the pandemic and, to my knowledge, still lets visitors walk. There are a few walks of 50-75 yards between holes but nowhere near as many as you'd find at most other area courses. I have loved walking it in the fall, winter and spring.


- Again I'm biased here, but I think the community is better than most, with homesites nicely integrated amongst trees and, for the most part, not leering over the holes. That said, the homes built along the 18th hole in recent years are a bit close, and until some more vegetation re-growth happens, it will be a bit of a bummer ending that way.


I would agree 100% about Georgetown's renaissance in recent years. When my family first started visiting the area in the late-90s/early-2000s, it was sleepy to the point of depressing. Not so anymore. Aunny's is one of my favorite lunch places anywhere - an excellent meat-and-three joint.


- It is a very difficult golf course - demanding off the tee because it is fairly narrow even though most of the homes are set well back from play.

[Paul Stephenson]

This is timely.  I just played here last week.  Although we rode I did see walkers out on the course.


I thought the greens and the surrounds were interesting.  Everything is dormant so having short grass all around the greens was probably a plus.  I imagine with longer grass things may change.  If the planned renovation is going to make these even better that's a plus.


The par 3s on the back really are all or nothing.  My wife and daughter were playing the front tees and I'm not sure if 40 yards is the easier shot on 13.  I thought 14 was a good hole where you had to decide how much to bite off on your second shot.  It is pretty much all in front of you though.


It was cold and windy when we played, but it was enjoyable.  I guess it was nice to escape the even colder north.