BLUFFTON, South Carolina – Sun City Hilton Head in Bluffton, South Carolina recently celebrated the reopening of its Okatie Creek Golf Course following a six-month course renovation project.
The $4 million project focused on enhancing turf conditions through re-grassing and improving drainage and restoring greens to their original size in turn gaining more putting surface.
The course reopened on Oct. 1 with a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring members of the Sun City Hilton Head Board of Directors Tom Goldade, Tonja Flanagan and Tab Tabernik and an opening tee shot by adaptive golfer Ron Danko.
During the renovation, crews from TDI golf course construction company laid 25 miles of XGD drainagein fairways and delivered 577 truckloads of sand to help improve drainage. Crews also hulled out greens and re-grassed with Tif Eagle turf, while fairways and tee boxes were re-grassed with Celebration turf.
With new turf and improved drainage in place, year-round playability will improve on the 6,719-yard, par-72 golf course.
“We immediately saw the benefit of all the new drainage on opening day,” said Sun City Hilton HeadDirector of Golf Charlie Kent. “Our other two courses were cart path only due to a recent rain event, but on Okatie Creek we were able to open the fairways to cart traffic.”
As part of the course renovation, The Club’s practice facility was also renovated and increased in size by 50 percent. The updated practice facility now features an expanded practice tee to accommodate up to 50 hitting stations and an all-new short game area with a dedicated putting green, chipping green, and bunker practice green.
Originally designed by former PGA TOUR professional Mark McCumber in 1995, Okatie Creek winds its way through the pines and marshes of theCarolina Lowcountry and has 15 lakes spread throughout the property. Sun City Hilton Head is home to three 18-hole golf courses – the executive-length Argent Lakes Golf Course; the casual and fun-to-play Okatie Creek Golf Course; and the crown jewel of Sun City Hilton Head, Hidden Cypress Golf Course.
For more information on the golf courses at Sun City Hilton Head, visit www.golfinsuncity.com.
Sun City Hilton Head is a premier active adult community, as it is home to more than 14,000 residents. Built on over 5,000 acres of sun-drenched woodlands and lagoons, Sun City Hilton Head offers its residents an engaging lifestyle. The community’s three golf courses, fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, walking trails, sports park, performing arts center and crafts facilities provide the venues for a daily schedule of events.
With more than 100 active clubs and groups, and plentiful social and volunteer opportunities, there is truly something for everyone in Sun City Hilton Head.