Gary Player Design is leading a series of renovations at the Cougar Point golf course on Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina, USA.

Jeff Lawrence, senior designer for Gary Player Design, is overseeing design modifications at the course, which was originally designed by Player’s golf course design firm. The focus of the project is to convert fairways, tees and greens from bermuda grass to Paspalum, which is a more sustainable turf variety for this particular type of coastal environment.

More design enhancements are also being implemented, including the redesign of three green complexes and the renovation of all the bunkers on the golf course.

“We had an opportunity to make meaningful refinements to the bunkers to enhance the playability of the golf course,” Lawrence told GCA. “Most of the bunkers stayed in place with minor shaping adjustments while other bunkers were relocated to provide added strategic value. Many of the bunker refinements also improved the maintenance requirements.&rdquo

The enhancements made to Cougar Point will provide members and guests a fresh and exciting new look to the golf course.

“Implementing new green designs allowed us to use the natural features of the property,” Lawrence said. “Taking advantage of every opportunity to showcase the natural beauty of the site while enhancing the playability of the course was our primary goal. With Cougar Point lying adjacent to the Atlantic coastal environment, the club took the opportunity to replace several of its bulkheads during the restoration process.”

The golf course is set to reopen in October 2017, and the project team is pleased with the outcome of the work, and is looking forward to seeing the final product when it is finished later this year. The club also has plans to build a new clubhouse and adjacent facilities to enhance the entire golf experience at Cougar Point on Kiawah Island.

“Cougar Point is a true gem in one of the best golf states in the US,” said course designer Gary Player. “We appreciate Kiawah Island’s recognition to update the existing course to continue to showcase it as one of the best places to play in the country.”