Hampton Hall Club in Hilton Head, South Carolina, has reopened its golf course following a renovation project led by Nathan Crace. 

The Pete Dye design was originally built in 2004, but by 2021 was experiencing drainage issues on the fairways. Crace was appointed to devise a renovation plan.  

“After my first visit we realised that as well as the fairway drainage issues, the bunkers needed to be rebuilt and the greens needed to be regrassed with a newer strand of bermuda,” said Crace. “We put together an improvement plan with a 100-day construction window, and Landscapes Unlimited began work in April 2023.” 

More than 35 acres of new drainage has been installed. “Members can get off the cart path and onto the course within hours of heavy rainfall,” said Crace. “Prior to our renovation project, one inch of rain would have kept them on the cart path for a week!” 

Greens have been restored to their original sizes with some slopes softened and Tifdwarf was replaced with TifEagle to increase green speeds. New tee boxes have also been added. 

“All bunkers are now visible and have the classic Pete style to them,” said Crace. “When the course was originally built, Pete was going through cancer treatment so he was unable to make as many site visits as he normally would during construction. Once the course opened, Pete commented to the superintendent, who still works at Hampton Hall, that he wished he had added a fairway bunker on the left side of the par-five third. To honour his wishes, we’ve added in that bunker. 

“I also made a minor change on the eighteenth hole to eliminate a mound that was blocking the view of a waste area Pete had added down the right side of the closing hole. This is now visible from the tee.” 

As part of the project, improvements have also been made to the driving range and chipping green.