Nix focuses on enjoyment for Sugar Mill redesign

Sugar Mill Country Club in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, has completed eighteen holes of a $6.5 million 27-hole renovation by Ron Garl Golf Design.

South Florida Golf Renovations began construction work on the Red nine in April 2023, with the White nine having reopened earlier in the year.

“Our goal was to make the course more enjoyable for all levels of golfers,” said Ricky Nix of Ron Garl Golf Design. “To do this we redesigned the entire course, completely renovating bunkers, tees, greens, drainage and irrigation. We’ve widened fairways, removed bunkers in high play areas and made greens larger. We’ve also turned several greens on 45-degree angles to create strategy and difficulty for the low handicap player and opened the green approaches for the high handicap golfers.”

The Red and White nines are the club’s original 18, which was designed by Joe Lee and opened in 1970.

“The feedback on the White renovations has been all positive,” said Nix. “Members cannot wait to play the newly renovated Red nine holes when they reopen in mid-November.”

The Blue nine, also designed by Lee, was added in 1984, and is scheduled for renovation in 2025.