Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Kolter Homes opens new Astor Creek course at Florida community

The new 18-hole Astor Creek Golf & Country Club course, designed by Chris Wilczynski, has opened for play in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

The golf course is part of a new gated community that is expected to include 900 homes. The designer was selected by real estate developer Kolter Homes in April 2021 and construction started in February 2022. Astor Creek becomes the fourth new course Wilczynski has designed for Florida developments.

“I’m honoured that Kolter Homes entrusted me to design the golf course at their first ground-up golf community,” said Wilczynski. “Our goal was to create something unique on the Treasure Coast – a golf course that is beautiful and features fun, strategically designed risk-reward holes that blend classic and modern design elements.”

Wilczynski has included versions of template holes, including a ‘Surprise Redan’ second, ‘Astor Biarritz’ third, ‘Astoria Punchbowl’ twelfth, and ‘Short Horseshoe’ fifteenth.

On several holes, the architect has introduced free-flowing waste bunkers that feature islands landscaped with native grasses, oaks, palms or pines. “The waste areas are not only aesthetically appealing but, given their composition, you can play your shot out of them, or even drive a golf cart through them,” said Wilczynski.

The architect was supported on the project by golf course superintendent TJ Kemp and experts from Ryan Golf, Atwell Group, Thomas Engineering Group, Cotleur & Hearing, A.S. Altum & Associates, Hampton Golf and RVI Planning & Landscape Design. David Humphrey is the clubhouse architect.

“It’s been an amazing experience working with this fantastic team,” said Wilczynski. “All great projects eventually come to an end, but when I leave the site realising that we just created a new utopia and experience for people to enjoy for the foreseeable future… that’s fulfilling.”

Following his first round on the new course, Bobby Julien, CEO of Kolter Homes, said: “It was awesome; frankly above my expectations and totally in line with what we believe our residents will want for their golfing experience… truly an exceptional job.”

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Slideshow HTML
  • Astor Creek
    Chris Wilczynski

    Chris Wilczynski’s new 18-hole course at Astor Creek Golf & Country Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, has opened for play

  • Astor Creek
    Chris Wilczynski

    Wilczynski has included versions of template holes, including the ‘Short Horseshoe’ fifteenth

  • Astor Creek
    Chris Wilczynski

    A ‘Surprise Redan’ awaits golfers at the second hole

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Chris Wilczynski
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