Course Architect to Enhance a Donald Ross-Designed Front Nine and George Cobb Back Nine
Hilton Head Island, SC (February 22, 2008) – Golf course architect Clyde Johnston has done renovation work on vintage Donald Ross- and George Cobb-designed golf courses before. But at Fort Mill Golf Course he will get the chance to enhance the craft of both designers at a single facility.
Located in the South Carolina Upstate in Fort Mill, SC, Fort Mill Golf Course was originally a nine-hole course designed in 1947 by Donald Ross, the dean of American golf course architecture. A second nine was added at Fort Mill in 1959 by George Cobb. Johnston has been retained to bring all 18-holes up to modern agronomic and playability standards, while preserving the charm and elegant architectural designs from a half-century past.
The scope of work will include renovation of all the tee and green complexes. And all the bunkers on the course will be rebuilt, with several on the front nine being repositioned or eliminated to match Ross’s design drawings for the original nine holes.
Additionally, the greens at Fort Mill will be converted from bent grass to the heartier and more heat tolerant MiniVerde™ grass, an ultradwarf Bermuda that retains the smoother and quicker putting characteristics of bent grass.
Johnston’s renovation of the par-72, 6826-yard Fort Mill Golf Course is expected to last eight months and cost $2 million. Golf course construction at Fort Mill will be provided by Landscapes Unlimited, widely regarded as one of the premier golf course builders in America.
Fort Mill GC is owned and managed by Leroy Springs & Company, Inc., which has three other courses in the area, including Springfield Golf Club, a course Clyde Johnston designed in 2001.
About Clyde Johnston Designs
Clyde Johnston is past-president and a two-time board member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. He also is a longtime member of the Donald Ross Society. Among Johnston’s award-winning golf course design work is Cherry Blossom Golf Course (“America’s Best New Affordable Public Courses for 2002” – Golf Digest); Old South Golf Links (“Top Ten New Public Courses of 1992” – Golf Digest); and Ocean Harbour Golf Links (Top Ten New Courses of 1990 – Golf Magazine). Clyde Johnston Designs was established in 1987 and is headquartered on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. www.clydejohnston.com, 843-342-6335
Contact:
Warren Grant
Windfall Communications
404-266-2351 Windfall72@aol.com
