The renowned Ocean Course shines bright once again
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – Golf Inc. Magazine has awarded Bobby Weed Golf Design (“BWGD”) with its “2021 Renovation of the Year, Runner-Up, Private Club” accolade for the firm’s comprehensive restoration of the Ocean Course at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. This respected award recognizes BWGD’s successful modernization of the Ocean Course, all while carefully preserving the club’s 90-plus years of history for the next generation.
“We are honored to accept this award in partnership with Herb Peyton, Chairman of Gate Petroleum,” said golf course architect Bobby Weed. “This is one of the most outstanding courses on the Atlantic seaboard. Our intent was to add to its seaside character, shot variety, playability and enjoyment. This award validates our collective efforts and will keep members and guests coming back year after year.”
Originally constructed in 1928 by Herbert Strong, BWGD oversaw the Ocean Course renovations in 1998. BWGD’s latest renovation on the new par-71 was completed on time and under budget. Fourteen acres of coquina screenings replaced rough grasses, resulting in a reduction in maintained turf and considerable savings on water, chemical inputs and labor.
A full-service practice facility was created by tripling teeing space. A second tee was added on the north end for private instruction and corporate outings, along with a new short game practice area.
The first tee was strategically transformed into a multi-use space. 20,000 square feet of tightly mown bermudagrass now serves as both a teeing ground and outdoor event venue.
As the former par-4 10th hole was absorbed into the practice facility, a new par-3, 13th hole was created. This provides a break between former back-to-back par 5’s and now offers a more formidable par-5, 14th hole. Greens were also redesigned to USGA specs. Each was lowered 15-24 inches to become receptive to the ground game, a necessity on windy seaside tracks.
“We are extremely pleased that Bobby Weed Golf Design has elevated the Ocean Course for a bright future,” said Dale Haney, President of Gate Hospitality Group. “This progressive golf course and practice facility design, coupled with modern infrastructure and amenities, has excited our members and guests like never before.”
About Bobby Weed Golf Design
Bobby Weed Golf Design (BWGD) possesses some of the most innovative minds in golf. Bobby Weed has designed over 50 new courses and comprehensive renovations spanning from the “golden age” of design to the “modern era.” His work features a balance of visual appeal, sustainability and playability, all informed by an environmentally-sensitive aesthetic and an exceptional hands-on approach.
His professional career began in the 1970s with an extended apprenticeship under Pete Dye, sparking a near 40-year friendship with Mr. Dye. Hired in 1983 as the Golf Course Superintendent at TPC Sawgrass, Weed went on to become the PGA TOUR’s first in-house golf course architect. He was responsible for many of today’s best known TPC venues, which continue as host sites for prominent professional events.
In 1994, Weed’s career reached new heights with the formation of his own design firm. Both his original and renovated courses are consistently ranked at the top of their respective design categories.
BWGD is also a leader in golf course repurposing – a means to update layouts through redesign and reallocation of partial acreage for higher value land uses – which results in successful, refined and durable golf course designs.
Weed is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects. He is also a 42-year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, was a former Certified Golf Course Superintendent and is a member of the Florida Turfgrass Association.
More information: bobbyweed.com, 904.910.2876
About Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Opened in 1928, the historic AAA Five-Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is the paramount Northeast Florida luxury escape. For over 90 years, the resort has set world-class standards as the picture of quiet grandeur, grace and story. Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and The Lodge & Club Ponte Vedra Beach bookend a stunning 1.5 mile stretch of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, providing a picturesque oceanside setting that is at once elegant and approachable.
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club boasts 262 lavishly-appointed guest rooms and suites, inclusive of the new Ocean House and Peyton House. Resort beachfront rooms open directly onto the beach, allowing guests the delight of stepping right onto the sand with only a short walk to the surf. Featuring elegant, coastal-inspired décor, each room seamlessly blends sophistication and comfort, complete with striking views of the ocean, natural lagoons and famous island green. A sanctuary for adults and a playground for children, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is an ideal destination for family vacations, romantic excursions, golf getaways, weddings, corporate meetings, and group retreats alike.
Celebrated for its year-round recreation and world-class amenities, the resort features two championship golf courses – the iconic Ocean Course, newly renovated in 2020, and the water-lined Lagoon Course – a sprawling 30,000 sq. ft. spa, abundant Racquet Club tennis facilities, three pools, an 8,000 sq. ft. fitness center with direct ocean views, the Surf Club and its endless beach and outdoor activities, as well as a wide range of culinary options by Erik Osol, celebrated Chef de Cuisine.
Conveniently situated 20 miles southeast of downtown Jacksonville, a 35-minute drive from Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), less than two hours north of Orlando, and six hours by car or one hour by air from Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (ATL).
Additional information can be found at www.pontevedra.com.
