The famed Ocean Course was awarded the 1939 Ryder Cup before the onset of WWII
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Bobby Weed Golf Design is pleased to announce the grand reopening of the picturesque Ocean Course at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club following a comprehensive capital improvement project. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on September 18.
“I’d like to thank Herbert Peyton, chairman of Gate Petroleum, for entrusting our team to update this beloved layout,” said Bobby Weed. “As a long-time area resident, I receive great gratification in equipping the Ocean Course with a strong foundation for the next generation of members and resort guests.”
The cornerstone of this project was identifying land on the north end of the property which allowed for improvements to the practice facility and advantageous routing adjustments.
A full-service practice facility was created by tripling teeing grounds and adding double-sided practice targets. The footprint of the range now stretches beyond 300 yards and is accompanied on the north end by a new short game area, slated to be used exclusively for private instruction and corporate outings.
The first tee was cleverly transformed into a multi-use space. 20,000 square feet of tightly mown bermudagrass will serve as both a teeing ground and pristine outdoor event venue. This adjacent proximity to the resort’s back lawn produces a special setting that few other first tees can match.
Credited for inspiring Pete and Alice Dye’s now infamous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, the ninth hole’s island green was lowered to reveal the putting surface to guests watching from the clubhouse.
Giving way to a portion of the expanded practice facility, the former par-4 10th hole was eliminated. The identified land parcel is now home to a new par-3, 13th hole, providing a pleasant break between former back-to-back par 5’s. The reimagined 13th is inspired by the Scottish “Dell” hole which features palm trees framing the low-profile green design.
The all-encompassing renovation included rebuilding 20 USGA putting greens and methodically restoring bridges, bulkheads and irrigation systems. Fourteen acres of coquina-like screenings areas were introduced to replace rough grasses, decrease water usage and bolster the course’s seaside character.
“We are delighted that Bobby Weed Golf Design has upgraded our club for a bright future,” said Dale Haney, president of Gate Hospitality Group. “Bobby’s innovative thinking around maintainability, environmental practices and strategic shot values will endow the Ocean Course with exciting attributes for years to come.”
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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
