San Diego (Calif.) Yacht Club has won U.S. Sailing’s National One-Design Club Award, while the Florence (S.C.) Country Club has been named the South Carolina Country Club of the Year by the South Carolina Golf Association, and Atlantic Dunes at The Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head Island, S.C., has received the National Golf Course Owners Association’s National Course of the Year Award.
Club properties in California, and South Carolina are celebrating winning awards:
—U.S. Sailing, the nation’s largest sailing association formally recognized San Diego (Calif.) Yacht Club with the National One-Design Club Award on January 29, the Fountain Valley, Calif., The Log reported.
San Diego YC earned the National One-Design Club Award for the third time. The award, according to U.S. Sailing, recognizes “administrative excellence, fleet growth, creative programming, regatta support and member contributions from the one-design yacht club of the year.”
A statement released by U.S. Sailing said San Diego YC was honored for revitalizing a struggling but long-established Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup.“They accomplished this goal by using one-design boats, jump starting the event and renewing interest and participation, while reducing the cost of the event for participants,” U.S. Sailing staff said of San Diego YC’s award.
The yacht club was also recognized for re-launching the International Masters Regatta. “Following a three-year hiatus and one week prior to the Lipton Cup Regatta, the San Diego Yacht Club re-launched the long established International Masters Regatta,” U.S. Sailing staff stated. “They utilized the same one-design boats to sail both the International Masters Regatta and the Lipton Cup Challenge Regatta.”
—For a second time, the Florence (S.C.) Country Club has been named the South Carolina Country Club of the Year by the South Carolina Golf Association, the Florence-based SCNow reported.
The association looks at which club best exemplifies a history of outstanding golf programs and championships in deciding which club should receive the accolade, SCNow reported.
Head Golf Professional Steve Behr said that Dru Clark, the course superintendent, and Paul Woodbury, the director of instruction, played a major role in securing the award. “It’s definitely a fantastic feeling,” Clark said. “We’re looking to climb up the ladder every year, so it is nice for our efforts to be recognized.”
The team manages 80 acres of land. Keeping these grounds in top condition are of top priority for all at the club. “We have and continue to introduce a lot of features that are drawing in more and more junior and lady members,” Woodbury said. “From 2016 to 2017, our junior membership more than doubled, and we have our women’s league coming up, so it’s a really exciting time.”
It was a busy calendar year on the course for the Florence Country Club, which also was named the state’s club of the year in 2006. The club hosted the 2017 SCGA State Amateur Championship in August and the annual Grant Bennett Florence Junior Invitational. The Grant Bennett Florence Junior Invitational is the longest running junior invitational tournament in South Carolina, SCNow reported.
The FCC is the only club in the state to have been given this award more than once. The golf facilities include a driving range, wedge range, putting green and 18-hole golf course, SCNow reported.
—Atlantic Dunes at The Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head Island, S.C., has received the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) “National Course of the Year Award.”
Under the guidance of Love Golf Design, Atlantic Dunes is a complete reconstruction and recreation of the resort’s historic Ocean Course, the first on Hilton Head. Love, the victorious 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, lead architect Scot Sherman and Mark Love fashioned entirely rebuilt holes to accommodate modern shot values and frame scenic corridors.
Most notably, Atlantic Dunes features a pronounced seaside ambience and Lowcountry feel accented by coquina shells and seaside grasses. The project’s goal to incorporate elements of the surrounding beachfront along with native pines and oaks lining the fairways was realized with stunning results. The course benefits both visually and strategically from restoration of natural sand dunes as well as the creation of new dunes blending seamlessly into the design.
“We’re so honored Atlantic Dunes has received this prestigious award,” said Cary Corbitt, Vice President of Sports & Operations. “Davis Love and his team did an incredible job creating the new course and our members and guests have been raving about the layout.”
The NGCOA annually honors outstanding member courses based on exceptional course quality, exceptional quality of management, outstanding contribution to the community, and significant contribution to the game.
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