The $17 million Plantation Golf Club clubhouse at the Hilton Head Island, S.C., resort opened March 26 and features an expanded pro shop, 2,000-sq. ft. event space, and a separate building that houses a state-of-the-art golf learning center. Through the updates, the resort aims to bring the comfort of a private club to the public.
From the restaurant with panoramic course views to the locker rooms featuring plush carpets, mahogany cubbies, a TV and a shoe-shine station, the Plantation Golf Club is a departure from the old clubhouse at Sea Pines Resort, the Columbia (S.C.) State reported.
The 23,000-sq. ft. club, which opened March 26, offers guests the first look into a “culture change” at Sea Pines Resort, which Cliff McMackin, director of resort development, said aims to bring the comforts of a private club to the public, the State reported.
“It’s no more just hopping out of your car, finding the first available seat and dropping your shoes,” locker room attendant John Werner said. “You’re going to enjoy your day here.”
The $17 million clubhouse serves the Heron Point golf course redesigned by Pete Dye and the Ocean Course, the first golf course built on Hilton Head Island. The building also features an expanded pro shop; a 2,000-sq. ft. event space where several weddings have already been booked; and a separate building that houses a state-of-the-art golf learning center, where golfers can take advantage of a putting lab and two indoor hitting bays equipped with swing-analyzing technology, the State reported.
“Just the magnitude of people coming in, all the property owners, it’s pretty enlightening to see,” Ocean Course and Heron Point staff professional Bobby Downs said. “It’s great for the community and for the island as a whole.”
On April 3, the resort will hold a private grand opening for the clubhouse, which replaces the old facility demolished in November 2012 after about 40 years of use. However, the resort made sure to highlight some of that history in its new space—handmade clay bricks from the old clubhouse were repurposed into a fireplace and accent wall in the entrance to the new club, the State reported.
This summer, resort residents and guests will get another taste of Sea Pines’ overhaul. Despite weather delays, McMackin said, he still hopes to open the 25,000-sq. ft. Sea Pines Beach Club by Memorial Day. The $12 million club, beside Marriott’s Monarch, will feature five dining options, including a beach-side restaurant and beach and rooftop bars, the State reported.
“It’s rained twice as much as we had allotted for in the schedule, so that has provided some challenges,” McMackin said. “But we’re not giving up on the date yet.”
Another new clubhouse is planned for Harbour Town Golf Links, where demolition is scheduled for April 21, the day after the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing ends. That $20 million project is set to be completed in time for the 2015 tournament, McMackin said.
“There’s a lot of excitement right now inside Sea Pines Plantation,” McMackin said. “These improvements were a long time coming.”
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