TPC Myrtle Beach is undergoing bunker renovations to minimize sand erosion from heavy rainfall.This will improve playing conditions after rough weather and create bunker consistency throughout the course giving players the ultimate PGA Tour course experience. The renovation will be done in segments and will not interrupt play.
“We are so excited for what Founders Group International is doing for all of their courses,” said Tom Marzolf, senior design associate for Fazio Golf Course Designers, Inc., who is reconstructing the bunkers. “They recognized that the bunkers are at a time where they need to not only be replaced but also improved for better playing after harsh weather. My team and I are glad they are allowing us to be a part of this renovation.”
TPC Myrtle Beach was designed by Tom Fazio with help from PGA tour veteran, Lanny Wadkins, who served as the player consultant.
The bunker drainage system is called the “Better Billy Bunker” named after its creator, golf course designer Billy Fuller. The “Better Billy Bunker” has been installed in more than 600 courses across the U.S. and Europe, including six other TPC courses. The new bunker drainage system allows for courses to reduce the workforce required to repair the bunkers after heavy rain by more than 80 percent.
“This new bunker system is going to put our golf course (TPC) into another category,” said Clay Dubose, regional golf course superintendent of Founders Group International. “Players will be able to experience a more consistent course and not need to worry about washed away bunkers. Typically, when it rains, it takes our team two to three days to repair bunkers. This method will cut down our repair time and increase golfer playing time.”
The purpose of this design is to reduce washouts and protect bunker sand during heavy rain. A two-inch layer of pea gravel is treated with a unique polymer explicitly designed for bunkers. The gravel layer allows for water to flow to the drain tile faster than any other drainage method.
“This project represents our ongoing efforts to invest in our golf courses,” said Steve Mays, president of Founders Group International. “We want to continue to provide the best golf experience for players in Myrtle Beach year round.”
TPC Myrtle Beach welcomed its first golfers in 1999, as a member of the iconic Tournament Player’s Club Network (TPC), part of the PGA Tour. Since that time, the course hosted the Champions Tour. It is also home to the Dustin Johnson Golf School. TPC Myrtle Beach is the only Grand Strand-area course to be awarded five stars by Golf Digest, making it one of the highest-rated courses in South Carolina.
It was announced last year that TPC Myrtle Beach would host the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Golf Regional Tournament. The tournament will be played May 12-15.
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