Dataw Island Club Approves Renovation Project

June 22, 2009

Representatives of Dataw Island Club announced today that the Club has approved a renovation project that will involve both the Cotton Dike and Morgan River courses.

Dataw Island Club will close the Cotton Dike course in March 2010 for the renovation project, with a planned reopening in October 2010. The Morgan River course will close in March 2011, with a targeted reopening of October 2011.

The eight-month project will concentrate on renovating 35 greens and resurfacing greens with MiniVerde grass (hole No. 2 at Cotton Dike was renovated in 2008); renovating all tee boxes with Zoysia grass; introducing an improved variety of Bermudagrass called Celebration to a total of 11 fairways from both courses; repairing of drainage and renovating of bunkers; replacing the irrigation system for both courses and installing pond erosion control measures in select ponds.

The renovation will also include the redesign and renovation of the club’s practice area to feature a new short game facility to help golfers practice short game shots that they may encounter on the golf course.
While the project is underway, the Dataw Island grounds crew will also focus on improvements such as aerification, top-dressing and grooming of all turf grass areas.

The renovation project will be handled by renowned designer and former Augusta National superintendent Billy Fuller. He launched Billy Fuller Golf Design in 2003 after fifteen years as a golf course superintendent at several top courses in the southeastern United States, including five years at the Augusta National Golf Club. During his time at Augusta National, Fuller oversaw the conversion from Bermudagrass to Bentgrass and the transformation to the faster grass helped establish the Augusta National greens as one of the more challenging putting surfaces in the game of golf. Fuller also spent 15 years working with Robert E. “Bob” Cupp of Cupp Design, Inc. as design associate and senior agronomist on more than 130 golf courses across North America and England.

“Our main priority is to improve the quality and playability of our Fazio course,” said Ted Bartlett, general manager of Dataw Island. “Cotton Dike is in spectacular shape, but there is room to make an already challenging and unique course even more desirable for Dataw Island golfers and their guests.”

“It is a great privilege and honor to work with Dataw Island Club through the renovation of Cotton Dike and Morgan River,” said Fuller. “Our intent is to bring the course specifications and strategy to par with modern golf standards and ensure the club remains competitive with the marketplace for the next twenty to thirty years.”

Designed by Fazio in 1985, Dataw’s Cotton Dike course was originally created out of the marshes by a series of dikes originally used to generate more land for cotton fields during the plantation days. This course requires strategy and accuracy and in return provides an exciting golfing experience. Nearly half of the 18 holes lie along the pristine marsh waters of Jenkins Creek.

An Arthur Hills design, the Morgan River Course is narrower than the Cotton Dike and challenges every shot, demanding accuracy at all times. The beauty of the course is apparent as it winds through the scattered oak trees, framing water views of the Morgan River.