Photos: Beau Welling completes renovation to Atlanta Country Club

Check out the photos of architect Beau Welling’s renovation to Atlanta Country Club.

Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia, has completed a renovation of its golf course that was originally designed by Willard Byrd and opened in 1966.

Beau Welling and his firm undertook the multi-faceted work that included new grass, rebuilt greens, extensive bunker renovations and more as the club attempts to attract top-tier tournaments.

The club hosted the Atlanta Classic on the PGA Tour from 1967 to 1996. It also was home to the 1968 U.S. Senior Amateur, the 1971 U.S. Women’s Amateur and was the site of the first Players Championship on the PGA Tour in 1974, which was won by Jack Nicklaus.

Before the restoration, the course was ranked No. 13 in Georgia on Golfweek’s Best list of top private clubs in each state. It also tied for No. 171 among all modern courses opened since 1960 in the U.S. It had been renovated several times since it’s opening.

Welling and senior designer Scott Benson’s goal was to increase playability and foster a communal golf experience while modernizing the layout.

Atlanta Country Club
No. 18 of Atlanta Country club after the recent renovation by Beau Welling (Courtesy of PGA Tour)

“Our team is very proud of the work we’ve done to reinvigorate both the golf course and the larger campus while preserving the long-standing ideals of which Atlanta Country Club is rightfully proud,” Welling said in a media release announcing completion of the project. “For many years Byrd’s design challenged the game’s greats as a prominent venue for championship golf. With this renovation, Atlanta Country Club will no doubt continue to be a true test for the elite player, but I’m even more excited about what this will do for the membership and their guests who will enjoy the elevated playability and sense of community that we hope to inspire with all of our designs.”

Of particular note, the par-3 third and par-5 11th holes were extensively redesigned. Other work included:

  • All the greens were rebuilt with new 007XL Bentgrass.
  • Hydronics temperature control systems were placed under each of the greens, through which water can be pumped to cool down the greens in the hot Atlanta summers.
  • The fairways were switched from Bermuda grass to Zorro Zoysia, which should provide firmer playing conditions.
  • Thirteen forward tees were added.
  • Several fairway and greenside bunkers were adjusted to recalibrate strategy, and the traps received Bunker Solutions technology to increase drainage and improve appearance.
  • All the irrigation and drainage systems were replaced.
  • Several cart paths were rerouted.
  • The practice area was reworked to include a range that is 40 percent larger, and a multi-green short-game area was added.
  • A patio was added to the back of the clubhouse overlooking the 18th

“As a membership, we are excited that the exceptional golf and overall experience at Atlanta Country Club is getting even better,” World Golf Hall-of-Famer and three-time major champion Larry Nelson, a club member, said in the media release. “We recognized now is the right time to look toward the future and how this renovation can help us achieve our goals as a club, and we could not be happier with the work Beau and his team have done to cement our legacy as stewards of the game for generations to come.”

Check out several photos of the work below:

Beau Welling tackles renovation of Peninsula Club in North Carolina

The Peninsula Club will be renovated by architect Beau Welling.

The Peninsula Club in Cornelius, North Carolina, has broken ground on an extensive golf course renovation project led by Beau Welling and his associate, Chase Webb.

The layout opened in 1990 with a design by Rees Jones on the shores of Lake Norman about a half hour’s drive north of Charlotte. The renovation is slated for completion in October 2024.

 The routing of the private Peninsula Club will remain largely the same, but Welling plans a number of improvements. The course, including the greens, will be re-grassed with TifEagle Bermuda. Infrastructure will updated with a new irrigation system and drainage. Strategic tree clearing will improve views, fescue will be added to out-of-play areas and the total square footage of bunkering will be reduced.

Peninsula Club
Beau Welling (from left) with Nick McLennan, director of golf course grounds at the Peninsula Club, and Nick Mazzella, owner of the Mazzella Partnership (Courtesy of the Peninsula Club)

“After a couple of years of planning and preparation, we are excited to break ground on a project that will create a brand new feeling and playing experience for the golf course as well as other facilities for the club’s membership,” Beau Welling, founder and CEO of Beau Welling Design, said in a media release announcing the renovation. “We are proud to add to the tradition of excellence that the Peninsula Club has curated for decades, and we believe this project will enhance the guest and membership experience both on and off the course.”

A putting course will be added and the club’s practice area will be expanded to include two state-of-the-art teaching bays, among other capital improvements away from the course.

Beau Welling-designed short course soon will open at South Seas in Florida

Alongside the Gulf of Mexico, the course is named for a turtle’s nest.

Laid out by Beau Welling and Chase Webb, a new 12-hole short course named The Clutch is scheduled to open on a to-be-determined date this year at South Seas, a resort on Captiva Island in southwest Florida near Fort Myers.

The name The Clutch is in reference to a turtle’s nest and was chosen to represent the island’s diverse wildlife.

MORE: Golfweek’s Best ranks the top short courses in the U.S.

“We are extremely proud of the course that we have created at South Seas and look forward to unveiling The Clutch,” Welling, president and founder of Beau Welling Design, said in a media release announcing the course’s impending opening. “The site is spectacular, and we were able to create a strategic and challenging, yet playable golf course that complements the beautiful surroundings with unobstructed water views on every hole. Working with South Seas, we were also able to create a unique and relaxed golf experience that promotes friends and families coming together through the game of golf to enjoy the stunning setting.”

From the media release:

Featuring interesting and undulating greens, The Clutch will present a challenge for experienced golfers, focusing on precision, preferred angles of play and shot values. The course will also offer a multitude of options for those newer to the game, utilizing short-cut green surrounds and slopes that will allow players to even play with just a putter.

Welling has worked on dozens of highly ranked courses around the world, including Fields Ranch West at the recently opened Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Texas and Bluejack National in Texas in partnership with Tiger Woods. He and Webb, a senior design associate, employed Clark Construction Company at South Seas.

The Clutch was built with a focus on being able to withstand intense rain, and the course features several palm trees that were rescued after Hurricane Ian pummeled the island in September of 2022. The resort has gone through a phased reopening starting in the summer of 2023 as the area continues to recover from the impacts of that category 5 storm.

“We’re thrilled to introduce our guests to this new golf experience,” South Seas general manager Shawn Farrell said in the media release. “Our goal is to offer more than just a game – it’s about enjoying the popular sport in the most beautiful setting imaginable.”

Photos: Fields Ranch West course opens at Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Texas, new home of the PGA of America

Check out the photos of the new Fields Ranch West course at PGA Frisco in Texas.

PGA Frisco, the new home of the PGA of America just north of Dallas, officially opens for golf today, with the property’s Fields Ranch West course accepting tee times for play from this point onward. The other course on property, Fields Ranch East, officially opens for public tee times starting May 30.

The West was designed by golf architect Beau Welling and plays along Panther Creek in a prairie setting with oak and mesquite trees. The East, designed by the team of Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, will play host to 26 championships through 2034, including the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship on May 25-28.

The Fields Ranch courses are part of the Omni PGA Frisco Resort that includes a 500-room hotel, 10 four-bedroom ranch houses, a spa, two ballrooms, 19 meeting rooms, nine outdoor event venues, a pavilion, 13 restaurants and bars, and retail shops. The property also serves as the new headquarters for the PGA of America, which previously had been located in South Florida.

Besides the two main courses, Fields Ranch also is home to a 10-hole lighted short course named The Swing and a lighted 2-acre putting course named The Dance Floor. It also includes the data-driven PGA Coaching Center and the Jerry J. Ransom Northern Texas PGA Golf House.

“No matter what you are looking for in a golf trip, Omni PGA Frisco Resort has all the aspects and amenities to provide a world-class experience for every guest,” Jeff Smith, vice president and managing director of Omni PGA Frisco Resort, said in a media release announcing the opening of Fields Ranch West. “In partnership with the PGA of America, we look forward to being one of the most sought-after golf destinations in the world.”

Rates for Fields Ranch East, a walking-with-caddie experience, start at $277 for public-access play (booked up to seven days in advance), and the fees start at $252 for resort guests (booked up to 120 days in advance). The fees for Fields Ranch West start at $222 for public-access players and $202 for resort guests. City of Frisco residents can schedule rounds 10 days in advance with up to 20 percent in discounts when booking outside of 48 hours and up to 50 percent off when scheduled within 48 hours of the day of play. Additional cart and caddie fees are applicable. Visit www.fieldsranch.com for details.

All combined for the courses and hotel, the property sits on 660 acres and was completed as a public/private partnership between the PGA of America, Omni Hotels & Resorts, the City of Frisco, and the Frisco Independent School District.

Check out the images of Fields Ranch West and several hotel amenities below.

Tiger Woods to build golf course in New Jersey for baseball star Mike Trout

Tiger Woods, Mike Trout partner up to build upscale private course in New Jersey.

Baseball star Mike Trout has partnered with Tiger Woods to build a private golf course in Vineland, New Jersey. Named Trout National – The Reserve, the 18-hole layout will be about 45 minutes south of Philadelphia and is slated to open in 2025.

“I’m so excited to finally officially announce that we’re doing this project, and doing it in a community that means so much to me,” Trout, a three-time American League Most Valuable Player who plays for the Los Angeles Angels, said in a press release. “I was born in Vineland and raised in Millville. I met my wife, Jessica, in Millville, and my parents and siblings and in-laws still live in the area. I could put down roots anywhere in the country, but Jessica and I make South Jersey our offseason home and always cherish the time we get to spend there.”

Construction on Trout National – The Reserve will begin this year.

The club, which is being developed with John and Lorie Ruga, owners of Northeast Precast of Vineland, is being constructed between Sheridan Avenue and Route 55.

“I love South Jersey and I love golf, so creating Trout National – The Reserve is a dream come true,” Trout said. “And then to add to that we’ll have a golf course designed by Tiger? It’s just incredible to think that this project has grown to where we’re going to be working with someone many consider the greatest and most influential golfer of all time.”

Woods and his archeticture firm, TGR Design, is also creating a new short course as part of Cobbs Creek Golf Club in Philadelphia.

“I’ve always watched Mike on the diamond, so when an opportunity arose to work with him on Trout National – The Reserve, I couldn’t pass it up,” Woods said in the press release. “It’s a great site for golf, and our team’s looking forward to creating a special course for Mike, Jessica, John and Lorie (Ruga).”

The will also have a “cutting-edge” practice range, short-game area, clubhouse, restaurant, “five-star” lodging, a wedding chapel and more.

“We’re going to be doing some really cool things from a service and offering standpoint,” Trout said. “Although plans aren’t finalized quite yet, I’ll put it to you this way – this will not be your grandparents’ country club.”

The release said the course will leverage the site’s topography, including deciduous and evergreen forest in places and rolling farmland in others. The sandy site was once home to a silica sand mine, so drainage and turf conditions should be excellent, according to the release. As TGR Design becomes more immersed in the project, additional details will be released.

“Mike’s a great guy and we both care deeply about our community,” John Ruga said in the release. “Like Mike, I always dreamed about the possibility of opening a truly one-of-a-kind golf club. When we met and started talking about our individual visions, it became clear that we were on the same page. Trout National – The Reserve is going to be the place where members gather to enjoy an unforgettable club experience. Equally as important, we’re focused on making the club a catalyst for job creation and economic development in our area, while also exploring ways for non-members to enjoy it.”

TGR Design, with Beau Welling and Scott Benson as senior design consultants, has constructed several full-size courses and short courses around North America. The firm’s Bluejack National ranks No. 3 in Texas on Golfweek’s Best list of private courses and No. 62 on Golfweek’s Best list of modern courses in the United States. Payne’s Valley at Big Cedar Lodge ranks No. 4 in Missouri on Golfweek’s Best list of public-access layouts, and El Cardonal at Diamante Cabo San Lucas ranks No. 26 on Golfweek’s Best list of courses in Mexico, the Caribbean, the Atlantic islands and Central America.

– Golfweek’s Jason Lusk contributed to this report.

Golf architects Gil Hanse and Beau Welling like each other, and players will love what they’ve created at PGA Frisco

Spoiler alert: It’s yet to be announced, but the course is almost certain to be added as the 2041 Ryder Cup site.

FRISCO, Texas — If the coffee at the soon-to-be-completed Omni PGA Frisco Resort doesn’t give you a sufficient morning jolt, a peek at the scorecard of Gil Hanse’s Fields Ranch East Course certainly will.

The sprawling and spectacular track — part of a 660-acre complex that houses Hanse’s East Course, Beau Welling’s West Course and the PGA of America’s impressive new home — opens with what we can safely refer to as major numbers. Major as in the numerous championships that will be played there, including the 2027 and 2034 PGA Championship and the 2025 and 2031 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

And major in terms of sheer distance — like an opening three-hole stretch that can play to 1,699 yards, including a 633-yard first hole that often plays into a stiff breeze.

Don’t come here half-asleep, the East Course seems to be saying.

But while the complex, which sits on a rare bit of rolling land on the northern tip of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, will best be known for the 26 PGA of America championships scheduled over the next dozen years, there’s an interesting bit of behind-the-scenes symbiosis that’s led to the finished work.

The new PGA of America home at the Frisco complex. (Photo by Gabe Gudgel/Golfweek)

Teamwork was the key

Gil Hanse, a golf architect who can’t squeeze enough room into his planner for major course re-designs these days, and self-described project “underdog” Beau Welling formed an interesting and complementary team to make a special piece of property into something that will change the dynamic of golf in the state of Texas.

During a recent media preview, the two sat down for a fireside chat and explained that this was the first time they’d ever worked together, but both sides were excited about the possibility of collaborating again in the future.

Welling not only created the plan for the West Course, a challenging yet playable layout that rolls through the former ranch land, but he also developed the entire site plan, meaning he accounted for details like massive crowds, TV towers and even future concession stands.

It’s all part of a property that’s expected to drive massive tourism and growth in and around the yet-to-be-finished Omni, a resort that will include a two-acre putting course; an entertainment area named The Dance Floor with a massive TV screen to be programmed by PGA of America officials; and a par-3, 10-hole short course called “The Swing.”

But as for the main attraction, Hanse’s East Course, the idea was to make this a track that could challenge the best players in the world.

Spoiler alert: It’s yet to be announced and won’t officially be for years, but the common knowledge among all the key players is that if the course gets satisfactory marks during its run hosting the 2027 PGA Championship, it’s certain to be added as the 2041 Ryder Cup site.

Gil Hanse designed the East Course and Beau Welling designed the West Course at Fields Ranch on the PGA Frisco complex. (Photo by Gabe Gudgel/Golfweek)

Prepping for a major (and a Ryder Cup)

All this left Hanse with a massive challenge, but in recent years he and managing partner Jim Wagner have been given plenty of opportunities to tackle big things. The tandem’s original design skills were on full display at the Olympic Course for the 2016 Games in Brazil, and restorations to major-championship courses have included Winged Foot, Los Angeles Country Club, Oakland Hills South, Baltusrol, Southern Hills and beyond.

But instead of reworking an existing course in advance of a major, this job called for sculpting from conception. That allowed Hanse and Wagner to put some of their routing theories into action.

“When the stage is set, we’d rather see positive outcomes determine champions as opposed to negative outcomes. We really enjoy watching golfers making birdies and eagles to win, as opposed to some guy double bogeys, another guy bogeys and barely hangs on,” Hanse said. “And so the way we’ve set up the finish is we’ve got, you know, a pretty tough stretch of holes on the back nine — the drivable 15th, 16 is a hard four, but then 17 is the shortest par-3 on the golf course and 18 is a reachable five for all those guys.

“So they’re going to have to make decisions and, hopefully, they’ll have positive outcomes determine the way that it all falls out.”

Of course, Hanse didn’t create everything from scratch. He’s openly admitted to “borrowing” design concepts from some of the biggest names before him, a practice that worked well on this project. When asked if greats like Donald Ross, Perry Maxwell and Alister MacKenzie influence his work, Hanse didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Every day. Every day they do,” he said. “We’re fortunate that we are very active in that side of the business as well. And so we’re constantly trying to explore and figure out what they did at their particular projects. And Jim and I are both very open in that we steal ideas from them. If we see something that we really like, we’ll certainly borrow literally from that, but it’s also really nice because we can talk about situational things — that we don’t want to necessarily build that green that Ross built. But that green site feels a lot like (one) at Oakland Hills. And so, then there’s a context and we can talk about those things that way as opposed to — we’re going to build exactly a replica of that.

“But we were always influenced by them, because it’s the highest art form in our profession is, is created during those times. And so we’re always inspired and certainly informed by what they did.”

Moderator Stephen Reynolds, left, Gil Hanse, and Beau Welling, during a recent event in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tim Schmitt/Golfweek)

Moving earth from west to east

While Hanse was working on his East behemoth, Welling was whittling away at some of the higher pieces of property on the ranch. The two realized early on that they had something the other needed.

The result was a massive movement of earth from the West Course to the East, largely to help the latter deal with Panther Creek, a tributary that winds through the region before dumping into Lewisville Lake.

Although the area is often dry, Hanse and Welling had to be ready for the occasional floods that plague the region. That led to loads of dirt being repurposed, although Welling wasn’t sure of the exact quantity.

“I’m terrible at numbers. I have no idea how much I don’t remember exactly. There was a big export of material from the west to the east,” Welling said. “So there were awesome parts of topography, like where the halfway house is, but then there’s all the stuff that was dead flat along Panther Creek and all that had to be amended in order to protect it from the floodwaters.

“And so we had to move the earth, not so much necessarily to create topography that we might have done along the way, but it really was just to elevate everything such that when the flood event does happen, it’s not inundating the investments been made in the golf courses.”

Although the area around the complex is still largely empty, a number of condominiums and mixed-use projects are either in the works or under construction. And Welling thinks that will make Fields Ranch even more important in years to come.

“I think what’s going to be really neat, long-term, is as the town and city now develops around them, this is going to be this oasis in the middle of the built-up environment that’s going to have flora and fauna and wildlife and whatnot,” he said.

Beau Welling, left, shows Gil Hanse a photo on his phone during a recent event in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tim Schmitt/Golfweek)

More to come?

Although they’re very different creatures — for example, when Welling mentioned at dinner that he’d had someone dress up as Sasquatch to walk outside the window at his recent wedding, Hanse laughed in disbelief and asked to see pictures — the combination created magic in this bucolic Texas pasture.

“I knew innately from the original phone call, this was gonna be such a massive, special thing and we just wanted to be a part of it and to get to be able to work alongside Gil. His guys, as you know, are special. I certainly consider him friends of ours now, and we really had a great time with all this,” Welling said. “We talked about collaborating and it’s not some marketing thing we’re talking about. I think the two firms really got to appreciate each other and I think part of that is that we’re real people.

“Like we don’t just sit around and talk about golf all the time. So I remember great dinners or we talked about music, we talked about football and we talked about whatever, so it was just really a wonderful great experience.”

That’s when the question came of whether this was the first time the two had worked together.

“Yes,” Hanse said, looking over at Welling. “And hopefully not the last.”

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Short course is long on fun: Par-3 course Little Sandy opens on Florida coast

Little Sandy, a 10-hole par-three course near Jacksonville, brings another alternative golf facility to the area.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Golf at its best is a peaceful, sublime merging of nature and sport.

Indeed, entering the phrase “healing power of golf” on Google returns more than 19 million hits.

A small piece of land between A1A and the Atlantic Ocean on Amelia Island is one example of how golf can heal — especially old wounds.

The opening of Little Sandy this week, a 10-hole par-three course at the Omni Amelia Island Resort, not only brings another alternative golf facility to the First Coast but it has put to rest an acrimonious dispute between the resort and the Amelia Island Equity Club, more than four years after the abrupt closing of one of the two 18-hole courses on the property.

Both sides have moved forward and the gorgeous little jewel surrounding Red Maple Lake is the peacemaker.

“The membership is very happy with the layout by [designer] Beau Welling, the construction to MacCurrach Golf and the Omni’s efforts to put it all together,” said Mike Warfield, president of the Amelia Island Club. “For us, as members, we have access to a short course, really well-designed, that a lot of private clubs don’t get access to. I think it’s just spectacular.”

The course, named for its size (less than 30 acres) and being near the vast Amelia Island dunes, had its grand opening Tuesday, becoming the second alternative to an 18-hole golf course to open on the First Coast in two years.

The Yards, which evolved from the former Oak Bridge Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, opened in the fall of 2020 and has a nine-hole track and six par-3 holes.

The oldest par-3 course in the area is the Palm Valley Golf Club.

The opening of The Yards and now Little Sandy is part of a nationwide trend of golf clubs, resorts and municipalities seeking alternatives to the 18-hole, four-to-six hour golf experience that many players say is simply too much a drain on their leisure time.

About a third of the new golf courses that opened last year in the U.S. were par-3 facilities between six and 14 holes, according to the National Golf Foundation.

A golf experience in 60 minutes

Omni Amelia director of golf Jonathan Bridges said two players can tour Little Sandy’s 928 yards in an hour, and groups of six have done it in less than 90 minutes since the soft opening.

“They’re really enjoying it,” Bridges said. “It’s something very different.”

The holes range from the 42-yard ninth hole to the 115-yard first and 10th holes. The course is laid over the remnants of Nos. 7, 8, 17 and 18 of the old Ocean Links course, which was closed in November of 2017 by the resort without giving the equity club sufficient notice, a Nassau County judge later ruled.

Little Sandy
The 10th green at “Little Sandy” is in nearly the same position as the 18th green of the Ocean Links course at the Omni Amelia Plantation. (Photo: Garry Smits/Florida Times-Union)

The 10th green, which is one of three holes with water in play, is more or less in the same position as the par-3 18th green of Ocean Links.

The course cost Omni $3.5 million. There was no assessment of the Amelia Island Club members, who have playing privileges at Oak Marsh and the Amelia Island Club at Long Point — the latter of which closed this week for renovation and will re-open in the fall.

Little Sandy has relatively large greens with dramatic contours, which allow for numerous pin positions. Players have the option on seven of the holes to run the ball up onto the green.

Rental sets are available, with a putter, three wedges and a 9-iron, but players may bring their own bag. Walking is required unless a player has a disability.

There is an 18-hole putting course that Warfield called “a real treat.”

Golfers want more options

Welling, based in Greenville, South Carolina, said like almost everything else involving leisure time, golfers want options that don’t involve a door-to-door experience that eats away a good part of the day.

“You look at society in general, we have so many options of how to use our time and our lives,” he said. “I grew up at a time when there were only three channels on TV. Now we don’t even watch TV on a TV. We don’t read a newspaper on paper. What we’re seeing is a desire of the golfer to have options in how they orient to golf.”

Welling said the increase of par-3 courses will help players get better at the key shots in golf — from 100 yards to the green.

“These kinds of facilities are stripping out a lot of shots people have a hard time playing and focus on the shots they have a chance of being successful with,” he said.

Little Sandy also has a number of amenities that range from charming to functional to amusing.

Each tee marker has four cup holders, so players can carry their beverages from hole to hole. There is also a beach umbrella and two lounge chairs at each tee.

The putting green has a half-dozen Adirondack chairs.

Small speakers strategically located near the tees and greens play music. A small pro shop carries the rental sets, balls, tees, divot tools and ball markers, as well as a selection of apparel. The course is an easy walk from Bob’s Steak and Chop House and other dining and beverage options within the Resort Shopping Village, so it will be easy to arrange 10 holes of golf at Little Sandy around breakfast, lunch or dinner.

And if players run out of ammo, there is a large gum ball machine behind the ninth tee that dispenses pink golf balls.

Little Sandy is a natural fit within the family-oriented vibe of the resort. Welling said he walked onto the course last week and saw a resort guest teaching his young daughter how to putt, with her two toddler brothers doing somersaults on the putting green.

“I thought, ‘that’s what we’re trying to do here,'” Welling said. “It’s all about family.”

Little Sandy mends hard feelings

Little Sandy seems to be an adequate compromise to the closing of Ocean Links, the first design on the First Coast by World Golf Hall of Fame architect Pete Dye, in collaboration with Bobby Weed. Dye also designed Oak Marsh.

The resort closed Ocean Links on Nov. 12, 2017, a day after it was still taking tee times, and began bulldozing the three holes along the ocean — hours after an email was sent to equity club members informing them of the closing.

At the time, the resort claimed the members had not lived up to an agreement that called for it to provide 10,000 rounds annually at Ocean Links and Oak Marsh, with a minimum of 3,000 at Ocean Links, in addition to the resort rounds generated by vacationers.

The Equity Club’s suit claimed Omni Amelia Island LLC broke a long-standing agreement to operate two golf courses with a private membership as well as resort play, dating back to 2010 when Omni bought the property as part of a bankruptcy case involving the original owners.

The bulldozers began work under police protection. Work halted two days later under an injunction granted by Judge Steven Fahlgren — who blasted the resort in his ruling.

“The Agreement does not permit Omni to unilaterally close the Ocean Links golf course, but rather requires the Club’s written consent to do so,” Fahlgren wrote. “Omni destroyed the Ocean Links golf course without notice, and in a manner to accomplish the destruction before the Club had an opportunity to obtain judicial relief. Florida law will not permit Omni to benefit from this misconduct.”

Equity club attorney Steven Busey told the Florida Times-Union at the time, “The Omni’s sudden closure of the Ocean Links course was the product of Omni’s arrogance, greed and disdain for contractual obligations.”

Fahlgren ordered the resort to re-open Ocean Links but too much of the seaside holes had been bulldozed by then (it’s now open green space for resort guests and residents) and Little Sandy became the compromise.

The harsh language surrounding the Ocean Links closing is now conciliatory on both sides.

“I’m not going to contrast and compare the situation,” Warfield said. “I can only say this: we’re very happy with this course. I can’t speak for all the residents but I think they’re looking out on it and saying, ‘Wow, this is attractive.’ It’s going to help home values. It’s been a real positive experience.”

Theo Schofield, the Omni managing director, has only been at the Amelia Island Resort for just about a year and believes there is real harmony over the opening of Little Sandy. The resort hosted an opening for the equity club members last week and he’s pleased with their reaction.

“They’re very excited about it,” he said. “I think they’re really excited about having another option to play.”

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