By Design – Issue 52, Spring 2021

32 I n 2020, The Reserve at Lake Keowee in South Carolina was making plans to regrass greens on its Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course to a warm season variety. At the same time, the club also wanted its bunkers reviewed. Troy Vincent, ASGCA, who had worked for Nicklaus Design on the original project, prior to setting up his own firm in 2009, was hired to work alongside Nicklaus Design’s Chris Cochran, ASGCA. The pair agreed on a simpler bunker style, as illustrated in Vincent’s pencil sketch for a new bunker on the par- four third hole. This design retains the original strategy and allows for easier maintenance. Vincent says he kept Augusta National’s bunker style in mind due to its simplicity and how it diverts water away. “The optimum tee shot requires the player to carry three bunkers on the left,” says Vincent. “This allows for a better angle into the green that is positioned left to right with a greenside bunker that protects the front portion of the putting surface. “The new concept eliminated two of the three bunkers on the inside of the dogleg and created one bunker. This allowed us to locate the new bunker farther away from the left hillside and orientate it on a better angle. It still requires a carry for a better angle into the green and is not as deep as the previous bunkers, making a recovery shot more palatable. “We typically provide sketches to clearly convey concepts, in addition to detailed grading plans,” says Vincent. “There are always tweaks once in the dirt, but for the most part, the sketches are very close.” • SKETCHBOOK The Reserve at Lake Keowee Troy Vincent, ASGCA