By Design – Issue 49, Summer 2020

5 Jekyll Island appoints ASGCA duo J ekyll Island Golf Club in Jekyll Island, Georgia, has selected ASGCA members Troy Vincent and Bill Boswell to develop a master plan that will serve as a blueprint for the future. The resort has 63 holes of golf, designed by Walter Travis, Dick Wilson, and Joe Lee. It comprises three 18-hole courses (Pine Lakes, Oleander and Indian Mound) and one nine-holer (Great Dunes). “The purpose of the Jekyll Island master plan consists of evaluating the overall condition of each course and the age of each element—including greens, tees, bunkers and irrigation—as well as the playability and strategy of each course,” said Vincent. “Bill and I have varying design concepts and styles but that has proven to be advantageous when dealing with a large project, allowing us to explore a number of opportunities that will ultimately benefit Jekyll Island.” Renovation Photo: Jekyll Island Golf Club R esearch from the National Golf Foundation showed that towards the end of May, 97 percent of golf courses in the US were open for play, compared to just 44 percent in early April. The reopening of golf courses has brought new and returning players to the game: “There seems to be a surge in participation among beginning golfers and those who haven’t played in a while,” writes Joseph F Beditz, president and chief executive officer of the NGF. “Course operators are telling us they are seeing lots of new faces, and retailers are saying they are moving an unusually large number of beginner [boxed] sets of clubs.” The Foundation’s latest report, released on 26 May, also estimates that two-thirds of pro shops are back open, and over 80 percent of off-course golf retail stores had now opened, a huge increase on the four percent that were open in early April. Approximately 70 percent of all courses now have food and beverage service, too. NGF has created a special COVID-19 online resource with regularly-updated data and insights on the impact of COVID-19 on the golf industry. Find out more at: thengfq.com/covid-19 . Industry news New data signals post-COVID boost for golf Nine-week trend in course opening March 29 46% April 5 44% April 12 48% April 19 49% April 26 58% May 3 79% May 10 91% May 19 95% May 24 97% Week ending: As of the week ending May 24, 97% of U.S. golf courses were open for play, up from 44% in early April Source: National Golf Foundation