Rees Jones Return

Rees Jones, the course’s original architect, is returning to oversee a long list of refinements that includes fully or partially rebuilding all greens, reshaping all bunkers to a modern style, re-grading fairways, and re-grassing fairways, tees and the rough.

The project, which is scheduled to begin in November, also includes opening up views along holes and on the water through vegetation management around wetlands, repairing and maintaining infrastructure like cart paths, and reshaping and laser-leveling all teeing areas.

“This is not about reinventing the course,” Hunter said of a layout that had been a fixture in the Golf Digest Top 100. “It’s about restoring and refining it in a way that brings it back to its full potential while ensuring it performs at a high level for years to come.”

Limited Guest Play

While private, Haig Point welcomes a limited number of daily guests to the course, with players traveling by ferry from Hilton Head or other Lowcountry communities.

As another part of the modernization effort, Haig Point’s 9-hole Osprey Course will also undergo a significant transformation to expand playing options and ensure conditioning matches the standards of the Signature Course. With the increasing popularity of short courses, particularly in the destination golf world, the Osprey Course will get 21 new forward tee options to create a new par 3 course.

Hunter said the opportunity with the Osprey course is significant, particularly in terms of providing flexibility for families, casual play and time-constrained rounds.

“We believe it can become one of the best 9-hole experiences in the region, something that not only supports our membership but enhances the overall golf offering at Haig Point,” Hunter said.

The work on the two courses, including construction by Duininck Golf, will occur in phases over a three-year period, with the goal of having 18 holes of golf available for member play at all times. The Osprey Course and the short game area will be a part of Phase 1, starting this November and extending through late 2027. The front 10 holes of the Signature Course will go under the knife in 2028, with the “back 10” set for 2029.

Haig Point is a rarity in that it has 20 greens on the Signature Course, with both the 8^th and 17^th seaside holes having two greens for players to choose from. That will remain after the course work is complete.

Beyond the golf course investment, a new wellness and fitness center is being developed, while the racquet and pickleball facilities are being expanded.

The overall $40 million initiative is in line with a broader trend within the golf world. Many facilities are healthier from a financial standpoint and, after several years of increased play and participation in the post-pandemic era, are better positioned to reinvest in improving their existing product.