Bobby Weed has completed a renovation of the Lagoon course at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club near Jacksonville, Florida.
The Lagoon’s front nine was designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1961 and the back nine was added by Joe Lee in 1978. Weed first worked on the course in 2007 when he redesigned and lengthened the par 70 layout to 6,025 yards.
“Led by Herbert Peyton, chairman of Gate Petroleum, the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has entrusted our firm for nearly 30 years to guide the evolution of the Ocean and Lagoon courses,” said Weed, who renovated the Ocean course in 1998 and 2020. “The Lagoon’s shorter layout, with numerous half-par holes, offers a diverse, faster playing experience that perfectly complements the bolder Ocean course.”
All greens have been rebuilt to USGA standards and grassed with TifEagle bermuda, with Weed restoring putting surfaces to their original sizes and ensuring contours can accommodate modern green speeds. New irrigation has been installed on all green complexes to control and manage water more efficiently.
In addition to regrassing greens, all tees, fairways and rough areas have been planted with TifTuf bermuda. “The bright green characteristic of the turf provides a striking contrast alongside the native coquina shell areas that flank the edges of many holes,” said Weed.
Bunkers have also been restored to their original flat-bottomed design and now feature new drains, liners and sand.
The practice putting green, next to the first tee, has been enlarged, with the chipping green redesigned and lowered to help encourage more golfers to use the area.
Bobby Weed Golf Design worked with MacCurrach Golf Construction on the project, having also collaborated with the firm on the 2007 renovation. Joey Flinchbaugh, director of agronomy at Ponte Vedra, was also part of the project team.
“Following his award-winning renovations to the Ocean course in 1998 and 2020, Bobby was our first call when it became time to modernise the Lagoon course,” said Jeff Hanson, director of golf at Ponte Vedra. “Ongoing infrastructure improvements are critical to maintaining our high standards.”