The new 18-hole Astor Creek Golf & Country Club course, designed by Chris Wilczynski, has opened for play in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The golf course is part of a new gated community that is expected to include 900 homes. The designer was selected by real estate developer Kolter Homes in April 2021 and construction started in February 2022. Astor Creek becomes the fourth new course Wilczynski has designed for Florida developments.
“I’m honoured that Kolter Homes entrusted me to design the golf course at their first ground-up golf community,” said Wilczynski. “Our goal was to create something unique on the Treasure Coast – a golf course that is beautiful and features fun, strategically designed risk-reward holes that blend classic and modern design elements.”
Wilczynski has included versions of template holes, including a ‘Surprise Redan’ second, ‘Astor Biarritz’ third, ‘Astoria Punchbowl’ twelfth, and ‘Short Horseshoe’ fifteenth.
On several holes, the architect has introduced free-flowing waste bunkers that feature islands landscaped with native grasses, oaks, palms or pines. “The waste areas are not only aesthetically appealing but, given their composition, you can play your shot out of them, or even drive a golf cart through them,” said Wilczynski.
The architect was supported on the project by golf course superintendent TJ Kemp and experts from Ryan Golf, Atwell Group, Thomas Engineering Group, Cotleur & Hearing, A.S. Altum & Associates, Hampton Golf and RVI Planning & Landscape Design. David Humphrey is the clubhouse architect.
“It’s been an amazing experience working with this fantastic team,” said Wilczynski. “All great projects eventually come to an end, but when I leave the site realising that we just created a new utopia and experience for people to enjoy for the foreseeable future… that’s fulfilling.”
Following his first round on the new course, Bobby Julien, CEO of Kolter Homes, said: “It was awesome; frankly above my expectations and totally in line with what we believe our residents will want for their golfing experience… truly an exceptional job.”