For avid golfers, few experiences rival the joy of teeing off on a beautifully manicured course surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Nature's unpredictability can sometimes dampen this joy, quite literally, when rain events render the course unplayable for days.
A hidden gem nestled in natural splendor, Brays Island Golf Course faced this very challenge due to limited drainage systems when it was first built. To overcome this obstacle and elevate the golfing experience, a dedicated team of experts devised a five-year plan to implement vital improvements, ensuring quicker recovery after rain and firmer playability.
The primary focus of the plan was addressing drainage issues on the golf course, and, in the first year, the team initiated improvements on Hole #9 using a traditional French drain system, according to Jeff Miller, superintendent of the Brays Island Golf Course. This initial step was received well by the owners and set the foundation for future enhancements and the commitment to elevating the golfing experience.
The team brought in golf course consultant and former Superintendent of the Augusta National Billy Fuller, who recommended an innovative drainage solution called the X GD Drainage System. This system has been used successfully in several other communities, so the team was eager to implement it on holes 1, 10, and 11.
“It’s worked so well that we’ve been tasked just to focus on drainage for the majority of the improvements,” Miller said. “There are some other big infrastructure projects that we still have to do, but the drainage has worked so well that the owners noticed immediately. We can get carts out faster, we have firmer playability, especially in the winter or in the wet, and the fairways are just firmer.”
So far, holes 1, 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11 are complete, and hole 2 is targeted to undergo this transformation next year using the X GD system, elevating playability and shortening recovery after heavy rain events.
As part of the infrastructure plan, the team is currently working on improving bunker complexes. Using a successful system designed by Billy Fuller, these complexes will provide improved drainage and minimal washouts during rain events.
“Over the years, we’ve improved the green side bunkers,” Miller said. “We’ve gone to a system that’s called the Better Billy Bunker. Basically, you line the entire base of the bunker with stone and then you spray it with a polymer, put sand over it, and the water just shoots right down through. They don’t wash out.”
Holes 7 and 9, the last holes that require bunker improvement, are part of the five-year infrastructure plan.
Beyond the drainage and infrastructure improvements, the team has plans to enhance the golf course's aesthetics, making it even more appealing.
“In the last year of the project, we also have some projects to improve aesthetics,” Miller said. “We’ll use something called Coquina. It’s a kind of crushed limestone sand out of Florida. It’s very dense with a super bright color that looks really nice. It definitely has a lowcountry feel to it. So, we’ve done a couple of test plots, we’ve planted some deer-resistant plants and used the Coquina, and the owners seem to really like it.”
The improvements made to the golf course at Brays Island through this well-thought-out plan illustrate the owners’ commitment to maintaining a first-rate facility, but doing so in a fiscally responsible way. With a focus on continuous improvement, this hidden gem promises an exceptional golfing journey for years to come.