The Chanticleer course Greenville Country Club members and guests played in the fall is changing.

It is not going to be the course they play in about a year.

The 54 year old course aged gracefully, but time and advances in the game have had an impact on the play-ability of Chanticleer.

The classic Robert Trent Jones design that made the course a member of the top-100 for many years was in need of being refreshed and updated.

Guests who played Chanticleer always left raving praise, but every day members were starting to see the course losing ground to modern designs that better reflected the way the game is played today rather than in 1970 when the course was built.

“When we first started talking about the project we thought we could just do some things to update the course,” said Greenville Club president Michael Fletcher. “As we went along we realized we had a lot of 20 year old greens and irrigation systems that needed to be replaced so instead of doing it piece meal we decided to do it all at once,’ he said.

The next step was to bring on an architect to design and manage the project.

“We didn’t have to look far. We have a world class designer right here in Greenville who grew up on the course. It was pretty much a no-brainer,” said Fletcher.

Beau Welling was chosen to update the classic design and to bring back some of the luster that had made Chanticleer special.

“This place is special. It was designed by a legendary architect and it has a rich history,”he said.

Another reason Chanticleer is even more special to Welling, than other designers, is he grew up on the course.

“I became a better player here. I remember competing in South Carolina Golf Association events. When I was offered the opportunity here I was blown away. This doesn’t happen in my world. I usually have to travel to work. So to have the opportunity to work where I grew up made this Uber special,” he said.

Welling worked under noted architect Tom Fazio learning his craft.

Since forming Beau Welling Design his company has designed and built golf courses around the country and the world. One of his newer projects is in development with Tiger Woods.

When you dive into the plans, you see it maintains the character of a Jones design, but translates the layout to the way the game is played today.

Golfers will remember their old course, but be wowed by the embellishments.

Almost every hole will see some modification with the most significant changes on holes 9,17 and 18.

If the changes go through the 18th hole will become number 9 and a par 3, while number 9 will be enhanced to become a picture perfect finishing hole.

The hole will be challenging. It will also be a visual delight, especially in the spring when the azaleas cover the hill behind the hole.

Number 17 is already a long par-5, but better golfers have turned it into an almost guaranteed birdie hole.

Welling believes added length will make the hole more challenging and a new green complex will help restore the holes teeth.

“We will make the course playable for all levels of golfers. It is difficult, but we can achieve it,” said the designer.

Besides the changes to the holes, the course will change to Tahoma 31 fairways. It is a more heat tolerant playing surface and requires less water.

Chanticleer has always been known for great bent grass greens. As part of the renovation the greens will become Bermuda.

Climate changes have made keeping bent grass greens playable in the heat of the summer almost impossible.

Moving the dirt is under way and it is expected to take a year to finish the make-over.

Welling has confidence that his company can deliver a course to the members that will be beyond their expectations.

”At the end of the day a compliment to us would be when we reopen, the scratch level player says the course is playing two or three shots harder and the 15-20 handicapper thinks the course is playing two or three shots easier. That will feel like success,” concluded Welling.

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