A few weeks back, former Ryder Cup Captain and seventeen-time PGA Tour winner Jim Furyk unveiled his first signature golf course at Glynlea Country Club on Florida’s Treasure Coast in the ever-expanding city of Port Saint Lucie. The golf course is part of a master-planned residential community that spans 560 acres.
At Glynlea, Furyk partnered with veteran ASGCA Mike Beebe to create the course at Glynlea.
“I’ve played all over the world and have seen a variety of golf course styles,” said Jim Furyk. “At Glynlea, I wanted to design something that’s both beautiful and playable — a course that challenges seasoned golfers while welcoming beginners and families to enjoy the game together. When we began designing the golf course and putting it on paper, the mission was to create a place where golfers of all levels could play and enjoy the game. I think what we created is very playable for every skill level.” Glynlea is a bit unorthodox in its configuration, featuring five par-3s and five par-5s.
Along with Glynlea’s 18-hole championship course, the club also introduced the first Toptracer Aquatic Driving Range in America, state-of-the-art modern technology that delivers a data-driven experience for members and guests of the club.
One of the design and routing elements Furyk mentioned during our conversation (look for a separate Q&A with Furyk coming soon) was that he was not in favor of having residential properties on both sides of the golf holes. “The course should always have some room on one side, for the natural elements to be visible and to keep it from feeling claustrophobic.” Probably not the choice of most residential developers, but a great call by the 2003 U.S Open Champion.
Our experience at the opening on November 7th, confirmed that Furyk’s intentions were carried out; the layout is playable for every type of golfer with an abundance of room off the tee, fun green complexes with intriguing contours, a lack of tall rough, and very few penalty areas that come into play for the higher handicap player. Additionally, most of the greens are at the fairway grade, so when it’s windy, the course will allow for the ground game to be an integral part of its design. Decent players will likely get around without ever losing a golf ball, and mid to high handicap golfers will not face any intimidating forced carries.
GreenPointe Developers Regional President Austin Burr talking about the community they are building at Glynlea, “The demand for property on the Treasure Coast is unprecedented, and we are building a community that will attract retirees, families, and young professionals. There is a real appreciation for the amenities and the value we’re creating, in addition to its proximity to medical facilities, recreation, and nearby metropolitan areas.”
For more information on Glynlea – glynleagolf.com
