By Jason Bruno
Amelia Island, Fl. – When Omni Resorts called upon Beau Welling to renovate (and restore the ’72 Pete Dye ethos) at Amelia Island’s Oak Marsh course, his first thought was not to let his mentor down. The new iteration of Oak Marsh certainly feels more friendly and sensible than anything Pete Dye would conjure up, but Welling did manage to flash a few Dye feels here and there throughout the routing.
The Omni Amelia Island Resort is situated on the southern end of the Low Country, a uniquely magnificent coastal stretch that begins in Myrtle Beach and extends south along the coast just before Jacksonville proper. Just before Omni reopened the Oak Marsh golf course to members and resort guests in mid-May, they held a fireside chat with Welling and select media to discuss the project. The following day, Omni Resorts unveiled the new 6471 yard par 72 track.
The 53-year-old layout underwent a comprehensive transformation, repositioning several green sites and bunkers in creating a thought-provoking track that has just enough of the Dye ethos to you intrigued throughout the round. The par-4 eighth (above) might be the best example, presenting options and uncertainty from the tee box. The diagonal water hazard that bisects this short hole will cause some indecision, and that indecision is the quintessential hallmark of Pete Dye designs. Big hitters may choose to carry the water here, but most mortals will play to a position for a short iron approach from the right center portion of the fairway. To reach that position, you have to flirt with the creek in order to be rewarded with a straightforward angle with a short iron. Bail left, and the approach gets longer, and the angle is far more difficult.
The course is now much more Welling, and considering the resort clientele, it appears to be the proper path taken. He chose playability and sustainability over difficulty. It’s still quite challenging, but mishits are often playable with a chance for recovery. He opened up more than a few super-narrow corridors by selectively culling less desirable and diseased foliage, and he relocated many of the finer specimens on the property. He also 86’ed several acres of Bermuda grass rough along the edges, thus exposing errant shots to the native sandscapes. The greens and surrounds provide plenty of variety, with enough contour to keep things interesting whatever format you play.
The new iteration of Oak Marsh is the ideal companion to the resort’s other layouts – the Tom Fazio member course at Long Point, and the Beau Welling-designed short course, Lil Sandy. Oak Marsh will challenge the accomplished player, and will be very enjoyable for the recreational resort visitor.
For more info: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/amelia-island/golf/oak-marsh-course
