When golfers think of the Carolinas, they imagine lush fairways, towering pines, and natural topography that feels born for golf. Yet beneath that beauty lies a unique challenge — heavy clay soils and cool-season turf that demand a more deliberate, long-term design approach.
That’s where master planning becomes the invisible foundation of lasting success. Across North and South Carolina, Jeff Lawrence, ASGCA, and Lawrence Golf Design (LGD) have been leading clubs through thoughtful, phased renovations — crafting blueprints that respect both the land and the budgets that shape it.
Unlike the sandy coastal soil found along the South Carolina Lowcountry, much of the Carolinas’ upstate and piedmont region sits on dense red clay — a material that retains water, compacts easily, and demands specific drainage engineering.
At Fox Run Country Club and Holly Tree Country Club in Simpsonville, South Carolina, Lawrence Golf Design’s master plans began by analyzing existing conditions and identifying drainage challenges. Clay layers meant water lingered just below the surface, compromising turf health and bunker integrity.
Jeff Lawrence built comprehensive design concepts — ensuring that each future renovation phase (greens, bunkers, tees) would align with long-term infrastructure.
A true master plan is more than drawings — it’s a roadmap for decades of decision-making.
Lawrence Golf Design’s process begins with three principles:
At Cedarbrook Country Club in Elkin, North Carolina, Jeff Lawrence’s plan staged bunker work, green reconstruction, and tree management over several seasons — aligning with member capital planning cycles. By sequencing infrastructure first and aesthetic updates later, club’s can achieve steady improvement without overwhelming budgets or maintenance crews.
The Carolinas straddle one of golf’s most challenging agronomic zones — where cool-season and warm-season grasses meet.
At Lake Hickory Country Club and Pine Lake Country Club, Lawrence Golf Design balanced playability and maintenance realities by testing turf conversion options within the master plan.
For instance:
“A good plan lets you adapt when technology or climate shifts,” says Lawrence. “You shouldn’t have to redesign your greens every time you change grass.”
Master planning isn’t about modernizing for modernization’s sake — it’s about understanding what should never change.
At Pine Lake Country Club, Lawrence Golf Design’s long-range vision rebalanced new design elements while keeping the general character members loved.
Similarly, at Holly Tree CC, Jeff Lawrence’s redesign of all 18 greens honored the course’s original routing while adding improved contour variety and visual definition. Every change aligned with the club’s identity: Southern golf that challenges the mind more than the muscles.
With construction costs and material prices rising across the Southeast, clubs are learning that a clear, phased master plan isn’t a luxury — it’s financial protection and an investment for the future of the club.
Clubs without one often find themselves spending twice on the same feature when drainage, irrigation, and grading don’t align.
Jeff Lawrence’s approach links his design vision with budget realism.
Each phase includes detailed cost tracking, maintenance projections, and member communication templates — ensuring projects don’t just look beautiful, but remain sustainable over time.
“When the superintendent and board both see their priorities reflected in one plan,” Lawrence adds, “you stop fighting fires and start building momentum.”
From upstate South Carolina to the piedmont of North Carolina, the Carolinas have become a model for thoughtful renovations. Firms like Lawrence Golf Design are proving that sustainable golf design isn’t about chasing trends — it’s about respecting the land and managing it intelligently.
Every course Jeff Lawrence touches tells the same story: careful sequencing, soil-driven strategy, and respect for sustainability. Whether it’s the compacted clay of Fox Run or the cool-season fairways of Lake Hickory, success begins not with a shovel — but with a plan.
Master planning is how clubs future-proof their course identity.
It ensures today’s work fits seamlessly with tomorrow’s vision — and that every dollar spent reinforces long-term performance, beauty, and playability.