Following a comprehensive golf course renovation, Wild Dunes Resort's Harbor Course selected NorthBridge® Bermudagrass to deliver improved playability and performance under coastal conditions.
Located in the Charleston area on Isle of Palms, S.C., the Harbor Course at Wild Dunes Resort is known for its scenic layout along the Intracoastal Waterway. The course recently reopened following an extensive renovation that included new greens and green complexes, rebuilt tee complexes, new bunkers, a new irrigation system and new cart paths. According to Superintendent Billy Ford, the project was completed in approximately six months.
As part of the renovation, NorthBridge Bermudagrass was selected for the golf course's playing surfaces. The decision was influenced by the variety's ability to perform under the unique environmental conditions found at the coastal South Carolina property.
NorthBridge® Bermudagrass across the renovated Harbor Course at Wild Dunes Resort on Isle of Palms, SC.
Managing Coastal Challenges
A compromised flood gate allowed saltwater intrusion into the course's freshwater pond system, while effluent water serves as an additional irrigation source. Those conditions presented an ongoing management challenge and made turfgrass selection an important component of the renovation.
"I think NorthBridge does a lot better than 419 as far as salt tolerance is concerned," Ford said. "We really like the density of it, the color of it, the resiliency of it. We really like it so far."
Green Acres Turf Farm owner Gary Youmans has worked with NorthBridge for years and has seen the grass perform under a variety of environments. He believes one of its strengths is its ability to recover from challenging conditions often encountered in coastal settings.
"Even if we had some tides come up on it, it's gonna burn it but not kill it," Youmans said. "It seems to bounce back really quick, which is the nature of NorthBridge. It grows fast. It's kind of designed to be abused."
From the Farm to the Course
Green Acres Turf Farm supplied the NorthBridge used throughout the renovation. Youmans said maintaining grass that is clean, properly mowed and ready to harvest is an important part of serving golf course projects where timing and quality are critical.
The Wild Dunes project brings together the perspectives of both the superintendent managing the finished surface and the grower responsible for producing the grass. Ford and Youmans discuss those considerations, along with NorthBridge's performance at the coastal property, in the full project video.
Watch the full project video and hear directly from Wild Dunes Superintendent Billy Ford and Green Acres Turf Farm owner Gary Youmans:
NorthBridge now provides a dense, consistent playing surface suited to the unique challenges of the Harbor Course's coastal environment. The project demonstrates the role turfgrass selection can play in long-term course performance.
Beyond Wild Dunes, NorthBridge continues to be used at professional sports and golf venues worldwide, earning a reputation for durability and playability across a range of climates.
Learn more about NorthBridge® Bermudagrass and its use on golf courses and professional sports fields:
