INDIAN RIVER GOLF Club is closing for the next two months, but new general manager and head professional Tommy Satterfield says that is a
good thing. The West Columbia course, which opened in 1992, will undergo renovation of its greens, with the old Bermuda being replaced with Tif Eagle, a Bermuda hybrid. The greens will be reshaped and, because of the new turf’s increased speeds, existing undulations will be modified. “I’ve played here since it opened, and I know how good the course can be,” said Satterfield, a former Brookland-Cayce High player who replaced manager Nick Hamill two months ago. “You can have a great layout, but if you don’t have good greens, it doesn’t matter.” Greens work and repairs to cart paths will be directed by brothers Lyndell and Larry Young of Myrtle Beach, the course’s architects. New Life Turf will handle the greens replacement at an estimated cost of $265,000. During work, scheduled for completion in late July or early August, Indian River members will have reciprocal deals with eight area courses. “We want them (to be) paying dues,” Satterfield said, laughing. He said a membership drive will be launched when changes are finished. In the future, Satterfield said he also would like to convert the difficult par-4 11th hole (465 yards from the back tees) to a par-5, which would make the course a par-72. U.S. Open qualifying. Clemson’s Ben Martin shot a 3-under-par 69 and Columbia resident Jarrett Grimes had a 2-over 70 to advance in U.S. Open local qualifying at Spartanburg’s Carolina Country Club.
The pair trailed Charlotte’s Corey Nagy and Spartanburg’s Daniel Carver, who both shot 68s. Also moving on were Coastal Carolina’s Daniel Obremski (70) and Gaffney’s Paul Butler (70).