The College of Wooster women's golf team's northern spring slate kicks off this weekend, and the Fighting Scots prepared for it with a week and a half trip to the Hilton Head Island, South Carolina area. During the trip, the Scots played nine courses.
Wooster dipped into Tom Fazio's portfolio for the start of the trip at Belfair Country Club, a traditional parkland-type course set in the frame of lowcountry and dotted with beautiful oaks and soaring pines. Old South Golf Links, a regular stop on the trip, is where Wooster spent March 13. Widely regarded as one of the area's favorite courses by locals and visitors alike, the Clyde Johnston-designed course is lined with towering oaks and features magnificent views of the area from the island greens.
Next, Wooster traveled to Georgia to take on NCAA Div. II Savannah State University at Crosswinds Golf Club, an open, parkland-style course with five par-5 and five par-3 holes. After returning to South Carolina, Wooster had a practice round at Legends Golf Course at Parris Island. The par-72 layout winds its way along salt marsh wetlands and deep-water creeks.
Prior to St. Patrick's Day, Wooster practiced at Dolphin Head Golf Club. Dolphin Head was Gary Player's first designed course in Hilton Head in the 1970s and is the first course constructed in Hilton Head Plantation. The front nine is lined with Player's signature bunkers and marshland coming into play on most holes, which places a premium on hitting fairways and greens. The back nine, lined with open spaces and tall, old-growth trees, presents a distinctive different look, making the course one of the most unique in the area.
After taking in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah, Georgia, Wooster returned to the links at The Golf Club at Indigo Run, the first signature course to be co-designed by a father and son team, with the team consisting of legendary Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack Nicklaus II. The course's other fact of note consists of it being the last golf course built on Hilton Head Island.
"Jack's courses" were a theme as the trip approached the home stretch, with the Scots spending March 19 at Golden Bear Golf Club, recognized as one of "America's Top 100 Courses Priced Under $100" by Travel and Leisure. Nicklaus placed an emphasis on strategy and finesse shots instead of sheer power when designing his Golden Bear course. A return to Country Club of Hilton Head occurred on March 20, with doglegs and water on almost every hole among the defining characteristics of the course that features Old English architecture. Lastly, Wooster had a practice round at Bear Creek Golf Club, renowned designer Rees Jones' first solo-designed course. The course has hosted the Hilton Head Amateur and Hilton Head Open in the past.
Wooster is at the University of Mount Union Spring Invitational, which takes place Saturday and Sunday at Tannenhauf Golf Club in Alliance, Ohio. That tournament is followed by the Wooster Spring Invitational, hosted by the College at Wooster Country Club April 1-2.