THE DEMANDING GREEN AT TWELVE (Courtesy GCA)

In the second half of my interview with Bill Kennedy, superintendent of Chechessee Creek, he discusses how Chaffin/Light, the club’s developer, went about making environmental stewardship a priority at the club. Bill lays out what measures he undertakes to develop animal habitat, limit water and chemical use and generally make the course as environmentally friendly as possible. (Video after jump)

It is interesting to hear Bill talk about the lessons Chechessee learned from Spring Island, another Chaffin/Light course. It is not simply enough to leave things alone, but it takes a detailed and thoughtful management plan to not only limit the effects of a golf course, but rather to make the golf course a positive environment. Chechessee is very willing to share what they have learned with any parties interested. This environmental ethos is one of the many reasons it is a true pleasure to belong to this understated gem.

For first half of this interview, click here.

Chechessee's Tenth

Full Disclosure: I have been a member of this club since 2003 and it is one on my favorite places in the world.

Chechessee Creek is located halfway between Hilton Head and Beaufort, SC and only forty minutes from Savannah. The Coore/Crenshaw low-profile design is an excellent example of how a short course can play much longer than the yardage by combining short par fours with a number of stern, longer ones and adding another par three in lieu of a fourth par five. (Video after jump)

What truly makes the course though, is the level of detail that Bill Coore put into the greens. These push-up greens are filled with both large contours and fine breaks that can be very difficult to read. A good short game is a must in order to score well here. The bunkers are not as jagged as other Coore/Crenshaw courses but have a rustic, linear charm.

This video is the first of two and introduces Bill Kennedy, Chechessee Creek’s superintendent. He discusses working with Bill and Ben and how he tries to maintain the golf course to compliment the design. Bill Kennedy also talks about the decision to use a coastal bermuda grass as the course’s primary rough. While the coastal provides a look and playing characteristics that are quite different from the other courses in the area, it has caused some grumbling from the members because it is both hard to find balls in and is also extremely difficult to play from.