Unique New 12-Hole Golf Course Coming To Chechessee Creek Club

Forbes

One of golf’s newest short courses is taking a unique approach, with a 12-hole mixed routing in which five holes are geared toward beginners and higher-handicap players and the strategic nature of the other seven caters more to experienced golfers.

By Erik Matuszewski
Published Jul 02, 2025 at 05:16pm EDT

The yet-to-be-named layout at Chechessee Creek Club, a private club in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, is being overseen by Zinkand Golf Design (ZGD). The innovative routing was devised by lead architect David Zinkand, who spent 14 years working for Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the acclaimed duo who built Chechessee’s 18-hole course that opened in 2000.

The flexible 12-hole design at Chechessee starts with a five-hole loop of par-3 holes that are draped over a blanket of continuous turf. While intended to be less intimidating and challenging for newer or less-skilled players, the varied yardages on the opening holes will also test the short- and mid-irons of better players. The following seven-hole loop is a blend of par 3 and par 4 holes, with the longest being just over 300 yards, and is more strategic in nature with forced carries, pronounced bunkers, and putting surfaces with greater contour.

“Our team is also establishing extremely varied habitats outside of turf areas, focusing on native plants and ground formations that will expand the site’s ecological diversity,” said Zinkand. “These planned habitats include installing what may be a true one-of-a-kind golf course feature.”

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