Emerald Bay GC reopens after renovation by architect Bob Cupp

The Emerald Bay Golf Course, in Destin, Fla., reopened Friday, Aug. 1, after completing a major renovation by golf course architect Bob Cupp.

Cupp’s career in golf course design has spanned more than 40 years. He served as senior designer for Jack Nicklaus for more than 15 years before starting his own firm in 1984. His courses have hosted over 50 national and international tournaments, including seven major championships. Golf Digest and Golf Magazine have selected his work as the best in the nation four times and as runner up six times, according to his website.

“The challenge was to maintain Emerald Bay’s charisma. It has always had a unique combination of holes, some quite long and some quite short, often in succession,” Cupp says. “On some holes, the player works hard just to get to the green in regulation, yet the next hole, the challenge is ball placement off the tee and finesse to the hole. One hole is about strength and courage. The next it is about the player’s wits.”

The golf course renovations by Cupp and Southeastern Golf, a golf course construction company, include:

• New and enlarged greens and tee boxes;
• TifEagle Ultra Dwarf bermudagrass on the greens;
• New bunkers and cart paths;
• New water features and bridges;
• Enhanced and additional practice facilities; and
• New clubhouse landscaping and cosmetic upgrades

“Emerald Bay has a distinctive motif, landforms that are reminiscent of older courses and set in the pines with the familiar water hazards common to coastal areas, but that is only the visual part. Its true style is the subtle consistency of different golf shots,” Cupp says. “Each hole is a story. Each hole is different. After the round, every hole lives in the player’s memory.”

The course will host its grand opening party at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 18 at the Emerald Bay clubhouse.

Photos: Emerald Bay GC