ALAN BLONDIN

ON GOLF

Diamond Back Golf Club in Loris has some more character because of the development around the course.

The building of homes at Woodland Valley has led to the addition or enlarging of lakes on the course's fairways that have changed the character of some holes.

The lakes are included in stormwater drainage improvements needed for the new development.

Since this past summer, holes 10 through 17 have all been altered in some way by lake construction. The eight holes have been affected by the first phase of development by Carolina Investment Co. LLC, which owns the property surrounding the course.

More forced carries have made the eight-year-old Russell Breeden design more scenic and more difficult. No greens, tees or fairways have been moved, however.

"They're adding water features, and in some of the cases it's adding to the beauty of the holes," said Steve Taylor, a Diamond Back owner and partner in its management company, Signature Golf. "The appearance of some holes and the shot value on some holes have changed, and it's really better. If you played it a few years ago and play it again now, I think its a better experience."

The first phase of development calls for 177 lots ranging in size from a quarter acre to nearly three quarters of an acre, with homes built by local builders selected by homeowners. Andy Freeman, director of development for Carolina Investment, said there are 25-foot buffers between houses and fairways, with trees in the buffer zones in most cases.

Future phases of development will likely result in the addition of water to many of the other 10 holes on the course. Freeman anticipates 600 total lots around the course.

Taylor said the recently-added lakes were part of the course's original master plan. "Part of original stormwater plan called for some of these lakes, but that development never took place," Taylor said.

Carolina Investment will also be redesigning the exterior of the clubhouse and building a two-level amenities center across the parking lot from the clubhouse.

The clubhouse will be in a Lowcountry theme with a wraparound porch and columns, a standing steel roof will replace shingles, and a long staircase to the pro shop will be replaced.

The amenities center will have sales offices as well as a fitness center with locker rooms and saunas, 25-meter pool, kiddie pool, upstairs banquet facility with kitchen and meeting rooms. Two hard court DecoTurf tennis courts are planned near the amenities center.

Work on the clubhouse and center should begin in the spring. Some new cart paths will also be built because some had to be moved.