Jim Furyk Shares Unique Perspective on Today’s Golf Course Design

November 3, 2023 | Read Time: 5 minutes

For decades, PGA Professional Jim Furyk has garnered acclaim for his distinctive swing and a trophy case filled with 17 different PGA Tour wins. Now, he’s embarking on a new endeavor, helping bring a new wave of championship golf to Florida’s Treasure Coast. Located within the master-planned community of Wylder, Glynlea Country Club will feature a championship golf course, the very first Jim Furyk design. As the crown jewel of the community, the course will treat players to breathtaking natural views while navigating the course. Let’s learn more about Jim Furyk’s design philosophy.

Jim Furyk's Global Inspiration

Furyk’s golfing journey began at a very young age under the guidance of his father, who was the head or assistant head professional of several golf courses in Pennsylvania. Jim played collegiately at the University of Arizona, where he was twice named All-American and led his school to the NCAA golf championship. After joining the PGA Tour in 1994, he has won numerous PGA Tour Championships and holds the record for the lowest single-round score in history. Most recently, he was named the Vice Captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup and U.S. Team Captain for the 2024 Presidents Cup.

“My career has given me the incredible opportunity to play golf all around the world, exposing me to a lot of different architectural styles for golf courses,” said Furyk. “These travels have provided me with a wealth of experience to draw from for this course’s design. It’s an honor for me to have my name associated with this course, and I’m genuinely excited about this endeavor.”

Assembling a World-Class Design Team

Furyk’s collaboration with GreenPointe Developers stems from his connection with Ed Burr, the President and CEO of GreenPointe Holdings LLC. His commitment to nonprofits led him to participate in the Monique Burr Foundation’s Champions for Child Safety Pro Am Golf Tournament. The annual tournament raises funds for educational programs that empower students from Pre-K to 12th grade to handle unsafe situations. After playing in numerous tournaments and forming a close bond with Ed and his family, Ed approached Jim about designing the golf course Glynlea. The GreenPointe team has also added Michael Beebe, a 40-year veteran in golf course architecture, and golf course shaper of over 20 years David Johnson to the team.

“Mike, David, and I have been putting all our ideas on a piece of paper, two-dimensionally, for years,” said Furyk. “Now, the fun part begins where we get to go out there, play in the dirt, dig around, and create an amazing piece of three-dimensional artwork with our golf course.”

A Friendly Layout For All Skill Levels

Furyk’s aspiration for his golf course was to seamlessly integrate it into the friendly nature of the other amenities, delivering a tour-level experience that remains accessible for beginners. The outcome was a layout spanning 4,249 to 6,755 yards with four sets of tees. Furyk shares, “The design has five par fives and five par threes. It is a par 72 layout but may be a little different. We’re used to seeing four and four.” While the par fives present alluring opportunities for skilled players to chase birdies, Furyk was keen on ensuring that the par threes emerge as unique challenges, framed by breathtaking landscapes and natural features.

“I think too many people see a tour player as the designer and they immediately think ‘Oh my goodness this course is going to be hard,’” said Furyk. “That’s not the case here. Our goal was to create a fun golf course, a fun atmosphere, and a place where all levels of golfers could come together to enjoy the game of golf.”

Design Feature To Look For

The layout of the course was just the first element of its design. Furyk also emphasized bunkers as integral elements of the course’s character. Rather than viewing them as annoying obstacles, he sees bunkers as tools to help guide a player’s strategy, directing towards preferred angles of approach to the greens. The greens vary in size, thoughtfully designed to match the challenges of each hole. Forced carries are kept to a minimum, especially on mid to long-length holes, allowing golfers various options for approaching the putting services. Smaller, more guarded greens are strategically placed for shorter holes, where precision is essential, while longer and more demanding holes feature larger, more accessible greens with ample opportunities for chipping and putting.

The course also blends in with nature to provide a beautiful landscape for all. “The property has a lot of scrub pine that we’re going to save for the course,” said Furyk. “We’ve layered the bunkers and organized the trees in a way that creates some land movement and gives the golfer a pleasant feel. Whether on the golf course or the homes surrounding it, we want residents to enjoy its beauty from every angle.”

Original Article from Glynlea