Photos: Orchid Island in Florida wraps up renovation to its Palmer-designed course

Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club in Vero Beach, Florida, has completed a renovation to its Arnold Palmer-designed course, with work done on all its greens, tees, and bunkers, plus the short-game area and the driving range.

At the private Orchid Island, which hosted the 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, the work by Arnold Palmer Design Company was focused on rejuvenating the playing surfaces and introducing interesting shots to the layout constructed in 1990. Following are details from the media release announcing the completion of the project:

The biggest design changes were to the ninth hole, which included lowering the fairway and removing bunkers for a spectacular view of the lake.  Other distinct changes included the fifth hole in which the green was moved to slightly shorter the hole, the seventh hole had green contouring modified with a redesigned green complex, the 13^th hole saw a change in green contouring and the 18^th hole had a dramatic reshaping of the green and the bunkering around it.

Brandon Johnson, then serving as a lead architect for Arnold Palmer Design, completed the work at Orchid Island. The design company has in recent months wound down its operations, with former Palmer architect Thad Layton having since started his own firm and Johnson waiting to discuss his plans for the future.

“The renovations have been very well received by our members who are enjoying the beauty and user-friendly nature of the course,” Matt Boyd, golf superintendent at Orchid Island, said in the media release.  “Architect Brandon Johnson ensured that the integrity of the course remained intact by adhering to Arnold Palmer Design Company’s stringent standards.”

Check out a selection of photos of Orchid Island below: