Weed’s company initially updated Tampa’s famed layout in 2011 as Phase I or II
Bobby Weed Golf Design has completed the Phase II modernization of Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club, 14 years after the initial Phase I restoration of the famous original design by Tom Bendelow and Donald Ross. Weed’s extensive experience as a Ross historian and restorer, together with his in-depth knowledge of Palma Ceia, enabled his team to efficiently improve the golf course’s design, infrastructure and playing experience. The long-awaited reopening took place on October 31.
As the founding club of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), former host of the largest event fair on the PGA TOUR and annual host of the Gasparilla Invitational, known as one of the most prestigious national amateur golf tournaments in the U.S., the roots of Palma Ceia’s championship run deep.
For over a decade, Bobby Weed Golf Design has provided services focused on short- and long-term improvements and master plans for the celebrated club. Following the “Renovation of the Year, Private Course 2012” award at Palma Ceia, the company’s third in eight years, Weed’s team was tasked with updating these elements by 2025:
Most notable improvements– Re-graze the entire property
– De-fertilize all lagoons
– Replacing all bulkheads
– Overlapping and widening of numerous cart paths
– Significant improvements to holes 4 and 18
– Enlarge all par 3 tees and add additional tees
Updated holes
– Hole 4 tee, lake, shot and green
– Hole 5 T length and expansion
– Hole 7 fairway bunkers
– Hole 10 fairway bunkers
– Hole 12 fairway bunkers
– Hole 13 tee, shot and cart path
– Hole 15 green and shot
– Hole 18 tee, landscaping, fairway bunker, lake, shot and green
Grasses
The entire property was re-grazed from wall to wall. tees (TifGrand bermudagrass); collars and approaches (TifGrand); greens (TifEagle ultradwarf bermudagrass). Fraze mowing removed the top inch of grass, which was accompanied by the spraying program to completely eradicate all previous grass.
Greens
All greens have been completely stripped and restored. It is notable that the green on hole 18 was lowered by 7.5 meters and placed further to the right against the new shot.
tees
Enlarged selected holes and all par 3 tees. Forward tees were also implemented. Adding to the sleek aesthetic are new T-walls and concrete steps topped with brick pavers.
Bunkers
Excavated, reshaped and rebuilt with new drainage, lining and sand. There is a tighter cut around greenside bunkers, which actually makes them play bigger.
Drainage
Additional work has been carried out around the renovated areas.
Irrigation
Updates have been made to the pump station, with additional heads in certain areas.
Landscaping
A detailed tree management program included tree removal and new planting. Podocarpus hedges have been added for screening and aesthetics.
Lagoons
Four to two meters of mud and waste material were removed from all lagoons.
Scots
Course-wide reconstructed with selected adjustments.
Shopping cart paths
Extensive, track-wide subgrade and asphalt cart paths, with selected widenings and concrete curbs.
“Under the leadership of renovation chairs Phil Carrol and Dan Fields, along with Superintendent Carson Kamps, Palma Ceia has entrusted our firm to guide the continued evolution of Tampa’s oldest private golf course,” said golf course architect and longtime ASGCA member Bobby Weed. “Our latest scope offers a more consistent, drier and faster playing experience that will be well received by Palma Ceia members.”
“Creating a phased master plan spanning ten years proves that proper planning and budgeting, aligned with the club’s other capital improvements, is a testament to Palma Ceia’s goal to raise the bar on all of the club’s amenities,” continued Weed, who was also joined by his associate Joey Graziani.
Bobby Weed Golf Design is aware of and responsive to the rising costs of new course construction and renovation. The company is widely respected for its value engineering throughout all project phases, from pre-construction to completion. The Phase II modernization of Palma Ceia is the latest example of this effective strategy.
Visit for more information www.bobbyweed.com.
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