The Clutch, a 12-hole short-course designed by Beau Welling & Chase Webb will open at South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, southwest Florida, near Fort Myers, on an undetermined date in this year.
The Clutch was named after a nest of a turtle and to reflect the diverse wildlife on the island.
MORE Golfweek’s Best ranked the top short course in the U.S.
Welling, Beau Welling Design’s president and founder, stated in a press release that the course was about to open, “We are very proud of the course we created at South Seas, and look forward unveiling The Clutch.” The site is stunning, and we created a challenging and strategic golf course with unobstructed views of the water on each hole. We were able to create an enjoyable and unique golf experience for families and friends to come together to play golf and enjoy the beautiful setting.
Media Release:
The Clutch, with its interesting greens and slopes, will be a challenge to experienced golfers. It will focus on shot values, angles of play, and precision. The Clutch will offer many options to those who are new to golf, using slopes and short-cuts to green surrounds.
Welling worked on dozens if highly ranked golf courses all over the world. These include Fields Ranch West, at the newly opened Omni PGA Frisco Resort (Texas) and Bluejack National with Tiger Woods in Texas. Clark Construction Company employed him and Webb, who was a senior associate designer, at South Seas.
The Clutch course was designed to be able to handle intense rain. It also features palm trees that survived Hurricane Ian, which devastated the island in 2022. As the region continues to recover after the impact of the category 5 hurricane, the resort will undergo a phased opening in summer 2023.
In a media release, South Seas General Manager Shawn Farrell stated that they were “excited to introduce our guests” to the new golf experience. “Our goal is more than just offering a game. It’s to enjoy the popular sport in a beautiful setting.”
