Wellman Golf Club

 
 

HISTORY

The Wellman Country Club opened in 1970 as a semi-private 18-hole golf course located in Johnsonville, South Carolina.

Designed by Ellis Maples and Ed Seay, this course had a 7,018-yard track, water on 9 holes, and Bermuda fairways. Using Maples & Seay’s trademark bunkering and length, combined with variations of elevations and water features, this course proved to provide a challenging game for golf players.

The Wellman Country Club closed in 2010.

 
 

Wellman Golf Club December 2021

PROJECT

December 2020: Florence County in South Carolina announced the purchase of the land of the golf course. (Purchase was completed March 2021.)

July 2021: the county leased the property to the City of Johnsonville to revitalize the golf course.

September 2021: Johnsonville City Council voted unanimously to approve a contract with Southeastern Golf to improve and build the golf course at the former Wellman Country Club. Rees Jones Inc. will design golf course renovations and enhancements, led by Rees Jones and co-designed by Bryce Swanson.

December 2021: DTE Golf, a division of Down To Earth Landscape & Irrigation, was awarded the contract by the City of Johnsonville to complete premium golf course maintenance services as well as manage all golf and clubhouse operations.

January 2022: DTE Golf started operations, including but not limited to:

Golf Operations

Sign posted by the City of Johnsonville February 2022

  • Golf Shop

  • Driving Range Management

  • Tournament Operations

  • Lesson Programs

  • Membership Drives

  • Golf Cart Management

Clubhouse Operations

  • Restaurant Management/Operations

  • Bar Management/Operations

  • Design

  • Accounting, Budgeting, Reporting

  • HR Duties – Hiring and Training

  • Community Outreach

February 2022: Myrtle Beach Life posted an online article featuring Wellman Golf Club and Rees Jones. The article by Alan Blondin discusses the history of the golf course, how and why the course is reopening, details of the layout, and ties to the Myrtle Beach area.

The article also features a fantastic video by Jason Lee, captioned, “The former Wellman Club in Johnsonville, S.C. is being redesigned and will reopen as a municipal golf course. Course co-designer Rees Jones says the golf course will be a unique ‘private golf experience for the public to play.’”

March 2022: DTE Golf hosted an informational luncheon with Rees Jones and the City of Johnsonville at Johnsonville City Hall. At this meeting Rees Jones spoke about the Wellman Golf Club, “The city has a golf course that people are going to hear about and people are going to come here from afar.”

Along with the meeting at Johnsonville City Hall, there has been some progress of the golf course, captured by drone footage.

June 2022: Wellman Golf Club unveiled their new entrance sign as well as provided updates with sod and sprigs hitting the ground. Follow the Wellman Club on Facebook!

 

Check back for updates and project progress!