Haig Point Club & Community Association on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, has unveiled a detailed vision for its future known as Project Harmony. This multi-year, multi-faceted investment initiative has received formal approval from the club, indicating strong consensus among its members. The project is poised to guide the community’s next phase of growth across its golf facilities, infrastructure, and residential offerings.
Haig Point, an island destination accessible only by boat, is renowned for its distinctive golf experience, anchored by the Rees Jones-designed Signature Course, which has previously ranked among America’s top 100 courses. Project Harmony, representing a $40 million investment, aims to build upon this foundation by restoring, refining, and modernizing the club’s golf amenities. Simultaneously, it seeks to align infrastructure and residential development to ensure long-term value for the community.
Don W. Hunter Jr., CEO/General Manager, stated, “Haig Point already offers all the elements of an exceptional golf and club experience. This initiative, supported by 77 percent of our membership, is about enhancing what is already a very strong golf course and modernizing it for today’s game. Our goal is to create a more complete and flexible playing experience for our members and to elevate the unique island lifestyle that defines Haig Point.”
Central to Project Harmony is the commitment to elevate the Signature Course through continued investment in its infrastructure, agronomy, and playability. Key refinements planned for the course include:
- Ongoing investment in course infrastructure and agronomic systems.
- Integration of previously planned bunker restoration and enhancements.
- Long-term planning for irrigation and turf sustainability.
- Strategic adjustments to align with modern playing expectations.
Renowned golf course architect Rees Jones has planned significant revisions, including:
- Reshaping, realigning, and laser-leveling all tees.
- Partial rebuilding of all greens (except holes 1 and 15), with an emphasis on regrading approaches.
- Complete rebuilding of greens 1 and 15.
- Reshaping all bunkers to a modern style using Bunker Solutions.
- Regrading of fairways.
- Re-grassing greens with TifEagle and fairways, tees, and rough with Tahoma 31.
- Vegetation management in and around wetlands to improve hole and water views.
- Repair and maintenance of cart paths as needed.
Under the guidance of Director of Agronomy Randy Moody, course conditions have already seen marked improvement, with strong winter performance and a meticulous approach to maintenance and planning.
“This project isn’t about reinventing the course,” Hunter emphasized. “It’s about restoring and refining it to its full potential, ensuring it performs at a high level for years to come.”
Project Harmony also includes transforming the Osprey Course, under Rees Jones’s direction, into a high-quality, nine-hole design. This new layout will complement the Signature Course and expand playing options for members. Hunter expressed enthusiasm for the Osprey Course’s potential, stating, “We believe it can become one of the best nine-hole experiences in the region, enhancing our members’ play and the overall golf offering at Haig Point.” Critical improvements to the Osprey Course include a new irrigation system, 21 new forward tee options to create a par-3 course, and a new short game practice area.
The work on both the Signature and Osprey Courses will be executed in three phases over a three-year period:
- Phase 1: Osprey Course and Short Game Area — Late 2026 to November 2027.
- Phase 2: Signature Course Front 10 — Early 2028 to November 2028.
- Phase 3: Signature Course Back 10 — Early 2029 to November 2029.
Hunter indicated that the club aims to maintain 18 holes of golf available to members throughout this three-year period. Duininck Golf will be responsible for the on-course construction work.
A pivotal element of Project Harmony’s success is the establishment of a new barge company, which commenced operations in April. For a community accessible only by boat, an efficient materials transportation system is crucial. The new barge operation will:
- Increase the efficiency and reliability of material transport.
- Reduce construction timelines.
- Deliver significant cost savings for builders and investors.
- Support large-scale golf and infrastructure improvements.
“This provides a significant advantage for how we build and maintain on the island,” Hunter noted. “It allows us to execute more efficiently and with greater control over both cost and timing.”
Project Harmony is already yielding tangible progress in residential development. Haig Point has expanded its builder network, with new partners actively involved and multiple homes currently undergoing permitting or construction. The community’s long-term strategy targets a sustainable pace of approximately 25 new homes per year.
“These are actual projects underway,” Hunter confirmed. “Not just concepts or projections – these are homes being permitted and built right now. This distinction is important and signals strong momentum.”
The 77 percent member approval for Project Harmony highlights a level of consensus that is uncommon in private club environments and is increasingly valuable in the current market. This alignment facilitates clear decision-making, consistent execution, and bolsters confidence among prospective buyers and investors. “Alignment allows us to move forward with discipline,” Hunter concluded. “It gives us the market confidence that this is a community with a clear direction and the ability to execute.”
