Coastal resort golf course in Georgia to undergo renovation in transition to private club (Golfweek)
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Architect Beau Welling has signed on to renovate The King and Prince Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Originally opened in 1989 with a design by Joe Lee, then renovated in 2009 by Billy Fuller, the 18-hole coastal layout will see work begin by Welling in mid-2026.
The course renovation is part of a larger investment by owner South Street Partners in which the clubhouse also will be reimagined. South Street – headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina – acquired the club from MMI Hospitality Group in 2024. Located just a few miles north of The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, the course will shift to a fully private model in 2026.
Welling, who works with Tiger Woods on Woods’ course designs, has been plenty busy with his own firm in recent years. Among other work, he designed the Omni PGA Frisco Fields Ranch West Course and master-planned that whole project in Texas, and he recently completed three other renovations in Georgia (Atlanta Country Club, Coosa Country Club and Ocean Forest). He also recently wrapped up a renovation at Oak Marsh at Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa in Florida (where he built a par-3 course), and he completed a renovation of the private Jonathan’s Landing Village Course, also in Florida. Welling also collaborated with South Street on multiple projects, including the new Orange Hill course and club community at Kiawah Island Club on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
“The King and Prince Golf Club sits on an incredibly unique piece of land, and there’s a real opportunity here to highlight that natural beauty in a more intentional way,” Welling said in a media release announcing the new of his latest Georgia project. “Our approach is to stay true to the original character of the course while introducing design elements that improve playability, strategy and visual interest. It’s about refining what’s already here and creating a more engaging experience for members.”
(This story by Jason Lusk first appeared at Golfweek online on June 26, 2025.)