Verdae appoints Beau Welling to its board

Verdae Development, Inc. (VDI), the master developer for the 1,100-acre master planned community known as Verdae, has appointed Beau Welling to its board of directors.

“Beau is a world-class golf course designer and land planner. His approach to creating physical environments is unique in that he understands that building great places means delivering value to the human experience,” said Bogue Wallin, chairman of the board for VDI. “We’re also honored by the fact that Beau will carry on his grandfather, the late Buck Welling’s, legacy of service at Verdae.”

Welling maintains an incredible passion and fervor for intellectual and creative pursuits, which can be evidenced in his diverse background. Welling earned a degree in physics from Brown University, where he was a member of the Brown University Bears golf team. Having a keen interest in golf course design, he also studied landscape architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design while also being afforded the opportunity to visit and play many “Golden Age” golf courses in the Northeast. He later attended Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland as a visiting scholar where he was exposed to links golf for the first time. Ultimately, he returned home to earn a master’s degree in international business from the University of South Carolina.

Having begun his career as an investment banker, Welling was coaxed away from the world of finance by Tom Fazio, who initiated him into the world of golf. Assisting Fazio for more than a decade, he oversaw the design and completion of over 90 new and renovated golf courses; led the firm’s overall management and growth; and guided his considerable charitable endeavors.

Drawing on his educational and professional experience, as well as an enthusiasm for a wide range of interests from network science and psychology to contemporary art and literature, Welling solidified his presence as a respected businessman, innovator, designer, and planner by establishing Beau Welling Design (BWD) in 2007. BWD allows Welling to utilize his strengths and passions related to business, design, planning, and art in making impacts on the global community through the game of golf and thoughtful community placemaking.

Outside his work at BWD, Welling is well known for his involvement with the winter Olympic sport of curling. He was first captivated by the sport during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary but has been actively involved since the 2006 Torino Games. For his service to the sport, he was elected Director of World Curling in 2018. In September of 2022, Welling was elected President of World Curling at the WC Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is currently serving as the 11th President of World Curling and the second American to hold the position. Welling also has served on the Board of USA Curling; founded the Palmetto Curling Club in Greenville; and was the U.S. representative to World Curling.

Verdae Development Board of Directors
Bogue Wallin – Chairman
Russ Davis – Vice Chair
Hunter Gibson – Secretary/Treasurer
Anne Ellefson
Nancy Whitworth
Beau Welling
John Cothran – Chair Emeritus

About Verdae:
Verdae Development Inc. serves as the master developer for the 1,100-acre planned development. The real estate subsidiary of Hollingsworth Funds has assembled a dedicated team of professionals committed to creating and maintaining a community whose reach will extend far beyond the Verdae boundary for many years to come. In addition to encouraging responsible residential and business growth, the broader mission is to build a community whose impact on Greenville County will be lasting and profound. Visit www.verdae.com for more.