Premier Country Club Streambank Armoring

This club is widely regarded as the premier golf and country club in South Carolina's Upstate. Spanning more than 130 acres is a master-planned 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Fazio. It is host of the Korn Ferry Tour's BMW Charity Pro-AM.

In 2023, the course underwent a complete stream restoration. The scope of work included re-grading the severely eroded streambanks. Complicating the restoration, was working around obstacles like bridges, trees, pipes, and boulder walls.

Rock rip rap had been used in the past but was failing. Engineers sought stronger protection and specified Flexamat Plus. Not only did Flexamat have higher performance capabilities compared to rock, but it offered a more natural aesthetic solution. Native plants thrive within Flexamat. The designers incorporated sprigging and other riparian vegetation within the Flexamat.

Within three months of the installation, the club was hit with a severe thunderstorm that brought four inches of rainfall. The intense storm led to flash flooding at the club. The entire #5 and #8 holes were under water with rapids running through the course. The General Manager / Chief Operating Officer walked the entire length of the Flexamat armored creek the morning after the storm and said, "After walking the entire length of the creek this morning and based on my observation, our erosion control measures appear to have worked beautifully, and the entire creek bank appears to be fully intact."

Check out pictures in the gallery below that show pictures of the course during flooding and pictures showing the same area after the flood waters receded.