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Palmetto Dunes Replacing Bermudagrass on George Fazio Course, Upgrading to Diamond Zoysia on All 18 Holes and Practice Green

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (January 25, 2010) – Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, a leading Hilton Head Island vacation destination, is currently upgrading the grass on the award-winning George Fazio Course.

All TifDwarf Bermudagrass is being replaced with a more shade-tolerant, state-of-the-art Diamond Zoysia grass, which will ensure superior year-round playing conditions for golfers.

“It’s about giving our golfers a consistent experience across all 18 holes and on the practice green all year-round,” said Bret Martin, vice president of resort operations for Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. “We won’t have the transition period in the spring and in the fall that we traditionally had with the Bermudagrass.”

The grass conversion, which officially began on January 25, will be completed by mid-March. The Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course and Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Dunes both remain open for play during the grass conversion at the George Fazio Course. The Fazio course is the only layout at Palmetto Dunes to undergo this grass replacement process.

Diamond Zoysia, a warm-weather grass variety developed at Texas A&M, boasts excellent tolerance to low-light conditions, salty soil and high traffic. It retains its color in the fall and has an early spring green-up period, making it ideal for the Fazio course at Palmetto Dunes.

“This new grass is significantly more shade-tolerant than Bermudagrass,” said John Betts, assistant vice president for Palmetto Dunes. “We won’t have to overseed the course twice a year and will ensure that our putting surfaces will be much more uniform throughout the golf course.”

Many golfers regard the George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort as the most challenging layout in Hilton Head Island. Designed by one of America's most revered golf course architects, the George Fazio Course is the only par-70 golf course on Hilton Head Island and is consistently ranked among the nation's top 100 courses.

The Fazio golf course demands a combination of long play and precise golf shots. From the 432-yard 1st hole to the 462-yard 18th hole, the layout features par-4s defined by bunkers and water hazards. The Fazio course plays 6,239 yards from the middle white tees.

Named the #1 Family Resort in the United States and Canada by Travel + Leisure Family, Palmetto Dunes is widely considered to be one of the finest resort destinations in the world and a top South Carolina beach resort. For more information about Palmetto Dunes, please visit http://www.palmettodunes.com online or call 866-567-6513.

About Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
A 2,000+ acre resort stretching from three miles of prime Atlantic Ocean beach to Shelter Cove Harbour’s “sheltered” inlet adjoining the Intracoastal Waterway on Hilton Head Island, S.C., Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is consistently recognized among the world’s finest resorts. The resort features three world-class golf courses, an award-winning tennis center, plus an 11 mile inland salt-water lagoon system for kayaking and fishing. The resort also features a popular marina and Outfitters bike and adventure shop, along with one of the best beaches on the Eastern seaboard. Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, one of the finest ports of call on the East Coast, is the largest deep-water marina on Hilton Head Island. Shelter Cove features an impressive line-up of unique apparel and gift shops, restaurants and art galleries in a one-of a kind Mediterranean setting. In addition, Shelter Cove is home to a full variety of charters, nature cruises, dolphin tours, sport crabbing and fishing. Shelter Cove is located mid-island on the western side of Hwy. 278 at the entrance to Palmetto Dunes Resort. For information about activities or reservations, please call 866-567-6513 or visit http://www.palmettodunes.com online.

About Greenwood Communities and Resorts
A recognized leader in the design, management and operation of fine resorts and communities across the Southeast, Greenwood Communities and Resorts excels at creating gracious, contemporary living environments that enrich the lives of owners and guests. Based in Greenwood, S.C., Greenwood Communities and Resorts proudly celebrates 31 years of developing properties which offer truly unique lifestyle opportunities. Each Greenwood property has been strategically designed to maximize the area’s natural beauty while steadfastly incorporating the principles of intelligent, sustainable land planning. From the rural charm of The Reserve at Lake Keowee in upstate South Carolina to the luxury beachfront resort setting at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island, Greenwood’s properties are as unique as the residents who enjoy them. For more information, please call 843-785-1106 or visit http://www.greenwoodcr.com online.

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