Scope: Comprehensive Modernization of a Legacy 18-Hole Layout
Location: Santa Rosa Beach, Florida (30A Corridor)
Architect: Bergin Golf Designs
Acreage: 46 Acres of Permitted Re-grading

Services Provided:
– Gravity-Flow Grading and Subsurface Drainage
– Coastal Zoning and Entitlement Strategy
– Specialized Bio-Swale Engineering for Runoff Capture and Infiltration

Unique Solution:
 We successfully classified the project as a Minor Development Order to bypass extended public hearing timelines and preserve the construction start date while balancing creative “dune” aesthetics with strict hydrological constraints.

Case Study: The Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club Transformation

Context & Services

The Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club (SRGBC), a member-owned legacy asset on Florida’s scenic 30A corridor, faced a critical juncture as it approached its 50th anniversary. To secure its market position, leadership required a comprehensive modernization of the 1969 layout. The Contineo Group provided the technical skills and creative problem-solving for this transformation, delivering a comprehensive, life-cycle approach to golf civil engineering through:

  • Infrastructure & Permitting Planning: Strategizing zoning and entitlement to navigate regulated coastal zones.
  • Hydrologic Engineering: Implementing gravity-flow grading and subsurface drainage to ensure “firm and fast” playability.
  • Earthwork Balance Optimization: Utilizing a balanced-site model to repurpose material from pond expansions to elevate fairways, minimizing imported fill.
  • Environmental Coordination: Managing proactive ecological monitoring to protect local flora and fauna without delaying the schedule.

The Unique Solution

Successfully renovating in ecologically sensitive areas requires an engineering partner who acts as a translator between architectural ambition and rigid regulation. We stood as a dedicated advocate for the architect’s vision, developing precise grading plans that balanced creative dune aesthetics with strict hydrological constraints.

By identifying the project as a Minor Development Order, our team navigated the regulatory landscape to bypass extended public hearing timelines, preserving the critical construction start date. This craftsmanship extended to the property’s perimeter, where we engineered specialized bio-swales to capture runoff and facilitate rapid infiltration. Our solution protected neighbor relations and allowed the original routing to remain fully realized.

Success & Impact

The result is a facility that sets a new regional benchmark, earning the distinction of “Purest Golf in the Florida Panhandle.” The project received an Honorable Mention for Renovation of the Year from Golf Inc. Magazine. By bridging the gap between art and engineering, we delivered 46 acres of permitted re-grading that achieved visual unification, enhanced playability, and provided long-term maintainability.