When St. Johns Golf Club reopened in 2022 after a major renovation, Golf Digest took notice. The public course near St. Augustine had been transformed from a functional but forgettable layout into something genuinely compelling, featuring green designs inspired by early 20th century architects Seth Raynor and Charles Banks, typically found only at high-end private clubs.

Architecture Without the Budget

Working closely with Director of Golf Wes Tucker, Erik reimagined the course around provocative greens - Biarritz, Punchbowl, and coffin bunkers, all while keeping the $8 million budget focused on what mattered most: drainage, irrigation, and turf. The result eliminated an average of 30 lost playing days per year and gave the course an identity it had never had before.

A Model for Public Golf

Golf Digest writer Derek Duncan called it a rare taste of Raynor-Banks architecture available to everyday golfers at prices starting at $25. The course expects over 70,000 rounds annually, proof that thoughtful design and public accessibility aren't mutually exclusive.