Mike strantz died in 2005 at the age of 50, which was a sad loss for his family, but it was also a significant loss for american golf course architecture, as he was widely considered as one of the most creative contemporary builders and a man who was not afraid to take chances or be different.

Critics may argue that his ambitious ideas went too far in terms of the amount of earth he pushed on some of his projects, but they should remember that diversity in the field of course construction is beneficial to the overall growth of the game of golf, and his innovations sure had golfers thinking on a lot of levels.

In the 1980s, strantz worked as a shaper for tom fazio, but left after eight years to explore other interests. He was later approached to look at the property on pawleys island with the intention of carrying out an 18-hole course on the 152-acre site, and when caledonia golf & fish club opened in 1993, it was the first of nine solo designs – subsequent ventures included tobacco road in north carolina and the shore course at monterey peninsula, california.

Caledonia is littered with relics of the past – an old fish shed here, ruins and chimneys of old houses there – examples of the property's previous life as a rice plantation and hunting and fishing club before golf. The fairways are spread out over some of the finest scenery in the low country, with lovely landscaping around many of the ancient old oak trees that were introduced into the routing.