A year after its far-reaching redesign, Wexford Plantation Club welcomes the area's golf professionals and amateurs this weekend for the 38th annual Hilton Head Open.

The new look, courtesy of the Arnold Palmer Design Company, will test players around the greens.

"The person who wins the event is going to be somebody that's got a very good short game," said Tom Logue, tournament director and head golf professional at Moss Creek Golf Club. "The chipping around the greens is different than most places around here."

The 36-hole tournament finishes Sunday. The field of 93 will be divided into professional and amateur flights, with an overall champion. Jordan Pomeranz, last year's champion, is not in the field, nor is Rob Simmons, who tied for low amateur last year.

But fellow low amateur John Patterson is expected to compete after traveling from the Western Amateur in Illinois. And Benji Gecy, who finished fourth last year, will tee it up at Wexford on Saturday for the first time since the spring.

"The greens needed a little bit of work because there was always a heavy grain, which made it difficult to putt on and score real well," Gecy said of the previous design. "They're rolling real nice. It's going to play more difficult now, because they've elevated the greens and increased the slope."

The Wexford project broke ground in April 2011 and finished in August of last year. Bunkers were reduced by almost 200,000 square feet. Trees were removed and landing areas opened up.

"They put the driver back in the bag, which is really good," Logue said. "They made it a little more open for the longer hitters."

The approaches and greens are now where decisions are made. Logue said even though some of the greens are large, they require an approach to be in the appropriate spot.

He expected the course to be set up around 6,500 yards Saturday for the top flights and at about 6,700 yards on Sunday, but said the course should play a little shorter due to its firmness and the roll out. Logue said the course was fun and that he would favor a conservative setup.

Gecy said the layout reminded him of other courses he's played this summer, including Oyster Reef for the Hilton Head Amateur and Fripp Island's Ocean Point Golf Links for the Beaufort City Championship.

"I played pretty well in both those tournaments," he said. "I'm hoping I play well this weekend."

TEE TIMES

38th annual Hilton Head Open

Saturday-Sunday, at Wexford Plantation Club

First round

No. 1

8 a.m.: Tom Logue, Scott Hunter, Gerry Pascale

8:10 a.m.: Nicholas Coursey, Benji Gecy, Greg Schmaus

8:20 a.m.: David Rogers, Jamie Manning, Chandler Vilcheck

8:30 a.m.: Ed Brill, Matthew Chang, Mark Phillips

8:40 a.m.: Barry Fleming, Eric Dollenberg, Sandy Knapp

8:50 a.m.: Matt Lucchesi, Jeff Wong, Kevin Arnold

9 a.m.: Derrick Garrou, Steven Botts, Jim Stock

9:10 a.m.: Heidi Wright-Tennyson, Bob Engler, Joseph Prevuznak

12:30 p.m.: David Wilding, Jr., Casey Jones, Ed Atkins

12:40 p.m.: Matt Stewart, John Patterson, Jon Hauck

12:50 p.m.: Matt Bova, Russell Anderson, Doug Ballenger

1 p.m.: Brett Heisler, Simon Fraser, John Vignale

1:10 p.m.: James Scales, Hal Cherry, Wesley Long

1:20 p.m.: Ross Prachar, Chris Lewis, Tate Hoisington

1:30 p.m.: Koll Farman, Eric Ruhlin, Scott Berkner

1:40 p.m.: Mark Tomedolskey, Dondi Wall, David DeDecker

No. 10

8 a.m.: Michael Bleakley, Jason Rossetti, Charlie Hall

8:10 a.m.: Jim Uremovich, Tim Howard, Edward Clayton

8:20 a.m.: Stuart Carrihill, Jon Piccione, Chris Morris

8:30 a.m.: Andy Hinson, Cole Adams, Alvin Bischoff

8:40 a.m.: Lance Buntin, Glen Miller, Trent Hoisington

8:50 a.m.: Jon Hundley, Steve Baldwin, Lenin Lezcano

9 a.m.: Mark Teed, Clayton Brown, Jim Martin

9:10 a.m.: Jason Cherry, Jim Ferguson, Terry Lanning

12:30 p.m.: Keith Bach, Kyle Eichelsbacher, Trey Testino

12:40 p.m.: PJ Politan, Gordan Gourley, Brian Fox

12:50 p.m.: Jess Watkins, Dave Cunningham, Danny Lawrence

1 p.m.: Tony Woods, Jack Gillespie, Troy Hoisington

1:10 p.m.: Franklin Newell, J.R. Evans, Thomas Hines

1:20 p.m.: David Lapour, Zachary Ruhlin, Rick McDevitt

1:30 p.m.: Sean Patterson, Ted Morris, Jay Wilson