Jack Nicklaus on Isla Viveros
Grupo Viveros announced Tuesday that Jack Nicklaus will create a par-72 Signature Golf Course as the centerpiece of Isla Viveros, located in the Pacific Ocean, 45 miles from the Panamanian coast. It would appear that some golf developments are immune to the current economic climate, which is good to see, albeit one has to wonder how they manage it.
Isla Viveros will be a $300 million development featuring as many as two hotel properties, private runway, luxurious spa, shopping and fine dinning facilities, and a 300-slip yacht club and marina, along with 250 beachfront residential villas.
The development is billed as “eco-friendly,” which I find a little difficult to digest. Grupo Viveros, the consortium developing Isla Viveros, seems one step removed from the mafia. The consortium was recently fined for violating environmental laws and destroying several archaeological sites on Isla Viveros. And one of the principals, a Frenchman named Andre Beladina, used to be a lawyer until he was convicted of embezzling from the Belgian bank where he worked. The main spokesperson for Grupo Viveros is one Gustavo De La Cruz, a Colombian who stated in La Prensa that if the SUNTRACS construction workers’ union wasn’t removed from the island, that people would be killed.
True to his word, the union’s leader, Osvaldo Lorenzo, was shot and killed at a picket line protesting the labor laws in Panama in 2007, and two others have since been killed by local “security,” firms. The National Police apparently do a “disappearing act,” at these times. There are legal proceedings being taken against a local labor Ministry official. The Panama News
One wouldn’t have thought a golfer of Mr. Nicklaus’ reputation would be prepared to get involved with a company of this ilk, but needs must I suspect. Or perhaps he is unaware of the recent turbulence surrounding the development. Mr. Nicklaus arrived on Monday in Panama and spent close to four hours on site at Viveros with his design team. Following the visit to the island, Mr. Nicklaus returned to the mainland for a press conference and reception.
“Viveros is honored to have Jack Nicklaus, a distinguished golf legend and the world’s preeminent course designer, on board to create and offer our residents and visitors a premier course that matches the uniqueness of the island,” said Maxime Navarre, CEO of Grupo Viveros.
“We’re excited about our first design visit to Viveros,” Nicklaus said. “The site has a lot of wonderful natural features. There are elevation changes up to 65 meters, lush vegetation, and with 35 kilometers of coastline, we have the opportunity for some spectacular oceanfront golf.
“We have been fortunate to have had a great deal of success designing throughout the Caribbean, and I hope we are able to create a golf experience that will only enhance what Viveros is trying to accomplish, and serve as a welcome addition to Panama’s fast-growing reputation as a global tourist destination.”
