Golf or Wildlife?

Much to the disappointment of local environmental groups , the Scottish government has finally given Donald Trump permission to build what he describes as “The greatest golf course in the world,” in a remote part of Aberdeenshire, along with 1500 homes. Originally rejected by Aberdeenshire Council, the Scottish government decided to over-rule the local council’s decision in favor of “economic and social benefits.”

Mr. Swinny, Finance Secretary, who made the decision after a lengthy public inquiry, said,

This is a development which has been a long time in the planning and, from all of the indications, we know has been something to which the Trump Organisation has been seriously committed for many years. We are now in a position where we can see that development taking its course and what’s important is that the decision I have arrived at today gives a clear signal to the international community that in these difficult economic times, Scotland is open for business.

A spokesman for SNH said,

The inquiry report clearly accepts the extent of the adverse impacts the development will have on the fragile dune system, but has concluded that in this particular case this is outweighed by social and economic benefits.

This is good news for those developers who felt in some way constrained by any environmental concerns. The Scottish government has now made it clear that these concerns will not prevent them from changing the laws to suit developers as needed. The area in question was previously protected by law from any development of this type, but it seems economic considerations are more important than protecting the environment to the Scottish government. After a lengthy battle between local councilors, environmental groups and Mr. Trump and other business leaders, the decision to allow the development to proceed was announced on Monday. The plan includes two golf courses; 950 vacation condominiums; 26 “golf villas;” a 450 bedroom, ten storey Gothic hotel; a spa and conference center and 500 homes, some 100 of which must be “affordable.”

Mr. Trump was clearly pleased with the decision, and insisted that the current financial crisis would not prevent him from moving ahead as fast as possible, although he still has some hurdles to overcome. Outline planning permission has been given, but detailed plans must now be submitted to Aberdeenshire Council before work can begin on the project. Environmental impact will have to be “assessed and monitored.”

Another hurdle to overcome is Michael Forbes. Mr. Forbes owns a small farm in the middle of the proposed development which sits adjacent to the front nine and directly between the links and the proposed hotel. When asked if Trump came to him with an open checkbook, would he ever sell? Mr.Forbes replied,

Never. Never to Trump. Someone else, I might consider. In the beginning, I never minded about a golf course. As long as they don’t damage the dunes, it doesn’t bother me. But I don’t agree with the hotel and houses. They should be building houses young folk who’ve just been married can afford, not for the rich.

The decision is a clear turn around by the SNP government, who were elected on a commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection, although it would seem to have been a foregone conclusion that this is the decision that would be reached. Due process has been seen to be observed, laws have been changed to suit and Scotland gets another golf course at the expense of the local habitat. No surprises there then. Helen McDade of the John Muir Trust said,

The government’s reasoning seems to be that it is OK to ignore any number of protections that are in place to safeguard Scotland’s environment, provided there is a big enough buck to be made at the end of it.

The real question now remains as to whether there will still be enough demand for this type of property in the short to medium term. Mr. Trump may be confident that he has the financing and political clout to get the development approved and built, (as am I) but the economic downturn will likely have some impact on the demand for a luxury development of this scale. This is a huge development, not a small boutique development such as the one recently announced by Tiger Woods in Mexico. From the environmental standpoint, the financial crisis would seem to be a blessing in disguise.

Tiger Woods presents his plans for an Ultra-luxury golf development in Mexico

If you had said to me last week, “I am planning a new residential golf course development,” I would probably have laughed and suggested that it was poor timing on your part.

With golf course developments around the world struggling for memberships and some pretty high-end developments being canceled, it is probably not the best time to start a new one.

Unless (and this is a big unless) - It is being designed by Tiger Woods, will limit availability to only 40 homes and 80 condos; is within a short drive of San Diego and the entire course will be oceanfront.

Tiger Woods announced his involvement in a new venture this month – Punta Brava in Mexico, just 65 miles from San Diego. I imagine long and hard sessions went into deciding just how many people were likely to be able to afford the $3 million, one-acre plots, and this particular development is most likely immune to the current financial disaster. This may now be the most expensive real estate in Mexico. These are a few photographs of the environment, pre-development.

Mr. Woods is involved in two other developments at the moment, both of which are still in the construction phase. The Tiger Woods Dubai will eventually feature some staggering obstacles such as waterfalls and dramatic elevation changes, and thousands of trees and shrubs are being transplanted out in the Dubai desert. The other course is on The Cliffs in North Carolina.

Video Courtesy - Fairway Properties

The story is a little different further down the food chain, and several up-market developments have either been delayed or put up for sale recently. The 300-acre Beechtree course in Maryland closes it’s doors at the end of the year, a mid-luxury fractional ownership development on the edge of St. Andrews in Scotland was canceled recently, and the St Andrews Beach Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia is closed and currently up for sale along with a sister course The Golf Club at Kennedy Bay.

Although, according to the previous owners – the weather was to blame. What I hear is there was a drought on a third course near Phillip Island which caused the other two to fail also. Nothing to do with over-building. I guess that is a little better than the Spanish property developer that is suing Greenpeace for scaring the Spanish property market into a collapse when they produced a photo-book showing the likely effects of global warming on the Spanish coastline.

Punta Brava

Castiglion Del Bosco

Castiglion Del Bosco is a 4,500 acre private estate in Tuscany, Italy. Within the grounds are a 12 century castle fortress, the ruins of an early Gothic chapel and many other historic remnants of the past. recently renovated to exceptional stanfards, Castiglion Del Bosco is now offered as a private membership estate with full, member-only access to the 21 hectare golf course.

Golf Course

Although, for some (myself included) the appeal is also access to the famous winery on the estate. Until recently, the vineyards were cultivated solely for personal consumption by each family living on the estate. As one of the founding members of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, the organization that regulates and controls the quality of Brunello production, Castiglion del Bosco introduced the world to its exemplary vintages through the emergence of a commercial operation in the late 1950s. In 2004, acclaimed international Wine Master Nicolo D’Afflitto took command of winemaking at Castiglion del Bosco, along with locally trained enologist Cecilia Leoneschi. Under their careful direction, the Estate is yielding more modern Brunellos that are attracting critical acclaim.

Castiglion Del Bosco

A new residential golf development in Mexico is on schedule to open December

Residential Golf Community Mexico

The company’s press release states:

Savvy golfers expect that an Arthur Hills-designed golf course will be bold, original and timeless. Scheduled to open in December, the links course that is the centerpiece of Paraiso del Mar, a new residential resort community on 1,700 acres of secluded peninsula that juts out into the Sea of Cortez, will not disappoint them.

This is the first Arthur Hills course in Mexico. It will open to member and resort play in December 2008.

Unfettered by trees and following the natural contour of the land, the course at Paraiso del Mar (”Paradise of the Sea”) is set on a sandy peninsula surrounded by the waters of the Sea of Cortez.

“Welcome to the British Isles, Mexico style,” says Brian Yoder, the partner at Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest and Associates (AHSF) who directed the Paraiso del Mar project. “Creating a course here was like throwing down a tablecloth. We used a minimalist approach to preserve the existing natural beauty and much of the existing terrain was dramatic enough the way we found it.”

The verdant fairways provide a stunning contrast to the desert landscape as the par-72, 7,100-yard course is seamlessly woven into the natural surroundings of the peninsula. Paraiso del Mar will be Mexico’s first Audubon International Signature Sanctuary development, golf’s highest environmental standard. Indeed, for those lush fairways, Yoder and AHSF chose the latest generation of Platinum TE Seashore Paspalum, a salt-tolerant turf grass strain that thrives on briny water.

“We’re proud to earn the Audubon distinction,” said John Fair, co-developer and CEO of Paraiso del Mar. “Preserving the local environment was of utmost importance to us. While the entire development occupies nearly 1,700 acres, more than 800 of those acres have been set aside for wildlife sanctuaries, mangrove preserves and a biological corridor.”

The 18-hole course at Paraiso is replete with ocotillo cacti, ocean views and, an ever-shifting, windswept sea of sand dunes. A striking line of “foredunes” separates the course from the beach itself. Yoder deftly weaves these scenic landforms into green settings at the par-3 6th and 14th holes. The 6th bumps right up against the foredunes and overlooks the beach. The putting surface is unique; surrounded by pot bunkers but flanked by a large, natural bowl that has been incorporated into the green itself. The 14th is similarly seaside but the putting surface “has been worked up like a potato chip because we contoured it right on the dunes that were there,” Yoder explains.

Sand of a different sort is featured in the layout’s distinctive bunkering and accents the look of Paraiso del Mar along its fairways. Many feature edges and faces pushed up to blend with the dune-dependent contour of the fairways and rough areas. Others are “dropped in,” Yoder says, “in the way you’d expect a pot bunker to be presented at Troon, but without the sod walls.”

Paraiso del Mar is accessible by car, or by a unique five-minute water taxi ride across the bay from La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur. La Paz is situated on the Sea of Cortez, about a two hour drive from Cabo San Lucas. Unlike its resort-saturated neighbor to the south, La Paz remains a quaint Mexican town where homeowners and visitors can experience a sense of escape and proximity to the local culture.

Golf course memberships will be available to Paraiso del Mar homeowners. The first phase of the resort community consists of more than 294 two- and three-bedroom homes, and 400+ two, three and four-bedroom condominiums. In addition there are swimming pools, tennis courts, a planned marina and miles of hiking trails and beaches. Home and condominium prices range from the low $200,000’s to more than $1,000,000 USD.

For more information about the entire Paraiso del Mar development, please visit www.paradiseofthesea.com.

Golf courses around the world are more and more turning on to the idea that to be truly successful they need a residential development alongside the greens and fairways. The other feature many seem to be unable to dispense with is a PGA professional-designed golf course and the two seem to go hand in hand.

It is hard to say who is leading the pack as far as golf professionals, but Jack Niklaus is one of the most active. Nicklaus rarely competes in competitions nowadays but appears to be very busy on golf course design, including a course at The Cliffs golf community in Carolina. In fact Niklaus design has over 300 golf courses currently open for play and almost 100 golf courses under design. A full list is available here. One of the more spectacular courses is the Great Waters course on The Reynolds Plantation golf development, which was voted among the “Ten Best New Courses,” by GOLF magazine. This is a video of their development courtesy of Fairway properties, a residential golf property sales portal.

Graham Marsh and Vijay Singh are two other PGA pros now involved in course designs on residential development, collaborating on the Al Houra Luxury Golf Resort in Tangiers, Morocco.

Tiger Woods has now “designed,” several courses, one notable course being the Tiger Woods Dubai, a massive development with over 100 villas on the course. More often than not, the courses are combined with residential golf communities, not all of them as large as the tiger Woods Dubai, but many pundits are seeing this as the only way to make modern golf courses profitable.

According to Monte Stewart of Ontario’s Business Edge,

“The days of Canadian golf courses being built without housing projects around them are coming to an end.”

Mr. Stewart quotes Ken Fulton, the general manager of Baxter’s creek Golf Course near Peterborough as saying,

“You do need a real estate component if you’re spending multi-millions of dollars. At the millions that we’ve spent here, you can reap the benefits through green fees and make money at it.”

The Tiger Woods Dubai, which is a member of Tatweer, announced the fact that they are offering potential buyers five premium plots in the development at silent auction

“Based on our phenomenal sales record and early success stories, we are offering this closed bid as a rare opportunity to own premium plots on The Tiger Woods Dubai,” said Abdullah Al Gurg, the project’s director.

The exclusive plots include two luxury villa plots; two mansion plots; and a hundred-thousand square foot “palace” plot, all offering lake and golf course views. The deadline for bid submission is August 12, 2008.

Scheduled for completion in 2009, The Tiger Woods Dubai is fast taking shape as an exclusive golf community encompassing a golf academy, club house and a luxury spa.

Auctions seem to be becoming a popular way of selling luxury Golf properties. A few months ago, Emaar auctioned off eighteen luxury homes in the Arabian ranch golf development.

Fashion designer, Elie Saab was also recently retained to design a luxury hotel in the same development.

Shaikh Holdings, the leading Dubai-based real estate investment and luxury development company, has announced the start of construction at its prestigious Sanctuary Falls villa development in Jumeirah Golf Estates. The start of construction was marked by a tee-off event at the Sanctuary Falls site, and signified the beginning of this landmark boutique community in Dubai. The award-winning Sanctuary Falls project, aims to create a new benchmark in community living by being the first resort-style residential golf community in the UAE.

Executives from Shaikh Holdings, Leisurecorp, Arabtec, DSA International, Hirsch Bedner Associates, Scavolini, Quintessentially and Archimedia attended the momentous event.

“Today we have reached a significant milestone for Sanctuary Falls and the creation of a truly unique residential golf community for Dubai. We are all very excited on this auspicious occasion as we move one step closer towards the realization of the Sanctuary Falls dream. We are glad to share this moment with all our partners who have worked hard to make this community a great success.” said Imran Shaikh, CEO, Shaikh Holdings. More on Jumeirah Golf Estates New Development