“When we get our boots down on golf course design, it opens up to every kind of deal we have, the wines, clothing line"

I know what you're asking yourself! Who said that? Was it MacKenzie? Tilly? Dye? Doak? Hanse? Oh wait, only one architect sells wine and clothes! (Which reminds me, Jack, why don't you have your own wine label?).

Thanks to reader Nick for Wing-Gar Cheng of Bloomberg's report that Greg Norman is looking at up to 20 design projects in China.

Chrissy, you better start learning to say Ni hao.

Norman, known as the “Great White Shark” for his aggressive golf style and blond hair, is chasing 20 golf-course design leads in China, said Harley Kruse, an architect at Greg Norman Golf Course Design Co. Each course could attract a fee of more than $1 million, Kruse said in an interview late yesterday.

“When we get our boots down on golf course design, it opens up to every kind of deal we have, the wines, clothing line,” Norman, 54, said in an interview in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. “China is the bright spot.”

Wonderful that he's eyeing the opportunity to grow the game and share his vision of  250 yard carries and misery at a premium.

The company plans to open offices in China in the next five months, and may establish a wine distribution partnership within a year, Kruse said. Norman previously designed courses at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen and Kai Kou Golf Club in Xiamen, where another Norman course is under construction.

“What you have within your corporation is what your brand represents,” Norman said late yesterday. “I’m not trying to get everything. You just have to identify your market and know what you’re going after.”

Just think architects: there will be 20 redesign jobs in just a few years! So Greg's opening up two markets, design and redesign.

Comments

[James H.]

A little jealousy, perhaps?

[Tilly]

Shaq,

You should have practiced more.

[Geoff]

Jealousy? What do you mean? Think of all the courses that will need re-working when Greg's done! I just hope he starts soon.

[Mystified]

I'm always amazed by the love of Norman and his "brand." His courses are awful, the clothes are ugly and the wine is drinkable. But I can't fathom why anyone would want to have him design courses at this point.

He's had at least two never opened because they were unplayable. Right?

[Chuck]

I think we just found ourselves a new LPGA Commissioner!

[Brad Ford]

Don't forget the golf ball manufacturers who benefit from the extra lost balls his courses force upon average golfers for no apparent reason.

His courses are generally an abomination.

[Dave M]

You see, now all this hype about juiced up balls and clubs makes no sense. With superior equipment why shouldn't someone be able to carry the ball 250?

[Petrillo]

his design career/hype is a logical extension of his playing career; the gap between his hype and record is bigger than John Daly before surgery. 2 majors won and countless ones thrown away due to a complete inability to think like a major champion.

[Morg]

Geoff, being the Cali man, I think you're just feeling a wee bit guilty for not hooking Gil up with a wine label by now. Besides, all those Norman courses might be game preserves or amusement parks in twenty years. Diversify, Man. You don't even need to grow the grapes, just press, bottle, and box. Rustic Canyon Reserve ... Estate Bottled.

(And if I am not mistaken, Norman's clothing line is outsourced to the golf division of Adidas.)

[thusgone]

"what you have in your company is your brand", really greg? it sounds like norman is trying to out-trump trump, or maybe forrest gump.

[Dick Mahoon]

Norman may have been toothless in the majors but he is no dummy when it comes to doing business. There's a ton of money over here in China for golf especially when it comes to 'brands', even if it's a brand that most in the western world don't rate.

He's probably looking to beef up his bank balance before Chrissy dumps him, takes half his money and then shacks up with Nick Faldo....

DM

[Ronald Montesano]

Just curious...the first major knock on Nicklaus' designs was that they all favored high fade to elevated targets. Does Norman do the same? I can't recall having ever played one of his beloved (on this site) layouts.