January 31, 2011

Shock: Tiger's Dubai Project "Suspended"**

January 31, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

Guess they had to get this out of the way so that he wouldn't have to pretend during his visit in a couple of weeks like things were progressing, even though we already knew from this Donegan report last November that this one wasn't happening.

Thanks to reader Peter for this Reuters story:

The developer, a unit of Dubahi Holding [DUBAHC.UL], had planned the resort with Woods, a former world number one, who was to have designed the golf course.

"Tiger Woods Dubai can confirm it has suspended the project," Dubai Properties said in a statement on Monday.

"This decision was based on current market conditions that do not support high-end luxury real estate. These conditions will continue to be monitored and a decision will be made in the future when to restart the project." The golf resort was slated to have 292 residential plots for palaces, mansions, luxury villas and golf villas, according to the development's website. It also includes an 18 hole golf course.

Update on 2011-01-31 16:01 by Geoff

**Ron Sirak's Golf World Monday item features an aerial photo showing the six complete holes. He reports that after the upcoming Omega Dubai Desert Classic (where Tiger is expected to play), the watering will stop and the site abandoned. Interestingly, the six holes were definitely overseeded this year.

GolfDigest.com also features this slideshow with some close-ups of the design that will never be played.

January 29, 2011

Phil: "This course just doesn’t reward you for taking any risk."

January 29, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

Brian Wacker on today's edition of "Why Phil Mickelson Can't Stand Rees Jones Architecture."

January 28, 2011

"I think that I'm looking forward to playing the South the next few rounds."

January 28, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

Phil Mickelson has not been shy in sharing his disdain for the Rees Jones redo of Torrey Pines South, so you know he's disgusted with the added length on the North when he's yearning to get back to the Rees architecture.

January 27, 2011

"Apparently the Architect wanted to make a statement with the greens, he did that alright they are &%$#"

January 27, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

Ian Poulter tweeting after round one at Monty's Royal Golf Club of Bahrain:

January 26, 2011

"It's almost like the plans came in for the greens and they got multiplied, significantly."

January 26, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

Paul Casey on Monty's design work in Bahrain, host of this week's European Tour event. From the AP:

January 24, 2011

Respect Tiger's Privacy And Read All About His Backyard Practice Facility

January 24, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

I remember getting quite a bit of grief for posting the item first revealing Tiger's backyard practice area in Jupiter. I countered the privacy complainers about how cool it is to have the means, space and desire to do what every golfer dreams of: building your own backyard course.

January 20, 2011

Historic Shadow Creek To Re-Open After Renovation!

January 20, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

You know those masterpieces, requiring tree removal and other dusting off after 20 years. Anyway, I know it's the Las Vegas Sun, but still, you have to giggle at John Katsilometes revealing that after all of these years, Shadow Creek is finally going to be available to the public for either $500 or as a spectator at Michael Jordan's Celebrity Invitational.

January 17, 2011

Breaking: Someone Wants To Build A Golf Course...In America!

January 17, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

Paul Dunn pens a Pilot guest essay decrying the Pine Forest project in Pinehurst going before the Moore County Board of Commissioners this week.

Developer MHK Ventures Inc. estimates the planned gated community could ultimately contain 600 to 700 homes, two 18-hole and one nine-hole golf courses, a 300-room resort hotel and a commercial district. With 43 excellent golf courses already situated within the so-called Golf Capital of the World, one might question the project’s financial prospects with the economy in deep recession.

After 9/11, ClubCorp abandoned bold plans for Pinehurst Courses No. 9 and 10. The Dormie Club, Legacy Lakes and Little River haven’t seen strong demand for golf venue homes. Stonehill Pines, ambitiously touted to be a major Foxfire project, lies dormant on the drawing board. So the first question the public and commissioners should ask is, “Are 45 more holes of golf and another resort hotel realistic at this time and place?”

January 13, 2011

"Golf Writer and Editor James Dodson to Receive ASGCA’s Donald Ross Award"

January 13, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

(click to enlarge)An improvement over last year's recipient, Tim Finchem who is Commissioner of the PRG Tour according to the ASGCA website. And George Pepper is a former winner. Wonder if he's related to Dottie?

January 11, 2011

RIP: La Costa "Miracle Mile"

January 11, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

Tod Leonard reports on the Damian Pascuzzo-Steve Pate-Jeff Brauer $10 million redo of La Costa that includes the removal of 30 turf acres and a new tournament routing that will permanently retire the most overrated stretch of golf: La Costa's old "Miracle Mile" of 16-17-18.

January 10, 2011

Flash: Doak Reveals "THE EIGHTEEN BEST COURSES I NEVER GOT TO BUILD"**

January 10, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

I know it's slow in the architecture business and we've run out of lists...or so I thought! Turns out Tom Doak has come up with several touching, top-of-the-year lists to share with the Golf Club Atlas world starting with his favorite people in golf, even if they don't really like him!

January 10, 2011

“The goal for Erin Hills has always been an upscale public course."

January 10, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

I cringed when reading Matty G's quoting of Rich Tock, VP and Director of Operations at Erin Hills which, as you may recall, was most definitely not touted early on as an upscale daily fee but instead as a $50 or less affordable course because of its low-cost, lay-of-the-land design.

January 07, 2011

The Machrie Closes

January 07, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

The Herald's David Ross reports that the Machrie, which has been teetering has been closed.

By all accounts it's a splendid links. Hopefully they'll find a way to make it work.

January 06, 2011

Bobby And Rees Finally Agree On Something: Dad's Papers Go To Cornell...

January 06, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

...where students will be able to break down the categories of clover leaf bunkers stamped on hundreds of plans. Bill Fields reports on Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s records going to his alma mater.

January 03, 2011

Something To Look Out For At Kapalua This Week...

January 03, 2011/ Geoff Shackelford

With the Hyundai Tournament of Some Champions set to get underway Thursday, it's always fun to see beautiful Kapalua, particuarly in High Definition. However, since Tiger and Ernie Els' epic 2000 duel (win No. 16 for Tiger!), the ground game which made that event so memorable has been sorely lacking. But courtesy of the GCSAA, it sounds like the resort has tried to address the wet approaches with a pricey new irrigation system: