Golf Swing Speed

Golf swing speed is something that beginner golfers often find very frustrating to master. After a few swings, it quickly becomes apparent that the way to get your swing speed does not necessarily mean swinging the club harder. In fact, the harder you swing a golf club without adhering to certain core swing techniques, the shorter your drive becomes.

First you must achieve stability in your swing. This is precisely why the hard swing will do your drive more harm than good. A hard swing with no technique eliminates stability anyone of a number of ways. For instance, it is hard to retain your posture when you put too much effort in the swing.

Also, there is a high possibility that your club face will not strike the ball as desired. Whereas power in your swing is important, the point of focus and release of the swing energy and speed should be the club head. In other words, the speed of the club head is far more important than your swing speed.

Take time to get the swing technique right not paying too much attention to how fast you actually swing the club. Good golfing technique makes use of the stored and kinetic energy from different parts of the golfer’s body and transfers it to the club head as the club eventually strikes the ball.

The perfect analogy for a good golf swing is the unwinding coil concept. Getting good rotation on your trunk, legs and hips is key to an effective swing. Though the swing may look slower than performing a simple hard club swing, more power is in fact released to the ball during the motion.

Another important aspect of better golf swing speed is acceleration. Your swing should increase in speed and peak just as you strike the ball. If your swing loses acceleration as it is on the decent, much less power will be delivered to the ball. This requires practice for one to perfect but once you master it, should be fairly easy to do each time.

With golf sometimes portrayed as a sport for rich people and business executives just out to relax, many budding golfers have taken on the incorrect assumption that physical fitness is not that important for golf. On the contrary, the fitter you are the better your golf swing speed is likely to be.

Of particular interest are the muscles around your core (or trunk). These are the ones that are most beneficial for maintaining a steady posture as you swing the club. Incorporate a number of rotational exercises in your fitness routine to ensure these muscles are firmed up.

Last, a number of golf lessons (and golf professionals too such as Vijay Singh) recommend the use of heavier golf clubs. The heavier the golf club, the more control you have over your golf speed. A heavy golf club also provides greater momentum than a lighter one.

]]> http://www.completegolfsets.org/golf-lessons/golf-swing-speed/feed/ 0 http://www.completegolfsets.org/golf-lessons/golf-swing-instruction/ http://www.completegolfsets.org/golf-lessons/golf-swing-instruction/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 05:38:31 +0000 admin http://completegolfsets.org/?p=149 Golf Swing Instruction- From Impact To Finish

Golf Swing Instruction

When you are learning about golf swing instruction, there are some essentials for you to know. One of the most important things has to do with the type of motion you are using within your swing. Essentially, your motion should consist of one that is fluid throughout the swing. Therefore, you should not slow your swing or stop at any point during the time that you are hitting.

One of the main reasons for this has to with the very moment you have impact, until the time you finish through, which accounts for 95% of the overall result. Most of the time, if you have the right position when you are doing your backswing, you are going to increase your chances of taking a good shot. In order to help you have the most success with your golf swing instruction, below is further detailed information on the process, which occurs during the time, you are taking your swing.

During the time that you are making your swing, there are two things, which affect the overall result. The first part has to do with your club position, while the second part has a lot to do with the body.

The Golf Club

During the time you are making impact, it is imperative to ensure that the clubface is one to two degrees closed. This means, that while you are practicing what you learned from your golf swing instruction, the clubface should start square ad you are positioning yourself at address. As you start to swing back the clubface should roll open and then back to square as you make impact with the clubface.

Club Face 2 Degree Closed

During the time you are on the down part of your swing, your clubface will continue to close and will remain on this trend until you have the toe pointing up in addition to having the shaft pointing parallel to the target line. Therefore, it is important to emphasize how the clubface continues to close on the downswing, which makes your body positioning essential.

Clubface Continuing to Close to Finish

Common Misconceptions

One of the largest misconceptions people have is how they think hitting the ball harder will ameliorate any problem they are having with their hitting distance. However, this is not the case. Although hitting harder could help, it does not provide the solution. Essentially, it is important to gain an understanding on the type of balance that will get you the type of results you want.

This means, the amount of speed you are using needs to be applied according to a particular way or you will not have good results. Making solid contact with the clubhead at a high speed requires a combination of things. More specifically, this has to do with the amount of control you have on getting everything to work together, which you will learn in your golf swing instruction is the timing.

Your Body

During the moment of impact and time of impact, your knees should stay within the same position. In more descriptive terms, this means your knee will move away from the ball and towards the center of your stance. However, your knee will move back in th address position (as describe here).

Left Knee Returns To Address Position

When  you reach the point following impact, the club should become parallel to the ground at some point, while additionally pointing towards the target line. In addition, you should have your left hip behind you, while having the knee close to fully extend.

Right Knee is Moving Parallel

Meanwhile your right knees should be passed the location where you had hit the ball. This type of golf instruction swing will give you the most amount of speed as you become more familiar with it. Ultimately, you should aim to have the golf club go through the 9:00 position, since the upper body is more prone to straightening itself out. Overall, you should always makes sure that anytime following the moment of impact that your belt continues to remain level to the ground. Essentially, when you have the right type of golf swing instruction, all of it should become easier over time.

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Golf Swing Tips

If you want to make sure that you are truly improving your game, you will want to pay attention to all of the golf swing tips that you come across. Do not make the mistake of thinking that just because you have been playing for years or because your family has always played that you know everything there is to know. There is always room for improvement. The moment you start forgetting that, you will find that your golf game will be affected. If that is not something that you want to have happen, then it is time to listen up.

The Address

There are many people out there that say your stance should be where your feet are the same width apart as your shoulders are.While this can work, it may not be the best tip in the world. You actually want to have your feet just a little bit further apart than what the width of your shoulder span is. This will ensure that you have a nice solid base. It is also extremely important to make sure that your shoulders, hips, knees and chin is all in the proper alignment.

The Feet: Slighty more than shoulder width

If you start your swing without a proper base stance, nothing will go right for you. Sure, you might be able to take a swing and the ball might take off, but it will be no where near the results you truly want and can achieve by simply starting off in the right stance.

The Chin

Believe it or not, there are people who still think that the chin placement is not all that important. They could not be more wrong. While it certainly is not going to be the most important tip you ever receive, it is one that you want to make sure that you are making note of. You will want to make sure that your chin is finding middle ground. Basically, you do not want your chin resting against your chest and you do not want to be facing straight out. Find the middle ground and that is where your chin should be. You can use your fist as a guide by placing it against your upper chest and allowing your chin to lightly touch it. This is approximately where your chin should be.

Correct position

Your Grip Is Important

Don’t just grab the club. You have to grip it properly. You will find that a weak grip could not only affect your game, but it could send your golf club flying across the green. That is certainly not what you want to happen. You could very well yourself and your friends kicked off the course for something like that.

Club goes across the left palm

Wrap palm around top of the grip

Bring your right hand toward the bottom of your left hand

Fold your right hand around the fingers of the left hand

Both Palms MUST face each other

Keep The Knees Bent Just Right

Now, you are not going to bend your knees as though you are going to sit on them, but you do not want them straight and tight either. Do not lock your knees and do not fall over. You simply want to allow your knees to bend ever so slightly. This will allow you to properly to conduct your back swing and follow through.

Knees are slighty fixed

The Backswing

Out of all of the golf swing tips, this is the part that you really want to pay the most attention to. This is where a lot of golfers mess up and it costs them dearly in the game. When you first start on your backswing, you are going to want to make sure that your arms, hands, your right shoulder, the clubhead and the shaft are all moving as one single unit. Now, it is very important to realize that your hip needs to stay in place and build up resistance. Think of your body as a spring. The top half is turning and twisting, right before the release.

Follow Through

It is important to make sure that you are following through with the golf swing. Do not stop at the ball or shortly thereafter. You want to make sure that you are following it through all of the way in order to make sure that you are hitting the ball as hard as you can and also sending it in the right direction. Your follow through is sort of like extra guidance for where you want to send the ball. It is not just about what happens before you hit it, but what happens after as well.

As you can see, there are a lot of golf swing tips that you want to pay attention to. Of course, these are not all of the swing tips that you will ever come across. Whenever you are out there playing with others on the green, be sure to keep your eyes and ears open. Watch how others are playing. See what they are doing wrong and how it affects their game. Watch to see what they are doing right and how those things could help you. If there is someone there willing to offer you advice, do not be a fool and try to act as though it is not needed. Listen to all of the golf swing tips offered to you and your game will drastically improve in no time at all.

Now, you should be able to take these golf swing tips and other tips that you pick up along the way and create the best game possible for yourself. Even if some of the tips seem a little awkward at first, you will want to keep trying them and keep moving forward. After a short while, all of this will feel very natural to you and you will not be able to remember what it was like to golf without these improvements.

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What All Do I Get With The Golf Swing Book?

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Other topics discussed in this DVD are faults and cures, impact, downswing, alignment, and backswing.

And as you know, the core of every great golf game is your full swing. I like simple, and this bonus DVD really covers every aspect of your golf game with easy to follow instructions. Normally, this DVD by itself is $72, but you get it free with the Golf Swing Book

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What Kind Of Real World Results Can I Expect?

Obviously, the results will vary for each person who uses Bobby’s “Full Swing Technique”, but if you’ve been playing for a little while (i.e. few months) — with the help of this unique technique, you will break 80 cutting 7 to 8 strokes off your handicap in no time flat.

If I had to rate this course myself against other golf books, this one would be among the top 3 best.

So What’s My Professional Golfing Verdict?

“The Golf Swing Book”is  a great book and the bonuses alone worth well the price. It comes with a no-risk unconditional 60-day money back guarantee you can take advantage of at anytime you feel this system isn’t right for you.

The customer service is spot on and delivers in spades. I’ve asked a few questions to the support staff and they’ve been nothing but helpful. “The Golf Swing Book” is by far the most advanced — yet simple — beginner to intermediate golfing instructional book I’ve had the pleasure of using.

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There’s a reason why “The Simple Golf Swing” is rated number #1 among the rest of the golf training courses there are in the world…

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There was a time when my buddies would play a running joke on me. They would take me along to their real games, and each time they played against me they knew they would score higher than average over me than anyone else.

I was like a pawn on their chest board disposable at every move. I tried everything you could imagine to improve my handicap but nothing worked. Until…

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What All Do I Get With My Simple Golf Swing Purchase?

1. “The Simple Golf Swing” downloadable system

2. *BONUS* Breakdown Sessions -  A quick follow-up of the videos you’ll be receiving.

3. *BONUS* Practice Drills – These sessions help you understand what the right method feels like in your hands so you “burn” the mechanics in your mind.

4. *BONUS* Teleseminars – Monthly subjects talked about in detail live with respected experts in the golfing community. I found this to be one of the most valuable pieces of this training program by one of the masters in the game.

5. *BONUS* Tracking Worksheets – Check your progress each month with this specially modified to-do list.

6. And there’s so much more to it that I can’t cover here

What Kind Of Real World Results Can I Expect?

If your a beginner golfer, you can expect to see your handicap lowered by up to 7 strokes. However, if you’re like most golfers who own “The Simple Golf Swing” course, you can expect a better than average improvement up to 12 strokes if you currently shoot over 90.

On average, you can expect to dominate the course and impress your friends (even total strangers) on the driving range. Personally, I’m more than satisfied with my results, and each time I go over the course just before a game I go over the notes in this course to keep me on track.\

Off the thousands of dollars I’ve spent on golf books, this one gives me the most accurate results as advertised.

So What’s My Ultimate Verdict?

I give “The Simple Golf Swing” a  . David Nevogt has helped thousands of golfers — 16,452 to be exact — in just the last 3 years. Will you be number 16,453?

Never before have I been fortunate enough to lower my handicap by at LEAST 6 – 7 strokes in the first few rounds in such a quick burst of time.

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Perfect Golf Swing

Golf can seem like an easy sport when you consider you have a golf club, a hole to aim for, and a straight shot down the green. However, the game can be quite challenging, which is why you might want to spend a little time getting the perfect golf swing.

The perfect golf swing doesn’t just happen. There is definitely technique involved in gaining the perfect golf swing. If you are a beginner in the game of golf then you need to consider factors such as wind, incline, and even obstacles. Every golf course you will ever play on will have obstacles and challenges that make it fun. There are six tips that can have you gaining the perfect golf swing with ease.

* You need to determine what a good angle for the shot will be. How far do you need to hit the ball? Is it a straight shot or is the fairway going to have a dog leg? In order to answer all of these questions and more you need to understand your strengths. If you are unsure of your strengths it will be harder to gain the perfect golf swing.

* It is hard to become a master overnight. Instead you need a lot of practice in all types of weather. After all there will be times it could be more or less windy, a little rainy, or some other weather which might affect your swing.

* The back swing is one area where you might have a weakness. Quite often the back swing is where most people need work when they begin because you need to have the right force as well as position to aim the ball correctly.

* Coaching is essential to getting the perfect golf swing. If you cannot afford lessons there are still ways you can get some information. Choose a variety of players to go out on the green with. If you have friends who golf and have been golfing, chances are they have a few tips for your technique. Spend a little time in the practice area of the golf course as well. You never know who might be willing to answer a few questions to help you out.

* A down swing is another area you need to practice. There is one tip which can be provided- you need to pull your arm when it is coming from the top. If you are right handed this means you would pull your left arm.

* A sweep is a hard technique to learn in order to find your perfect golf swing. For those playing as a right handed person it takes transferring to the left in order to finish a good swing. In other words transfer to your left foot as you finish your swing. Your hands should be high over the left ear with the spikes of your shoes displayed.

If you want the perfect golf swing these are six hints you can use. There are other techniques to learn as well, but these will certainly get you started.

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When you want to perfect your game, it is a continuous process that never ends. Just look at the world’s great golfers today and many of them have to change their swing in order to get better. Even though we try to do this on our own at the driving range, it usually doesn’t work out as planned. Then of course you may not have the extra cash to hire a private tutor. However, a great alternative is getting a golf instruction DVD.

If you’re worried about choosing the right one, you just need to do a little research. It seems you can find a golf instruction DVD at any bookstore these days, but if you can’t we recommend getting these golf lessons online. The Internet has allowed us to obtain things that wouldn’t be possible without it, and when you look in the right places you might be able to find a better deal.

Remember, when you find the golf instruction DVD that is perfect for you it should be used on a continual basis. It’s also important to make sure that yours deals with the proper issues you have been having recently. You definitely don’t want to purchase these golf lessons online only to find out when it reaches your doorstep it won’t fix your current problem.

If you are still wondering about the cost or presentation of it all, we understand this come into play. When you compare it to the prices of a professional trainer it’s a no-brainer. However, with a golf instruction DVD you can constantly go back and see what you’re missing. Golf is all about the little things and whether it’s the way you grip the club or how you come into your downswing, each part has a major impact on the end result.

Then of course there are various angles and views you get with your lessons. This will enable you to focus in on one area and perfect it before moving on to something else. Best of all you can do this in the comfort of your home, and then provide the necessary repetitions in your backyard or at the driving range. If by chance you don’t see improvement, you can always go back and look at the other parts of your golf swing that could be making a difference.

Every once in awhile someone will ask; “Well what if I’m not happy with the results?” It’s a great question because when you go to a professional they will just say you need more practice. The only problem is you could be spending hundreds of dollars on lessons that aren’t really helping. When you find a reputable company that has plenty of golf instruction DVDs available, there is no risk. If by chance it’s not what you want or your scores are getting worse, you can return them and try another one.

In the end, a golf instruction DVD will allow you to practice when you have spare time, cost less, and give you the opportunity to really learn each lesson. You just have to find a good one the first time around.

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If you’ve ever taken a lesson in the past, you most likely went to a specific trainer to better your golf game. During this time you were charge a specific amount of money for 30 minutes to an hour of their time. While these sessions might have been helpful, it was difficult to remember everything that was taught. This is why golf lessons online are essential today.

Think about it, we went to a few of these over our time, but eventually started realizing that if one little thing was missing, it just wasn’t working out as we hoped. However, if golf lessons online are utilized it alleviates all the memory blocks. We want to take a few minutes and go over why it’s important to take this approach today.

Videos

Who would have thought by the year 2009 we would have iPhones, PSP players and various other recording options to take anywhere. When golf lessons online are used, it’s as easy as watching a video, then making it happen. Sure this can be done at home, but for anyone who has a portable video player it can be even more beneficial.

Seriously, someone can take their clubs, head down to the driving range, and watch their golf lessons online. They can be paused or stopped to put all of this into action, and if something isn’t right just refer back to the video. Obviously this is assuming everyone has a portable video player (and we know everyone doesn’t).

Even if one isn’t available, it’s nice to be able to practice and learn at home. Plus, if someone else comes along asking how those drives are gaining more distance, or they’re noticing a lower handicap, they will be able to see it first hand. Well not everyone likes to share, and if these individuals are the competition, then you may want to keep it to yourself.

Mental Focus and Audio Lessons.

One thing to remember is that golf is 90% mental and 10% physical. Even the professionals utilize shrinks from time to time, but with golf lessons online audio players can be utilized. It’s as simple as burning the information to a CD and listening to it on your way to work, on the way home, or whenever time is available.

EBooks and Information Material

Then of course golf lessons online also offer text. This way no matter where you are and a computer is present, they can be accessed easily. We understand some people understand everything easier by reading it, which is why golf instruction books are so important. It’s just another viable option, to the many that are available.

Anyone looking to improve their game can do so by getting golf lessons online. While it’s been around for awhile, it’s still a new innovation to some. Hopefully after seeing it first hand, you will understand how beneficial it can be to your game. Then again, we hope the competition notices it as well.

When you look at all the professional golfers out there today, who is #1? Well, it’s Tiger Woods and one of the biggest reasons is his work ethic. Whether you like him or not, he knows what it takes to stay at the top and the realization that it’s just not about the technical side of your swing. When he works with is trainer he takes advantages of a few different golf swing training aids, which we are going to talk about today.

A Medicine Ball

You would be surprised at how effective your golf swing can be if you’re just fit. One of the best ways to do this is by taking advantage of a medicine ball. Whether you have a partner or not, taking the time to strengthen both your mid-section and your back can make a huge difference. These golf swing training aids can have a heavy weight or lighter versions, but mixed in with the right exercises they will definitely benefit you.

Utilizing Training Grips

It’s possible that your grip is causing issues in your swing. In order to figure this out we highly recommend grabbing one of these golf swing training aids. They give you the opportunity to feel how your hands are appropriately wrapped around the club and basically help you figure out the best grips for your particular hands.

Bring out the Video

Sometimes all you need to do is see how you swing to correct the issue. While these golf swing training aids may be a bit more expensive, it will definitely be worth it. You can either have it record on its own or simply bring someone along to record your swing. Take the time to look over each area, because it’s possible that you are having an issue in more than one place.

When all else Fails

If you try all of these types of golf swing training aids and still don’t see results, you may need a professional. Someone who can watch you take a couple swing and go, “Yep, I see it now.” We understand that you will only be paying for 30 minutes, but chances are that will be all they need. Then again, you may need to work on several parts of your golf swing.

Each situation is different, and so are their skill levels. It might even be a simple case of going back to the basics of it all. Professionals have to do this all the time and anytime you feel as though something isn’t right you should try to find someone to help. Oh, and your golfing buddies don’t count.

In the end there are plenty of golf swing training aids that are out there today. Some help you in your backswing, some in the downswing, and even some in the follow-through. There are also others that work on more power, distance, and feel. Whatever the case may be in this instance you should look at all the avenues that are out there. One of them could give you the help you need to get better scores at the end of your round.

Whether you get satisfaction from playing golf in winning, being with friends, getting exercise, you do need a consistent and reliable golf swing that you could rely on from the first tee to the last hole.  A golf slice is also known as a banana ball and it is an unintentional shot where the ball curves into a banana shaped route, missing the hole.  It is a common problem for golfers and many are unable to properly get to the green with such a slice.  You can have all the mechanics, the sequences and know how to follow through (in theory) but nothing compares to learning how to correct a slice.

To correct a slice, you need to strongly grip your left hand in the right way.  You have to have the golf club shaft lie across the top of your forefinger and that it should fit under the heel of the palm.  The little finger is around the grip, so the club is sturdy and has no room to move in other directions.  The perfect angle for the wrist is when you are able to see two or three knuckles while you are gripping the golf club.  Now, it’s time for the right hand to be gripped correctly.  To correct a slice, your right hand must be folded over your left thumb.  The thumb of the right hand on the club is correctly angled if it points to the right shoulder.

The back of the golf club has to be gripped correctly too if you wish to correct a slice.  The pressure for your grip should be strong but light.  If a grip is too light, your knuckles become white causing a golf slice when the shot is taken.  With a sturdy but light grip, the face and the path of the club must be right to correct a slice when finally taking the shot.

Next, you have to adopt the correct golfing stance which gives you poise and balance throughout the swing.  The correct stance to prevent a golf slice is the feet are distanced from each other at the same width as the shoulders.  The right foot should be at a right angle to the line of the ball’s flight.  This makes the swing take its weight from the inside of the right foot to be able to push away.  The left foot should be slightly open to do the follow through.  To correct a slice, the shoulders should be in the right position.  You can place the club in the center of your chest and lean forward to ensure it is.

Amateur golfers get accustomed to slices and play their entire life fighting it.  Learn how to correct a slice by correcting your grip and stance and practice swinging from inside to outside.

Golf Fundamentals

There are 5 things that you need to master in playing golf. They are

1. Grip
2. Stance
3. Body Motion
4. Alignment
5. Hand and arm positioning

Grip

Your grip describes how you hold a club. Make sure to put enough pressure on your grip. Holding the club too tight or too loose will make the ball move to the sides. Remember that your aim should be to hit the ball straight. Try not to snap your wrist when moving the club. There are 3 different types of grips that you should know about.

• Overlap grip. This kind of grip is also called as a single overlap. The pinkie of your dominant hand should be over the index finger of your non-dominant hand.
• Interlock grip. In an interlock grip, your fingers should be interlocked with each other. The pinkie of your dominant hand and the index finger of your non-dominant hand should be around each other.
• Baseball grip is also called as a ten-finger grip. All your fingers should touch the shaft. They should not overlap with each other.

You can use any of these grips for as long as you follow the correct way of doing it. The palms of your hands should face each other when holding the shaft. The most common mistake that beginners commit is to hold the shaft in their palms. Remember that your fingers should be holding the shaft and not your palms. An over the top golf swing starts with a good grip.

Stance

Keep your feet apart. Make sure that your stance is as wide as your shoulders. Your right foot should be pointed straight and your left foot pointed a little to the left. Relax your needs and avoid bending them too much.

Your shoulders and the golf ball should form a straight line. You can do this by bending over the ball with your hips. Make sure that your back is straight. Avoid slouching as this will strain your back.

Pivot

Pivot or your body motion is also another fundamental skill that you need to practice. While it may seem like you need to take note of a lot of things before you can hit the ball, it’s important for you to know that parts of your body should move in a unified motion. With enough practice, positioning your body will come naturally to you.

An over the top golf swing can only be done with proper practice and by following these fundamental techniques. Small changes made on your posture, grip and stance will affect how you will hit the ball so it is very important that you practice these simple techniques. Give yourself enough time to practice and you will soon be able to improve your golf swings.

First, make sure you hold the club in your left hand near the top of the grip. Take the small finger of your right hand and make sure you put it in the gap between your first finger and your middle finger. Now, see to it that your thumbs align down the shaft of the club. This is what you call the overlapping grip and normally is the most widely used grip in golf. But, of course, you can take the grip that is comfortable for you. While many may use the overlapping grip, but if you prefer the interlocking grip or the baseball grip, don’t worry how it looks. Go with what feels comfortable.

Second, make you to hold the club in your left hand and then put the small finger of your right hand directly under the index finger of your left hand. Now, you need to make sure that your thumbs are in alignment down the shaft of the club. You can call this as the interlocking grip and it is a terrific grip for golfers who are looking to put an extra power to their game.

Third, you need to pick up and hold the club as if it were a baseball bat. Now make sure that your left hand must be on top and your right hand must be directly below. After that, there should be no overlapping of the fingers and the thumbs should not align down the shaft. Rather, the two hands should work independently and the golfer has a greater sense of freedom with this swing.

Fourth, make each swing at a driving range before you decide which one is right for you. You can take 10 swings with the overlapping grip, then 10 swings with the interlocking grip and then 10 swings with the baseball grip to decide which is the easiest to use.

Finally, you must stick with one grip once you make your decision. By applying this, you will have a much better opportunity of creating a repeatable swing if you begin with the same grip each time.

Of course, keep in mind that for an amateur, you should be patient with your swing and game and not to be in a rush to get a lot better. At least, you have known the basic on how to play golf. Not bad for a beginner, right? Now, it helps if you can find yourself a pro golfer who can help you to hold golf club the “professional” way, thus, it will make a difference in the way you swing golf club and the way you play the game. Isn’t experience is always the best teacher? So, also be on the look out, if you can.



Right Stance

Proper positioning and stance is very important in golf. Stand with your feet apart. The area between your feet should be as wide as your shoulders. Position your shoulders over the ball. Your shoulders and the ball should form an imaginary straight line. Take note of how you position your feet. Your right foot should be pointed straight and your left should be slightly angled to the left. Relax your shoulders and your elbows.

Make sure to keep your stance when playing golf. Slight deviations on your position may affect how you hit the ball and may cost points against you which are very important especially when you are in a competition.

Right Grip

In golf, correcting a slice can also be done by knowing how to grip the golf club correctly. With your left hand, hold the shaft and place your left thumb on your right palm. Most right-handers grip the golf club very tightly. When you do this, the ball will be directed to the left when you hit it. A weak grip on the other hand, produces a golf slice. With a weak grip, you create an open club face that makes the ball move to the right. To correct a slice, move your hand back. By doing this, your non-dominant back hand is positioned to face the opposite direction.

Practice is essential if you want to correct a slice in golf. Adjust your grip accordingly and see if your grip is the reason for your slice. If you’ve corrected your grip and you are still producing slices, then there may be another reason for your golf slice. The next thing you have to check once you’ve corrected your stance and grip is your swing.

Right Swing

Your backswing and downswing are very important in correcting your golf slice. A right backswing should start in your hands. Your arms and shoulders should move in one motion with your hands. While a backswing starts with your hands, a downswing starts with your hips. Move your hips and keep your eyes focused on the ball as you do your follow through.

A golf slice is normal when playing golf. Even the most seasoned golfers have golf slices once in a while. In golf, correcting a slice can be done by practicing your stance, grip and swing frequently. Like what they always say, practice makes perfect. Be patient and practice your skills as often as you can.

The odore Earnest “Ernie” Els is one of the best professional golf players in the world with the most beautiful golf swing.  In all his games where he came out as a two-time US Open Champion and winner of the British Open in 2002, one can see the world renowned Ernie Els golf swing that seems to be made with no effort.  Because of the graceful and fluid Ernie Els golf swing, he is also called “The Big Easy”.

The Ernie Els golf swing is a golf swing of pure rhythm and tempo.  The Big Easy’s swing is comprised of a good shoulder turn and a wonderful arm swing-the whole of Ernie Els’ body working together creating a stance of self-assurance.  Holding himself in a position in line with the flag, the right pressure and strength in his grips, when Ernie Els takes a shot, the golf club is always positioned brilliantly over his head.  The Ernie Els golf swing is parallel to the ground and parallel to the target line where he rotates his body so well with perfect stability when he goes on with the follow through.  The Ernie Els golf swing gets the golf ball going high and hard with good contact.

Make sure that when you take your position to make a golf shot that you stand directly in line with the ball and the flag.  With an imaginary line in your head, stand parallel to that line and make sure your feet are positioned with the same width as your shoulders.  Your shoulders have to be in the right position also.  Grip your left hand and right hand correctly before taking the swing.  In a right angle to the ball’s line of flight, the right foot should be positioned to take the weight of the swing and the left foot has to be open a little bit to do the follow through.  Think on the Ernie Els golf swing and see it clearly in your head.

When asked about his golf swing, Ernie Els says that he’s never been a very technical player and that he does not get caught up in swing positions and mechanics.  There are a lot of books and magazine articles written by expert golfers about how to get the perfect golf swing and describe it in detail, but you really have to go out on the green and practice your shots and how to get the Ernie Els golf swing.  When Ernie Els works on his swing, he says he looks for feels.  He says that you’ll get better results—and often more distance—if you swing at eighty percent effort.  Many people have told him he has the best swing in the world, one that is beautiful and effortless.  He does mention though that by going on feelings, he instinctively knows when he’s made a bad shot.

Everyone; from Tiger Woods to Vijay Singh need, in one way or another, a golf swing lesson. The main reason for the lesson is that the golf ball swing mechanisms and methodologies are progressive and, therefore, need to be reworked and practiced all the time. There are so many lessons in the golfing arena about the golf swing, both approved and disapproved. The very basic and workable lesson that every golfer needs to grapple with, however, is simple and more practical than simply theoretical. We will endeavor to break down the lesson into three parts for easier comprehension and translation.

The line in correct trajectory for impact

One major golf swing lesson involves ensuring that the golf club and its head are on the intended flight line to get the accurate impact on the ball. Having a well timed left hand and arm movement and not forgetting the movement of the whole body, will enable you succeed in the accurate impact. It is only after the correct trajectory is learnt that straight shots hitting can be a constant reality.

Get a square leading edge

While you will be busy trying to gasp the on-the-line hit method, also learn about getting the club head in square fashion on the flight line. The only way to make sure that this is achieved is by having the best grip in the first place.

Get the impact on the middle spot

Many golfers think that hitting the ball both squarely and right at the middle of the club head for the best straight shot is a piece of cake. While the middle spot hitting is a valuable golf swing lesson, it will not help you if you don’t concentrate in practicing it. If you are used to hit those bad shots because of the heel or toe impact, you really need to get practicing because the best golf swing does not come by chance.

The combination of correct line trajectory when hitting the ball, the square position of the club head when hitting the ball, and the middle spot hitting by the golf ball; all form the consummate Golf swing lesson. If you are very keen on this lesson you will undoubtedly up your game with skills and techniques that will leave your competitors with mouth agape, marveling at those swings that you will be making. You may even end up being the best teacher, giving snippets of the golf swing lesson.

Free golf swing tips are a guide to hit longer, hit straighter and correct slices to golf amateur or golfers who aim big. Some people may take as long as 30 years to hit the target in one stroke, while others may take less. If you want to do it good and really fast, then free golf swing tips will be a good choice. The tips assist you to reduce your golf handicap and drive you to stardom.

Becoming the next guru in golfing profession will never be a nightmare if you learn the golf tips. To start, perfect your swings, swings may be a real stumbling block between you and your golfing career. The first free golf swing tip aims at correcting these erroneous golf swings. Improving your grip eradicates all tensions that may lead to swing failures. Interlocking hands’ grip or overlapping hand’s grip forms the two leading grips that people use when golfing. Many successful golfers like using the interlocking method which can also help you to balance your weight.

Backswing is one of the golf swing tips that an aspiring golfer or anybody else can use to improve his games. Golfers who tend to be slow in making their shots usually use this method. This is because as you move your body, the mind will generate some power and allow the golfer to conserve much energy. Keeping the left arm straight and shifting your weight is one way to achieve that.

Another golf swing tip that can help you to achieve great results is to perfect your downswing. This is a useful tip that helps to keep the head up and in the same position, as well as allow the hip to generate power needed for longer shots. Increasing the speed can be done gradually and steadily, but making sure the downswing does not strain you. It is good to note that too hard a swing can affect your control of the ball. So as you increase the speed so your free swing, do not overdo it since you will be affected.

I believe this has helped you to form a revived opinion about your golfing career. Most definitely you were tired of constantly being handicapped. You will never quit now since you can correct your golfing weaknesses. Thanks to this golfing platform that gives you second chances. Start now and improve your golf swing performance with the free golf swing tips.

Slicing the golf ball once is embarrassing. Slicing the golf ball swing after swing is humiliating. One of the fastest way to improve your golf game is to take a look at my free golf swing tips.

Do you have these 3 problems with your golf ball swing: 1) inconsistency; 2) slice; 3) distance? Find out how to improve your golf ball swing and cut your Handicap by 7-12 Strokes and Lengthen your Drive in just 2 Weeks with my FREE Special Report… Click Here.

1.    To develop the best Backswing golf, make sure that your feet is apart on the same distance as the length of your shoulder. Then lean forward slightly with your knees slightly bent too. Make sure that your grip is interlocked, your right hand pinkie interlocked with your index finger. Ensure that the grip is loose enough for the movement of the wrist and strong enough for the club to be held firmly without falling off.

2.    Then take your hands, holding the club clockwise, the club being parallel to toe line. The shaft and the ground should be parallel and your knee must move naturally towards your right knee. Then in the same vein your hands and the club should be at the hip level.

3.    The next move in a perfect Backswing golf is to direct you’re back in the direction of the ball, and the weight should be more towards your right knee.

4.    Then put your hands above the right shoulder, your hands still holding the golf club. Your hips will be the second body part to move followed by your left leg moving somewhat towards the right side. Your left heel should remain grounded and flat and the right elbow should be pointing downwards, then you will be well placed to enact that backswing.

Be keen to ensure that as you engage the best possible Backswing golf, that your stance is good to have the best ball and club impact. The second issue that must be adhered to is your weight, so that you shift the weight properly to balance your body for a better golf ball hit.

The golf store has just introduced the following in its chain of stores and distributors; intech 12 practice balls, intech 12 solid practice balls, intech ball retriever, intech club brush, intech golf long tee, intech golf tee, intech spike wrench and intech shag bag among other many kits.

The intech golf or the king par as it is called at times is a home of golf materials and equipments for everyone at any time. I t has approximately 22,000 sq feet of retail space, with the mega store being packed  with almost every golfing kits, equipments and gargets that you can think of. The  gargets has among others, custom or standard golf clubs, tees, balls, accessories, gloves, apparel, hats, and shoes for  every size of feet and age group. There is just all golf paraphernalia and what a golfer might demand for his practice or real game.

Apart from the golf kits and equipments the intech golf also has above standard golf courses and driving ranges for doing golf exercises and game competitions. The king pars driving range includes 32 covered and heated tees, a practice bunker , an open tee area that has 10 natural grass tees and a putting green  with a 3 golf course situated just at the rear of the stores.

The king par also has the Kopper junction, King Kone and a putt-putt course,  an ice cream canteen with the home made ice cream for the young  and the ones having problems with their hearts. And as if buying and selling is not the only activity that takes place at the king par place, the society can get a place to play golf for  reduced fee from the many driving range, par 3 golf course and putt-putt course and king kone that is made available to them from the intech golf/king par

Intech golf is also a venue for many activities throughout the year, this include the

Demo Days, Annual August Tent Sale, Lessons from the Pros, Custom Club Fitting by trained personnel, and the manufacturer tech van stop to give onsite custom fitting and product information. You are not away from getting the best of the golf accessories it’s just a click away

The circumstances of the penalty were that Furyk’s drive from the 4th teeing ground flew into a very muddy area that was ruled to be an abnormal ground condition from which relief was available. Instead of picking the ball out of the mud and cleaning it, Fowler, whose turn it was to play the next stroke, pulled a ball out of his pocket and dropped it within one club-length of the nearest point of relief. The relevant Rule is 25-1b, Abnormal Ground Conditions Relief;

“(i)Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the condition and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.”

Note that the player “must lift the ball and drop it”. Therefore, by dropping another ball Fowler had incorrectly substituted a ball. In stroke play this breach incurs a penalty of two strokes, but in match play it is loss of hole.

Fowler has probably not played the foursomes format very often but the mistake was still inexcusable at this level. At the very least, Jim Furyk or either of their caddies should have spotted the error before Fowler actually played his stroke. Had any of them done so, he could have re-dropped the correct ball without penalty. Rule 20-6;

“A ball incorrectly substituted, dropped or placed in a wrong place or otherwise not in accordance with the Rules but not played may be lifted, without penalty, and the player must then proceed correctly.”

Immediately following this ruling there was a follow-up incident, illustrating another interesting Rules question. When Lee Westwood learned that he and Martin Kaymer had won the hole he returned to his ball and played a stroke to the green, which was over 150 yards away. Since the hole was over, was Westwood permitted to play his shot or does it amount to a practice stroke? Decision 7-2/1.5 confirms;

“Q. In a match between A and B, A holes out for a 4. B has played four strokes and his ball lies in a bunker. Thus, the hole has been decided. If B plays from the bunker, would the stroke be considered a practice stroke?
A. No. Strokes played in continuing play of a hole, the result of which has been decided, are not practice strokes — see Rule 7-2.”

I don’t know about you, but for me the Ryder Cup is the ultimate event of all the sports that I follow. It seems that most of the players feel this way too; their enthusiasm for this team competition, for which they do not get paid, is patently obvious. Long may it continue!

Barry Rhodes

If any reader who has not yet subscribed to my weekly ‘Rhodes Rules School’ series would like to see an example before subscribing please email me at rules at barryrhodes dot com. However, I would remind you that this weekly series, where I pose several Q&As based around photos of situations that players regularly encounter on the course, is sent without charge and you can unsubscribe at any time. I promise that I will not pass on your email address to anyone else. Click on this link to subscribe.

Choose from a red flag with a white post or a yellow flag with a black post.  Sold individually or in case packs of 9, they include 8′W x 5 1/2?H nylon flags that are sewn to a plastic tube that swivels on the flagstick.  These sets inlcude Rods, Knobs and Bases.

The Practice Green Flag Set is available through Barr Display for $198 for 9 full sets, or $22 ea.  These are genuine Standard Golf products.  The Red Flag with White Posts carry the item# SG-20692.  The Yellow Flag with Black Post carry the item# SG-20892.

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The Seed and Soil Bottle is sold individually at Barr Display for $6.00 each. This is a genuine Standard Golf Company product and carries the item# SG-18952.

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24?L.  1/2? square plus a 5? steel spike.  These UV-resistant hazard markers won’t crack, rot or absorb moisture.  The best part:  these are an eco-friendly product made with 100% recycled plastic.  Guaranteed by Standard Golf Company that the manufacturing process and the product is to be free of toxic substances and emissions.

There are 12 in case and due to it’s awkward size, it is strongly suggested that you purchase a case because shipping will be the same for 1 as it would be for 12.  The Plastic Square Hazard Markers are available in Red, White and Yellow from Barr Display for $6.50 each.  This is a genuine Standard Golf Company product.  Red carries the item# SG-16450.  White carries the item# SG-16400.  Yellow carries the item# SG-16425.

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Add a flag and you are good to go.  Manufactured to stand up to the sometimes nasty outdoor weather.  Worry about the grass, not the flag poles!  With a 1/2? diameter from top to bottom, these 7 1/2?H flagsticks are straight and solid fiberglass.

 The Royaline Flagsticks are available from Barr Display for between $15.75 and $18.90 each.  These are genuine Standard Golf products.  The White Royaline Flagstick carries the item# SG-26100.  The White with a Black Stripe Royaline Flagstick carries the item# SG-26103.  The Yellow with a Black Stripe Royaline Flagstick carries the item# SG-26111.

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This is a nifty tool for the course.  It’s also perfect for many other types of needs such as landscaping.  Simply put any brand of marking paint into the holder and then point and pull the trigger.  No more bending over, getting paint on your shoes or pants.  Works great!

The Point and Shoot Marking Wand is available through Barr Display for $29.75  This is a genuine Standard Golf Company product and carries the item# SG-55000.

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These large cotton golf towels are ultra absorbent and can even be embroidered or screen printed for a customized look.  6? x 18? tri-fold with a nice big brass eye-hole.  Sold in case packs of 12 and stocked in green.

Cases of large cotton golf towels are available through Barr Display for $34 per dozen.  This is a genuine Standard Golf Company product and carries the item# SG-04200.

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Range flags are a necessity.  The snap-lock swivel snaps are included.  These range flags are available in Red, White, Yellow, Orange, Medium Blue and Green.

The Range Flag is available through Barr Display for $18 ea.  This is a genuine Standard Golf Company product.  Red carries the item# SG-16450.  Red carries the item# SG-22010.  White carries the item# SG-22020.  Yellow carries the item# SG-22030.  Orange carries the item# SG-22040.  Medium Blue carries the item# SG-22050.  Green carries the item# SG-22060.

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These are perfect if you want to control the flow of traffic or simply keep people off of a section of grass that is needing less foot traffic. Take 1/4? braided rope and slip into the slot. These rope stakes are made of 100% recycled plastic so they are eco-friendly. They won’t crack, rot or absorb moisture. The 5 1/2?L steel spike is 5/16? in diameter so it won’t leave gapping holes in the grass. They are sold only in case packs of 12.

The Plastic Square Rope Stakes are available from Barr Display for $99 per case.  This is a genuine Standard Golf Company product and carries the item# SG-37950.

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Wow!  Reinforced with nylon threads and tough metal eyelets, these are perfect and durable for aggressive use.  7? x 21? and dual folded.  Available in a green and white pattern.  Perfect for big events.

These disposable towels are sold in cases of 200.  Cases of Chix Disposable Tee Towels are available from Barr Display for $95 per case.  This is a genuine Standard Golf Company product and carries the item# SG-04965.

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The Proximity Marker Set is a nice addition to your course for those pin prize activities you might provide to your players. This set is 7 1/2?L x 2 1/2?W x 29?H and inlcudes four markers with pencil holders and four packs of double-sided cards printed with “Longest Drive” on one side and “Proximity” on the other. There are 25 sheets per pack. Replacement cards are also available.

The proximity marker set is available from Barr Display for $31. This is a genuine Standard Golf Company product and carries the item# SG-10700. The replacement cards for the proximity marker set are sold in packs of 25 and are available for $3.50 a pack. This also is a genuine Standard Golf Company product and carries the item# SG-10701.

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In the United States, you can live “the high life” simply by buying a bottle of beer. In India, you apparently have to buy a house.

Rakindo Developers wants to sell “the Global Highlife” — according to the company’s marketing jabber, it’s “the prerogative of every deserving Indian” — in as many as six planned golf communities in India. So far, Rakindo has announced three projects, two of them in the state of Tamil Nadu and one in Kerala.

The community in Kerala is sometimes called Kumarakom Wetlands Golf Resort and sometimes Kumarakom Backwater Golf Resort, depending on who’s doing the translation. Rakindo aims to make it “the crown jewel” of the state’s vacation destinations.

Kumarakom Wetlands will take shape on roughly 425 acres in Kumarakom, a village of about 7,000 people that’s located 40 miles south of Emakulam. At build-out, it’ll have villas and condos, a hotel, a spa, a marina, a shopping area, restaurants, a theme park for children and other attractions, including an 18-hole, “international-standard” golf course designed by the architects at Santa Rosa, California-based GolfPlan.

The project has generated some controversy. The Kumarakom area has many natural attractions – including a much-visited bird sanctuary and Vembanad Lake, one of the largest lakes in India, that have made it a popular vacation destination. Though Rakindo says its resort will be “ecologically sustainable” and designed “to strengthen and promote the surrounding bird habitats, wetlands, and fish population,” environmentalists disagree. State officials are currently debating the community’s merits, and Rakindo can’t break ground until they sign off on the development plan.

Rakindo’s golf communities in Tamil Nadu don’t seem to be causing such headaches. Kovai Hills, an 850-acre community in Coimbatore, will include thousands of villas, a spa, a medical center, a shopping mall, an 18-hole golf course and a golf academy with a nine-hole par-3 course. Chennai Marina, which Rakindo describes as “our little utopia,” will take shape on 650 acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal near Chennai. It’ll have houses, a wellness center, a yacht club, and an 18-hole golf course.

Both courses in Tamil Nadu will be designed by David Hemstock, who’s based in Biggin-by-Hartington, England.

Rakindo Developers Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture between Rakeen, a firm controlled by the government of Ras Al-Khaimah, and Trimex Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate.

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form. For a sample copy of the World Edition, call 301-680-9460 or write to WorldEdition@aol.com.

View the original article here

A year after government officials put it on the chopping block, a planned “international tourism area” along Suoi Hai Lake is still alive, minus one of its two golf courses.

 Meadowbrook Golf has added two Texas courses to its portfolio this year — Ridgewood Country Club in Waco and Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa in Lajitas, Texas. 

There is still time to enter submissions in Golf Inc.’s annual Clubhouse of the Year competition.

Golf Inc. is asking for submissions of new and renovated golf clubhouses opened between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 1, 2010. Entries need to be submitted by Friday, Jan. 14. (Please note that the entry deadline has been extended. This is due to the competition feature being moved to the Spring issue of Golf Inc.)

The contest is free to enter and those who are eligible can submit entries in either or both competition. The Clubhouse Competition recognizes the best new and renovated or remodeled clubhouses across the globe. The facilities chosen for this award will be those that best realize the vision of the development team, the aesthetic appeal of the project and the efficiency and practicality of the floor plan.

Entries will be divided into categories for private clubs and daily fee courses. A third category is for remodeled clubhouses – those involving interior or exterior alterations to an existing facility.

Please e-mail Michelle Weyenberg to request an entry packet and instructions — E-mail: michelle@cypressmagazines.com.

 Meadowbrook Golf has added two Texas courses to its portfolio this year — Ridgewood Country Club in Waco and Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa in Lajitas, Texas. 

OB Sports Golf Management recently took over management of Sedona Golf Resort in Sedona, Ariz.  

View the original article here

OB Sports Golf Management recently took over management of Sedona Golf Resort in Sedona, Ariz.  

View the original article here

An Australian investor is searching for partners who’ll help build an “eco-city” in northeastern China, including a retirement community and several golf courses.

George Wang, the principal of AIMS Financial Group, wants to build his mini-city on 988 acres of municipally owned property near Tianjin, China’s sixth-largest city (population: nearly 12 million). The investment appears to be a safe bet. Last year, Tianjin’s economy reportedly grew by 16.5 percent.

“Tianjin is the next Shanghai,” Wang told NextInsight.net late last year. “Many large companies have set up there – Samsung, Motorola – and it has a lot of potential for growth.”

Wang, who’s been investing in China for a decade or more, intends to tap that potential. Earlier this year, Tianjin and AIMS signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop what’s been described as “a sustainable tourism township” in an area called Xiaying. The city will consist of houses (including a seniors-only community), various leisure and hospitality facilities (presumably hotels and recreation areas), a vineyard (“I want to bring Australian wine growers to Xiaying,” Wang recently told the Australian), and some golf courses.

Wang also plans to rebuild a cluster of ancient Taoist temples on the property, in an effort to spark historical tourism. Wang was born on Hainan Island and studied engineering at Shanghai University, but he moved to Australia in the late 1980s, while he was in his 20s. He learned English, worked as an insurance salesman, and created AIMS to sell mortgages.

But Wang understood the velocity of money, and AIMS quickly branched out into investment banking, mortgage securitization, and real estate investment trusts. Wang plans to fund the construction of the “eco-city” in Xiaying with money provided by private investors in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia, through what the Australian recently described as “a China Agricultural Eco City Development Fund.”

He eventually hopes to build five or six similar communities in China, all of them to be funded by real estate investment trusts.

In his interview with NextInsight.net, Wang said, “I believe China is the future, with its booming economic growth and massive logistics and manufacturing potential.”

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form.

In the United States, you can live “the high life” simply by buying a bottle of beer. In India, you apparently have to buy a house.

Rakindo Developers wants to sell “the Global Highlife” — according to the company’s marketing jabber, it’s “the prerogative of every deserving Indian” — in as many as six planned golf communities in India. So far, Rakindo has announced three projects, two of them in the state of Tamil Nadu and one in Kerala.

The community in Kerala is sometimes called Kumarakom Wetlands Golf Resort and sometimes Kumarakom Backwater Golf Resort, depending on who’s doing the translation. Rakindo aims to make it “the crown jewel” of the state’s vacation destinations.

Kumarakom Wetlands will take shape on roughly 425 acres in Kumarakom, a village of about 7,000 people that’s located 40 miles south of Emakulam. At build-out, it’ll have villas and condos, a hotel, a spa, a marina, a shopping area, restaurants, a theme park for children and other attractions, including an 18-hole, “international-standard” golf course designed by the architects at Santa Rosa, California-based GolfPlan.

The project has generated some controversy. The Kumarakom area has many natural attractions – including a much-visited bird sanctuary and Vembanad Lake, one of the largest lakes in India, that have made it a popular vacation destination. Though Rakindo says its resort will be “ecologically sustainable” and designed “to strengthen and promote the surrounding bird habitats, wetlands, and fish population,” environmentalists disagree. State officials are currently debating the community’s merits, and Rakindo can’t break ground until they sign off on the development plan.

Rakindo’s golf communities in Tamil Nadu don’t seem to be causing such headaches. Kovai Hills, an 850-acre community in Coimbatore, will include thousands of villas, a spa, a medical center, a shopping mall, an 18-hole golf course and a golf academy with a nine-hole par-3 course. Chennai Marina, which Rakindo describes as “our little utopia,” will take shape on 650 acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal near Chennai. It’ll have houses, a wellness center, a yacht club, and an 18-hole golf course.

Both courses in Tamil Nadu will be designed by David Hemstock, who’s based in Biggin-by-Hartington, England.

Rakindo Developers Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture between Rakeen, a firm controlled by the government of Ras Al-Khaimah, and Trimex Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate.

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form. For a sample copy of the World Edition, call 301-680-9460 or write to WorldEdition@aol.com.

Golf Inc. magazine has unveiled its 2010 list of the Most Powerful People in Golf, with ClubCorp’s President and CEO Eric Affeldt claiming the top spot for the first time.

“Eric has re-energized ClubCorp and has his eyes set on new course acquisitions at a time when most golf course owners, especially private clubs, are retreating,” said Jack Crittenden, Golf Inc. editor-in-chief. “His attitude, more than anything, creates opportunities and should open doors for the world’s largest golf course owner.”

Golf Inc. has compiled the list every year since 1999, with the exception of 2000. In its inaugural ranking, Bob Dedman, Jr., who then ran ClubCorp, shared the top spot with David Price, then leader at American Golf. While Affeldt has helped ClubCorp reclaim its leadership position, this is the first year that an executive from American Golf is not on the list. There are nine new people on the list this year, more than in any other recent year.

“Without question, golf as a business is less U.S.-centric than ever before,” the article states. “While the bulk of power is still in the United States and United Kingdom, other places will soon have a seat at the table — as evidenced buy some of the new arrivals on our list.”

Jack Nicklaus, who previously held the top spot, dropped to number three, given the worldwide slowdown in development activity. Tiger Woods dropped from third to eighth, after a tumultuous year. Donald Trump is one of the nine newcomers to the list, along with Michael Keiser, developer of Bandon Dunes in Oregon. For a complete list, click here. 

View the original article here

There is still time to enter submissions in Golf Inc.’s annual Clubhouse of the Year competition.

Golf Inc. is asking for submissions of new and renovated golf clubhouses opened between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 1, 2010. Entries need to be submitted by Friday, Jan. 14. (Please note that the entry deadline has been extended. This is due to the competition feature being moved to the Spring issue of Golf Inc.)

The contest is free to enter and those who are eligible can submit entries in either or both competition. The Clubhouse Competition recognizes the best new and renovated or remodeled clubhouses across the globe. The facilities chosen for this award will be those that best realize the vision of the development team, the aesthetic appeal of the project and the efficiency and practicality of the floor plan.

Entries will be divided into categories for private clubs and daily fee courses. A third category is for remodeled clubhouses – those involving interior or exterior alterations to an existing facility.

In a year of turmoil, a host of new power brokers are reshaping the golf landscape. Our annual power list reflects the significant change afoot with the balance of power shifting overseas.

Keiser, developer of the 54-hole Bandon Dunes Resort on the southern Oregon Coast, has a new dream. He’s a partner in a new walking-only, oceanfront course — Cabot Links — on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Ten holes are expected to open next year. Bandon Dunes has had a transformative effect on golf in the U.S. It has made rough, links-style golf central to the discussion of what a golf course should be, and proved that golfers will travel to the veritable ends of the earth to play high quality courses. Keiser’s courses are also goof for the environment. If brown really is the new green, Keiser is the future of golf

Although it’s identified as many as 80 sites that would be suitable for golf development, today the Cuban government has about a dozen golf projects flashing on its radar screen.

Here are some notes on three of them:

• A few weeks ago Palmerston Hotels & Resorts opened a golf course in Cyprus, and it wants to open another one on the island of Cayo Coco, part of the Jardines del Rey chain along Cuba’s northern coast. Cayo Coco is already a well-developed vacation getaway, with about a dozen beachfront hotels. Hong Kong-based Palmerston aims to add a “world-class” destination to the mix, a to-be-named resort that will include villas, condos, and apartments, four hotels, meeting space, a spa, a beach club, and a wedding chapel. The resort will also have a pair of 18-hole “championship” golf courses, one of which will be designed by Nick Faldo, the designer of the golf course at Palmerston’s Elea Golf & Spa Resort in Paphos, Cyprus.

• An unidentified British company aims to build a resort community near Bahia Honda, along the northern shore of Pinar del Rio Province. The Brits have hired Foster + Partners, a London-based architectural firm led by Sir Norman Foster, to design the to-be-named community, which will reportedly include 2,000 housing units and hotel rooms, a marina with slips for 200 or more boats, and three golf courses.

• In Holguin Province, Cuba’s top contractor – a French company named Bouygues Batiment International – plans to build a golf course, along with some houses and a marina. The course will be part of Playa Pesquero, a 944-room, resort-style hotel that BBI built in the town of Rafael Freyre. In fact, since 1999 BBI has built about a dozen similar hotels in Cuba, primarily in Varadero and on Cayo Santa Maria, another island in the Jardines del Rey chain. BBI has also built hotels in Russia and Dubai, sports complexes in Nigeria and Hong Kong, and airports in Cyprus and the Czech Republic. In Cuba, it works with Gaviota, the military’s tourism enterprise.

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form. For a sample copy of the World Edition, call 301/680-9460 or write to WorldEdition@aol.com.

View the original article here

 Meadowbrook Golf has added two Texas courses to its portfolio this year — Ridgewood Country Club in Waco and Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa in Lajitas, Texas. 

View the original article here

There is still time to enter submissions in Golf Inc.’s annual Clubhouse of the Year competition.

Golf Inc. is asking for submissions of new and renovated golf clubhouses opened between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 1, 2010. Entries need to be submitted by Friday, Jan. 14. (Please note that the entry deadline has been extended. This is due to the competition feature being moved to the Spring issue of Golf Inc.)

The contest is free to enter and those who are eligible can submit entries in either or both competition. The Clubhouse Competition recognizes the best new and renovated or remodeled clubhouses across the globe. The facilities chosen for this award will be those that best realize the vision of the development team, the aesthetic appeal of the project and the efficiency and practicality of the floor plan.

Entries will be divided into categories for private clubs and daily fee courses. A third category is for remodeled clubhouses – those involving interior or exterior alterations to an existing facility.

Please e-mail Michelle Weyenberg to request an entry packet and instructions — E-mail: michelle@cypressmagazines.com.

View the original article here

Golf Inc. magazine has unveiled its 2010 list of the Most Powerful People in Golf, with ClubCorp’s President and CEO Eric Affeldt claiming the top spot for the first time.

“Eric has re-energized ClubCorp and has his eyes set on new course acquisitions at a time when most golf course owners, especially private clubs, are retreating,” said Jack Crittenden, Golf Inc. editor-in-chief. “His attitude, more than anything, creates opportunities and should open doors for the world’s largest golf course owner.”

Golf Inc. has compiled the list every year since 1999, with the exception of 2000. In its inaugural ranking, Bob Dedman, Jr., who then ran ClubCorp, shared the top spot with David Price, then leader at American Golf. While Affeldt has helped ClubCorp reclaim its leadership position, this is the first year that an executive from American Golf is not on the list. There are nine new people on the list this year, more than in any other recent year.

“Without question, golf as a business is less U.S.-centric than ever before,” the article states. “While the bulk of power is still in the United States and United Kingdom, other places will soon have a seat at the table — as evidenced buy some of the new arrivals on our list.”

Jack Nicklaus, who previously held the top spot, dropped to number three, given the worldwide slowdown in development activity. Tiger Woods dropped from third to eighth, after a tumultuous year. Donald Trump is one of the nine newcomers to the list, along with Michael Keiser, developer of Bandon Dunes in Oregon. For a complete list, click here. 

Although it’s identified as many as 80 sites that would be suitable for golf development, today the Cuban government has about a dozen golf projects flashing on its radar screen.

Here are some notes on three of them:

• A few weeks ago Palmerston Hotels & Resorts opened a golf course in Cyprus, and it wants to open another one on the island of Cayo Coco, part of the Jardines del Rey chain along Cuba’s northern coast. Cayo Coco is already a well-developed vacation getaway, with about a dozen beachfront hotels. Hong Kong-based Palmerston aims to add a “world-class” destination to the mix, a to-be-named resort that will include villas, condos, and apartments, four hotels, meeting space, a spa, a beach club, and a wedding chapel. The resort will also have a pair of 18-hole “championship” golf courses, one of which will be designed by Nick Faldo, the designer of the golf course at Palmerston’s Elea Golf & Spa Resort in Paphos, Cyprus.

• An unidentified British company aims to build a resort community near Bahia Honda, along the northern shore of Pinar del Rio Province. The Brits have hired Foster + Partners, a London-based architectural firm led by Sir Norman Foster, to design the to-be-named community, which will reportedly include 2,000 housing units and hotel rooms, a marina with slips for 200 or more boats, and three golf courses.

• In Holguin Province, Cuba’s top contractor – a French company named Bouygues Batiment International – plans to build a golf course, along with some houses and a marina. The course will be part of Playa Pesquero, a 944-room, resort-style hotel that BBI built in the town of Rafael Freyre. In fact, since 1999 BBI has built about a dozen similar hotels in Cuba, primarily in Varadero and on Cayo Santa Maria, another island in the Jardines del Rey chain. BBI has also built hotels in Russia and Dubai, sports complexes in Nigeria and Hong Kong, and airports in Cyprus and the Czech Republic. In Cuba, it works with Gaviota, the military’s tourism enterprise.

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form. For a sample copy of the World Edition, call 301/680-9460 or write to WorldEdition@aol.com.

OB Sports Golf Management recently took over management of Sedona Golf Resort in Sedona, Ariz.  

View the original article here

A newly formed British company is looking for investors to help it build a pair of resort communities on the largest Greek island.

Some of the industry’s largest management companies are also growing at the fastest pace, fueled by struggling golf courses looking for help.

When Peter Hill, CEO and chairman of Billy Casper Golf, looks out over the 1757 Golf Club in Ashburn, Va., he sees a property that has found its identity. Situated on 200 acres in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, the property was originally conceived as The Presidential Golf Club — an exclusive private club that would cater to corporations and well-healed executives looking for a place to host clients, treat employees and hold events. But before the first nine holes even opened, the economy tanked and the developers filed for bankruptcy.

From the failure of The Presidential, Hill saw potential. The facility was centrally located along one of the county’s busiest roads and featured a top-notch 76-station practice facility. In May 2009, the Vienna, Va.-based company leased the facility and repositioned it as a daily course offering high-end amenities at value-driven rates.

The brief history of 1757 Golf Club is emblematic of the current golf economy. A deep recession has created thousands of problem courses in dire need of solutions. Some may need small tweaks, some could require repositioning and still others might need a fresh stream of capital from a new owner. In all cases, management companies see opportunities and are finding ways to grow in this down economy.

“There are examples of bad execution all over the country,” Hill said. “Some courses shouldn’t have been built and others are simply struggling with their identity. When we look at managing a course, it’s a matter of identifying the fix. Is there a solvable problem? Is it long term or short term? There are a lot of courses out there that need solutions.”

Billy Casper is among the major management firms who seem to be finding answers for owners. Last year, the company added 10 courses and by mid-2010 it had already surpassed that number, bringing its tally to 120.

Given the dynamic market conditions, Bob Morris, vice chairman of Billy Casper, credits the company’s ability to leverage years of customer data collected at all of its facilities and stay on top of trends. The company can track buying habits of individual customers and use that information to keep its facilities focus on current demand.

“In this environment, it’s important to monitor the changing consumer and what he or she wants,” Morris said. “We feed into what customers are looking for versus telling them what they need. You have to be willing to do things differently going forward versus focusing on how to bring things back to the way they were in the past.”

The formula appears to be working. Despite the recession, rounds at Billy Casper facilities were slightly up in 2009—1 percent—from 2008, and 2010 is tracking well above the previous year, Hill said. In an environment where many operators are desperate for results, Hill said those kinds of statistics garner attention.

“We have the empirical data,” he said. “We know it works. We’re focused on being a better operator and there are a lot of people that need and want help.”

Billy Casper isn’t the only company that is confident it can capitalize during a down market. At the Golf Inc. Conference in April, Hud Hinton, president and chief executive officer of Troon Golf, made the bold forecast that his company could add more than 300 courses in the next five-to-six years. Given the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company’s global reach and recent track record, that prediction could come true. The world’s fastest-growing management company added 30 courses to its portfolio in the past year, bringing its tally to 196 courses at 160 facilities in 26 countries.

With its business development team scouring deals in both the United States and abroad, Troon has a wide-range of options on its radar. In the U.S., the company sees troubled courses in need of solutions. In May, the company landed a contract to manage Pronghorn, a 36-hole private golf resort in Bend, Ore. Tom Hix, managing member of Pronghorn’s ownership group, said the club elected to bring in Troon in light of operational challenges in today’s market.

Given the difficulty finding new members at private clubs in the U.S., Hinton said the company is taking a targeted approach to new contracts with clubs. The company is particularly focused on major cities, shying away from deals in secondary or tertiary markets.

“The clubs in the large markets have the best chance of staying private these days,” he said. “Those are the markets where clubs can be successful.”

In March, the company took over management of two clubs outside of New York City — Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club in Scotch Plains, N.J., and Muttontown Golf Club on Long Island. In December, Troon was brought in to manage The Canyon Club in Armonk, N.Y. The private club was purchased from Mitsubishi International by Canyon Club Partners in late 2009, and has since been renamed Byrnwood Golf & Country Club.

But some of the company’s best chances for near-term growth may be found overseas. While development in the U.S. has slowed to a crawl, the majority of Troon’s prospective international contracts are with new courses. Although the once-hot Middle East markets have significantly cooled, Troon is eying opportunities in China and Korea.

In June, Troon was hired to manage Ms Club, an 18-hole private club under construction in Seoul, South Korea. The course is scheduled to open in September 2011. Troon operates five other facilities in South Korea. Hinton sees significant growth opportunities in the country, which has around 300 courses serving more than three million golfers.

Although Troon works heavily in the resort market, Hinton said he expects private clubs to become a larger portion of the company’s portfolio, especially as it picks up more international courses, which are mostly private.

“Between all of the new international work and the domestic clubs that are struggling, private will naturally be a big part of what we do,” he said.

Although private clubs are feeling the pain, that hasn’t stopped ClubCorp, the largest owner of private clubs, from trying to expand its reach. After years of cleaning out its portfolio and selling properties, ClubCorp is positioning itself to grow again.

In May 2009, the company made the last in a string of divestitures, selling the 27-hole Atascocita Golf Club in Humble, Texas, to Pinehurst Trail Holdings. Heading into 2010, ClubCorp shifted gears and lined up resources to restock its portfolio.

“We believe this is an opportune time to grow,” said Eric Affeldt, president and CEO of ClubCorp. “We’re trying to be more aggressive.”

As the largest owner of golf courses, Affeldt says ClubCorp is able to draw from internal cash flow for capital, rather than relying on the shaky financing market. The company has $50 million budgeted for acquisitions and capital improvements at existing facilities this year.

“We have a unique advantage over the pure management companies because of our cash position,” he said.

In January, the company signaled a renewed interest in growth, hiring Blake Walker as chief acquisitions and development officer. Walker was previously a senior vice president at ClubCorp, who left the company in 2003 to found Pegasus Golf Partners.

In June, the company followed through with its first acquisition in two years, purchasing The Country Club of the South in Johns Creek, Ga., which had been foreclosed on by its lenders. The purchase price was undisclosed. The sale brought the number of golf and country clubs owned or operated by ClubCorp to 97. It also owns 56 business clubs.

Affeldt said the company is looking around the country for deals, especially in the Northeast and Northwest. Even as it closed on Country Club of the South, Affeldt said the company already had three additional courses under letter of intent. He estimates that between its golf and business clubs, ClubCorp could add seven to 10 facilities by the end of the year.

Private clubs have been hit particularly hard during the recession. Although ClubCorp is primarily a private club owner, Affeldt maintains that the company has been able to hold steady and even grow membership slightly. Meanwhile, other clubs that are suffering could end up on its prospect list.

“There will be more and more equity clubs that can’t make it,” he said. “So many clubs have dramatically reduced their joining fees and operate on a model predicated on breaking even. That paradigm can’t work. There will be more and more equity clubs that go on the market.”

While private clubs currently feel the pinch, municipal courses could be the next victims of circumstance. Although many muni courses have been able to hold steady on rounds during the recession, shrinking tax revenues are forcing local governments to reign in spending wherever possible.

Steve Skinner, CEO of KemperSports, said that although municipalities have been moving toward privatization of their golf courses for years, many that have been on the fence may soon be looking for outside management.

“They are facing tax revenue declines that put stress on all areas of operations,” he said. “And because tax revenue lags the economy, we could see [munis] facing difficulty even after the economy appears to be getting better.”

Some municipalities are also using the down economy as an opportunity to move into or expand their golf ownership. Last year, the City of El Dorado, Kan., purchased Prairie Trails Golf and Dining for $2.2 million, and brought in Kemper to manage the 18-hole facility in April.

Kemper also signed a deal with the City of LaCrosse, Wisc., to manage Forest Hills Golf Club. The 18-hole course had previously been leased, but when that lease expired the city assumed control and brought in Kemper.

In August 2009, Kemper was hired by Union County, N.J., to manage Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth and Ash Brook Golf Course in Scotch Plains. As part of the city’s expansion plan, a new $2.3 million driving range and learning center was built at Galloping Hill, which Kemper helped open last fall.

Although municipalities are a significant portion of Kemper’s portfolio, the company has picked up a wide range of properties during the downturn. The company has signed contracts with several private clubs, including Cornerstone Club in Montrose, Colo. Hunt Realty Investments selected KemperSports to take over operations of the 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed, which opened in 2008.

Although third-party management remains its primary focus, Kemper continues to eye strategic ownership opportunities. As it did at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, the company has partnered with developer Mike Keiser on an ambitious oceanfront project, Cabot Links in Nova Scotia. When it opens in 2012, the 18-hole links style course will feature 16 holes that boarder the Atlantic.

Given the range of opportunities, Skinner expects the company to add at least 12 properties to its portfolio this year, possibly more.

“We’re optimistic,” he said. “It’s shaping up to be a good year, maybe even better than previous years. The economy may be down, but things are going at a good pace for us.”

View the original article here

In a year of turmoil, a host of new power brokers are reshaping the golf landscape. Our annual power list reflects the significant change afoot with the balance of power shifting overseas.

Keiser, developer of the 54-hole Bandon Dunes Resort on the southern Oregon Coast, has a new dream. He’s a partner in a new walking-only, oceanfront course — Cabot Links — on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Ten holes are expected to open next year. Bandon Dunes has had a transformative effect on golf in the U.S. It has made rough, links-style golf central to the discussion of what a golf course should be, and proved that golfers will travel to the veritable ends of the earth to play high quality courses. Keiser’s courses are also goof for the environment. If brown really is the new green, Keiser is the future of golf

View the original article here

Woodhaven is an 18-hole, par 71 championship golf course that was designed by Leon Howard and pro-golfer Terry Dill. It boasts 8 tennis courts, a junior Olympic swimming pool and dining and banquet rooms. Scoma has tapped architectural firm Hahnfield Hoffer Stanford to expand and renovate the clubhouse and grounds. 

An Australian investor is searching for partners who’ll help build an “eco-city” in northeastern China, including a retirement community and several golf courses.

George Wang, the principal of AIMS Financial Group, wants to build his mini-city on 988 acres of municipally owned property near Tianjin, China’s sixth-largest city (population: nearly 12 million). The investment appears to be a safe bet. Last year, Tianjin’s economy reportedly grew by 16.5 percent.

“Tianjin is the next Shanghai,” Wang told NextInsight.net late last year. “Many large companies have set up there – Samsung, Motorola – and it has a lot of potential for growth.”

Wang, who’s been investing in China for a decade or more, intends to tap that potential. Earlier this year, Tianjin and AIMS signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop what’s been described as “a sustainable tourism township” in an area called Xiaying. The city will consist of houses (including a seniors-only community), various leisure and hospitality facilities (presumably hotels and recreation areas), a vineyard (“I want to bring Australian wine growers to Xiaying,” Wang recently told the Australian), and some golf courses.

Wang also plans to rebuild a cluster of ancient Taoist temples on the property, in an effort to spark historical tourism. Wang was born on Hainan Island and studied engineering at Shanghai University, but he moved to Australia in the late 1980s, while he was in his 20s. He learned English, worked as an insurance salesman, and created AIMS to sell mortgages.

But Wang understood the velocity of money, and AIMS quickly branched out into investment banking, mortgage securitization, and real estate investment trusts. Wang plans to fund the construction of the “eco-city” in Xiaying with money provided by private investors in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia, through what the Australian recently described as “a China Agricultural Eco City Development Fund.”

He eventually hopes to build five or six similar communities in China, all of them to be funded by real estate investment trusts.

In his interview with NextInsight.net, Wang said, “I believe China is the future, with its booming economic growth and massive logistics and manufacturing potential.”

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form.

Woodhaven is an 18-hole, par 71 championship golf course that was designed by Leon Howard and pro-golfer Terry Dill. It boasts 8 tennis courts, a junior Olympic swimming pool and dining and banquet rooms. Scoma has tapped architectural firm Hahnfield Hoffer Stanford to expand and renovate the clubhouse and grounds. 

View the original article here

In a year of turmoil, a host of new power brokers are reshaping the golf landscape. Our annual power list reflects the significant change afoot with the balance of power shifting overseas.

Keiser, developer of the 54-hole Bandon Dunes Resort on the southern Oregon Coast, has a new dream. He’s a partner in a new walking-only, oceanfront course — Cabot Links — on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Ten holes are expected to open next year. Bandon Dunes has had a transformative effect on golf in the U.S. It has made rough, links-style golf central to the discussion of what a golf course should be, and proved that golfers will travel to the veritable ends of the earth to play high quality courses. Keiser’s courses are also goof for the environment. If brown really is the new green, Keiser is the future of golf

OB Sports Golf Management recently took over management of Sedona Golf Resort in Sedona, Ariz.  

A newly formed British company is looking for investors to help it build a pair of resort communities on the largest Greek island.

In the United States, you can live “the high life” simply by buying a bottle of beer. In India, you apparently have to buy a house.

Rakindo Developers wants to sell “the Global Highlife” — according to the company’s marketing jabber, it’s “the prerogative of every deserving Indian” — in as many as six planned golf communities in India. So far, Rakindo has announced three projects, two of them in the state of Tamil Nadu and one in Kerala.

The community in Kerala is sometimes called Kumarakom Wetlands Golf Resort and sometimes Kumarakom Backwater Golf Resort, depending on who’s doing the translation. Rakindo aims to make it “the crown jewel” of the state’s vacation destinations.

Kumarakom Wetlands will take shape on roughly 425 acres in Kumarakom, a village of about 7,000 people that’s located 40 miles south of Emakulam. At build-out, it’ll have villas and condos, a hotel, a spa, a marina, a shopping area, restaurants, a theme park for children and other attractions, including an 18-hole, “international-standard” golf course designed by the architects at Santa Rosa, California-based GolfPlan.

The project has generated some controversy. The Kumarakom area has many natural attractions – including a much-visited bird sanctuary and Vembanad Lake, one of the largest lakes in India, that have made it a popular vacation destination. Though Rakindo says its resort will be “ecologically sustainable” and designed “to strengthen and promote the surrounding bird habitats, wetlands, and fish population,” environmentalists disagree. State officials are currently debating the community’s merits, and Rakindo can’t break ground until they sign off on the development plan.

Rakindo’s golf communities in Tamil Nadu don’t seem to be causing such headaches. Kovai Hills, an 850-acre community in Coimbatore, will include thousands of villas, a spa, a medical center, a shopping mall, an 18-hole golf course and a golf academy with a nine-hole par-3 course. Chennai Marina, which Rakindo describes as “our little utopia,” will take shape on 650 acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal near Chennai. It’ll have houses, a wellness center, a yacht club, and an 18-hole golf course.

Both courses in Tamil Nadu will be designed by David Hemstock, who’s based in Biggin-by-Hartington, England.

Rakindo Developers Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture between Rakeen, a firm controlled by the government of Ras Al-Khaimah, and Trimex Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate.

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form. For a sample copy of the World Edition, call 301-680-9460 or write to WorldEdition@aol.com.

View the original article here

In a year of turmoil, a host of new power brokers are reshaping the golf landscape. Our annual power list reflects the significant change afoot with the balance of power shifting overseas.

Keiser, developer of the 54-hole Bandon Dunes Resort on the southern Oregon Coast, has a new dream. He’s a partner in a new walking-only, oceanfront course — Cabot Links — on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Ten holes are expected to open next year. Bandon Dunes has had a transformative effect on golf in the U.S. It has made rough, links-style golf central to the discussion of what a golf course should be, and proved that golfers will travel to the veritable ends of the earth to play high quality courses. Keiser’s courses are also goof for the environment. If brown really is the new green, Keiser is the future of golf

View the original article here

An Australian investor is searching for partners who’ll help build an “eco-city” in northeastern China, including a retirement community and several golf courses.

George Wang, the principal of AIMS Financial Group, wants to build his mini-city on 988 acres of municipally owned property near Tianjin, China’s sixth-largest city (population: nearly 12 million). The investment appears to be a safe bet. Last year, Tianjin’s economy reportedly grew by 16.5 percent.

“Tianjin is the next Shanghai,” Wang told NextInsight.net late last year. “Many large companies have set up there – Samsung, Motorola – and it has a lot of potential for growth.”

Wang, who’s been investing in China for a decade or more, intends to tap that potential. Earlier this year, Tianjin and AIMS signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop what’s been described as “a sustainable tourism township” in an area called Xiaying. The city will consist of houses (including a seniors-only community), various leisure and hospitality facilities (presumably hotels and recreation areas), a vineyard (“I want to bring Australian wine growers to Xiaying,” Wang recently told the Australian), and some golf courses.

Wang also plans to rebuild a cluster of ancient Taoist temples on the property, in an effort to spark historical tourism. Wang was born on Hainan Island and studied engineering at Shanghai University, but he moved to Australia in the late 1980s, while he was in his 20s. He learned English, worked as an insurance salesman, and created AIMS to sell mortgages.

But Wang understood the velocity of money, and AIMS quickly branched out into investment banking, mortgage securitization, and real estate investment trusts. Wang plans to fund the construction of the “eco-city” in Xiaying with money provided by private investors in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia, through what the Australian recently described as “a China Agricultural Eco City Development Fund.”

He eventually hopes to build five or six similar communities in China, all of them to be funded by real estate investment trusts.

In his interview with NextInsight.net, Wang said, “I believe China is the future, with its booming economic growth and massive logistics and manufacturing potential.”

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form.

Golf Inc. magazine has unveiled its 2010 list of the Most Powerful People in Golf, with ClubCorp’s President and CEO Eric Affeldt claiming the top spot for the first time.

“Eric has re-energized ClubCorp and has his eyes set on new course acquisitions at a time when most golf course owners, especially private clubs, are retreating,” said Jack Crittenden, Golf Inc. editor-in-chief. “His attitude, more than anything, creates opportunities and should open doors for the world’s largest golf course owner.”

Golf Inc. has compiled the list every year since 1999, with the exception of 2000. In its inaugural ranking, Bob Dedman, Jr., who then ran ClubCorp, shared the top spot with David Price, then leader at American Golf. While Affeldt has helped ClubCorp reclaim its leadership position, this is the first year that an executive from American Golf is not on the list. There are nine new people on the list this year, more than in any other recent year.

“Without question, golf as a business is less U.S.-centric than ever before,” the article states. “While the bulk of power is still in the United States and United Kingdom, other places will soon have a seat at the table — as evidenced buy some of the new arrivals on our list.”

Jack Nicklaus, who previously held the top spot, dropped to number three, given the worldwide slowdown in development activity. Tiger Woods dropped from third to eighth, after a tumultuous year. Donald Trump is one of the nine newcomers to the list, along with Michael Keiser, developer of Bandon Dunes in Oregon. For a complete list, click here. 

 Meadowbrook Golf has added two Texas courses to its portfolio this year — Ridgewood Country Club in Waco and Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa in Lajitas, Texas. 

View the original article here

Although it’s identified as many as 80 sites that would be suitable for golf development, today the Cuban government has about a dozen golf projects flashing on its radar screen.

Here are some notes on three of them:

• A few weeks ago Palmerston Hotels & Resorts opened a golf course in Cyprus, and it wants to open another one on the island of Cayo Coco, part of the Jardines del Rey chain along Cuba’s northern coast. Cayo Coco is already a well-developed vacation getaway, with about a dozen beachfront hotels. Hong Kong-based Palmerston aims to add a “world-class” destination to the mix, a to-be-named resort that will include villas, condos, and apartments, four hotels, meeting space, a spa, a beach club, and a wedding chapel. The resort will also have a pair of 18-hole “championship” golf courses, one of which will be designed by Nick Faldo, the designer of the golf course at Palmerston’s Elea Golf & Spa Resort in Paphos, Cyprus.

• An unidentified British company aims to build a resort community near Bahia Honda, along the northern shore of Pinar del Rio Province. The Brits have hired Foster + Partners, a London-based architectural firm led by Sir Norman Foster, to design the to-be-named community, which will reportedly include 2,000 housing units and hotel rooms, a marina with slips for 200 or more boats, and three golf courses.

• In Holguin Province, Cuba’s top contractor – a French company named Bouygues Batiment International – plans to build a golf course, along with some houses and a marina. The course will be part of Playa Pesquero, a 944-room, resort-style hotel that BBI built in the town of Rafael Freyre. In fact, since 1999 BBI has built about a dozen similar hotels in Cuba, primarily in Varadero and on Cayo Santa Maria, another island in the Jardines del Rey chain. BBI has also built hotels in Russia and Dubai, sports complexes in Nigeria and Hong Kong, and airports in Cyprus and the Czech Republic. In Cuba, it works with Gaviota, the military’s tourism enterprise.

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form. For a sample copy of the World Edition, call 301/680-9460 or write to WorldEdition@aol.com.

View the original article here

A year after government officials put it on the chopping block, a planned “international tourism area” along Suoi Hai Lake is still alive, minus one of its two golf courses.

Some of the industry’s largest management companies are also growing at the fastest pace, fueled by struggling golf courses looking for help.

When Peter Hill, CEO and chairman of Billy Casper Golf, looks out over the 1757 Golf Club in Ashburn, Va., he sees a property that has found its identity. Situated on 200 acres in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, the property was originally conceived as The Presidential Golf Club — an exclusive private club that would cater to corporations and well-healed executives looking for a place to host clients, treat employees and hold events. But before the first nine holes even opened, the economy tanked and the developers filed for bankruptcy.

From the failure of The Presidential, Hill saw potential. The facility was centrally located along one of the county’s busiest roads and featured a top-notch 76-station practice facility. In May 2009, the Vienna, Va.-based company leased the facility and repositioned it as a daily course offering high-end amenities at value-driven rates.

The brief history of 1757 Golf Club is emblematic of the current golf economy. A deep recession has created thousands of problem courses in dire need of solutions. Some may need small tweaks, some could require repositioning and still others might need a fresh stream of capital from a new owner. In all cases, management companies see opportunities and are finding ways to grow in this down economy.

“There are examples of bad execution all over the country,” Hill said. “Some courses shouldn’t have been built and others are simply struggling with their identity. When we look at managing a course, it’s a matter of identifying the fix. Is there a solvable problem? Is it long term or short term? There are a lot of courses out there that need solutions.”

Billy Casper is among the major management firms who seem to be finding answers for owners. Last year, the company added 10 courses and by mid-2010 it had already surpassed that number, bringing its tally to 120.

Given the dynamic market conditions, Bob Morris, vice chairman of Billy Casper, credits the company’s ability to leverage years of customer data collected at all of its facilities and stay on top of trends. The company can track buying habits of individual customers and use that information to keep its facilities focus on current demand.

“In this environment, it’s important to monitor the changing consumer and what he or she wants,” Morris said. “We feed into what customers are looking for versus telling them what they need. You have to be willing to do things differently going forward versus focusing on how to bring things back to the way they were in the past.”

The formula appears to be working. Despite the recession, rounds at Billy Casper facilities were slightly up in 2009—1 percent—from 2008, and 2010 is tracking well above the previous year, Hill said. In an environment where many operators are desperate for results, Hill said those kinds of statistics garner attention.

“We have the empirical data,” he said. “We know it works. We’re focused on being a better operator and there are a lot of people that need and want help.”

Billy Casper isn’t the only company that is confident it can capitalize during a down market. At the Golf Inc. Conference in April, Hud Hinton, president and chief executive officer of Troon Golf, made the bold forecast that his company could add more than 300 courses in the next five-to-six years. Given the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company’s global reach and recent track record, that prediction could come true. The world’s fastest-growing management company added 30 courses to its portfolio in the past year, bringing its tally to 196 courses at 160 facilities in 26 countries.

With its business development team scouring deals in both the United States and abroad, Troon has a wide-range of options on its radar. In the U.S., the company sees troubled courses in need of solutions. In May, the company landed a contract to manage Pronghorn, a 36-hole private golf resort in Bend, Ore. Tom Hix, managing member of Pronghorn’s ownership group, said the club elected to bring in Troon in light of operational challenges in today’s market.

Given the difficulty finding new members at private clubs in the U.S., Hinton said the company is taking a targeted approach to new contracts with clubs. The company is particularly focused on major cities, shying away from deals in secondary or tertiary markets.

“The clubs in the large markets have the best chance of staying private these days,” he said. “Those are the markets where clubs can be successful.”

In March, the company took over management of two clubs outside of New York City — Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club in Scotch Plains, N.J., and Muttontown Golf Club on Long Island. In December, Troon was brought in to manage The Canyon Club in Armonk, N.Y. The private club was purchased from Mitsubishi International by Canyon Club Partners in late 2009, and has since been renamed Byrnwood Golf & Country Club.

But some of the company’s best chances for near-term growth may be found overseas. While development in the U.S. has slowed to a crawl, the majority of Troon’s prospective international contracts are with new courses. Although the once-hot Middle East markets have significantly cooled, Troon is eying opportunities in China and Korea.

In June, Troon was hired to manage Ms Club, an 18-hole private club under construction in Seoul, South Korea. The course is scheduled to open in September 2011. Troon operates five other facilities in South Korea. Hinton sees significant growth opportunities in the country, which has around 300 courses serving more than three million golfers.

Although Troon works heavily in the resort market, Hinton said he expects private clubs to become a larger portion of the company’s portfolio, especially as it picks up more international courses, which are mostly private.

“Between all of the new international work and the domestic clubs that are struggling, private will naturally be a big part of what we do,” he said.

Although private clubs are feeling the pain, that hasn’t stopped ClubCorp, the largest owner of private clubs, from trying to expand its reach. After years of cleaning out its portfolio and selling properties, ClubCorp is positioning itself to grow again.

In May 2009, the company made the last in a string of divestitures, selling the 27-hole Atascocita Golf Club in Humble, Texas, to Pinehurst Trail Holdings. Heading into 2010, ClubCorp shifted gears and lined up resources to restock its portfolio.

“We believe this is an opportune time to grow,” said Eric Affeldt, president and CEO of ClubCorp. “We’re trying to be more aggressive.”

As the largest owner of golf courses, Affeldt says ClubCorp is able to draw from internal cash flow for capital, rather than relying on the shaky financing market. The company has $50 million budgeted for acquisitions and capital improvements at existing facilities this year.

“We have a unique advantage over the pure management companies because of our cash position,” he said.

In January, the company signaled a renewed interest in growth, hiring Blake Walker as chief acquisitions and development officer. Walker was previously a senior vice president at ClubCorp, who left the company in 2003 to found Pegasus Golf Partners.

In June, the company followed through with its first acquisition in two years, purchasing The Country Club of the South in Johns Creek, Ga., which had been foreclosed on by its lenders. The purchase price was undisclosed. The sale brought the number of golf and country clubs owned or operated by ClubCorp to 97. It also owns 56 business clubs.

Affeldt said the company is looking around the country for deals, especially in the Northeast and Northwest. Even as it closed on Country Club of the South, Affeldt said the company already had three additional courses under letter of intent. He estimates that between its golf and business clubs, ClubCorp could add seven to 10 facilities by the end of the year.

Private clubs have been hit particularly hard during the recession. Although ClubCorp is primarily a private club owner, Affeldt maintains that the company has been able to hold steady and even grow membership slightly. Meanwhile, other clubs that are suffering could end up on its prospect list.

“There will be more and more equity clubs that can’t make it,” he said. “So many clubs have dramatically reduced their joining fees and operate on a model predicated on breaking even. That paradigm can’t work. There will be more and more equity clubs that go on the market.”

While private clubs currently feel the pinch, municipal courses could be the next victims of circumstance. Although many muni courses have been able to hold steady on rounds during the recession, shrinking tax revenues are forcing local governments to reign in spending wherever possible.

Steve Skinner, CEO of KemperSports, said that although municipalities have been moving toward privatization of their golf courses for years, many that have been on the fence may soon be looking for outside management.

“They are facing tax revenue declines that put stress on all areas of operations,” he said. “And because tax revenue lags the economy, we could see [munis] facing difficulty even after the economy appears to be getting better.”

Some municipalities are also using the down economy as an opportunity to move into or expand their golf ownership. Last year, the City of El Dorado, Kan., purchased Prairie Trails Golf and Dining for $2.2 million, and brought in Kemper to manage the 18-hole facility in April.

Kemper also signed a deal with the City of LaCrosse, Wisc., to manage Forest Hills Golf Club. The 18-hole course had previously been leased, but when that lease expired the city assumed control and brought in Kemper.

In August 2009, Kemper was hired by Union County, N.J., to manage Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth and Ash Brook Golf Course in Scotch Plains. As part of the city’s expansion plan, a new $2.3 million driving range and learning center was built at Galloping Hill, which Kemper helped open last fall.

Although municipalities are a significant portion of Kemper’s portfolio, the company has picked up a wide range of properties during the downturn. The company has signed contracts with several private clubs, including Cornerstone Club in Montrose, Colo. Hunt Realty Investments selected KemperSports to take over operations of the 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed, which opened in 2008.

Although third-party management remains its primary focus, Kemper continues to eye strategic ownership opportunities. As it did at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, the company has partnered with developer Mike Keiser on an ambitious oceanfront project, Cabot Links in Nova Scotia. When it opens in 2012, the 18-hole links style course will feature 16 holes that boarder the Atlantic.

Given the range of opportunities, Skinner expects the company to add at least 12 properties to its portfolio this year, possibly more.

“We’re optimistic,” he said. “It’s shaping up to be a good year, maybe even better than previous years. The economy may be down, but things are going at a good pace for us.”

View the original article here

Some of the industry’s largest management companies are also growing at the fastest pace, fueled by struggling golf courses looking for help.

When Peter Hill, CEO and chairman of Billy Casper Golf, looks out over the 1757 Golf Club in Ashburn, Va., he sees a property that has found its identity. Situated on 200 acres in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, the property was originally conceived as The Presidential Golf Club — an exclusive private club that would cater to corporations and well-healed executives looking for a place to host clients, treat employees and hold events. But before the first nine holes even opened, the economy tanked and the developers filed for bankruptcy.

From the failure of The Presidential, Hill saw potential. The facility was centrally located along one of the county’s busiest roads and featured a top-notch 76-station practice facility. In May 2009, the Vienna, Va.-based company leased the facility and repositioned it as a daily course offering high-end amenities at value-driven rates.

The brief history of 1757 Golf Club is emblematic of the current golf economy. A deep recession has created thousands of problem courses in dire need of solutions. Some may need small tweaks, some could require repositioning and still others might need a fresh stream of capital from a new owner. In all cases, management companies see opportunities and are finding ways to grow in this down economy.

“There are examples of bad execution all over the country,” Hill said. “Some courses shouldn’t have been built and others are simply struggling with their identity. When we look at managing a course, it’s a matter of identifying the fix. Is there a solvable problem? Is it long term or short term? There are a lot of courses out there that need solutions.”

Billy Casper is among the major management firms who seem to be finding answers for owners. Last year, the company added 10 courses and by mid-2010 it had already surpassed that number, bringing its tally to 120.

Given the dynamic market conditions, Bob Morris, vice chairman of Billy Casper, credits the company’s ability to leverage years of customer data collected at all of its facilities and stay on top of trends. The company can track buying habits of individual customers and use that information to keep its facilities focus on current demand.

“In this environment, it’s important to monitor the changing consumer and what he or she wants,” Morris said. “We feed into what customers are looking for versus telling them what they need. You have to be willing to do things differently going forward versus focusing on how to bring things back to the way they were in the past.”

The formula appears to be working. Despite the recession, rounds at Billy Casper facilities were slightly up in 2009—1 percent—from 2008, and 2010 is tracking well above the previous year, Hill said. In an environment where many operators are desperate for results, Hill said those kinds of statistics garner attention.

“We have the empirical data,” he said. “We know it works. We’re focused on being a better operator and there are a lot of people that need and want help.”

Billy Casper isn’t the only company that is confident it can capitalize during a down market. At the Golf Inc. Conference in April, Hud Hinton, president and chief executive officer of Troon Golf, made the bold forecast that his company could add more than 300 courses in the next five-to-six years. Given the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company’s global reach and recent track record, that prediction could come true. The world’s fastest-growing management company added 30 courses to its portfolio in the past year, bringing its tally to 196 courses at 160 facilities in 26 countries.

With its business development team scouring deals in both the United States and abroad, Troon has a wide-range of options on its radar. In the U.S., the company sees troubled courses in need of solutions. In May, the company landed a contract to manage Pronghorn, a 36-hole private golf resort in Bend, Ore. Tom Hix, managing member of Pronghorn’s ownership group, said the club elected to bring in Troon in light of operational challenges in today’s market.

Given the difficulty finding new members at private clubs in the U.S., Hinton said the company is taking a targeted approach to new contracts with clubs. The company is particularly focused on major cities, shying away from deals in secondary or tertiary markets.

“The clubs in the large markets have the best chance of staying private these days,” he said. “Those are the markets where clubs can be successful.”

In March, the company took over management of two clubs outside of New York City — Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club in Scotch Plains, N.J., and Muttontown Golf Club on Long Island. In December, Troon was brought in to manage The Canyon Club in Armonk, N.Y. The private club was purchased from Mitsubishi International by Canyon Club Partners in late 2009, and has since been renamed Byrnwood Golf & Country Club.

But some of the company’s best chances for near-term growth may be found overseas. While development in the U.S. has slowed to a crawl, the majority of Troon’s prospective international contracts are with new courses. Although the once-hot Middle East markets have significantly cooled, Troon is eying opportunities in China and Korea.

In June, Troon was hired to manage Ms Club, an 18-hole private club under construction in Seoul, South Korea. The course is scheduled to open in September 2011. Troon operates five other facilities in South Korea. Hinton sees significant growth opportunities in the country, which has around 300 courses serving more than three million golfers.

Although Troon works heavily in the resort market, Hinton said he expects private clubs to become a larger portion of the company’s portfolio, especially as it picks up more international courses, which are mostly private.

“Between all of the new international work and the domestic clubs that are struggling, private will naturally be a big part of what we do,” he said.

Although private clubs are feeling the pain, that hasn’t stopped ClubCorp, the largest owner of private clubs, from trying to expand its reach. After years of cleaning out its portfolio and selling properties, ClubCorp is positioning itself to grow again.

In May 2009, the company made the last in a string of divestitures, selling the 27-hole Atascocita Golf Club in Humble, Texas, to Pinehurst Trail Holdings. Heading into 2010, ClubCorp shifted gears and lined up resources to restock its portfolio.

“We believe this is an opportune time to grow,” said Eric Affeldt, president and CEO of ClubCorp. “We’re trying to be more aggressive.”

As the largest owner of golf courses, Affeldt says ClubCorp is able to draw from internal cash flow for capital, rather than relying on the shaky financing market. The company has $50 million budgeted for acquisitions and capital improvements at existing facilities this year.

“We have a unique advantage over the pure management companies because of our cash position,” he said.

In January, the company signaled a renewed interest in growth, hiring Blake Walker as chief acquisitions and development officer. Walker was previously a senior vice president at ClubCorp, who left the company in 2003 to found Pegasus Golf Partners.

In June, the company followed through with its first acquisition in two years, purchasing The Country Club of the South in Johns Creek, Ga., which had been foreclosed on by its lenders. The purchase price was undisclosed. The sale brought the number of golf and country clubs owned or operated by ClubCorp to 97. It also owns 56 business clubs.

Affeldt said the company is looking around the country for deals, especially in the Northeast and Northwest. Even as it closed on Country Club of the South, Affeldt said the company already had three additional courses under letter of intent. He estimates that between its golf and business clubs, ClubCorp could add seven to 10 facilities by the end of the year.

Private clubs have been hit particularly hard during the recession. Although ClubCorp is primarily a private club owner, Affeldt maintains that the company has been able to hold steady and even grow membership slightly. Meanwhile, other clubs that are suffering could end up on its prospect list.

“There will be more and more equity clubs that can’t make it,” he said. “So many clubs have dramatically reduced their joining fees and operate on a model predicated on breaking even. That paradigm can’t work. There will be more and more equity clubs that go on the market.”

While private clubs currently feel the pinch, municipal courses could be the next victims of circumstance. Although many muni courses have been able to hold steady on rounds during the recession, shrinking tax revenues are forcing local governments to reign in spending wherever possible.

Steve Skinner, CEO of KemperSports, said that although municipalities have been moving toward privatization of their golf courses for years, many that have been on the fence may soon be looking for outside management.

“They are facing tax revenue declines that put stress on all areas of operations,” he said. “And because tax revenue lags the economy, we could see [munis] facing difficulty even after the economy appears to be getting better.”

Some municipalities are also using the down economy as an opportunity to move into or expand their golf ownership. Last year, the City of El Dorado, Kan., purchased Prairie Trails Golf and Dining for $2.2 million, and brought in Kemper to manage the 18-hole facility in April.

Kemper also signed a deal with the City of LaCrosse, Wisc., to manage Forest Hills Golf Club. The 18-hole course had previously been leased, but when that lease expired the city assumed control and brought in Kemper.

In August 2009, Kemper was hired by Union County, N.J., to manage Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth and Ash Brook Golf Course in Scotch Plains. As part of the city’s expansion plan, a new $2.3 million driving range and learning center was built at Galloping Hill, which Kemper helped open last fall.

Although municipalities are a significant portion of Kemper’s portfolio, the company has picked up a wide range of properties during the downturn. The company has signed contracts with several private clubs, including Cornerstone Club in Montrose, Colo. Hunt Realty Investments selected KemperSports to take over operations of the 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed, which opened in 2008.

Although third-party management remains its primary focus, Kemper continues to eye strategic ownership opportunities. As it did at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, the company has partnered with developer Mike Keiser on an ambitious oceanfront project, Cabot Links in Nova Scotia. When it opens in 2012, the 18-hole links style course will feature 16 holes that boarder the Atlantic.

Given the range of opportunities, Skinner expects the company to add at least 12 properties to its portfolio this year, possibly more.

“We’re optimistic,” he said. “It’s shaping up to be a good year, maybe even better than previous years. The economy may be down, but things are going at a good pace for us.”

Woodhaven is an 18-hole, par 71 championship golf course that was designed by Leon Howard and pro-golfer Terry Dill. It boasts 8 tennis courts, a junior Olympic swimming pool and dining and banquet rooms. Scoma has tapped architectural firm Hahnfield Hoffer Stanford to expand and renovate the clubhouse and grounds. 

Woodhaven is an 18-hole, par 71 championship golf course that was designed by Leon Howard and pro-golfer Terry Dill. It boasts 8 tennis courts, a junior Olympic swimming pool and dining and banquet rooms. Scoma has tapped architectural firm Hahnfield Hoffer Stanford to expand and renovate the clubhouse and grounds. 

View the original article here

A newly formed British company is looking for investors to help it build a pair of resort communities on the largest Greek island.

Some of the industry’s largest management companies are also growing at the fastest pace, fueled by struggling golf courses looking for help.

When Peter Hill, CEO and chairman of Billy Casper Golf, looks out over the 1757 Golf Club in Ashburn, Va., he sees a property that has found its identity. Situated on 200 acres in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, the property was originally conceived as The Presidential Golf Club — an exclusive private club that would cater to corporations and well-healed executives looking for a place to host clients, treat employees and hold events. But before the first nine holes even opened, the economy tanked and the developers filed for bankruptcy.

From the failure of The Presidential, Hill saw potential. The facility was centrally located along one of the county’s busiest roads and featured a top-notch 76-station practice facility. In May 2009, the Vienna, Va.-based company leased the facility and repositioned it as a daily course offering high-end amenities at value-driven rates.

The brief history of 1757 Golf Club is emblematic of the current golf economy. A deep recession has created thousands of problem courses in dire need of solutions. Some may need small tweaks, some could require repositioning and still others might need a fresh stream of capital from a new owner. In all cases, management companies see opportunities and are finding ways to grow in this down economy.

“There are examples of bad execution all over the country,” Hill said. “Some courses shouldn’t have been built and others are simply struggling with their identity. When we look at managing a course, it’s a matter of identifying the fix. Is there a solvable problem? Is it long term or short term? There are a lot of courses out there that need solutions.”

Billy Casper is among the major management firms who seem to be finding answers for owners. Last year, the company added 10 courses and by mid-2010 it had already surpassed that number, bringing its tally to 120.

Given the dynamic market conditions, Bob Morris, vice chairman of Billy Casper, credits the company’s ability to leverage years of customer data collected at all of its facilities and stay on top of trends. The company can track buying habits of individual customers and use that information to keep its facilities focus on current demand.

“In this environment, it’s important to monitor the changing consumer and what he or she wants,” Morris said. “We feed into what customers are looking for versus telling them what they need. You have to be willing to do things differently going forward versus focusing on how to bring things back to the way they were in the past.”

The formula appears to be working. Despite the recession, rounds at Billy Casper facilities were slightly up in 2009—1 percent—from 2008, and 2010 is tracking well above the previous year, Hill said. In an environment where many operators are desperate for results, Hill said those kinds of statistics garner attention.

“We have the empirical data,” he said. “We know it works. We’re focused on being a better operator and there are a lot of people that need and want help.”

Billy Casper isn’t the only company that is confident it can capitalize during a down market. At the Golf Inc. Conference in April, Hud Hinton, president and chief executive officer of Troon Golf, made the bold forecast that his company could add more than 300 courses in the next five-to-six years. Given the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company’s global reach and recent track record, that prediction could come true. The world’s fastest-growing management company added 30 courses to its portfolio in the past year, bringing its tally to 196 courses at 160 facilities in 26 countries.

With its business development team scouring deals in both the United States and abroad, Troon has a wide-range of options on its radar. In the U.S., the company sees troubled courses in need of solutions. In May, the company landed a contract to manage Pronghorn, a 36-hole private golf resort in Bend, Ore. Tom Hix, managing member of Pronghorn’s ownership group, said the club elected to bring in Troon in light of operational challenges in today’s market.

Given the difficulty finding new members at private clubs in the U.S., Hinton said the company is taking a targeted approach to new contracts with clubs. The company is particularly focused on major cities, shying away from deals in secondary or tertiary markets.

“The clubs in the large markets have the best chance of staying private these days,” he said. “Those are the markets where clubs can be successful.”

In March, the company took over management of two clubs outside of New York City — Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club in Scotch Plains, N.J., and Muttontown Golf Club on Long Island. In December, Troon was brought in to manage The Canyon Club in Armonk, N.Y. The private club was purchased from Mitsubishi International by Canyon Club Partners in late 2009, and has since been renamed Byrnwood Golf & Country Club.

But some of the company’s best chances for near-term growth may be found overseas. While development in the U.S. has slowed to a crawl, the majority of Troon’s prospective international contracts are with new courses. Although the once-hot Middle East markets have significantly cooled, Troon is eying opportunities in China and Korea.

In June, Troon was hired to manage Ms Club, an 18-hole private club under construction in Seoul, South Korea. The course is scheduled to open in September 2011. Troon operates five other facilities in South Korea. Hinton sees significant growth opportunities in the country, which has around 300 courses serving more than three million golfers.

Although Troon works heavily in the resort market, Hinton said he expects private clubs to become a larger portion of the company’s portfolio, especially as it picks up more international courses, which are mostly private.

“Between all of the new international work and the domestic clubs that are struggling, private will naturally be a big part of what we do,” he said.

Although private clubs are feeling the pain, that hasn’t stopped ClubCorp, the largest owner of private clubs, from trying to expand its reach. After years of cleaning out its portfolio and selling properties, ClubCorp is positioning itself to grow again.

In May 2009, the company made the last in a string of divestitures, selling the 27-hole Atascocita Golf Club in Humble, Texas, to Pinehurst Trail Holdings. Heading into 2010, ClubCorp shifted gears and lined up resources to restock its portfolio.

“We believe this is an opportune time to grow,” said Eric Affeldt, president and CEO of ClubCorp. “We’re trying to be more aggressive.”

As the largest owner of golf courses, Affeldt says ClubCorp is able to draw from internal cash flow for capital, rather than relying on the shaky financing market. The company has $50 million budgeted for acquisitions and capital improvements at existing facilities this year.

“We have a unique advantage over the pure management companies because of our cash position,” he said.

In January, the company signaled a renewed interest in growth, hiring Blake Walker as chief acquisitions and development officer. Walker was previously a senior vice president at ClubCorp, who left the company in 2003 to found Pegasus Golf Partners.

In June, the company followed through with its first acquisition in two years, purchasing The Country Club of the South in Johns Creek, Ga., which had been foreclosed on by its lenders. The purchase price was undisclosed. The sale brought the number of golf and country clubs owned or operated by ClubCorp to 97. It also owns 56 business clubs.

Affeldt said the company is looking around the country for deals, especially in the Northeast and Northwest. Even as it closed on Country Club of the South, Affeldt said the company already had three additional courses under letter of intent. He estimates that between its golf and business clubs, ClubCorp could add seven to 10 facilities by the end of the year.

Private clubs have been hit particularly hard during the recession. Although ClubCorp is primarily a private club owner, Affeldt maintains that the company has been able to hold steady and even grow membership slightly. Meanwhile, other clubs that are suffering could end up on its prospect list.

“There will be more and more equity clubs that can’t make it,” he said. “So many clubs have dramatically reduced their joining fees and operate on a model predicated on breaking even. That paradigm can’t work. There will be more and more equity clubs that go on the market.”

While private clubs currently feel the pinch, municipal courses could be the next victims of circumstance. Although many muni courses have been able to hold steady on rounds during the recession, shrinking tax revenues are forcing local governments to reign in spending wherever possible.

Steve Skinner, CEO of KemperSports, said that although municipalities have been moving toward privatization of their golf courses for years, many that have been on the fence may soon be looking for outside management.

“They are facing tax revenue declines that put stress on all areas of operations,” he said. “And because tax revenue lags the economy, we could see [munis] facing difficulty even after the economy appears to be getting better.”

Some municipalities are also using the down economy as an opportunity to move into or expand their golf ownership. Last year, the City of El Dorado, Kan., purchased Prairie Trails Golf and Dining for $2.2 million, and brought in Kemper to manage the 18-hole facility in April.

Kemper also signed a deal with the City of LaCrosse, Wisc., to manage Forest Hills Golf Club. The 18-hole course had previously been leased, but when that lease expired the city assumed control and brought in Kemper.

In August 2009, Kemper was hired by Union County, N.J., to manage Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth and Ash Brook Golf Course in Scotch Plains. As part of the city’s expansion plan, a new $2.3 million driving range and learning center was built at Galloping Hill, which Kemper helped open last fall.

Although municipalities are a significant portion of Kemper’s portfolio, the company has picked up a wide range of properties during the downturn. The company has signed contracts with several private clubs, including Cornerstone Club in Montrose, Colo. Hunt Realty Investments selected KemperSports to take over operations of the 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed, which opened in 2008.

Although third-party management remains its primary focus, Kemper continues to eye strategic ownership opportunities. As it did at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, the company has partnered with developer Mike Keiser on an ambitious oceanfront project, Cabot Links in Nova Scotia. When it opens in 2012, the 18-hole links style course will feature 16 holes that boarder the Atlantic.

Given the range of opportunities, Skinner expects the company to add at least 12 properties to its portfolio this year, possibly more.

“We’re optimistic,” he said. “It’s shaping up to be a good year, maybe even better than previous years. The economy may be down, but things are going at a good pace for us.”

View the original article here

A newly formed British company is looking for investors to help it build a pair of resort communities on the largest Greek island.

View the original article here

There is still time to enter submissions in Golf Inc.’s annual Clubhouse of the Year competition.

Golf Inc. is asking for submissions of new and renovated golf clubhouses opened between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 1, 2010. Entries need to be submitted by Friday, Jan. 14. (Please note that the entry deadline has been extended. This is due to the competition feature being moved to the Spring issue of Golf Inc.)

The contest is free to enter and those who are eligible can submit entries in either or both competition. The Clubhouse Competition recognizes the best new and renovated or remodeled clubhouses across the globe. The facilities chosen for this award will be those that best realize the vision of the development team, the aesthetic appeal of the project and the efficiency and practicality of the floor plan.

Entries will be divided into categories for private clubs and daily fee courses. A third category is for remodeled clubhouses – those involving interior or exterior alterations to an existing facility.

Please e-mail Michelle Weyenberg to request an entry packet and instructions — E-mail: michelle@cypressmagazines.com.

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A year after government officials put it on the chopping block, a planned “international tourism area” along Suoi Hai Lake is still alive, minus one of its two golf courses.

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Golf Inc. magazine has unveiled its 2010 list of the Most Powerful People in Golf, with ClubCorp’s President and CEO Eric Affeldt claiming the top spot for the first time.

“Eric has re-energized ClubCorp and has his eyes set on new course acquisitions at a time when most golf course owners, especially private clubs, are retreating,” said Jack Crittenden, Golf Inc. editor-in-chief. “His attitude, more than anything, creates opportunities and should open doors for the world’s largest golf course owner.”

Golf Inc. has compiled the list every year since 1999, with the exception of 2000. In its inaugural ranking, Bob Dedman, Jr., who then ran ClubCorp, shared the top spot with David Price, then leader at American Golf. While Affeldt has helped ClubCorp reclaim its leadership position, this is the first year that an executive from American Golf is not on the list. There are nine new people on the list this year, more than in any other recent year.

“Without question, golf as a business is less U.S.-centric than ever before,” the article states. “While the bulk of power is still in the United States and United Kingdom, other places will soon have a seat at the table — as evidenced buy some of the new arrivals on our list.”

Jack Nicklaus, who previously held the top spot, dropped to number three, given the worldwide slowdown in development activity. Tiger Woods dropped from third to eighth, after a tumultuous year. Donald Trump is one of the nine newcomers to the list, along with Michael Keiser, developer of Bandon Dunes in Oregon. For a complete list, click here. 

A year after government officials put it on the chopping block, a planned “international tourism area” along Suoi Hai Lake is still alive, minus one of its two golf courses.

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An Australian investor is searching for partners who’ll help build an “eco-city” in northeastern China, including a retirement community and several golf courses.

George Wang, the principal of AIMS Financial Group, wants to build his mini-city on 988 acres of municipally owned property near Tianjin, China’s sixth-largest city (population: nearly 12 million). The investment appears to be a safe bet. Last year, Tianjin’s economy reportedly grew by 16.5 percent.

“Tianjin is the next Shanghai,” Wang told NextInsight.net late last year. “Many large companies have set up there – Samsung, Motorola – and it has a lot of potential for growth.”

Wang, who’s been investing in China for a decade or more, intends to tap that potential. Earlier this year, Tianjin and AIMS signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop what’s been described as “a sustainable tourism township” in an area called Xiaying. The city will consist of houses (including a seniors-only community), various leisure and hospitality facilities (presumably hotels and recreation areas), a vineyard (“I want to bring Australian wine growers to Xiaying,” Wang recently told the Australian), and some golf courses.

Wang also plans to rebuild a cluster of ancient Taoist temples on the property, in an effort to spark historical tourism. Wang was born on Hainan Island and studied engineering at Shanghai University, but he moved to Australia in the late 1980s, while he was in his 20s. He learned English, worked as an insurance salesman, and created AIMS to sell mortgages.

But Wang understood the velocity of money, and AIMS quickly branched out into investment banking, mortgage securitization, and real estate investment trusts. Wang plans to fund the construction of the “eco-city” in Xiaying with money provided by private investors in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia, through what the Australian recently described as “a China Agricultural Eco City Development Fund.”

He eventually hopes to build five or six similar communities in China, all of them to be funded by real estate investment trusts.

In his interview with NextInsight.net, Wang said, “I believe China is the future, with its booming economic growth and massive logistics and manufacturing potential.”

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form.

In the United States, you can live “the high life” simply by buying a bottle of beer. In India, you apparently have to buy a house.

Rakindo Developers wants to sell “the Global Highlife” — according to the company’s marketing jabber, it’s “the prerogative of every deserving Indian” — in as many as six planned golf communities in India. So far, Rakindo has announced three projects, two of them in the state of Tamil Nadu and one in Kerala.

The community in Kerala is sometimes called Kumarakom Wetlands Golf Resort and sometimes Kumarakom Backwater Golf Resort, depending on who’s doing the translation. Rakindo aims to make it “the crown jewel” of the state’s vacation destinations.

Kumarakom Wetlands will take shape on roughly 425 acres in Kumarakom, a village of about 7,000 people that’s located 40 miles south of Emakulam. At build-out, it’ll have villas and condos, a hotel, a spa, a marina, a shopping area, restaurants, a theme park for children and other attractions, including an 18-hole, “international-standard” golf course designed by the architects at Santa Rosa, California-based GolfPlan.

The project has generated some controversy. The Kumarakom area has many natural attractions – including a much-visited bird sanctuary and Vembanad Lake, one of the largest lakes in India, that have made it a popular vacation destination. Though Rakindo says its resort will be “ecologically sustainable” and designed “to strengthen and promote the surrounding bird habitats, wetlands, and fish population,” environmentalists disagree. State officials are currently debating the community’s merits, and Rakindo can’t break ground until they sign off on the development plan.

Rakindo’s golf communities in Tamil Nadu don’t seem to be causing such headaches. Kovai Hills, an 850-acre community in Coimbatore, will include thousands of villas, a spa, a medical center, a shopping mall, an 18-hole golf course and a golf academy with a nine-hole par-3 course. Chennai Marina, which Rakindo describes as “our little utopia,” will take shape on 650 acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal near Chennai. It’ll have houses, a wellness center, a yacht club, and an 18-hole golf course.

Both courses in Tamil Nadu will be designed by David Hemstock, who’s based in Biggin-by-Hartington, England.

Rakindo Developers Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture between Rakeen, a firm controlled by the government of Ras Al-Khaimah, and Trimex Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate.

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form. For a sample copy of the World Edition, call 301-680-9460 or write to WorldEdition@aol.com.

Although it’s identified as many as 80 sites that would be suitable for golf development, today the Cuban government has about a dozen golf projects flashing on its radar screen.

Here are some notes on three of them:

• A few weeks ago Palmerston Hotels & Resorts opened a golf course in Cyprus, and it wants to open another one on the island of Cayo Coco, part of the Jardines del Rey chain along Cuba’s northern coast. Cayo Coco is already a well-developed vacation getaway, with about a dozen beachfront hotels. Hong Kong-based Palmerston aims to add a “world-class” destination to the mix, a to-be-named resort that will include villas, condos, and apartments, four hotels, meeting space, a spa, a beach club, and a wedding chapel. The resort will also have a pair of 18-hole “championship” golf courses, one of which will be designed by Nick Faldo, the designer of the golf course at Palmerston’s Elea Golf & Spa Resort in Paphos, Cyprus.

• An unidentified British company aims to build a resort community near Bahia Honda, along the northern shore of Pinar del Rio Province. The Brits have hired Foster + Partners, a London-based architectural firm led by Sir Norman Foster, to design the to-be-named community, which will reportedly include 2,000 housing units and hotel rooms, a marina with slips for 200 or more boats, and three golf courses.

• In Holguin Province, Cuba’s top contractor – a French company named Bouygues Batiment International – plans to build a golf course, along with some houses and a marina. The course will be part of Playa Pesquero, a 944-room, resort-style hotel that BBI built in the town of Rafael Freyre. In fact, since 1999 BBI has built about a dozen similar hotels in Cuba, primarily in Varadero and on Cayo Santa Maria, another island in the Jardines del Rey chain. BBI has also built hotels in Russia and Dubai, sports complexes in Nigeria and Hong Kong, and airports in Cyprus and the Czech Republic. In Cuba, it works with Gaviota, the military’s tourism enterprise.

This story originally appeared in the World Edition of the Golf Course Report, in a slightly different form. For a sample copy of the World Edition, call 301/680-9460 or write to WorldEdition@aol.com.