'World Class Golf Sites'

[paul cowley]

World class golf site....what does that denote? what does that mean to you?
We are about to begin work on one, and I find myself using that phrase as a description to others, not because I'm really comfortable with the wording, but more from my inability to come up with anything else.....and then I always have to go on to compare and contrast the site to others in an attempt to qualify it .... I guess.

...its funny really, as I seem to get caught up in the same thing when I'm asked to describe a 'signature' this or that.

More on the site to come, but I am curious to others reaction to the phraseology.

[Jay Flemma]

You've peaked my curiousity...where is the site?

[Tom_Doak]

Paul:

To me it means that the site has the potential to produce one of the best courses in the world.  So, you're putting a little bit of pressure on yourself there.  On the other hand, it's the opportunity you've always wanted ... so good luck with it!

[paul cowley]

...hooked ya Jay .

google earth on Cabo San Lucas...to the tip of the baja peninsula, move up on the Pacific side and its the dune scape to the north of the old light house site 'faro viejo'...they filmed the movie Troy on the site...Davis and brother Mark spent two days last week walking and routing in high spring winds, which was nothing different than Bandon or the UK but without rain and the fact that it was in the 70's........the site will be very minimal as nothing else is needed on 14 of the holes, a Sand Hills experience in routing and construction...[it helps that the dune system has broad spacing and is up to 100 ft in height].

I will learn to post pictures about this one....but I have to take them first [in two weeks].

[Don_Mahaffey]

Paul,
I believe I know the area you speak of and I do think it may be world class in terms of sandy soil and movement...but I wonder about water quality (sorry, can't help it) and the ability to maintain the course. A desalinization plant and your probably in business. Good luck.

[paul cowley]

Thank you Tom...and as for its future creditability, I'm confident that one day you will be one of its respected judges.

[paul cowley]

Don....a de-sal plant is part of the program, as are wind erosion concerns....and solutions.

It reminds me much of construction photos of Cypress [sans big vegetation] and I'm sure there will be challenges.

I do think it will be the southernmost 'links' course in North America...?

[Scott Witter]

Paul:

On the wind erosion issue...are you referring to the eventual erosion of sand out of the bunkers, or during construction and the environmental aspects/impacts associated therein?

If it is either, I for one would be interested in hearing your approach.  And when you do devise this solution, how do you explain it to the client when you tell them they need to spend an extra 200K, 300K, or even more on something like this...or do you let the environmental engineer (or Davis) handle that?

[Mike_Young]

good luck with the site Paul.....sounds like it could be a great time....

[Jay Flemma]

Paul, I'm doing my best to telepathically send you some first rate karma...best of luck with the site!  make a magnum opus!

[paul cowley]

Scot ....We have always included the client on board and he is very involved with any of our concerns regarding the courses suitability. For instance, he has been logging the wind daily for the past year to address one of these concerns, and the results have been most favorable.
Its interesting to note that our course will not only be very 'minimal' because of its site, it will also be very minimal in its cost to construct.....and as such, we have included in the Master plan another 18 hole course that is set back from the shore but has long ocean views.  The owner has decided it will have a 'maximal' budget with which to design a course and create an environment that's in strong contrast to our dunes course and any of the other desert style designs that have been built in Cabo....and as such, we have nicknamed it Shadow Creek ll [the Oasis edition].

[paul cowley]

thanks Mike and Jay.

[Bill_McBride]

Paul, what is there now in terms of infrastructure for visiting golfers?  i.e. hotels, restaurants, how far to an airport, etc?  Sounds like a fascinating opportunity, Bandon sans chilly winds and rain!

[henrye]

Paul.  I have passed your site many times heading out to chase Marlin in the early morning.  From a distance, I have thought that it looked like a links wonderland, but the dunes appear so immense and the sand looks so fine.  You mention you have had the winds logged and wind erosion solutions.  Are there concerns of a sandstorm type effect when the winds whip up from the Pacific?  Can a golfer play under these conditions and how many days a year would the conditions be like this?

[paul cowley]

Bill....the site is 1600 acres with 1.5 miles directly on the Pacific and it gently rises from the beach to an elevation of 250' at the rear.....it is in a natural state with only dirt roads and no structures.
As most all of Cabos development has occurred east of the tip and back up the Sea of Cortez side, this property is very unique and our Master plan treads very lightly, which will be in strong contrast to all the good [and bad] development that has previously occurred in Baja.
There is a new airport under construction about 5 miles away that might allow future commercial flights from the US.

I think that many on GCA will enjoy the projects evolution and I plan on updating here as things progress [pictures too].
We plan to break ground in August.

[paul cowley]

Henry.....I'm sure there will be a handful of days that many would choose not to play, probably about the same amount as at Bandon or the west of Ireland.

When Davis was there last week it blew as hard as I have seen it in the year and a half I have been going to the site, and at the end of each day I asked him if he would have played and he replied sure... and I felt the same [especially when contrasting it to rounds I have played when it was blowing 35 miles per hour and raining, with the temp around 45 degrees...and enjoying it] .

We can assure you the course will be quite wide....and built generally behind the big sand slopes that you can see as you pass by in a boat.

[Peter Pallotta]

Congratulations, Paul. All the best with that.

Re: your question, you could use something like:

"The world's newest premier golf destination", or, the longer version, "The world's newest premier golf destination, in one of the world's finest resort locations", or, longer still, "The world's newest premier golf destination, in one of the world's finest resort locations, designed by one of America's greatest golfers -- The Links at Cabos San Lucas".

Unfortunately, I don't think I've actually MADE UP any of those phrases myself -- they all seem too eerily familiar; but honestly, so does "world class golf site"  

Peter

[Glenn Spencer]

"For its type of course, it is one of the finest I have played" whose quote was that, Hogan? I paraphrased a little but that is my favorite. Give them what they want to hear without saying anything at all.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Paul,

Congrats to the DLIII team on the opportunity.  You and Tom Doak can get together for drinks and exchange notes when he makes site visits for his course being built in the area.

In a few years, including the supposedly very good courses already there, the Cabo area could be a major player as a golf destination.

Maybe I missed it above, but will this course be public/resort or some private destination club w/international membership?

[paul cowley]

thank you Scott....actually there are three potential courses in planning on the site....the 'Dunes', the 'Oasis' and another as yet un-named.
 The first two will be private but maybe have a Hotel [on site] tie in....the last might have more of a Resort play element.