[Jfaspen]

Tom, I see Cuba turning into a gigantic resort destination for Americans a few years after the current regime topples.  The constant weather, proximity to the US and the resort infrastructure already in place will limit the transition time.  I eventually see it as a split between a return to the pre-embargo casino days and a golf destination where today's greatest designers will have a chance to make their mark on Cuba's unspoiled coastline.. All while having a wonderful Cohiba

It's just a matter of time.

Btw.. Has anyone played the Abaco club?  It is a private course down in the carribean that was discussed GW a few months back.  The pictures looked amazing.

Jeff

[Tom_Doak]

Cary:

A great course in the Caribbean could play 30,000 rounds per year at $250 per round.  They're expensive to build, but that's a lot of cash flow to pay off the loan.

There are new projects going up all over down there.  I've been asked to look at three or four different things, and some of them are pretty well funded.

Craig:

There isn't much land around Deer Lodge which isn't part of our property already, and there are only plans to do one course, so I wouldn't call it a "mecca".  But I do think Montana will see other great courses developed in the next few years.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Jonathan, I would think Eastern Russia, Kamchatka, would have a short golf season. I can think of many places I would go on earth much closer once one enters the 60 day season window. I too like Cuba's potential.

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Bump.

Is there a market (golfing public/national private $15-25,000) 500-1000 members for another prairie course, which would be much easier to reach than Sand Hills. Wind, sandy soil and dunes, simple, elegant and fun, many of the features the founder of this site would love?

I'd say Ballyneal fits this description nicely.

Of the locations mentioned, Cuba is starting to show signs of life and Central America has had a number of projects discussed but very few have come to fruition given the financial crisis over the past few years.  South America looks promising to me given the wealth created by the commodities boom (fueled primarily by Asian consumption), the climate, topography and the dearth of world class ocean courses in that part of the world.  The upcoming Olympics and the addition of golf as a sport certainly won't hurt.

[Ben Sims]

There will always be a great piece of land that beget places like Ballyneal, Shelter Harbor, Kingsley Club, etc.  Where is the next great destination club?  Who knows.  There are wilderness sites with sand, rolling topography all over the US and other countries.

There is some pretty stirring land just north of Provincetown, Mass out on the tip of the cape. 

[hick]

Geoffrey , how do you get your info on Gardiner's , and the family.

[Paul Nash]

what about in the UK? The links land near P&K looks wonderful but I know it is protected. Every time I go down towards Bournemouth, the heathland looks awesome - not sure if there are any parcels that could be developed around the friges of the protected areas? The one thing that struck me this month when I went down there is the amount of serious money in the Bournemouth/Poole area - and an airport right in the thick of things - looks an ideal area to support further developments - Remedy Oak was a recent new development not far away, although I have no idea if it is proving succesful or not - it is a lot dearer to be a member than other courses in the area.

[Kalen Braley]

The Pacific Northwest seems to be the spot. Lets see..

Bandon - 4 courses at the Bandon Resort, another one just down the road.
Seattle area - Chambers Bay
Tri-Cities - Wine Valley
Northern Idaho - Gozzer Ranch, Black Rock, etc.
Montana - RCCC
Bend area - Several have gone in here, not sure of all the names.

The place is blowing up and there is so much more good and relativly in-expensive land up there.  In the Spokane area, the ancient glacial floods created some interesting land formations.

P.S.  I got a great spot picked out, just need an investor to buy the land from the current owner/farmer. 

[Bart Bradley]

I firmly believe that the next great mecca will be along the coast of Nova Scotia! 

Bart

[Ken Moum]

Since I spent the last couple of years driving all across the US, I can say that there look to be hundreds of good to great places that golf courses could be built.  It probably only takes money, water and proper environmental solutions.

The first piece I can think of is about 5 miles south east of Praire Dunes there was a piece of property that was for sale and looked like it might be just as good land as where the Praire Dunes is.  

I find this 8-year-old comment very interesting, as that's pretty close to the site of Cottonwood Hills, which is having a hell of time getting enough play to stay open.

K

[Anthony Gray]

   CABO

  ARG

[Garland Bayley]

   CABO

  ARG

I'm afraid Anthony has gone pirate on us.

[Thomas McQuillan]

mainland europe.particularly the eastern part. also africa's east coast including madagascar?

[Dan Herrmann]

Inverness, Nova Scotia

I'd still love to see a great course in the Finger Lakes region of NY - One with lake/vineyard views. 

[Mac Plumart]

Any places in China with great sandy loam soil?

[David_Tepper]

The golf courses in Wales are likely to get a lot of good hype in the American golf press in the run-up to the Ryder Cup there this fall. Wales is pretty much the "last frontier" of golf for visitors to GB&I.

[Ash Towe]

I think there are places left in New Zealand and Australia where courses could be built.  The problem would be reoteness of the course and the respective countries.

[Mark Hissey]

what about in the UK? The links land near P&K looks wonderful but I know it is protected. Every time I go down towards Bournemouth, the heathland looks awesome - not sure if there are any parcels that could be developed around the friges of the protected areas? The one thing that struck me this month when I went down there is the amount of serious money in the Bournemouth/Poole area - and an airport right in the thick of things - looks an ideal area to support further developments - Remedy Oak was a recent new development not far away, although I have no idea if it is proving succesful or not - it is a lot dearer to be a member than other courses in the area.

The area near P&K is protected, but with the right plan and sufficient will, something could be done there. I think this equation will change dramatically when the Steelworks closes down. The north end of that area could be remediated witht he help of the EU due to it being a brownfield site.

I've spent so much time on that site. It truly would be a special place.

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