Keiser's Cape Wrath Project

[Matthew Schulte]

I just read that Mike Keiser is supposedly building yet another links course 60 miles north of Dornoch, on the tip of Scotland called "Cape Wrath Golf Club."  

Can anyone confirm this project or elaborate for us?
If so, who is designing it?

With Mr. Keiser continuing his string of "build it and they will come" success stories, is there any one individual who has impacted golf course development, in recent times, more than he has?  I truly hope, that he inspires others to take a chance with great sites regardless of the location.  God knows, enough of us will find it, and flock to it, provided the course is the real deal.  

 

[Tom_Doak]

Where in the world did you read that??

Mike did look at a piece of dunesland "up there" a couple of years ago.  He had Bill Coore go and look at it last summer, but Bill and an engineer both told Mike they thought it was pretty much unbuildable because of the winds and drifting sand.  I'm pretty sure it's a dead issue now.

BTW, I spoke to Mike this morning and can relate the news that he still has not decided on an architect for the woodland course at Bandon.  He says he hopes to decide by the end of next month, but there are still several people in the running.

[Matthew Schulte]

Tom:

I read that in "Golf Travel by Design".  A book put out by the Editors of The Golf Insider (Newsletter).  The book can't be all bad as it called Pacific Dunes "the most significant new course built in the US in decades."

Matt

[RJ_Daley]

Tom, as my fleeting memory tries to recall, didn't you yourownself bring this property up for discussion about 3-4 years ago when we were talking about dream properties like Sand Hills.  I think you posed the question of who might consider the travel and expense of belonging to such a remote club if the land and golf were incredible.  Of course, I think that was when you were on the verge of Pac Dunes, and probably never heard of Barngbougle...

[Tom_Doak]

Dick,

Actually, this was the property I referred to.  It was 2 or 2 1/2 years ago, right after Pacific Dunes was finished and Mike K. first brought up the idea to me.  I would have loved to do it, and so would David Kidd, I assume; but Mike chose to have Bill Coore look at it instead of choosing between us.

It's also right when they were putting that book together, Matt ... but it's old news now.

[bakerg]

Don't mean to take this thread off topic, but Tom do you have any update on the Making of Pacific Dunes book for us?  

[Tom_Doak]

I actually worked on it a little bit on the plane flight to Tasmania, for the first time in a long while.  But what I really have to do now is the hard work ... assembling the photos and laying it out and dealing with a publisher.

And right now I'd rather be working in Tasmania, so it's still a way off.

[Joel_Stewart]

Tom:
Since you are answering questions, are you ever going to update the Confidential Guide?

[Tom_Doak]

Joel:  It's constantly updated on my computer, like the PGA Tour leaderboards.  And there is actually one relatively current copy in my office, which I sometimes allow visitors to read.

But the bottom line is no, I don't intend to publish my thoughts anytime soon.  Doing so would only offend fellow architects, and I've done enough of that.  So I intend to stick with the one copy until I've retired or passed away.  After that, if my son still isn't interested in being in the golf course design business, it will be up to him whether to publish it or not.