Cuban Golf

[JMorgan]

Before the Cuban Revolution, there were about a dozen -- from all accounts -- top-notch golf courses in Cuba.  Ross built two courses in Havana, including the CC of Havana and Havana's Biltmore Club.  Even Dev Emmet designed 18 holes for the CC of Santiago.

When Castro took over, he had all but one nine-holer, the Club de Golf Havana, plowed under.

In 1998, Varadero, the first golf course built in nearly 40 years, joined the European tour.  (Varadero was built on a coral peninsula that was once part of Pierre DuPont's estate.) At the time, the Office of Tourism estimated that nearly 150 courses would be needed should America lift its restrictions on tourists and businessmen visiting the country.  They even had planned to open golf schools to introduce golf to younger players, who are weened on baseball from an early age.

There's some pretty nice real estate in Cuba, most -- if not all -- of it unspoiled.  Problem is, much of it was expropriated from exiled Cubans who could seek to recover it.   

What do you think are the chances that golf will ever see a renaissance in Cuba with today's news of Castro's "resignation" as Cuba's president? 

I'd particularly like to hear what the architects think.

[Robert Thompson]

Les Furber built the current course in Cuba and there's a second on the books that was supposed to be designed by Graham Cooke's office.

That said, when I asked Les about the work he said he'd never work in Cuba again. The problem was the government didn't fully pay him and everything was always in short supply -- equipment, fuel, etc.

[Eric Smith]

I played the course at Varadero in 1998 and was really awed at the sight of it.  This after 4 or 5 days of roughing it upon arrival in Havana and then leisurely trekking across the country through Camaguey and back over to Varadero.

The views from the cliffs, very similar to what I recently saw in the Dominican, were awesome. 

For a clubhouse, you can't beat a DuPont mansion!

When Cuba opens up, the world is in for a real treat. 

An island full of wonderful people who deserve freedom.

[TEPaul]

I don't think there's much question that one of these days Cuba is going to absolutely explode again as a wonderful resort as it was in the last century before Castro and the communists took over.

The first thing that will happen to Cuba is it will become a treasure trove for old fashioned (1950s) car buffs. In that way it's still an amazing timewarp.  

[Jeff_Mingay]

Too bad about Les' experience in Cuba. If potential for new projects arise in the near future, they'll be great opportunities for Canadian designers, considering Americans currently can't work there.

In fact, if I recall correctly, I think Rod Whitman was talking to someone a few years ago about a potential project in Cuba; before I started working with him. I'll have to (re)ask about it.

[Robert Thompson]

I don't think there's much question that one of these days Cuba is going to absolutely explode again as a wonderful resort as it was in the last century before Castro and the communists took over.

The first thing that will happen to Cuba is it will become a treasure trove for old fashioned (1950s) car buffs. In that way it's still an amazing timewarp.  

Tom: Cuba has all of that now -- it just isn't (easily) open to Americans. I've never understood why the U.S. is so hung up on this 50 years after the revolution. It must be because of all those Cubans in Florida who can swing an election.

As for the golf, it is fine -- nothing special. The course is on a peninsula, and there are lots of places where it is tight between a hotel on one side and a roadway on another. There's a fine par-3 on the front nine and the closer is a good hole. Otherwise it is unexceptional.

[Lou_Duran]

I attended a conference in Dallas several years ago sponsored and moderated by the "Dallas Morning News" where Cuban government and NGO officials presented their view/plans for post-Castro Cuba.   A summary of the two-day conference would include that the government has a well defined succesion plan which calls for continuation of the same, but with some political moderations to enable U.S. politicians to remove the various economic restrictions know as the embargo.

The Cuban government is keen in attracting U.S. investment and aid so long as it is done on its terms.  The issue of reparations for confiscated/nationalized property of American citizens and corporations was brought up but dismissed as being too complicated and premature.     

In private conversations with several officials, I learned that for the most part, original deed records throughout the country have been destroyed.  Proving ownership in a post-Castro Cuba that may respect some private property rights is going to be very difficult.  And as long as a socialist government is a necessary partner in any deal, it is unlikely that serious U.S. investment will flow into the island.  My own feel is that I will not see substantial change in Cuba in my lifetime.  I hope I am wrong.

But, should the situation change drastically tomorrow, what is it about Cuba other than its attraction for being forbidden fruit for 50 years that makes it attractive for golf?  How is it different than any other Caribbean island or Hawaii for that matter, where there is so little high quality golf?           

[Jason Hines]

The last time I was in Cuba was ’03, beautiful land and people.  You can picture several golf courses from the coasts and even around the jungle/hills, very similar to Hawaii.

That being said, I would be surprised if golf flourishes in the current government controlled environment.  It would have happened by now if it was going to happen.  If and when the country becomes completely open, all bets are off.

[J Sadowsky]

In private conversations with several officials, I learned that for the most part, original deed records throughout the country have been destroyed.  Proving ownership in a post-Castro Cuba that may respect some private property rights is going to be very difficult.  And as long as a socialist government is a necessary partner in any deal, it is unlikely that serious U.S. investment will flow into the island.  My own feel is that I will not see substantial change in Cuba in my lifetime.  I hope I am wrong.
          

A US-Cuba Claims Tribunal, maybe?

[tlavin]

The Cuba situation is intriguing.  I've always called a golf ball that stops just short of the cup a "Cuba" because it's "in need of one more revolution."  Probably nothing unique there, but there's no doubt that there are many golf resort opportunities on the island.  If only John McCain would take Castro's brother as his running mate, maybe we could get Mike Keiser down there and have him build San Bandonista.  The mind boggles.

[Lou_Duran]

Justin,

The Cuban exile community in Miami has plans for reclaiming property, including the issuance of bonds (by the new government) to prior owners of confiscated real estate such as houses and apartments.  I suspect that the 11M+ people on the island have different ideas.

Pre-Castro Cuba had a thriving economy with considerable in-migration.  It was particularly attractive to Americans because of the few barriers to entry, good weather, entertainment, gambling, and prostitution.  These advantages are today "enjoyed" by many areas, so, even under the best political conditions, I think that a post-Castro Cuba would have much more difficulty attracting capital.

It is also my understanding that in addition to the country's infrastructure being mostly in shambles, the agricultural sector and the island's once rich soils have been greatly degraded.  Perhaps a few resort courses will be built, but I think that there is probably much greater opportunity in places like Costa Rica and Chile.

[Randy Thompson]

My general manager spent a week there researching future possibilities about three years ago and there were numerous. It may be time to send him back. Cuba golf should experience a boom sometime in the near future similar to what we have wittnessed in the Dominican Republic during the last five years. Poor infrastructure can be overcome quickly, especially when the fashion trend in golf course architectural design is, Natural and more natural. The size of the boom will be determined when somebody in political power comes to there sences and lifts trade embargo´s and allows the American people to enter Cuba. We are the freeiest democracy in the world but yet we are told by our elected officials where we can go and where we can´t go! Huge numbers of Americans lost their lives in the jungles of Vietnam and we killed literally millions of their people and yet we have established strong trade relations with them in recent years. I find it ridiculous that when entering the USA coming from Chile and passing through customs, the most frequent question I am asked is,  "Are you bringing any cuban cigars into this country"! Give me a break!

[Jeff_Mingay]

Randy,

That is amazing. With all the unfortunate threats to the United States these days, US Customs ask about Cuban cigars. Seems a little odd.