The only reason I was in the running for the job was that I knew a developer down there who was going to do the deal with Michael, and the developer had recommended me to him. But, back a couple of years ago when the project got into the press, the seller changed his terms substantially by asking for all cash for the land, and my developer friends backed away ... so I lost out.
This is one reason I don't like to discuss projects here before they are all signed off on and permitted.
I suppose Michael Jordan could have insisted on working with me when the developer of the Medalist got involved and told Michael he'd participate in the deal, but Bobby Weed [who was the superintendent at Long Cove when I first started in the golf construction business as a laborer] had just re-done the Medalist, so he was strongly recommended for the job. And I wish him great success with it.
I did get to spend a couple of hours one day discussing golf course design with Michael Jordan. [And, as Peter termed it in a different thread, "you can't take that away from me."] That was fun. He was very interested in the subject, in particular about the strengths of his game where he felt he could compete with the pros, vs. the areas where they're just better, and how to design for different abilities. I'm guessing Bobby will get a lot of help and feedback out there.