Fream has a completed Project of eighteen holes in Argentina, Pilar golf Club. Jay mentioned Gil maybe, does he have six completed projects, if I remember right most of his work has been in renovation and his completed projects were around that many but the shift is now going to eighteen hole projects. Norman has twelve holes completed in the South of Argentina but not eighteen as of yet.
Randy:
What sort of project is happening in the south of Argentina? That sounds like an interesting place to work.
Tom,
It is beautiful country, both the south of Chile and Argentina (refered to as, Patagonia in both countries), words canīt describe it but maybe inland Oregon and Western Canada come close. Anyways, about ten years ago after many years of going round and round Nicklaus did one for a former friend or neighbor to get his foot in the door in Argentina. I never understood how the economics were going to work but like you said thatīs only our concern when asked. Anyways, the course has struggled and about five years ago they got a hotel group in and built the hotel and it opened. Its empty ten months a year, as is the golf course. The owner started a construction company with the shaper and built a couple of other Nicklaus courses in Argentina (two) and from those profits kept the course open and in good condition. But itīs been three or four years since they have done anything else and the construction company has dissolved after trying to get other projects but without results. The project is in a beautiful area called San Martin but like I said, it always seemed to be hanging on by a thread. The Norman project is across the street and that one really blew my mind of...How and Why. They took about five to seven years, going forward, stopping going forward, stopping and started construction about three years ago. I walked it after the rough shaping was done and then more starts and stops. Last I heard they were about to open 9 or the full twelve but have not heard about the other six going forward but that doesnīt mean it isnīt happening, i just donīt know. But, I do know sales are slow and what they have sold has been mostly been to Brazilians and a few Americans. I had two signed projects within an hour of San Martin but with more logical initial investment cost and both connected with ski resorts, so imo better business plans. One was a great piece of natural land and I featured some pictures on this site and wanted to do Wall to Wall fescue, great soil, water above the property where you would not need a pump station, sand on site, Sandy loam on site and gravel about a meter below the surface, lots of rain, good natural movement ect. I was hoping to do something special in the 1.5 million range, push up greens and the only big cost was irrigation. The other project was situated in a huge national forest but not categorized as national forest but the trees are close to the size of Redwoods (150ft). That one scared me a little, especially in relation to the routing through these trees. Not sure if we were going to be able to create corridors wide enough to get enough sun to grow good grass. Anyways, the environmental groups including Green Peace got organized and raised holy hell, including barricading the project and taking control and spray painting the sales center. The first project I mentioned couldnīt get approval to cut one tree and so itīs dead and they are looking at doing six holes (homemade) par threeīs in a flat area without trees and recently started to develop lots. The other project canīt seem to get any approvals but havenīt given up but the investment group split up and now is in the hands of one owner. Not completely dead but in critical condition, I did get the design done before the ceiling caved in. In fact, it was my last design to date. The right land, the right owner and a strong marketing plan that results in attracting an international market (something more than the name of a touring pro), could still work but one would still need to find a way around the environmental that are more organized and confident in their power, then ever! Could be in oneīs favor to have a JN and GN project near, as it might be enough to help consolidate a foundation of a golf destination to attract more International players to a remote location.