For Tiger Woods fans around the globe, 2008 has been a year of mixed blessings. Because while knee surgery will limit Woods to just six tournaments, one of those was the U.S. Open, where he hobbled to possibly the most impressive victory of his career.
And while Tiger hasn’t been handling any golf clubs of late, he has still been focused on golf, concentrating on his position as chairman of the newly formed Tiger Woods Design. Yesterday in the Middle East, Woods showcased the master plan for The Tiger Woods Dubai, an exclusive golf community that will include his first golf course design - Al-Ruwaya.
Tiger Woods unveiled Monday the master plan for The Tiger Woods Dubai, an exclusive residential golf community in the United Arab Emirates, encompassing the first golf course designed by him.
In his capacity as the chairman of Tiger Woods Design, the golf champion is cooperating with Tatweer – a Dubai government-owned real estate enterprise, to build a 13 million square feet (1.2 million square meters) golf course, according to company statement.
Al-Ruwaya, the name given to the golf course, will be a 7,800 yard, par 72, 18 hole championship course, the statement said.
The Tiger Woods Dubai is being built on a 55 million square feet (5.1 million square meters) of desert land. It will feature a “state-of-the-art” golf academy, a luxury boutique hotel whose interiors will be designed by the famous Lebanese designer Elie Saab.
The project’s luxury residences will include 22 palaces, 75 mansions and 100 villas. It is scheduled for completion in 2009.
While diehard Tiger fans must be thrilled to see their hero branch out into the world of golf course architecture, there’s a bit of downside to it, as well - you will never, ever, ever play, or likely even see Al-Ruwaya with your own eyes.
Al-Ruwaya will offer just 200 memberships, with residents of the community receiving preference.
An understandably bursting-with-pride Earl Woods once said that his son that “will do more than any other man in history to change the course of humanity. …He’ll have the power to impact nations. Not people. Nations.”
In a way, the legendary Mr. Woods was absolutely correct. Because Tiger is helping Dubai transform itself into one of the world’s great luxury resort locations. Too bad the people will never get a chance to experience what he’s doing.
–WKW
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It seems a little unfair to criticize Tiger for doing what countless celebrity golf course architects have done.
The average golfer still has a much better chance to get on Tiger course than they do an Augusta National or a Pine Valley.
The big burden is it's in Dubai. But such a wordly man as yourself surely isn't just concerned with American golfers.