Golf Inc. - October 2008 - (Page 41)

The Montgomerie Dubai, shown with the high-rise-dominated skyline of Dubai in the background, is one of four UAE courses managed by Troon Golf European PGA Tour event. It’s also developing a Gary Player Signature course on Saadiyat Island, a large island that will be the site of a $27 billion commercial, residential and leisure development. Troon’s client in Bahrain, Durrat al Bhrain, has an Ernie Els-designed course and is part of a gigantic $12 billion floating island project similar to the Palm Island development in Dubai. Allegria, near Cairo, has both residential and commercial real estate and includes a 100-room, five-star boutique hotel and spa. The Greg Norman course there is the very first signature course in Egypt. The layout serves as a backdrop for villas and townhouses and will open the end of this year. One reason outside golf managers are now being brought in to these dazzling developments is that the big-name architects who design them worry about what may happen to the results of their hard work down the road. According to Jason McCoy, senior vice president of Greg Norman Golf Course Design, his firm always includes a requirement that courses be properly run and maintained. “We want to know if the course will be managed privately or by a management company,” McCoy said. “They have to maintain the course for the life of the agreement whether it’s a year or 100 years. We go back to them once a year to keep up with what’s going on. If something’s wrong, we do our due diligence to get it corrected.” McCoy said Greg Norman Design became familiar with Troon while working with the company in Australia and has recommended Troon to clients in the Middle East. “There are other companies from Europe involved here and a few smaller players,” Chapleski said. “American Golf [Corp.] came here and went. But Troon is the main operator. After all, we’re the largest golf management company in the world with 200 courses. We never set out October 2008 www.GolfIncMagazine.com 41 to be the biggest, just the best.” Troon has been involved in management around the globe since 2000, and its growth has been explosive. “It’s not easy to go international, but it’s a commitment for us,’’ Chapleski said. One factor that may help Troon land future Middle Eastern clients is its connections with the state-owned Dubai World, one of the world’s largest holding companies. Dubai World manages all the investments of the government of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that comprise the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. It has used its money to buy or invest in companies of all kinds worldwide. Two years ago, Dubai World set up Leisurecorp, a company that builds resorts and has a wide range of sportsrelated investments. Leisurecorp has recently bought a stake in Troon Golf, an association that it promotes on its company Web site. Another connection: The chief executive officer of Leisurecorp is David Spencer, previously http://www.GolfIncMagazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Golf Inc. - October 2008

Golf Inc. - October 2008 Contents From the Editors: Smaller is Less Costly Survey Reveal Golf's Economic Impact in EMA Private Club Managers Earn Bigger Salaries Dyes Mourn Loss of Family Member Changing Demographics Impact European Golf Scene RDC Golf Group Finds Affordable Golf Niche Links at Summerly Offers Unique Twist Cost Crunch Most Powerful People in Golf Contractors Focus on Renovations, International�Projects Troon, IMG Reach Into Booming Middle East Market Americas Recap: New Player Design in Mexico Europe-Africa Recap: Moroccan Lakeside Development Asia-Australia Recap: 3 Billion Dollar Resort in Vietnam The Last Word: There's No Substitute for Good Friends on a Golf Course

Golf Inc. - October 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.