Earlier this week, I came upon a splendid commemorative book on Shadow Creek, a course designed by Tom Fazio, close to Las Vegas - From Barren Desert to Desert Oasis. It probably ranks as the ultimate in the exclusive type of golfing resort which a group of Irish businessmen believe they could create at The Island GC.
Indeed, when one looks at some of the seriously expensive, high-profile venues in the US, it is not difficult to understand how Pat Ruddy had a bid of £22 million for The European Club. Or how the Old Head of Kinsale are currently filling time-sheets for the year at a single green fee of £190. Or how The K Club see eminent business sense in doubling their five-star hotel accommodation.
Launched in 1989, Shadow Creek has already made America's top 10. So, one has to take notice, at least, when the owner promotes it as "a modern masterpiece". It is the brainchild of casino impresario Steve Winn, who invested $36 million in the project. And then set green fees at around $1,200. Its patrons are described as "superhigh rollers" who think nothing of gambling $10,000 on one hole. As one observer remarked: "The four-figure green fee is like lunch money to these guys." Given that the Old Head's customers are mainly from the US, a fee which equates to less than $230 looks modest by comparison.
Fazio has also designed the Maroon Creek layout in Aspen, Colorado, where 300 memberships have been sold at $200,000 each. But its real moneyspinner is the real estate, with residential lots going for $4.5 million apiece, while townhouses are on offer for $3.5 million. And it's possible to time-share a 900 square foot unit for 13 weeks a year for a mere $600,000. Those who prefer their golf a little closer to sea level can opt for Scottsdale, Arizona, which is home to five courses designed by Jack Nicklaus. Entry fees range up to $1 million and building lots are currently priced at over $10 million. And if that's not enough to highlight the difference between them and us, most of these lots will never be built on. It seems that the average age of people joining these clubs is between 40 and 45, people with dot.com money who are keen to belong to something really exclusive.
In this context, the ultimate turn-on is Cherokee Plantation, a 3,700-acre development near Charleston, South Carolina, which claims to offer the "ultimate in golf, hunting, fishing and relaxation on manicured grounds surrounding a renovated, 31-room mansion". Total membership at Cherokee is limited to 50, with members paying a $1 million initiation fee and an annual subscription of $85,000. With each member playing an average of 30 rounds per year, this works out at $6,200 for 18 holes.
So, you can just imagine these patrons hollering: "Hey, fill the Gulfstream and let's head off to the dear ole' Emerald Isle for some really cheap golf."
"We will talk to their wives, and it's very tough to talk to wives." - Happily-married Gary Player, on how he will emphasise good- behaviour to his players when he captains the International side in the 2002 Presidents Cup.
Fitting end for honorary starter
A significant milestone will be reached on April 5th in a US Masters tradition dating back to 1963. Having celebrated his 89th birthday earlier this month, Byron Nelson has decided this year's Masters will be his last as an honorary starter.
The idea of honorary starters had its roots in the inaugural USPGA Seniors' Championship to which Augusta National played host in 1937, when the club also gave a donation of $1,500 and a silver trophy. St Andrews-born Jock Hutchison was the first winner and, when the event was reduced to 36 holes the following year because of rain Fred McLeod from North Berwick, was victorious.
As it happened, Hutchison and McLeod also played in the Masters until 1959. Then, in 1963, because of their seniors' wins, they were invited to serve as the tournament's first honorary starters, a role which Hutchison continued to fill until 1973, and McLeod until three years later. There were no honorary starters for the next four years, but Gene Sarazen - sadly gone from us - and Nelson resumed the custom in 1981.
CBS television analyst Ken Venturi took Nelson's place when he was ill in 1983 and Sam Snead joined the group in 1984. "The toughest thing I've ever had to do in golf is hit the ball off that first tee with thousands of people watching and having no idea where the ball was going," said Nelson this week.
Geared up for making money
It started with tennis, when we learned that an advertiser's logo on one sleeve of a shirt worn by John McEnroe or Chris Evert was worth so much more than the space on the other sleeve: Apparently, it had to do with such esoteric matters as television camera angles in relation to the serving arm. So, it doesn't require a fertile imagination to figure how much greater the advertising areas are in tournament golf.
Here are the annual rewards for the average players on the US Tour - those outside the top-50. Front of cap - $50,000; side of hat - $20,000; sunglasses - $20,000; chest logo - $25,000; golf balls - $50,000 plus bonuses; sleeve - $20,000; clubs - Up to $100,000 for deal including bag; glove - usually part of ball, shoe and glove deal for minimum $50,000; front of bag - $50,000; company days - any professional can get up to $10,000 per day.
Palmer's appeal proves ageless
By shooting his age with an admirable 71 in the Bob Hope Classic last weekend, Arnold Palmer brought delight to his many admirers. Indeed, Arnie is among the best loved of golfers - and with good reason. The staging of the British Open at Royal Lytham next July brings to mind a perfect example of how he has endeared himself to folk, even in the non-golfing community.
When the Senior British Open was staged at Lytham in 1993, Palmer was booked by the organisers into the Clifton Arms, where he was allocated the bridal suite. In the process, however, he was unwittingly depriving potential newly-weds, Hans Bolton and Sally Anne Murphy, of accommodation they had booked a year earlier.
With the wedding scheduled for the Saturday of the tournament, Bolton wrote to Palmer explaining their plight and asking him to change rooms. Not only did the great man agree, but he accepted an invitation to the wedding where he danced with the bride. It is the only known case of a multiple "major" championship winner evacuating his hotel room for the sake of lovers - and non-golfing lovers at that.
Dubai pay out to lift Woods
Word on the grapevine is that Tiger Woods is getting an appearance fee of $2 million for playing in next week's Dubai Desert Classic. Which must have something to do with inflation, giving that he was charging a relatively modest $1.25 million two years ago. And damn it, Woods is currently going through a slump, in that he has yet to win this year.
This Day In Golf History . . . on February 24th, 1931, Bobby Jones left Atlanta and headed for the Warner Brothers studios in Hollywood, where he was contracted to film the first-ever golf instructional movies. How I Play Golf included slow-motion sequences which were to stun the leading teaching professionals of the time, who saw movements they had never previously imagined in the swing.
Teaser: In matchplay, A holes a putt and, thinking he has won the match, shakes hands with B and picks up B's ball. The referee advises B that he had a putt to win the hole and keep the match alive. Has B conceded the match by his acquiescence in A's action of shaking hands and picking up B's ball?
Answer: No. B was entitled to replace his ball and hole out. Since A incurred a one-stroke penalty under Rule 18-3b, B now has two putts to win the hole.
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