Peter Michel Heilmann's The Wor(l)d of Golf / Weekly Column & Launch Pad (No. 5)

This week's The Wor(l)d of Golf column and launch pad heavily emphasises on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States. We also take a closer look at The Solheim Cup, which was founded by the Phoenix, Arizona-based makers of PING golf equipment, and the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group. Plus: Carson Daly, Michelle Wie, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Tom Fazio, Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, Karl Litten... and a golf club that arguably offers the "best night of golf in the world" -- an 18-hole fully floodlit course and driving range -- open until midnight and 10.00 p.m. respectively. And find out how Dallas-based private equity firm Lone Star Funds, competing with Goldman Sachs, profits from Japan's golfers.

Michelle Wie to "cut down on sugar and not be as lazy": 16-year-old Michelle Wie is making fitness a priority in her bid to win her first senior tournament. "My New Year's resolution is to cut down on sugar and not be as lazy. That means going to the gym a lot more. My goal is to get fit, get stronger and prevent injury." David Leadbetter (Michelle's swing coach) spent a lot of time with Michelle and found that her upper body strength was lacking. Fitness guru Paul Gagne, who predominantly works with hockey players, was called to aid the situation. Over the past couple months, the David Leadbetter Golf Academy student has added about eight pounds of muscle and has increased her ball speed by about 5 mph to 161 mph. http://www.leadbetter.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=305396&itype=6684&iCategoryID=550

"Last Call with Carson Daly" host talks golf: Before he hit it big on MTV, Carson Daly dreamed of becoming a professional golf player. He attended Los Angeles' Loyola Marymount University on a golf scholarship, where he studied theology, but dropped out in 1991 intending to take a shot at the tour. The Californian late-night host/MTV legend Carson Daly talks golf with TravelGolf.com's Chris Baldwin. Q: "Who's the best celebrity golfer you've ever played with? Are you up there yourself?" A: "Oh, God no, not me. Just in general, [actor] Jack Wagner is a damn good golfer. [John] Elway hits it well. [Mario] Lemieux hits it well. A lot of the athletes do. [Former major league pitcher] Rick Rhoden." Q: "Is there a guy you've played with who just shouldn't be out there, period?" A: "Charles Barkley. Nasty. Nasty, nasty golf swing. Fun to play with, though. But he's got no business being out there." http://www.badgolfer.com/departments/features/carson-daly-mtv-2067.htm

U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group -- Fake golf clubs can become a "nightmare": Jacques Gladu bought a USD 640 set of Callaway Golf clubs from a Quebec-based Web site in March last year, confident that he had found a bargain at a third of the usual price. Three days later, he called Callaway to check if they were real. "My ball was going everywhere," said Gladu, a retired human resources consultant in Montreal. "I was almost certain the clubs were fake." Gladu was a victim of swindlers who are spreading Chinese-made counterfeit golf gear from stalls in Shanghai and Guangdong Province to Internet auction sites around the world. The increasing sophistication has prompted Callaway to team with its leading competitors, in a bid to close down suppliers at their sources. Demand for fakes is spurring production that siphons tens of millions of dollars from equipment makers a year, said Rob Duncanson, a lawyer in Orange County, California, who represents the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group, which is comprised of Acushnet Company, Callaway Golf, Cleveland Golf, MacGregor Golf, Nike, PING and German-based TaylorMade-adidas Golf (TMaG). "It's a nightmare," said Steve Gingrich, security director for Cleveland Golf, which is the fourth-largest U.S. clubmaker, based in Huntington Beach, California. "We're getting some assistance in China, but the problem is becoming larger scale through the rest of the world." He added: "It's one thing buying a Louis Vuitton purse for USD 20 -- you know it's a fake or stolen. If someone buys a driver for USD 250 on eBay, he thinks he's got a legitimate club." For more information on this Working Group's activities, contact group attorney Rob Duncanson +1 949 589 5931. http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=nifea&&sid=a4aFwLvxsD48

Dubai Golf -- "dg": "dg" is the consumer brand of Dubai Golf, the Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based owner and operator of the Dubai Government-owned golf courses: the world famous Emirates Golf Club, the equally prestigious Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and the Nad Al Sheba Club. "The Desert Miracle" was the name given to the Emirates Golf Club when, in in 1988, it became the first championship all-grass golf course in the Gulf region. The Emirates Golf Club's facilities are not restricted to golf. With tennis and squash courts, a gymnasium, swimming pool, spectacular outlets and shops, the club is a "haven for sports minded people and casual visitors alike". Dubai was recognised as IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators) Emerging Golf Destination of the Year 2001. http://www.dubaigolf.com/web/dgo.nsf/web/index.html

Golfing In Dubai -- "It's Becoming a Habit": A few decades ago, one would hazard to say that very few in Europe or North America had heard of Dubai - the fast evolving state in the United Arab Emirates. Today, a good number of people in the West are very familiar with this most exciting and cosmopolitan city edging the Arabian Gulf. The sand dunes of the past have been replaced by lush greenery and super 21st century sky-reaching structures. This sophisticated metropolis is now the most popular tourist destination in the Middle East. Strange as it may sound, Dubai is fast becoming a "golf destination" par excellence. It has come a long way from the time when the first championship course was built in the late 1980s. The host to the PGA European Tour sanctioned Dubai Desert Classic it has become noted for its superb golfing facilities. Golfers of all levels enjoy the distinct and different challenges presented by each course, as well as the accompanying warm Arab hospitality. A unique golfing destination it is the only golfing centre in the world to host major international tournaments on both the European and Asian PGA circuits. http://www.travellady.com/Issues/October05/1915GolfingInDubai.htm

Nakheel's Jumeirah Golf Estates development breaks ground in Dubai -- Opening 2007: Nakheel is the developer of more than USD 30 billion in real estate in Dubai such as The Palm and The World. Its Executive Chairman, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, is upbeat about this year: "2006 is perhaps Nakheel's most important year to date with the delivery of the first residences on our signature project The Palm Jumeirah, and our first overseas investments and developments." Jumeirah Golf Estates broke ground in early 2006 with Fire and Earth scheduled for completion in November 2007. At the end of last month, work started on the the 1,119 hectare site of Nakheel's prestigious Jumeirah Golf Estates development. Located off the Emirates Road between Dubai Sports City and the Green Community, the golf and residential community will boast four environmentally themed 18-hole courses -- Earth, Fire (both designed by Greg Norman), Water, and Wind (a links-style course that centres around the power and energy of the wind) -- that mirror the elements of nature and integrate with distinct gated communities, featuring a variety of investment opportunities, amenities and services. The development will be built in phases, with the Earth and Fire courses and their surrounding residences being built first, followed by the Water course (which lies approximately 22 km. south west of Dubai city centre), designed by Vijay Singh, and then the Wind course. Earth and Fire are expected to open late next year, with the first residents moving in mid 2008. The long-term build out strategy will see construction being completed in 2012 in four phases. Phase A of the development will ultimately contain the first two golf courses, Fire and Earth; golf clubhouse and country club; approximately 946 serviced villa lots; and all associated infrastructure. http://www.jumeirahgolfestates.com/

Rosewood welcomes CordeValle in San Martin, California to its collection: CordeValle is an "oasis of privacy and serenity" in the heart of California's central coast. Added to the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts collection in 2006, this retreat is just a short trip from San Jose and the Monterey Peninsula. Dallas, Texas-based Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, L.L.C. is a privately-held ultra-luxury hotel management company. With 1,200 acres that shelter a rich variety of wildlife, plus an 18-hole, 7,169-yard, par 72 championship golf course by Robert Trent Jones, Jr, the resort's 45 accommodations are spacious and equipped with modern amenities. Dining venues offer regional cuisine. The property includes spaces for meeting and events, its own private vineyard for wine enthusiasts and a spa. http://www.cordevalle.com/

Dubai Creek Golf Resort -- Dubai's newest golfing residential address: Situated in the heart of the city on the shores of the creek, the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club has recently undergone a major redevelopment. The club’s 18-hole, par 71 course rolls 6,857 yards along fairways lined with date and coconut palms, water hazards and shrubbery that lend a distinctly tropical air. The course boasts a new front nine and re-modelled back nine, designed by Denmark's Thomas Bjorn and European Golf Design, providing an even greater challenge for residents and tourists alike. There is also a new nine-hole Par 3 course, a hi-tech studio, a floodlit driving range, and extensive short game practice facilities. The championship standard golf course is the centrepiece of a resort that now incorporates the luxury 225-bedroom Park Hyatt Dubai waterfront resort hotel, 92 four-bedroom executive villas, a 121-berth marina, yacht club, golf clubhouse, restaurants, gym and leisure swimming pool. An all-new road network throughout the 93 hectare property has also been created. http://www.dubaigolf.com/web/egc.nsf/web/index.html

http://www.egd.com/pages/courses/dubai.htm Nad Al Sheba Golf Course, Dubai, UAE: The Nad Al Sheba Club re-opened its clubhouse doors to members and guests on November 17 last year, after a seven-month expansion and refurbishment. Designed in association with golf course architect Karl Litten, the course is a traditional Links style golf course reminiscent of the Home of Golf, St. Andrews in Scotland, with double greens and deep bunkers. The Club offers the "best night golf in the world" -- an 18-hole, fully-floodlit course and driving range. Almost 300 lights bathe the course when the sun goes down enabling competition golf until midnight. The course is supplied by one million litres of water per night. http://www.nadalshebaclub.com/web/nasc.nsf/web/home.html

http://www.nadalshebaclub.com/web/nasc.nsf/web/glfgolfing.html Lone Star, competing with Goldman Sachs, profits from Japan's golfers: One look at the grass told Joseph Lenihan that Lone Star Funds could make money buying Japanese golf courses. "I was shocked," said Lenihan, 42, recalling a visit in 2001 to the Dallas-based buyout company's first Japanese course. "Greenkeepers were a decade behind the U.S.," in maintaining turf to allow more and faster play. As Japan suffered three recessions since 1991, at least 708 of its 2,400 golf clubs went bust, owing 14 trillion yen (USD 118 billion), according to golf magazine producer Ikki Publishing Co. Lone Star's Pacific Golf Group has snapped up 98 courses to become Japan's biggest golf management firm, followed by Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. with 86. As stock prices recover in Japan, Lone Star is reaping a return from its buying spree, selling about 35 percent of the business for 39 billion yen in a December 2005 initial public offering. John Grayken, once a top aide to Texas billionaire Robert Bass and veteran money manager, is founder and Chairman of Lone Star Funds, a Dallas, Texas-based private equity firm. Its Japanese unit, Pacific Golf Group International Holdings KK, Japan's largest golf course operator at the top end of the range. The Harvard MBA is considered one of the savviest dons of the private equity business. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=ars0NgUG9uq4&refer=japan

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/060215/japan_leisure_pacificgolf.html?.v=1 Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. goes shopping in Japan: In 2002, the leading U.S. investment firm purchased a portfolio of golf courses across Japan. It has been sinking capital into everything from golf course operators to a mobile-phone carrier. It even formed a 50-50 joint venture with a local partner in May 2005 aimed at turning a profit from a very Japanese institution: traditional inns with hot springs called onsen. A test of Goldman's strategy will come this year, when it plans to spin off its golf course unit, Accordia Golf Co., Ltd., Japan, consisting of some 90 courses that it has been accumulating since the late 1990s. It's hoping a profitable exit will set a pattern for the Japanese initial public offerings that it will be taking to market for years to come. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_49/b3962141.htm http://www.interbrand.com/portfolio_details.asp?portfolio=2322 Bachmann Springs -- revived resort and residential plans for the Tombstone, Arizona area: Far from being the "Town Too Tough to Die," these days, Tombstone, Arizona is facing the challenge of how to meet the demands of a growing population and balance historical preservation at the same time. After seven years of effort, developer Jay Boland is continuing to move forward with his plan to make use of the Tombstone name, mild climate and abundant spring water to attract people to his proposed Bachmann Springs luxury resort hotel, golf course and home sites, at the foot of the Dragoon Mountains. Tombstone's population of 1,500 could triple in size with the completion of Bachmann Springs, and there are indications that Boland's project could be followed by other projects, from north of the city, at the intersection of Arizona State Route 80 and State Route 82, to the south, east and west of the community, as buyers acquire homes and property inside and outside the city limits, said Amy Martinez, office manager for the Long Realty office in Tombstone. Stalled the past three years (the project was set back as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001), the luxury development is back on track, thanks to an infusion of capital from a group of California investors, according to the developer. What is envisioned is up to 1,100 homes (although there probably will be fewer than that, according to the developer), a three-storey luxury hotel and recreational amenities that include a golf course designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio. Backmann Springs' par-72, 7,380-yard course will take full advantage of the property's geographic landmark, Haberstock Hill, to create "one of the most celebrated golf courses in the country," according to the official Web site of the 1,710-acre high desert retreat located at the foot of the Dragoon Mountains and almost completely surrounded by 250,000 acres of federal and state land. "Golf holes will gain strength and character as they play along and across deeply cut arroyos. Shade trees, massive boulders and sweeps of native grasslands and shrubs will further enhance the playing experience. Finishing holes will return golfers to the drama of the Dragoon Mountains rising above the flowing roofline of a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse." Jim Heid President and Founder of UrbanGreen, is serving as Managing Director of Development. In 2000, he founded UrbanGreen to act as development partner and adviser to legacy landowners, institutions, and land development companies that embrace principles of sustainability. http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2005/08/01/front/news01.txt

http://www.svherald.com/articles/2005/03/31/local_news/news3.txt New golf course community may be coming in Polk County, North Carolina: Polk County could soon become home to yet another upscale, golf course community, according to local officials. Columbus Town Manager Glenn Rhodes says he has been contacted by a representative of the developer who has proposed the community for a large tract of land off Houston Road in Columbus Township. If the development proceeds and includes a golf course with upscale residences and amenities, it will be the third such development to come to the county in recent years. Bright's Creek, a long-awaited 4,600-acre private resort community which includes a Tom Fazio designed golf course, has nearly sold out its first phase of homesites and is moving on to the second phase. The development, located in northwestern Polk County, may eventually include about 1,100 homesites. White Oak Plantation, a private resort development in Tryon, NC near the intersection of US 74 and Pea Ridge Road, has received preliminary plat approval for its first phase. The development will have a golf course designed by Palmer Course Design Company. The first phase includes the hotel and spa, amphitheatre, winery, clubhouse, practice range and 251 building sites, including some for golf villas and others for single family houses. The developer, White Oak Development Partners, LLC, will need final plat approval before lots can be sold. The developer, which previously submitted a master plan to the county, has said White Oak Plantation may eventually include a total of about 950 residential units and a condo-hotel. Plans also call for conference and tennis facilities, an equestrian centre with riding trails, an upscale restaurant at the Old Mill site, retail shops and a fly fishing school. The developer purchased the historic 936-acre property in Green Creek Township in 2003 at a price of USD 3.25 million. The property, which includes an historic plantation house, had remained in the Camp family for more than two centuries before it was purchased. Over the past couple years the developer faced delays due to complications in securing water and sewer service. The development finally arranged water service through community wells, and sewer service from Rutherfordton. http://www.tryondailybulletin.com/news/18461.asp

White Oak to be first golf course to get Arnold Palmer's "premier status": Palmer Course Design will launch its new Palmer Premier status of upscale golf course designs with the White Oak Plantation Golf Club, a private resort development in the Sandy Plains area. The tournament designed course of 7,300 yards will be one of the finest quality, say course designers. They say beautiful flowering trees and azaleas will border the fairways as they wind through the stately oaks and maples along White Oak Creek. The rolling hills, lush fairways, and natural waterfall add to the setting. In addition to providing design services, Palmer Course Design will also take an active role in the planning of the entire project from the construction of the clubhouse to golf course operations and maintenance. The goal is to create a total golf experience that is "reflective of Arnold Palmer's personal style". http://www.tryondailybulletin.com/news/18192.asp

The Solheim Cup: The Solheim Cup is a biennial trans-Atlantic team matchplay competition and is considered the premier event in women's world golf. Founded in 1990 by Phoenix, Arizona-based Karsten Manufacturing Corp. (KMC) -- makers of PING golf equipment -- The Solheim Cup features 12 of the top European born players from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and 12 top American born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Players on both sides of the Atlantic compete for points in their respective tour events to earn a coveted place on the team. Played over three days, The Solheim Cup consists of 28 matches -- eight foursome matches, eight four-ball matches and 12 singles played on the final day. The USA leads by six encounters to three over Europe after the ninth edition of the matches took place at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana from September 9-11, 2005. Next year, The Solheim Cup will be played at Sweden's Halmstad Golfklubb, September 14-16, 2007. http://www.pinggolf.com/tour_solheimCup.html

http://www.sportmarketingassociation.com/2005conference/bios/solheimbio.php (brief bio of John K. Solheim, Vice President, Engineering for PING, Inc.) Record amount of AED 180,000 raised for charity at Dubai's 2006 Challenge Match: Dubai-based property developer Nakheel raised a record-breaking amount for United Arab Emirates charities at the 2006 Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa Challenge Match. During the one-day golfing challenge, in which three of the four world’s top four ranked players participated, Ernie Els joined forces with compatriot Retief Goosen to win the now customary pre-Desert Classic greensomes event. The two South Africans were in form during the nine-hole shoot-out over the Resort Course, combining to fire a 5-under 31 to edge out Ryder Cup pair Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke by one shot. The other paring of world number 1 Tiger Woods and former Masters and Open champion Mark O’Mera could have tied for second, but Tiger missed his eagle putt on the last. Nakheel, showcasing its Jumeirah Golf Estates development at the event, sponsored both the 'hole-in-one competition' (which none of the players were able to achieve), and the 'Birdie, Eagle, and Albatross Challenge'. For every Birdie achieved AED10,000 was raised with AED15,000 offered for each Eagle, and AED20,000 for an Albatross. Nakheel also paid a further AED5,000 for each shot under par (36 strokes) by each competing team. http://www.nakheel.com/Full_news.aspx?sectionid=8&id=116

Golf Inc. 2006 Conference at La Quinta Resort & Club, April 10-12, 2006: The Golf Inc. Conference is an intimate and exclusive networking and educational event unlike any other in the golf course industry. The Spring 2006 event at La Quinta Resort will be "packed with 32 educational sessions, a half-day intensive membership workshop, more than 80 speakers, nine networking events, and a 40-booth exhibit hall," according to organisers Cypress Magazines, the San Diego-based publisher of Golf Inc., a monthly magazine for golf course developers, owners, operators and management company executives. The Golf Inc. Conference began in 1988 as the Crittenden Expo, an educational conference for golf course developers. Over the years, Crittenden Conferences, a Novato, California-based conference and newsletter publisher, expanded the conference to include management, marketing and owner sessions, and held two shows each year. From 1988 to 2003, more than 5,000 industry veterans attended a Crittenden Expo, most rating it highly and returning on a regular basis. In 1991, Crittenden Conferences started publishing Golf Development magazine. It expanded its coverage and renamed the magazine "Crittenden’s Golf Inc." in 1994. In 1998, Cypress Magazines took over management of Golf Inc. magazine, and it acquired the magazine in 2001. In 2003, Golf Inc. magazine joined forces with Crittenden to host the "Crittenden presents the Golf Inc Show". This revamped event combined networking events with educational sessions. In March 2005, Golf Inc. acquired the event from Crittenden Conferences, and is now operating it under the name, "The Golf Inc. Conference". http://www.crittendengolfinc.com/

http://www.crittendengolfinc.com/about.aspx http://www.crittendengolfinc.com/downloadbrochure.aspx (Golf Inc. La Quinta Conference brochure) CLE International's Golf and Resort Development (5th Annual Conference), Ritz Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, March 30-31, 2006: The main theme of this year's conference, scheduled to take place at the end of this month, is "Practical Advice in a Challenging Environment" and will feature speakers from club consultants, golf property analysts, William E. Ellis Associates, ClubCorp and a few law firms. Denver, Colorado-based CLE International has been a provider of continuing professional education programmes throughout the United States and Canada since 1983. Its seminars focus on the cutting edge of emerging legal issues of vital importance to attorneys and their clients, real estate professionals, accountants, consultants and government agencies. CLE International is accredited by the bar associations of the many states where its programmes are presented. http://www.cle.com/upcoming/PDFs/NAPMTN061.pdf (4-page PDF document)

Golf course designer and Palmer Course Design co-founder, Ed Seay, nominated for the Don Rossi Award, given by the Golf Course Builders Association of America: Ed Seay, partner of Arnold Palmer and president/co-founder of the Palmer Course Design Company, received the Golf Course Builders Association of America’s Don A. Rossi Award at their Annual Awards Dinner on February 10, 2006 in Atlanta. The Don A. Rossi Award is given annually by the Golf Course Builders Association of America in memory of the late Don Rossi, former President of the National Golf Foundation and the Executive Director of the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA). Recipients are individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of golf and its growth, and who have inspired others by their example. Don Rossi, who called himself the "godfather of the golf industry", served as Executive Director of the National Golf Foundation from 1970 to 1983. During his tenure, he led the NGF into a vastly expanded role in the world of golf. Among his achievements at the NGF were the institution of annual seminars for golf course owners, operators and employees; the establishment of the NGF research and statistics division; and the initiation of the annual Joe Graffis Award. After his death on March 11, 1990, the GCBAA chose to honour him by instituting the Don A. Rossi Award, which was given to him posthumously in 1991 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the game of golf. The award is presented at the GCBAA Awards Dinner. Past recipients include Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones and Arnold Palmer. In addition to receiving the Dave Marr Memorial Award (in November last year), Seay will be presented with the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Board of Governors at its annual meeting on March 26 in Pinehurst, N.C. http://www.gcbaa.org/awards.php

Index of The Wor(l)d of Golf columns and launch pads
Launch Pad #1 -- February 5-11, 2006	This week, The Wor(l)d of Golf launches its first column and launch pad.
Launch Pad #2 -- February 12-18, 2006	`This week, The Wor(l)d of Golf brings you a number of interesting official and unofficial sites on the Web. Since this is a newly-launched on-line column and launch pad, I look forward to receiving your feedback. Have a great week and, on February 14, a Happy Valentine's Day. Keep in touch with the Dutch!`
Launch Pad #3 -- February 19-25, 2006	`This week, The Wor(l)d of Golf would like to share with you a number of exciting golf, real estate and lifestyle-related URLs. Watch out for a five-year-old golfing prodigy from Scotland and new kid on the block who is known by the name of tiny tiger cub.`
Launch Pad #4 -- February 26 - March 4, 2006	`This week's The Wor(l)d of Golf column and launch pad has a heavy emphasis on Scotland and the USA, although South Africa, Turkey and Ireland have also been mentioned.`
Launch Pad #5 -- March 5 - March 11, 2006	This week's The Wor(l)d of Golf column and launch pad heavily emphasises on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States. We take a closer look at The Solheim Cup, which was founded by the Phoenix, Arizona-based makers of PING golf equipment, and the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group. Plus: Carson Daly, Michelle Wie, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Vijay Singh, Tom Fazio, Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, Karl Litten and others... And a golf club that arguably offers the "best night of golf in the world" -- an 18-hole fully floodlit course and driving range -- open until midnight and 10.00 p.m. respectively.