Eight years after he created his golf course design
business, Tiger Woods has finally opened the first golf course with his name on
it and it is significant that he chose Cabo San Lucas as the location. Cabo’s
reputation has been growing steadily in golfing circles as not only a wonderful
place to play but also a great place to bring the family for their vacation.
The day opened with with a mariachi band playing as Woods hit
the inaugural first tee shot in El Cardonal at Diamante. Three previous projects by Woods – in Baja Mexico, Dubai and North Carolina – had failed due to the crash in the economy or because developer problems.
Then Hurricane Odile swept through the area and pushed back the opening of El Cardonal back six weeks. He would have been forgiven at that point for feeling that he couldn’t catch a break.
"We knew this day would come," he said of the opening.
Woods, who has lost 15 pounds the past two weeks due to a persistent
illness, found a fairway bunker with his drive as nearly 500 people walked
along while he played the front nine. Although clearly not feeling at his best, he was
still positive.
"You always want to have a first some time," Woods
added.
He won't have to wait long for his second course opening,
and his third and fourth and beyond, Woods suddenly has his hands full in the
design business; however the El Cardonal course at Diamante will always remain as his
first.
His second design near Houston, Bluejack National, is set to
open in the fall of 2015. Last week he announced a collaboration with Donald
Trump where Woods will design an 18-hole course at Trump World Golf Club in
Dubai, which will be a centerpiece of a community called Akoya Oxygen. And
Tuesday he announced he would be designing a second 18-hole course at Diamante
tentatively called The Oasis.
"I'm only going to do a few at a time," Woods
said. "I'm still in the peak of my playing years and I'm still
concentrating on winning golf tournaments and winning major championships. I
just don't have the time, with family, to try and do all that and try and
design 15 courses all around the world.”
"I want to do a couple here and there and give them my
entire input and time,” he concluded.
El Cardonal plays to a par of 72 and can stretch out more
than 7,300 yards as it weaves through natural arroyos, native dunes and mature
vegetation.
There are few forced carries. The fairways are wide, the
greens are big. Players will be able to run the ball up onto the greens. And if
players miss a green, there are plenty of options for their next shot.
"His idea was to make it fun and make people enjoy
it," said Ken Jowdy, CEO and developer of Diamante. "It's been great
to work with him. I wondered if he was committed to being in the design
business and committed to the project and the first time I met him it was
clear. For whatever reason Tiger brings it to another level."