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Tiger Woods the architect isn't exactly doing his part, yet, to help make golf affordable for the masses

Friday February 29, 2008 | 08:54:33 194 words, 5180 views
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Tiger Woods‘ first golf course design is due to open in Dubai next year. It will not be open to the public. It will be open only to members and guests of an exclusive, 80-suite boutique hotel

It’s called Al Ruwaya and will be located in Dubailand, the hub of Dubai’s tourist center. Plans also call for 320 villas. Golf course revenues in golf-nuts Dubai averaged nearly $8.8 million in 2006, compared to $1.3 million in Great Britain and Ireland, according to accounting and consulting firm KPMG, as reported by ABC News.

Now, I’m not criticizing the project nor Woods’ reported big fee. I just hope that, as Woods architectural career goes along, he gives a little something back to the game that has made him filthy rich.

There have been other celebrity architects, Pete Dye being one of the more famous ones, who have donated their talents for practically free to build affordable courses.

I have a feeling Woods will too, eventually. I just hope he doesn’t wait too long, especially with the numbers of people dropping out of the game because it’s growing so expensive.

Imagine what a Woods-designed course with cheap green fees would mean.


Comments:

Comment from: sid [Visitor] Email
what about asking Jack, Arnold, Ernie,
Greg and others first???
Permalink 02/29/08 @ 15:18
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Fair comment/question
Permalink 02/29/08 @ 15:44
Comment from: Curtis [Visitor] Email
Yes Timmie, Sid has a point , have you asked that of the gentlemen he mentioned ?????
Permalink 02/29/08 @ 19:48
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor] Email
Jack has never been interested in the "little guy" and never will be. He has always catered to the very rich...just check out ANY of the courses he has designed and you will understand where he is coming from.

Where are the Nicklaus Foundation...Palmer Foundation etc. Woods has done well with his foundation and I hope he continues.
Permalink 03/01/08 @ 10:04
Comment from: Jennifer Mario [Member] Email
"I just hope he gives a little something back to the game that has made him filthy rich."

from www.tigerwoodsfoundation.org/:

"I can proudly say more than 10 million young people have been touched by the Tiger Woods Foundation. Through character development programs, scholarships, grants, junior golf teams, and the Tiger Woods Learning Center, the Foundation is helping young people reach their goals."

Does this count as giving back to the game, Tim?
Permalink 03/01/08 @ 10:18
Comment from: Wendy (UK) [Visitor]
Lorena is the genuine article, of course.
Permalink 03/01/08 @ 12:06
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] Email
Tim,

Along those same lines, I'd also like to ask when Ritz-Carlton is going to start charging $39.95 per night for their luxury suites?

When are we going to be able to purchase a Ferrari for $5,000?

A 100-foot Benetti yacht for $100,000? A Gulfstream Aerospace personal jet airplane for $250,000?

Maybe those examples are too hard to comprehend. Try these:A magnum of Dom Perignon for $20. A steak dinner for two at Morton's for $40.

That's right, these things will never happen. That is, they won't happen unless all the people working at these establishments decide that they don't need to be paid for their services, and the investors don't care about making a profit, and they welcome the prospect of certain bankruptcy.

Woods' advisory fee will be but a small, very small, fraction of the cost of building that luxury course in Dubai.

Alex USMC 1969-73
Permalink 03/01/08 @ 14:39
Comment from: tim [Visitor] Email
Jennifer, yes, it counts a lot.

Imagine, also, if he designed some affordable courses that weren't available only to the rich and well-heeled.

That would count a lot, too.

I'm not saying he should give hand-outs to everyone, just put his name on some cheap, accessible courses for the masses, like other architects have done, and like many others have not.

Woods is a special player and his name can do a lot.
Permalink 03/01/08 @ 17:39
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] Email
Tim,

Do you actually believe that Tiger has the ability to design a golf course? Unless he has been studying intensely about soils, water tables, flora, landscaping, etc, his contribution to any course will be to put his endorsement on it for a fee.

And who says that the rich and famous would ever think of putting their names to anything that is "cheap and accessible...for the masses?"

Alex USMC 1969-73
Permalink 03/01/08 @ 19:08
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor] Email
Alex versus Timmy is not a fair fight! Alex ate your lunch again Tim.
Permalink 03/02/08 @ 10:33
Comment from: Jennifer Mario [Member] Email
And who says that the rich and famous would ever think of putting their names to anything that is "cheap and accessible...for the masses?"


Well... Isaac Mizrahi designs clothes for Target. I guess anything's possible.
Permalink 03/02/08 @ 13:02
Comment from: Blazer [Visitor] Email
Jennifer, you made an excellent point with the TW foundation. Building affordable golf courses that upper middle class, middle aged white men can play pales in comparison.
Permalink 03/02/08 @ 14:33
Comment from: Alex [Visitor] Email · http://zandrabelle@cox.net
Jennifer,

I've never heard of Isaac Mizrahi.

It must be a woman thing.

However, there is someone with a similar name running a Motel 6 down on Milwaukee Avenue.

Alex USMC 1969-73
Permalink 03/02/08 @ 14:35
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor] Email
You can get a "real bargain" for a lot on Tiger's course in the North Carolina. Lots start at $900,000 and up...homes in the 4 mil bracket. Hmm, do I see long lines for the chance to buy?
Permalink 03/04/08 @ 21:38
Comment from: Jennifer Mario [Member] Email
Sorry Alex. Let me rephrase. Martha Stewart designs home goods for Kmart.

Better?
Permalink 03/10/08 @ 11:28
Comment from: M. Taylor [Visitor] Email
I don't see anyone criticizng Sergio Garcia for the courses he is already building even though he is no legend. I think Tiger will do the right thing eventually. In the meantime, the work of his Foundation is much more important than building golf courses. What the learning centre is giving kids will last them a lifetime.
Permalink 12/01/08 @ 12:36

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