Woods design business suffers setback

World No.1’s golf course design business hit by economic downturn

Tiger Woods’ foray into golf course design has failed to take off – and for once the scandal of his extra-marital affairs is not the sole cause.

Three years ago, Woods announced plans to design his first US golf course on a high plateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina.

Developers Cliffs Communities also announced plans for a 7,300-yard golf course, a wellness centre, a spa and 1,200 homes spread across 3,200 acres.

However, three years after the project was announced, trees have been mostly cleared and the grading has only just begun. Originally earmarked for an autumn 2011 opening, the date has been pushed back six months – and looks likely to take even longer.

He launched Tiger Woods design in 2006 after ten years on the PGA Tour and his first customer was to be the Al Ruwaya Golf Course in Dubai, attached to a development with some 100 villas, 75 mansions, 22 palaces, a 360,000 square foot hotel, a golf academy and luxury shops.

However, with just three holes completed, the bulldozers came to an abrupt stop in 2009, with Woods’ website listing its completion date as ‘pending’.

Meanwhile, Woods’ other course development at Punta Brava, 65 miles South of San Diego in Mexico, is also suffering on the wrong-end of a set-back.

Announced in 2008, the development include 40 lots with a starting price of $800,000, and difficulty with construction permits has pushed its opening date back to 2012 or later.

However, Woods’ sex scandal is not the only negative influence on his golf course marketing power. The economic meltdown, declining property market and the oversaturated golf course business were just some of the contributing factors.

Over the past decade the number of golf courses in the US has increased by three per cent, while the number of rounds being played in the country has, unfortunately taken a turn for the worst, with a six per cent decrease.

While the business of being Tiger Woods remains solid – with him ranking near the top in brand power and earnings on the Forbes annual Celebrity 100 list – he has lost out on what, had it boomed, would have been his biggest source of revenue to date.

In the past 12 months he has taken in $105million and his net worth is still estimated at around $600million.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered