WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) — the premier signature golf course design firm in the world – announces a trio of redesign grand openings, continuing to establish itself as a leader in international restoration and remastering.
Tiburon Golf Club’s Gold Course, an original GNGCD design, recently opened after a complete renovation in time to host both the LPGA’s season-ending marquee tournament, the CME Group Tour Championship, and the PGA TOUR-sanctioned Franklin Templeton Shootout.
As part of the remastering, the Gold Course has all new turf from tee-to-green, featuring new strategic challenges and shot values and putting surfaces that are firmer and more uniform. The drainage and irrigation systems were also significantly updated which presents an overall improvement in course conditioning that enhances the playability experience for golfers of all skill levels.
“Tiburon has always had a great impact on my design philosophy as it was one of our first projects, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to bring it back to its original form,” said Greg Norman. “A key focus for GNGCD is our ReDesign program since many golf courses lose their unique character and original strategic elements over time. It is our mission to update these courses to higher design standards while focusing on capital expenditures and lowering future operating costs.”
GNGCD is also proud announce the grand reopening of Orlando’s ChampionsGate International Course which recently underwent a complete restoration of all 18 greens and greenside bunker complexes, returning them to their original sizes, look, and feel. Another original Greg Norman-design, these enhancements were the first to the coastal-links-style International Course since it debuted 16 years ago.
On the international stage, Brookwater Golf & Country Club, located southwest of Brisbane in Australia, has reopened nine of a planned 18-holes that are undergoing a progressive overhaul. Central to the project’s scope are that all 18 greens are to be refreshed, resurfaced and in some cases redesigned, to eradicate a natural build-up of thatch and subsoil concerns that occur at any course over the passage of time. A GNGCD original design opened in 2002, Brookwater has earned a reputation for being one of the most dramatic and scenic layouts in Australia and as such is perennially ranked within the top 50 Australian courses.
GNGCD recently celebrated the opening of its 100th course at Eastern Golf Club in Australia and currently has 42 more under contract and another 22 actively under development, including six redesign projects.
Among the firm’s 100 designs, five were included in Golf Digest’s 2016-2017 ‘World’s 100 Greatest’ rankings including No. 29 Ellerston (Australia), No. 31 New South Wales G.C. (Australia), No. 74 The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip (Vietnam), No. 84 Nirwana (Bali) and No. 97. Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course (UAE).
About Greg Norman Golf Course Design
Since its inception in 1987, Greg Norman Golf Course Design has been one of Norman’s true passions in both business and life. His experience playing many of the world’s great golf courses over a 25-year career served as a catalyst to develop this interest and turn it into a thriving company. Today, GNGCD courses span the globe, covering six continents and 34 countries.
GNGCD’s design philosophy is grounded in a “least disturbance approach” that blends golf courses with their surrounding environment to enhance the properties’ natural features. They are highly-regarded as an industry leaders in promoting sustainability and the compatibility of golf courses with the environment, with many projects having been awarded the coveted Audubon Society Award for environmental stewardship.
Greg Norman Golf Course Design and its projects have been recognized around the globe and have garnered numerous prestigious recognitions for design including:
• The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip “World’s Best New Golf Course 2015” World Golf Awards
• Ellerston “Top 100 Courses in the World 2015” GOLF Magazine
• Almouj Golf The Wave “Top 10 Courses in the Middle East 2015” Golf Digest
• Red Sky Golf Club “Top Ten Courses in Colorado 2013” Golfweek
• The Ritz Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes “Top 100 Golf Resorts in North America 2011” Conde Nast Traveler
• Tiburón Golf Club At The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort “No. 1 Golf Resort in Florida 2009” Golf Digest
• El Camaleón “Best New International Course 2007” GOLF Magazine
• Vellano Country Club “Development of the Year 2007” GOLF Inc.
• Mission Hills Golf Club “Ten Best International Courses 2004” Travel & Leisure
