Christophe Harbour turns sod for new golf course
By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| PM Douglas, Tom Fazio, Golf course designer; Buddy Darby, CEO Kiawah Development Partners break the ground |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITHIN one year of its arrival in the Southeast Peninsular, St. Kitts, Christophe Harbour has officially started the ground work to add a world-class golf course to its list of development projects, following a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday (Nov. 12).
Blueprinted by one of the world’s most prolific golf course designers, Tom Fazio, it is expected to cover over 250 acres of land along the southern shore of the Great Salt Pond and atop Priddies Plateau, 500 feet above sea level. The new course, to be open for play in early 2011, is described by Fazio as one of the most “spectacular, dramatic, never-to-be-done-again pieces of work”.
CEO of the master developer company, Kiawah Development Partners, Buddy Darby noted that the event marks a memorable step in the development project.
“We will look back on this day as we overlook the golf course. We all know that the economic times have not been as stable as they use to be, so today really represents more than just a gathering to celebrate the construction of the golf course.
It really is a demonstration of our unwavering commitment to Christophe Harbour and to the citizens of this beautiful island. We
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View from Priddies Plateau
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are not going to let the economic conditions deter our enthusiasm for this project.
“Golf is in our blood and this course will be the finest in the Caribbean. It will be a destination of its own and we hope it will be a must-play golf course among golf-courses around the world and is a glimpse of the quality commitment we are going to make over time,” Darby noted.
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas said that no country can feel completely secure in the face of unprecedented turbulence in the global economy.
He however stated that St. Kitts-Nevis is “fighting against the odds as the global credit crunch brings a dramatic halt to the flow of funds that is so critical to the survival and continuation of such projects”.
“[Kiawah Development’s] investment shows [Darby’s] optimism and faith in the future of St. Kitts and Nevis, and his confidence that the investment in this project will bring significant returns to his investors and will, at the same time help to bring a better quality of life to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.” ~~Adz:Left~~
Dr. Douglas challenged all present to work together in order to continue to attract foreign investors and to make the country a major tourist destination. He added that the tremendous progress that would be seen in the implementation of the golf course during such “difficult times” must be a source of pride and optimism for all Kittitians and Nevisians.
The Christophe Harbour Development is also expected to have a world-class Mandarin Hotel, marina village and high-end restaurants and various luxurious resort facilities.
