Our verdict on Tiger’s exclusive new golf course
TIGER Woods flew in to Houston yesterday for the official opening of Bluejack National, the first course he has designed on American soil.
While we await news on when he will return to playing golf, what about his qualities as a golf architect? Will this become a significant part of his legacy, as it has for the Big Three of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player?
during this latest injury lay-off, which stands at eight months following more back surgery, Bluejack proved something of a labour of love for the 40-year- old, with plenty of site visits. This isn’t one of those projects where the superstar takes all the credit and someone else does all the work.
so what’s it like? I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek and can’t remember the last time I played a new course so good.
As the name suggests, it’s a homage to Augusta National. Wide open fairways, little rough, large white bunkers, lightning-fast greens.
It has even got its own par- three course like Augusta, complete with floodlights so members can play at night with a couple of drinks.
Tiger (right) also showed up when that opened last month, and headlines were made when a local 11-year- old had a hole in one at the first.
As for the main layout, the great thing is it is one golfers of all standards can enjoy. It will prove an awesome challenge for a scratch handicap player but equally, someone off 18 could get round without losing a bucket of golf balls.
Isn’t that a huge improvement on all these depressing layouts built in recent years with water hazards everywhere and fairways no wider than the length of a cricket pitch?
Now the bad news: there are also shades of Augusta in terms of exclusivity. you know you’re in the land of luxury when you go to pick up your rental clubs and the helpful member of staff asks: ‘stiff or regular shafts?’
similarly, on the practice ground, you get to choose between warming up with brand new Titleist Pro V1 balls or the Nike equivalent.
Tiger’s course doesn’t come cheap. The joining fee is £70,000 unless you buy property on site, when it drops to £50,000. Monthly dues are £600.
of course it’s not worth the money, but coming off the final hole, I did have a yearning, for the first time in a long time on a new course, to play again.