February / March, 2003
The already extensive global reach of Robert Trent Jones II is stretching into fresh territories in 2003, with new projects either underway or about to commence in Vanuatu, The Bahamas, and Mexico. In addition, RTJII is celebrating the opening of its latest international course: The Marshes Golf Club in Canada's national capital, Ottawa, in the region referred to as "Silicon Valley North," the heart of Canada's high tech industry.
The Marshes, Ottawa
The Marshes is unique in several ways. First of all, it is the final collaboration between Robert Trent Jones Senior and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Secondly, The Marshes integrates world-class golf with corporate offices. Additionally, as its name implies, the course has preserved extensive marshlands, carefully placing the golf course in proximity to them so that these natural features enhance the golf and while providing strategic interest. The Marshes has qualified as an Audubon Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary course. Finally, The Marshes provides a resort atmosphere for business travellers with its Brookstreet Hotel and Spa, scheduled to open this spring on a site adjacent to the golf course, which will enable guests to share in the serenity of the golf course landscape.
"We are very pleased with our project and how it has been received," said The Marshes' general manager, Tony Dunn. "We will host a Professional Ladies event in our first full year of operations, which is an unusual honour, both for us and for the golf course architect. The Prime Minister of Canada was our first guest to play the full course-and he enjoyed it enough to go back for more on his first visit."
The White Sands Resort (Webpage) will have 125 villas as its hotel, as well as 200 one acre custom home sites for sale. In addition to the world class RTJII golf course, the resort features a 10,000 square foot Spa and more than one kilometre of -what else?- white sand beach. The Spa, villas and hotel facilities, designed by Bruce Henderson Architects of Melbourne, feature tropical themes in keeping with the ambience of this island paradise.
The Devil's Triangle Golf Course at Bimini Bay Resort, Bahamas
The Bimini Bay Resort and Casino on the Bahamian Island of Bimini has started construction on the first homes of its extraordinary new project just 40 miles and mere minutes away from Miami by plane. The resort will feature a casino, a world-class marina and affordable beachfront real estate for private homes. The golf course will occupy a major portion of the north end of the island, with holes along both the ocean and inner bay. Exclusive home sites within the golf course will all have ocean views and access to pristine, sandy beaches. No cars will be allowed on the island.
"We're thrilled that Robert Trent Jones II has signed on as the designer for our Devil's Triangle Golf Course," said Alejandro Capo, speaking on behalf of The Capo Group, developer of Bimini Bay. "We think 'The Devil's Triangle' is the perfect name for our course, because it is uniquely located on a triangular piece of land, and will have some devilish shots on and around the water, especially when a strong wind is blowing."
"The opportunity to design a new course along the oceanfront comes along very rarely," said Robert Trent Jones, Jr. "We're grateful that we've been offered this unusual opportunity."
Terralta Golf Club, Monterrey, Mexico
The Terralta Golf Club in Monterrey, Mexico, sits in high valley west of the vibrant city of Monterrey. The entry road climbs a steep slope to the crest of a ridge, below which sits the Terralta site, completely hidden from view from the valley below.
"This is a fantastic site," says RTJII's Bruce Charlton. "There are two small hills within the valley, and two nines will loop around them, joining at the central clubhouse location. There are natural waterfalls that also integrate perfectly into our routing. This is as perfect a site for a desert golf course as I have ever seen."
Farum, Denmark
Early in 2003 a development group in Denmark announced that it had selected Robert Trent Jones II to design a 36-hole golf complex, complete with range facilities suitable for a golf academy and, potentially, a nine hole par-3 course as well, on a decommissioned military base north of Copenhagen. The Farum base was used as a training facility for Danish engineering troops for generations, and evidence of the military's activities are abundantly evident on the site, which is nonetheless unusual in Denmark for the gentle changes in elevation throughout the site.
"This is our first project in Denmark," says RTJII's Charlton, "and it's an amazing opportunity to show how golf can benefit the environment through bioremdiation that will help clean the soil contaminated by the military. In addition, our preliminary plans call for preserving wetlands, waterways and wildlife corridors. We will have a gentle hand on the land in Denmark."
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