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| Golf Legend Greg Norman Officially Opens Exquisite New |
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September 12th 2006 - SAVANNAH, Ga. - Former PGA Tour superstar and World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman officially celebrated the grand opening of a new 18-hole course he designed at Savannah Quarters, an award-winning master-planned community near Savannah, Ga., on September 7. In a special celebration, which included a blessing of the course, Norman emphasized his commitment to creating a world-class golf course that would define the quality of life at this luxury residential community. “This golf course is your golf course,” Norman told an audience of approximately 130 Savannah Quarters Country Club members. “At the end of the day, it has been an honor. We thank you for entrusting us to create a lifestyle that is unique to this area.” The breathtaking new course at Savannah Quarters serves as the focal point of life at this resort-style community which is owned and developed by Medallist Developments, a joint venture between Greg Norman’s Great White Shark Enterprises and Macquarie Bank of Australia. In keeping with Norman’s design philosophy, this private course incorporates natural elements, from pine forests to stands of live oaks, as it winds through the southern portion of Savannah Quarters. More than 1,000 specimen trees were transplanted to give the course a lush, traditional Lowcountry feel. The course’s signature hole #15, a scenic island hole which stretches 137 yards, provides a dramatic water challenge. “I have been really pleased with the feedback we have been getting from the members regarding the new course,” said Norman. “And I am happy that the residents and members now have a facility that is one of the best in this region.” Members of all skill levels can now enjoy the exquisite new course at Savannah Quarters, which emphasizes a player-friendly layout with less mandatory carries and broader greens. Created by Greg Norman Golf Course Design, the 7,016-yard course offers a number of welcome challenges, nestled within the sanctuary of one of the region’s premier residential communities. “This is a very fun golf course,” he said. “I’m a believer that you don’t have to build every course to be 7,600 or 7,700 yards. It’s easily accessible for all players – men and women, young and old. And that’s what golf is all about.”
Although Savannah Quarters originally opened a nine-hole course several years ago, Norman decided to completely re-design the course to create an 18-hole masterpiece in the heart of coastal Georgia. This project marks the first time in Norman’s career that he has spearheaded a total course renovation. “The biggest concern was the ‘buck’ or the sponginess of the site,” he said. “The course took a long time to dry, which affected member play. It’s the subsurface engineering that makes the course what it is. We found the diamond in the rough -- we just polished it up.” To create the new design at Savannah Quarters, Norman decided to strip and replace the top three feet of the course, adding a nine-inch cap of sand to maximize drainage. Southeastern Golf Inc. of Tifton, Ga. executed Norman’s design and handled the course construction which included grading the site, reshaping the greens and installing a more effective drainage system. Today, the course remains well-drained and playable even after a heavy rain. This accomplished golfer and businessman described his involvement with the project as “very much hands-on,” explaining that he enjoys following the course design from concept to completion. “You have to take pride in it,” he said. “I trust my eye, I trust my instinct and I trust my skills.” Mini Verde, which is a preferred type of Bermuda grass, has been used on all greens at Savannah Quarters, reflecting the growing PGA Tour preference for this surface. Approach grass is GN2 Grass, a special custom material developed exclusively by Norman’s own Great White Shark Enterprises. In addition to its 18-hole layout, the course also features a new state-of-the-art practice facility, anchored by an 8,000-square-foot putting green and a 4,000-square-foot chipping green with bunker. The course is open for play Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The guest fee to play with a Savannah Quarters Country Club member is $50. Cotter Christian, general manager and vice president of Savannah Quarters, reports that members have been particularly impressed with the new course. “The membership has already embraced the course and fallen in love with it,” he said. “It truly is exciting for all levels of play.” |
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