[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hat you have here is a diamond in the rough”, is how a Hall of Fame golfer referred to the Sandals Cap Estate Golf and Country Club. You can bet if he has his way, in just over a year it will undoubtedly become the Jewel of the Caribbean.
Greg Norman who is arguably the most successful athlete-turned businessman in the world, made the opening comment at Tuesday’s press conference, to announce major plans to transform the existing golf course, into an 18 hole international championship course.
Seated at the head table was Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet; Minister of Tourism, Dominic Fedee; Sandals Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman, Adam Stewart; Sandals Managing Director, Winston Anderson; and Master of Ceremony, Joel Ryan.
Invited guests included Well-known Cricket Commentator, Joseph Reds Perreira; several Sandals officials and staff, youngsters with Grow Well golf program, golf enthusiasts and the media.
After welcoming everyone Minister Fedee said: “This is a very proud day for St Lucia. I say a proud day for St Lucia because not only will Sandals benefit from the enhancement of the golf course, but all of the resorts in the north of the island. We stand here this afternoon to witness the resuscitation of the golf course, located right in the mecca of tourism where you have over 2,000 rooms located ideally around it, which will add significant value to the product offering of all the hotels in Rodney Bay and in the north of the island.”
Stewart like the rest of the Sandals executive and staff, are elated to be associated with Norman who has a wealth of experience designing and building golf courses over six continents.
Stewart said: “Acquiring the golf course was the first step to several steps. The second step was calling him. I call him Uncle Greg and said listen we have acquired another golf course and we really have no idea what we are doing with it. We know it means a lot to the tourism market place, community, the members and all those who live around it [golf course] and play on it. We would like you to come down here and transform it.”
Stewart referred to a Greg Norman designed golf course as a game changer not only for Sandals but St Lucia as well.
When introducing the guest of honor who nicknamed “The Great White Shark”, MC Ryan remarked: “He won over 90 tournaments worldwide, including two US Open Championships and holds the distinction of defending his number one position in the World Golf Ranking for 331 weeks. This successful athlete – turned businessman has over a dozen companies around the world bearing his name and his iconic shark logo.”
Norman who earlier in the afternoon took a tour of the grounds, admired anyone playing the course because in his estimation it’s a difficult one which prompted him to say. “it would kick my butt as it is.”
Norman who was thoroughly impressed with the course told his attentive audience, “To be able to pull this diamond out of this rough means so much to us.”
He mentioned what his company’s design philosophy did for Sandals in the Bahamas, specifically when they had a web.com tournament there which gave the country massive exposure.
Prime Minister Chastanet who is an avid golfer remarked: “I think today is another symbolic moment, which is further testimony to Sandals confidence in St Lucia to be able to invest in a championship golf course.”
He pointed out that Sandals invested in an asset that more likely would not be financially beneficial to them, but recognized that it was an investment that could enhance their product and at the same time, do something to give back to St Lucia and for that I am very, very, grateful.”
Following the press conference guests took the opportunity to be photographed with the Hall of Fame Golfer – Among them youngsters with the Grow Well golf program who lined up for his autograph.
