Troon Golf recently added two courses to its collection, maintaining its position as the largest golf course operator in the world. While much of its recent growth has been overseas, the Arizona-based management company recently added two near its home base. The first is a partnership with The Boulders Resort, a 36-hole golf complex in Carefree, Ariz., that marks Troon’s 14th course in Arizona. Troon also added its third facility in Nevada when it was selected to manage Aliante Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course in North Las Vegas.
Syngenta to acquire DuPont Professional Products business
Agricultural chemicals company Syngenta agreed to acquire the DuPont Professional Products insecticide business, a supplier for the professional turf, ornamentals and home pest control markets. The acquisition will expand the range of products which Syngenta offers to golf course and lawn care professionals and to ornamental growers, and will also strengthen its portfolio for the control of home pests. Syngenta, a Switzerland-based company that markets seeds and pesticides, is involved in biotechnology and genomic research.
Under the terms of the agreement, Syngenta will acquire a global business including established pest control brands Advion and Acelepryn and other intellectual property, as well as a number of employees, for a consideration of $125 million. Syngenta will also access the related active ingredients and formulated products from DuPont through exclusive supply and licensing agreements. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Georgia HOA acquires defunct golf course
A Georgia homeowners association acquired an 18-hole defunct golf course in Bryan County, Ga. The Waterford Landing Homeowner’s Association purchased the community’s Waterford Landing Golf Course., which had been closed since March 2010.
“This purchase gives our community the certainty that the golf course property will be used to the benefit of our homeowners, not the financial interests of developers,” Tom Norman, president of the HOA told the Savannah Morning News.
The HOA has not decided how it will use the 113-acre land, storage facilities, parking lot and pool. Terms of the purchase agreement were not disclosed.
Construction begins for $60m golf facility near Mt Kenya
A group of Kenyan investors recently broke ground on a golf course project in Mount Kenya National Park. The project, Mt. Kenya Holiday Homes, is an effort to increase tourism and investment activities in the Mt. Kenya region.
Leading the project team is Reginald Okumu, director of Ark Consultants based in Kenya and designing the 9-hole golf course is Paresh Jai, director of Total Golf Solutionz Ltd based in Nairobi, Kenya. Along with the golf course, the 123-acre complex will include a helipad, clubhouse and 95 holiday homes. The project’s golf course is 70 percent complete and the entire project, estimated at $60 million, is expected to last three years.
