Troon Golf will manage Quba Golf Club in Azerbaijan, located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. The new facility, near the capital city of Baku, is the first golf development in the country and will also serve as the head offices of the recently-formed Azerbaijan Golf Federation.
Several holes are set to be unveiled in September 2012 with the full 18-hole championship course completed by October 2012, along with extensive practice facilities and accommodations developed by ZQAN Construction. Troon will manage the facility and golf course, designed by International Design Group and constructed by Total Golf Construction. The resort will also feature a 200-bedroom, five-star hotel on site.
Gary Player selected to design course in Montenegro’s Luštica Bay
Luštica Development AD, a joint venture between Swiss-based Orascom Development Holding and the government of Montenegro, selected Gary Player to design Luštica Bay Golf Course in Tivat, Montenegro.
Luštica Bay’s master plan is currently being developed into building permits and being implemented by qualified teams. Lustica Development AD is also working on all the marketing material and negotiating with several internationally known hotel operators.
The Government of Montenegro, Municipality of Tivat and Lustica Development AD still considering an effective date for their lease and development agreement for July 2012, signaling a very significant milestone for the project as the developers are bound to deliver their minimum build and investment obligations within four years.
Georgia owners association launches new online tee time service
The Georgia Golf Course Owners Association (GGCOA) launched Play18.com, a website designed to help owners regain control over pricing and tee time availability from third party booking engines.
The new online tee time service was created in collaboration with course owners, golf professionals, online tee time experts and other golf associations to develop a service model that provides golfers with a convenient and easy to use booking experience. It will give course owners control to set price and availability.
Play18 is free for courses to participate, no trade times required, and 100 percent of the green and cart revenue goes directly to the courses. The service works by pulling available tee times directly from the golf courses’ website.
The site also allows users create a personalized account where they can list their favorite courses, receive special promotional codes and have access to exclusive rewards offered directly by the courses.
People on the move:
KemperSports named Gary Glaser general manager of The Crossings at Carlsbad in Carlsbad, Calif. Glaser has more than 10 years’ experience in the golf industry, specializing in sales, instruction and management. Glaser joined KemperSports and The Crossings at Carlsbad in 2007, and has served as the Director of Golf and Interim General Manager since the property opened.
KemperSports also appointed Randy Morrison to general manager of Heron Lakes Golf Course in Portland, Oreg. Morrison spent five years performing leadership roles in the food & beverage industry in New York and Oregon prior to accepting the role of Operations Manager at Heron Lakes in 2007.
