05 February 2010

Tiger Woods Dubai course still on track

The company developing a Tiger Woods golf course in Dubai says it has no plans to sever ties with the golfer despite his high profile "marital infidelity".

Dubai Properties said the course and luxury-home complex will be completed as planned after being pushed months behind schedule by the sheikhdom’s property slump.

But work on the course, designed by Woods and originally due to be finished by September 2009, has only got as far as the eighth hole.

Government-owned Dubai Properties has no plans to cut its ties to the golfer, CEO Khalid Al Malik said.

Woods took an indefinite leave from competition after admitting to marital infidelity.

Al Malik said he did not believe the association with Woods and his personal life has hurt the project.

"We haven’t experienced any change," he said."We haven’t decided yet on a date for its completion or delivery to the market, but the project is ongoing."

The plans for the 55 million-square-foot venture include 287 luxury villas and mansions, a boutique hotel and a clubhouse.

Designs for the villas are being completed before construction starts, Al Malik said.

The development is a partnership between Tiger Woods Design and Tatweer, which is now part of Dubai Properties Group.

Woods has a minority stake in the project, which he visits two or three times a year, the CEO said.

Representatives from his Windermere, Florida-based design firm visit more frequently, Al Malik said.

The developer said in November 2007 that Woods planned to build a 16,500-square-foot mansion overlooking the golf course that would include a gym, theatre, library and pool. Abdulla Al Gurg, who managed the project at the time, said villas and mansions were selling for $12 million to $23 million.

"Part of the project is sold and the other part will go to the market once it’s completed because we believe it’s better to do it then," Al Malik said.

"We are moving on with that plan and we are continuing the project without a doubt."

Residential projects worth $15 billion were either cancelled or put on hold in Dubai last year as developers tried to restrict supply to stem price declines.

by Phil Davies