Basseterre, St. Kitts –A high-level group of government officials and invited guests was on hand Wednesday, 12th November, with world-class golf course designer Tom Fazio, to celebrate the official groundbreaking for the championship 18-hole golf course at Christophe Harbour in St. Kitts. The golf course is a key amenity for the new 2,500-acre Christophe Harbour resort emerging on the island’s southeast peninsula. This high-end resort community will also include a mega-yacht harbour and marina village, residential real estate, Mandarin Oriental, St. Kitts, and more.
Christophe Harbour is the first Caribbean venture of South Carolina-based Kiawah Development Partners (KDP), known for its success at Kiawah Island, SC and Doonbeg Golf Club, Ireland. KDP is the manager of the master developer, Christophe Harbour Development Company (CHDC).
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Tom Fazio, and KDP CEO Buddy Darby turned the first shovels of earth along with members of the CHDC management team, and spoke to the group of guests and media during the midafternoon event atop Priddies Plateau.
As he described the course routing, which follows the dramatic topography of the site, Fazio noted, “The striking landscape here allows us to take full advantage of both the mountain ridges and lower cliffsides. Golfers will enjoy the incredible panoramic views across the ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and over the harbour and to Basseterre and Nevis. The drama of the landscape variation and the views will make this course different from any other in the Caribbean.”
Fazio also joked with the crowd, saying that this will be the first course that encourages a slow pace of play. “The views are so spectacular that every hole becomes a ‘signature hole’ – we may have to ban the use of cameras along the course in order to keep players moving!”
The course, set to be open for play in 2011, will be built atop a volcanic ridge and along a natural inland cove. Planned over 250 acres, the Par 72 course will be 7,250 yards from the back tees. In addition to the terrain, wind will be considered a major design element and will influence shot selection choices in the upper holes. The beach-level-to-mountaintop environment, sweeping views of two oceans, and spectacular design will make the project unique – a “must play” international venue for golf aficionados.
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A number of practical details will help make the course intriguing to every level of player. Bermudagrasses are planned for use in tees, fairways, roughs, and greens. Fairways will be sand capped, to create firm, fast conditions. Natural boulders and outcroppings will be used or recreated throughout the course. In addition, practically all holes will have water views.
Christophe Harbour Golf Course
Creative and careful environmental preservation is a fundamental part of the planning for the course. Fazio’s respected team, along with the experienced developer, will strive to create a course that is both environmentally friendly and an enhancement to the natural surroundings. They will take a number of steps to curb erosion and sustain the environment, to include the filtering of water through Reverse Osmosis (RO) processes before it is used for irrigation. Wetlands treatments are also planned, and will likely include groups of saltwater mangroves that treat runoff water.
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The Prime Minister highlighted the significance of the golf course, and noted the expected impact of the resort on the local economy. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promotion of tourism, and highlighted the Christophe Harbour development as driving the future of tourism for St. Kitts. Dr. Douglas noted that the course “will be among the finest in the world, and part of a massive resort development that will make St. Kitts and Nevis one of the most desirable destinations in the Caribbean, and indeed, in the entire world.”
SC-based Malphrus Construction is onsite to lead construction, and CHDC has engaged local contractor Rock & Dirt and several other local subcontractors to work on the US $25 million project.
Darby noted that the ceremony was more than just a gathering to celebrate construction of a golf course. “Today is really a demonstration of our unwavering commitment to Christophe Harbour and to the citizens of this great Federation,” said Darby. “We will not let the current economic climate deter our enthusiasm for this project.
Fazio Golf Course Designers has also designed two of the golf courses at Kiawah Island, The River Course and Osprey Point.
Christophe Harbour – An Incomparable Resort for St. Kitts
Launching in 2011, Christophe Harbour will be a luxury resort that will propel St. Kitts to the forefront of high-end tourism in the Caribbean. Christophe Harbour Company, a venture led by Kiawah Development Partners (KDP), is the manager of the master development company for Christophe Harbour. Christophe Harbour Company, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, and several prominent real estate, golf design, architecture, environmental, and engineering companies have joined forces to create an incomparable master-planned resort. Christophe Harbour, located on the more than 2,500-acre southeastern peninsula of St. Kitts, is planned to include a mega-yacht harbour as well as an impressive collection of restaurants, shops, boutiques, five-star hotels, oceanfront and hillside homesites, villas, and a must-play Tom Fazio championship golf course. For more information on Christophe Harbour, please visit www.christopheharbour.com.
