ABOVE: A group of owners warm up for an afternoon on the back 9.
From seeing this 400+ acre development 18 months ago transform from a cattle ranch into what will be a world class resort and golf course is absolutely amazing. There is a considerable amount of work that is done underground that a golfer has a rare chance of seeing. Many of us, including myself, have always walked onto a course to enjoy the environment in which we battle ourselves while not giving to much thought to the unbelievable amount of work made to bring it to us.
Apart from moving over 60,000 cubic meters of earth, installing underground conduits to carry electricity and fiber optic for the entire development, irrigation and drainage pipes for the entire golf course, run-off channels for all rainfall from the mountains and piping for potable water for home sites and villas, to name but a few pieces to the puzzle I know of. This of course doesn’t include architecture, permits and all sorts of political red tape behind the scenes.
The Black Pearl Golf Course at Pristine Bay prides itself on being extremely eco-sensitive to the flourishing reef located a very short distance away. It is important for the developers to protect this natural resource of beauty. With the rainfall the island receives certain months of the year, it is extremely important to limit any run-off by channeling all rain into the 5 irrigation ponds (which doubles as my irritation for losing some golf balls too). The ponds are set at different levels from one into the other to let all silt settle before it heads to the large ponds filled with Cat Tails that provide the perfect bio-filter. This may not sound like an attractive job, but instead of using chemicals to remove the weeds from the fairways, which could possibly cause damage to marine life, local women are hired by the dozens to work their way around the course weekly.
ABOVE: Irrigation for the 8th and 9th holes. Grassing in 1 week.
Until most of this was done there could be no visual above ground movement. In the last few months, the development is making leaps and bounds, with the first 9 holes playable, 8 of the first 36 villas almost finished, roads cemented from the main road, up over the mountain and into the development and to the first phase villas and home sites, sales office completed etc, The ground breaking of the Lancaster Group, Pristine Bay Resort to happen in the next two week will throw the construction into full swing. Stay connected – More to Follow.
You will see towards the bottom of the links “OobGolf”, we have signed up with this company so you may check out course details such Par and handicaps per hole as well as keeping your score online. Over the next few weeks as more information comes in, this will be updated with much more.
HAPPY GOLFING
