Tiger Designs Course in Mexico


Various news services are reporting that construction has started on a golf course designed by Tiger Woods on Mexico's Baja Peninsula. Ground has broken on the $12 million "El Cardonal" at Diamante Cabo San Lucas, a 1,500-acre oceanfront resort community.

Woods' course will augment an 18-hole track opened in 2009 at Diamante and designed by Davis Love III. Woods send an email to golf.com in which his new course will be suitable for average golfers. "I've played in enough pro-ams to know that not every golfer is a scratch player," he wrote.

"Creating wide landing areas and avoiding forced carries whenever possible allow all golfers, even beginners to keep the ball in play and have more fun."

That said, Woods believes his 7,300-yard design will be playable for all handicaps. "I want to be sure that my designs make individuals think their way around the course," he wrote. "To me, that's an important part of golf and it's what I like to do when I play. I think players like risk-reward opportunities and to feel like they've been challenged in all aspects of the game."

Woods had previously designed courses for projects in Dubai, North Carolina and Ensanada, Mexico. These courses are in various stages of development after being affected by the recession.

His first Mexican project, Punta Brava about 65 miles south of San Diego, Calif., was originally slated to open in 2011, but has since been delayed until at least 2013.

His high-profile Cliffs at High Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Swannanoa, N.C., is on indefinite hold following the developer's bankruptcy filing in early 2012.