89 REPORT says Abarca. “The excavation created high, vertical walls that provide a striking playing experience.” Grassing of the course is now almost complete, with Pure Dynasty seeded paspalum, supplied by Atlas Turf International and Pure Seed, selected for tees, fairways, rough and greens. Abarca says the selection was made based on the high salinity site conditions and water quality. Agronomy, project management and grow in has been managed by Wallgrow International, led by Hector Lopez-Deschamps. All bunkers are being lined with Better Billy Bunker. “The course offers a memorable golf experience throughout the round,” says Abarca. “The stunning lake backdrop of holes two through four adds drama to the opening, with wide fairways enhancing playability. The visual highlight is a waterfall that was naturally sculpted during the construction process while the large lake was being excavated.” That waterfall is fed by a stream that separates the fairways of holes nine and ten. “As part of Greg and Jason’s direction, there are no forced carries for high-handicap players, but for advanced players, positioning the ball with the driver can be a high risk to consider on these holes,” says Abarca. “The short par-four seventeenth, which plays downhill, provides long views of lakes on fifteen and eighteen, as well as the hotel towers,” explains Abarca. “It also shares a double green with the parfour fourteenth [the first and eighth also share a green]. The seventeenth can be presented as a friendly hole before the challenging eighteenth, a short par five that plays as a riskreward hole with the lake on the right and a bunkerless green complex that encourages the skilled player to try to reach the green in two shots.” The course is routed within a tropical rainforest with three large lakes coming into play on seven holes, including the risk-reward par-five eighteenth Image: Greg Norman Golf Course Design
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