Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Build underway at Nicaragua resort
AML
/ Categories: News

Build underway at Nicaragua resort

Construction work has begun at the Guacalito de la Isla resort in Nicaragua.

Pellas Development Group, whose parent company, Grupo Pellas, is one of the leading conglomerates in Central America, has started building work on the US$250 million project on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua.

The resort will cover a total of 1,670 acres, and is planned to include an eighteen hole golf course designed by Scottish architect David Kidd. Construction of the golf course is expected to begin in early 2011.

Set on a four-mile sweep of forested coastal land, a two-hour drive from Managua airport, Guacalito de la Isla is the vision of Carlos Pellas the founder of Pellas Development Group and the president and CEO of Grupo Pellas. The Pellas family has been a leader in the economic development of Central America for more than a century and has holdings in the sugar, rum, banking, transportation and credit-card businesses. At full buildout, Guacalito’s amenities will include a boutique luxury hotel; a beach club and restaurant; a marina; water sports from surfing to deep-sea fishing; hiking and biking trails; the Kidd-designed golf course; ecology, cultural and adventure-sports programs; an equestrian centre; a spa and family wellness centre and a variety of multigenerational activities. “We are proud to be at the forefront of Nicaragua’s emergence as a destination for North Americans who seek an idyllic natural and sustainable refuge and an authentic experience,” said Pellas.

Pellas Development Group’s launch of Guacalito de la Isla coincides with recent efforts by the Nicaraguan government to entice North American second-home buyers, investors and retirees with generous tax incentives. It is also in step with new interest in Nicaragua among North Americans seeking an exotic yet affordable destination for eco-tourism and vacation real estate. In the past few years, tourism has surpassed coffee as Nicaragua’s leading source of revenue, and Nicaragua has been deemed the safest country in Central America. 

Guacalito de la Isla is the first in a series of Grupo Pellas’ Ceiba Collection eco-retreats in Central America, socially and environmentally sustainable communities benefiting not just residents and guests, but employees and locals as well. This year, Pellas Development has donated computers to the local school and 5,000 forest plants to the communities surrounding Guacalito de la Isla. “This new generation of green destinations will be in some of the world’s most unspoiled locations,” said Pellas.

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Sean Dudley

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