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

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

RTJ II to create new layout at Panama’s Buenaventura Resort

Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort in Panama has appointed Robert Trent Jones II (RTJ II) to design a new golf course, which is expected to open in late 2025.

The resort already has an 18-hole layout by Nicklaus Design, now known as Course #1, with RTJ II’s Course #2 to be built on a gently rolling site that features Corotu and Panama trees.

The new layout will be routed through lush jungle, expansive meadows and reach the beachfront. “As they play, golfers will journey through a variety of distinct environments,” said Bruce Charlton, president of RTJ II. “The jungle holes will be surrounded by dense foliage and towering Guanacaste trees, punctuated by a series of running streams, and offering an adventurous experience of navigating winding fairways. The meadow holes, with their wide-open spaces, provide expansive scale and invite bold, strategic play. Players will encounter the challenge a breathtaking beach and ocean view hole, a one-of-a-kind challenge comprised of ocean breezes and sandy shores.”

At 6,810 yards, #Course #2 will be the shorter layout at the resort, with RTJ II emphasising playability in the design, including the creation of ribbon tees to allow players to tee off at a distance that suits their ability.

Natural streams, barrancas and water features will provide multiple options and angles throughout the round. The design team’s plan ensures that the better golfers will face the risk-reward spots while higher handicappers will find bailout areas and opportunities to play safe.

Many areas of rough will be irrigated only by natural rainfall, enhancing the Riviera Pacifica environment. Existing elevation changes will be incorporated to enable ocean views and long-range vistas across the course.

Previous Article Red Sea Global’s Shura Links on track to open in 2025
Next Article Trevor Dormer begins construction at Old Dane in Nebraska
Print
785 Rate this article:
No rating
Slideshow HTML
  • Buenaventura Resort in Panama RTJ II
    RTJ II

    RTJ II’s plan for Course #2 at Buenaventura Golf & Beach Resort in Panama

  • Buenaventura Resort in Panama RTJ II
    RTJ II

    “The jungle holes will be surrounded by dense foliage and towering Guanacaste trees, punctuated by a series of running streams,” says Bruce Charlton

ADd Image Credit here for home page
RTJ II
Richard Humphreys

Richard HumphreysRichard Humphreys

Other posts by Richard Humphreys
Contact author

Contact author

x

Subscribe to the Golf Course Architecture newsletter


  • ©2025 Tudor Rose. All Rights Reserved. Golf Course Architecture is published by Tudor Rose.