NASSAU, Bahamas — An Eleuthera-based resort community’s principal developer yesterday hailed its “world first” in being able to offer two golf courses separately designed and branded by some of the sport’s biggest names, The Tribune reported on Thursday, April 20, in an article written by Business Editor Neil Harrnell.
Sir Franklyn Wilson, Jack’s Bay’s chairman, told Tribune Business that it had “never happened before” where a mixed-use resort featured golf courses created by Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus plus their respective design companies.
Speaking after the $20m, 18-hole course to be created by Nicklaus Design was unveiled at a ceremony featuring Prime Minister Philip Davis KC and several Cabinet ministers, Sir Franklyn asserted that the project – which will also see Jack’s Bay’s real estate branded as a Nicklaus Community – will have an impact “for the whole country” that stretches beyond Eleuthera.
Other new partners include IMI Worldwide Properties, a real estate broker specialising in sales at new high-end resort communities. Sir Franklyn told this newspaper that, since its involvement, IMI had taken seven deposits for Jack’s Bay’s ‘founders’ real estate programme in just five days.
“In answer to your question, in my humble view this is a major, major initiative. Very substantial. Very substantial. That is the theme of the conversation,” he said of the partnership with Nicklaus Design and its wider group of companies for both the golf course and real estate branding/naming rights.
“These are the best in the business. It’s never happened before where you have a golf course with Tiger Woods and one with Jack Nicklaus. Where is that anywhere in the world? Look at the people who are with us. IMI Worldwide Properties. You go through the list and see the investors that have joined with us as partners in the financing component. It’s huge.
“IMI, in five days, they got seven new deposits for founders. They are the best in the business. This is for the whole country. This is not Jack’s Bay. By definition, this is the whole country. This has never happened before. It was a wonderful day for the country. In my humble view this is a major, major, major opportunity for the country. It has never happened before.”
Jack’s Bay, in a statement, said the new course – which is to be completed by 2025 – will be the first Nicklaus Heritage course in the world. The deal will also see Jack’s Bay secure Nicklaus real estate branding rights as a Nicklaus Community, which it described as “a distinction afforded to only a very select collection of developments around the world and the very first in the Caribbean”.
The Nicklaus Heritage course will co-exist alongside the existing 10-hole playground designed by Tiger Woods and TGR Design, which was completed in March 2020. “Completion of the Nicklaus Heritage championship course is scheduled for 2025, making Jack’s Bay the first property in the world to feature an 18-hole golf course by Nicklaus Design coupled with a Tiger Woods and TGR Design,” Jack’s Bay added.
Jack’s Bay’s founders programme will include 24 beachfront and ocean view homesites ranging in price from $1m to $3m. Other amenities planned for the 1,200-acre Jack’s Bay include a beach club, spa village, fitness and wellness programme, and family-friendly sports pavilion complex. Among the amenities already in place are beaches, tennis, a marina and multiple dining venues. See complete article in The Tribune at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/apr/20/sir-franklyn-hails-golf-tie-world-first/
