NEWS

Domino's Pizza NGF report forecasts development slowdown for 2001 By ANDREW OVERBECK However, at the close of 2000, a total founder planning While the number of new golf course of 707 courses were under construc- openings in the United States once tion, a 25-percent decrease from year- Rees Jones course again topped the 500 mark in 2000, the end 1999 figures. The total courses in By JAY FINEGAN number of openings forecast for 2001 planning increased only slightly to ANN ARBOR, Mich. —Tom Monaghan, could be significantly lower, according 1,049. Of those under construction, 535 impresario of the Domino's Pizza empire, to the National Golf Foundation's re- courses are scheduled to open in 2001. is in the permitting stage for an 18-hole golf cently released "Golf Facilities in the According to the NGF, approximately course near this University of U.S." report. 60 percent of these courses actually community. If approved, as appears likely, The record development pace con- open in a given year. If that trend holds the course will come with all the toppings, tinued in 2000, with 524 golf courses true, new openings and expansions may particularly an acute environmental ethic. totaling 398.5 18-hole equivalents open- only reach 321 in 2001, meaning that Monaghan is not ing across the country. That number is the number of 18-hole equivalents could scrimping on this fa- up approximately 34 percent from 1994 be the lowest figure since the early cility, to be called Ave figures (see accompanying chart). 1990s. Source: National Golf Foundation Maria International Golf Club. The course is expected to cost about $20 million and DeVries debuts first solo course design GTA sells The will feature a 34,000- By ANDREW OVERBECK designer had his pick of 400 acres of square-foot clubhouse Tom Monaghan KINGSLEY, Mich. — Mike DeVries has land and chose the best 200 for the Woodlands, Palm that originally was go- unveiled his first solo design here at The 6,750- yard par-71 course. ing to be Monaghan's personal residence. Kingsley Club, a private equity member- "I especially like holes two through Desert CC 'The clubhouse is going to be built in a ship facility just seven," he Frank Lloyd Wright style - low-profile, natu- south of said, "be- GULF SHORES, Ala. — Golf ral materials, really pretty jazzy," said Bill Traverse City. cause of the Trust of America, continuing to Koshelnyk of the Ave Maria Foundation. "It The layout, unique land- unload courses as its liquidation will be a very exclusive, upscale operation." which opened form that plan proceeds, has sold The 'This is not your typical country club," May 19, was they are situ- Wood- added course manager Don Schrotenboer, constructed ated on and lands for who said the club will be the equivalent of in-house by how they re- $6.4 mil- those that charge $50,000 or more a year for DeVries and late to one lion to individual memberships. superinten- another. Due Brights Monaghan is hoping that the natural char- dent Dan to the open- Creek acter of the course will appeal to golfers Lucas. ness of the Develop- willing to part with hefty fees for a pristine "We moved site there, ment Co. environment. He believes the course will fit about 30,000 one gets to The well with the character of the area. "Ann cubic yards of The green complex on the 215-yard, 16th hole experience Wood- Arbor is synonymous with higher education," dirt," said DeVries. "That includes the holes from many different vantage lands, he said. "It's one of the country's great cen- 10,000 yards for greens mix and tee points." here in Gulf Shores, is an 18-hole ters of academic life. And environmental qual- mix." Construction at Kingsley began in daily-fee club opened in 1994. ity is always a priority with intellectuals." The reason for the minimal amount fall 1998. The course features fescue GTA also has sold Palm Desert Country Club (Calif.) for $4.075 REES JONES DESIGN of earthmoving required during con- fairways and bentgrass greens. The The layout, designed by architect Rees struction was because the "holes were club is a golf-only facility and member- million to Dahoon Investment Co. Jones, will occupy a 390-acre tract, includ- just there," according to DeVries. The ship will be limited to 250. ing some 70 acres of wetlands. The plan seeks to preserve vegetation and topo- graphical features in a near-natural state, with minimal alterations. His design speci- fies the filling of only one third of an acre of wetlands, with raised boardwalks crossing less than a quarter of an acre. But that small wetlands loss will be more than compensated for by the creation of new wetlands. "We're filling in less than half an acre, but we will be adding about an acre," said landscape architect Henry Byma, of SmithGroup JJR, an Ann Arbor landscaping and engineering firm. Byma added that Jones was chosen as the designer "to help us arrive at a reduced impact on the environment." Jones' work, he said, "emphasizes preservation of as many natural features as possible." MICHIGAN STATE INVOLVED The landscape design exceeds mandated watershed and flood-control requirements. Sophisticated turf management strategies, developed with guidance from Michigan State's department of crop and soil science, are aimed at protecting soil quality and groundwater resources. The club, situated northeast of here, will help fund , the "um- brella" organization Monaghan established that includes Ave Maria College, in Ypsilanto, Mich., and St. Mary's College, in Port Orchard, Mich. Monaghan also set up a branch of the university in .

GOLF COURSE NEWS JULY 200 Ì 3