Golf legend and seven-time major winner Arnold Palmer says the Cayman Islands has all the right attributes to be a major force in golf tourism.
Palmer plans to design a championship standard golf course in east Grand Cayman at the proposed Ironwood Development, which would include 72 holes, a restaurant and 20-acre practice range.
"When I first came here I was absolutely amazed that there wasn’t more golf here," Palmer told local media.
"It’s an island that’s just large enough to support a couple of good golf courses. It’s got all the things that you’d like to see in a golf course, including particularly good weather and that’s certainly key."
Ironwood is a 600-acre project that will cost US$360 million to build, incorporating a residential community and resort development with the golf course at its heart alongside a sports training complex.
The Arnold Palmer Design Company said it is committed to preserving the existing natural features in the landscape to enhance the course design.
"We documented native rock formations, trees, and wetlands that will ultimately be incorporated into the final golf course design. We couldn’t be more pleased with the property’s potential to yield a golf course of the highest quality," said APDC vice president and senior golf course architect Thad Layton.
