Condado course & facilities update.

Folk's,

Picking up from the 'First official shot at Condado' thread, I summarise on the course and then I can enlighten you all to some further information as it was explained to me.

We have just recently returned from a nice long week-end (what torrential rain - where ????) and enjoyed superb autumn sunshine and everything the area has to offer as usual. The rains of the previous week-end have certainly greened up the golf course & the gardens in general. Now before Ant' gets launched into me for being negative, womping, glass half full , etc etc, I must warn you that this is a 'warts and all' summary and reality check before too many people get too excited about this Nov 15th opening date even though I wax lyrical to all my pals about what a cracker of a place Condado will be eventually.

On the positive side:-

Greens looking superb. Fairways now looking just about there and nice & lush and spongey. Sunglasses needed at bunkers due to brilliance of white Bermuda style sand. Some of the lakes got water in again. Practice ground in the final throes of completion. Tee area pristine, bunkers being scraped out and filled with sand over the week-end.

The weather was brilliant. Peace & quiet in abundance. Dicovered some more of the gems on our doorstep.

Not so good:-

As onecall mentions in his post, there are many areas between the fairways resemble a discarded building site and have not significantly changed in the 7 months since I have been visiting from early April this year. There is massive area in the middle of the course that is visible from all the elevated tees of surrounding holes that just appears to be a huge dumping ground - most unsightly. All of the buggy paths still bear the scars of the recent rains, with overflowed mud caked onto the paths. Anywhere there are embankments at the sides of the buggy paths, we now have deep channels where the waters have run down. Thousands of clumps of the course grasses planted have died off alongside the edges of fairways/paths. I have seen these grasses at La Torre course two years on and they are thick healthy clumps 20 times the size of the plantings we see at Condado. In my opinion these have been planted in bare gravel without any decent soil around to give them a chance to get established. Many of these clumps have already been pulled out and dumped at the sides of the fairways or one of the many building site dumps around the course. Quite a few of the new trees have been lopped off where they have died off in recent months.  Areas between tees (womens, mens, comp', pro's) on a lot of holes are just bare gravel and are crying out for a bit of landscaping. They just look like little grass islands in a sea of 'nothingness'. Some lakes full of water, some still empty - how come ?? After all that torrential rain for 3 days, a couple of lakes with barely any water in the bottom smacks of a big leak in the membranes somewhere to me. Only about 10 people working on the course and majority of those on practice area.

I think as a comparisson, you only have to take a run out the short distance to Hacienda del Alamo (which is a new course with desert style 'off fairway' areas like Condado and have a look at how it has been finished off at the edges of the lakes, edges of fairways, maturity of planted trees and then you will get some perspective. No doubting the layout of Condado which is superb, but it is going to be seriously let down by the aforementioned areas.

So, what do I know about the plans for improvement ? Took time to pay a visit to the Condado sales office and had a good chat with Sergio who works in there and was quite forthcoming with information and his own personal views. This is what he told me regarding course/resort development:-

Course to open as promoted on 15th November. The landscaping, pulling out of tumbleweeds(no these are not meant to be the rough) re-planting, cleaning up of all the areas I have just spoke about will continue throughout 2010. Therefore the course is to open in an unfinished state just to get it up & running with paying punters. Now we discussed the merits of Jack's Signiture courses and the fact that signiture meant SPECIAL in all ways, clubhouse included (which I will touch on later) and of course agreed that Polaris were being a bit hypocritical here. I wonder if the great man is willing to rubber stamp the official opening of one of his SPECIAL courses with a big chunk of the overall acreage far from SPECIAL.

Clubhouse (temporary). This must be finished in time for the opening date with all shower and changing facilities, stocked pro shop etc, etc. When we were there, the workmen had just commenced and were in the process of bricking up interior walls inside one of the Al Kasar units. This is the unit to the left of the entrance that faces out onto the golf course. While we were there (Thurs to Mon) there were two brickies who worked on Friday & Monday. Going on how long it has taken to get Clover & the restaurant up and running, do you think they mean ready for Nov 2010 ?? 2 brickies for god's sake !!!

Clubhouse (official). As this is a signiture course, the clubhouse will be SPECIAL. I agree if it mirrors the artist's impressions many of us have seen this will be the case. Polaris will make a decision in early 2010 whether they will commence in 2010  or 2011 .  3 months ago the banks agreed to release further funding for the ongoing development of Condado.

Course number 2. Work to commence to the north east of La Isla on the construction of the course in 2010. The area around the lakes at La Isla have now been fenced off. These are to be landscaped in 2010 with grass and tree planting.

Areas between Jardines & golf course. This is to be landscaped in 2010 with levelling of the land and planting of trees until the next phase of the development becomes viable.

Area at end of sports facilites jardine 7 (Jardines original Foro). This is land deemed for public facilities as and when the resort expands and develops and will not be used for housing. It is to be ladscaped with grass & tree planting in 2010.

Area between Naranjo's blocks (Naranjo's original Foro). This is land deemed for public facilities as and when the resort expands and develops and will not be used for housing. It is to be ladscaped with grass & tree planting in 2010.

Just a mention on the entertainment side. First live music event in the bar on Friday night attracted a fairly healthy crowd inside and out with no crude, theiving interlopers spoiling it for the rest. The band played a few stints and put a good session in for sure. Pity about the bar running out of Vodka at about 9.00 p.m. for those who wanted it. Another example of the lack of buisness acumen was evident when we arrived on Thurs afternoon and headed straight to Clover for a bite to eat. Only one type of sandwich available or a microwaved bowl of pasta. Now we are of the mind that we will support the facilities and put some money across the bar, but come on Polaris - get your act together !!

Regards,

This message was last edited by Billbo on 08/10/2009.

This message was last edited by Billbo on 08/10/2009.

Bilbo, thats a great summary, and gives me optimism and confidence that the resort will be finished properly, albeit in a slow fashion. Roll on the landscaping of 2010. Thanks for the information, I think you have answered a lot of peoples unvoiced concerns. Cheers Onecall

Quality update Will, now what's Jackie's view ??

My ex-wife and new family are in my apartment at the moment and think the place and surrounding area is brilliant even in its partially finished state (CDA, not my apartment), so as she's not blinkered with the joys of ownership that's not a bad view, then again she married me, so perhaps not a good judge

billbo

do you have to be so negative and controversial, we only wanted a photograph

ant

Thanks Bilbo great summary, I for one want the clubhouse built as a priority, it just dosen't seem right having that great course without a centre peice to show it off.

Dan

You're right Dan, also when the Clubhouse is built it won't be as far for us poor people down the bottom end of Naranjos to walk when we want a drink and a bite to eat.

Cherrie

Thanks Billbo

Any news on the new restaurant at Al Kasar ?

1st October has come and gone !

I for one am happy for them to take their time in building a world class club house, rather than rushing and providing something second rate.  Until then a unit in Al Kasar, with the first hole opposite will work fine.

Oh come on, surely you don't think this is down to the convenience for me in Jardine 13!!!

Seriously, despite the negative Billbo, great update, i can't wait to get out in just over a weeks time and see everything for myself. I do hope that Jack is as actively involved as he has been through-out, if so can't see he will not be pushing for everything to get completed to the standards he would expect to compliment his name.

Ted

Thanks Bilbo for your write up. i agree with everything you said. We've had a flying visit to CdA measuring and so on - the previous weeks rain meant we decided to exended our stay elsewhere and then we took advantage of the upturn in the weather to visit and stay in Mazarron for a few days but we could at least check all was well . But I took time to have a wander around the resort and golf course. Much impressed with what I could see although I would agree things are still abit raggerdy around the edges. Also noted some lakes are quite full and others -zilch! Thought the Jardines were looking good, much greener- but thats all that rain. I hope they make the temporary club house as smart as possible although again I agree that the time frame seems abit tight on getting it ready. Maybe once those walls are sorted it will be all hands to the pump to get it ready. But as they must have to put wash room facilities in and changing area's as well as a small shop and bar area all done to a good standard- they do seem to be cutting it fine.

But all in all looking good and I was much happier with what I could see than on my last visit and there were quite alot of people about so it wasnt that it was quieter or much less populated- just better. I think we may have listened too much to a chap from Camposol who was visiting friends on CdA last visit.

(We'll be back there soon- managed to forstall the IKEA shopping till next time but dont think I can put it off forever.)

Sorry Ant'

Photo's don't come in that package - you have to pay more for that one because it comes complete with naked pool bathers  !

Waddle,

Restaurant date opening now delayed from 1st to 31st October at last count (missing out on the half-term trade potential). Would not be surprised to see this come forward again though as it looked fairly finished in there just waiting for furnishing to be moved in. Again though, no sign of any action during the 5 days we were there.

Regards,

HI Bilbo

I played hacienda del alhamo less than two weeks ago and i have to completely disagree with your comparisons, haccienda's waste land areas were in a very bad state when i played it with water channels sunken into it everywhere, it is also very close to the fairway that any sort of slightyly off line shot is going to end up in this waste land which will mean that any club you hit out will have scratches all over it,

Condado's waste areas are much further back from the fairways, so if you are in them you deserve to be in them, Also the tumble weeds have been cleared off all of the course aparts from the parts that should never see a golf ball, no problem it seperates the differant areas of the course, as for the areas around the course its still six weeks till opening a lot can happen, Put a bulldozer in there for a few days and its amazing what can be done.

As for the man hitting the first shot, that is the polaris pro from Hacienda Ricquelme, He has said the course is amazing without doubt the best of the lot, so i hope the glass is half full again like mine

Hi maverick,

No doubt about the course being the best of the bunch, or in fact the region once it is finished properly. Point about Hacienda was the general impression of tidiness, attractive bridges over water features etc. CDA has put lots of effort into getting the contours and playing surface right, we now just need surroundings to match. Certainly did not  spot huge mounds of spoil strewn here there and everywhere at Hacienda. As I emphasised in the post, signiture = special, so bring it on. To appreciate Condado now, you need to have blinkers on so you can only look straight ahead. Could you imagine a grand opening with TV cameras, press & the likes - the camera angles would have to very cleverly edited. That tumbleweed must have tumbled back on in there then since you were last there because it is certainly in areas where I might hit a golf ball !!  I agree with the comment about the bulldozers - but they need to put some OT in over the coming weeks. 

With the Polaris red wine in the supermarket still on offer at two bottles for two euros (It's not that bad for run-of -the-mill drinking actually), how can your glass be anything other than full to the brim !!

Regards,

And then drink the rest from the bottle,

I will admit a really bad snap hook might put you into the tumbles, but hey if you hit such a bad shot you deserve to be punished, I am living on the resort so i can see the work that is going on, and at least all of those 10 men were working on the cousre yesterday and nobody was working on the practice area, which in my opinion could be open now, we will have to drink half a bottle each and leave the glasses the way they are

mark

Hi Maverick / Bilbao,

Very interesting thread this.......I agree with comments from the both of you, but I do think Bilbao comments are correct about tidying the whole place up is a MUST for opening.  It looks like a building site in many key areas.  We are in Penthouse 9 which overlooks the 18th, so adjacent to where the clubhouse will eventually be.  Clearly that area will be rough looking for the next couple of years I guess, but they could define the permiter, maybe fence the area off, but up a bilboard of what the clubhouse will look like tec (like they did with the Foro.  If you were inviting the golf press etc, they surely want to show them how it's going to end up.  Areas next to many of the paths are actually  safety hazzards at the moment - the ground is that rough.......I know it is Spain but I doubt it will get a safety certificate in it's current guise.     That said, a lot can happen in 6 weeks - as we have seen on Condado throughout. 

Back in April I for one thought there was no chance of golf on Condado this year, but having been there 2 weeks ago - clearly the playing areas are now ready.   But lets get the whole place tidied up so at least we turn some of the imagination into reality.  H de A is signifacntly tidier than our place as you would expect.  The recent rain may have done some damage, but the are flower beds everywhere etc which just give it the important finishing touches.   

Driving Range could have open in the summer with a push from PW.......They missed a trick there, like the restaurany not being open for Half Term

Regards

Nick

Hi Nick,

Exactly the sort of thing that is required. Anyone who visited La Torre while the building of the hotel & town centre restaurants was ongoing will remember the the billboards with atractive murals painted on throughout. This, like you say, at least gives an impression of what is to come. Same principle could be applied to some of the key areas around the course where the view is just too unsightly to detract from the splendour of the course. Would you have thought they might have planned or done this already ??????

Regards,

Let's not forget...to generate the income Polaris need from this course, they need that PGA accreditation, not only that but as someone mentioned earlier , there is a certain gentleman who has put his name against said course. With this in mind, I have no doubt the course and facilities will be to the standard we want, and that of the PGA and Mr Nicklaus and his entourage expect  and demand. I for one have no doubt this will happen, and  it will be a fantastic course, possibly one of... if not the best in Spain!

For a course like this to be where it is presently in such a short space of time, in one of the most difficult financial climates ever seen, is unbelievable, and whilst they have their faults, Polaris must be congradulated in this instance.

Pot full to the brim....! Great feedback Bilbo...many thanks.

bravo city, full to the brim,

well said skell, billbo. mav

great to see a positive thread, and its all men

now thats controversial

jack,

will you be attending the opening ceremony?

would it be possible to set up a fourball when your out there, if so please PM me with date and time,

thanks a humbled ant

Come On Ant - Do you honestly think Jack Nicklaus would post on here

Check for forehead