Saint John’s Resort, metro Detroit, Michigan's leading resort, hotel and conference destination, opened its new Raymond Hearn-designed 18-hole championship course, The Cardinal, to the public on June 22.
In addition, the resort also debuted its Little Cardinal Par 3 short course, Cardinal Putting Course, and Doyle’s Irish Pub, which create the ultimate golf entertainment complex. The project is the region’s first high-end public golf development in over 20 years and part of a $50 million resort transformation that began in 2021 under the property’s ownership group, the nonprofit Pulte Family Charitable Foundation.
"We are very excited to be opening this new championship golf course, Par 3 course, and putting course," said Stan Witko, executive director of golf for Saint John’s Resort. "It has been over a year in the making, and everything has been meticulously maintained for the past six months. The course conditions are the best I have seen for a new course opening.
"This new championship golf course, combined with the short course and putting course, creates the perfect entertainment venue for golfers of all abilities, golf groups, and families to enjoy together. The facility serves as a foundation for building a passion for the game, offering a welcoming entry point into the world of golf. On top of that, 100 percent of the profits from the resort, including golf, goes to charity."
The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort stretches across 200 acres of rolling land. The original 27 holes were removed entirely to create the new golf course. The Cardinal presents an original experience with no two holes looking or playing alike, having been routed in all directions to factor in elevation, wind, terrain, and scenic beauty for optimal strategic shot values. The course also takes full advantage of the flow of the land and the 100-year-old trees that were saved during the project and now frame many of the holes. Several holes also feature classic Golden Age green contours and bunkering.
"The land was a perfect setting for me to draw on my inspiration from previous Donald Ross, Tom Bendelow and Willie Park Jr. projects and one of my favorite courses, the Old Course at Sunningdale by Willie Park Jr., which I implemented on both the championship course and the short course," Hearn said. "Our goal was to create a fun golf experience. I believe we have achieved that, and then some, with this project."
The Little Cardinal and Cardinal Putting Course is the region’s first-of-its-kind seven-hole short course and two-acre putting course. Saint John’s Resort joins top golf destinations like Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst, Streamsong and Sand Valley, which offer these exciting golfing amenities.
Also designed by Hearn, the Little Cardinal course is set among 7.5 acres of rolling hills in a parkland setting, giving golfers a variety of fun, short shots into some inspired green complexes. The holes, ranging from 44 to 112 yards with names like Punchbowl, Volcano and Postage, provide a unique experience for all ages and abilities. To make the game easier for golfers, the course has incorporated innovative synthetic turf tee boxes with a shock-absorbing rubber foundation replicating natural grass tees and providing a more forgiving surface to hit shots.
The Cardinal Putting Course is a two-acre 18-hole putting course packed with endless fun and challenge. The course, which was inspired by the Himalayas Putting Course at St. Andrews in Scotland, features a variety of exciting humps and swales, although not as extreme as the original. The 18 holes can be set up in four different versions. This fun golf gathering space includes food and beverage, built-in music, and scheduled live music events.
“These exciting golf attractions provide a relaxed environment focused on fun and offering a less intimidating introduction to the game, encouraging newcomers to want to participate, learn, and improve,” Witko said.
BRIAN CURLEY HAVING A RED SEA MOMENT
Developer Red Sea Global revealed details in early May of its new Shura Links project on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Architect Brian Curley of Curley-Wagner Design has begun work on the course, which sits on Red Sea Island, which is connected to the mainland via a two-mile causeway. Shura Links promises a one-of-a-kind experience, offering Saudi Arabia’s first 18-hole island golf course with holes on the water, marina views and fairways framed by the Red Sea.
Red Sea Global, wholly owned by PIF, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, developed the course in partnership with leading environmental consultants. Shura Links is guided by the highest sustainability standards, addressing a number of items in tandem such as water-use reduction and innovative re-use of irrigation for habitat development.
“Shura Links will provide an unparalleled golfing experience, offering a visually stunning, natural course right here on the Red Sea,” said John Pagano, group CEO of RSG. “As ever, it’s not enough for us to provide spectacular experiences and world-class playing conditions. We are committed to ensuring Shura Links aligns with our ambition to set new sustainability standards. From innovative turf management and careful foliar feeding, we’re putting respect for nature above everything else.”
Work has already begun on grassing the fairways.
“There are very few places in the world that can offer year-round sunshine, stunning vermillion sunsets and a wonderfully natural design,” said Curley. “Shura has it all. We expect everyone from professionals to beginners to be drawn to this unique course and have designed it accordingly. There’s plenty to challenge the world’s best, while stirring the senses of amateurs looking for the greatest playing experience.”
The par-72 Shura Links course tops out at a championship length of 7,500 yards but offers multiple tees and experiences at each hole. Every hole has been designed to provide maximum variety, playability and memorability. Holes 4 through 7 hug the coastline, while holes 14 through 18 provide a crescendo finish with each enjoying a backdrop of open sea or channel views. The 18th finishes below the iconic clubhouse.
RSG is working with the OnCourse platform to ensure sustainability is at the heart of Shura Links. Water consumption is reduced through the careful selection of turf grass and soil sensors to understand moisture levels and minimize water use. It is also using the innovative POGO turf management system to measure key variables that influence growth and performance, including salinity, temperature and weather, helping to inform decision making and irrigation efficiency.
The course also uses foliar feeding incorporating natural nutrients like seaweed to ensure a precision approach that maximizes nutrient uptake while mitigating against nutrient runoff, and maintains the quality of turfgrass and playing surfaces.
Of the 346-acre site, just 20 percent is maintained turf. The designers purposely developed a natural golf course, using irregular turf lines and transitional bunkering with outside edges that blend into the natural dunescapes.
On top of this, RSG is developing a Habitat Development and Protection Plan that will explore ways to encourage the island’s wildlife to thrive. This includes research into whether the course’s irrigation system can be used to accelerate mangrove growth around the course.
Golf Saudi has been awarded a contract to manage the golf course and operations. The 18-hole championship course will be accessible to all 11 hotels on Shura Island, as well as guests staying at other resorts at The Red Sea. A second course is in the works as part of subsequent phases of the destination’s development and is part of Saudi’s ambition to become the world’s next golf destination.
In 2023, The Red Sea welcomed its first guests, with three of its hotels now open. The Red Sea International Airport (RSI) has been receiving a regular schedule of domestic flights since September 2023 and international flights began in 2024, marking the start of a new twice-weekly route between The Red Sea and Dubai International. Desert Rock and Shebara will welcome their first guests later this year, while Shura Island is on track to welcome guests in 2025.
GROUND BREAKS ON CROWN COLONY
In early April, architects Trey Kemp and John Colligan broke ground on the renovation of Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin, Texas. Long regarded as one of the top private clubs in eastern Texas, Crown Colony opened in 1979 as a Bruce Devlin/Robert Von Hagge design. Today Crown Colony accommodates outside play via stay-and-play packages.
“The course has been kept in great shape over the years,” said Kemp, “but the greens have gotten smaller, the bunkers have lost their original shapes and the time has come for many of the components to be updated.”
Green expansion and bunker rebuilds will be the primary focus of the project, which will be accomplished in tandem with Sanders Golf Course Construction. The team will also refurbish tees, enhance drainage, trim trees and fix bridges.
“The renovation will address aesthetics, playability and maintenance elements of the course in an effort to take it back to its original grandeur,” said Colligan. “Trey and I are very honored to have this opportunity to restore such a great piece of Texas golf history.”
Crown Colony is expected to reopen in October 2024.
