Champions Tour will hold $2 million event in Dominican Republic

The PGA TOUR's Champions Tour and Cap Cana announced that the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Punta Espada Golf Club in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic will be the site of a new Champions Tour event next spring.

The agreement was signed on May 25, 2007 by Cap Cana's Board of Directors President, Dr. Ricardo Hazoury and Champions Tour Senior Vice President Mike Stevens in the presence of Jack Nicklaus at Nicklaus Design headquarters in North Palm Beach, Fla.

The Cap Cana tournament will be played March 31-April 6, 2008.

The 54-hole stroke-play tournament will feature a 78-player field and official prize money of $2 million, with the winner collecting $300,000. GOLF CHANNEL will broadcast all three rounds in the United States and coverage of the event will be distributed internationally.

"The Cap Cana will be a prestigious addition to our 2008 schedule," said Champions Tour President Rick George. "The pristine setting combined with the Jack Nicklaus design of the Punta Espada Golf Club and resources and amenities of the Cap Cana Resort will immediately establish The Cap Cana as a premier event on the Champions Tour."

Punta Espada Golf Club, the first of three Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses slated to open in Cap Cana, is operated by Troon Golf and opened for play in November 2006. The par-72 course incorporates the surrounding natural beauty of Cap Cana, stretching along a coastline where golfers on each hole look out into the blue expanse of the Caribbean Sea.

"We are very proud to be selected for the PGA TOUR's Champions Tour in 2008," said Dr. Ricardo Hazoury, President of Cap Cana's Board of Directors. "The design of our course at Punta Espada incorporates the natural characteristics of this unique environment of Cap Cana and has been well conceived for this level of play. As a golf destination, we are committed to a successful event. We will continue as a country to position ourselves in the world as a special place to enjoy the sport of golf and to celebrate this kind of professional tournament,"

"We are excited to be a new addition to the Champions Tour in 2008," said Sam Logan, Manager of Operations from Troon Golf assigned to the Punta Espada Golf Club. "Cap Cana has become well-known for excellent conditions and spectacular views, which make it an ideal location for touring professionals and spectators alike. It is a compliment to Cap Cana, Nicklaus Design and Troon Golf that just a few months after opening, Punta Espada debuted at No. 77 in Golf Digest's ranking of the 100 Best Courses Outside the U.S."

The complete 2008 Champions Tour schedule will be announced on June 25 at the annual Champions Tour National Media Conference following the Bank of America Championship in Boston, MA.

Eloise, the Penthouse and The Billionaire

I had a call this weekend from a multi-billionaire, one of Forbes richest men in the world, who was referred to me by a mutual friend and business acquaintance. Since I have a combination of hotel sales, a New York State Real Estate Salesperson's License, and my husband was once the Director of Sales and Marketing at The Plaza, I felt equal to the challenge of offering assistance.

The gentleman in question was in New York on business from Australia and happened by the Plaza Condominium development, formerly the Plaza Hotel, sad shell that it is now. His wife thought it would be nice to have an apartment near their friends who own a penthouse in the Sherry Netherlands across the street. Just in case they wanted to borrow a cup of sugar, I suppose.

This Australian gentleman is trying to decide between an apartment that is being offered at $6.5 million and one for $14.5 million. The difference is the bedrooms and library of the former are not facing the expensive forest of Central Park South. He is the most down to earth billionaire I have ever spoken with, though I admit not many call my 800 number on a regular basis. He said that, fortunately, he could afford the more expensive apartment. He just didn't want to feel foolish by overpaying at $6000 a square foot for his pied a terre. He will only be here a couple of weeks a year, after all. So, what did I think?

I assured him that there is no negotiation on prices at the Plaza condominium hotel. I also told him there are plenty of people from Dubai who are buying up those apartments on spec, since oil money is plentiful and the dollar is a real bargain. In any case, I assured him that the treeless views from the bedrooms in the back of the Plaza would allow quiet sleep, not assured from Central Park South. (I know this because our more humble apartment and office is, indeed, on the 16th floor overlooking Central Park South and all our rooms have views. Even our bathroom has a window, which our male guests do feel self-conscious about when using this spectacular windowed facility). But that is a whole other blog called "Ego."

So, when is enough, enough? When a triplex penthouse at the former Plaza Hotel sold this week for $56 million, you might think that would put a cap on New York City's euphoric rise in real estate mania. But trust me, this is just the beginning.

A year ago, would anyone have believed your "Home Sweet Home" could go for $6,100 a square foot? Are the trees in Central Park more stately, greener or more valuable because they are occupying space where high rises should be, and so command such an exorbitant price for respectfully gazing upon them?

The triplex is the line drawn in the sand. Or in this case, in the park dirt. Nothing is too expensive. Not even the penthouse that is now listed at the Pierre with sixteen rooms and at a pricetag of $70 million. The Australian gentleman is evaluating both Plaza apartments, though his wife is adamant about having her bed overlooking all that park greenery. They are flying back today to Melbourne on their private plane. I am waiting to hear what their decision will be, but just out of curiosity, since I wasn't the broker, alas. Personally, I think they would be much better off in a regular New York building, with more hedge fund people and fewer oil wells.

On the other hand, I am also left with a vague feeling that either a)I am not working hard enough, or else I could move down the block and swan about with all that oil-moneyed crowd and perhaps the one really nice billionaire Australian couple who speak English, or b)that our own apartment/office here at 240 Central Park South is one nifty place to live and work at a fraction of the cost of the foreign frenzy. And my husband, Terry Rufer, and I are native New Yorkers. That counts for something, even if we are from the Bronx and Staten Island respectively.

Either way, I wonder about Eloise, the former literary symbol of the days of the classic Plaza Hotel. The little girl was known to dart mischievously around the hotel halls in her reckless and charming youth. I wonder what Eloise would think of all this real estate frenzy. But mostly I wonder if she had a back bedroom...

Tucker's Point Hotel & Spa - Opening July 2008

I am thrilled to share with you an update on Tucker's Point Hotel & Spa, which is coming to Bermuda as a long awaited breath of fresh air for this pastel perfect island. Estimated opening date is July 18, 2008.

Happily, I will be involved in assisting Tucker's Point with bringing them Board of Directors' meetings, corporate retreats, think-tanks and discerning incentive groups looking for an exquisite new upscale boutique resort. So this is where you come in with your group...the hotel will have 88 rooms, with a minimum of 520 square feet (50% of the 20 suites--ranging from 1,200 to 1,650 square feet--have fireplaces). All rooms have a large balcony; all have water views.

The 18 hole championship golf course is open and has now surpassed Mid Ocean for its impressive play, according to all my informed sources in Bermuda who have played both courses. A spa? Of course! Meeting space? Very definitely. Isn't that refreshing? They actually want your group business! Get the picture?...This is a resort for those groups that do not belong in a big group hotel, or who are looking for a boutique hotel which can pamper one group at a time and where you don't have to compromise your needs. Space will be limited, however, by the sheer demand for this property. We are already seeing that happen.

If you are thinking ahead, terrific! If you are looking for anytime after the summer opening 2008, then please give me a call at (800)255-GAIL (4245) or send me an answer on this blog, or e-mail me at gail@gailflannigan.com, if you have not already checked with Ann Walker for availability.

In any case, give me a call...send me an e-mail...and I'll send you the fact sheet. Very simple, and very wise, indeed. More to come on Tucker's Point in a future blog. I just wanted you to know for now that Bermuda is not your father and mother's honeymoon destination anymore...there are exciting things happening all over the island. This is just going to be a stunning new hotel that I wanted to share with you.

All the best,
Gail

Upcoming Fishing Tournaments at Sanctuary Cap Cana:


The Cap Cana Classic
June 1 - 8, 2007
White Marlin


The Punta Espada Tournament
July 20 - 27, 2007
Blue Marlin

Celebrities attend Cap Cana Marina Inauguration

Children of billionaire Donald Trump, the singer Julio Iglesias and designer Oscar de la Renta were among the stars who gathered in Cap Cana to inaugurate the luxury marina on Saturday, April 28th, 2007.

Described as the "most complete and modern marina in the Caribbean," organizers said that the facility will, once finished, be able to accomodate 1,000 yachts as well as mega-yachts.

At the festivities on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic were Eric and Ivanka Trump, whose father is one of the investors in the complex, rubbed shoulders with 3,000 guests including Iglesias, Dominican born de le Renta and dancer Mikhail Barishnikhov.

The inaugural bash also featured appearances by President Leonel Fernandez, Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra, the Santo Domingo Philharmonic and performers from Canada's Cirque de Soleil.

The complex is to stretch to over 46 square miles and cost a total of two billion dollars.

It will include three golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus as well as four luxury hotels, a shopping center and a Venice-like canal featuring seaview villas.

Article Source: dominicantoday.com