Award-Winning Carter Morrish Design to Revamp 99 Bunkers with New Sand, Drainage
(COPPEROPOLIS, California) – Saddle Creek Resort – the gated, 900-acre Castle & Cooke community in the scenic California Foothills – announces that a major bunker enhancement project will commence in October on its award-winning Carter Moorish-designed golf course.
As part of the work at Saddle Creek – one of California’s 10-best courses according to Golfweek – 99 bunkers will be re-cored, new liners, sand and drainage will be installed. The course will remain open throughout the project. Disruption to play will be minimized by limiting construction to one hole at a time and, when feasible, one side of the hole. Completion of the first nine holes is slated for December with work on the back nine to begin in early 2006.
"Saddle Creek is an outstanding golf course, and by enhancing all greenside and fairway bunkers we ensure it will remain one of the best facilities in the state," says Al Martell, Vice President of Golf Properties for Castle & Cooke. "We appreciate the accolades and awards the course has received over the past nine years, but we are not content to rest on our laurels."
For the second consecutive year, Saddle Creek ranked among the Top-10 courses in California in Golfweek’s "America’s Best Courses 2005" ratings, appearing at No. 8 on the prestigious list and moving past the famed South Course at Torrey Pines – site of the 2008 U.S. Open Championship.
Saddle Creek was also included on Golfweek magazine’s Top-100 listing of "America’s Best Residential Golf Courses." The resort placed No. 39, ahead of esteemed residential courses Reynolds Plantation, PGA West, Isleworth, Hammock Dunes, Colleton River and others.
In its December 2004 issue, Fairways and Greens magazine rated Saddle Creek one of the top golf resorts in the Western U.S., citing its exquisite course conditions, top quality service, meticulous attention to detail, high-end residential opportunities and comfortable and convenient bungalows. Most recently, Saddle Creek was included in the 2006/07 ZAGAT listing of "America’s Top Golf Courses."
For more information about Saddle Creek Resort, please call 800-611-7722 or visit www.saddlecreek.com .
About Saddle Creek
Designed by Carter Moorish, the eight-year-old course is framed by the Sierra Mountains and challenges players of all levels with five sets of tees, more than 100 crystal white sand bunkers and handful of shimmering lakes. To create an atmosphere of tranquility and isolation, Morrish devised a routing in which no two holes run parallel to each other. Saddle Creek’s thoughtful design and sublime conditioning have led to numerous national accolades, such as being rated one of the top four semi-private courses in Northern California by Golf Today.
Saddle Creek’s diverse and award-winning real estate blends resort and residential atmospheres. Custom homesites start at $300,000 and residential opportunities range (home and lot) from the $600’s to over $1 million. Boasting views of small lakes and forested hills, these picturesque homes serve as countryside retreats and as the ideal escape from the San Francisco Bay Area, roughly two hours away.
Each neighborhood is carefully planned to complement the golf course, and architectural design guidelines ensure each home is unique and blends with the overall residential theme. New custom homes are available now to fulfill the dream of a sophisticated country life. Castle & Cooke will release Quail Creek’s custom homesites later this year, and Copper Glen Foothill Collection of Country Homes early 2006.
Residents and guests of Saddle Creek can also enjoy the beauty of the Quail trail with miles of hiking trails and mountain biking and nearby skiing, snowmobiling, and the nearby Lake Tulloch. Also of interest are the sports club, featuring a 3,000-square-foot facility offering yoga and aerobic classes, a large pool, kids’ wading pool and a Jacuzzi spa. The Saddle Creek Lodge features a fully-stocked bar and an extensive wine list, stunning vistas and the food of Executive Chef Richard Whipple at the acclaimed Copper Grille.
Castle & Cooke, in their goals of enhancing the overall communities where they have ongoing developments and operating facilities, are adding to the Saddle Creek Resort experience. Currently in development, the "town of Copper" will bring an exciting new dimension to Copperopolis with its traditional town square, specialty shops, boutique art galleries, restaurants and many other businesses and that complements a retail focused mixed use town that sets alongside a beautiful creek and lake.
Saddle Creek Resort, as well as Coyote Creek Golf Club outside of San Jose, is owned and operated by Castle & Cooke, Inc. that, along with its affiliated companies, has operations in over 24 states. The company’s diversified businesses include the development and ownership of real estate, leasing of transportation equipment, manufacture of brick and ownership of public warehouses. The company’s real estate developments include master planned communities such as Mililani Town on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, Lake Sherwood in Thousand Oaks, California, and Seven Oaks in Bakersfield, California. The company also owns two of the world’s highest-rated resorts on the 98% owned island of Lana’i in Hawaii.
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
803.547.2118
ssharp@billycaspergolf.com