RTJ II Golf Course Architects Continue To Grow The Game Globally

Exciting 2019 Debut in Vietnam; more on horizon in South America, Europe and USA

 

Capturing the spirit of the South China Sea shoreline, Robert Trent Jones II (RTJ II) Golf Course Architects has expanded its global golf footprint to Vietnam, with the much anticipated debut of an original course design at Hoiana Shores Golf Club headlining the company’s worldwide projects in 2019.

This fall’s opening of Hoiana Shores, along the historic coastal village of Hoi An in central Vietnam, follows the 2018 unveiling of RTJ II’s first original golf courses in Ireland and Argentina and will precede another first in Ecuador, scheduled to open in 2021.

“We are proud of our ability to introduce premier golf experiences to so many diverse cultures throughout the world,” said Chairman and Master Architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., whose portfolio extends to more than 40 countries on six continents. “The consistent high quality of our designs emanates from remaining a small, hands-on design team that knows no limit to innovation and creativity,” Jones said, “all inspired by the landscapes we encounter.”

RTJ II’s first course in Vietnam is a breathtaking dunescape along the ocean that features two beachfront holes steps from the crashing surf, as well as dramatic inland holes. The design features wide, contoured fairways that invite golfers to use “the ground game” as one of multiple playing strategies on an 18-hole routing that feels like a links experience in the tropics.

“Every tee shot plays out to the wide-open dunescape,” said Jones. “The dunes provide natural shapes and contours that will grab your attention.”

Also opening in the fall of this year, Costa Palmas Golf Course in Los Cabos, Mexico, which incorporates three distinct areas:  dunes, harbor and canyon golf experiences. RTJ II has partnered with Irongate and Four Seasons Costa Palmas on this pioneering project on the East Cape of Baja, integrating the golf course into the resort and residences. Visually stunning, the course combines coastal and dunes characteristics that provide links style challenges, while accommodating resort golf skill levels.

The RTJ II project in Ecuador, Guayaquil Golf Club, is being designed with the intent of hosting future PGA TOUR Latinoamerica championships. The long-established club’s new site is part of a large sporting club complex, with the original RTJ II design to embrace the river boundaries on property and reflect the tropical environment. Construction on the layout, which is to play to more than 7,300 yards from the championship tees, begins this summer. 

On the domestic front, this spring’s re-opening of Oxbow Country Club in Fargo, N.D., marks the completion of updates to nine existing holes – survivors of a government-mandated construction of a diversion dike on the property – designed to match nine completely new holes, all combined into a new routing of two nine-hole loops.

As for other RTJ II projects in the United States:

• In Vero Beach, Fla., RTJ II is “recapturing” a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. original design at Windsor, creating a master plan that includes installation of a modern infrastructure along with the restoration of the links-style layout that debuted in 1992.
• Similarly, in Naples, Fla., the original RTJ II design of Kensington Golf & Country Club is being recaptured, with a master plan that includes restoring the shapes of the greens, a tree management program, and new turf for the entire golf course, built in 1993.
• In Spokane, Wash., RTJ II continues its renovation work on the city’s four municipal courses, implementing turf reduction and tree-care management programs, bunker upgrades, and strategic moves of several greens and tees.
• At Oahu Country Club, the historic Honolulu course established in 1906, an ongoing project includes several redesigned greens complexes with new bunkering on a design credited to William Bell.

With close to 280 golf courses in play worldwide, RTJ II golf courses continue to host tournaments on every major golf tour – most notably the 2015 U.S. Open Championship at Chambers Bay and the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open Championship at CordeValle. Sentry World in Wisconsin will host the 2019 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.  RTJ II designs also have hosted special events such as the U.S. Amateur, World Cup of Golf, The Skins Game, The Grand Slam, NCAA Championships, and others.

“Our courses are always recognizable for their suitability to the landscape in which they are set, whether seaside, alpine, woodland, or desert,” said Bruce Charlton, RTJ II President and Chief Design Officer. “We design environmentally sound courses that deliver fun and creative golf challenges in world-class environments.”

For more about RTJ II courses, sustainable designs, water conservation, and world-class public golf, visit www.rtj2.com.

About Robert Trent Jones II

With headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects (RTJ II) is the preeminent golf design firm worldwide, having created more than 280 courses in over 40 countries on six continents. Trustees of a great tradition of golf course architecture, RTJ II is committed to working in harmony with nature to craft the best golf course on each unique site. The RTJ II design team has experience in every aspect of golf course development and the ability to provide support and expertise from conception through completion of any project. For additional information, visit the RTJ II website at www.rtj2.com or contact the firm at +1 650-475-0329 or info@rtj2.com.

Media Contact

Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations
908/963-6013
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com