Tiger Woods To Redesign Blaketree National In Houston

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Bluejack National, formerly Blaketree National Golf Club in Houston which was an early Coore/Crenshaw with a meddling developer that caused the architects to disassociate themselves with the project, will now be home to the first Tiger Woods redesign. This isn't a huge shocker since a photo has circulated on the internet for months showing Woods making a site visit, but for the sake of keeping someone employed, it will remained private (plus it's not that compelling).

For Immediate Release:

TIGER WOODS TO DESIGN NEW GOLF COURSE AT BLUEJACK NATIONAL

Scheduled to be the first Tiger Woods Design golf course to open in the U.S.
 
HOUSTON, Texas – Beacon Land Development announced today that PGA TOUR superstar Tiger Woods and his company, Tiger Woods Design, will design the 18-hole golf course at Bluejack National, a world-class private club and community currently under development in Montgomery, Texas near Houston. Construction of the golf course is expected to begin during the summer of 2014 with its completion slated for the fall of 2015. Bluejack National is scheduled to be the first golf course designed by Tiger Woods to open in the U.S.
 
Formerly the home of Blaketree National Golf Club, Bluejack National is set among 755 acres of gently rolling and beautifully wooded countryside dotted with natural lakes and streams. The original golf course was popular with Houston-area players; however, Bluejack National’s developers believe a completely new design is required to make the best use of the area’s spectacular terrain and natural view corridors. Tiger Woods, the world’s number-one-ranked player and winner of 14 major golf championships, was selected to design the new course following numerous conversations and site visits with Beacon Land Development.
 
“I’ve known Michael Abbott and other members of Beacon Land Development for many years. I have tremendous respect for their ability and their commitment to excellence, and I am proud to be a part of Bluejack National,” said Woods. “Bluejack National has one of the best natural settings for golf I have seen. With its changes in elevation, the beautiful pines and hardwoods, Bluejack National is reminiscent of the pinelands of Georgia and the Carolinas. The opportunity is here to create a golf course unlike any other in the Houston area, and our goal is for it to be among the best in the nation.”
 
“We are thrilled to have Tiger working with us to develop the golf course for Bluejack National,” said Michael Abbott, Partner, Beacon Land Development. “He spent a lot of time getting to know the property and understanding its potential. Throughout the process it became clear that his vision for the golf course perfectly aligned with ours, and he shared our passion for bringing it to life.”
 
Beacon Land Development is in partnership with Lantern Asset Management, a Dallas-based firm with a strong track record and experience in luxury resort and mixed-use residential communities. “I’m proud to be partnering with industry leaders such as Tiger Woods Design and Beacon Land Development to create something truly special on an exceptional piece of land,” said Andy Mitchell, President, Lantern Asset Management. “When you witness the passion this team brings to the creative process, it generates tremendous enthusiasm for the development of Bluejack National, and for the lifestyle it will provide to its future members and residents.”
 
Strategically, Woods said the golf course will require players to think and make decisions throughout their rounds. Successfully challenging hazards will reward players with preferred angles of play for their next shot. He said green contours will be kept simple to allow for fast speeds, and the areas around the greens will be maintained firm and tight to promote shot options and creativity from the chipping areas.
 
Yet despite its challenge for the accomplished player, Woods said the Bluejack National golf course will be very accessible to golfers at every skill level. “The turf will be maintained at a single height of fairway cut, the under growth will be cleared and the forest floor will be covered with pine straw, making it easy to find and play wayward shots,” Woods said.
 
In addition to the 18-hole golf course, Woods will design a Short Course for Bluejack National, providing a creative, high-quality alternative to the 18-hole golf experience. The Short Course will be expertly contoured and meticulously maintained, making it ideal for short-game practice. The exact routing will largely be left to the imagination of the players, giving friends, families and associates the opportunity to create their own challenges and games.  Adjacent to the Short Course will be The Porch, an inviting hangout for players before or after their rounds. The Porch will provide casual fare in a relaxed, elegant setting. A “speak-easy” style bar will serve signature cocktails and offer a fine selection of cigars. For overnight stays, The Porch also will feature comfortably appointed private Member Suites.
 
For those who wish to stay a little longer, Bluejack National will offer nearly 400 private residences with options ranging from member suites to cottages, Sunday homes and estate home sites. Corporate Compounds also will be available providing ideal facilities for retreats, outings, conferences and entertaining.
 
Bluejack National membership opportunities will be available by application and invitation only. In addition to golf, the club’s thoughtfully selected amenities will accentuate the beauty of the topography and further enhance the lives of residents and members by cultivating unique opportunities for outdoor recreation and adventure. These will include: “The Fort” – featuring , a bowling alley, movie theater, game room, pottery room and a classic American “burger joint;” as well as zip lines; a ropes course; archery range; sport courts and additional outdoor fun. The Blake Fishing Dock will provide everything members need to enjoy catching bass and other game fish from the club’s private, stocked fishing ponds. The club also will offer numerous dining options ranging from casual club fare and comfort foods to exceptional fine cuisine; and signature surprises such as a fresh fruit stand, gourmet coffee shop and more.
 
“Our goal is to create a truly distinctive environment where families and friends can reconnect, enjoy their time together and create lasting memories and traditions they’ll cherish for years to come,” said Casey Paulson, Partner, Beacon Land Development. “Michael and I have years of experience developing and delivering these types of experiences at some of the world’s most celebrated private clubs and resorts. At Bluejack National, we have the opportunity to build upon all of that know-how to deliver a lifestyle unlike any other to our members.”
 
In fact, Abbott and Paulson have a combined 50 years of experience in the private club and luxury resort industries. They built their reputations by creating new paradigms for service, member experience and lifestyle at are some of North America’s most distinguished private clubs and resorts, including:  Vaquero Club and Four Seasons Resort and Club, Las Colinas in Texas; Hideaway and Madison Club in California; Kukio and Four Seasons Hualalai in Hawaii; and El Dorado Golf & Beach Club and Diamante in Mexico.