BajaNomad - Looks like Baja (Loreto) is getting a new golf course

Looks like Baja (Loreto) is getting a new golf course

MexicoTed - 2-25-2013 at 01:07 PM

Spectacular Views of Sea of Cortez from Every Hole, First Nine Holes to Open in Fall 2014; Residential Lots to Go on Sale Next Year

LORETO, Mexico, Feb. 25, 2013 — /PRNewswire/ -- Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto, the newest member of Villa Group Resorts and Baja's first "million-star" resort, today announced plans for a spectacular new 18-hole golf course, as well as a 240-home residential community. The course, which will be designed by the famed golf course architects at Rees Jones Golf Course Design, Inc., will open its first nine holes to the public in the fall of 2014. Residential lots will go on sale next year, as well.

Groundbreaking for the golf course, which is adjacent to the resort, will begin in June 2013. The property's natural incline will be maximized in the course design so that every hole will offer magnificent views of both Danzante Bay and the Sea of Cortez to the East, as well as the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range to the West.

"When I first saw the land where we are building this golf course, I was stunned by the amazing beauty of both the mountains and water that surround it," said Owen Perry, owner and president of Villa Group. "Sunrise each day gives the mountains a brownish hue and when the sun sets at night, they turned a vibrant red. And the views of the bay are without question some of the best I've ever seen. We're literally carving this golf course into this incredible setting while maintaining all of its natural beauty, and we can't wait to for it to be done so our guests can enjoy it, too."

Golf is one of the most popular activities for guests at Villa Group properties throughout Mexico and bringing this level of golf to Loreto has always been part of the Master Plan for the resort.

The other significant part of the Master Plan that will accompany the development of the golf course is the sale of 240 home sites near the property. Residential lots will go on sale in 2014 and home building will be able to begin shortly thereafter. The home sites will offer the same great sea-to-mountain views as available at Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto and will make perfect year-round or vacation homes for their owners.

Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto provides unique beauty, authentic culture, and access to truly unparalleled sporting opportunities, including deep sea fishing, snorkeling, hiking, fishing, diving, mountain biking, and, soon, golf.

The Islands of Loreto, located on the east coast of the Baja California Peninsula on the Sea of Cortez, is known for its quiet beaches, scenic vistas, rich history and astounding natural habitats. The region caters to adventurous travelers, as well as people looking for a getaway where they can enjoy the beauty and authentic culture of the region without the commotion of heavily-trafficked Mexican destinations. The destination is fast becoming an alternative for travelers looking for a slower pace with all the options and amenities they have come to expect from a vacation in Mexico.<

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/02/25/4645085/villa-del-pal...

mtgoat666 - 2-25-2013 at 01:32 PM

...I will never understand why anyone would ruin their vacation by playing golf!

sure is exciting that the resort will have "authentic culture." is that mexican, canadian, gringo or euro culture? :lol:

Where exactly..

neilm81301 - 2-25-2013 at 01:55 PM

One of the ads said it was '40 min' south of Loreto - would that put it around Ligui?

Neil

David K - 2-25-2013 at 02:11 PM

I think this is the Ensenada Blanca resort (just south of Ligui)...?

EDIT: YUP!: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=50182

[Edited on 2-25-2013 by David K]

J.P. - 2-25-2013 at 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
...I will never understand why anyone would ruin their vacation by playing golf!

sure is exciting that the resort will have "authentic culture." is that mexican, canadian, gringo or euro culture? :lol:

My neghibor here in Ensenada late father inlaw loved to play the course in loreto. He flew down from Missouri ever chance he got.

ElCap - 2-25-2013 at 02:58 PM

"We're literally carving this golf course into this incredible setting while maintaining all of its natural beauty . . . ".

Acres of turf is the natural beauty of Baja?

Yeah right :no:

[Edited on 2-25-2013 by ElCap]

monoloco - 2-25-2013 at 03:08 PM

Just what they need, another failed development with a deserted golf course. I swear these things are all just scams to get investors to put up money for developers to pilfer. Whoever conceived of this has to be aware of the track record of these kinds of projects in the area, anyone dumb enough to invest in this deserves whatever they get.

DENNIS - 2-25-2013 at 03:09 PM

"Tiger Woods." Just keep saying that, over and over, and it will go away.

Skipjack Joe - 2-25-2013 at 03:11 PM

"When I first saw the land where we are building this golf course, I was stunned by the amazing beauty of both the mountains and water that surround it," said Owen Perry, owner and president of Villa Group.

Hah. He was stunned by a vision of green cash.

DC61 - 2-25-2013 at 03:27 PM

Don't they have enough issues trying to keep up with the demand for fresh water in Loreto? This will sure help!

David K - 2-25-2013 at 03:35 PM

Speaking of golf course resorts, anyone hear anything new on Diamante del Mar? This was the big project that was going in near El Rosario, and they even built a concrete runway on the mesa for the corporate jet. They had an opportunity to develop the same in Cabo San Lucas, so they decided they would build that one first which had lots of infrastructure available and use what they learned in Cabo to develop El Rosario. In the meantime, the investors (mostly sports professionals tried to take the developer [Ken Jowdy] to court, but that was tossed out).

http://www.diamantecabosanlucas.com/
http://www.kenjowdy.com/
http://www.ksicapital.com/lending_Study.php?ID=19

In 2006, about the El Rosario project:

The parcel of land itself has an interesting history, according to Najam. It was once ejido land ('common land'), which was agricultural land expropriated by the government from large private holdings and redistributed to citizens for private use, such as communal farms. The land is owned by the government, and the ejido is financed by a special national bank which supplies the necessary capital for reclamation, improvement, initial seeding, and so forth. Diamante Del Mar was able to acquire this land through negotiations with the Mexican government, and currently owns 8,065 acres, with options and plans to eventually own a 10,000-acre parcel.

Bill Najam is relieved to be going forward with Diamante Del Mar's golfing utopia, and very happy indeed to have found KSI. It was a pleasure doing business with the Haskells, said Najam. Henry, Dan, and David were great all the way through. Our personal relationship was nothing but positive. Whatever they said they would do, they did. Now we can proceed with our plans to build a golf resort that will be in the Top Ten in the world, and be every bit as dramatic as Pebble Beach -- only it'll be in Baja.

On Fox Business, 2009: http://www.foxbusiness.com/search-results/m/23127657/nhl-pla... (the runway described is the El Rosario mesa strip)

[Edited on 2-25-2013 by David K]

Cypress - 2-25-2013 at 03:48 PM

If all the land and water that is wasted on golf courses would be converted to agriculture/food production? Oops! Just a thought.

elizabeth - 2-25-2013 at 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MexicoTed
Spectacular Views of Sea of Cortez from Every Hole, First Nine Holes to Open in Fall 2014; Residential Lots to Go on Sale Next Year

LORETO, Mexico, Feb. 25, 2013 — /PRNewswire/ -- Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto, the newest member of Villa Group Resorts and Baja's first "million-star" resort, today announced plans for a spectacular new 18-hole golf course, as well as a 240-home residential community.

....

"When I first saw the land where we are building this golf course, I was stunned by the amazing beauty of both the mountains and water that surround it," said Owen Perry, owner and president of Villa Group. "...We're literally carving this golf course into this incredible setting while maintaining all of its natural beauty, and we can't wait to for it to be done so our guests can enjoy it

So wrong on so many levels...where to even start?

A 240 home residential community...where are the buyers for a location that truly is beautiful, but triple digits hot in the summer, cold and windy in the winter...40 minutes from a grocery store or the Sunday market...or restaurants that don't have you held captive. It doesn't seem that there is a huge market for the houses already existing in Loreto and the Loreto Bay development. Where to find 240 more buyers?

So stunned by the amazing beauty that all he could see was filling it with houses and carving it out to fill with non native grass that will need watering from an aquifer already strained and being depleted so people can play golf. How many courses does the area need?

Ensenada Blanca was truly a stunningly beautiful bay...

Bielefeld - 2-25-2013 at 05:31 PM

I just checked the Villas del Palmar out in Ensenada Blanca:
185 rooms and nearly empty. Talked to some guests: they say there are about 30 people staying with about 15 rooms occupied. And some waiter I know said thats this is average with the exeption of christmas time.
And now they want to build another 100 rooms plus 240 houses and a golfcourse????

THAT IS REDICULUS!!!

Model of the new hotel and golfcourse

Bielefeld - 2-25-2013 at 05:37 PM

100_0689.JPG - 43kB

another picture

Bielefeld - 2-25-2013 at 05:45 PM

100_0690.JPG - 49kB

and another

Bielefeld - 2-25-2013 at 05:47 PM

100_0691.JPG - 47kB

mtgoat666 - 2-25-2013 at 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by monoloco
Just what they need, another failed development with a deserted golf course. I swear these things are all just scams to get investors to put up money for developers to pilfer. Whoever conceived of this has to be aware of the track record of these kinds of projects in the area, anyone dumb enough to invest in this deserves whatever they get.

interesting reviews on tripadvisor. sounds like the resort is keeping most customers happy despite experiencing (struggling with) low occupancy (and that seems positive, eh?)... mono: probably not a scam,...

monoloco - 2-25-2013 at 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

15 rooms out of 185 occupied? Now there's a business model. I wonder if it's too late to invest? :lol:

Loretana - 2-25-2013 at 07:07 PM

Quote:

15 rooms out of 185 occupied? Now there's a business model. I wonder if it's too late to invest? :lol:

The Spaniards who own The Villa Group have deep pockets. They have sucessful time share properties all over the world, and in spite of the fact that "Villas de Loreto" will probably never turn a profit, they just keep pouring money into this property.

But the venue and the surrounding area are just gorgeous!

mtgoat666 - 2-25-2013 at 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by monoloco

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

15 rooms out of 185 occupied? Now there's a business model. I wonder if it's too late to invest? :lol:

Well, looks like pretty place, you should visit while its not crowded, eh?

ligui - 2-26-2013 at 07:28 AM

My neighbors :fire:

This'll be fun ligui

Hook - 2-26-2013 at 07:40 AM

How close are you? Maybe you will soon be selling a fairway view house???? :biggrin:

ligui - 2-26-2013 at 08:04 AM

1/2 mile away from the edge of their property . Big hill between us , can't see them at all . And diff. beach so we'll hang in there .

It's going to take them some time ...