The Latest in Luxury Resort & Real Estate News

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Christophe Harbour's Golf and Yacht Community Takes Shape on St. Kitts

(CHRISTOPHE HARBOUR, ST. KITTS) -- Affluent individuals are continuing to seek vacation home and investment opportunities in the Caribbean.  The market is driven by new resort developments, proximity to the United States, increased direct air service from North America and Europe, rising local economies, improved infrastructure and greater political stability in the region.  On the largely undiscovered island of St. Kitts, these factors, combined with the development of a  compelling new resort-style community, have created an exciting new opportunity in luxury real estate:  Christophe Harbour.

Christophe Harbour is located on 2,500 acres on the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts, dividing the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.  Boasting views of six pristine beaches, the master-planned luxury resort community will feature close to 1,400 homes, from oceanfront and hillside homesites to villas and hotel residences, which will be situated throughout the property's diverse tropical landscape.  

The resort's debut residential property offering consists of homesites located on Sandy Bank Bay, a beautiful cove on the Atlantic side of the peninsula.  Sandy Bank Bay is set along a dramatic horseshoe bay with two reefs and a natural sand bank more than 100 yards long.  A marine sanctuary, the bay will remain free of boat moorings so that sea life can flourish, and wide Atlantic views are protected.  

The bay is perfect for snorkeling, reef fishing, and swimming and will include a beach club, spa, pools, dining and hiking trails just steps away.  Most Sandy Bank Bay homes and estates will be within a short bicycle ride to Christophe Harbour's mega-yacht marina, and the must-play Tom Fazio golf course.  From select homesites, there will be dramatic views across the central to the fairways of Priddies Plateau and beyond.  Sandy Bank Bay homesites are priced from $480,000 to $2,700,000.   

According to a representative for the development team, Kiawah Development Partners, 39 lots were already sold, three years before the development is scheduled to officially open. Meanwhile, the development team just announced a small collection of built bungalows - 14 total - that will be situated on Sandy Bank Bay. These bungalows will be priced around $1 million each.

The resort's private-club offering, the Christophe Harbour Club, will have multiple venues where members, their families and guests may relax, play and socialize while enjoying golf, yachting, tennis, distinctive cuisine, and other recreational and health facilities and services.  Club memberships will be available to all Christophe Harbour property owners, as well as a limited number of non-property owners who are approved for membership.  

In addition to its luxury real-estate and private-club offerings, Christophe Harbour will feature a full-service, world-class mega-yacht harbor and marina village, a Fazio-designed championship golf course, Mandarin Oriental, St. Kitts, hotel and other five-star hotel operations, restaurants and shopping.

The marina will house some of the world's largest yachts, with slips available to accommodate vessels greater than 300 feet.  Yacht owners can purchase marina slips and/or harborside homes and homesites.  The marina will consist of approximately 300 acres of water surface, an elegant yacht club, and state-of-the-art facilities and services for all vessels.  

Christophe Harbour is the first Caribbean venture of South Carolina-based Kiawah Development Partners (KDP), the master developer of Kiawah Island in South Carolina and Doonbeg Golf Club in Ireland.  KDP is managing Christophe Harbour Development Company, Limited (CHDC), master development company for the resort.

The St. Kitts government, The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, is working closely with the CHDC development team to ensure the success of the project and the preservation of St. Kitts' unsurpassed natural resources as well as the shoreline, waters and coral reefs that surround the island.  

"Christophe Harbour encompasses an assortment of luxury destinations within one resort," says LeGrand Elebash, chief operating officer, Christophe Harbour.  "This is a project like no other.  It offers dramatic natural surroundings and a multitude of recreational opportunities - world-class golf, sailing, water sports; plus the amenities of the world's finest hotels and spas.  Our clients are purchasing a luxurious lifestyle on an island that is stunningly beautiful and unspoiled, just a few hours from many American cities."

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Pop Star Justin Timberlake Opens New Eco-Friendly Golf Course

(MEMPHIS, TN) -- Pop music star Justin Timberlake is now singing the praises of the golf  course development business. Timberlake is most excited about Mirimichi, the Memphis-area course he recently opened after embarking on major course renovations. Timberlake officially unveiled his par-72 course July 24 amidst much fanfare.

Mirimichi, which means "place of happy retreat," is a challenging 7,400 yards from the tips, but provides five to seven different tee boxes on each hole to appeal to golfers of all abilities. Rolling mounds, lush fairways, beautiful landscaping, four waterfalls, six lakes and two meandering streams make this golfing oasis a place where people and nature co-exist in harmony.

Formerly known as Big Creek Golf Course and located north of downtown Memphis, every aspect of the course has been renovated. No hole is the same as it was before the renovations -- even the majority of the greens have been enlarged, moved, or re-contoured.

The renovations were carried out by Mike MacElhose and Randy Wilson of Talent Golf.

Talent Golf used the careful placement of tees, natural topography, length, width, wind direction, hazard placement, and contouring to create a unique course design that provides golfers with a true test of their golfing abilities, while enhancing the beauty of their surroundings. More than 80 bunkers and 1,200 azaleas were added to the course.

"When we started the renovation process we soon realized we had the opportunity to make something really special at this course," said Greg King, Director of Golf at Mirimichi. "People who used to play Big Creek will not recognize the course. Not only does this course set the bar extremely high from a golfing experience, but it is leading the way in ecological sustainability."

Mirimichi is the first golf course in the country to be designated a Certified Audubon International Classic Sanctuary. As part of the Classic Program, Mirimichi implemented sustainable resource management principles that incorporate wildlife conservation, habitat rehabilitation and enhancement, water conservation and water quality protection. The Audubon International certification requires a yearly audit to ensure that Mirimichi continues to implement these natural resource management principles. All Mirimichi employees are thoroughly trained in environmental stewardship.

Among Mirimichi's world-class practice facilities are a driving range, 18-hole putting course, and a short-game area including practice bunkers and a practice putting green. An additional nine-hole, par-35 course called Little Mirimichi which will open in the fall, offering a faster, easier and shorter golfing experience that allows both the inexperienced and advanced golfer to hone their skills. In addition to the extensive practice facilities, in 2010, Mirimichi will open a Callaway Performance Center offering customized club fitting using the Callaway Performance Analysis System. The Center will be one of only nine in the country.

Timberlake and his family bought the property in 2007 to save the land from residential development. Timberlake's fellow co-founders are Lynn and Paul Harless.

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