Message From Ironwood, Cayman Islands

As we enter the fall season at Ironwood, we are beginning to see developments in the planning process of the road extension, town center and the Arnold Palmer golf course. As the journey to this fabulous development unwinds we will continue to keep you updated through this media house [iNews Cayman].

AP Design Team Visits Cayman

Ironwood recently welcomed back to the island, two key players in the development of the Cayman Golf Club at Ironwood on the eastern side of Grand Cayman. Thad Layton, Senior Golf Course Architect and Vice President at the Arnold Palmer Design Company (APOC) and Roy Saunders, Vice President of Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge spent a few days meeting with the Ironwood Team and members of the Cayman Islands Government to discuss plans for the development and the extension of the East West Arterial road.

“Our goals for the initial site visit in September were to analyse the property for the golf course. We were particularly interested in documenting the mature trees on site to be saved and incorporated into the design of the golf course. Also, we examined the characteristics of the soil and topography to insure we are properly equipped to sculpt the property into a dramatic landscape,” said Mr. Layton. “The easterly trade

winds also have to be taken into account for safety and for the golf course design strategy. Very hole changes direction and, again the wind is an issue. We have to make the ones into the wind not as long as the ones down wind because there’s a prevailing wind down there that’s always blowing; it’s just a matter of to what degree.”

Golf Course Details

The Cayman Golf Club will host a par 72 championship course design, which will include a beautiful club house, restaurant and a 20 acre comprehensive practice facility with a private teaching range and putting area. The golf course will be around 7,100 yards long with the capability of hosting a tour event in the future. However, it will be designed with all golfers in mind, including five different tee boxes and strategically placed bunkers to keep things challenging. Mr. Layton spoke about the APDC’s plans for this unique part of the course design: “The practice areas will allow golfers to work on every facet of their game in a spacious and relaxed setting. Every shot that you would encounter on the golf course can be simulated on the Ironwood practice facility.”

Palmer legacy

The Arnold Palmer Design Team is unique in the golfing industry as they spend large amounts of time on the site during their visits to review the construction process and to give valuable instruction that will result in a one-of-a-kind product.   As with any good design, the specific details of each hole will work themselves out during construction as the team creatively responds to the challenges and opportunities that exist at the Ironwood site. There will be special consideration given to the beautiful natural habitat of the area by designing around some of the indigenous trees and allowing for generous space between the houses and golf holes.

This will be Mr. Palmer’s first golf course in the Caribbean, bringing together his love for designing golf courses and bringing together people from all over the world. Other courses in the APDC’s portfolio include: Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge (Orlando, USA), Pebble Beach Golf Links (California, USA), Fazenda Boa Vista (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Panda Valley Golf Club (Dujiangyan. China), just to name a few.

Construction of the 18 hole course at Ironwood is scheduled to begin in Fall 2014 and should be complete by summer 2016.