The original golf course layout (founded by the Baron Rothschild's family)
dates back to 1961 but was in need of total renovation. The course served the golfers of Israel and visiting golfers for almost 50 years and hosted over 50,000 rounds of golf per year.
“We are pleased to be able to open the new Caesarea Golf Club course, designed by the famous United States architect, Pete Dye”, stated Galit polonski', the Club Manager. “This golf course is an asset for the Caesarea community and the entire State of Israel. Our Caesarea homeowners, Caesarea Golf Club Members and Business Park partners have all been looking forward to this day.”
Pete Dye was selected as the course designer at the end of 2006. His entry into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2008 confirmed his undoubted status as one of the leading designers in golf. Whereas he hadn’t created a new course in the European basin since the 1980’s, Caesarea was strongly meaningful to Pete Dye who was enthused by the welcome he received during his first week-long site visit to Caesarea in early 2008.
The Dye design is spectacular, spacious and welcoming. Strategy on this links style design plays a major role in scoring well. Dye wished to show his mastery of all types of course designs and demonstrate that he is equally at home in creating user-friendly and more subtle challenges than those with which he synonymous.
“I normally design golf courses for a client but as this is Israel’s only 18 hole golf course, I have designed this course for an entire country!”, stated Pete Dye on his site visit to Caesarea in 2008.
The course will be 7,163 yards ( 6,512 metres) long off the tips but can be played from four sets of tees all the way up to a more welcoming 5,266 yards ( 4,787 metres). Whereas the 1961 course had no water features, the Dye course has two holes where water comes into play. Another factor which will add greatly to the pleasure of playing the course will be that the variety of grass has been changed from a hostile kikuyu to a far friendlier and less water consuming paspalum which permits the links style of golf to be playable, the ball responding to the humps and hollows on its way to the flag. Although friendlier than most Pete Dye courses, the Dye trademark bunkers dot the course and provide hazards for wayward shots.
One of the key new features is a spacious double-ended practice range, short game practice area and an attractive nine hole par three course equally designed by Pete Dye and his Associate, Tim Liddy.
These important practice facilities will assist in the development of golf in the country which has a population of seven million and has an active programme to develop junior golf. This has already seen Laetitia Beck, aged 18, become one of the world’s leading young golfers being placed third in the recent Annika Sorenstam Invitational only two shots behind the winner.
“We are delighted with the new Caesarea Golf Club course”, stated Caesarea PGA Golf Professional, Andy Santos. “The design of the links style course is spectacular and can be enjoyed by both low handicappers and beginners. The new paspalum grass is excellent and course conditions will be much, much better than in the past.”
About Caesarea: Half way between Tel Aviv and Haifa, Caesarea is an attractive Mediterranean port with a Roman aqueduct and amphitheatre which hosts an Annual Jazz Festival against the timeless backdrop of the sea.
Herod the Great dedicated the port to Caesar Augustus more than 2,000 years ago. Today, it is one of Israel's major tourist attractions and an increasingly popular place for Israel's elite to make their homes.
Caesarea is the least-densely populated town in Israel. This prominent town comprises approximately 1,200 households.
The Caesarea Development Corporation is now marketing the Golf Community, located immediately adjacent to the Golf Club. This Golf residence includes 384 self-build plots, of which 300 have already been sold. The remaining plots include 11 one-dunam lots bordering on the golf course. These lots will be sold for approximately $2 million each.
Caesarea has a modern business park, encompassing 3,500 dunams. The park is home to traditional industry, logistical areas, and advanced hi-tech plants. All in all, there are 180 plants and companies which employ approximately 7,000 workers. A large commercial center is currently being constructed at the park and various plots are being marketed for “tailor made” construction.
Other attractions at Caesarea are the port, cafes overlooking the beach and museum where there are regular projections of a film which will takes the visitor on a magical journey through Caesarea's history; the various civilizations that controlled the city from Herod's time, to the Roman Period; from the Byzantine Era, the Arabs and the Crusades to the first days of Israel.
The generosity of the donation of the land by the Baron de Rothschild continues today as all profits from the development are destined to research and charitable aims.
The Foundation was dedicated to the development of Caesarea into a thriving green community of residential homes, hotels, trade centres, tourism and leisure.
For more information on the Caesarea Golf Club, please contact Leah Schneider in Israel at 972.54.2200539
Contact:
Leah Schneider
Caesarea Golf Club
972.54.2200539
leas@caesarea.com
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