Construction begins on two major golf course developments in Johor and Langkawi

Ernie Els Design has completed the detail designs and is now in the construction phase for some of Asia’s largest golf projects. These developments are located in two major leisure destinations in Malaysia, an 18-hole at the eco-destination resort Teluk Datai, Langkawi and a 27-hole at the much-anticipated upcoming integrated luxury destination Desaru Coast, Johor. The 27-hole golf course will be one of the main attractions at Desaru Coast, a 17 kilometer beachfront integrated destination on the west coast of Johor that features an array of luxury resorts, hotels and golf residences, complemented with differentiated leisure and entertainment offerings to include signature golf courses, retail mall and theme parks, and all these are easily accessible with just a short drive from the Senai International Airport, Johor Bahru and Changi Airport, Singapore.

These courses will represent a new benchmark of excellence and sustainable design on behalf of their client, Destination Resorts. Destination Resorts is the investment holding company established by the Malaysian Government’s investment arm, to develop and manage world-class premier destinations, resorts and hotels within its Leisure and Tourism portfolio.

Ernie Els and his design team recently completed their second site inspection of the 27-hole golf course at Desaru Coast during construction at which time Ernie approved the first set of holes. Meanwhile in Teluk Datai, Langkawi, the upgrading works of the 18-hole course at The Golf Club, Datai Bay is underway and will be completed in 2013.

Els states “As a course designer, I feel so fortunate to be working with Destination Resorts and to be awarded with some of the most beautiful terrain in Asia, and we are well on the way now with construction across the country. Our clients and I share the same vision; and am confident our work here will set a new standard, leaving a lasting legacy for Malaysian golfers and the region as a whole”.

In addition to the courses mentioned, Els’ design team is also providing technical services for another golf course at Desaru Coast, an 18-hole for Vijay Singh. The earth movement for Vijay’s course will begin in June 2012. This brings the portfolio of Ernie Els Design to a total of 63 holes under development in the country.

Nadziruddin Basri, the Managing Director of Destination Resorts adds, “As we began discussions with Ernie, we realized that we share the same vision to build distinctive and superior golfing havens that will further enhance the golfing experience of both professional and leisure golfers. It became clear to us that Els’ highly regarded course designs and international Hall of Fame career were the perfect fit”.

He continues, “As the catalyst of integrated lifestyle destinations and luxury tourism products in Malaysia, we have brought together a powerful collection of premier brands such as Ernie Els Design, Shangri-La, Amanresorts, Sheraton, The Datai and others that represent the best in the business and these partnerships will create a highly sought-after tourism and leisure offerings within the region”.

In addition, Ernie Els Design and Destination Resorts are also working together to develop Els Residences, the Els Performance Academy as well as an Els Club in Desaru Coast, which will be exclusive for the region.

About Ernie Els Design
Ernie began his course design career after his second US Open Victory. Ernie Els is sole owner and retains the services of his senior design associate, Greg Letsche, with the vision of creating a world-class boutique design firm working with some of the world’s best developments. The Design team produces authentic sustainable golf courses that fit into today’s landscape. Our designs and renovations are environmentally responsible while meeting the needs of the owner’s objectives. Based in Jupiter, Florida and a satellite office in Malaysia, we apply the latest technologies and expertise to service our development partners and clients throughout the world.

Whether it is our recent renovation of Wentworth’s West in 2010, host to the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship, or island destinations such as Hawaii, Mauritius and The Bahamas, we deliver a product that sets a new benchmark in each market. Our portfolio now includes the Els Performance Academies, Els Clubs, Big Easy Grill, Els Residences and an award winning wine portfolio.

About Destination Resorts
Destination Resorts was formed by the Malaysian Government’s investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah), to be an internationally recognized investment holding company for premier integrated lifestyle resorts and hotels to enhance Malaysia’s tourism portfolio. Destination Resorts serves as a catalyst for the development of Malaysia’s leisure and tourism sector by providing relevant expertise focused on investment, development, management and oversight of world-class premier resorts, hotels and attractions.

Its investment portfolio comprises of the development of Desaru Coast and Teluk Datai projects, including the internationally renowned The Datai, Langkawi which will be further complemented by development of world-class resorts and residences nestled between the lush rainforest and stunning waters of the Andaman Sea. Desaru Coast, a beach-front integrated resort development that spans across 17 kilometers, located at the Southern region of Malaysia in the state of Johor, promises an array of luxury resorts amidst a retail shopping arcade, convention centre, attractions and two golf courses designed by distinguished golfers, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh.

More information may be found at www.destinationresorts.com.my

For more information please contact:
Ernie Els Design Communications
Telephone: +1.561.625.8676
Email: info@ernieels.com

The post Ernie Els Design breaks ground in Malaysia appeared first on Ernie Els.

Palm Beach, Florida, June 25, 2012 – Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, has signed a long-term sponsorship deal with three-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els.

Els is the first-ever professional athlete to sign an endorsement deal with the company and now sports the Boeing logo on his clothing. The deal was first discussed at the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage Tournament, for which Boeing is a secondary sponsor, and was then finalized just a few days before the start of the US Open.

“My philosophy in business is always to partner with the very best,” commented Els, “and Boeing is absolutely the best in its business. When I first met the guys earlier this year we immediately hit it off and developed a good rapport. I’m excited about this new partnership and I very much look forward to working with the Boeing team.”

“Ernie Els is a globally recognized player and we felt like it was a good fit for us,” said Boeing’s director of communications, Mark Hooper, who also explained that this new deal was part of Boeing’s effort to appeal to more international customers.

“Ernie Els and Boeing are international brands,” said Vinny Giles of Els’ management company ProsInc. Giles said the deal is a logical fit with Els’ other international partners, which include RBC, Callaway Golf and global software corporation SAP.

The post Boeing signs Ernie Els in its first ever player endorsement appeared first on Ernie Els.

The Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort & Spa, home to South Africa’s first ever Ernie Els Design signature golf course (pictured above), has been named World Best Luxury Golf Resort at the 2012 World Luxury Hotel Awards. It was awarded this outstanding achievement in recognition of service excellence over the past year.

This is the biggest event on the annual luxury hotel industry calendar and applauds the most sought after hotels, lodges, resorts and private islands. Winners become part of a very rare ‘legendary hotel’ association setting them apart, making them even more exclusive, and focusing the world’s gaze on what they do next.

Marinique de Wet, Director of the World Luxury Hotel Awards commented, “Our belief is that service excellence is the most critical factor in a hotel’s measure as a luxury hotel and that winning a World Luxury Hotel Award based on this factor would enhance performance levels if industry peers can be judged against other major players in the field. We can always learn from one another and be inspired to greater levels of excellence meaning exceeding customer’s expectations and paying attention to detail.”

Staff and management at Oubaai were in high spirits upon receipt of the wonderful news. “It is amazing to be recognised by the industry for the effort we all put in at the Hyatt,” said General Manager Jaco le Roux. “The hard work starts now, though. We have set the bar high, and to remain the leader, we need to surpass our own benchmark by striving to be even more driven, passionate and dedicated to providing guests with an experience of a lifetime every time. In South Africa, we are blessed with incredible views, from the Drakensberg and the National Parks to the Wild and the West Coast, but the best view in the world is here in the Garden Route at the Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort & Spa, and that view is straight from the top!”

About Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort & Spa
Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort & Spa is a luxurious resort on the Indian Ocean, a mere seven minutes from George Airport. With 100 stylish rooms, three contemporary restaurants, an 18-hole Ernie Els Signature Golf Course and the award winning Freesia Spa, this resort is the ideal location for the most discerning traveller. Visit the website: www.oubaai.regency.hyatt.com.

The post Hyatt Regency Oubaai wins ‘Best Luxury Golf Resort’ appeared first on Ernie Els.

“This is a very sad day, a very sad day for South Africa and the world. It is almost impossible to adequately express the impact that President Mandela had on our country and our people, nor the collective sense of loss that we as South Africans feel as we start to come to terms with his passing.

“To see the South Africa today compared to 20 years ago, to have witnessed the transformation that has taken place in our country in this generation, is truly remarkable and President Mandela deserves an enormous amount of credit for that. He was our President and the man who changed our lives. Without him our nation would not be where it is today. You cannot say anything bad about the man. By any measure and in any time in history he can be regarded as a great man and a great statesman – a man of wisdom and compassion, too.

“Speaking personally, it was of course the greatest honour for me to have met President Mandela on several occasions and the conversations that we had will always be among the most treasured memories of my lifetime. He is the most special human being that I ever met.

“I met him for the first time in 1994 with Johann Rupert when we had a dinner together and then after that we stayed in touch. I used to play the tournament at Houghton Golf Club and his home was very close by. He came over one time and we exchanged gifts (pictured right). I have still got the picture from that day in 1996 in my office in the US. And then every time I won a tournament he used to call me. My family also had the privilege of meeting him, the most recent time being when Samantha and I were on the same flight as him. He was so generous with his time and it was a special moment for me to share with my daughter.

“Anyone who ever met or saw President Mandela was often surprised that he was such a big man, but his presence went way beyond the physical. There was something magical about him and when he walked into a room he immediately filled it with his amazing aura and charisma, but at the same time he was such a humble man, too. He was an unbelievable guy and the guys who lived in that generation will really miss him.

“He will go down as probably the greatest leader South Africa has ever known, but the truth is he touched the lives of people all around the world and his legacy will surely benefit future generations, too.”

Ernie Els
6 December 2013

The post Ernie pays tribute to President Nelson Mandela appeared first on Ernie Els.

Proceeds will benefit the Els For Autism Center of Excellence

OAHU, HAWAII (Jan 11, 2011) – Ernie Els announced today from the Sony Open in Hawaii the official launch of “Els For Autism Golf Challenge,” the largest charity-driven national amateur golf tournament in US history. The Els For Autism Foundation, in partnership with Els’ longtime sponsors, SAP and Callaway Golf – with participation from their broad families of partners and customers – will actively help form teams for the Challenge.

Els, whose son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism four years ago, stated, “I’m thrilled with the incredible support from SAP and Callaway and their partners. With their help, we’ll be able to raise the funds to deliver the best treatment possible to children on the autism spectrum around the world.”

The Els For Autism Golf Challenge will utilize the PGA TOUR’s TPC clubs and others to host 32 Super Regional events across the US. Teams of two with a maximum individual handicap of 24 will compete in each Super Regional event. The low net winning team and the highest fundraising team from each of the 32 events will move on to a final two-day extravaganza in Las Vegas in late October. These lucky 64 winning teams will compete for extraordinary prizes including luxury trips of a lifetime to South Africa courtesy of Mantis, the world leader in sustainable tourism, and with travel arrangements by Giltedge Travel, the leading luxury tour operator in South Africa. Winners will also receive Callaway Golf personal fittings and complete sets of golf clubs. In addition, all entrants will be eligible to win a six-day Ultimate Irish Links Golf Tour sponsored by IRISH LINKS.

All proceeds from the Challenge will go to the Els For Autism Center of Excellence, a catalytic project that will offer a global digital learning platform, plus a state-of-the-art education and research facility, to families all over the world with children on the autism spectrum – a disorder that affects one in 110 children and one in 70 boys.

The schedule of events is available at www.E4Agolf.com. Each team will register on the site, have their own team page, and will choose their own child on the spectrum that they play for (their “Honorary Captain.”). They’ll be able to e-mail their page to friends, family and colleagues who will be able to text, make online, or mail in donations. Each team will be given a goal to raise a minimum of $2,500 to compete in their chosen TPC event.

In addition to SAP and Callaway’s corporate families, the PGA of America will encourage private and public golf courses to hold feeder tournaments where the winning team will be awarded a place in a Super Regional TPC event. Els For Autism and its partners will work with the entire national autism community to galvanize local support, awareness and registration for the 2011 Els For Autism Golf Challenge.

“Years from now, people may remember me as a golfer and a major champion. But I’d like also to be remembered as somebody who took the issue of autism and did something with it,” said Els. “The rest of my life, I’ll be fighting this thing…I hope you’ll join with me.”

In the past few weeks, Els has been named “One of the Top Five Most Positive Athletes in the World” by the United Nations NGO Voting Academy and he has become a Top-10 finalist for the Jefferson Award for Public Service. He will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in the spring of 2011.

The post Ernie launches major golf tournament to benefit autism appeared first on Ernie Els.