Tiger to Build First U.S. Course in N.C. By Associated Press - August 14, 2007 TRAVELERS REST, S.C. -- Tiger Woods has no plans to break this Jack Nicklaus record. Woods revealed plans Tuesday for his first American course just two days after he won his 13th major title at the PGA Championship. And while the world's No. 1 golfer continues his steady march to Nicklaus' record 18 majors, Woods knows he won't come close to the number of courses created by the Golden Bear. "I won't design as many courses as Jack," Woods said. "He's designed well over 200 now. I won't do that." Nicklaus has 258 courses open for play with his name on them, according to his Web site. Woods, 31, says he and his company, Tiger Woods Design, are content with one or two select projects at a time. Woods said he found such a property in The Cliffs at High Carolina. The private course will sit at about 4,000 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, N.C. There's no timetable for its completion and Woods pledges he'll make as many trips as necessary to do things right. "As you all know, I'm kind of a perfectionist," Woods said. Woods was asked several times during his winning run at the PGA about plans for his first U.S. course. "I guess we all know why we're here," Woods said, smiling to a crowded room of about 100 media members at The Cliffs Valley, located in northern South Carolina. Woods wants the scenic land to dictate the proposed layout and hopes the course give golfers a fair test and a chance to connect with nature. He visited the location earlier Tuesday and raved about the land. "Even an idiot can't mess this up," he said. "I think I'm a little above that." Woods took his time before launching his design business, he said, because he wanted a feel for what makes the best courses by playing the top layouts from around the world. He said he likes layouts where golfers can the hole ahead of them along with well-placed bunkers that require careful shot selection. Woods described himself as a "minimalist" designer and repeatedly said he didn't expect to move a lot of dirt during construction. Woods and The Cliffs' owner Jim Anthony said they wanted High Carolina to be a walking-only course during the news conference. Afterward, Woods clarified they'll "strongly encourage" golfers to walk, but won't require it. Anthony had Woods' drawings of a proposed golf course he mapped out at age 11. "I don't believe there's any golfer that has more desire," Anthony said. "He takes us to another level." Woods' company took on a project in Dubai for his first course. He expects to gradually grow his golf design business, selecting projects that fit within his crowded schedule as a competitor and father. He won his latest major this past weekend with a two-stroke victory at Southern Hills. The community of golf courses known as The Cliffs includes three layouts designed by Nicklaus. The Cliffs Valley currently host a Nationwide Tour event, the BMW Charity Pro-Am. Woods finally feels comfortable sketching out courses on his own and can't wait for the moment someone else gets the chance to play one of his courses. "That's something you want to have happen," he said. "Not only will they have fun playing, but want to come back and do it again." Woods to Build First Course in Dubai By Associated Press - December 03, 2006 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Tiger Woods said Sunday he will develop his first golf course in Dubai, an oil-rich city that hosts two European Tour events and has seen a recent rise in golf course construction. The Tiger Woods Dubai will feature a 7,700-yard, par-72 course, a 60,000-square-foot clubhouse, a golf academy, 320 exclusive villas and a boutique hotel with 80 suites. "I look at this project not only as an opportunity, but also as a great responsibility," Woods said. Dubai already has eight golf courses, including the Emirates Golf Club, which hosts the Dubai Desert Classic. Woods won the tournament earlier this year in a playoff over Ernie Els. Woods lost in Dubai five years ago when he made double bogey on the final hole to finish two shots behind Thomas Bjorn. Els, Bjorn, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Baker-Finch are among those who have built or are building golf courses in Dubai. Woods said he hopes to not only match up to those courses, "but hopefully create a memorable, everlasting legacy." Tiger Woods Dubai is a joint venture between Woods, who last month created Tiger Woods design; and Tatweer, a member of the government-affiliated Dubai Holding. "I have been amazed by the progress of Dubai. From the time I first came to play here in 2000, I wanted to be a part of this amazing vision," Woods said. He said he chose Dubai for his first golf course because he was excited about the "challenge of transforming a desert terrain into a world-class golf course." The development is scheduled to be finished in late 2009 at Dubailand, the region's largest tourism and leisure project. Saeed al-Muntafiq, the CEO of Tatweer, said he is confident that Woods' Dubai golf course will be a success. "We never looked for anyone beyond Tiger for the project because we believe in only working with the very best," al-Muntafiq said.