MONTEGO BAY'S drive to become the golfing hub of Jamaica continues at full throttle.By the end of this year the island's second city should boast four international championship courses in what is being described as the Rose Hall Golf Corridor.
SuperClubs earlier this year leased the Ironshore course from real estate developer Joe Whitter and has put in place a multi-million dollar improvement programme to bring it in line with sister courses Half Moon, the Ocean Course at Rose Hall - formerly the Wyndham Resort course, and the White Witch course (Ritz-Carlton) which is near completion.
Ironshore's greens are being enhanced, the course re-landscaped and the clubhouse upgraded, according to SuperClubs' vice president, marketing and environmental affairs, Zein Nakash.
"It is an ongoing improvement plan," Nakash said. "One that will lift it to the international standard the Rose Hall Golf Corridor is aiming for."
After only three months of operation, Ironshore, under the supervision of general manager Suzette Smith-Burgess, has already received a steep rise in membership and has set lofty short-term goals.
"We have an impressive list of tournaments lined up for the year," Smith-Burgess said of the course which will be an integral part of the Corridor's sales pitch to lure international tournaments and players.
In August, US Masters champion Vijay Singh and PGA regular Hal Sutton will christen the White Witch course at the revived Shell's Wonderful World of Golf event.
