"Mr. Woods at least has the practice course in his backyard. That is more than his partners can say."

Paul Sullivan files an NY Times Business section front page story on the state of Tiger's design business and it doesn't come to many conclusions that we don't already know: the economy stinks, the projects were excessive in their scope and his scandal didn't help matters.

There was one interesting bit though about how Tiger's design contracts are structured. It seems he was  paid to present lots of plans, attend press conferences but incentives for actual field-time during construction--when real architects get serious about producing something that will last--did not appear to be part of the deals.

Regardless, Mr. Woods’s work with these projects is largely done. He has been paid the bulk of his contract fees. “Traditionally, a course designer’s job begins and ends with designing a great course,” said Mr. Bell, the head of the company.

In the meantime, there have not been any new projects announced by Tiger Woods Design. “We are evaluating opportunities from all over the world,” Mr. Bell said. “We’re staying focused on our original mission of finding great sites, great partners, and creating spectacular designs. I’m very confident about our future.”

Comments

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

“Traditionally, a course designer’s job begins and ends with designing a great course." The mind reels. Well, actually it doesn't.

But let's take this a little further.
Traditionally, the scientist's job begins and ends with thinking up a good experiment. Or two. Maybe three. And then he writes the paper.
Traditionally, the engineer's job begins and ends with drawing up plans for the bridge.
Traditionally, the architect's job begins and ends with providing his CAD technician a rough outline of his ideas for the new museum, airport, house, office building, school.
Traditionally, the writer's job begins and ends with the outline, or first draft if you really want to get a nice finished product.
Traditionally, the physician's job begins and ends with diagnosing the disease and writing orders for the nurses and other caregivers.
Traditionally, the teacher's job begins and ends with writing a syllabus and providing it to the class.
Traditionally, the entrepreneur's job begins and ends with writing up a business plan and arranging the financing.
Traditionally, the politician's job begins and ends with coming up with the biggest dollop of bullsh*t he thinks he can get away with. OK, you win that one.

I'm going to wait for the paper copy on my front porch in the morning, but for now I'll assume Mr. Bell is Byron. How about this Mr. Bell: In this stricken economy, when sites can be had or renovated for peanuts, you concentrate on growing the Game by building public courses of all types where they are needed. Get some children out playing golf on "Tiger Woods Golf Courses." Pitch-and-putt, Par-3, Executive courses for the masses so to speak, the routine 18-holer that provides a good test for the single-digit handicap and is fun to play for everyone, and the occasional spectacular design when the opportunity presents itself...It would be a better life than that of a boneheaded travel agent. And would do plenty of good. And in 20 years, no one will remember who the Lovely Rachel of the Sunglasses was, but they will remember that Tiger Woods built the community's golf course down the street.

Now, back to work...

[Wisconsin Reader]

Ky has an excellent idea. . . This may be a time of opportunity to build or renovate golf facilities to truly grow the game of golf. . . I suspect Woods would eagerly get involved - his focus has been assisting children from the beginning - his foundation was started over a decade ago - and he could selfishly see this as an opportunity to further rehabilitate his legacy. . . The question of course is funding - where will the money come from to create these facilities? . . . Clearly, government and politicians have no interest in development - when their word of the day is austerity. . . Our major corporations have never been more profitable - Wall Street and the big banks are killing it - Reportedly there are several trillion dollars on the sidelines controlled by the super rich - maybe that group wants to support Ky's idea - which could help rehabilitate their legacy?

[seak]

This article is a great example of journalisitic laziness (and I like the NY Times). Write a story that has already been written before, using an easy comparison that has already been made before, even if it does not really hold factually. The golf courses were in trouble in 2009, but admitting that Tiger's personal issues may not have been the cause of all of his problems isn't the current narrative (his putting was mediocre in 2009, very inconsistent, he won when it was hot, and he often couldn't find a fairway).

I am curious as to how other golf course design projects are structured, before we go about lambasting/ridiculing Bell for his comments. And to be fair, Tiger has visited the courses since construction began. It' not really his job to provide the funding or build the houses.

[Old Hornet]

"We are evaluating opportunities from all over the world," Mr. Bell said. "We're staying focused on our original mission of finding great sites, great partners, and creating spectacular designs. I'm very confident about our future."

Don't forget the other half of the equation, Mr. Bell. It could be important if you expect to drum up fresh business.

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=6224548

[Robert Thompson]

So Tiger Woods has a lot in common with other player desigers like Fred Couples, and Arnold Palmer -- he'll show up for the ribbon cutting and the medai launch. You just won't see him "designing" much. Hate to get any dirt on those Nike shirts...

[A3golfer]

Tiger could buy, build and run at a profit a 9 holer for the family along side a 18 holer for the pros and pro wannabes alike with the sale of his YACHT. Right? It would be a huge success and TIger forever would be a better man for including a family friendly 9 holer. Instead he goes to fricking Dubai. And some resort in Mexico that only the rich will visit. This is what is wrong with Tiger and golf in general.

[Marky Mark]

Given that Byron Bell was Chief Enabler, buying tickets, coordinating travel, and overseeing logistics for the skanks, there was never a whole lot of time to play the roll of Ed Seay to Palmer or Bill Coore to Crenshaw and get the design business really humming.

[Chuck]

Mr. Bell said... "We're staying focused on our original mission of finding great sites, great partners..."

The jokes just write themselves.

[Peachtree]

And maybe Jack , Arnie , Gary Player . Ernie, Greg Norman and Phil should have renovated /built Muni Courses instead of buliding Private Courses and becoming rotten rich in the process. How many Muni did Jack, Arnie and Greg combine to build.
And since we are at it, how does muni courses change the arc of a poor child life, compared to providing educational progress in order to improve thier future in this messed up world.