Tiger Woods' first golf course design was supposed to open in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Al-Ruwaya was announced to much fanfare in December 2006, piquing curiosity in the architecture community about just what kind of architect the world No. 1 might be.
Then the global financial crisis took shape, hitting the Emirates hard, leading Dubai to the edge of sovereign default before Abu Dhabi stepped in to make the save. Al-Ruwaya was a victim, with the project being shut down "indefinitely" in 2011.
Since then, Dubai has recovered, and the Vegas of the Middle East is again seeing enormous projects brought to the table. Donald Trump recently announced he has hired Gil Hanse to design a course for a real-estate project in Dubai. Another development, Dubai Hills Estate, will surround an 18-hole course.
Amid this new wave of development, Dubai Holding has decided it will review Woods' course and the associated real-estate development and see if it worth reviving.
“On Tiger Woods, the project was suspended in 2011, we will review our options in line with market demand,” a Dubai Holding spokesperson told Emirates 24-7.
UPDATE: The review was awfully quick. A day. Arabian Business reports Dubai Holding has "dissolved" its partnership with Woods, scrapping the project altogether.
The 55 million square foot project was to boast 287 luxury villas and mansions, a boutique hotel and clubhouse. Woods' $1.1 billion course - a par-72 playing to 7,800 yards from the tips - was set to be completed by September 2009.
Three holes were grassed in May 2009, with ultimately six holes being completed. Woods last visited the site in November 2009. After the official halt of work in 2011, the desert was left to reclaim the space.
Woods has since taken three other course-design jobs in North America. None have opened yet.
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