I might have swung a gulf club once or twice in the past and attempted to compete a miniature golf back in my college days, but all the time I had no clue what I was doing. LOL! Two weeks ago My Traveling Feet found themselves commuting to the private resort island of Caye Chapel where I met golf legend Greg Norman. Not being interested in golf, I had no idea who he was before this. Mexican developers who just recently bought the island have hired the golf course designer and developer to create for them a unique golf course that will compliment the new resort design plans for the island. Construction is scheduled to commence by the end of next year.
A view of Caye Chapel from above as we approach the island for landing on its private airstrip
Landing approach to Caye Chapel
Greg Norman is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur and renowned in the golfing industry for his reputation in designing many of the best golf courses in the world. He spent 331 weeks as the world’s Number 1 ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking in the 1980’s and 1900’s. Developers are investing $250Mil on the first phase of the project alone. This is BIG!!!
BIG and HUGE benefits for the tourism industry – Think about it! There are two major islands that are going to be developed into top luxury resorts; Caye Chapel being a top, high end luxury golf resort with endorsement and trademark by a top golfer and Blackadore Caye a luxury eco-friendly resort owned by mega-celebrity Leonardo DiCaprio. Both are promising to be eco-sensitive and I hope our authorities are on their heels to ensure they keep their promises of environmental protection.
The doors to new tourism markets should open for Belize; there will be more interest in high-end real estate, an increase in job availability and a boost in the popularity of the country among world travelers.
I toured Caye Chapel on golf cart; it’s very beautiful with an abundance of coconut trees swaying in the breeze and large expanses of lush greenery that make up the already developed golf course. The resort lay abandoned for many years, but I closed my eyes for a second and pictured it alive once more with the developed infrastructure; the plans presented to us that day.
I may not be a golf aficionado, but I am looking forward in visiting the island resort again when its development is complete. I may be tempted to play golf, but probably would just make a fool out of my self. Heck! It should be fun whatsoever. I have met Greg Norman, now I am hoping to meet Leonardo DiCaprio!!
Looks like another paradise island in Belize to me!
Caye Chapel is covered with lush coconut trees along the coast line and surrounding the golf course
Luxury condos are perched along the coast line of Caye Chapel. The new developers are still uncertain if they will demolish the old structures or re-purpose them into their new resort design
Greens looking onto the Caye Chapel golf course
The main structure that stands as the center of activity for Caye Chapel
Initial design concept for the island resort which will have over-water bungalows
