PGA Village Completes Golf Course Renovation

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(PORT ST. LUCIE, FL) -- PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla., will reopen its award-winning Wanamaker Course to the public today after some major renovation work.

The biggest change is the newly renovated greens, which now feature premium TifEagle turfgrass. The other major addition are new TifGrand tee boxes. Both grasses  are designed to withstand warm weather conditions and to ensure that the Audubon International Signature Status course--owned and operated by The PGA of America--maintains the highest level of environmental sustainability.

"The installment of premium greens and tees is part of the core improvements we are implementing throughout PGA Golf Club, in celebration of our 15th anniversary," said Mike Sizemore, PGA director of operations at the facility, which features 54 holes of championship golf designed by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. "We are reinvesting in our product to bring the finest golf standards for PGA members, PGA Village private club members and the public to all enjoy."

"TifEagle and TifGrand are extremely high-performing varieties of turfgrass used by some of the most renowned golf clubs in the world," said David Downing, director of grounds and golf course maintenance for PGA Village, and a former president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). "We are very excited about the new course conditions, as we elevate the golf experience for everyone at PGA Golf Club to enjoy."

The facility is part of PGA Village and is ranked among the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America" by Golf Digest. PGA Village also consists of the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance, a 35-acre instruction, technology, practice and fitness golf park; and the PGA Museum of Golf, home to golf's four major championship trophies and the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame.

The Wanamaker Course is named after Rodman Wanamaker, who proposed the founding of The PGA of America in 1916, and is the namesake of the Wanamaker Trophy, annually awarded to the winner of the PGA Championship.

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Savills Reports France Top Location for British Buyers

(FRANCE) -- New research published by global real estate provider Savills shows France remains tops on the list of locations where British investors are purchasing real estate abroad. And the reasons are not a surprise: stability; accessibility and the ever-growing appeal from the eyes of tourism.

Lifestyle buyers and vacation home investors are drawn to quality products in easy to reach locations and France couldn't be more accessible, with over 400 airports, excellent road and rail links and numerous ferry ports. Moreover, financing overseas property is France is relatively much easier in France than in its other European destinations.

"France's banks have continued to lend on second homes, thereby stimulating the market," according to the Savills Research, Autumn 2011 report. The relative stability of this market and its ease of access from the United Kingdom mean that buyers remain confident to invest, Savills went on to add.

One new project drawing interest in France is the five-star golf and spa resort centered around a magnificent historic chateau in the heart of France. The project, Château de la Cazine, is being developed by UK-based developers Barrasford and Bird Worldwide.

"Traditional destinations such as France have consistently maintained a strong appeal to the UK property purchaser," developer Robin Barrasford said. "Favorable finance options, high rental returns and the wealth of history and culture available in this remarkable country are just a few of the benefits that France has to offer."

According to Barrasford, Château de la Cazine French golf and spa resort offers purchasers luxury property in a spectacular location enjoying the superb combination of 5-8 percent rental returns coupled with an incredible 180 percent buyback guarantee.



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