RJH Golf Course Management Services Inc.

The past decade has seen an explosion in golf's popularity, particularly in Atlantic Canada. With world-class golf events such as the Skins Game being hosted on Prince Edward Island, the province has a well-earned reputation in the international golf market as a premier golf destination. And that reputation is about to get even better - with the completion of Dundarave, Canada's fastest golf course construction project ever!

Just last summer, a collective of ten Prince Edward Island business people agreed to build a world-class championship golf course and golf academy at the renowned Brudenell River Resort. The group, Brudenell River Developments, is delighted that in just one season, the project is now complete.

The new golf course and academy are ready for play in early summer of 1999, which is exciting news for Island residents and tourists alike. The completion of Dundarave will help address the demand for additional golfing facilities on Prince Edward Island and build on the Island's sterling reputation in the golf marketplace.

Earthwork on the course began on May 4, with the final hole seeded and sodded on August 28th. The Academy was finished on September 15, making Dundarave Golf Course and Family Learning Center the fastest mass golf course construction project in Canada's history.

The scope of this construction project is awe inspiring - 119 sand bunkers, 10 miles of drainage pipe, five man-made lakes, 9 kilometres of 7-foot wide asphalt cart paths, 28 acres of blue grass sod - and these reflect just a few of the tasks completed. The combination of 40 heavy machines and a workforce of 130 at its peak worked at an amazing pace to complete draining, irrigation, earthwork, shaping, sod, seeding and the many other aspects of constructing the course.

As soon as the golf course portion of the project ended on August 28, the immediate focus became the Family Learning Center. This impressive facility was completed on September 15.

The project team is justifiably proud of this momentous achievement.

Robbie Hellstrom, considered to be the industry's leading specialist in golf course development, construction and operations, acted as project manager. Hellstrom had proven his ability by building the "Le Diable" course at Tremblant in just four months. The award winning team of Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry was recruited to design the course. Kings County Construction of Montague, a long established Island contractor, completed the team as general contractor for the project.

Dundarave Golf Course

Dundarave itself is laid out over 400 acres of varying landscape, ranging from open fields to closed-in tree areas to riverside property. Dundarave is named after the castle owned by the MacNaughton family of Scotland, the former owners of the site where Dundarave's sister course Brudenell is located. The course plays a challenging 7,284 yards. Its five tee decks per hole mean play can be as short as 4,997 yards, easily accommodating golfers of all levels and caliber.

Brudenell Family Golf Learning Center

Set against the backdrop of Dundarave and Brudenell golf courses and the Brudenell River, the Learning Centre occupies 70 acres of delicately rolling hills. The facility rolling hills. The facility includes a weatherproof driving area, short game center, putting green, practice holes and a "Wee Links" junior golf center. A team of expertly trained teaching professionals will be on hand to provide guidance and instruction for golfers of all ages and playing ability.

"This is a great day for golf on Prince Edward Island," says Everett Roche, President of Brudenell River Developments.

"We were confident of our ability to produce a world-class golf course and golf academy. Our goal has been achieved, and we are extremely proud of what has been accomplished."

Robbie Hellstrom, project manager, adds, "This project proves that Atlantic Canada, and more importantly, Prince Edward Island, can deliver world-class products as well as anyone in North America. Everyone involved gave everything they had to complete this great project. What a team effort! The final product speaks for itself."

Dundarave Golf Course and Family Learning Center are truly an investment in Prince Edward Island, its golf and tourism industries and its people.

Congratulations to everyone on a job well done!