By Tamara Estrada Del Campo

Coco Beach Golf & Country Club, a $59.6 million first class seaside gold and hospitality development in Río Grande built by Coco Beach Golf & Country Club S.E., was officially declared open during a ribbon-cutting and inaugural tee-off by Tom Kite, PGA Tour pro and co-architect of its four nine-hole championship golf courses, on March 7.

The 36-hole golf complex, which will employ upwards of 150 people, is located on Road 3, on 1,200 waterfront acres at Coco Beach, on Puerto Rico's northeastern coast. It features a 46,000-square-foot oceanfront clubhouse- the largest in the Caribbean - with men's and women's lockers, lounges, and a golf, and is 35 minutes away from the Luis Muños Marín International Airport and Old San Juan, and about 10-minute drive from El Yunque rainforest.

The new development, which includes meeting facilities with a 3,000-square-foot El Yunque ballroom ant two restaurants (Paradise Bay Grill and Greens Lounge) and lounge, is adjacent to Sol Melliá's all-inclusive, four-star 500-suite Paradisus Puerto Rico Resort, It is expected to be an additional venue for international and local corporate and social meetings and events, said Jorge L. Díaz, executive vice president of Betterroads Asphalt Corporation, the largest asphalt producer and paving company in the Caribbean and parent company of Coco Beach Golf & Country Club S.E., a private partnership specializing in golf and hospitality-related resort facilities.

"We thank everyone what has assisted us in creating this magnificent property and are excited to share our golf resort with our members, the guests of Paradisus Puerto Rico, and the general Public." Díaz said prior to the grand opening ribbon-cutting. The new golf and hospitality facilities will be managed by Willowbend Development LLC.

The 36-holes at Coco Beach - with an extensive practice facility and views of the Atlantic Ocean and El Yunque Rain Forest - were designed as four different nines by PGA Tour professional Tom Kite in collaboration with Bruce A. Besse, Jr. of Willowbend Golf & Land Design. The Mountain Course, Ocean Course, Lakes Course, and Palms Course, are expected to provide golfers with four different experiences within one gold resort.

"From the initial design concept it has been a pleasure to work with Bruce Besse and the Díaz family on this spectacular project, and I am confident that Coco Beach will take its place in history as a superlative world-class golf facility," Kite said.

Coco Beach Golf & Country Club will open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until sundown, and Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to sundown. It will offer a $5,000 reduction to the first 50 members.

Memberships are available for individuals and corporations and have been enhanced with a beach & tennis club.

Guest fees for 18 holes are currently $130 and include greens and card fees, divot repair tools, ball markers, and tees.

Developer Coco Beach Club & Country Club S.E. will host an Open House on Dec. 4, at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m., to introduce the new clubhouse and renovated membership plan to public.'

Future developments at the new golf complex include beach & pool club and an exclusive residential community. "We have permission to build 1,185 villas, which will begin this year [2005]," Díaz disclosed. He added the villas will range in sizes between 2,500 and 3,000 square feet.

Coco Beach's firs 18 holes opened for play in spring 2004. "Our golf course is already receiving critical acclaim within the world golf community, in Gold Magazine, T&L Golf, Cigar Aficionado, Links, and Caribbean Travel & Life, which is sure to attract worldwide golfers to Puerto Rico and will undoubtedly establish Coco Beach's Place in history as one of the world's finest golf resorts," Díaz noted.