Update :

American Environmental Review profiles Shark’s Tooth Golf Club during fall series. Walter Cronkite to host special
by Anonymous

July, 2003 -- WJMK Television Productions, producer of the American Environmental Review series on Public Broadcast Television, is featuring Shark’s Tooth Golf Club and Greg Norman Golf Course Design in a television special that is scheduled to air in the fall of 2003. The show will be hosted by Walter Cronkite.

The series will highlight the golf course and the remarkable design, planning and construction efforts undertaken to protect the surrounding environment.

Norman, who designed the golf course and acted as residential developer through his joint venture interest in Medallist Developments, is excited about the series.

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to spread the word about Shark’s Tooth and to explain how thoughtful development and environmental safeguards and protection can go hand in hand,” said Norman.

“I was fortunate to work on Wild Heron and Shark’s Tooth as both a golf course designer and residential developer. We set out to create a true coastal sanctuary that included a great golf and residential experience. Protecting the environment and safeguarding Lake Powell were key factors in achieving our goals.”

Shark’s Tooth Golf Club is the centerpiece of the Wild Heron residential community, located east of Destin in Florida’s panhandle. Designed by Norman, the course has received tremendous acclaim since it’s opening in March 2002 and has been named one of the top-10 golf courses in Florida.

“It is this combination of both golfing acclaim and environmental stewardship that singled out Shark’s Tooth and Greg Norman Golf Course Design to be an integral part of this compelling segment on the American Environmental Review series,” said Alex Berry, producer for WJMK TV.

Shark’s Tooth has received praise from the environmental community as well. Audubon International has awarded the course its Silver Signature Sanctuary Certification. This accreditation is given to only those developments that are designed, constructed and maintained according to Audubon International’s precise planning standards and environmental disciplines. Shark’s Tooth is one of only 40 courses worldwide to receive this distinction.

Norman has long held an environmentally friendly position through the design and construction of his 48 golf courses worldwide. He adheres to a least-disturbance approach, focusing on every opportunity to incorporate unique existing site features into the layout of a golf course. This design mentality has led to a recent appointment as Chairman of the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America’s Environmental Institute for Golf.

Throughout the design and construction of Shark’s Tooth, specific precautions were taken to safeguard the sensitive native vegetation and wildlife areas, including:

•    The installation of underground pumps within the golf course, which transfer water runoff away from Lake Powell and into retention areas, designed to improve water quality.
•    The creation of additional wetland areas and enhancement of existing native vegetation.
•    50 specimen “Live Oak” trees with an average diameter of 24 inches were saved during the routing phase. Many others were moved and strategically replanted throughout the course.
•    A minimal amount of earth was moved during golf course construction.




FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Frank Weed
Chief Operating Officer
Medallist Developments    (561) 743-9062

Carl Mistretta
Greg Norman Golf Course Design    (561) 743-2081

Alex Berry
WJMK Televisions    (561) 743-0703 x217

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Wild Heron is a secluded, rental-restricted residential community located east of Destin, along the shores of Lake Powell, Florida’s largest coastal dune lake. Within the next five years the 734-acre coastal sanctuary will be home to fewer than 600 privileged families.

The Greg Norman-designed Shark’s Tooth Golf Club is the centerpiece of Wild Heron, and has been ranked one of America’s best new private golf courses by Golf Digest and was awarded a coveted Silver Signature Sanctuary status from Audubon International, making it the only18-hole, private golf course in Florida to carry the signature status.

Wild Heron’s developers include Medallist Developments, a joint venture between Greg Norman’s Great White Shark Enterprises and Macquarie Bank of Australia, in partnership with Hillman Properties of Pittsburgh, PA. The partnership has appointed Head Companies of Point Clear, AL to act as project manager for new development. Intrawest Golf was selected to operate Wild Heron’s golf course.