Ulsterman Darren Clarke finished off a successful weekend in South Africa by announcing he will design a golf course in the country early next year.
Clarke, who finished the Nedbank Challenge with a 67 to end fourth and claim a 300,000 US dollar cheque for his efforts, heads off to challenge for the Hong Kong Open title before finishing the year with Tiger Woods' tournament in Los Angeles a week later.
The well-travelled Clarke, who was in Tokyo and Singapore last weekend before heading to the tip of Africa, will return in January to oversee the design of the new Pinnacle Point course, near Mossel Bay in the southern Cape, which will, by all accounts, be reminiscent of California's Pebble Beach.
Clarke is undoubtedly excited by the prospect, which will see a golf course shaped over 1,000 acres of unspoilt beachfront, and has already indicated he sees it as a new winter home for his family.
"I found my heaven here," he said enthusiastically about the project, which will be co-designed by Peter Matkovitch.
The area is well known for being on the breeding route of schools of whales and dolphins, which are often sighted there.
"I've just seen the pictures so far, but I will be down there when they start to move earth, that's why I'm coming back. I'm going to oversee the project," Clarke said.
This new project is his second design - and will be his first links course attempt. Another project, in Ireland, has just started.
Clarke left the South African casino resort this morning en route to Hong Kong but added that two sets of tips he received during the tournament helped him enjoy his tournament a lot more.
Some short game pointers from South African golfing legend Gary Player gave Clarke the edge to shoot 66 on the first day and some more from Fijian world number two Vijay Singh helped him set the front nine alight in his 67 yesterday.
Clarke left his charge too late as Spaniard Sergio Garcia captured his second Challenge title by beating 2001 and 2002 European Order of Merit winner Retief Goosen by sinking a 12-footer on the first play-off hole. Singh ended third.
"I am quite pleased with the way I played this weekend," Clarke added. "Vijay told me to keep my eye on the ball a little longer and to start the downswing with my head more in position as opposed to moving into the ball like I was doing."
PA