All the latest news and stories from the world of golf, Ernie Els Design, Ernie Els Wines, and across Ernie’s philanthropic interests.
1. Win No.77 for Ernie
Ernie registered his 77th professional career win at last week’s Principal Charity Classic at Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa. Ernie opened with a 10-under par 62 and went on to set a tournament scoring record of 195, 21-under par. It was his fourth win on the PGA Champions Tour.
Speaking on Sunday evening, Ernie said: “Thank you to everyone involved in the tournament, the fans and the sponsors. It’s a very special feeling to win again. I haven’t won for a while. I’ve had quite a few chances, but it gets tougher when you don’t get it over the line. I think I was just more ‘into it’ this week. We had a game plan, I stayed in the present and didn’t get ahead of myself. When you haven’t won in such a long time, you can easily get a bit antsy, but I felt comfortable; I didn’t get rattled when I hit a bad shot or faced an important putt. I was just in the zone. All week I felt like I played within myself, just focused on taking care of the small stuff, and when you do that well, it usually leads to a good week, so yeah, really pleased with how this one turned out.
“This now is hopefully a stepping stone. We’ll keep working hard and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. The guys out here are very competitive and, on the type of golf courses that we play, it’s hard to separate yourself over three rounds; you have to stay in it for 54 holes and these past few years I haven’t really done that. When I joined the Champions Tour I always felt like I wanted to get into a winning frame of mind. Let’s see how we go. Golf is still my first love. Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to play at this level and I still do. I’m 54, I love the Tour, I just want to keep going and keep getting better.”
Click here to see the full list of Ernie’s career wins.
2. Golf course construction in full swing at OLEADA
One of Ernie Els Design’s most exciting golf course design projects, which will be a star feature of a spectacular new oceanfront resort community on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, is now under construction. OLEADA Golf Links Los Cabos, named rather fittingly after the Spanish word for wave, is expected to open for play some time in 2026.
Greg Letsche, senior design associate at Ernie Els Design, was on site at the end of May. His images show that the process of ‘rough shaping’ is progressing extremely well. This desert-meets-ocean setting with its vast natural dunes and expansive horizons, is a dream location for any golf course designer. Ernie is understandably thrilled with the opportunity.
“I’d say this is probably the most dramatic natural site that our firm has ever had the pleasure of working with,” commented Ernie after a first visit. “We’re only 15 minutes’ drive from downtown Cabo San Lucas, but there’s an untamed beauty to this landscape. When you’re here, you can feel the heartbeat of the ocean. It’s like a private paradise.”
Ernie goes on to say, “We want the footprint and hole-routings of our design to harmonise with its environment. The native contours and natural dune formations are so good that we can create sheltered valleys and corridors that are perfect for the placement of golf holes, without the need for earthmoving on a dramatic scale. It’s all there for us, courtesy of Mother Nature.”
Along with the Ernie Els Design golf course, OLEADA will offer oceanfront living; world-class resorts; a nursery, orchard and garden; nature, fitness, hiking and biking trails; and much more. Every amenity will be created through a hospitality and wellness centered mindset aimed to provide opportunities to enjoy life at its fullest.
Visit the website: https://oleadaloscabos.com/
3. Ernie launches his new-look official website
After some quiet creativity behind the scenes, Ernie and his team this month launched a brand new official website. “I think it better reflects this stage of my life,” explains Ernie. “Obviously, tournament golf remains my main focus and passion. But life for me now is about so much more – from golf course design, various business interests and, of course, our charitable endeavours. It’s all covered in the new website.”
4. “Lido Lakes is going to be a new go-to destination for golfers” says Ernie
Further new images from one of Ernie Els Design’s most exciting new projects, Lido Lakes in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia, provide a taste of what’s to come at this spectacular golf course which opens for play later this year. “I was seriously impressed when we first visited some years back,” commented Ernie. “For a golf course designer, these are the kind of settings you love to work with. There are some truly breathtaking holes. All of us are excited about this one and we believe Lido Lakes is going to be a new go-to destination for golfers in south east Asia.”
The golf course is nearing completion and it is anticipated that it will officially open for play during 2024. Ernie went on to say, “it’s exciting that our firm’s first design in Indonesia is on such a great piece of land. That allowed us to create a great golf experience, but also offer tremendous views over the surrounding mountains and valleys. Everything is looking great. For Greg, myself, and everyone on the team, that feeling of seeing a design come to life never gets old. The guys have done an incredible job.”
For more information on Lido Lake Resort, please visit the official website: https://www.lidolakeresort.com/
5. Father’s Day Special for 2022 Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon
The team at Ernie Els Wines is pleased to announce that its latest release, the 2022 Ernie Els Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon, has been awarded a Silver Medal (92 points) in the International Wine Challenge. To commemorate Father’s Day on June 16, this vintage is presented in complementary gift box and is available to purchase in the winery’s online store.
Ernie Els Wines’ head winemaker and managing director Louis Strydom reveals some of the secrets of his success with this vintage…
“My wine making techniques evolve with every vintage and 2022 proved no different. With this vintage, I experimented with various maturation vessels for the Cabernet Sauvignon: primary fermentation in Nico Velo concrete tanks, followed by secondary fermentation in terracotta amphorae and oak barrels. The terracotta achieved a purity of fruit flavour, exuding minerality and flintiness, whilst the French oak provides structure and mid pallet allowing for decades of ageing.”
Purchase online for R350 at: www.ernieelswines.com/majorseriescabernetsauvignon. Free delivery for all local orders over R500. This vintage has also been certified as Vegan by V-Label.
