Nicklaus Design Asia, in association with Panorama Worldwide, opens office in Hong Kong

NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. - Nicklaus Design Asia, in an effort to service existing clients and create new business in the emerging markets of Asia, particularly China, has opened an office in Hong Kong. Nicklaus Design Asia is creating this office in association with Panorama Worldwide, LTD., which will assist with certain marketing and sales programs for golf course design and field support services in the territory.

Beginning Jan. 1, the Nicklaus Design-Panorama Worldwide association will have full-time representatives based in Hong Kong. They will service existing clients in Beijing, as well as additional clients in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Korea.

"Our primary focus is to expand efforts in China over the next few years," said Tim Kenny, Senior Vice President of Nicklaus Design. "We had a presence there for many years but returned all personnel and services in 1999. We think, however, that a resurgence in that region, and the attention that will be directed on the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, warrant a return.

"While this effort allows us to expand and take advantage of the emerging market of China, we can also provide clients more efficient service. At the same time, this allows us to conduct business with a more personal touch, which is key in the Asian market."

Principals with Panorama include Jean-Paul Pavlovic, a venture capitalist active in both Europe and Asia. He is also the managing partner on Kinloch Golf Resort, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course under construction in Lake Taupo, New Zealand.

Panorama's primary responsibility will be to identify prospective clients for Nicklaus Design Asia and to provide direct marketing contact with such prospects. Once the qualification process is completed, Panorama will act as a liaison between Nicklaus Design's business development staff.

Nicklaus Design has assigned a full-time golf course designer, who will be responsible for the initial site visit and site analysis, preparation of conceptual plan documents, and all technical support services usually associated with golf course design projects. Panorama will also provide technical consulting services for new clients, utilizing its bilingual staff.

Ken Baker, a Design Associate with Nicklaus Design, will be assigned to the territory. Baker has been with the Nicklaus organization since 1994, and has served as Design Associate or Coordinator on such acclaimed projects as The Bear's Club, Jack Nicklaus' South Florida home club in Jupiter, Fla.; The Summit Course at Cordillera in Edwards, Colo.; Cherry Creek Country Club in Denver; and most recently, Old Greenwood near Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Nicklaus Design, a family-based business founded by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and supported by all four of his sons and his son-in-law, is considered the world leader in golf course design. The firm currently has over 260 golf courses open for play in 27 countries and 35 states. Nicklaus Design has at least 55 golf courses spread across Asia, including 23 in Japan and 12 in China. They have another three in Asia under construction or under design.

Jack Nicklaus, in a golf course design career that is now in its fourth decade, has been involved in close to 220 of the company's design. Of those, 36 have appeared in various national and international Top-100 lists, and close to 70 Nicklaus Design courses have hosted a PGA Tour, Champions Tour (formerly the Senior PGA Tour), LPGA event, or national amateur championship.

Jack Nicklaus was named Golf World's Architect of the Year in 1993, and in 1999, Golf Digest said the Golden Bear was the world's leading active designer. In just the last two years, Jack Nicklaus has received no fewer than three awards related to his course design work, including the prestigious Donald Ross Award (presented by the American Society of Golf Course Architects) and the International Network of Golf's Achievement in Golf Course Design for 2000-01.