Phoenix Golf & Country Club
With an air of healthy scepticism I passed through the
understated entrance of Phoenix Golf Club to explore the latest in a
long line of property development projects popping up along the Eastern
Seaboard, as the ‘boom’ just gets bigger and better.
As I drove down a countrified road towards the clubhouse I was
immediately struck by a sense that I was entering another world. Around
me and as far as the eye could see, gentle undulations of lush lawn and
fairways swept away into the misty distance.
I hardly noticed that there was a golf course there at all, so
congruously aesthetic were the bunkered ochres and spectrum greens. I
found myself purring, “Yes, I like this place.”
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The Developer
‘Kudu’ (www.kuduthailand.com) calls itself “a niche property
developer focused on contemporary design-driven residences”. Until now,
most of their work has been done in and around the central business
district of Bangkok, but the great secret of the beauty of life in and
around Pattaya has crept into the consciousness of its Managing
Director, Arthur Napolitano.
Arthur Napolitano
Managing Director
Kudu Co., Ltd.
I had the immediate impression that everything with
Arthur is a conscious decision based on form, function and how it all
interacts with the surroundings. His soft yet immaculately articulate
conversation betrayed an individual who is absolutely aware of the
importance of meshing the 3 key elements of a refreshing living
experience. “Kudu’s philosophy,” he tells me, “is to create contemporary
design, merging great architecture, landscape and interior design”.
The common thread is Kudu’s unremitting commitment to fusing the
best of the imaginative West with the traditions of the East, and to do
this is a contemporary manner.
It
became evident very quickly that Arthur knows precisely what he wants
and how to get it.
At Phoenix, what he is doing is as ambitious as it is innovative, as
imaginative as it is concordant, as unique as it is inspiring. “The
Lakes at Phoenix” is a project sited on approximately 20 rai (32,000sqm)
of land surrounded by fairways and water features on the Lake Course.
The development will consist of two low rise buildings, each with less
than 40 apartments.
Stunning view from the
Club House.
Arthur showing us the
location.
Building A Great Development Team
Arthur spoke with eloquence and obvious passion about ‘simple
lines, form, light and space’.
A growing movement towards creative yet environmentally sensitive design
for the twenty first century is being led by people such as Arthur. He
recognises that environmental sustainability is about the reciprocal
relationships between people and the environment/landscape/nature
itself.
This also happens to make good business sense, to which end the
Australian design architects Hassell, renowned experts in their field,
have been engaged to create a development concept where the architecture
compliments and does not compete with the spectacular lush surroundings.
Apart from teaming up with Hassell, Kudu has added Savills to the
team as the lead sales agent and marketing consultant. Main focus will
be potential buyers in Bangkok as well as overseas who are keen to
identify a home close to the capital, a home though that offers a very
different sporting and relaxing environment, nestled in the midst of a
golf course!
Lake Course Hole #7,
challenging Par 3 - 175 yds. Water to the left, Bunkers in front and
‘The Lakes’ on the right.
Spectacular view to Buddha
Mountain.
Location, Location, Location!
It occurred to me that Phoenix Golf & Country Club is truly
situated in an ideal location.
I contemplated this in greater detail; fifteen minutes to the gentle
waters and seafood delights of Ban Saree, fifteen minutes to gastronomic
gratification and other associated pleasures in Pattaya, fifteen minutes
to any number of international schools in the area and fifteen minutes
away from a number of other superb golf courses in the immediate area.
In fact, fifteen minutes to anywhere!
With the planned extension of Route 7 from the Mabprachan Reservoir to
Ban Chang, there is to be an exit 300 metres from the entrance of
Phoenix Golf & Country Club which will only serve to make the
accessibility of The Lakes at Phoenix even more convenient.
Besides the great location and accessibility of the Golf Club itself,
the project also distinguishes itself location wise by the fact that it
is nestled at the very hearth of the golf course. Set amidst the
fairways and the spectacular tropical landscape of lakes and hills, this
location offers ever lasting views to the rolling hills of Ban Saree,
Buddha Mountain and the Wat Yan complex, as well as to the sea. The
never ending panoramas simply add a sense of the exigent.
Community
Many of the prospective buyers are families looking for a
weekend home in a lush tropical environment and which is very different
from their urban lifestyle. To cater to that part of the market Kudu
and Hassell are creating facilities to keep all family members happy
and active. Key features will include an expansive free form water area,
a children’s playground as well as a great gym, tennis courts, beauty
and massage parlour and an outdoor bar/dining facility.
Great Investment Opportunity
What about affordability and capital appreciation?
These luxury, contemporary, freehold condominiums will consist of 1, 2
and 3 bedroom units, a number of which will be duplex, as well as ground
floor garden units and penthouses with roof gardens. Starting at 4.8
million baht for single bedroom units (better whisper it or they’ll be
gone) you can become part of the new reality. Four bedroom penthouses
(400 SqM), replete with roof garden are a little steeper at just over 30
million. But you’ll have a Thai Elite card thrown in for your trouble.
It’s pretty certain that the Bangkok Thai buyers are going to have stiff
competition from the expatriate community for these veritable jewels in
the rough. After all, it’s a limited edition and the rare combination of
affordability, accessibility and the potential capital appreciation is
surely reason enough to snap one up.
