PRESS RELEASE December 17, 2003

PR Contact: Mike Jamison,
(407) -330-4674 , mike@jamisongolf.com

Eagle Creek Golf Club First In Florida To Use Mini Verde Grass On Its Greens

ORLANDO, FL ­ When Eagle Creek Golf Club opens in Southeast Orlando in the Spring of 2004, golfers will experience a new type of grass on the putting surfaces never before seen in the state of Florida.

Mini Verde, the fifth type of ultra dwarf Bermuda in existence, will provide Eagle Creek with extremely durable and fast-rolling putting surfaces, according to results seen in other parts of the south.

"Eagle Creek chose Mini Verde because we feel it will recover faster from stresses such as verticutting and disease pressures", said Eagle Creek Golf Course Superintendent Buck Buckner, formerly of Isleworth Country Club in Orlando.

Another great aspect of Mini Verde that the golfers will especially enjoy is that it will tolerate low mowing heights which equates to faster greens. And, the putting surfaces will have a darker green color.

Five other states ­ Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Arizona and Louisiana, - feature courses with Mini Verde greens. There will be many more in the future.

"It will be a natural progression", said Eagle Creek General Manager Gary Piotrowski. Tifeagle has been the most popular choice of grass on greens the last few years, but Mini Verde outperforms it in nearly every category, according to the superintendents we polled who have used both. The primary reason for choosing an ultra dwarf grass is to increase green speed. Ultra dwarfs can tolerate lower mowing heights. Secondly, these grasses appear to be cleaner (no off type grasses mixed in) than the majority of tifdwarf on the market today. And Mini Verde is at the top of the list.

Eagle Creek is a fascinating Ron Garl/Howard Swan design located on Narcoosssee Road just southwest of prestigious Lake Nona. The 7,198-yard, par-73 layout is a strategically demanding yet very playable golf courses, featuring ample landing areas and challenging green complexes. Swan's European background is apparent in the course's bunkering, as many of the 90 sand bunkers are rivetted, creating difficult recovery shots.

The most unique aspect of the Eagle Creek design is its five par 5's, including the terrific finishing hole. The 480-yard par 5 offers golfers a chance to finish in glory, reaching the green in two. But the sloping putting surface is bordered in front and to the right by water, requiring extreme accuracy on the approach.

The stunning clubhouse, vintage New England manor in appearance, overlooks the 18th hole. It features a 120-seat restaurant, a banquet room that accommodates 150 people, men's and women's locker rooms and a fully stocked pro shop.

In addition, Eagle Creek is an Audubon International Silver Signature course, and is the first course in Florida with Mini-Verde greens, providing outstanding playability and durability.
Eagle Creek's location, just 12 minutes from the Orlando International Airport, makes it a natural site for group outings and convention golfers. It is destined to become a favorite of the locals as well.

The golf course is distinctive Orlando golf with a European flair. It is designed to blend unobtrusively with the soon-to-be built homes in the master-planned Eagle Creek Golf Community. Homebuyers will have the option of choosing from different communities that will make up Eagle Creek. In addition, there will be a community park and recreation center for residents.

The Eagle Creek golf course and community are part of the subsidiary of Emerson International, Inc.; the United States division of the United Kingdom based Emerson Group.

For more information about Eagle Creek Golf Club, or to schedule a tee time please call (407) 273-GOLF or visit the club's Web site at www.eaglecreekgolf.info.