Vijay Singh site Inspection

Fiji's international champion golfer Vijay Singh visited Natadola Marine Resort on January 18 to view the progress of work on the golf course he designed.

The 18-hole Vijay Singh Championship Golf Course is due to open early in 2008 and Vijay is passionate about the project.

This was his fourth trip to oversee work on the course – which he has previously described as his dream to do – and suggest changes and tweaking before the final touches are made.

"It's very hard in this day and age to get a site this close to the ocean, this beautiful setting five or six holes are playing right along the beach. It's one of the best locations you can get for a golf course," says Vijay.

"I want it not just to be an ordinary golf course; I want it to be a championship golf course where in future we can hold a lot of events."

Vijay Singh Tees Off

Along with the golf course, Vijay will set up and be personally involved in a Golf Academy where Fijian boys and girls can develop their game.

"I want to create a golf academy where we can give young kids a chance to play golf and also school scholarships as well where they can learn golf and go overseas and take up studying and either way they can become a good player or do something for themselves," he said.

Vijay believes golf will be one way for children to make a future for themselves.

"They have to start somewhere and the golf academy will be one way to start it," he said.

Vijay Singh Testing the Course

"I will make sure it will be one of the best academies in this region and there will be a lot of opportunities for the youth of Fiji."

Vijay says he will "stamp his mark" on Natadola and will be personally involved in running the academy. He hopes that one day he will return to the country of his birth to settle in the spectacular surroundings of Natadola.

"This is a great place to live and there are great properties around the golf course and so it'll be an incredible place to come and settle down."