The $12.3 million project, funded entirely from donations, had plenty of critics. Tops among them were environmental groups that contended the course will slurp up huge amounts of scarce groundwater.

On the other side of the country at N.C. State, a course created by Arnold Palmer Design Company, remains on schedule. Construction on the 6,915-yard, par-71 course course began in summer of 2007 and is set to open in April of 2009.

Not only will the course serve as a new venue to the general public, but it will also provide N.C. State with many benefits. The University is one of 16 schools that has been accredited by the PGA of America and offers a B.S. in Professional Golf Management, but it has never had a course for field study.

Students in turfgrass management; parks, recreation and tourism management; sport management and business will all be able to use the golf course as an outdoor classroom.