Justin Timberlake en la conferencia de prensa y jugando en Mirimichi

Justin Timberlake fue fotografiado con su familia y demás personas involucradas en este proyecto durante la conferencia de prensa. Asimismo, hay imágenes de Justin moviendose por el campo, jugando en el hoyo 11 y firmando algún que otro autógrafo a las fans. El cantante afirma que «nadie está más feliz que yo por este campo». Los precios van desde los 49 a los 59 dólares de lunes a jueves, y de 57$ a 71$ los viernes, fines de semana y festivos.

Mirimichi, rueda de prensa +25 imágenes

Timberlake bautiza campo de golf ambientalista

Justin Timberlake celebró la apertura de su remozado y ambientalista campo de golf con estilo, al golpear la pelota lanzándola 266 metros.

El cantante y actor sonrió el sábado luego de dar el primer golpe, diciendo que «nadie es más feliz con este campo» que él.

Timberlake fue el primero en jugar una ronda de golf en el campo de Mirimichi cerca de Memphis, Tenesí, luego de invertir 16 millones de dólares para ponerlo a tono con la preservación del ambiente.

Timberlake atrajo la atención de media decena de observadores cuando empezó a jugar los 18 hoyos a las 7:30 a.m.

El artista, quien es de Memphis, disfrutó del nuevo campo de golf junto a su madre, padrastro y un viejo amigo de la familia de Tenesí.

En el 2007, su papá le dio la idea de comprar el campo de golf.

‘Nobody’s happier’: Timberlake enjoys first round as Mirimichi golf course opens

Justin Timberlake twists around in his golf cart after bombing a 291-yard drive off the 10th tee, looks straight at me and says, «Come here». This confuses me. I actually look behind a few times to see if he’s talking to someone else, maybe one of his bodyguards or his playing partners. For the first nine holes on opening day Saturday at Timberlake’s Mirimichi golf course, I’ve been following the rules: Just watch and don’t get too close.

When word got out that Justin Timberlake was playing a round of golf Saturday at Mirimichi, his newly remodeled course, several young fans flocked to the links to get some postround autographs from the singer.

Those were the conditions under which I was allowed to witness him play Mirimichi’s first round of golf with his family.

They’re reasonable rules. This 7:30 a.m. round was family time with his mother, stepfather and an old family friend from Union City.

Justin Timberlake has plenty of fun playing the first round at the newly reopened Mirimichi golf course with his family Saturday as the par-72 course north of Memphis (it used to be Big Creek) officially opened for public play.

Before one of his equally confused PR people can catch up to me — calling out «Tom! Tom!» in a stage whisper — I get close enough to Timberlake to hear his invitation:

«Come ride a hole with me».

I’ve met Timberlake only once before, in August 1992.

He wouldn’t remember; he was 11.

The headline for that story stated: «Youngster Wins $16,000 With Talent».

The same youngster has just spent $16 million to renovate the old Big Creek Golf Course into Mirimichi, located between Memphis and Millington.

Timberlake played the front nine poorly, by his standards. (He usually shoots in the 70s.)

Timberlake doesn’t really keep score. He keeps things informal, not playing out every hole, hitting mulligans, and once even putting between his legs.

Maybe his 291-yard bomb down the 10th fairway put him in a better mood.

«Days like this, you don’t come out here and expect to play great», Timberlake says as he drives to his ball.

He talks about how happy Mirimichi makes him.

«Nobody’s happier about this course than I am».

We stop near his ball and Paul Harless, his stepdad, says, «That was a monster drive».

«And into the wind», Timberlake adds.

«You’re going to love this green», Timberlake says as he pulls out a 6-iron for a 161-yard shot.

The ball lands a foot off the left side of the green, which is dramatically long and narrow.

He chips downhill, the ball creeping 20 feet past on the fast green. He misreads the par putt — «How does that not break?» — and settles for one of his many bogeys on the day.

«Golfers are going to talk about these greens», Timberlake says, riding to the No. 11 tee. «The look and beauty and the challenge of them».

(I’m taking notes and smiling inside: His invitation is extending to two holes.)

«Think about what this course is going to be like in October» as the grasses and plants mature, he says. «And October 2012».

The 11th is a beautiful par 3, Mirimichi’s signature hole.

His tee shot lands on the left side of the green, 50 feet from the hole.

«Our mission is three-tiered», he says as we ride to the green.

«Create an amazing sanctuary for the community.

«Create an eco-friendly golf course (Mirimichi is the nation’s first to receive the «Audubon Classic Sanctuary» certification from Audubon International).

«And to have a public course that can be among the same names as Torrey Pines and Bethpage Black», he says, referring to the past two venues of the U.S. Open.

Timberlake doesn’t make par, but he doesn’t mind.

«I could stay on this green all day», he tells Harless and longtime family friend Jimmy White of Union City.

This hole, bordered by a babbling creek and pond, is his favorite.

«And that’s my favorite spot on the course», Timberlake says, pointing to the No. 15 green, which is enveloped on three sides by deep woods.

After busting another straight, 270-yard drive on the par-5 12th, Timberlake remains my chauffeur.

Asked whose idea it was to buy Big Creek, he says, «My dad called me. I was on tour. He said it was for sale and what if we bought it.

«I started laughing. But he didn’t laugh on the other end of the phone. Silence.

«I said, ‘You’re serious. I’m in. Let’s do it'».

He pulls out his fairway wood and hits to 88 yards short of the green.

«You can talk to a cut», he says of the ball flight that bends left-to-right. «But you can yell at a draw (which bends right to left for a right-hander) and it won’t do what you want it to».

He backs away from his wedge shot, telling an insect, «Get off the ball, bug … All right stay there then. You’re going for a ride. Brave, isn’t he?»

He strikes a solid shot, setting up a rare par.

Timberlake returns to the cart to say he loves the differences within Mirimichi.

The front nine feels «vast, wide-open», he says.

Of the more wooded back side, he says, «I love how the holes are protected by the trees».

Word of Timberlake’s family outing has spread and a gallery of about 50 people is now following along.

Among them is Vallie Williams, 34, who carries a video camera in one hand and a bag with Timberlake’s picture in the other.

She has been to 12 of his concerts but has never seen him in a place like this.

«I think it’s wonderful. It’s a different side you normally don’t see», she says.

After finishing his round, Timberlake is met by some young girls who hold out Mirimichi scorecards for him to autograph. He obliges.

As he drives away, 11-year-old Skylar Cochran clutches her scorecard, simultaneously squealing and jumping.