Batchelor left today for Zagreb, the country's capital, on a 36-day due diligence mission that will set the stage for a longer trip in the second quarter of the year that could firm things up. Batchelor tells GlobeSt.com the current trip will involve setting up an office in Zagreb; visiting potential sites; figuring out local processes and procedures for development; determining what kind of financial obligation will be necessary and; determining what regional materials and manpower could be available for the project.

Croatia is roughly equivalent in size to West Virginia and home to 4.5 million people. The "C"-shaped country sits on the opposite side of the Adriatic Sea from Italy, and its government has started the process to join the European Union. Blackard has a certain affinity for the country, having developed in its hometown of McKinney a replica of Supetar, a Croatian fishing village on the Adriatic Island of Brac.

Blackard is looking for around 1,000 acres on which it would develop at least 27 holes of golf as well as a clubhouse, hotel, marina and residences. Blackard is interested in Croatia because of its topography; it has coastline available for development, says Batchelor. Croatia is interested because the PGA affiliation would support their bid to join the EU, he says.