Opened for the playing pleasure of golfers is the new NEWGIZA golf course in Cairo, Egypt.
Designed by the Thomson Perrett & Lobb firm, among whom is five-time Open champion the late Peter Thomson, and golf course architects Ross Perrett and Tim Lobb. The course is located on a 680-hectare development just south-west of the Cairo city and includes spectacular modernized housing, an ample sports arena along with universities, schools, and hotels throughout the community-based landscape.
Just a mere five miles from the Pyramids of Giza, work on the course started back in 2005. The course design seamlessly melds natural terrains into an inspiring environment for all players, professionals and amateurs alike.
“Working on this NEWGIZA course has been an incredible journey from complex design work, challenging construction conditions to seeing the course mature into a grown-up golf experience,” said Tim Lobb to GolfArchitecture.com. “We have been blessed with a wonderful client who supported our ideas, passionate construction teams and incredible greenkeeping staff to produce the course we see today.”
Uniquely set just outside of the famous pyramids, the site was designed to blend in with the historical landscape and enhance the local cultural heritage. Design-wise, the course has a variety of undulating greens, various changes in elevation and water hazards that will keep golfers challenged. For this particular course, no rough is included, but the many sandy waste areas line its fairways and a series of lakes cut through for the appreciation of water foul and foliage. Commentary from locals and others who have played rounds there is said to be very positive as the course is in immaculate shape and, has been cited by players as one of the most elite courses in the Middle East and North Africa.
