Fry/Straka Global Golf Design has been commissioned by AECOM, a worldwide provider of technical services who is in charge of the project, to design the new Yas North Project golf course on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Construction is slated to begin in late 2016, with the opening of the first 9 holes in 2018. An additional nine holes will follow in the near future.
The developer of the project, ALDAR Properties, aims to turn Yas Island into a multi-purpose leisure, shopping and entertainment centre at an estimated total cost of 40 billion USD. Along with numerous hotels, Yas Island is already home of the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld, and plays host to the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.
“We are honoured to work on our first project in the U.A.E. with the premier developer in the region, ALDAR Properties, and with AECOM,” says Dana Fry, Principal of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design. Fry continues, “ALDAR’s mandate to Fry/Straka is to design a golf course that will serve as the centrepiece of the development and is of premier quality to match the other world class amenities on the island.”
ALDAR Properties intends to focus on family with the Yas North Project. The golf facility will also include a family- focused driving range and short game center. Along with the course, an amenity rich clubhouse will be surrounded by tennis courts, a soccer field, event lawn, and an artificial green putting course for families.
“The Yas North project is designed to be a mixed use facility combining a golf course and community facility. To have been able to appoint a course architect of the caliber of Dana Fry of Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design, is a statement of our intent in driving quality on our project,” said Howie Roberts, General Manager of Yas Links and ALDAR representative. Roberts continued, “We also wanted to move away from the similarities of other courses here in UAE, and we believe that working with Dana will allow us to achieve that. A course that will be memorable in its playability but also in the design away from the more traditional layouts of the area.”
Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design www.frystraka.com