Palm Hills, destined to be one of Egypt’s most prominent residential communities, has announced that Nicklaus Design will create its first golf course in Egypt. The community’s centrepiece will be a 27-hole golf course with views of the Pyramids
“We are pleased to have Nicklaus Design onboard,” said Shehab A. Mazhar, Palm Hills‘ land planner and architect. “Nicklaus Design is recognized as the industry leader worldwide, and we are excited that they are bringing their expertise and reputation to Egypt and to Palm Hills. To be associated with a design firm that is founded by the greatest player in history, one of the game’s great minds, and one of the industry’s great course designers adds a great deal of credibility to what we are trying to accomplish at Palm Hills. We believe Nicklaus Design’s involvement ensures us that we will provide players with a state of-the-art, challenging and memorable golf experience to complement the desired atmosphere, comfort and luxury every member at Palm Hills will expect.”
The 27-hole golf course, spread across more than 275 acres of land near Cairo, will be the largest golf course in the country; thus elevating Palm Hills as the premier golf course destination in Egypt. “The creating of this golf course comes at an ideal time, as its development coincides with the government’s efforts to turn Egypt into a golf destination,” said Yassin Mansour, chairman of Palm Hills Developments.
The golf course is part of Palm Hills‘ “The Club – Golf Spa & Resort.,” The project will enjoy complete spa facilities and a hotel, all of which will serve to establish Palm Hills as a centre of attraction for recreational activities and facilities.
Golf in Egypt, although still young by global standards, does have its history and certainly a bright future. Historians have said that golf’s roots in Egypt stretch to the late 1800s; however, most say that golf was introduced there by the British around the first World War. By the middle of the 20th century, there were seven fully operational golf courses in Egypt, but it wasn‘t until the last decade that the country truly embraced the game and a boom in golf development began. With the support of the Ministry of Tourism and the Egyptian Golf Federation, the country began in earnest its promotion of Egypt as a golf destination. With a reported eight courses opening in the 1990s, Egypt now has at least 15 courses open for play and an estimated 10 more under development.
Although Nicklaus Design is widely regarded as the world’s leading design firm – with 293 courses open for play in 28 countries – this is the company’s first foray into Egypt. Currently, Nicklaus Design has 79 projects under development in 30 countries, and for the last three years has enjoyed more design work on an international level than domestically.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our organization and, hopefully, for Palm Hills and the country of Egypt,” said Nicklaus Design President Jack Nicklaus II. “There is already so much history intertwined into this project – with spectacular views of the Pyramids and water for the golf course coming directly from the Nile River. The chance to design a course of this nature is a privilege for our design firm. More important is the opportunity to grow the game of golf in yet another country, and for the developers of Palm Hills to have the confidence in Nicklaus Design to play a key role in that growth is greatly appreciated.”
It is expected that construction will begin on the golf course by the end of 2006.
Nicklaus Design www.nicklaus.com.
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