Golf Escapes 2009 - (Page 12) Egypt Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera Sunset at Taba Heights, which opened in 2007. The Sinai Taba HeigHTs golf ResoRT Golf is just one activity to dive into on the Sinai Peninsula. he Sinai Peninsula was where the Red Sea golf boom began over a decade ago, with the first course on the Red Sea Riviera at Sharm el Sheikh, near its southern tip. There are now two golf facilities at either end of the peninsula following the opening of a course at purpose-built resort Taba Heights, near the border village of Taba, two years ago. Because of the distance between them, golf is likely to be something you slot in when you are T taking a break from the region’s wonderful beaches, activities and sports. There is no shortage of things to do in the Sinai, unless you just want to take it easy and laze in the shade. One of Egypt’s top resorts, lively Sharm has plenty to keep you as busy as you want to be by day or by night. It pioneered Red Sea diving, developing from a haunt for divers to the allaction holiday hotspot it is today, catering to a broad spread of holidaymakers and having a strong family appeal. Taba Heights is a self-contained holiday destination which appeals to the active-minded with its plethora of activities. These are the Sinai’s golf facilities: taba Heights golf Resort Taba 18 holes, par 72, 7,093 yards www.tabaheights.com The Jolie Ville course in Sharm el Sheikh was the first to open on Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera. One of Egypt’s newest courses, this John Sandford layout opened in 2007 and enjoys a dramatic setting at the top of the Gulf of Aqaba, looking across the Red Sea to the mountains of its near neighbours. It is part of the stylish new resort of Taba Heights, which sits on a 5km stretch of beach and includes hotels with striking contemporary architecture in pastel shades. The stark Sinai Mountains rise up directly behind the resort, turning a glorious crimson in the setting sun along with the distant peaks across the Gulf. Holes climb up a slope towards the mountains before dropping back to the sea. The 17th green and 18th tee nestle close to the water’s edge. Because of the elevation changes, walking is not allowed. Buggies are mandatory and are included in the green fee. The hardest hole on the course, the 620-yard, par-5 14th, is also its longest – and one of Egypt’s longest. The course offers plenty of target golf for shot-makers, demanding approach shots to greens over water, bunkers, desert waste areas 12 Golf ESCAPES 2009 PeTeR ellegaRd http://www.tabaheights.com
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