Golf Escapes 2009 - (Page 14) Egypt The Western Red Sea Egypt’s fastest-growing golf region. he Western coast of the Red Sea is where much of Egypt’s golf development is being focused. Since the region’s first golf course opened in 1998, at Soma Bay, it has been joined by three other full-size 18-hole courses as well as a designer par-3 layout. That number is likely to increase substantially as the country continues opening up new resorts and expanding existing ones down the length of this part of the Red Sea Riviera coastline. The newest course to open in the area is the 7,500-yard Madinat Makadi course in the purpose-built resort village of the same name, less than half an hour from Hurghada International Airport. It highlights how Egypt is developing is golf product, by having golf courses alongside upmarket resort hotels so that they are a complete destination. In Madinat Makadi’s case, the brand new Jaz Makadi Golf hotel is at the centre of the resort’s golf complex while sister properties in the resort as well as facilities including restaurants, a souk, entertainment and the beach are reached by shuttles. A tourist train also links hotels and other facilities in the main part of the resort. The development is continuing. Just up the coast is the fledgling resort of Sahl Hashish. The plan is to turn it into a luxury resort with a fantasy element, featuring a sunken “lost city” featuring submerged ruins. It will also have two golf courses initially, but up to eight eventually. Close by is Hurghada City, the gateway to the Western Red Sea and an established sun, sand 14 Golf ESCAPES 2009 T and sea holiday destination in its own right. Along with the Sinai’s Sharm el Sheikh, it is the main centre for diving in the Red Sea. It also now has a golf facility, albeit a par-3 course. The region’s other championship-standard golf courses are also in beach resorts which have sprung up in recent years – El Gouna, Soma Bay and Ain Soukhna – and new courses are in the pipeline or planning stage for all three. With golf in close proximity for the most part – all but Stella di Mare are within 35 minutes of Hurghada City – it makes a golfing holiday very much an option in this area, allowing golfers to base themselves in one resort and play at others after a short journey. The Western Red Sea is also perfect if you prefer a beach vacation with some occasional golf. And at just four hours from Luxor it is perfect for a two-centre stay. Stella di Mare golf Resort Ain Soukhna 18 holes, par 72, 7,108 yards www.stelladimare.com Located near the top of the Gulf of Suez, Stella di Mare is the closest Red Sea resort to Cairo and just over an hour by road from the capital. The Links, designed by Karl Litten, opened in 2006 and offers golfers wide, rolling fairways which invite full-blooded drives but Stella di Mare is just over an hour’s drive from Cairo. Stella di Mare Golf reSort http://www.stelladimare.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.