Golf Escapes 2009 - (Page 18) Egypt Fairway to heaven: the Royal Valley Golf Club is near the tombs of Egypt’s pharaohs. Peter ellegard Luxor Pharaohs and fairways in the heart of ancient Egypt. O nce the site of Egypt’s ancient capital, Thebes, Luxor and its surrounding area positively reek of the past. In short, it is the world’s largest outdoor museum. By contrast, golf is very much a recent arrival. Luxor’s Arthur Davis-designed golf course only opened 10 years ago. Pharaohs and fairways come together royally in Luxor. At the Royal Valley Golf Club you can play from King Tut tees in the shadow of the temples and tombs of Egypt’s ancient ruling dynasties. Luxor’s mild winters are ideal for golf, and the course serves up golf fit for kings and queens. One of the joys of playing Royal Valley is that slow play is unheard of. In fact, chances are you won’t bump into any other golfers at all and you may even have the course to yourself. But that is a shame, because it is an undiscovered beauty best shared with golfing partners. Royal Valley golf Club Luxor 18 holes, par 72, 6,735 yards www.golfluxor.com Located on Luxor’s East Bank, 13km from its centre and 8km from the airport, Royal Valley is a course of two halves. After a front nine of generous fairways, numerous water hazards and protected greens, the back nine’s rolling fairways are narrower and feature larger waste areas. A long lake shared by the 10th and 18th fairways provides a formidable obstacle, notably on the finishing, par-5 hole. At 560 yards, it is the longest hole and finishes by the impressive Nubian-style clubhouse. Each hole has four tee positions. The King Tut tees tip the scales at 6,735 yards, while ladies and juniors tee up on Nefertity [Nefertiti] from a friendlier 5,215 yards. The evocative tee markers are reminders of this area’s rich past, being miniature busts of their pharaonic namesakes (the other tee positions are Ramsis [Ramses] II and Sphinx). Don’t forget to look up as you play. In the distance you can see the West Bank mountains bearing the valleys where the ancient kings and queens were laid to rest. Playing in such atmospheric surroundings adds a special element to a round at the Royal Valley, one that you will remember for a long time. Accommodation: Among quality Luxor hotels you can base yourself at are the Sheraton Luxor, the Hilton Luxor, the Sonesta St George and the historic Sofitel Winter Palace. The Iberotel Luxor, a short stroll from Luxor Temple, is the 18 Golf ESCAPES 2009 http://www.golfluxor.com
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