One of the last things you expect to see in the desert are gently sloping hills of green, trees and water everywhere, not to mention people with checkered pants carrying sticks of some sort. Even so, Egypt currently boasts no less than 18 golf courses, with this number due to double over the next 2 years.

Everything you need

One of those eighteen is the Golf course in El Gouna, which offers world-class golfing to all its residents and guests. Designed by Gene Bates and Fred Couples, and opened in 1999, El Gouna’s eighteen holes have been around for a while and have matured into a well known, well appreciated course not only in Egypt but in the rest of the world as well.

With its excellent location in the center of El Gouna, at the Steigenberger Golf resort, the incredible views of the majestic mountains bordering El Gouna, and the labyrinth of lagoons crossing through the resort, it is assured that this golf course has all the ingredients for a great golfing holiday.

Playing is excellent year-round, but the high season is between the middle of October to March. The weather is fairly consistent, never getting too cold. There is also very little chance of your day being “rained out”. The sun is out most of the year, although in summer, there might just be a little too much of a good thing for some people. If you are coming during the high season, make sure to book your tee-times well in advance.

Currently, the golf course has three resident pro’s to help you perfect your stroke, advise you on your game or teach you the very basics of golf. They provide PGA tuition for individuals, children, families or groups on request. For some well-needed practice there is the unique “aqua-driving range”, a putting- and a chipping green. And need a little pick-me-upper after one too many slices landing you in the water hazard? Treat yourself to any accessories or clothing in the Pro-shop in the clubhouse.

After playing a round, nothing feels better than a cool drink in the shade, which you can have at the lovely Terrace Green bar right on the putting green. Enjoy your first cocktail while watching the competition sweat. Life couldn’t be sweeter. The Rotisserie is the place to have dinner with fabulous views of the course and the rest of El Gouna.

The course

The course is designed to suit golfers of all levels. Absolute beginners will have an excellent, though rather spoiled, introduction into the sport. The advanced golfers playing the tournament circuit will find all the challenges and difficulties that make this game so captivating.

The course itself is an excellent mix of water, bunkers and desert roughs. Many of the long straight fairways look deceptively easy, but with the prevailing north wind, it takes some cunning and creativity to land your ball on the green. Once on the green you will find it very fast with some tricky slopes here and there. All the lagoons El Gouna is famous for can be found on the course as well, creating a lot of “distracting” water hazards.

One the pro’s mentions the ninth hole par 5 as one of his favourites, as the little body of water between the tee-off and the fairway causes some strange wind action and thus a very unpredictable drive. Another popular one is the sixteenth hole, the longest par 3, with only a rough between the tee-off and the green and side winds making the aim very challenging.

The El Gouna Golf club organises several tournaments throughout the year with the “El Gouna Greenjacket Open” being the most well-known. Open to everyone, amateurs, pro’s, residents and guests, this tournament will be the place to be for any golfer in Egypt in April 2009.

For information and bookings:
Tel: +20 127464712
Fax: +20 653580009 Internal ext: 32285
golf.club@elgouna.com

Opening times: every day from 7am till sunset.