Ground Broken on New Course in Egypt


Florida-based architect John Sanford has broken ground on a new golf course on the Mediterranean Sea in northern Egypt. Hacienda Bay, scheduled to open in fall 2009, will be Sanford's sixth design in Egypt. Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, and Nick Faldo have also designed courses in Egypt, helping the country become one of the world's foremost exotic golf destinations.

"I am very excited to have the opportunity to continue bringing the game of golf to the country of Egypt. Hacienda Bay's resort course is on a wonderful site and will be part of one of the world's great seaside developments," said Sanford, president of Sanford Golf Design. "With Egypt emerging in the international golf destination market, the North Coast is a perfect location for Europeans and world-wide visitors alike to visit for a unique golf vacation or a holiday on the beach."

Hacienda Bay is on the Mediterranean coast about 60 miles west of Alexandria and near the town of El Alamein, the famed World War II battleground where the British and Egyptian armies stopped Nazi Germany's Field Marshall Erwin Rommel as his Afrika Korps approached.

Hacienda Bay will have 27 holes, with phase 1 consisting of the initial 18 and the practice facilities. The course is routed in and around sand dunes dotted with villas, cabanas, and condos, and will measure over 7,200 yards from the tips. The signature feature of the target-style layout is a massive dune area that will allow golfers spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea from several holes.

"The master plan, with the sea involved, allowed us to route a core course that will offer a challenging desert golf experience adjacent to the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea," Sanford said. "As a golf course architect, it was exciting to work with the unique secondary dune area on the course, creating the opportunities for golfers to capture views of the sea from several of the holes."

Hacienda Bay is a large coastal development project headed by the Palm Hills Development Group of Egypt. In addition to the residential units and 27-hole course, it will include hotel properties, beachfront cabanas and condominiums, along with a holistic spa and international beach club.

Based in Jupiter, Sanford's company has completed more than 60 new and remodeled design projects in Asia, the Caribbean, Middle East and the U.S.