Construction has begun on European Golf Design’s first course in Russia. Appointed by Russian real estate investment and development group OPIN, the PGA National Russia course will form part of the new exclusive Zavidovo Lake Resort community. Located 130km north west of Moscow, Zavidovo is a well-known resort location among Russians, especially Muscovites.

Plans include an eighteen hole, 7,400 yard golf course, and a nine hole course to be built alongside a PGA National Golf Academy, which will include an integrated short game range, practice bays, practice greens, swing studios and a teaching facility. EGD staffer Dave Sampson is the project architect. Sampson joined EGD in 2004 after winning a competition run by Golf World to design a hole at the company's Linna Golf project in Finland.

“The expectations and ambition for this project are high,” commented Constantin Zabrodin, CEO of the Russian resort. “Zavidovo Lake Resort golf course is going to become one of Russia’s top courses, built with the purpose of hosting major golf tournament events and further promoting the game in this country with an emphasis on juniors, elite amateurs and future professionals. Branded as ‘PGA National Russia’, it is going to become not just an advanced training centre, but the headquarters of Russian professional golf.”

In addition to the golf courses, 5,000 residential dwellings, two marinas and a vibrant town centre will form part of the resort.

Local company Geokam will be building the course under the construction management of UK firm Braemar Golf. The first eighteen holes are due to open in July 2011.