Colin Montgomerie, along with architecture practice European Golf Design, has been signed up to design an 18-hole tournament golf course and nine hole short course for the Riffa Golf and Residential Development Company in Bahrain.

Riffa, set in 28 million sq ft of land with over 900 villas, is a luxury development which will include 24-hour security, an international school, restaurants, cafes, Masjid, Country Club, Spa, and fitness centre.

"I am delighted that Riffa has asked me to design both an 18-hole PGA Championship Course and a separate nine hole course," said Montgomerie. "Both courses present different and very exciting challenges and I can't wait to get started. I am really enjoying developing the course design side of my business and to be involved in Bahrain's first project of this magnitude is a terrific honour." Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Golf and Residential Development Company, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have Colin Montgomerie and European Golf Design on board. This is the first project of its kind in Bahrain, which incorporates leisure and international standard real estate in a scenic and tranquil community setting and having a golfer and course designer of Colin's calibre on board gives our golf facilities wonderful integrity." The contract to build the golf course, valued at €11.7 million, has been awarded to BGDNass, a new joint venture between Scottishbased Braemar Golf Developments and Bahrain-based Nass Contracting.