New course near Egypt’s pyramids opens for play

NEWGIZA golf course in Cairo, Egypt, has opened for play
The layout is the final design of the Thomson Perrett & Lobb firm
The course is located in a quarry setting just out of Cairo
The layout features significant changes in elevation, water hazards and undulating greens
“We have been blessed with a wonderful client who supported our ideas,” says Tim Lobb
The course is part of a 680-hectare development in the south-west of Cairo
“The design delivers at the very pinnacle of great golf course architecture,” said Kevin Murray
“Since first walking the site in 2005 we knew we had the potential to do a unique course,” said Ross Perrett
Lobb said that design work was complex and that there were challenging construction conditions
Perrett said that they worked hard to include views of the Pyramids and to give context to the local cultural landscape

By Richard Humphreys

Thu 11 Apr, 2019

The NEWGIZA golf course in Cairo, Egypt, has opened for play.

The course is the final design by the Thomson Perrett & Lobb firm, which comprised of the late Peter Thomson, a five-time Open champion, and golf course architects Ross Perrett and Tim Lobb.

It is part of a 680-hectare development in the south-west of the city that includes upscale housing, sports arena, hotels, schools, universities and a community hub.

Work on the layout, which is five miles from the Pyramids of Giza, began in 2005.

“Working on this NEWGIZA course has been an incredible journey from complex design work, challenging construction conditions to seeing the course mature into a grown-up golf experience,” said Tim Lobb.

“We have been blessed with a wonderful client who supported our ideas, passionate construction teams and incredible greenkeeping staff to produce the course we see today.”

Ross Perrett added: “Since first walking the site in 2005 we knew we had the potential to do a unique course in this quarry setting just out of Cairo. Working hard with the client and development team we planned a course that would explore a lot of the site, including views of the Pyramids and give a context to the local cultural landscape.”

The course features significant changes in elevation, water hazards and undulating greens. There is no rough, with landscaped sandy waste areas lining the fairways, and a series of lakes.

Initial reaction to the layout has been very positive. Golf writer Chris Bertram said: “It is instantly one of the elite courses in the Middle East and North Africa by virtue of the variety of holes and consistent entertainment. And even early in its life, it is immaculately conditioned."

Golf course photographer Kevin Murray said: “To set a course against one of the true wonders of the world is a brave and daring proposition. The vision to craft a layout that sits naturally in the imposing terrain of NEWGIZA is a skill not many are blessed with.”

View more of Kevin Murray’s photography of the NEWGIZA course.

He added: “From a playable and visual perspective, the design delivers at the very pinnacle of great golf course architecture. I was very proud to be chosen as the first golf photographer to capture the brilliance and majesty of NEWGIZA.”