Golf architect John Sanford has started work on Hacienda Bay, a new golf course located on the Mediterranean coast of northern Egypt. The course, Sanford's sixth design in Egypt, is slated to open in late 2009.

Hacienda Bay is located on the Mediterranean coast about 60 miles west of Alexandria and adjacent to the town of El Alamein. The new course will have 27 holes, with phase one consisting of the first 18 and the practice facilities. The course is routed in and around sand dunes dotted with villas, cabanas and condominiums. The course will measure over 7,200 yards from the back tees and will be a desert target-style layout, and the design signature feature is a large sand dune area flowing through the course, with the golf holes running with it.

"The masterplan, 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 various residential units, it will include five star hotel properties, beachfront cabanas and condominiums, along with a holistic spa, international beach club, and the 27-hole Sanford golf course.