Groundbreaking is scheduled for the end of this month on a project to build a ‘world class’ golf course in the city of Port Harcourt, southern Nigeria.

Port Harcourt is among Nigeria’s wealthiest cities, and is the centre of the country’s booming oil industry. Rivers State governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is spearheading the development of a new city, alongside the existing international airport. Greater Port Harcourt City is planned to cover 1,900 sq km, of which the golf course will comprise 87 ha. An additional 20 ha of land has been set aside alongside the course for golf-related housing development.

The course is to be designed by South African architect Robert O’Friel. Plans call for the 27-hole course to be open by May 2016. It will be the fourth in the state, while Governor Amaechi has also pledged to redevelop the existing Port Harcourt Golf Club, which dates from 1928, to international standards.

Amaechi said the state government and Nigerian investment group ARM – which has been involved with the development of other golf projects in the country – will each provide a quarter of the estimated NGR 9 billion (US$74 million) cost of the golf course.