“…no where else in the world can one play golf in the shadows of the Great Pyramids!”

Golf

You didn’t know Egypt had golf?  Like many tourist destinations, they’ve discovered the value of the Royal & Ancient game and the type of people who play it.
One often hears of the scenic views surrounding golf courses around the world. Walk into any real golf enthusiasts’ home or office and one is likely to see beautiful landscapes in Scotland or England, or even the US.  But no where else in the world can one play golf in the shadows of the Great Pyramids, or play 18 holes in the morning, and then visit the mountain where Moses passed down the ten commandments in the afternoon. 

And there are few rain checks.  In Egypt, the weather is almost certain to accommodate ones desire to play golf (and perhaps, sight seeing, shopping and other activities might accommodate a bored spouse at the same time). And for the sporting man or woman, there are many other activities such as scuba diving in some of the best spots in the world.

Egypt is an expansive country and its golfing centres are linked only by long journeys. Unless you have a couple of weeks to saunter it would be advisable to restrict yourself to two centres at most. Make one of those Cairo, and you’ll start on the right foot to the doorstep of the city.

There are five courses scattered around the city suburbs. The Dreamland Golf & Tennis Resort is a 2,000 acre resort, complete with theme park, hotels and every facility. It’s quite a sight, a big, sprawling emerald oasis.

The course, designed by Karl Litten of Dubai renown, is one of the highest quality in design and presentation, with some of the finest greens in Africa.

The Katameya Heights club is what westerners would recognize as a country club. It has a tennis centre, swimming pools, a health and fitness centre, a crèche, a medical clinic, in fact everything that opens and shuts.

In golfing terms there’s a par-72, a nine hole par-35, a double ended practice range with target greens, a golf academy and all the usual in-house facilities, including seven restaurants and bars, plus caddies, carts and pull trolleys. The opulent clubhouse would win awards anywhere and visitors are made most welcome.

The course is set on undulating country in one of Cairo’s more desirable suburbs and there are 250 or so swish villas on the high points. Living here wouldn’t be too onerous.

It’s a most unusual course on two counts: the first is that it resembles a British moorland course, heavily undulating and with sparse foliage; the second is that it was designed by a Frenchman, Yves Bureau. He obviously knows his onions. It’s another beauty.

There is only one golf course at Luxor but it is well worth the journey and in any event you’ll want to see the ancient relics that attract millions of visitors every year.

 Egypt offers a variety of golf courses including:

Alexandria Sporting Club in Alexandria, Egypt
The Cascades, Soma Bay on the Red Sea
Dreamland Golf & Tennis Resort, Cairo, Egypt
The Gezira Club, Cairo, Egypt
Jolie Ville, Sharm el Sheikh in Sinai
Katameya Heights, Cairo, Egypt
Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt
Mirage City, Cairo, Egypt
Pyramids Golf Course and Country Club, Cairo, Egypt
Royal Valley Golf Club, Luxor, Egypt
The Golf Club at El Gouna, Egypt

Then, of course, there are the after golf attractions: the culture, the gentle people, the desert and the incredible residue of 7,000 years of recorded history bringing sights to die for. It’s a unique destination for a holiday.

  The Alexandria Sporting Club In Alexandria, Egypt | Back

Built in 1898 and used during the British occupation, the Alexandria Sporting Club is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Egypt. Today, the golf course stands on 97 feddans, 97 percent of which constitutes the total club area.  It is a flat course with tricky bunkers and can be played by beginners as well as experts.  The club also features four restaurants, the Club House Restaurant being the most luxurious, and the Happy Land restaurant serving the children's playground.

About the course:  18 holes, Par 70, 5,960 yards, rating 69, two tees
Who Can Play:  Annual memberships, daily golf, tourist groups welcome
Golf Services:  Pro Shop, caddies, trolleys, club rental
Learning to Play:  Golf pro, lessons
About the Clubhouse:  Restaurant
Other Facilities:  The course is part of the Alexandria Sporting Club, which has two swimming pools, horseracing, croquet, tennis, squash, basketball, football, board games, and many other facilities.

 The Cascades Golf & Country Club, Soma Bay| Back

18-hole Championship Golf Course, Par 72, 6.864 yds, designed by Gary Player with adjacent 9 hole short range academy course, Par 27, 1229 yds.

The Cascades is the model golf course of Egypt. It is a links-course with breathtaking scenery: some ranges have been placed right beside the sea. The almost constant northerly wind has been taken into consideration in the layout of this course. An absolute treat for the experienced player, but fairly impossible for beginners. These will find the 9-hole short-range academy course fitting. Large impressive club house with golf hotel.

Facilities: Golf hotel The Cascades with Club House, pro shop, driving range, putting and chipping green, power carts, caddies, trolleys and club rental, golf academy.
Extras: Thalasso-therapy & Wellness Center within the Golf hotel The Cascades
Note: Handicap -36 (no handicap limitation for the Academy Course), soft spikes only

The Gezira Club In Cairo, Egypt| Back

The 111 year old, par 70 golf course, the first in Egypt, was once also its best.  Before the Nasser Era, it was an 18 hole course used only by British nationals.
About the Course:  18 holes (played on 9 fairways), Par 70, 5860 yards, rating 68, three tees

Who can Play:  Annual memberships, daily golf
Golf Services:  Pro Shop, caddies, trolleys, driving range, club rental
Learning to Play:  Golf Pro, lessons
About the Club:  The course is part of the Gezirah Sporting Club, which includes four restaurants, swimming, lighted tennis, tennis pros and lessons, squash, croquet, playing fields, walking tracks, exercise facilities, equestrian, basketball, children's play areas, saunas, bridge and board games

 Jolie Ville Golf Resort, Sharm El Sheikh| Back

18-hole Championship Golf Course, Par 72, 6021m, designed by John Stanford.
A typical resort golf course, the Jolie Ville Golf Course, bordered by private real estate, features numerous water obstacles and a fantastic view of the mountains. It is a fair course with something for every level. First class service in the Club House Facilities: Clubhouse, pro shop, driving range, putting & chipping green, power carts, caddies, and golf academy.
Note: Unfortunately only for guests of the Mövenpick hotels (as of September 2003)

 Katameya Heights Golf and Tennis Resort | Back

Egypt has not traditionally been known as a golf destination. This changed however with the opening of the first true Championship Golf Course. Since January 1997, Katameya Heights Golf & Tennis Resort has been a fully operational resort community for those who love the challenge of golf and tennis, while enjoying a wide variety of recreational and social facilities. Just 20 minutes from Cairo’s International Airport and conveniently located between Cairo’s distinguished districts of Heliopolis and Maadi.
This 5 star deluxe resort features 27 holes of championship golf, practice facilities and a golf academy. Set amid endless rolling hills of golfing green, our Clubhouse stands in recognized glory with restaurants, lounges, bars, a swimming pool, health spa, state of the art fitness center and a fully stocked Pro shop.

Katameya Heights is also the site of the prestigious “El Shafei Tennis Ranch”, the perfect facility for tennis in a lively atmosphere. Our children’s Clubhouse “The Hangout” is dedicated to provide everything the junior members could wish for. 

 Golf at the Mena House Oberoi | Back

The Mena House Oberoi is certainly one of the finest, if not the finest hotels in Egypt, and perhaps the world. It is the only grand that has a close view of the Great Pyrmaids of Egypt. The golf course overlooks the Pyramids, and is one of the oldest and most mature in Egypt.

 Mirage City, Cairo, Egypt | Back

When it comes to great golf experiences, the newly opened Golf Club at the Mirage City JW Marriott hotel doesn't miss a detail. The golf course is at the intersection of the Cairo Ring Road and the Cairo-Suez Highway and covers 250 acres.

About the Course:  18 holes, Par 72, 6944 yards, rating 73, three tees
Who can Play:  Annual memberships, daily golf for guests at Marriott, tourist groups welcome
Golf Services:  Pro Shop, caddies, power carts, driving range, club rental, tournaments, beverage and food service on the course
Learning to Play:  Golf Pro, lessons, swing analyzer and other electronic equipment, golf academy
About the Clubhouse:  Three restaurants, function rooms, bar, billiards, library, board room

 Pyramids Golf and Country Club In Cairo, Egypt | Back

About the Course:  36 holes, 9 lighted, championship course Par 72, 7004 yards, four tees
Who can Play:  Annual memberships, daily golf, tourist groups welcome
Golf Services:  Pro Shop, caddies, power carts, 300m lighted driving range, club rental, tournaments, beverage and food service on the course
Learning to Play:  Golf Pro, lessons, swing analyzer, golf academy
About the Clubhouse:  Three restaurants, swimming pool

 Royal Valley Golf Club | Back

About the Course:  18 holes, Par 72, 6735 yards, rating 72, four tees
Who can Play:  Annual memberships, daily golf, tourist groups
Golf Services:  Pro Shop, caddies, power carts, club rental, double driving range
Learning to Play:  Golf Pro, lessons
About the Clubhouse:  Restaurant and bar

 Golf & Fitness Club El Gouna | Back

18-hole Championship Golf Course, Par 72, 6.269 m, resort designed by Michael Graves, golf course by Gene Bates & Fred Couples.

An impressive course with a spectacular location between lagoons,  waterways, mountains and surrounding desert with a stunning view of the mountains and the sea. A fair course that can be challenging with sometimes strong northerly winds. Water plays an important role on this course, so make sure to bring enough balls along!

Facilities: Club House, proshop, aqua driving range, putting & chipping green. Power carts, caddies, trolleys and club rental, golf academy.
Extras: Health & fitness club with gym, sauna & steam bath, relaxing area with pools and four massage rooms (Egyptian-, Oriental-, Thai-, Ayurveda- and Polynesian massages).
Note: Handicap: -45 / soft spikes only