In the last seven years, Egypt has experienced a golfing renaissance with 10 new golf courses and resorts opening in all different parts of the country. It is noteworthy that prior to this, there were only three functioning golf courses, two of which are only nine holes. The level of interest in golf has grown exponentially over the last few years and many new courses are currently under construction. Tourists have found the idea of golfing in Egypt extremely appealing for many reasons. The weather in Egypt throughout the winter is simply beautiful, with average temperatures in the neighborhood of 24 degrees Celsius. This gives any European visitor a great opportunity to escape the harsh European winters and get some sun and play golf on some fantastic golf courses. Also, the service that is available is truly outstanding at incredible prices. Greens fees in Egypt are 70% cheaper than comparable courses in Europe, and we believe that the service provided is better.

Dreamland Golf Course

In Cairo, the Pyramids Golf Course at Dreamland is a championship caliber 18-hole golf course lying just a few kilometers from the Giza pyramids with some magnificent views from the course. If history is the primary interest, the Mena House golf course is unique in that this small set of nine holes sits literally a stone's throw from the base of the Giza pyramids. In the shadow of Cheops (the largest of the Giza pyramids), one can enjoy a simple nine holes and have a cold beer at the cozy clubhouse managed by Oberoi International. Both of these courses are connected to hotels providing 4 star accommodation: the Hilton manages the hotel at Dreamland, and Oberoi International manages the Mena House.

On the other side of town are another pair of world class courses in Katameya Heights and Mirage City. Katameya Heights is primarily an exclusive real estate development but the course is open to the public and special deals are offered to foreigners. The clubhouse and pool facilities are especially impressive at Katameya, and are managed by a professional foreign staff. Mirage City has arguably the most beautiful landscaping of all the courses in Egypt with manicured greens and colorful trees and plants surrounding the fairways. Mirage also boasts a massive JW Marriott Hotel overlooking the course, providing 5 star accommodation and all the amenities any visitor could want.

In central Cairo lies the home of golf in Egypt: Gezira Sporting Club. Although this is course perfectly situated on the island of Zamalek on the Nile, the management of the club has neglected the nine holes that remain, and the quality of the greens is sub-par. However, the location alone makes this course an interesting play. It is ideal for the business traveler staying downtown and is only minutes from all the main 5-star hotels in the country. The final course in the greater Cairo area is Soleimanah, just north of the city. Soleimanah is the most massive of golf developments in Egypt with 45 holes to play and its own hotel on the premises. Unfortunately the hotel is managed in-house and thus the service leaves something to be desired. Even worse is that due to the religious convictions of the owner, alcohol is not served at either the hotel or the golf course.

Beyond Cairo, there are several courses that are a must-see. The Cascades at Soma Bay is arguably the most beautiful golf course in the Middle East and rivals any course in the world in terms of pure beauty. Soma Bay is 500 km south of Cairo on the coast of the Red Sea. These 27 holes are a Gary Player design and are a links style directly on the Red Sea. The views on the course are as beautiful as they come and the wind blowing from the sea makes for an extremely challenging round of golf. Soma bay as a resort currently has both Robinson Club and Sheraton hotels, providing world class accommodation. In addition, a beautiful boutique hotel called the Residence has just opened directly on the golf course with unbelievable views of the course and the Red Sea behind it. The Residence also has an exclusive world class Spa providing everything from massages to mud baths and all kinds of beauty services. Several new hotels are being built on this beautiful bay that also has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world to go along with some incredible dive sites. Further up the coast (closer to Cairo) is El Gouna, a massive touristic development also on the Red Sea. In addition to two 18-hole golf courses, Gouna has many hotels, residential commercial real estate on private lagoons off the sea. Just across the Gulf of Suez is the popular resort of Sharm El Sheikh. The Movenpick Hotel has the only golf course in Sharm with 18 holes open only to guests of the hotel. A new 18-hole course is currently under construction just north of Sharm that looks to be world class and should be fully operational within one year.

Overall, Egypt is an ideal winter destination for any golfer interested in beautiful weather and world-class service at extremely competitive prices. We believe that anyone who comes experiences golf in Egypt will not leave unsatisfied and will most definitely return for more.