Ernie Els has signed a deal with Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed IFA Hotels & Resorts to create a golf course and associated facilities at the R10 billion Zimbali Lakes development on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

Zimbali Lakes will include an Ernie Els Signature Golf Course, Els Performance Golf Academy, Ernie Els Suites, an apartment development linked to the golf academy for around 200 students, and a Big Easy Bar & Grill. This combination of facilities is the first such set-up by Ernie and his award-winning design firm on the African continent and is expected to boost golf tourism to South Africa.

“We are excited to partner with Zimbali Lakes and IFA Hotels & Resorts as we share like-minded ambitions and values,” commented Ernie. “What we’re creating here is going to be very special indeed. This is a perfect opportunity for us due to Zimbali Lakes’ location, close to the King Shaka International Airport, and also with some of the best schools in South Africa in close proximity.”

Speaking of the wider virtues of this area, Ernie went on to say, “Ballito has more gated communities per square metre than any other area in South Africa, which boasts many high-end properties that others around the world would love to call home. Club Med choosing to develop just north of Ballito indicates that this will now become an international destination, and with that comes huge international investment opportunities and exposure.”

Ernie also announced that he will set-up a home at Zimbali Lakes. “Many people will know that my primary home is in Florida, however my family will always call South Africa home,” he commented. “Being able to spend time in a quality location such as this, where security, privacy, and lifestyle come first, is not too hard a decision. Also, the mild weather conditions on the north coast during the winter months will be perfect to spend time with my family and friends here.”

Wayne Krambeck, senior vice-president of operations at Zimbali Lakes, added, “Ernie building at the estate is one of the most exciting aspects of our relationship with him. He knows this is one of the hottest property markets in South Africa at the moment.”

Werner Burger, CEO of IFA Hotels & Resorts South Africa, said the deal marks a turning point for the golf tourism industry in the country and the continent. “We are pleased to announce our partnership with the Ernie Els Group. This collaboration will strengthen our position in the market and enable us to provide enhanced lifestyle solutions and services to our residents, visitors to the region and to South Africa as a whole. By combining our expertise and resources, we will drive innovation, customer satisfaction, and business growth.”

“We believe this will be a great fit that will benefit everyone,” commented Ernie. “Around 20 years ago, I had initial discussions with Mr Burger about doing a project together so I was pleased when he approached me about the opportunity at Zimbali Lakes. We believe this will probably be one of the last golf course residential developments to be constructed in South Africa.”

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Further new images from one of Ernie Els Design’s most exciting new projects, Lido Lakes in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia, serve to add weight to the adage that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. This is a majestic setting, by any measure.

“I was seriously impressed when we first visited some years back,” commented Ernie. “For a golf course designer, these are the kind of settings you love to work with. There are some truly breathtaking holes. All of us are excited about this one and we believe Lido Lakes is going to be a new go-to destination for golfers in south east Asia.”

The golf course is nearing completion and it is anticipated that it will officially open for play during 2024. Ernie went on to say, “it’s exciting that our firm’s first design in Indonesia is on such a great piece of land. That allowed us to create a great golf experience, but also offer tremendous views over the surrounding mountains and valleys. Everything is looking great. For Greg, myself, and everyone on the team, that feeling of seeing a design come to life never gets old. The guys have done an incredible job.”

For more information on Lido Lake Resort, please visit the official website: https://www.lidolakeresort.com/

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The Els Club Dubai, designed by Ernie Els and which celebrated its 15th anniversary last month, has this month been voted the Best Golf Course in the Middle East at the 10th annual World Golf Awards. 

“Huge congratulations to everyone at The Els Club Dubai and to the team at Troon Golf,” commented Ernie. “I know how much hard work and dedication goes into delivering a world-class experience, both on and off the golf course; it’s a real collaborative effort. We’ve always been proud of this golf course and I’m proud to have my name attached to it. Right from the start, we knew it would be special enough to host tour events, which we are happy to say it has. But it’s also a wonderful everyday course in superb condition, with a thriving membership who enjoy the challenge and the incredible facilities at the club. Keep up the great work everyone.”

The Els Club Dubai, which is part of Dubai Sports City, was voted ‘best new international course’ by the prestigious US magazine, Links, when it opened in 2008. It is described by the team at Ernie Els Design as a ‘desert links’, featuring pleasing undulations and elevation changes for visual and strategic interest. Extensive use of sandy waste areas and of native grasses and vegetation between wide fairways, along with a classic style of bunkering, add to the links aesthetic. The perfectly manicured playing surfaces can be enjoyed all year round and that, along with the exceptional practice facilities, has made the club a popular destination among DP World Tour professionals.

Indeed, such has been the extraordinarily high quality of the day-to-day presentation of the golf course, it was simply a case of fine-tuning in order to have the golf course ready for a professional tour event. When Arjun Atwal won the Asian Tour’s Dubai Open almost 10 years ago, he said afterwards, “…it’s fantastic, the course is in great shape, it definitely gets my vote as No.1.”

Of course, there’s more to The Els Club than golf. The Els Club philosophy is to offer the very best of everything and this really is a five-star experience every step of the way. The magnificent Mediterranean-style clubhouse features a Big Easy Bar & Grill and a restaurant named 261, a nod to Ernie’s record-breaking 72-hole aggregate in the 2003 Mercedes Championship. Naturally, there are extensive leisure facilities onsite including a gym, swimming pools and a spa. 

“We take immense pride in being recognised as Middle East’s Best Golf Course,” commented a spokesperson at The Els Club Dubai. “We are truly honoured to have received this award, which reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering a world-class golfing experience for our valued members and guests.” 

About Ernie Els Design
Ernie Els Design is a full-service golf course design company wholly owned by its principal, four-time Major Champion and World Golf Hall of Famer, Ernie Els. The international scope of Ernie’s 76 professional career victories is mirrored in the global reach of his designs, with signature courses and renovations making an impact in emerging and established golf markets alike. The Els Club Dubai is one of six Ernie Els designed golf courses to have hosted a professional tour event. The Els Club Desaru Coast (back-to-back events on the MENA Tour in 2023), Albany in the Bahamas (The Hero World Challenge), The Els Club Dubai (Dubai Open Golf Championship), The Els Club Copperleaf in South Africa (Tshwane Open), Anahita Mauritius (Mauritius Golf Masters and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open) and Wentworth West Course (BMW PGA Championship).

For more information, please visit The Els Club Dubai website.

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All the latest news and stories from the world of Ernie Els Design & Hospitality.

1. Ernie announces new golf course design on Mexico’s stunning Baja peninsula
OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf, a brand-new 860-acre oceanfront resort community on the southern point of Mexico’s stunning Baja peninsula, is the location for the latest golf course design project in the Ernie Els Design portfolio. OLEADA Golf Links Los Cabos will be an 18-hole links-style championship course, situated 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, set along OLEADA’s expansive one mile stretch of golden sand beach. With the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop for the breathtaking desert landscape, OLEADA will offer a unique untamed luxury experience that melds an unparalleled collection of resort and residential options. 

“This is an exciting project for our firm,” says Ernie. “Our goal will be to build a core golf course that harmonizes with nature. We envision a compact design that drapes naturally on the land, steps lightly on nature’s toes and functions as an environmental steward of the site’s indigenous flora and fauna. With its rolling dunes, elevation changes and majestic desert-meets-ocean setting, I believe we can produce a versatile test that will rank among the most beautiful courses we’ve ever built. We’re expecting completion in 2026 and it’ll be open to the public from day one. Thank you to everyone at OLEADA for making us feel so welcome. We’ve really enjoyed our site visits and we are looking forward to coming back again very soon.”

The site for the new golf course, a spectacular parcel of land on the Pacific Ocean, has an intricate maze of windswept dunes and sandy ridges. These natural landforms offer sheltered valleys and winding corridors ideal for the placement of golf holes. Ernie, a two-time winner of the Open Championship, has a special fondness for links courses and a deep knowledge of how seaside breezes dictate shot values and strategy. 

“Alongside introducing OLEADA to the world, we are honored to announce a spectacular championship course by Ernie Els, one of golf’s greatest players,” said Federico Gaxiola, project director at OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf. “As we create a destination founded in responsible luxury, we selected Ernie because of his true understanding of sustainable development and sound environmental practices.” 

To learn more about OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf, please visit the official website: oleadaloscabos.com.

2. Lido Lakes in Indonesia nears completion
Ernie Els Design’s senior design associate Greg Letsche was on site at Lido Lakes Resort in Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia earlier this year and sent back some striking images, and a glowing report, as the golf course nears completion.

“It’s exciting that our firm’s first design in Indonesia is on such a great piece of land,” commented Ernie. “That allowed us to create a great golf experience, but also offer tremendous views over the surrounding mountains and valleys. Everything is looking great. For Greg, myself, and everyone on the team, that feeling of seeing a design come to life never gets old. The guys have done an incredible job.”

For more information on Lido Lake Resort, please visit the official website: https://www.lidolakeresort.com/

3. The Els Club Desaru Coast hosts back-to-back MENA Tour events
The Els Club Desaru Coast last month staged back-to-back events on the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Tour, part of its inaugural Malaysian Swing. It is the sixth Ernie Els-designed course to have hosted a professional Tour event: Albany (The Hero World Challenge), The Els Club Dubai (Dubai Open Golf Championship), The Els Club Copperleaf (Tshwane Open), Anahita Mauritius (Mauritius Golf Masters and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open), Wentworth West Course (BMW PGA Championship) and The Els Club Desaru Coast (back-to-back events on the MENA Tour in 2023). 

In fact, it’s been an eventful few months for the team at The Els Club Desaru Coast, being voted Malaysia’s Best Golf Course at the 2022 World Golf Awards. The club also received a Silver Award of Excellence for Best Course in Malaysia and a Bronze Award of Excellence for Best Clubhouse in Asia Pacific at the 2022 Asian Golf Awards.

“We’re all extremely proud of what we’ve created at Desaru Coast and it’s gratifying to see the team getting the recognition they deserve; hosting these MENA Tour events is another feather in their cap,” said Ernie. “The three-nines layout of the Ocean Course has stunning views of the South China Sea and plays through the native rainforest vegetation with strategic-placed water bodies. It’s a varied and very well-balanced test of golf. The Valley Course, which we designed in partnership with Vijay Singh and which hosted the recent Tour events, is a different proposition. Small, well-guarded greens, big undulations and dramatic views combine to offer another memorable experience. The 45 holes all together represent a stunning destination for the discerning travelling golfer.”

MENA Tour Tournament Director Stuart Daly said: “We can’t wait to return to The Els Club Desaru Coast. The golf course provides so many opportunities and challenges to the players. The hospitality we have experienced from our hosts in Malaysia has been outstanding. The team at The Els Club Desaru Coast and our official hotel, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, have both been world-class.”

Established in 2011, the MENA Tour is one of the 20 ‘Eligible Golf Tours’ recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking. The Tour offers professional and amateur players, in particular from the MENA region, a chance to play competitively at top-class venues, providing them with a platform to showcase their talent and gain experience. 

For more information on The Els Club Desaru Coast, please visit the official website: https://desarucoast.com/elsclub

4. Anahita in Mauritius celebrates its 15th anniversary
Nearly 15 years have passed since our team had the pleasure to design and deliver the superb Anahita Golf Club on the picturesque east coast of Mauritius. The breathtaking 18-hole course faces the iconic Île aux Cerfs and is located within a 213-hectare estate with two 5-star hotels and a prestigious residential development. The course stretches along the island’s largest lagoon and has twice hosted the Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open in 2016 and 2018, tri-sanctioned on the DP World Tour, the Sunshine Tour and the Asian Tour, which has become a global reference point for all golfers visiting this beautiful Indian Ocean destination.

“One of the strengths of this golf course is we were able to maximise the visual impact of the surrounding scenery, but at the same time preserve the coastline’s natural beauty,” explains Ernie. “The hole-routings move in and out of the trees, along the water, and back, giving players great variety and magnificent views of the ocean. Another of the features that makes this course stand out are some of the interesting design touches that we’ve been able to integrate into the layout; such as the use of existing dry-stone walls as strategic hazards, links-style burns and classic, grass-downed bunkers which reveal just a sliver of sand from the player’s-eye view.”

Since its official opening in 2008, Anahita Golf Club has strived to improve the high standards and to offer the best possible experience to all players. Recent efforts have centered on elevating the short game area and the academy, including the installation of a radar system, which enables instructors to analyse swings in meticulous detail and provide valuable data to enhance players’ performance. Anahita Golf Club has also partnered with Callaway to set up a fitting centre, the only one in Mauritius.

These improvements have been driven by the Anahita team under the leadership of its new manager, Tristan Freslon, who arrived earlier this year in January and brings many years of experience from one of Belgium’s most prestigious clubs.

For those who wish to play this superb course, do not hesitate to contact the golf team at events@anahitagolf.com or visit the website: https://www.anahita.mu/en.

5. Hoakalei Country Club in Hawaii hosts LPGA Tour event
Hoakalei Country Club at Ewa Beach, about 20 minutes from Honolulu, hosted the LPGA Tour’s LOTTE Championship for the second year running in April 2023. This spectacular Ernie Els designed golf course, which officially opened for play in 2009, blends in beautifully with the natural landscape of the Ewa coastline, offering expansive vistas of the cherished Ewa plains and the legendary surf bathed in sunshine.

“It was fun watching some of the action on television,” commented Ernie. “Looks like everyone had a great week. The course looked beautiful and the way we configured the hole routings, combined with the trade winds, mean that it’s the type of course that never plays the same from one day to the next. It’s a good test, firm but fair, which is exactly what we had in mind when we designed this course.”

Hoakalei had previously hosted a US Open sectional qualifier in 2010 and was voted one of the ‘Best New Courses of 2009’ by prestigious Links magazine in the US.

For more information, please visit the official website: https://www.hoakaleicountryclub.com/.

More Information
To view the portfolio of Ernie Els Design courses, those open for play and currently in development, please click here: https://ernieels.com/design/portfolio-of-courses/ 

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OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf, a brand-new 860-acre oceanfront resort community on the southern point of Mexico’s stunning Baja peninsula, is the location for the latest project in the Ernie Els Design portfolio. 

OLEADA Golf Links Los Cabos will be an 18-hole links-style championship course, situated 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, set along OLEADA’s expansive one mile stretch of golden sand beach. With the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop for the breathtaking desert landscape, OLEADA will offer a unique untamed luxury experience that melds an unparalleled collection of resort and residential options. 

“Our goal at OLEADA will be to build a core golf course that harmonizes with nature,” says Ernie. “We envision a compact design that drapes naturally on the land, steps lightly on nature’s toes and functions as an environmental steward of the site’s indigenous flora and fauna. With its rolling dunes, elevation changes and majestic desert-meets-ocean setting, I believe we can produce a versatile test that will rank among the best and most beautiful courses we’ve ever built.”

The site for the new course, a spectacular parcel of land on the Pacific Ocean, has an intricate maze of windswept dunes and sandy ridges. These natural landforms offer sheltered valleys and winding corridors ideal for the placement of golf holes. Ernie, a two-time winner of The Open, has a special fondness for links courses and a deep knowledge of how seaside breezes dictate shot values and strategy. 

“Because the native contours and dune formations are so good, very little earthmoving will be required to build the course,” commented Ernie on a recent site visit. “Shaping will be very minimalistic. Man cannot improve on what Mother Nature has created! The golf course that we create at OLEADA will be here long after I’m gone. That means something and it makes me feel very proud.”

OLEADA will feature some of the most recognized names in design, including Vision Land Design, WATG, iconic Mexican architect Victor Legorreta and landscape architecture by Design Studio of Michael McKay. Along with golf, OLEADA will offer: oceanfront living; world-class resorts; a nursery, orchard and garden; nature, fitness, hiking and biking trails; and much more. Every amenity will be created through a hospitality and wellness centered mindset aimed to provide opportunities to enjoy life at its fullest.

“Alongside introducing OLEADA to the world, we are honored to announce a spectacular championship course by Ernie Els, one of golf’s greatest players,” said Federico Gaxiola, project director at OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf. “As we create a destination founded in responsible luxury, we selected Ernie because of his true understanding of sustainable development and sound environmental practices.” 

To learn more about OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf, visit oleadaloscabos.com.

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Ernie Els Design is a full-service golf course design company wholly owned by its principal Ernie Els. Since its incorporation in 2000, the company’s portfolio of courses has been recognised with many accolades.

Notably, in 2018 Ernie Els Design achieved the unique distinction of having two of its courses host professional tournaments – the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Anahita and the Hero World Challenge at Albany (pictured above) – across four of the world’s four major golf tours in the same week, with Ernie himself teeing it up and making the cut in Mauritius.

In 2015 Ernie was voted ‘Designer of the Year’ at the World Golf Awards, while The Els Club Teluk Datai was awarded the title ‘Best New Golf Course in the World 2014’. It has also since become the first layout in the Ernie Els Design portfolio to be listed in Golf Digest’s prestigious ‘World Top-100’.

Meanwhile, six Ernie Els-designed courses have hosted professional Tour events: Albany (The Hero World Challenge), The Els Club Dubai (Dubai Open Golf Championship), The Els Club Copperleaf (Tshwane Open), Anahita Mauritius (Mauritius Golf Masters and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open), Wentworth West Course (BMW PGA Championship) and The Els Club Desaru Coast (back-to-back events on the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Tour in 2023).

Albany (above)
Has hosted the PGA TOUR’s annual Hero World Challenge since 2015.

Anahita (above)
Named ‘Best Golf Development for Europe & Africa’ at the CNBC International Property Awards 2008. Hosts its first professional tournament, the 2010 Mauritius Golf Masters. It hosts the tournament again in December 2011. Anahita is voted the best luxury hotel in Mauritius in the 2013 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards and sixth in the category of Top 25 Hotels in the World, making it the highest rated property in the Indian Ocean. It is also named the Indian Ocean’s Best Golf Hotel in the World Golf Awards 2015. Hosted the 2016 and 2018 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, the first ever tri-sanctioned tournament by the DP World Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour.

The Els Club Copperleaf (above)
Named ‘Best New Golf Course 2008’ in the Gauteng region by South Africa’s highly regarded Compleat Golfer. Hosts the opening tournament on the 2010 Vodacom Business Origins of Golf Tour – dubbed ‘Origins Goes Easy’ in honour of Ernie Els. Hosts Sunshine Big Easy Tour Championship 2011. Hosts its first ever DP World Tour event, the inaugural €1.5 million Tshwane Open in 2013, and again in 2014.

The Els Club Dubai (above)
Named ‘Best New International Course 2008’ by Links magazine. Wins CNBC Property Award in the category of ‘Best Golf Course Dubai’ in 2009. Awarded runner-up spot by Golf Inc. in its prestigious ‘Best International Golf Development of the Year’ rankings in 2009. Voted by Troon Golf as ‘Best New Facility of the Year’ in 2009. Proudly hosts its first tour event in December 2014, the Asian Tour’s inaugural Dubai Open Golf Championship. At the 2015 Middle East Golf Awards The Els Club Dubai scooped an impressive hat-trick of awards, winning Golf Maintenance Team of the Year, Best F&B Outlet of the Year for The Big Easy Winebar & Grill, and Academy of the Year for the Butch Harmon School of Golf located at The Els Club Dubai. Voted Dubai’s Best Golf Course at the 2022 World Golf Awards.

The Els Club Teluk Datai (above)
Receives the greatest possible endorsement of its highly acclaimed redesign after being named the region’s ‘Best Golf Course’ at the 2014 Asia-Pacific Property Awards. In November 2014 The Els Club Teluk Datai was then voted the ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ at the inaugural World Golf Awards, part of the World Travel Awards – known as The Oscars of the travel industry – which celebrates and rewards excellence in golf tourism, world class courses and golf destinations. In 2016 it became the first golf course in the Ernie Els Design portfolio to feature on Golf Digest magazine’s prestigious ‘Top-100 Courses in the World’ list.

The Els Club Desaru Coast (above)
Voted ‘Best New Course in Asia Pacific’ at the 2017 Asian Golf Awards. Voted Malaysia’s Best Golf Course at the 2022 World Golf Awards. Also a Silver Award of Excellence for Best Course in Malaysia and Bronze Award of Excellence for Best Clubhouse in Asia Pacific at the 2022 Asian Golf Awards. Hosts back-to-back events on the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Tour in 2023.

Hoakalei (above)
Wins ‘Best New Golf Course in the US’ at the 2010 Americas Property Awards in association with Bloomberg Television (formerly known as the CNBC Property Awards). This makes it four years in a row that Ernie Els Design has been recognized at this prestigious annual awards ceremony. Hosts US Open sectional qualifier 2010. Voted one of the ‘Best New Courses of 2009’ by Links magazine in the US.

Oubaai (above)
Voted ‘Best Golf Resort in South Africa’ at CNBC African Property Awards 2007. Hosts Vodacom Business Origins of Golf grand finale 2010. Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort & Spa is named Luxury Golf Resort of the world at the 2012 World Luxury Hotel Awards.

Wentworth West Course (above)
Highly acclaimed renovation and modernisation project by Ernie Els Design on one of the UK’s finest inland courses, host every year to the DP World Tour’s flagship tournament the BMW PGA Championship.

Whiskey Creek (above)
Ernie’s first venture into golf course design is nominated in Golf Magazine’s ‘Top-5 Best New Places You Can Play’.

Other Awards
Ernie receives ‘Honorary Award’ at 2014’s prestigious IAGTO, the official annual awards ceremony for the golf tourism industry.

Ernie is awarded the Old Tom Morris Award in 2018 from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Ernie is voted Golf Course Designer of the Year at the 2015 World Golf Awards.

Two members of the Ernie Design team, Greg Letsche and Thad Bell, are proud to be members of the prestigious American Society of Golf Course Architects.

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Wentworth Club, England, 25 May 2017: A little over 12 months on from the official unveiling of the renovated West Course, an Ernie Els Design-led project, the world of golf has never been richer in its praise for the iconic golf course. 

The four-time Major winner, World Golf Hall of Famer and chief architect of the long-term renovation and modernisation of this Harry Colt gem, was speaking ahead of this year’s BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour’s flagship tournament, which has long made its home at Wentworth Club.

“There has been added anticipation to come back for this year’s event,” said Els, who won a record seven World Matchplay titles on Wentworth’s West Course. “Obviously, this club and this golf course have always had a very special place in my heart, right back to the start of my career. But I must say, the sense of pride for us as architects of this renovation, seeing the course presented the way it is this week, makes it even more special than before. The ‘new’ look debuted last year, we’d heard it was in incredible shape and I just really wanted to see it for myself. It’s great to be back.”

Els went on to say, “You know, this was the dream, this was the vision we had in our minds way back when Greg Letsche [senior design associate at Ernie Els Design] and myself got the ball rolling on this renovation project. This was the blueprint, so to speak. The whole strategy, the core shot values, the construction and the look of the greens’ complexes, the bunkering, literally everything is now just as we envisaged it. And seriously, these must be the best putting surfaces in the country. They are incredible! It’s so nice to see and, of course, it’s great to hear the positive comments from the players this week and from the members who love it, too.”

Els also expressed thanks to Jeremy Slessor and his team at European Golf Design, and the advisory panel at the European Tour, for their input on the final phase of the renovation works. There was high praise, too, for Kenny Mackay, Director of Golf Courses & Grounds at Wentworth Club, and an acknowledgement of the invaluable role played by the Club’s owners, Reignwood Group.

“The owners, Dr. Chanchai Ruayrungruang and his team, have given all of us their full commitment to help push this project to its successful conclusion and, just as importantly, the budget and the resources to enable Kenny and his team to maintain this wonderful golf course to the absolute highest standards,” said Els. “And it shows literally everywhere you look. The conditioning of the playing surfaces, and the overall presentation, is as good as I’ve ever seen it.”

Els concluded, “Right at the start I would say our goal, everyone’s goal, was to make Wentworth the leading venue for Championship golf in Europe and we believe that is what we’ve got here. It’s the perfect championship venue.”

Speaking also this week, Kenny Mackay commented: “The whole team has worked very hard over the winter and in the build-up to this week. We’ve put our heart and soul into it, so obviously it’s very gratifying for us to hear Ernie and a lot of the other top players giving the course such high praise. From day one, the aim has been to make improvements to enhance playability for all. This has been achieved through wide-ranging changes and installing industry-leading technology that allows us to control how the greens play. We’ve called on a vast amount of design and playing experience and we believe this is Wentworth’s best ever course.”

For more information on Ernie Els Design, visit the website: https://ernieels.com/design/about-design/ or telephone the office in Florida: +1 561 625 8676.

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The Els Club Desaru Coast has further reason to celebrate following the announcement the Valley Course (pictured above) has received the prestigious accolade, ‘Best New Course in Asia Pacific’ at The Asian Golf Awards.

This latest recognition adds to the tally of awards The Els Club Malaysia brand has received in recent years, which also includes The World Golf Awards, ‘World’s Best New Course’ and an unprecedented ranking inside Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Courses (#83).

In their decision, the awards owners, the Asia Pacific Golf Group, considered architecture, golfing experience and overall customer service. Thousands of votes cast determined the nominees in 48 categories representing the ‘Best Among the Best’ of the Asian golf industry – a further illustration of the success achieved by The Els Club Desaru Coast.

“Any time you receive an accolade of recognition it is a time for celebration,” said Zainal Ashikin, Executive Director and CEO of Desaru Development Holdings One. “We knew Ernie and Vijay had created a real masterpiece with the Valley Course, which is further validated with today’s award. The Els Club Malaysia brand prides itself on its quality and commitment to delivering world-class experiences each and every day. I strongly recommend golfers come and try it for themselves if they have not yet had the chance.”

On the coastline of the tranquil Desaru region, The Els Club Desaru Coast – Valley Course has established itself as a new contender on the international golf scene. Collaboratively designed by four-time Major Champion, Ernie Els, and fellow World Golf Hall of Famer, Vijay Singh, this championship course is nothing short of sensational. With the undulating landscape and white sandy bunkers meticulously placed throughout, the course guarantees an enthralling 18 holes in paradise. The condition and quality of the course is pristine and, being managed by Troon Golf, the world’s leading golf management group, every detail is meticulously catered to.

For more information visit The Els Club global dedicated website: http://www.elsclubs.com.

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Ernie Els Design is proud to announce that its Design Associate Thad Bell has been awarded membership of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.

Thad has been part of the team at Ernie Els Design since 2006, when he directed the implementation of the award-winning Anahita Four Seasons golf course on the island of Mauritius. That course has since hosted several professional tour events including the 2016 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, the first ever tri-sanctioned tournament by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour. Thad is now leading Ernie Els Design’s expansion into Asian golf as the Regional Director of the company’s Asia-Pacific office. He becomes the second member of the Ernie Els Design team to become a member of the ASGCA. The company’s Senior Design Associate Greg Letsche is already a member.

Founded in 1946, the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) is the oldest and most revered professional organisation of golf course designers in America. Among its founders were the legendary architects Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones Snr. Its current members include Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye. The missions of the ASGCA are much the same as when the original members outlined the Articles of Incorporation:

• Foster the game of golf, its growth and advancement.
• Foster professionalism of ASGCA members through education, promotion and fellowship of the world’s leading golf course architects.
• Support design excellence by creating golf courses that are technically, strategically and aesthetically excellent while meeting the economic, environmental and other needs of golf course owners, developers and communities.
• Expand the opportunities of ASGCA members to better serve their clients and the game of golf.

“Becoming a member of the ASGCA has been a professional goal of mine since I started working in golf course design,” commented Thad. “As a designer working on many projects for Ernie Els Design around the world, I have had the opportunity to work on many unique sites and am excited to be a part of the ASGCA. It is gratifying to note that the numerous projects that I have worked on together with Ernie Els Design have been highly regarded and recognised within the profession. I am very proud to be part of the ASGCA golf course design legacy and look forward to continue working on new golf course designs around the world.”

Meanwhile, Thad’s fellow ASGCA member and colleague at Ernie Els Design, Greg Letsche, commented, “I’m very pleased Thad has been accepted into the ASGCA, he is a very talented designer and will be a dedicated member of the society.”

Ernie Els Design’s portfolio of golf courses has a global dimension. Currently, there are 15 courses and renovations open for play and at least the same number again in various stages of planning and construction. Please click here to see the full list of projects.

For more information on the ASGCA, visit the website: https://asgca.org.

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Ernie Els expressed pride and pleasure in the new-look West Course, an Ernie Els Design-led renovation project, after the layout received high praise throughout the 2017 BMW PGA Championship.

For Ernie there is a real sense of professional and personal fulfilment in bringing to a close the renovation of an historic course that has long held a special place in his heart. “It looks incredible,” said the four-time major champion. “This was our original design intent from the very beginning and we’re so pleased it has finally come to fruition; it’s a moment of great satisfaction for me and for the rest of the team. Big thanks to Jeremy Slessor at European Golf Design, who collaborated with us on this latest phase of works on the West Course, and also to our partners at the European Tour. We’re extremely happy and proud to see the course looking the way it does here this week and to hear the positive feedback from the players (see below) and the Club’s members. That really means a lot to us.”

Ernie went on to say: “Obviously a key focus of the renovation was improving the putting surfaces and the recent significant investment by the Club’s owners, Reignwood Group, has allowed us to create arguably the purest, most consistent putting surfaces in the country. In addition, we undertook a further review of the bunkers on the golf course. As a result, all bunkers have been redesigned and reconstructed, with 29 bunkers removed from play. We believe this helps more closely realign the course with Harry Colt’s original vision and, in fact, many of the bunkers are very much in the Colt style now.”

In summary, the key features of this Ernie Els Design renovation include:

• All 18 greens re-built and re-seeded with 007 creeping bentgrass, which was chosen after trialling 10 blends over a 12-month period at the Club.
• The course is the first in England to benefit from sub-air technology.
• A total of 29 bunkers taken out of play to reintroduce some of the original playing strategies and all the remaining bunkers redesigned.

Additional changes include:

• Greens at the 8th, 11th, 14th and 16th completely remodelled.
• Greens at the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 12th and 15th partially remodelled.
• New tees built on the 3rd, 4th and 18th.
• An upgraded irrigation system installed.
• Additional drainage added on the fairways.
• All pathways resurfaced.
• Landscaping enhanced throughout to give the course a more natural aesthetic.

Ernie Els Design’s senior design associate, Greg Letsche, is one of the most respected golf course architects in the business, having previously worked with Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus. Greg has been involved from day one on this extensive West Course renovation project and he, too, couldn’t disguise his delight at the finished product. “For Ernie and myself, the intention all along was to make sure the course was a fair and strategically sound test of golf, focused on shot values, where well-executed shots would be rewarded. We believe that is absolutely the case here now.”

Speaking also about the newly constructed greens, Greg added: “The new sub-air system is hugely significant as it allows us to monitor and control the various parameters that give a putting surface the optimum playing characteristics. Everything from the smoothness and pureness of the roll, to the moisture content and bounce levels, can be matched across all 18 greens so you can achieve extremely high levels of quality and consistency.”

Stephen Gibson, Chief Executive of Wentworth Club, was full of praise, too: “This is my tenth year at Wentworth and I have never seen the course looking so magnificent,” said Stephen. “The improvements made by Ernie and his team have transformed the course and I’m sure the European Tour players and our members will agree that the West Course is back where it belongs as one of the world’s great courses.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Chanchai Ruayrungruang, Chairman of Reignwood Group, said: “We are determined to make Wentworth the leading venue for Championship golf in Europe and the unveiling of the newly renovated West Course, which we believe to be one of the best courses in the world, is integral to this.”

What the players said…
“The greens are rolling nicely…they’ve done a terrific job getting the greens in this great shape.” – Henrik Stenson, 2016 Open Champion

“Here you now have a chance to set-up the course the way you want; if you want high rough or if you want softer greens, harder greens, whatever you want, and I think that’s fantastic in a golf course. I’ve played it three different ways now and I’ve always enjoyed it. What I wanted to do is play better against a better field and better, tougher courses and I view this as a very difficult course against a very tough field. So then this is very close to a Major in my mind.”  – Alex Noren, 2017 BMW PGA Champion

“It’s nice to play a course where you have to use your brain. I think it’s hurting golf constantly going to courses that are 7,600 yards, where the caddies just send the players to the tee with a driver and then walk forwards. You don’t have to think about it too much and that’s a shame.” – Lee Westwood, all-time leading money winner on European Tour

“I think the changes have been very well received and the greens are as good a set of greens as I’ve seen for a newly laid surface. They are really rolling well and receiving a shot really well, too.” – Justin Rose, US Open & Olympic Champion

“I think the course is the best it’s even been. It’s in great condition; it’s a lot better aesthetically. It’s just playing really well.” – Ross Fisher, Ryder Cup player & former junior member at Wentworth Club

“The greens are absolutely perfect; every putt is so true.” – Chris Wood, 2016 BMW PGA Champion

For more information
Please contact the Ernie Els Design offices in Florida +1 561-625-8676 or visit the website: www.ernieels.com/design.

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