Egypt has a long standing golf tradition, with beautiful golf courses by the pyramids in Cairo and along the Nile in several locations. For a few years the Red Sea Riviera has been trying to be on the world’s golf network and now many international competitions are held in the awesome coastal golf courses, which have become extremely popular especially during the winter months, when flocks of Europeans flee the cold and rainy continental fairways and come to enjoy some sun filled golf holidays in Sharm el Sheikh, El Gouna and Soma Bay. While the constant sunny weather, crystal-clear sea, unique underwater treasures and beautiful beaches have been attracting millions of sun-addicted tourists and divers from all over the world to the Red Sea for many years, the Egyptian government and some private investors have identified an important source of income in a country intensely dependent on tourism: golfing. In the past few years three wonderful golf courses have been developed and a new one is on its way where nobody could imagine they could spring up due to an almost rainless environment. Nevertheless, to the surprise of many a golf addicts, wonderfully grown and luscious fairways and greens that can easily stand up to any comparison to European golf courses, can be found along the shores of the Red Sea. Three wonderful 18-hole golf courses have been developed in the Red Sea so far: El Gouna (Steigenberger Golf Resort), app. 25 km North of Hurghada; Soma Bay (The Cascades Golf & Country Club), app. 30 km South of Hurghada and the Jolie Ville Golf Resort in Sharm el Sheikh (Sinai). All of them are set in luxury resorts and offer spectacular views of the sea and mountains. |