Emerging golf markets

From its origins in Scotland, and early twentieth century expansion in Western Europe and the United States, golf continues to reach new markets throughout the world. Newer markets, including China, elsewhere in Asia, plus North Africa and the Middle East, have their own unique considerations for golf course development.

LATEST NEWS

Construction under way on North course at Legend Valley in Vietnam
Nicklaus Design
News | Fri 22 Aug, 2025

Construction under way on North course at Legend Valley in Vietnam

Nicklaus Design creates second layout on former quarries framed by limestone mountains

New Faldo Design course to open in Qiddiya in 2026
Qiddiya Investment Company
News | Mon 21 Jul, 2025

New Faldo Design course to open in Qiddiya in 2026

Eighteen-hole layout has been laid out near the Tuwaiq Mountains in Saudi Arabia

New golf course takes shape as part of US$280m project in Zimbabwe’s capital
Harris Kalinka
News | Wed 02 Jul, 2025

New golf course takes shape as part of US$280m project in Zimbabwe’s capital

The Hills Luxury Golf Estate is a development by WestProp and includes a Peter Matkovich 18-hole layout

Savan Resorts in Laos nears opening of Nicklaus Design short course
Nicklaus Design
News | Mon 30 Jun, 2025

Savan Resorts in Laos nears opening of Nicklaus Design short course

New nine-hole par-three layout includes an island green and can be lit for night golf

Nine holes take shape at Timehri Sands in Guyana
Miller Golf Design Group
News | Wed 18 Jun, 2025

Nine holes take shape at Timehri Sands in Guyana

Construction of first nine, designed by Jason Miller of Miller Golf Design Group, is expected to be complete by early 2026

New Faldo Design course opens at Silk Path club in Vietnam
PGA Silk Path Dong Trieu Golf & Country Club
News | Fri 04 Apr, 2025

New Faldo Design course opens at Silk Path club in Vietnam

Eighteen-hole public layout has been created as part of a US$60m development east of Hanoi

Mackenzie & Ebert designs new course for Puerto Rico resort
The Boundary
News | Tue 04 Mar, 2025

Mackenzie & Ebert designs new course for Puerto Rico resort

Shaping is in progress at Moncayo, a luxury development that covers 1,100 acres

Golden Sands resort on Vietnam’s east coast ready to open
Nicklaus Design
News | Mon 19 Aug, 2024

Golden Sands resort on Vietnam’s east coast ready to open

The first of two 18-hole courses has been completed on a sandy site along Vinh Xuan beach

Poland’s Karolinka Golf Park reopens with an 18-hole layout
All Golf Services
News | Wed 24 Jul, 2024

Poland’s Karolinka Golf Park reopens with an 18-hole layout

Grzegorz Marcinków and All Golf Services revamp existing nine and add nine new holes

Trump International Golf Club Lido opens in Indonesia
Jacob Sjöman
News | Wed 24 Jul, 2024

Trump International Golf Club Lido opens in Indonesia

Ernie Els course is located at MNC Lido City, a new destination two hours south of Jakarta

Construction begins on Benin’s first ever golf course
Jeremy Pern
News | Fri 17 May, 2024

Construction begins on Benin’s first ever golf course

Jeremy Pern routes West Africa design around sacred grove and voodoo shrines

Brian Curley’s Shura Links announced on Red Sea island
Curley-Wagner Golf Design
News | Tue 07 May, 2024

Brian Curley’s Shura Links announced on Red Sea island

New course in Saudi Arabia being developed in line with GEO Foundation OnCourse methodology

New Gary Player course takes shape in Montenegro
Gary Player Design
News | Mon 29 Apr, 2024

New Gary Player course takes shape in Montenegro

Construction of opening nine is progressing on rocky site overlooking the Adriatic Sea

New Brian Curley course opens at Stone Highland in Vietnam
Schmidt-Curley Design
News | Tue 12 Dec, 2023

New Brian Curley course opens at Stone Highland in Vietnam

Architect has designed two 18-hole layouts on mountain terrain for the Hanoi project

LATEST MAGAZINE

Issue 52 of Golf Course Architecture is now available
Sean Dudley
/ Categories: Magazine, News

Issue 52 of Golf Course Architecture is now availablellllll

Issue 52 of Golf Course Architecture is now available in printed and digital formats.

The cover of the latest issue shows what will be Pete Dye’s last course design – the Links at Perry Cabin. Anthony Pioppi paid a visit to Maryland to see what’s on offer.

The Tee Box section opens with a report on the two courses currently taking shape at Big Cedar Lodge in the US. Payne’s Valley has been designed by Tiger Woods’ firm, while GCA hears from Bill Coore about the Ozarks National course he and Ben Crenshaw have designed at the resort.

We also speak to Jeff Lawrence of Gary Player Design about a project in Player’s homeland of South Africa, take a look at Richard Mandell’s work at Braemar Golf Course in Minnesota, and speak to Ernie Els Design’s Thomas Rubi and Greg Letsche about the creation of a new golf course in Zanzibar.

Also in this issue, Sean Dudley finds out more about a map recently discovered at Midland Hills Country Club in St Paul, Minnesota, showing Seth Raynor’s original plans for the course.

Kurt Huseman of Landscapes Unlimited explains what traditional contracting will continue to have a major role in the golf course architecture industry moving forwards, while Martin Ebert and Tom Mackenzie explain why some links courses are moving away from the traditional revetted bunker approach.

There’s also a report on the creation of a course at Gareth Bale’s Welsh home, and Adam Lawrence takes a look at what the appeal of geometric features on golf courses is.

GCA also visits Dana Fry’s new South course at Michigan’s Arcadia Bluffs resort – a radical homage to CB Macdonald and Seth Raynor’s Chicago Golf Club – and takes a look at David McLay Kidd’s Mammoth Dunes course at the Sand Valley resort in Wisconsin.

Click here to subscribe to the print edition

Click here to view the digital edition

Previous Article Spring 2018 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine now available
Next Article Summer 2018 issue of ASGCA’s By Design magazine now available
Print
4698 Rate this article:
No rating
Sean Dudley

Sean DudleySean Dudley

Other posts by Sean Dudley
Contact author

Contact author

x
Gopher Watch Competition – July 2025
Gopher Watch, News | Adam Lawrence

Gopher Watch Competition – July 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

FEATURE ARTICLES

Stonehill: A new level for Thai golf
Jason Michael Lang
On site | Richard Humphreys

Stonehill: A new level for Thai golf

Kyle Phillips has transformed some desolate mud land north of Thailand’s capital into one of the country’s best golf courses

New frontiers: an interview with Cynthia Dye McGarey
Dye Designs
Interview | Richard Humphreys

New frontiers: an interview with Cynthia Dye McGarey

Richard Humphreys speaks with the American architect about her experience of designing the only golf course in Iraq, and more

From Wausa to the world
Dan Blankenship
Opinion | Addison DeHaven

From Wausa to the world

Addison DeHaven discusses the career of Dan Blankenship, designer of 18 golf courses in Brazil.

Grand sand designs
Istockphoto.com
Feature | Toby Ingleton

Grand sand designs

Toby Ingleton finds out about the origins of the game in Saudi Arabia, and what the future holds.

Ayla Oasis: Dealing with extremes
Opinion | Joe Betulius

Ayla Oasis: Dealing with extremes

Joe Betulius discusses how Profile Products helped to establish the Greg Norman layout in Jordan.

MOST POPULAR