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

The January 2019 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Toby Ingleton
/ Categories: Magazine, News

The January 2019 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!llllll

The January 2019 issue of Golf Course Architecture magazine is out now, along with the GCA Green Pages 2019 supplier directory, in both printed and digital formats.

Our new issues mark the debut of a new layout, designed to present our content more clearly and improve the reading experience, regardless of whether you choose the printed or digital editions.

Our main feature article considers the lost courses of China. Brian Curley, Mark Hollinger, Tom Doak and others tell us about designs that were built but are no longer in existence – like Schmidt-Curley’s Stone Forest course in Kunming, which features on the magazine cover.

The Tee Box section of our January 2019 issue opens with the news of two new courses at the Costa Navarino development in Greece, designed by José María Olazábal’s firm. We hear from Todd Eckenrode about his new Twin Dolphin course in Los Cabos, Mexico, look at the routing of the new Gil Hanse course at Les Bordes, France, and much more.

Elsewhere in the issue, Rees Jones describes his work on Taheiyo Club’s Gotemba course, Adam Lawrence asks if golf is slimming down, and Harry Cloke explains why data analytics is the future of golf course management and design.

We also have an exclusive interview with Henrik Stenson and Christian Lundin, who are collaborating at Österåkers Golfklubb in Sweden, the debut project from Stenson’s design firm.

Our team has travelled the globe again, bringing you reports on the new European Golf Design layout at Dubai Hills Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates; Ombria Resort in Portugal, designed by Jorge Santana Da Silva and built by Progolf Construction; and Craig Haltom’s work at Stevens Point in Wisconsin, USA.

We ‘hole out’ the issue by looking at how golf clubs are making their facilities work after dark.

The January 2019 issue of Golf Course Architecture also comes with our GCA Green Pages 2019 supplier directory, which includes company profiles of potential partners for your next golf design project. We also hear about projects completed by some of these firms, including Inturf, SOL Golf, Whitemoss, MJ Abbott, Atlantic Golf Construction, Rain Bird and Golf Optimum.

We hope you enjoy the read!

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

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