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 July 2023 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!
Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: Magazine, News

The July 2023 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now!llllll

The July 2023 issue of Golf Course Architecture is out now.

The Dunas course at Terras da Comporta in Portugal, photographed by James Hogg, features on the cover of the new issue of Golf Course Architecture. The official opening in October will complete the project’s long journey since architect David McLay Kidd’s first visit in 2008. And on its opening day, “Portugal will have a new number one golf course,” says GCA editor Adam Lawrence.

We also examine the topic of green speeds. Are the days of highly contoured greens numbered, given how unplayable they become as clubs and their members demand quicker surfaces? We get the insights from Kurt Bowman, Stuart Rennie, Jason Straka, Connor Lewis, Jerry Lemons, Jim Nagle, Rob Collins and Craig Haltom.

Tom Mackin speaks with Cabell Robinson about his career in Spain, where he has lived for more than half a century. He provides some great insights into working for Robert Trent Jones, his portfolio in the Mediterranean, and his Finca Cortesin course, which is hosting this year’s Solheim Cup.

You may notice a few changes to GCA in this issue (the first in our fifth ‘round’ of 18), not least the introduction of a new Reports section. Here you can find out about plans for St George’s Hill in England, WAC Golf’s new layout for The Ranch in Florida, European Golf Design’s redesign of La Grande Mare on Guernsey, Mike Nuzzo’s 21 holes for Cabot Citrus Farms, Rees Jones’s renovation work in Japan, and Golfplan’s bunker project at Seowon Hills in South Korea.

Elsewhere, we hear from Renaissance Golf Design’s Eric Iverson about how the firm uncovered elements that make Cherry Hills a Golden Age treasure and golf historian Mark Wagner highlights the importance of inclusivity and sustainability for the Native American tribe that owns Firekeeper Golf Course in Kansas.

Our Tee Box sections includes news of the bunker overhaul that Clayton, DeVries & Pont has overseen at Royal Dublin in Ireland and we review the routing for King-Collins’ new Red Feather course in Texas. We speak with OCM’s Mike Cocking about The Furrows, a new short course that has opened at Kingston Heath in Australia and we hear from Henrik Stenson and Christian Lundin about their new Crownwood Club on the west coast of Sweden. There’s plenty more too.

We hope you enjoy the read!

View the digital edition of the July 2023 issue of Golf Course Architecture

Subscribe to the printed edition of Golf Course Architecture

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

Gopher Watch Competition – July 2025

Which course has Sandy the gopher visited this month?

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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
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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
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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

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

Ayla Oasis: Dealing with extremes
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Ayla Oasis: Dealing with extremes

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

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