Greg Norman Golf Course Design Embraces Emerging Markets
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - While the golf industry in the United States has stagnated in recent years, the game of golf and, more specifically, golf course design is booming in many other areas around the world.
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In accordance with Greg Norman's philosophy of pioneering and capitalizing on emerging markets, Greg Norman Golf Course Design has embraced the Middle East and Eastern Europe with nearly a dozen projects in various stages of development.
"Dating back to the late 80s and early 90s when our design operations expanded from Australia to Southeast Asia, I have always enjoyed the prospect of developing businesses in emerging markets," Norman said. "Such a practice has allowed us to accelerate our growth beyond what would normally be attainable in a mature market."
Anchored by Jumeirah Golf Estates, a 72-hole development in Dubai where Norman will design or co-design three courses, the region has been a halcyon atmosphere with limitless opportunities. With two environmentally sound Eco-Signature courses at the core, Jumeirah Golf Estates will serve as a model for other developments.
"In this day and age it is the responsibility of the designer and the developer to protect and enhance the environment of a golf course and its surrounding area," Norman said. "These two Eco-signature courses will adhere to strict guidelines that cover all aspects of the design, construction and maintenance."
Greg Norman Golf Course Design is also active elsewhere in the region, with marquee projects in Oman, Jordan and Egypt and potential projects in Denmark, Greece, Mauritius, Croatia and Poland to name but a few. Highlights include:
&8226; Overlooking the Gulf of Oman, The Wave, Muscat is a fully master planned community occupying a total area of more than 6 kilometers of natural beach. Once completed, The Wave will be home to an 18-hole signature golf course, 4,000 residential units, a 300-berth marina, four luxury hotels as well as villas and retail space.
&8226; Aqaba Lagoon will be home to the first 18-hole golf course and golf academy in Jordan. The development will be located around a series of lagoons that produce prime water frontage. The community will also feature multiple hotels, a unique residential component and a town center.<
&8226; n Egypt, Norman has partnered with SODIC for an 18-hole Signature golf course at the Allegria development in Cairo. The project, Cairo's first Signature design, will include a state-of-the-art clubhouse, golf academy as well as modern residential and commercial facilities within a parkland setting.
"Golf and tourism in this region will continue to experience significant growth," Norman said. "It has established itself as a destination for people on every continent, and the attraction is the result of many factors - weather, location, luxury, unique experiences and technological advances among them.
"Our challenge is to design aesthetically pleasing yet playable golf courses with different looks and concepts. We certainly want to set ourselves apart from existing courses, and that is something we prides ourselves on."
Statistics indicate that Europe and the Middle East have the greatest probability of growth, and Greg Norman Golf Course Design is poised to play a significant role in this part of the world, which has warmly embraced the game of golf and the many benefits that accompany it.
About Greg Norman Golf Course Design
First established in 1987 in Sydney, Australia, Greg Norman Golf Course Design is today recognized as one of the premier signature golf course design firms. Now headquartered in Jupiter, Florida, with sister facilities and personnel in Sydney, GNGCD has opened 59 courses worldwide and has an additional 50 projects in various stages of development. Greg Norman has long held an environmentally friendly position throughout the design and construction of his golf courses adhering to a least-disturbance approach that focuses on every opportunity to incorporate unique existing site features into the layout of the golf course. This design mentality led to Norman's appointment as Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Environmental Institute for Golf. For more information, visit www.gngcd.com.
