We worked very closely with RRA on the masterplan and established an excellent working relationship. We were given a brief by MEDZ to create a high quality resort course, not championship standard, but of a level high enough to host a regional tournament. RRA, on the other hand, were given instructions to create a high quality resort with five hotels, residential units, leisure and retail facilities, exhibition/conference/functions space and outdoor activity areas (public open space).
The site is on a flood plain in the
centre of a bustling city suburb. The topography is pretty flat - there is a change in elevation of about six metres from the lowest to the highest point. Initial feelings are that it is flat and, some may consider, quite dull.
The existing site characteristics allowed us to achieve a great variety in golfing experiences by creating sheltered fairways in the woodland to the north of the Oued Fes, and waterside fairways by redirecting and diverting the river to create lagoons and water features that meander through the site. To the south the large grassland areas will allow us to create
However, because the site is so large, it has many different characteristics that make it attractive for golf course design reasons. Interestingly, the site is immediately to the west of the King’s Palace, inside which he has his own private 9-hole course. The complication from the outset has been the Oued Fes, a river which flows through the centre of the site from west to east - this provided RRA with an inspiration for the design of the masterplan. Along the banks are tall
mature eucalyptus trees (some more than 100 years old), which can be seen from all the surrounding hills. Added to this, much of the site is covered in semi-mature eucalyptus trees and young pines, spruce and cypress - much of which were originally grown for a large on-site tree nursery. These trees will be transplanted onto the golf course as soon as the main playing areas have been seeded.
bold flowing, undulating features with some water channels that will flood when the water levels in the Oued rise in winter and, in drier seasons, these will become wetland/marshland. We also feel that we have created a good balance between grassed areas, woodland areas and wetland areas. The site is split about 60% to the north and 40% to the south of the river - 14 holes and driving range to the north and 4 holes to the south. The south side is less interesting in terms of existing features, but it has a closer relationship to the city with impressive views of mosques and minarets.
Half of the site floods every winter (November to March/April) with meltwater from the snow on the surrounding hills and rain which collects in this valley - the narrowest point being at the eastern end of the Oued Fes site, with the King’s Palace being built on its banks. There have been drainage problems on this land for many years, so we had to consider likely flood levels from the outset within the design. So, in order to keep the golf course in play throughout the year, with no threat of flooding, we raised the level of the main playing areas by at least 1.5 metres throughout all 18 holes, driving range and practice greens, by using subsoil from the
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