Kuwait’s international standard KD11.5 million ($35 million) golf club project, which will feature sport, entertainment and commercial facilities, is slated for completion later this year.

The earth movement phase for the project is already under way and is nearing completion, says a spokesman for Kuwait International Golf Company (Kigco), the promoter of the project.
The project that is coming up on the 6th ring motorway – inside the equestrian and hunting club – is eight minutes away from the Kuwait International Airport, and 15 minutes from Kuwait City, and will be at a short distance from several of the prestigious hotels and resorts, including the Radisson SAS, and Kuwait Regency as well as the Messilah Beach Resort, says the spokesman.
The project, which lies among other vital architecture enterprises undertaken by the private sector in Kuwait, will be established under an investment contract based on the BOT system (build, operate and transfer) for a 25-year period, he adds.
Kigco, was founded in October 2002 to build and operate a golf club and all required affiliated facilities as well as the services pertaining to the benefit of golfers.
The ambitious project – which the promoters hope will be an added benefit to tourism in Kuwait, and put it on the golfing map of the world – will include four main constituents including the clubhouse, the entertainment centre, accommodation units and the golf course.

Clubhouse
The 8,500 sq m Clubhouse building that is designed to the highest architectural specifications, will include a 350 sq m pro shop, 400 sq m multipurpose hall, restaurant, coffee shop and snack bar, golfers’ lounge, public lounge, outside terrace, children’s’ playroom and administration offices.
It will also include a health club, which will feature separate gymnasiums for men and women, sauna and steam rooms, health spa and massage room, indoor swimming pool for female members, beauty saloon, outdoor swimming pool, squash and outdoor tennis fields, fitness room and lockers.

Entertainment centre
The outdoor entertainment fun-fair area measuring 32,500 sq m will include the latest children and family rides, food booths and car parks with provision to hold 400 cars.
The facility will also include an indoor entertainment and shopping mall of 17,000 sq m that will house:
• Four movie theatres;
• Arcades for electronic and video games;
• An ice skating rink;
• The first real-snow skiing slope in Kuwait;
• A bowling and billiards area;
• A hyper market;
• Retail shops;
• Fast-food restaurants, cafeterias and food courts; and

Accommodation
The project will include 20 chalets (regular and deluxe), some of which are provided with swimming pools.

Golf course
The golf course, which is the main component of the project, is the first of its kind in the country and is being built according to PGA championship standards. The course will be 6,709 yards long with 18-holes par 70, and will feature all the natural traps and landscaping necessary for any competitive golf course, including sand traps, three lakes and greeneries.
The driving range has a unique shape, which is similar to fairways, and it includes full facilities. This course was designed by Swiss golf course designer Peter Harradine, the person behind the successful designs of the most important golf courses in the Gulf region. A very distinctive feature of this course is that 12 holes fall within the horse race track of the Equestrian and Hunting Club, providing an exquisite view to those watching the horse races, while at the same time not blocking their sight. This falls in line with Peter Harradine’s objective of making this golf course the most attractive one exists alongside the track.
The other distinguishing aspect of the course is the difference in topography inside and outside of the horse race track.
Another attraction is added by the fact that the clubhouse, chalets as well as the entertainment mall will share a picturesque panorama, giving members and the guests the feeling of being in a “green haven” rather than in the desert.
With this aim, nearly 75,000 cu m of sand was removed to create a very distinguished contouring that will provide the view while at the same time providing players with enough challenge to enjoy their games.
Finally, the co-existence of this club with the equestrian and hunting club will give its members and guests additional benefits, as they will be offered special packages that include the ability to participate in horse riding, hunting and different activities offered by the equestrian and hunting club, the spokesman adds.