Dubai Sports City (DSC), the world’s first purpose-built integrated sports city, has awarded the contract for the construction of its Ernie Els Design golf course to UAE-based Septech and its joint venture partner, Turnpoint Australia.

The golf course, part of The Dunes, is located within Victory Heights, a 25 million sq ft residential, gated golf community situated in the heart of DSC.
Construction of the golf course area that spans 86 hectares started last month and is scheduled for completion in May 2007. “Up until now work on the site has consisted of rough-grading with over 1.1million cu m of sand shifted to enable construction to begin,” says a spokesman for the contractor.
Septech Turnpoint will work closely with Troon Golf, a world leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing, which is acting as golf development consultant for the The Dunes.
Khalid Al Zarooni, president of DSC, upon signing the contract, said: “The golf course is an integral part of the DSC project. We are proud to have Ernie Els, one of the world’s best golfers, involved in the design. It is imperative therefore that we work with the best partners and contractors available to ensure that the specifications of the course and the quality of construction meet with those expected by Ernie himself.
Victory Heights – a joint venture between DSC and Arcapita, the Bahrain-based Islamic bank – is Dubai’s first truly mixed-use development. Aimed at local, regional and expatriate families, this unique gated golf residential community will offer comprehensive security and infrastructure, along with the services and amenities expected within a community, including local and international schools, a German Orthopaedic Sports Rehabilitation Centre, bike paths and walkways. Over 900 spacious and elegant villas will be set around the 18-hole Ernie Els Design championship golf course.