The Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, home of the European Tour’s Saudi International, is a premier 18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse that boasts a panoramic view of the Red Sea coast as its natural backdrop.
The project started in 2008 and 16 of the holes were shaped before recession hit and work on the course was halted for six years. Work restarted on the stunning course in 2014 but it took until 2017 before the clubhouse finally opened its doors to the golfing world.
The course has been turfed with Paspalum Dynasty, a strain of heat tolerant grass that doesn’t discolour during changeable weather conditions.
Architect Dave Sampson said “The design intention was to create a course rich with variety and choice which the golfer will never tire of, with the prevailing wind off the Red Sea, the course has been routed in such way that holes play in multiple directions, creating a layout brimming with risk-and-reward choices and opportunities for creative and varied shot making.”
The Royal Greens Golf and Country Club is now a European Tour venue, with the second Saudi International to take place in January with some of the biggest names in golf attending. This venue is one of the hottest new additions to the Tour circuit.
“It’s a great new addition, it’s a new golf course, so it takes some to settle. I played there last year it was a tough test but i’m looking forward to getting back and going a few spots better this year.” – Ian Poulter
We thought we would share some before and after pictures:
1st hole before
1st hole after
12th hole before
12th hole after
16th hole before
16th hole after
18th hole before
18th hole after
