FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 19 January 2012

FIRST NINE OPEN AT NEW EGYPT COURSE

The first nine holes of the El Ein Bay golf development in Ain Sokhna, Egypt have opened. The course has been designed by London-based firm Thomson Perrett & Lobb (TPL), the practice founded by five time Open Champion Peter Thomson.

Egyptian firm Galalah Touristic Investments is the developer of El Ein Bay, which is part of an integrated development including 200 villas and three apartment precincts. “We spent a lot of time with TPL refining the site master plan to ensure the housing has as little impact on the golf course as possible,” said Maged Hosny, partner and general consultant to Galalah Touristic Investments. “As a result, we have a really great golf course that we’re confident people will have a lot of fun playing.”

View of 5th hole from one of the well designed villa's

TPL principal Tim Lobb said: “Ain Sokhna is a resort town about an hour from Cairo – the closest beach to the city – and is frequented mostly by Cairo residents and expats, so we have designed the course to be playable by the widest possible range of golfers. It’s not the longest course, but I believe it will provide a wide variety of shotmaking options, whatever your level of ability.”

Some of the detailed bunkering at El Ein Bay

Lobb highlighted the par three fifth and par five seventh holes as his favourites among the new nine. “The fifth green has strong contours, which will make it challenging for good players, especially if the pin is in the back right position, which is heavily guarded by bunkers, but it is also large, and thus relatively forgiving,” he said. “And the seventh has a large bunker short of the green that acts as an optical illusion. The bunker makes the green appear much shorter than it actually is.”

US-based firm King Golf International was the contractor on the construction of El Ein Bay. The course has been grassed entirely with Platinum paspalum, supplied by Atlas Turf International.

Tim Lobb (TPL) and Tad King (King Golf International) attended the opening of the first nine holes at El Ein Bay

In a separate development, the ownership of El Ein Bay has linked up with an adjoining golf project, the Little Venice Golf Resort, developed by Hassan Allam Properties, to create Golf Club Sokhna. With the nine holes now open at El Ein Bay, and nine holes, designed by American architect John Sanford, at Little Venice, the new club already has an eighteen hole course, which measures 6,968 yards from the back tees. The completion of El Ein Bay’s second nine, expected for later in 2012, will make the club a 27-hole destination.

ENDS

BTME Harrogate

Please contact Tim Lobb if you would like to meet up.

tlobb@tpl.eu.com

Below are a few site pictures to give a feel for what is being undertaken.

New fairway bunkering on hole 12 to protect the road on right and promote play from left side of fairway.

The works are being undertaken by Profusion and the results being achieved are first class. The Wimbledon Park GC groundstaff are also assisting with bunker edging and prep works.

A closer look at the new fairway bunkering on hole 12

TPL and Dave Langheim (Course Manager, Wimbledon Park GC) spent a considerable amount of time finalising the specification and bunker edging detail for the new bunkers in the design phase in summer 2011. The newly constructed bunkers are striking in appearance without being out of proportion on this flat site.

The new fairway bunkering setup on hole 14

A new bunker lining product called Blinder has been used for this project and is providing great results in terms of reducing contamination but also it really assists in the drainage performance. This factor is crucial for this project as we are in heavy ground with not much elevation variation.

A sneak preview of the new bunkering on hole 2

Hole 2 was nearing grassing completion as we left site. We will be back next week and get some photos soon.

We plan to have phase one complete within 4 weeks. On time and on budget.

Some great results are being achieved at Wimbledon Park GC. It may well be the highest specificied bunker re-development project undertaken in this country but from the results being seen so far we are sure it will be a great investment for the playing enjoyment of the clubs members.

We will keep you informed of the works as they progress.

December 23, 2011

From all of us at Thomson Perrett & Lobb we would like to wish our colleagues, Clients, friends in the industry and fellow golfers a Merry Christmas and look forward to a wonderful 2012.

At this time of the year there always comes a time for reflection on our achievements and on things we could have done better. While the golf development market is still quite stagnant we are pleased with our progress and accomplishments throughout the year.

Please see below some of our highlights for the year.

Master Planning Projects

We have been working on some fascinating master planning projects throughout the year. First of which is a 12, 000Ha site in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) called Wadi Al Asla, where we are appointed by leading architects HOK to assist them with the integration of two golf courses within the complex community master plan. The site has varied landscapes and characteristics and TPL has been onsite since day one to determine the optimal positioning of the golf course sites and how they will give a great golfing experience whilst ensuring connectivity to the rest of the 120km2 site.

Navigating around a 12, 000Ha site at Wadi Al Asla with HOK. The iPad is a great piece of kit.

Another major master planning project we have been concentrating on this year has been Barwa New Cairo. We are appointed by leading US architects RNL to assist them with the integration of an 18 hole championship golf course within a 600Ha residential community in the expanding Cairo suburbs. Whilst it has been a transforming era in Egyptian politics this year the project has continued and we are now looking at finalising the master plan in the near future.

The dramatic landscape at Barwa New Cairo.

International Expansion

In December 2010 we formed the Thomson Perrett & Lobb office in Cape Town, South Africa in which Andrew Goosen (Senior Design Associate) heads up.

Andrew Goosen at our new Cape Town office

TPL has made good in roads into developing long term projects in the African market and have been involved with preliminary studies for projects in Mozambique, Mauritius, Zambia, South Africa and Nigeria.

The dramatic Mozambique coastline where TPL visited in 2011

We look forward to a long association with Africa and to developing a typically ‘African golfing experience’ on all of the projects that we work on.

Working with existing Clubs

In addition to working on large scale master planned golf developments TPL also has great satisfaction in working with existing Clubs to improve their playing strategies. Throughout the year we have undertaken full strategic design reviews at The Richmond Golf Club, Wimbledon Park Golf Club, Royal Jersey Golf Club and a historic restoration of holes 16 + 17 at Burhill Golf Club.

Throughout the months of September to current there has been much construction works being undertaken and we are very proud of our achievements at these Clubs.

Bunker construction work at Royal Jersey Golf Club completed on hole 11, Dec 2011

TPL completed construction of a full 18 hole bunker and strategic review at Richmond Golf Club in Nov 2011.

TPL commenced with phase 1 (50%) of a total bunker reconstruction at Wimbledon Park Golf Club

Restoration of the 16th hole at Burhill Golf Club was completed in Nov 2011

2012?

TPL look forward to the year ahead. The golf development market is still very depressed and struggling in this current economic climate but despite this opportunites are still apparent.

We wish our Melbourne office, Thomson Perrett well for their bid to design the golf course for the Rio Olympics 2016. The decision is to be announced in the new year.

We are pleased to travel to the Opening of our El Ein Bay project in Egypt just after the Christmas break. A fantastic achievement to get this course finished despite the challenges Egypt has faced this year.

Opening of TPL's - El Ein Bay in January 2012

We are in the middle of bidding for three new major new developments so will hopefully have some success with one or more of those for the new year.

We continue to search for Clients who appreciate our attention to detail and our passion for delivering golf courses that complement the indigenous surroundings they lie in. But most importantly for our golf courses to provide a strategic challenge for all and make golf a fun game to play again.

Tim, Peter and Ross wish you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in 2012.

Goodbye 2011 – hello 2012.

Good golfing.

Royal Jersey Golf Club is a stunning links course founded in 1878 and the birthpace of the great Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. Incidentally they were both in the same class at school.

Tim Lobb visited the club this week to mark out some of the new strategic bunkering planned for holes 8 + 11.

Hole 11 and some of the new bunkering and mounding painted out on fairway

On hole 11 two new bunkers will be constructed to help strengthen the dogleg and encourage more strategic thought off the tee shot. The bunkers will be placed from 230 – 275 yards from the back tee. Some shorter bunkers off the tee will be removed for enable a fairer challenge for shorter hitters.

TPL marked out the bunkers, mounding and ridgelines to be constructed

Construction of this phase of winter works is to commence in the coming weeks. The construction will be completed in house and will use a revetted face on the bunkers.

We look forward to seeing these works completed and to continuing our work with this great golf club.

Today, Tim Lobb visited three of our active projects in the region.

9am – First stop, Burhill Golf Club (Old Course)

Met with Course Manager, Rob Surgey to discuss the proposals for the renovation and strategy changes of the first phase of holes on the Old Course. This winter we are concentrating on holes 16 + 17.  Hole 17 was shaped last week and grassing underway as seen below. Need to cut the grassing lines in next week.

Re shaped and slightly re positioned bunkers on hole 17 at Burhill GC (Old Course)

11.30am – Second stop, The Richmond Golf Club

We have been working with The Richmond Golf Club for a few years to help define a clear and fair playing strategy for the course. This re-strategising of the course has primarily involved renovating the bunkers but also looking at the strategic values of the individual holes. Les Howkins and the maintenance team at the Club have been undertaking all of the construction works. We are in the second and final phase of the construction with all new bunkers planning to be turfed in the coming months.

The newly shaped bunkers on hole 6, The Richmond Golf Club

We have been working with Les and the team to come up with a defining bunker edge that is also maintainable. The turfed down revetted edge has been going in very well and gives a great result.

Transformation of greenside bunker on hole 12, The Richmond GC.

3.30pm – Third stop, Wimbledon Park Golf Club

Over the summer we have been working with Wimbledon Park Golf Club to help with bunker strategy and course playability. We are due to break ground next week and today we had a kick off meeting with the elected contractors (Pro Fusion) and the Club.

We look forward to showing updates of our progress at The Club in the coming months.

Tim Lobb, Terry Milson (WPGC), Nigel Wyatt (Pro Fusion), David Langheim (WPGC), Ian Martin (Pro Fusion)

Busy day, but it is always great to see designs being built and testing your theories in the field.

Good golfing…

The main priority for the trip to Egypt was to visit our El Ein Bay project on the Red Sea. This resort style golf course is currently finalising construction on the back nine and growing in on the front nine.

The landing area for the reachable par 5, 7th hole.

The landscape is maturing well on the front nine and will frame the golfing experience very well for the golfing public.

Tee shot for the short par 4, 10th hole. Try and drive it over the left bunker.

The 10th hole is a great short par 4. The ideal drive is up the left side of the fairway which will give a short pitch up the whole length of the green. The course at El Ein Bay is not long but it will hopefully be a fun and interesting test of golf. Does the world need another ‘Championship Golf Course’ anyway?

View from the left side just short of the bunkers on hole 10.

The first nine holes has been growing in for over a year now and it is really taking maturity. The second nine continues with construction despite the trend seen in Egypt after the revolution. Tad King is our construction manager and doing a great job of managing the local labour force to build a truly international golfing experience.

Long par 4, 14th hole. Grass recently planted and growing in.

We have been using Paspalum platinum TE for all playing surfaces. The turf quality is excellent despite the low fertilisation programme that has been applied to it.

Some of the detailed bunker work on hole 15.

It has been great to see the back nine develop over the past year. There are some great holes out there with a great depth of golf to the land plan.

Some of the fairway bunkering on hole 16.

We are hoping to have the first nine open shortly. News to follow soon. Tim and Tad played the first nine on the Thursday and really enjoyed the experience. The turf needs a little grooming and the height of cut to come down but we are not far away from the green light.

Just prior to flying back on the Friday Gerard Bent (GM at Katameya Dunes) invited us to play nine holes of the newly opened course designed by Faldo/ Schmidt-Curly. The course and facilities were fantasic and set a new standard for golf in Egypt. Congratulations to all involved.

A lovely par 3 at Katameya Dunes. Love the use of ice plant around the features.

The use of Ice Plant at Katameya Dunes looked great and it was particularly interesting around the tees to create the island effect. It’s only drawback is that is it a lost ball if hit in there. But the playing areas are generous so in our view you should not be in there.

We look forward to getting back to Egypt again soon. Egypt has a strong future as a golfing destination. With some political stability and careful tourist ministerial planning we are sure that the country can reach it’s potential.

Good golfing.

Tim

First stop was Royal Jersey Golf Club where Thomson Perrett & Lobb is undertaking a full golf course strategy review. The Club is the home club of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray and very much steeped in history.

Peter Thomson and Tim Lobb with Royal Jersey Club officials on second tee

Peter Thomson undertook a course review with particular attention spent on the design solutions proposed for holes 3 + 9 where a bottle neck occurs in the layout.

Review of Harry Vardons memorial stone, located within putting distance of his house

Some of the TPL bunker strategy work is to start construction in October with holes 8 + 11 commencing the programme.

Peter Thomson catching up with Royal Jersey legend - Tommy Horton

Next stop on Peter’s tour was to visit  The Richmond Golf Club where Thomson Perrett & Lobb is half way through construction of a strategic review and re-bunkering process.

Richmond Golf Club's General Manager, John Maguire discussing some of the works

Works on the second and final phase of the bunker review at The Richmond Golf Club is to commence in October. We look forward to completing construction of this project and seeing the course being played in it’s complete form.

Les Howkins (Course Manager), Peter Thomson and John Maguire in front of the rebunkered 4th hole, Richmond GC

Next stop was just up the road to Wimbledon Park Golf Club where again TPL are undertaking a full strategic review of the golf course and preparing to commence works with the bunker re-construction in the coming weeks.

Peter Thomson with Club officials at Wimbledon Park Golf Club

During the final day of Peter’s three day visit to our UK projects he spent time with Tim Lobb at our design office in Ripley discussing some of the international new course design work ongoing in Egypt (3 courses) and Saudi Arabia (2 courses) as well as upcoming work from our new African office in Cape Town lead by Andrew Goosen.

Tim Lobb and Peter Thomson at our design office in Ripley, Surrey

Peter Thomson founded the foundation design practice in 1965 in Melbourne, Australia. Since that time Peter has shown a great energy and passion in the business of creating enjoyable golfing experiences.

Peter is actively involved in the business and is an inspiration for all that come in contact with him.

Peter and his wife, Mary will be enjoying themselves in St Andrews for the remainder of their annual UK holiday and competing in the R & A, Autumn Meetings in the coming weeks.

Good golfing Peter.

We salute you.

Tad King, our construction manager at El Ein Bay sent some pictures of the splendid progress and grow-in that is being achieved at our resort style golf course on the Red Sea just 100km East of Cairo.

The view down the 9th fairway from the clubhouse

We have planted Paspalum Platinum TE, supplied by Jennings Turf based in the US. The turf is really growing in well.

View looking down hole 4 from one of the villa balconies

Coming into summer now the newly planted turf is growing in very well.

Alot of care and attention has been given to the bunker detailing

11 holes are fully grown in now and shaping works is ongoing on the remaining holes.

The tricky par 3, 5th hole

The golf course has been constructed with local labour under the supervision of Tad King and the Galalah management. It is a testament to sensible construction practices and well thought out solutions by the whole team.

The short par 4, 10th hole

We anticipate grassing of the entire course to be completed by the end of the summer.

The tranquil water features of the golf course

We cant wait to see golfers start to enjoy this golf course.

Click on above link to access our Summer Newsletter, 2011