Andrew Goosen and Tim Lobb will be onsite next week and will update our readers further.

Additionally we will be visiting our new project called Barwa New Cairo. Further information to follow.

The par 3, 8th hole growing in nicely.

The par 4, 4th hole is fully grown in now and ready to see some play.

9th green, with clubhouse in background in construction

Par 3, 5th hole. Difficult hole over bunkers.

We look forward to updating you on the progress of our various Egyptian projects after we return from our site trips.

Well done to Les Howkins, Jaey Goodchild and all the groundstaff at The Club for their committment to fulfilling the design philosophy of these bunkers.

See below for pictures taken today – 30 June, 2010

Some of the new fairway bunkers created last year

The edges have grown in very well and looks very natural

The cross bunkers at the second landing zone provide a great strategic challenge

Love the fluffy edges

We have finished the design for the renovation of the course now and look forward to breaking ground on phase 1 in September. Watch this space.

Chris Geraghty, golf professional at nearby Stella Di Mare Golf and Country Club strikes one off hole 3

Tim Lobb, a very un golf professional strikes one off same hole

We have sodded around the bunker edges to give stability

Tree and palm planting has started on hole 4

We have worked hard to create natural looking streams. Great job guys

El Ein Bay is coming together really well and we look forward to posting more progress pictures. During the site visit we approved hole 2, green 8 and tee 5 for grassing to commence. Look forward to seeing those green.

The new bunkers at the first landing zone on hole 11

We have used the Sportcrete product in the construction of these pilot hole bunkers and they are performing very well from a technical and playability perspective.

The softer edges with the 'fluffy' grass has developed well over the past year

We are in the process of completing the detail design for the remainder of the bunkers with construction commencing for the next phase of the works from September 2010. This phase will be approximately 50% of the total bunker re-build.

The second landing zone at hole 11 with cross bunkers to avoid

The bunker programme is scheduled to be completed over two winters, 2010 + 2011.

The fluffy bunker edges blend well with this parkland setting

Keep an eye out for further updates on this exciting renovation project that we are undertaking.

PRESS RELEASE

Challenge Tour impressed with TPL’s Carya course

Players describe heathland course as ‘probably the best we’ll play all year’

(London, United Kingdom – May 06, 2010) European Challenge Tour players and representatives have lavished praise on Carya Golf Club, designed by Thomson Perrett & Lobb, the golf course design practice founded by five-times Open Champion Peter Thomson, after it staged the Turkish Airlines Challenge.

The European Challenge Tour event, the first to be held in Turkey for 11 years, was won by England’s Charlie Ford, who described Carya Golf Club as ‘fantastic.’

The short par 4, 4th hole offered a great strategic challenge

He said: “The course is only 18 months old – I couldn’t believe it when someone told me that. It’s in great condition, and it’s a course that makes you think your way round, instead of just getting on the tee and trying to bomb it.”

Englishman Ally Mellor agreed, adding: “It’s a great test – probably one of the best courses we’ll play on all year.”

Carya, a unique heathland inspired course on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast is built on undulating sand hills with holes cutting through pine and eucalyptus woodland, has only been open for play for 18 months.

The propagated heather has established so well after less than 2 years

But the course in the Belek region of Turkey proved to be a hit with all involved in the tournament and looks set to become a permanent fixture on the Challenge Tour calendar.

Alain de Soultrait, Director of the European Challenge Tour, said: “The first edition of the Turkish Airlines Challenge was a resounding success, thanks in no small part to the quality of Carya Golf Club. All of our Members were very complimentary about the course, which looked superb and played even better.

The par 3, 7th hole played as the hardest hole all week

“The first edition of a tournament is always the hardest, but the week went so smoothly because the course was so warmly received. It is less than 18 months old and has great potential to mature and improve even more over the coming years, so we are already looking forward to returning to Carya for the second edition of the Turkish Airlines Challenge next year.”

Prior to opening in late 2008, nearly one million heather sprigs were planted around the course, to give it its heathland feel, inspired by the classic courses in the UK, such as Sunningdale and The Berkshire.

In a first-of-its-kind project, TPL propagated the heather in specially constructed glasshouses on site.

One of the broad scale propagation poly tunnels set up for heather cuttings

TPL principal Tim Lobb said: “We are overjoyed with the response from the Tour players who competed on the course and with the feedback we have received from those organising the event. Considering the course is not even two years old it is a great testament to the team who designed and built the course to have it looking and playing so well in such a short period of time.”

What the players said:

John E Morgan

“The course is absolutely gorgeous and it’s in phenomenal condition. It’s just a joy to play – as soon as you’ve finished, you just want to get out there again. It could definitely hold a main Tour event in years to come, there’s no doubt about it. The par threes are all demanding, and the par fives are all good risk and reward holes. They dangle the carrot, and if you play the hole well, then you can make birdies or even eagles. I particularly love the definition of the course, which really stands out. It looks beautiful.”

Jamie McLeary

“The course is absolutely stunning – you really couldn’t ask for a better set-up. All the players have really enjoyed playing it – if we play on a better course all season, we’ll be very lucky.”

Raymond Russell

“You can’t really afford to force the issue round this course, because there are a few holes where it wouldn’t be wise to attack the flag, so you have to use the contours of the green. And the rough’s quite penal in places – you can really tie yourself in knots out there. But it’s a beautiful course, and it’s in fantastic condition – especially as it’s only been open less than two years.”

Carefully detailed bunkers provided a striking hazard for players

ENDS

Please click on link below to view coverage as seen from the European Tour website.

http://www.europeantour.com/challengetour/season=2010/tournamentid=2010726/videoaudio/videoid=121165.html

16th Hole on Red Course during the early days at The Berkshire.

Tim Lobb said: “We are looking at incorporating the heathland elements, including heather, native grasses and rougher edges, into the bunker complexes, to give them an authentic look but with a slightly more modern feel. They will be constructed to the highest technical specification to ensure good playability, maintenance and longevity.”

“The goal is to refurbish all of our bunkers improving the way they play, their drainage and their shape, returning them to the heather-topped look that the original designer, Herbert Fowler, created,” said John Hunt, secretary of The Berkshire Golf Club.

Some of the lovely natural bunkering that is found on the Red course

An in-depth analysis and consultation with the club will take place for the remainder of this year, with work likely to start next year.

Our new 18 hole golf course in Dubai called Dubai Golf City was featured in a 2 page spread in the April, 2010 issue of Worldwide Golf.

Please see below scan of article.

From our first visit to site it was our design intent to create a traditional heathland inspired golf course. Five years on from that initial site visit to walk the site it is pleasing to see our design intent growing into a strong golfing experience for players at the club.

Below are some pictures that the Club sent us of the golf course.

The propogated heather is establishing well

Alot of work was put in by our design team and Golf Med (contractors) to get the distinctive bunkering style

Drive off the 8th tee, over heather to well bunkered fairway

Short par 4, 4th with cross bunkering to navigate through

Love the sky in this picture. Par 3, 7th

The heather carry on hole 13 has come in really strongly in the past 6 months

Carya Golf Club is hosting a European Challenge Tour event at the end of April, 2010. Good luck to the Club and players for the event.

Our electronic newsletter was distributed with news of our current projects.

Please click on below link for review.

http://www.tpl.eu.com/news-11.php

If you would like to subscribe please email us at info@tpl.eu.com