EXCITING play from the Professional Golf Association’s (PGA) seniors could soon be on the cards at Oman’s first 18-hole grass golf course.
Muscat Hills is located close to Muscat International Airport in the undulating terrain at the base of the Hajjar Mountains with the course being built over wadis and rocky outcrops.
Built by Southern Golf Oman, the Oman offshoot of the company which has created more than 150 golf courses worldwide, the course was designed by Paul Thomas of Dave Thomas associates, whose portfolio includes La Manga West in Spain.
The nine-hole course is already in play and the 18-hole will be finished by the end of the year with the club house scheduled for completion in late 2010.
A 200-room hotel is also planned to cater for visitors as the course, whose outlook has been compared to that of the Palm Springs ‘mountain’ course, will be hosting European PGA events from 2011.
Leon Sassen, membership and marketing manager, said: “We will have a world class golf academy, with PGA credited professional instructors. Muscat Hills is the only golf course in the Middle East and Asia to incorporate a turf maintenance academy, offering training on golf course maintenance.
“We’re looking forward to opening the 18-hole course by the end of the year and hosting a European PGA Seniors Tour event in the future.”