Qatar International Golf Club (QIGC) has reached a new milestone in its development today as the first green is grassed. This signals the final stage in the creation of what will be the project’s first complete hole of the Championship 18 hole course, hole 15. To mark the occasion, two-time US Masters champion and the golf course’s designer Jose Maria Olazabal was on-site to plant the first green. He was joined by the golf course project team as well as students and teachers from schools that are taking part in the golf club’s Pearl Coaching Programme. Launched in 2015, the Pearl Coaching Programme aims to get golf clubs into the hands of young people for the first time and has already introduced the game of golf to more than 2,000 children in Qatar.
Jose Maria Olazabal commented: “I have had the pleasure of visiting Doha six times since we started working on the Qatar International Golf Club Project. It is truly rewarding for me to see how the golf course is coming to life and how our design ideas are taking shape. Our whole team is obviously thrilled that grassing of greens has begun. But we are even more excited that the club´s Pearl Coaching Programme is proving to be a success with several thousand children across schools in Doha being taught the game already. That is wonderful news for the region, and for the game of golf itself.”
Qatar International Golf Club will comprise a Par 72, 7161 yard Championship 18, a 6 hole course and a 9 hole Par 3. Alongside a state-of-the-art learning facility and family-friendly short forms of the game, QIGC aims to encourage everyone, regardless of age of ability, to experience the sport.
Mohammed al-Naimi, Deputy General Manager commented: “Today marks an important stage of development as we start the final stages of construction; the grassing of the greens. The support of Jose Maria Olazabal and his design team has been instrumental and for everyone involved in the project, it is hugely exciting to see the golf club’s vision taking shape. We are confident that the Championship course will offer a truly world class golfing experience. It is also great to see the local community engaged in this event and shows the progress we are making in our vision to grow the game of golf in Qatar
“The QIGC project is not just about providing a unique experience for advanced golfers. Our facilities range from family friendly short formats of the game right up to the championship 18 and are aimed at supporting and encouraging more people in Qatar to take up golf. As such, we are eager to open our doors in the coming months and the grassing of the first green is an important step towards that.” he added.
Qatar International Golf Club is a landmark project for Qatar and the world of golf, offering a revolutionary and holistic approach to growing the game of golf. The cutting edge facility has been designed to support every member of society regardless of age or ability - from complete beginners to the world’s leading professionals – and focusses on accessibility and enjoyment. It comprises a range of short game formats, a state-of-the-art learning and practice facility and an18-hole championship golf course, 6-hole championship course and 9-hole par-3 course all designed by two-time major winner Jose Maria Olazabal. It is working to become one of the most sustainability-led golf developments in the world as it aims to become a GEO Certified Development.
The unrivalled combination of a premium golfing, leisure and sports education facility in one location, Qatar International Golf Club, is truly unique to the region and the world.