Red Sea Global has officially unveiled the name and designs for its new golf course and clubhouse on Shura Island. Set to open in 2025, Shura Links promises an unparalleled golfing experience in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s stunning Red Sea landscape.
Shura Links is set to be Saudi Arabia’s first 18-hole island golf course, featuring holes on the water, marina views, and spectacular fairways framed by the Red Sea. This one-of-a-kind golf experience will captivate even the most discerning golfers.
Developed in partnership with world-leading environmental consultants, Shura Links adheres to the highest sustainability standards. The course focuses on water-use reduction and innovative re-use of irrigation for habitat development, ensuring it blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings.
“Shura Links will provide an unparalleled golfing experience, offering a visually stunning, natural course right here on the Red Sea. As ever, it’s not enough for us to provide spectacular experiences and world-class playing conditions. We are committed to ensuring Shura Links aligns with our ambition to set new sustainability standards. From innovative turf management and careful foliar feeding, we’re putting respect for nature above everything else,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of RSG.
“We’ve already commenced with turfing the fairways and look forward to welcoming the first players to this unique course,” he added.
World-Class Design
The iconic Clubhouse, designed by Foster + Partners, follows the overall Coral Bloom design concept on Shura Island. This design takes inspiration from the unique flora and fauna of Saudi Arabia. The course itself has been crafted by world-renowned golf architect Brian Curley, the designer behind the world’s largest golf facility, Mission Hills Golf Club.
Brian Curley, Principal of Curley-Wagner Golf Design, remarked: “There are very few places in the world that can offer year-round sunshine, stunning vermilion sunsets, and a wonderfully natural design. Shura has it all. We expect everyone from professionals to beginners to be drawn to this unique course and have designed it accordingly. There’s plenty to challenge the world’s best, while stirring the senses of amateurs looking for the greatest playing experience.”
The par 72 Shura Links course spans a championship length of 7,500 yards, offering multiple tees and experiences at each hole. Designed for maximum variety and playability, holes four to seven hug the coastline, while holes 14 to 18 provide a dramatic finish with backdrops of open sea or channel views. The 18th hole concludes beneath the iconic Clubhouse.
The course’s design includes ample width off the tee, making it suitable for beginners while featuring challenging elements that ensure it is tournament-ready, opening the door for major events. Additionally, a two-acre putting course is expected to rival the best in the world.
Fully Integrating Sustainability
RSG is collaborating with the OnCourse platform to embed sustainability into Shura Links. Water consumption is minimised through the careful selection of turf grass and the use of soil sensors to monitor moisture levels. The innovative POGO turf management system measures key variables such as salinity, temperature, and weather to inform irrigation efficiency and decision-making.
The course employs foliar feeding with natural nutrients like seaweed to enhance nutrient uptake and prevent runoff, maintaining the quality of turfgrass and playing surfaces. Of the 140-hectare site, only 20 percent is maintained turf, with the rest featuring natural, irregular turf lines and transitional bunkering that blend into the surrounding dunescapes.
RSG is also developing a Habitat Development and Protection Plan to encourage local wildlife. This includes research on using the course’s irrigation system to accelerate mangrove growth around the area.
Golf Saudi Partnership
Golf Saudi has been awarded the contract to manage the golf course and its operations. The 18-hole championship course will be accessible to guests from all 11 hotels on Shura Island, as well as other resorts at The Red Sea. A second course is planned as part of subsequent development phases, supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become the world’s next premier golf destination.
In 2023, The Red Sea welcomed its first guests, with three hotels now open. The Red Sea International Airport (RSI) has been handling regular domestic flights since September 2023, with international flights starting in April 2024, including a new twice-weekly route between The Red Sea and Dubai International. Desert Rock and Shebara are set to welcome guests later this year, with Shura Island poised to open in 2025.
