Internationally renowned golf photographer Kevin Murray hailed the new Shura Links Golf Course in The Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia as “superb,” predicting it will rank among his ‘top five venues’ and will offer an “awesome challenge” to players of all abilities following its launch in September.
Shura Links, the first island course in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and designed by revered architect Brian Curley, has been created to breathtaking standards by Red Sea Global, the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, and will be managed and operated by Golf Saudi.
The 7,500 yard, par-72 course opens out spectacularly, taking full advantage of Shura Island’s distinctive topography by meandering through mangroves and sweeping dunes before drifting along the shoreline to create a pulsating links challenge.
Holes four to seven hug the coastline, while holes 14 to 18 provide a crescendo of a finish with each enjoying a backdrop of open sea or channel views. The 18th hole finishes below the iconic clubhouse which has been designed by Foster+ Partners.
Kevin Murray, who has built an unrivalled reputation over decades of shooting iconic venues such as Lofoten Links, St Andrews, Pinehurst and 2027 Ryder Cup host venue Adare Manor, said: "I’ve not seen anything like it before in all my travels. It’s going to be one of those golf courses you’ve got to put on your list to tick off. Also, there’s such a good mix from architecture lovers to casual players, it appeals across the board.
"Once the golf course and everything around it is completed, it’s going to be quite a visual sensation—not just the course, but the amazing buildings as well. They’ve used marine life as a theme in the architecture, and the way the structures work with the environment is stunning."
Curley and his team incorporated width off the tee making the course suitable for beginners. It also includes challenging features that ensures the course is tournament quality, opening the possibility for staging major events in the future. There is also a two-acre putting course that the designers expect to rival the best in the world.
Reflecting Shura Links and Red Sea Global’s international ambitions to establish the island as a must-visit destination for golfers worldwide, the team has been present at International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) in France this week (20–23 October) and will continue to showcase the development next week at Elevate Golf in the UK (26–31 October) and at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London (4-6 November).
These platforms will offer global travel partners and golf enthusiasts an exclusive preview of how Shura Links and Red Sea Global’s luxury destinations are redefining the international golf travel experience.
Jon Brook, Shura Links General Manager, said “Shura Links showcases Saudi Arabia’s growing stature in world golf and demonstrates our commitment to combining quality design with world-class hospitality and sustainability. It was a privilege to welcome Kevin Murray to capture the course, and his praise is a fantastic endorsement of what we’ve achieved here.”
The course will be available to travellers as well as residents and guests staying in one of the 11 luxury destination hotels opening soon near to Shura Island including the Four Seasons Resort Red Sea at Shura Island, Grand Hyatt The Red Sea, Fairmont The Red Sea and the Rosewood Red Sea.
This October marks a major milestone for Red Sea Global’s growing hospitality portfolio, with three world-class hotels including EDITION, now open, and SLS and InterContinental also set to open their doors to the public. These additions further expand the luxurious accommodation options available to travellers visiting The Red Sea, reinforcing the destination’s position as one of the most exciting new travel and golf hotspots in the world.
The iconic Clubhouse follows the overall Coral Bloom design concept on Shura Island, also created by Foster + Partners, which takes inspiration from the incredible flora and fauna found uniquely in Saudi Arabia.
RSG is working with the OnCourse® platform to ensure sustainability is at the heart of Shura Links. Water consumption is reduced through the careful selection of turf grass and soil sensors to understand moisture levels and minimize water use.
It is also using the innovative POGO turf management system to measure key variables that influence growth and performance, including salinity, temperature and weather, helping to inform decision making and irrigation efficiency.
