When golf course designer Tim Lobb of Thomson Perrett & Lobb reached the turfgrass selection process for the new El Ein Bay Golf Course outside of Cairo, the order looked to be a tall one to fill. Only about 200 meters from the Red Sea in Ain Sokhna, El Ein faced the challenges of poor water quality for irrigation, the blistering Egyptian heat, and a prime golf season occurring during dormant months for turfgrass. Platinum TE Paspalum provided the solution.
“We have used Platinum TE on a few of our projects in the region,” said Lobb, “and have seen its performance in these conditions. Just as we’ve experienced before, the results here at El Ein are marvelous.”
Platinum TE Paspalum’s salt tolerance allowed El Ein to resolve ground water issues. With a mixing pond on the property, sea water and cleaner water are mixed on site to provide irrigation. Platinum TE also performs well in extreme heat and remains green during the winter months when other turfgrasses can lose their color.
Playability and aesthetics matter at El Ein, where Lobb and developer Galalah Touristic Investments strived from the beginning to balance the relationship between the commercial and golf elements of this residential venture. The resulting resort course meets the commercial needs without compromising the quality of golf.
“We took a lot of time to make the landscape interesting and create a land form conducive to excellent golf,” said Lobb. “El Ein offers a variety of shots and playing experiences to golfers of all levels. The quality of the playing surface provided by Platinum TE is a big part of this experience.”
The first nine holes of El Ein opened officially in January. It is joined with the nine holes of neighboring Little Venice Golf Resort to form Golf Club Sokhna. The final nine holes of El Ein will be completed later this year. Little Venice, developed by Hassan Allam Properties and designed by John Sanford, also features Platinum TE Paspalum turfgrass.
