Developments
GEO Certified Development 05/2024
This has been the longest project I have been involved in certifying, Given the desert location and arid climate we wanted to ensure that everything was designed and constructed just right. And so it has been. The efforts from the project and construction teams have been great to see, even when construction was completed, the team continued to make improvements to the landscape areas to ensure they are as authentic as possible.
Alexandra Almeida, Verifier - Education City Golf Club, Qatar
The Education City Golf Club is situated within the ‘Education City’ area of Al Rayyan just outside of the city of Doha, Qatar. This is seen as the educational hub of the country with a number of leading universities and technology parks making it the perfect location for the flagship sustainable golf development in the country.
The desire to ‘build and oasis in a desert’ has been the driving force behind this development. Creating an area that is a safe haven for nature promoting and protecting the native fauna and flora species and providing a space for migratory birds to stop. The concept of sustainability stretches to more than just the natural environment as the development promotes the sport of golf within Qatar, bringing it to new people and making it a family activity, integrating both women and children.
The golf development includes an 18-hole championship course as well as a 6-hole executive course and a further 9-hole practice course. As well as this there is a golf academy and a learning centre of excellence. The goal here was to create a championship standard course that is accessible to both Professional level golfers as well as those just beginning their golf journey creating a challenging but fun experience. The club has provided an opportunity for the development of golf within Qatar, securing the future of Qatari golf.
This project well illustrates that sustainable golf is different, can be approached differently, and demands different responses in most every situation around the world. Here in Doha we were able to see the creation of a golf facility that caters to a demographically diverse set of golfers while respecting natural habitats and creating space for native fauna to thrive.
Sam Thomas - Director of Golf Development, GEO Foundation
The overarching principle was to use as much recycled material as possible. Besides re-using concrete pavers, depots and shade structures on site, our most notable upcycling was the use of slag (a by-product from iron production) from the local steel furnace. We installed it as the drainage layer under all turf, not just greens and tees, but also fairways
Anton Ortner - Olazabal Design
Find out more from the design team here
