Danny Lockwood travels to El Gouna Resort, Red Sea, Egypt
I can’t speak for all other sports fans, but I would argue none are as richly privileged as golfers – particularly golf tourists.
I’m incredibly lucky to receive invitations to some stunning destinations – in Portugal and Spain and all across Europe, to the Belek region in Turkey, south down the Morocco coast, to islands in the Mediterranean, and over to Palm Springs in California to play in perfect temperatures beneath snow-capped mountains.
With autumn and winter golf in the UK reliably cold and wet at best, and impossible in snow at worst, a chance to enjoy the sunshine and play some proper golf is delightful.
While the golf season officially begins here at the start of October, Egypt and the Red Sea resort of El Gouna is a year-round destination.
Golfers will never find two courses or clubs the same, let alone two countries, but rarely do we find something as distinctive as El Gouna.
Some 30 minutes north of the busy Red Sea holiday destination of Hurghada, El Gouna is a self-enclosed town, accessed from the main highway via an imposing security station. Set alongside the golden sands and colourful reefs of the Red Sea, overlooked by sun-kissed desert mountains, it features the Steigenberger and newer Ancient Sands golf resorts.
El Gouna was founded in 1990 by Egyptian developer Samih Sawiris and it is a mind-boggling collective of tiny islands linked by interconnected, turquoise lagoons that open into the Red Sea. It has some 25,000 residents as well as a vast array of hotels, restaurants and bars; four fabulous marinas; and a buzzing central downtown area which comes to life in the evening.
Getting around is easy – simply hail a tuk-tuk which will take three of you anywhere in El Gouna, any time of day or night, for just five Egyptian pounds (about 85p!).
We stayed at the sprawling Steigenberger Golf Resort – a five-star destination beyond its own security gates – with 268 rooms and 58 suites overlooking the pools, private beach, lagoons and fairways.
Here you can expect unwaveringly friendly and thoughtful staff – from the moment you step into reception to the minute you depart. Quality is the byword for everything about the Steigenberger, one of 18 hotels in El Gouna currently, catering for everything from high-end exclusive to budget visits. While this is a destination popular mostly with European guests, Egypt’s second language is English and almost everyone is fluent.
Weather-wise, we visited at the end of September and although hot by UK standards (around 32°C) the constant breeze off the Red Sea meant it never felt uncomfortable. I did spot a cloud once, late on our final afternoon, but it didn’t spoil the week…
As impressive as the town and resort are, the golf lives up to both.
On the main Steigenberger course, you are ferried the couple of hundred yards across the lagoon from the hotel by a complimentary boat-taxi. If you fancy a warmup, the driving range is impressive and features a sequence of target islands in the bay. The attention to detail is immediately apparent, from tee boxes to greens, while the desert waste areas are pretty playable. Despite the course winding around the lagoons, the direct challenge of the water is used sparingly.
The views from the course are simply stunning, and the course is as challenging as you want to make it. Depending on the tees you choose it can stretch to nearly 7,000 yards. The landing areas are generally generous from the tee, and you can see the various challenges before you. Durable paspalam grass delivers excellent playing conditions year-round.
A Gene Bates and Fred Couples design, the course benefits greatly from Samih Sawiris’s commitment to making El Gouna a haven for environmental excellence – it was the first destination in Africa and the Middle East to be awarded the United Nations Global Green Town Award in 2014.
Meanwhile, set out towards the north end of town, the newer Ancient Sands club is markedly different. The front nine holes only opened in 2025 and were still bedding in during our visit, but they were no less enticing for that. A standout feature was the par six second hole, which plays into the prevailing wind for good measure! The more mature back nine has a different feel for now and is a touch more technical off the tee. The closing hole is a tough par five with an island green that can be a proper card-wrecker. Like Steigenberger, Ancient Sands is a five-star hotel under the excellent management of the Orascom Hotels group.
A fully functioning town complete with a private airstrip, El Gouna ticks every box I could imagine – from its own hospital, international schools, a football ground and varied sports facilities to a conference centre which hosts international film and music festivals. Whether you’re sampling the local cuisine, the Steigenberger’s fabulous Japanese restaurant – Harumaki, heading for a Bedouin-style buffet, or dropping into one of the downtown bars and restaurants, visitors are really spoiled for choice here. While Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country, alcohol is served freely and Egyptian wines and beers are very good.
For those looking to enjoy a day or half day away from the course, a late afternoon quadbike adventure across the desert and into a mountain wadi will get the adrenaline flowing. A boat tour of the lagoons and marinas is a more sedate option – taking in the fabulous architecture and offering a chance to marvel at the stunning vision that brought this place to life.
A real highlight of our visit was a late afternoon catamaran trip out into the Red Sea – around £50 with free-flowing cocktails included – where you’ll be fitted with snorkel, mask and flippers to swim among the stunning marine life around the coral reef. A pod of dolphins frolicked around our boat as we sailed back towards a stunning sunset, with high-flying kite surfers for added company – an unforgettable experience in every sense.
Danny flew to Egypt with EasyJet from Manchester Airport. Accommodation was at the Steigenberger Golf Resort (www.elgouna.com). The visit was in conjunction with the European Golf & Travel Media Association.
