Discover why El Gouna is Egypt’s best golf destination — world-class courses, luxury hotels, desert excursions, and Red Sea relaxation.
In Ireland and the UK we are almost conditioned now to associate a golf holiday abroad with the usual suspects of Spain, Portugal and Turkey. But having just returned from an EGTMA trip to El Gouna, a Red Sea resort in Egypt, I can honestly say it’s a million times better option for a "golf plus holiday" than anywhere in Europe and maybe the World!! Here's why.
 |
| The 2025 EGTMA Group In El Gouna Resort |
Ease of Travel
Getting to Egypt was far easier than I thought. Direct flights run from Belfast, Dublin and loads of UK airports straight into Hurghada Airport, which is only 30 minutes from El Gouna. The entry process is also super simple — you can purchase an e-visa online for €25, skipping all the queues and avoiding airport stress when you get there.
The flight is about five hours, what's an extra hour on a plane, when you have Netflix to watch and podcasts to listen to. We flew on Easyjet in September, flights were about €250 return (including my golf clubs), and actually cheaper than to most other golf destinations.
Top Class Golf Courses
I honestly did not know what to expect in terms of golf courses in Egypt. This is a desert land after all! But then I remembered how Egypt's ancient civilisations were far more advanced than the rest of us. And I can happily report, they still are!
Before I talk about the courses in detail I want to tell one thing; you will never see grass as green and lush and perfect as on these courses. I mean that. Jaw droppingly good. Augusta good.
 |
| Mohamed Ashour |
And it was only after talking to Mohamed Ashour, Head of Commercial and Business Development of El Gouna on the workings and development of the entire El Gouna resort I realised how incredibly sophisticated and advanced everything here is, and how they overcome challenges, not just to produce and maintain perfect golf courses, but in absolutely everything here to create a special experience for the visitor they wont get anywhere else.
The Courses
 |
| Fore Please! Mirella Now Driving |
One of the nice things about El Gouna is you have access to not just one, but two completely different golf courses. Between El Gouna Golf Club and Ancient Sands each offers its own challenges, scenery, and playing style.
El Gouna Golf Club
 |
| View Of 18th Hole El Gouna From The Nearby Tower |
El Gouna Golf Club is the older and more established of the two, designed by Gene Bates in collaboration with Major champion Fred Couples. We were welcomed by the ever smiling Awad Thomas, the Senior Manager of Golf Operations at El Gouna Golf Club.
It’s a beautifully laid-out course that contrasts the Augusta green grass I mentioned with the desert landscape and uses the wide lagoons that meander through the resort.
 |
| Just Look At How Perfect The Grass Is!! |
On some holes you'll need accurate tee shots to stay dry, while others need decent carry to get over the lagoon. There's a couple of island-style greens too, just to keep your iron game honest.
 |
| "What's the best strategy here??" |
You can make the course as hard or as easy as you want with plenty of tee box choice and there's generally loads of room off the tees to let rip off the tee. I'm no Freddie Couples design expert but I'm guessing he played a big part in the weighing "risk and reward" style of the course, with plenty of opportunities to take on shots if you’re feeling like Freddie Boom Boom.
 |
| How Much Cutting Of The Corner Would Freddie Couples Do? |
I've already expounded on the virtues of the excellent condition, but I haven't told you yet about the driving range and short-game facilities right in front of the clubhouse and its massive bar and seating area!!
 |
| The El Gouna Golf Practice Ground |
Make sure you arrive early for your round because you'll want to have a crack at hitting a bucket of balls out towards target greens sitting in the lagoon.
 |
| Jo Hitting The Targets In The Lagoon |
It's novel, it's great fun and you'll certainly get warmed up. There's also a nice practice putting green and a chipping green with loads of room to expand. I'd love to see what they could with that area if they focussed on it.
El Gouna Video Reel
Ancient Sands
Ancient Sands Golf Club, by contrast, offers a completely different golfing experience. We were welcomed so nicely by Yahya Shedead and his team, as they prepared for the golfing season ahead.
 |
| Thumbs Up From Yahya Shedead in Ancient Sands |
Built on slightly higher ground, at Ancient Sands you get views across the Red Sea, the mountains, and the town of El Gouna itself. The course is split between two very different nines: the older, more established back nine is mature and bedded in and flows along like the lagoons around it, while the newer front nine is more modern, and more exposed to the wind that always blows.
 |
| Poetry In Motion As Bert Carries The Sand |
You could say it has a more sculpted look, with bold bunkering off the tees and maybe an even bolder design decision to have no bunkers around some of the greens. I'd imagine it's like any course where a new nine is added, it will feel at the start like almost like playing two courses in one but in time they'll blend seamlessly.
 |
| The condition of the course at Ancient Sands is Again Incredible |
Again the course conditions at Ancient Sands are mind bogglingly five star. I had a chat with the hugely experienced Tony Jaoude, who oversees the maintenance of both courses, and he explained the challenges of maintaining exceptional standards in Egypt’s harsh climate.
 |
| Lunch with Tony Jaoude (bottom right in yellow) in The Chedi |
Paspalum grass is used in the courses due to its ability to thrive on golf courses in areas affected by coastal conditions or using saline irrigation water.
It's an incredible feat, you'll especially notice on the greens, it depends on high or low they cut the grass on any given day to strike a balance between pace and durability to ensure year-round playability.
 |
| The Weather Is Always Perfect! Warm With A Cooling Breeze |
Another factor is that wind I mentioned, especially at Ancient Sands — it's a constant (and really regulates the temperature well for the golfer, you're never too hot), and really adds a layer of strategy that makes each round more engaging.
 |
| Well Done! Great Round! |
The first couple of holes are generally into the prevailing breeze, including a mammoth par-6 but hang onto your hats and you will make par. I loved the course, club selection becomes critical hitting into the greens, and if you're playing well you will play to your handicap.
 |
| The Vast And Beautiful Practise Area at Ancient Sands |
Again make sure to use the enormous driving range at Ancient Sands. Oh my goodness, I could have waited there all day hitting balls into the blue sky before me. I'm sure more chipping and putting facilities are in the plans there, but for now the range is in itself perfection.
AND though we only played two courses on our visit, there are several other top class and highly rated golf courses just a short drive from El Gouna. Make sure to check them out too!
Ancient Sands Video Reel
The Big Takeaway; Pace of Play and Pace of Life
If you go to the usual big golf spots in Europe you inevitably play "conveyor belt" golf on packed courses with enormous green fees. Some look so tired and worn out yet are still rammed with golfers (and drinkers posing as golfers) teeing off every five or six minutes. Standing and waiting on every tee, tempers fraying. It's not enjoyable and it's stressful.
 |
| Mohamed In The Bar That Overlooks The El Gouna Practice Area |
El Gouna is not like that. And never wants to be like that. No way. This place has pride and quality and class. We visited in September and the both El Gouna Golf Club and Ancient Sands courses were never too busy. You get to enjoy your game stress free, there's no pressure with time, you get looked after better and therein lies the difference. You want to stop for a beer after 9-holes? No problem!
Affordability
Compared to Europe and especially my country Ireland, everything in El Gouna feels like incredible value. From hotels to green fees to top quality meals, you’ll find yourself paying a fraction of the cost for a far higher standard of service. I'll give you just three examples.
 |
| Tuk Tuk Everywhere! |
The local El Gouna tuk-tuks — which are fully regulated and the main way of getting around the El Gouna resort — cost just 50 Egyptian pounds, that's about €1 per ride, regardless of the distance.
 |
| Post Golf Lunch At The Steigenberger Hotel Restaurant |
The Steigenberger Hotel where we stayed, had packages for 7 days half board including golf, that cost less than a hotel for a weekend, with just bed and breakfast, in Ireland!
You can walk into an pharmacy in El Gouna and get your medication without prescription for a third of the price at home. I use an asthma inhaler that costs €60 here, I got it there for €18.
 |
| Morning By The Pool at the Steigenberger Hotel |
The way is to book is to not really to pay rack rates but to seek a great "package deal" within your budget. A package might include hotel half or full board including golf etc. Our Steigenberger Hotel also does combination packages which lets you eat some nights in the hotel and others you can eat in the downtown area.
Safety & Security
My Mother is a great barometer for my safety! Always has been! "Is Egypt safe?" she said when I told her I was going. "I was there 25 years ago and I'm not sure.."
Well I can safely say....I have never felt more safe or secure in my life than in El Gouna. From the airport to the resort, I counted three separate security checks along the road. And once inside the El Gouna resort complex, everyone is either staying or working there, which creates a relaxed, secure atmosphere. There’s zero crime, nobody hassling or beckoning you into shops or restaurants; it's actually one of the best things about El Gouna, it's so secure.
The Steigenberger Golf Resort El Gouna
Staying at the 5-star Steigenberger Golf Resort El Gouna was every bit as memorable as the golf itself. You know the way when you walk into your hotel room for the first time and think "Wow, I don't deserve this!!" My room was huge, modern, and luxurious, with a balcony that looked straight out over the golf course — I did feel a little bit of guilt for a minute or two, but I got over it pretty quickly!!
 |
| Dawn Kilometre Swim At The Lagoon Beach |
The Hotel is set around the lagoon and directly across from my room was the beach!! Yes a perfectly groomed sandy beach, complete with sunbeds and lifeguards and a vast cordoned off area for swimming. Every morning at 7am I swam a kilometre, my splashing and gasping the only thing disrupting the erstwhile glassy calm waters. For me this was something that added a unique rhythm and relaxation to the trip and got the day off to a great active start. There’s also a large, inviting pool right beside the main restaurant, and another again with its own swim-up bar!
 |
| The Boat Trip To Golf At El Gouna! |
One of the coolest aspects of the Steigenberger is the boat transfer across the lagoon to the golf course and gym/spa building. You click on a light, like the bat signal, and 30 seconds later you step onto a small boat and glide across the water — a simple but really memorable touch that you wont find anywhere else.
 |
| This Is THE Breakfast View At The Steigenberger |
The spa at the resort deserves special mention. On my final day, after my back had tightened up and gone into a bit of a jock (maybe I was stressed at having to leave) I booked a deep sports massage. It was nothing short of remarkable. An hour later I walked out feeling like a new man. The man's hands were beyond expert, finding and working through knots of muscle with precision, he even kneading out something in my foot which eased my back, then something in my shoulder that eased my back a bit more!! Then came some sort of amazing hot oil, then a systematic trip up my vertebrae like an expert mechanic with a couple of cracks and clunks as he aligned everything back they way it should be.
 |
| Which Way Is El Gouna??!! |
I've said already but The Steigenberger Hotel is better value than anything you'll find at home, and it's a "proper" five-star standard from facilities to service.
Food & Drink
In The Steigenberger Hotel, you can fine dine in the main restaurant, or outside it which most people do because the temperature is perfect at night. Every single night. There's also a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in the hotel with a live cooking show that will blow your mind. The chef cooked up fillet steak, chicken and shrimp for us with one trick after another! Knives flying through the air flames exploding over the griddle, it was great!!
 |
| Japanese Teppanyaki Is Food Plus Performance |
On one evening, the hotel had a barbecue evening where food stations lined the lagoon path, which was cool.
The "downtown" area of El Gouna is full of great restaurants and bars. There's a nice pizza restaurant called Zia Amelia we loved so much we went twice. There's a pub called Bojo's which has every sports channel known to man!!
 |
| Fire and Ice at the Casa Cook Hotel |
Another memorable night was spent on the beach at the incredible Casa Cook Hotel by the Red Sea eating a Bedouin style meal with performers on the sand.
 |
| Philipp Uecker and team at The Chedi |
We also had an incredible lunch one day in Chedi El Gouna a beautiful boutique style hotel.
 |
| The Chedi is a stunning Boutique Hotel |
El Gouna is also very liberal when it comes to alcohol. Although Egypt it is a Muslim country with its own traditions, within the resort the Western culture is embraced.
 |
| Cheers! Sakara Beer |
There are hotel bars and downtown pubs aplenty, serving everything you would get at home, but at half the price. Make sure to sample the Eqyptian wines and local beers Sakara and Stella.
Activities When You're Not Golfing
 |
| Endless Sunsets at El Gouna. This from the Viewing Tower |
What makes El Gouna stand apart from anywhere else I’ve ever travelled for golf is the sheer variety of activities on offer once you step off the course. It’s not just about filling your time between rounds — these experiences are adventures in their own right and would make for an amazing holiday for any non golfer.
 |
| Jana Relaxing on the Lagoon Cruise |
One afternoon, we did a lagoon cruise on a small boat from the Hotel. Gliding through the lagoon and marinas that wind through the resort, you see El Gouna from a different perspective: classy hotels, private villas, the bars and restaurants on the water. It’s peaceful, scenic, and a great way to take in just how cleverly the town is designed around its lagoons. We returned back in time to climb the steps inside the resort's viewing tower at the golf course to see the sun set on a perfect day.
 |
| What A Quad Way To See The Desert! |
For something completely different, another afternoon we went quad biking out towards the desert mountains. The ride itself was exhilarating, it was tough and dusty and gritty at times but I love that, bouncing over sand and stony trails towards the shelf of mountains in the distance. We stopped at a Bedouin family home, where we were welcomed with tea and a traditional bread-making demonstration and warm hospitality. A simple euro (50 Egyptian pounds) for good luck was greatly appreciated.
 |
| The Art Of Bread Making In 2 Minutes In The Desert |
As the sun began to set behind the mountains, the sky turned golden, casting the desert in a kid of red light I had never seen before.
 |
| Master Of All He Surveys! |
It was one of those experiences that stays with you — simple, authentic, and unforgettable.
 |
| The Ocean Diva Catamaran Prepares To Sail |
The highlight of the activities was a trip on a huge catamaran out on the Red Sea with Ocean Diva. With around 30 people on board, we set sail with all-inclusive drinks flowing and music setting the mood.
 |
| Jo Ready To Snorkel Over The Coral Reef |
After about an hour sailing out to sea we dropped anchor at a coral reef, where we were fitted with snorkels and flippers. I had never snorkelled before, but when shown it only took two minutes to figure out and a whole new underwater world was opened to me. We jumped in to snorkel over the coral among colourful nemo fish in crystal-clear waters.
 |
| Dolphin Spotting After Our Snorkel |
 | |
|
It's a must do trip, I think it cost the equivalent of €60 and it'll be the best value for money you'll ever get in your life!!!
These experiences aren’t just extras; they’re the essence of what makes El Gouna unique. You can play 18 holes in the morning, then spend your afternoon sailing, exploring, or adventuring in ways you’d never get in a golf resort. It’s this combination of world-class golf and extraordinary activities that makes this place so different and special.
Activities Reels: Lagoon Cruise, Desert Quad and Catamaran
The Social Side
 |
| Enjoying A Beer At Zuni Bar |
I'll just put it like this. El Gouna feels different from traditional tourist resorts. There’s no pressure or hassle, just genuine friendliness from everyone you meet. The staff in hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs and golf clubs go out of their way to help, while fellow travellers, golfers and holidaymakers are here for the same reason: to relax, enjoy, and soak up the abundant sunshine.
El Gouna has completely changed my view of what a golf holiday can be. Affordable luxury, top class golf, unique activities, year round sunshine and complete peace of mind — all just a direct affordable flight away. If I could go only one place to golf and relax for the rest of my life, El Gouna would be it.
Thanks
 |
| Our Incredible Host Sandra Düster |
My thanks to the European Golf Travel Media Association for the invite to discover El Gouna. Thanks to our excellent host Sandra Düster, for putting together the program and looking after us throughout our stay. Thanks to all the staff at the excellent Steigenberger Resort, the El Gouna Golf Club and Ancient Sands golf club.
COMMENTS