Gary Player - The Legend

Gary Player Selected as Signature Designer for New Course at Zimbali Lakes Resort in South Africa

Aug 10, 2005 | Filed Under: Golf Course Design

IFA Hotels and Resorts and partner Moreland Developments have selected Gary Player from an A-list of international golf course architects to design an 18-hole Gary Player Signature course and Golf Academy at Zimbali Lakes Resort on South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal coast. The Zimbali Lakes project will be the second development at Zimbali Coastal Resort and will have its own exceptional facilities. The luxury African-themed resort, located just north of Durban, will expand on the development ethos, “living in harmony with nature” by upholding the indigenous landscape and ecosystem.

According to James Wilson, President and CEO of IFA Hotels and Resorts, “During the golf course design selection process, it quickly became clear that Gary Player was the outstanding choice based on his exceptional multinational portfolio as well as his marketability in South Africa. Apart from the benefit to residents, guests and golfers on the estate, the new course provides another vehicle for corporate golf days, competitions and is another sign of MIFA’s investment into the region on an economic level, providing a new platform for Tourism and job creation.”

On August 8th, Gary Player attended a contract signing ceremony and media launch at the Zimbali Lakes Resort where he spoke of his fondness for KwaZulu-Natal and reminisced about visiting his grandfather�s farm as a young man and going fishing along the North Coast.

The new course at Zimbali Lakes will place another strong project on the map for Gary Player Design and will also mark the organization’s first project on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Gary Player stated, “This is an extremely important appointment for our company and I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about designing a golf course in this part of my country and working with a world-class company like IFA.”

In addition to the new golf course and golf academy, the Zimbali Lakes development is currently planned to provide an international five-star hotel, over 1000 residential opportunities in a mix of single villas and apartments, a golf and tennis academy, a commercial node, and a residents beach facility.

A key feature of the development is the creation of a 30 hectare estuarine lake within the flood plain of the Tongaat River which will also include the rehabilitation of the existing environmentally degraded state of the estuary.

The Gary Player Design staff will immediately begin working with the Zimbali Lakes team to layout the golf course and academy and ground is expected to break by January 2006.

For additional information, contact , President, Gary Player Design, USA.

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