Ernie Els to design four courses in Cape Verde Islands

Former world No.1 Ernie Els is to design four golf courses in the emerging Cape Verde Islands as part of a £1.75 billion project to establish the region as a new world golf destination.

The three-times Major winner will be constructing two spectacular coastal courses on the island of Sao Vincente as part of the Baia Das Gatas Beach Spa and Golf Resort, which will be launched to investors early next year by Cork-based Cape Verde Development.

His other two golf courses will be integrated with the developments already under construction by Cape Verde Development in Murdeira, on the beautiful island of Sal, and all the courses will be designed to incorporate ocean front locations, dramatic hills and the variety of landscapes that the different islands present.

Revealing his part in the project for the first time, Els said: “We’re very excited. The Cape Verde Islands are a gem – a beautiful area – and I think it will be the next great destination for holidaymakers around the world, especially Europe.

“Each course will be different and each one will present a different challenge and adventure. But we will keep in mind that the amateur player must have a great golfing experience.

“There’s a lot of natural, rocky landscape to work with and we’ll work with that. If there’s an opportunity to do a lighthouse Turnberry hole, we’ll do that but I don’t think you need to go with the mindset to create a hole that I saw at Pebble Beach, or Spyglass Hill, or Augusta.

“Ernie Els Design has been involved with courses in the US, China, the Caribbean, South Africa, England and Ireland, and I think that we have proven our ability to produce outstanding courses."

British-based PGA Golf Management will help to develop, market and operate the golf courses and related facilities on the sun-soaked islands off West Africa, which enjoy 52 weeks of sunshine a year and which many predict will be the world’s next great holiday hotspot.

Said Keith Haslam, from PGA Golf Management: “Our role in this project is to assist the developers in realising their ambitions in the business of golf and creating this fantastic new golf destination.

“We are delighted and very proud to be working with Cape Verde Development and such an illustrious name as Ernie Els.”

Els’s senior designer, Greg Letsche, has already inspected the proposed sites and was overwhelmed by the scale and scenic beauty of the locations, which he believes will put Cape Verde on the map as a desirable international golf destination.

The Els team faces the challenge of combining the austerity of Monte Verde with the magnificence of the Atlantic Ocean, which will sit on either side of the two golf courses at Baia Das Gatas Beach, Spa and Golf Resort on Sao Vicente.

Sal and Sao Vicente are two of nine islands in the Cape Verde archipelago, which sit in a very stable and desirable climate (22° to 29°) south of the Canaries, at the Atlantic crossroads of Europe, South Africa and the Americas.

The massive investment move by Cape Verde Development heralds a major jobs boost for the islands and inward investment opportunities for Irish enterprise.

Tom Sheehy, founder and director of Cape Verde Development said: "Our constant focus on quality led us to Ernie Els when we sought a golf course designer for Murdeira and Baia Das Gatas.

“We are pleased to be working with Ernie and we look forward to announcing more details about the developments and the courses later this year.

“At Murdeira Beach Resort and Paradise Beach we have designed residences to the highest specification, and have included everything our clients want in a modern resort, including bars, cafes, shops and sports and entertainment facilities. It's our attention to detail and quality that has drawn clients to our developments.”

A three-time Major winner (1994 and 1997 US Open and 2002 Open Championship), Ernie has become one of golf's most influential players and is widely recognised for his willingness to participate in tournaments around the world, reflecting the global nature of the sport.

Added Sheehy: “This philosophy makes Ernie the perfect designer of the golf courses in Cape Verde, which will be the first golf courses constructed on these stunning, tropical islands.”

Commenting on the plans, Victor Fidalgo, president of the Cape Verde Government's Inwards Investment Board added: "Cape Verde has a long and rich history and is pleased to make world-class golf part of what we can offer to visitors to our country.

“Combined with sunshine, pristine beaches and outstanding cuisine, we will soon be able to offer some of finest golf in the world, not to mention other sporting pursuits such as fishing, windsurfing and sailing."

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