Jonathan Gaunt - building a reputation
I have been lucky enough to have been a golf course architect all my working life, and I launched this stage of my business, Gaunt Golf Design Ltd, in March 2006.
Since then, we have established a very strong client base, working on exciting projects internationally, in new and emerging markets for developers of multiple courses and investors in high-profile tourist resorts.
The team at Gaunt Golf Design is a trusted and well established one, with a shared vision and commitment I am proud of. We are passionate about providing the best and most creative solutions to our clients, and I like to think this stands out in the work we produce.
With the potential of new projects in 4 continents, we look forward to many exciting design possibilities on the horizon in 2008.
Oued Fès Golf Resort, Morocco
Construction work has now started at Oued Fès Golf Resort, close to the Royal Palace of King Mohammed VI in the ancient mediaeval City of Fès, for the specialist Moroccan tourism developer, MEDZ.
Fès is one of the four so-called "imperial cities" of Morocco - the others being Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat. Fès was the capital of Morocco until 1912, (now Rabat) and has the best-preserved old city in the Arab world, with the sprawling, labyrinthine medina of Fès el-Bali - the largest of the two medinas of Fès and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The 18-hole course, which also features a golf academy and 300 metre driving range, will be completed in October 2008, with the opening planned for early 2009.
The design of the course incorporates varied habitats for wildlife: woodland, wetland and grassland and also some desert features.
This creates a beautiful and memorable course for all golfers: it is positioned at the heart of a site that includes golf villas and apartments, 5 hotels with accommodation for over 2000 guests, and a retail area.
The golf course is being built on a 170 hectare site on a flood plain, so in order to keep the golf course in play throughout the year, all features will be raised by 1.5 metres above the 100 year flood level. Those areas not raised will be crossed by timber boardwalks and bridges. The rough grassland areas comprise bold, undulating features with water channels (oueds) that will flood when levels rise in winter and during the drier seasons become wetland and marsh.
The result will be something golfers in Morocco or those travelling there on holiday might not expect - a lush green oasis.
Tamuda Hills Golf Resort, Morocco
This is the second golf project being undertaken by Gaunt Golf Design for MEDZ.
The construction of the Tamuda Hills Golf Resort at Mdiq Fnideq will begin in June/July 2008 – close to the city of Tetouan which was founded in the 3rd century BC. Artefacts from both the Roman and the Phoenician era have been found at the site of Tamuda - where the name for this development originates.
Also close to this site is Cabo Negro - a distinctive mountain just along the coast from the spectacular beaches of Tamuda Bay. Overlooking the course are the remains of an ancient fortress, Koudyat As-Salla, surrounded by a natural maritime forest of mature pines, eucalyptus, oak and olive trees. From almost every hole on the course there will be extensive and stunning views of the Mediterranean.
These powerful natural and historical elements have been a major influence on the design of the golf course on this challenging 125 hectare site. Golfers will enjoy playing through a tremendous variety of landscapes, from fairways sheltered by woodland, to exposed grassland, and from high terrain with a bird’s eye view to holes in deep valleys that run along the water’s edge. In this particular case, it will mean realigning the river in the bottom of the ravine to create lagoons and water features that meander through the site.
This course will present the golfer with a true maritime golf experience. The total course length is 6235 metres and includes a 300-metre driving-range with targets as well as two practice greens.
Sekyra Golf Resort Praha, Czech Republic
This 100 hectare site is located in Vinor,to the North-east of Prague, the beautiful capital of the Czech Republic. It is in a dynamic and quickly expanding sector of the city and is just 15 km from the famous Wenceslas Square in the centre of Prague. It is easily accessible by car as well as by public transport.
The Sekyra Golf Resort, at an altitude of 265 metres, is in a gently undulating rural landscape with long ranging views of the surrounding Bohemian countryside.
The two neighbouring magnificent castles - Vinor Castle and Ctenice Castle – and their landscaped parks will be within view of the clubhouse.
The project, which is being undertaken for VINORSKA SPOL, s.r.o., comprises 27 holes – each of the three 9-hole circuits measures in excess of 3490 metres, with a par of 36, and a minimum of 5 teeing areas per hole, allowing the shortest circuit to play a length of about 2750 metres.
The course will be built to a very high standard – suitable for championship golf with large greens and extensive lake features, strategically placed bunkers, grassy hollows and mounding.
An interesting historical feature is that there are two small chapels within the main playing areas of the golf course - they used to be part of the mediaeval religious route from Prague to Brandys and Labem.
Both will be renovated prior to the course opening for play.
Of more contemporary interest is that Prague is putting forward a bid to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2016 or 2020. The most important sports facilities are to be built in Letnany which is just 3 kms from the Sekyra Golf Resort.
Construction work is to commence in September 2008.
