Jack Nicklaus is designing his first-ever golf course in Saudi Arabia, at Qiddiya, Saudia’s capital of entertainment, sports and the arts. The championship golf course, about 40 minutes from Riyadh, is under design and awaiting the start of construction.

Designed for a private golf and country club set in an exclusive residential community in the heart of the Qiddiya development, ground should be broken later this year. Construction began on the Qiddiya project in 2019, and the golf development will also include a high-end resort and spa, and exclusive residences. Qiddiya will later seek designers for a second course to provide top-notch golfing facilities for residents and day visitors.

“I am excited by this project and my first golf course design in the Middle East. To be selected as one of the first international designers to work in the Kingdom is a great honor. I’ve already spent time looking at the topography of the land, images of the backdrop and terrain, and discussing with our design team a strategy for the course. The design will fully integrate the natural environment and the beautiful Qiddiya landscape, bringing together green spaces and mountainous terrain to form a picturesque canvas for both a beautiful and challenging golf course,” said Nicklaus.