Golf Course
Bureau of Architecture
Dave Thomas Limited
The project of the Golf Course and the master plan for the entire resort was created by Dave Thomas limited. It was found in 1958, to support the sporting career of one of the most famous golfers of Great Britain and the European Tour – Dave Thomas.
Dave Thomas won more than twenty international professional tournaments, represented the UK and Ireland in the Ryder Cup tournament and competed against the USA in four championships. He participated in the World Championship eleven times. His sports career flourished when he played in the final with Thompson at the 1958 British Open tournament and finished second, losing in a dramatic replay of 36 holes, and also ranked second at the 1966 British Open tournament, giving way to the legendary Jack Nicklaus.
Starting from 1970, Dave Thomas began designing golf courses with Peter Alice. The experience of a professional golfer and familiarity with golf courses around the world greatly helped Dave in his work and created an excellent base in understanding golf architecture, which Dave Thomas Limited still uses today. Currently, Dave’s son Paul manages the company Dave Thomas limited and develops the golf industry through various projects around the world.
Concept
It took the best specialists of the golf industry one year to design a golf course and develop a master plan. The result of the work is the creation of a beautiful field with wavy fairways and multi-tiered greens in the south of Russia. The architects created a golf course of the highest gaming standards, able to accept a professional or amateur tournament of any level. The requirements of the USGA are fully met, ensuring the impeccable quality of the game zones. Each hole has its own special character and game strategy proposal.
The goal of the project Gelendzhik Golf Resort is to create a golf course that allows you to maximize the potential of golfers, creating pleasure and maintaining interest in the game, both among professionals and amateurs of different levels.
The design concept is based on a mixture of the classic UK fields and the best US fields, since golf is a mixture of emotions and competition. It was a great opportunity to create the perfect landscape in a natural environment. However, a first-class golf design is not only the correct location of strategic golf objects, but also an accurate construction and modern solutions that allow you to effectively implement the project at all its stages.
Proper golf design not only works with the existing landscape, but also improves the ecology of the whole area making it sustainable.
The team of professionals of “Russian Golf Design” and “Dave Thomas limited” had done everything possible so that the project of the golf course was not only effective and beautiful, but also the most reliable.
Leading international golf publications had already recognized the Gelendzhik Golf Resort as one of the best new golf facilities in the world.
Hole #1
A wonderful hole to begin at. Stunning view from the tee determines the style of the whole object. The key point here is the second hit on the green. Players must be very careful in their choice of clubs because it isn’t the best idea as the fairway has a big downward slope. Our recommendation would rather be to use 80% of the swing while hitting the given distance.
Hole #2
A Classic par 3.The only hole where after hitting you won’t be able to see the ball land on the green, as it is higher than the tee. The strategy here is simple though: the approach must be made through the left side, then after landing the ball will roll to the right along the slope. This surely is one of the most difficult Greens on the field, where hitting a flat terrace does not guarantee a successful putt.
Hole #3
Compact par 4, opens a great sight of the mountain ranges. When performing the first strike, it is necessary to focus on the left part of the Fairway. The smallest and smoothest green is reliably protected by a stream on the left side and a bunker on the right, but getting into it will provide great chances for a birdie.
Hole #4
The first truly serious test for golfers. Normally when reaching for a fairly wide fairway the most distant stroke is necessary, but even it does not guarantee an easy life at this par.
Hole #5
Par 5 for long - hitters. For scoring well here, a long-rage and accurate drive are necessary. This will allow the second blow to kill the stream and come to the upper plateau of the fairway.
Hole #6
The key to success in this field is choosing the right strategy to leave the tee. There is no big need to use a driver, wood or long iron is just enough. The ball must be landed on a flat part of the fairway in its left half, which will ease the second strike. The green is strongly raised and protected by bunkers on the right side, and there is a stream behind the green. In this scenario the ball can simply roll back 50 meters so it’s not best to play shortly.
Hole #7
Comfortable in distance par 4. If you begin with a good first strike, the second one is a short iron. The green with a large bias is quite treacherous at this hole. So the best strategy for entering the green is playing on its left side.
Hole #8
Gorgeous downhill par 3. The tee here overlooks the mountains and few holes on the golf course. Time for a photo! When choosing a club, it is necessary to take height difference into account, and just exactly correct this difference with a hit.
Hole #9
Finishes the first nine of the five-par strategic hole. Golfers really had a great chance to improve their score at the first nine. The fairway is divided into two tiers so with an accurate second strike on the upper part, there is a real chance for birdie. The narrow green is protected by numerous bunkers so if you find yourself on the bottom half, you need maximum concentration for a short game.
Hole #10
A Comfortable Par 4, gives a great chance for a good score. Since the fairway is not visible the exit can give birth to a little confusion, but with a good exit from the tee, the second strike will not be difficult.
Hole #11
Par 3 downhill. This particular hole has a big drop down which makes it difficult to calculate the distance and set the right choice of a club. The correct decision though could be simpler than it seems.
Hole #12
The Classic not-long par 4. The green is protected by a bunker on the right. The fairway is quiet narrow which requires a precise exit from the tee. With poor distance control the player might run into another bunker, located right behind the green.
Hole #13
Long - hitters should think before leaving the tee. The treacherous stream across the fairway seems quite accessible when you first hit the driver, but the Green is clamped down in between water. Enough to give a little hard time.
Hole #14
The green and the approach are safely guarded by 9 bunkers and a dog leg right with a large sharp rise. Here a good score requires accuracy and lack of risk, and of course a little of favorable circumstances.
Hole #15
An interesting hole, that requires a choice of right tactic. Despite the height difference (45 meters), the narrow fairway and the obstacle on the left, an easy exit out of the tee is not guaranteed. The Green is deeply drowned in the hills and securely protected by bunkers.
Hole #16
One of the most difficult holes on the field. A steep climb makes it harder to hit the fairway, the green is as well raised and together, they require skill and creativity in the short game.
Hole #17
The Classic Long Par 3, with a tee and amazing views of the city and the Bay. Pay attention to the sheer slope and the stream behind the green. It might not be asking for a long-distance strike.
Hole #18
The End Par 4 with no obstacles. Here the players can enjoy views of the field’s entire surroundings. We recommend paying attention when leaving the tee, the stream on the right might cause you some trouble.