Ernie Els Design scooped a number of prestigious accolades at this year’s World Golf Awards, which every year celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism. The Els Club Vilamoura in Portugal, Anahita Golf & Spa Resort Mauritius, Trump International Golf Club Lido in Indonesia, The Els Club Dubai, and The Els Club Desaru Coast’s Valley Course, all won gold in their respective categories.
The Els Club Vilamoura, which opened for play earlier this year, was awarded World’s Best Private Golf Club. Every aspect of the club was praised – from Ernie’s visionary design, blending world-class golf with the natural beauty of the Algarve, to the welcoming atmosphere of the club and its incredible facilities. Every detail at the Els Club Vilamoura reflects a passion for the game and a sense of family and belonging.
“Seeing this project come to life in the stunning Algarve is a milestone for our firm,” commented Ernie at the official opening ceremony in July. “Vilamoura and Arrow Global really have been exceptional partners throughout, sharing the same commitment to creating something unique and enduring – a special golf course in a special part of the world.”
In further recognition of its credentials, the Els Club Vilamoura will host a brand new stroke play tournament in the summer of 2026, the Portugal Invitational, a 78-man Champions Tour event and the first TOUR-sanctioned event of its kind in this beautiful country.
Anahita Golf & Spa Resort in Mauritius was voted the Indian Ocean’s Best Golf Hotel. The Ernie Els designed golf course is beautifully complemented by surrounding lagoons and breathtaking mountain backdrops. Indeed, one of the strengths of this golf course is the team was able to maximise the visual impact of the surrounding scenery, but also preserve the coastline’s natural beauty. The hole-routings move in and out of the trees, along the water, and back, giving players great variety and magnificent views of the ocean. Another of the features that makes this course stand out are some of the interesting design touches integrated into the layout; such as the use of existing dry-stone walls as strategic hazards, links-style burns and classic, grass-downed bunkers which reveal just a sliver of sand from the player’s-eye view.
Anahita is one of many golf courses in the Ernie Els Design portfolio to have hosted tour events. First the Mauritius Golf Masters, in 2010 and 2011, and then in 2016 and 2018 the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, the first ever tri-sanctioned tournament by the DP World Tour, Asian Tour and Sunshine Tour.
The spectacular Trump International Golf Club Lido was nominated Indonesia’s Best Golf Course. This was a special project for us – our firm’s first venture into Indonesia, situated in West Java in an eye-catching setting between the valley of Mount Salak, Mount Gede, and Mount Pangrango at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level.
“For a golf course designer, these are the kind of settings you love to work with”, commented Ernie as the golf course neared completion in 2024. “There are some truly breathtaking holes. This is now a go-to destination for golfers in south east Asia.”
The Els Club Dubai was voted The UAE’s Best Golf Course and Dubai’s Best Golf Course. Ever since it opened for play in 2008, The Els Club Dubai has been a firm favourite with tour pros. It is now a thriving members’ club renowned for the exceptional condition of its playing surfaces and world class facilities. The course, which has hosted several professional tour events, is described by Ernie as a ‘desert links’ and is a must-play for discerning golfers in the region.
Finally, the Els Club Desaru Coast’s Valley Course, a joint design collaboration between Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, was awarded Malaysia’s Best Golf Course. The Valley Course is a completely different test to its sibling, the Ocean Course. Small greens and sharp undulations mean that approach play requires precision. The layout is as dramatic as you’ll find anywhere in the world, with huge sweeping slopes creating a perfect mix of testing shots and vistas. Notably, the course hosted back-to-back events on the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Tour in 2023.
Click here to view the entire portfolio of Ernie Els Design golf courses that are either open for play or in planning and construction.
Photo of Trump International Golf Club Lido, featured on the homepage, is provided courtesy of the brilliant Jacob Sjoman @sjomanart.
