SOUTH AFRICA -- According to James Wilson, President and CEO of IFA Hotels and Resorts, “During the golf course design selection process, it quickly became clear that Gary Player was the outstanding choice based on his exceptional multinational portfolio as well as his marketability in South Africa. Apart from the benefit to residents, guests and golfers on the estate, the new course provides another vehicle for corporate golf days, competitions and is another sign of MIFA’s investment into the region on an economic level, providing a new platform for Tourism and job creation.”

On Aug. 8, Gary Player attended a contract signing ceremony and media launch at the Zimbali Lakes Resort where he spoke of his fondness for KwaZulu-Natal and reminisced about visiting his grandfather’s farm as a young man and going fishing along the North Coast.

The new course at Zimbali Lakes will place another strong project on the map for Gary Player Design and will also mark the organization’s first project on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Gary Player stated, “This is an extremely important appointment for our company and I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about designing a golf course in this part of my country and working with a world-class company like IFA.”

In addition to the new golf course and golf academy, the Zimbali Lakes development is currently planned to provide an international five-star hotel, over 1000 residential opportunities in a mix of single villas and apartments, a golf and tennis academy, a commercial node, and a residents beach facility.

A key feature of the development is the creation of a 30 hectare estuarine lake within the flood plain of the Tongaat River which will also include the rehabilitation of the existing environmentally degraded state of the estuary.

The Gary Player Design staff will immediately begin working with the Zimbali Lakes team to layout the golf course and academy and ground is expected to break by January 2006.

For additional information, contact Scott Ferrell, President, Gary Player Design, USA.

Gary Player Group
3930 RCA Boulevard, Suite 3001
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Phone: 561 624 0300
Fax: 561 624 0304