A world-class golf course, designed by Nicklaus Design, one of the top golf course designer in the world, is taking shape in Grand Phnom Penh International City (GPPIC) near the heart of Phnom Penh.

Mr. Andri Witjaksono, Chief of Public Relationship of GPPIC said that the course is in a prime location due to all the local lakes and ponds. Nicklaus Design set up this course to be particularly challenging due to the several lakes. “Every golf course has its own obstacles but the lakes will be extremely challenging for the better players,” he explianed.

Mr. Andri continued, “Since the end of the last rainy season, the construction team have been working very hard in order to finish the golf course by the end of 2009. We started by grading the land and digging the lakes.”

Mr. Gunady Wirawan, Project Director of GPPIC said, “This golf course will celebrate its soft launching in late 2009. We’ll invite all of the top golf players and high ranking government officials in the country and region to witness the cutting of the red ribbon in that celebration.”

Mr. Gunady, continued that the golf course was projected to cover 70 hectares and be located in the central part of GPPIC. There are 2 big lakes and 4 ponds in this course. “The greenery of the course at the heart of our GPPIC will make our city environment fresh and clean,” he said.

“Every month a team of experts from Nicklaus Design comes to Phnom Penh to monitor our workers and ensure they follow the master plan step by step,” Gunady said.

Mr. Peter Sawyer is the project construction manager of Sandino International Co., Ltd. from Australia and has been contracted to build our Grand Phnom Penh Golf Course. He said that they started construction last October 2008 and, as of February 2009, were 80% done with the earth work. “The beginning is the hardest. We have many special technical requirements that have to be met in order to make this world-class golf course meet the specifications of Nicklaus Design’s master plan,” Peter said. “Everything here follows the American standard.”

For more information on golfing holidays in Cambodia contact: info@asia-adventures.com

Edited from Cambodia Scene Magazine (Apr-Jun 09)