Construction has begun on European Golf Design’s first course in Russia. Appointed by OPIN, the Russian real estate investment and development group, The “PGA National Russia” course at Zavidovo Lake Resort will form part of the new exclusive Zavidovo Resort community. Located 130 km north west of Moscow, Zavidovo is a well known resort location among Russians and especially Muscovites.

There will be an 18 hole 7,400 yard golf course, together with a further 9 hole course to be built alongside a PGA National Golf Academy which will include an integrated short game range, practice bays, numerous practice greens, swing studios and teaching facility.

Constantin Zabrodin, CEO of Zavidovo Lake Resort Development, says: “The expectations and ambition for this project are high. Zavidovo Lake Resort  golf course is going to become one of Russia’s top courses of an extremely high standard, built with the purpose of hosting major golf tournament events and further promoting the game in this country with the emphasis to juniors, elite amateurs and future professionals. Branded as PGA National, Russia, it is going to become not just an advanced training centre, but a head-quarters of Russian professional golf”.

As well as golf, 5000 residential dwellings, 2 Marinas and a vibrant town centre will also form part of Zavidovo Lake Resort.

Local company, Geokam, will be building the course under the construction management of UK company Braemar Golf. The first 18 holes are due to open in July 2011.

Dave Sampson, the Project Designer from European Golf Design,(egd.com) commented “We are very excited to be involved in such a prestigious project and are looking forward to helping to create the premier integrated golf resort in the emerging Russian golf market.”

Zavidovo Lake Resort is the first European Golf Design project in Russia to reach the construction stage, two other projects are currently in detailed design.

European Golf Design is the joint venture design company of the European Tour and IMG. Established in 1992, European Golf Design has won design commissions throughout Europe and beyond to Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Asia. Projects currently under design and construction include those in Croatia, The Caribbean, Denmark, Egypt, Holland, Greece, Spain and South Africa.

Three of our courses have received the honour of being named ‘Best New Course in Europe’ by Golf World magazine. The Twenty Ten Ryder Cup Course at Celtic Manor is also a European Golf Design course.