IFA Hotels and Resorts and partner Moreland Developments have selected Gary Player from an A-list of international golf course architects to design an 18-hole Gary Player Signature course and Golf Academy at Zimbali Lakes Resort on South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal coast.  The Zimbali Lakes project will be the second development at Zimbali Coastal Resort and will have its own exceptional facilities. The luxury African-themed resort, located north of Durban, will expand on the development ethos, “living in harmony with nature “ by upholding the indigenous landscape and ecosystem.

According to James Wilson, resident of Zimbali and Board Member IFA, 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

Gordon Hibbert, MD of Moreland and joint venture partner with IFA Hotels and Resorts says Moreland is delighted with IFA’s selection of the Gary Player organization to design the Zimbali Lakes golf course and academy, as in addition to their standing as a leading international design team, they have demonstrated their sensitivity to meeting Zimbalí's high environmental standards, We look forward to working with IFA, Gary and his team in creating another world-class course that will further enhance  Zimbali's premier resort status and its contribution to driving economic growth and job creation on the KZN north coast.

Says Club Captain Bobby Jameson, for the Zimbali Coastal Resort
“ The course is an integral part of the lifestyle at the Zimbali Coastal Resort apart from the Golfing experience, people live alongside and next to the Course.”

In addition to the new golf course, 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, golf and tennis academy, a commercial node, and a residents beach facility. 

And recently appointed IFA (South Africa) vice-president, Phillip de Sylva, who will oversee the development of the golf course, says 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

Zimbali Lakes Resort will place another strong project on the map for Gary Player Design, as this marks the organization's first project on the Kwazulu Natal coast. 
When Gary Player visited the site, along with other senior executives, he showed great appreciation for the developers’ vision to blend the golf course and homes with the natural topography, fauna and flora.

Gary Player stated,” this is an extremely important appointment for our company and having recently visited Zimbali , 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.”

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.

About Gary Player Design:
Gary Player Design was established in the early 1980s and has since branded over 200 layouts with the mark of a champion.  The firm specializes in golf course design services, which revolve around building mutually rewarding long-term relationships with its clients by displaying integrity and credibility in a business setting.  Player is actively involved in each Gary Player Signature project.  His vast experience in golf course design coupled with over 50 years of experience as a professional golfer have afforded him a unique understanding of the needs of the average golfer, the objectives of the developer and the concerns of the environment.  An experienced technical staff works closely with Gary Player to implement his design philosophies into the highly detailed golf course drawings, which ultimately, bring Player’s conceptual ideas to life through the finished project.  Gary Player Design is currently involved in developments in Africa, North America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. 
Gary Player Design success speaks for itself in this year’s golf course rankings around the world.  In Golf Digest’s panel, the company claimed the top three golf courses in South Africa as well as 11 of the top 25.  Also, Player’s newest design in the Cape ñ Bushman Sands Golf Course ñ featured in Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine is Top 10 International Courses.  Gary Player-designed courses also received awards in the United States, Europe and Asia, including the number one course in Indonesia and best design firm in Asia. www.garyplayerdesign.com

About Zimbali Coastal Resort:
The proposed Zimbali Lakes Resort forms part of the 700 ha Zimbali Coastal Estate on South Africa’s subtropical East Coast.  Meaning” the place of flowers”, Zimbali is set on the Indian Ocean and bordered by 3,5 kilometers of immaculate coastline warmed by the Mozambique Current. Environment is central to the Zimbali philosophy and no expense is spared in protecting and enhancing its magnificent natural heritage. The developers have utilized the forested dunes and startling fauna and flora so as to create a feeling of paradise where residents and guests enjoy unmatched exclusivity and an exceptional quality of life.   

MORELAND DEVELOPMENTS- IFA HOTELS & RESORTS

Joint-venture information

INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ADVISORS

International Financial Advisors Co. K.S.C., is a leading investment
company established in 1974 and publicly trades on the Kuwait Stock Exchange.
 
In 2002 International Financial Advisors expanded its activities and formed a consortium of several leading investors and companies, which includes the second largest real estate company in the Gulf state – Kuwait Real Estate Co. (KREC) a publicly listed company established in 1986 and United Investments Portugal (UIP) established in 1985.

The depth and strength of the group places it in the forefront of companies engaged in the development of tourism projects, hotels and resorts in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
 
IFA HOTELS & RESORTS FZ-LLC
 
IFA Hotels & Resorts is a subsidiary of the Kuwait-based International Financial Advisors Company (IFA), with expanding tourism interests spanning Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
 
In South Africa, IFA is involved in a joint venture with Moreland Developments in the existing Zimbali Coastal Resort (www.zimbali.co.za) which covers 3.7 million square metres (370 hectares) and the expansion of the resort will add a further 3.0 million square metres (300 hectares). It also purchased one of South Africa's most exclusive hideaway resorts – the Zimbali Lodge (www.zimbalilodge.co.za) – from South African leisure operator Afrisun Kwa-Zulu Natal, which will continue to be managed by Sun International Management Limited. The move is further evidence of IFA's commitment to build and position Zimbali as an exclusive destination for the discerning international traveller.

In the Middle East, IFA Hotels & Resorts is the largest investor in The
Palm, Jumeirah, a man-made island offshore Dubai in the United Arab
Emirates. These include: The Fairmont palm residence with 558-rooms on the island's trunk, a 1000 room five-star Hotel and Vacation Club on the island's crescent. In addition, the company is also behind The Palm Residence, with more than 1000 apartments in three buildings – Al Nabat, Al Haseer and The Palm Golden Mile.
 
The Golden Mile (www.thepalmgoldenmile.com) development, a joint venture with Nakheel, developers of The Palm, includes a shopping and residential apartments complex, which will cost US $300 million and will feature 780 luxury apartments as well as 220 boutique shops and restaurants. The project will overlook a 1.5 kilometre canal-side Corniche which will transform it into one of the world's most sought-after Corniche-style shopping destinations.

IFA Hotels & Resorts is the force behind the management of the super-premium Sheraton Algarve Hotel and Pine Cliffs Resort (http://www.pinecliffs.com) in Portugal; part of Starwood's Luxury Collection, and behind the Zanzibar Beach Hotel and Resort (http://www.zanzibarbeachresort.com) – the largest destination resort on the historic spice island.
 
IFA Hotels & Resorts aims to link its resorts in The Palm, Jumeirah – Dubai. Zimbali-South Africa, Zanzibar and Portugal with future planned resorts in Lebanon. This will offer tourists in Europe, the Middle East and Africa a unique network linking the company's respective hotels, resorts, and vacation and residence club destinations.
 
TONGAAT-HULETT GROUP

The Tongaat-Hulett group is a major SA company which is listed on the Jhb and London Stock Exchange and has a US dollar 1,1 billion in assets including 25 000 hectares (250 million m2) and more than 20 000 employees across Southern Africa, and is the largest listed company with its headquarters in KZN.

It has 4 major operating companies namely
Tongaat-Hulett Sugar
Hulett Aluminum
African Products
Moreland Developments

MORELAND DEVELOPMENTS

Moreland is the Property development company of the Tongaat-Hulett Group and is recognised as one of the leading land development companies.

Moreland projects are benchmarked to leading international standards, span the entire property spectrum and are located along the eastern seaboard of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, primarily in the north Durban region.  Since 1992, the company has developed more that 1000 ha (10 000 000 m2) of land resulting in investment infrastructure, the environment buildings, equipment and finishes in the order of R10 bn (US$1,5 bn), focused on providing a top quality, premier lifestyle (www.moreland.co.za)

In an initial investment of $10m, IFA acquired a 50% equity stake in Moreland’s renowned Zimbali Coastal Resort in the KwaZulu-Natal region, north of Durban, South Africa.
IFA Hotels & Resorts is responsible for the Sales and Marketing for the Zimbali Coastal Resort and Moreland is responsible for the technical and development functions.
 

Ends.
Issued by: Melanie Roberts
PR/Media/MIFAZ/IFA HOTELS & RESORTS/ZIMBALI COASTAL RESORT
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+27 82 3787486
www.ifahotelsresorts.com
www.zimbali.co.za
www.moreland.co.za