The Cascades at Soma Bay
Gary Player's Cascades is the most dramatic golf on Egypt's Red Sea, a par 72 that runs holes right along the water and has been called the Pebble Beach of Africa. Opened in 1999, it was the first course in the region designed by one of golf's modern Great Triumvirate.
Photo: Ramy Nassar via Google.
The verdict
The Cascades matters for what it started. When Gary Player, working with Brad Bartell, opened it in 1999 it was the first championship course in North Africa or the Middle East designed by any of the modern Great Triumvirate of Player, Nicklaus and Palmer, and it set the template for the Red Sea golf boom that followed. More than a quarter century on, the seaside holes still make it the most photogenic round in the country.
The nickname, the Pebble Beach of Africa, is marketing, but it points at something real: several holes hug the Red Sea with the water in full view, and on a calm morning the contrast of turquoise sea and desert is genuinely striking. The par 72 plays up to about 6,998 yards, firm and breezy, and while it is a resort course at heart, the coastal stretch gives it a sense of occasion that the flatter inland Egyptian courses cannot match.
The Cascades at a glance
- Opened
- 1999
- Designer
- Gary Player
- Type
- Coastal desert
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Up to about 6,998 yds
- Green fee
- Indicative
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from GolfPass, Top 100 Golf Courses and the resort. The Cascades is a Gary Player par 72 measuring up to about 6,998 yards, the first Great Triumvirate design in the region. Green fees vary by season and package, so treat any quoted figure as indicative for 2026 and always confirm current rates directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The reason to come is the seaside run. A cluster of holes plays along the Red Sea with the shoreline as a hazard and a backdrop, and these are the photographs that sell the course. The breeze is rarely absent here, so judging the wind off the water, and resisting the temptation to take on too much of the coastline, is the heart of scoring well.
Player's routing balances that drama with room to breathe. Away from the sea the fairways are generous and the bunkering is strategic rather than penal, so a steady ball striker can post a number while a wilder player still finds the desert margins forgiving by links standards. The greens are the defense, firm and subtly contoured, and they reward an approach flighted under the wind.
It is, in the end, a resort course that punches above that label because of where it sits. The combination of a marquee designer, genuine seaside holes and dependable winter sunshine is why the Cascades remains a fixture on any serious Egyptian golf itinerary, and why it pairs so well with the bigger inland test at Madinat Makadi up the coast.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visitors and Soma Bay hotel guests; book through the resort or a tour operator, with stay and play packages widely available |
| Green fee | Rates vary by season and package; treat any figure as indicative for 2026 and confirm current pricing when you reserve |
| Handicap | No strict handicap barrier for resort play; the back tees and the coastal wind reward better players |
| On the day | Carts are standard in the desert heat; bring sun protection and water, and expect a breeze off the sea most afternoons |
| Getting there | Soma Bay, about 40 kilometers south of Hurghada and its international airport, on a self contained peninsula resort |
| Best months | The cooler half of the year, roughly October to April, is prime; play early in midsummer to beat the heat |
Access and fee details verified June 2026 from the resort and leading databases; pricing and policy change by season, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Soma Bay is a gated peninsula of upscale resorts, so the simplest plan is to stay on the bay and let a stay and play package handle the golf, the beach and the spa. The Cascades resort sits beside the course, and the neighboring hotels are a short shuttle from the first tee, which keeps logistics painless for a group.
For a fuller Red Sea golf week, the Cascades pairs naturally with Madinat Makadi at Makadi Bay a little to the north and with El Gouna beyond Hurghada, so a single base can reach three courses without long drives. Add a day trip to Luxor and the trip blends championship golf with one of the great archaeological sites in the world.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Cascades at Soma Bay.
Build a Red Sea golf trip
We arrange the golf at The Cascades, pair it with Madinat Makadi and El Gouna, and book the Soma Bay resort and transfers around them, with a Luxor or Nile leg if you want it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Cascades at Soma Bay questions
Who designed The Cascades at Soma Bay?
The Cascades was designed by Gary Player, with Brad Bartell as co-architect, and opened in 1999. It was the first championship course in North Africa or the Middle East designed by one of golf's modern Great Triumvirate of Player, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
What is the par and length of The Cascades?
The Cascades is a par 72 that measures up to about 6,998 yards from the championship tees, with multiple tee sets that bring it down to around 5,363 yards for forward players.
Why is The Cascades called the Pebble Beach of Africa?
Several holes run directly along the Red Sea shoreline, with the water in full view, a dramatic coastal setting that has earned the course the nickname the Pebble Beach of Africa.
Can visitors play The Cascades at Soma Bay?
Yes. The Cascades is a resort course open to visitors and Soma Bay hotel guests. Book through the resort or a tour operator and confirm the current green fee and tee times directly before you travel.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative access verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.