Madinat Makadi Golf
Madinat Makadi is the big, modern championship course of Egypt's Red Sea coast, laid out by John Sanford at Makadi Bay and opened in 2008. The par 72 stretches to around 7,500 yards from the tips, and from 2014 to 2019 it was voted the best golf course in Egypt.
Photo: sam samir via Google.
The verdict
Madinat Makadi is the kind of course that makes a Red Sea sun and golf holiday work. John Sanford routed a generous, American style championship layout across the desert at Makadi Bay, and the result is a par 72 that can stretch to about 7,500 yards yet stays playable thanks to six sets of tees. For six straight years, from 2014 to 2019, it was named Egypt's best, and it remains the anchor course for golfers basing themselves south of Hurghada.
The appeal is reliability as much as drama. The climate is dry and warm almost year round, the conditioning is strong by regional standards, and a nine hole par 3 layout, a long driving range and a full clubhouse round out a proper golf complex rather than a single course bolted onto a hotel. Pair it with the Steigenberger resort on site and you have a low effort, high comfort base for a winter golf week.
Madinat Makadi Golf at a glance
- Opened
- 2008
- Designer
- John Sanford
- Type
- Desert championship
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,500 yds
- Green fee
- Indicative
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from GolfPass, Top 100 Golf Courses and the resort. Madinat Makadi is a John Sanford par 72 measuring about 7,500 yards from the championship tees, with six tee sets and a nine hole par 3 course alongside. 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
Sanford gave the course scale. Wide fairways and big, contoured greens let the back tees push past 7,000 yards without making the round a slog, and several holes use desert scrub and bunkering to frame the line rather than to ambush you. From the forward markers it is a relaxed, scenic walk; from the tips it has enough length to interest a strong player.
Water and waste areas add the texture. Lakes come into play on a handful of holes and break up the desert palette, while the firm, sandy ground keeps approaches running. The wind off the Red Sea is the variable to respect, swinging club selection by more than the still air suggests, particularly on the longer par 3s and the closing stretch.
The supporting cast matters here. The nine hole par 3 course is a genuinely useful warm up or family option, and the practice ground is among the best in the region, so a group of mixed abilities can all find golf to suit. That breadth, plus the dependable weather, is why Madinat Makadi has spent so long at the top of Egypt's rankings.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visitors and hotel guests; book through the golf 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 reward better players while forward tees suit all levels |
| On the day | Carts are standard given the desert heat; bring sun protection and plenty of water, and standard golf attire is expected |
| Getting there | Makadi Bay, about 30 kilometers south of Hurghada and its international airport, an easy transfer from the Red Sea resorts |
| Best months | The cooler half of the year, roughly October to April, is prime; midsummer is very hot, so play early |
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
The path of least resistance is the Steigenberger resort that wraps the course at Makadi Bay, which puts the first tee, the beach and the spa within a few minutes of each other and makes stay and play simple to book. The wider Makadi Bay strip adds a run of large all inclusive resorts that suit families and groups who want the golf handled and the rest taken care of.
For a fuller Egyptian golf week, Madinat Makadi pairs naturally with the Cascades course at Soma Bay a short drive south and with El Gouna to the north of Hurghada, so a Red Sea base can string together several courses without long transfers. Add a few days in Luxor or on a Nile cruise and the trip becomes golf and history in one.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Madinat Makadi Golf.
Build a Red Sea golf trip
We arrange the golf at Madinat Makadi, pair it with Cascades at Soma Bay and El Gouna, and book the 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.
Madinat Makadi Golf questions
Who designed Madinat Makadi Golf?
Madinat Makadi was designed by American architect John Sanford and opened in 2008. It was the first championship course at Makadi Bay on the Red Sea coast.
What is the par and length of Madinat Makadi Golf?
The championship course is a par 72 measuring about 7,500 yards from the back tees, with six sets of tees and a separate nine hole par 3 executive course.
Where is Madinat Makadi Golf?
The course is at Makadi Bay on Egypt's Red Sea coast, about 30 kilometers south of Hurghada and its international airport, set within the Steigenberger Makadi resort area.
Can visitors play Madinat Makadi Golf?
Yes. Madinat Makadi is a resort course open to visitors and hotel guests. Book through the golf 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.