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Located outside the university town of Ilara-Mokin, close to the Ondo state capital of Akure, the Smokin Hills Golf Resort was developed by one of the nation’s top businessmen, Chief Michael Ade Ojo, the founder of Elizade Toyota Nigeria.

American architect Ron Garl was tasked with routing the fairways of this private facility around a formerly wooded, 140-acre landscape, where a practice area, driving range and par three course complement the main 18-hole layout.

Total Golf Construction – a company with extensive overseas experience in places like the Bahamas, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt – built the fully cart pathed course to USGA standards and it can be stretched to an eye watering 6,510 meters for tournament play.

The signature hole arrives late in the round at the 172-metre 16th but this devilish par three is worth waiting for because it demands a full carry across water to an island green, a challenge that’s reminiscent of the 17th at the 

Smokin Hills

Africa

American architect Ron Garl was tasked with routing the fairways at Smokin Hills Golf Resort around a formerly wooded, 140-acre landscape...

In the late 1980s, the Nigerian government decided to move the Federal Capital from Lagos to Abuja. Establishing a golf course in the new municipality became a priority for the authorities, allowing relocated workers to enjoy a much-needed recreational facility in a new environment.

Situated close to the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly, the course at IBB International Golf & Country Club occupies a 250-acre site adjacent to the National Aboretum, in an area that was formerly cloaked in dense forest, with small streams providing a perfect habitat for a wide range of wild animals and birds.

Julius Berger, one of the country’s largest conglomerate companies, constructed the course and the first nine holes were unveiled in 1992, with the second nine following two years later. Several man-made water hazards (formed by dredging the old streams) give golfers the chance to spot the snakes and crocodiles that live just off the fairways.

IBB International

IBB International Golf & Country Club is situated close to the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly, the course occupies a 250-acre site adjacent to the National Aboretum...

In 2002, Steve Ritson of Ritson Golf Design was appointed as the architect to design a new 18-hole championship golf course for Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort near Uyo. Five years later, in March of 2007 to be exact, Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen and Nancy Lopez formally opened the new layout.

Laid out on a hilltop ridge, with fabulous views across the surrounding rain forest stretching to the mountains of Cameroon, the course was constructed with minimal impact on the landscape as fairways were carefully routed through old palm plantations and areas of tropical forest swamp.

Roger Yates, Golf Manager of the facility kindly provided the following comments: “The Ibom golf course is part of the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria and it has matured well into the undulating landscape to provide golfers with some challenging golf and some stunning views of tropical West Africa.

The signature hole is without doubt the breathtaking 3rd hole, a short par three played from an elevated tee to a green set against the lush vegetation of the forest that borders the property. Whilst not overly challenging, it’s memorable for every first time player as it offers a canopy view of the miles and miles of forest that form its backdrop.

The hardest hole on the course is the 4th, a double doglegged par five that challenges the straightest of hitters from the tee before asking a number of strategic questions throughout its length, meandering as it does between out of bounds on the left, trees on the right and two well-positioned water hazards.”

Le Meridien Ibom

In 2002, Steve Ritson of Ritson Golf Design was appointed as the architect to design a new 18-hole championship golf course for Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort near Uyo.

Lakowe Lakes Golf & Country Estate is a gated community development situated half an hour’s drive to the east of Lagos, with a modern 18-hole golf course as its sporting centerpiece. Designed by South African architect Robert O’Friel, the course occupies two hundred and twenty-five acres of a large coastal estate which is surrounded by dense woodland.

It’s a resort course, featuring multiple tees on every hole to cater for players of all abilities and the generously wide fairways are designed to keep the ball in play, no matter the skill level of the golfer playing the course. On the other hand, should you find yourself in one of the revetted bunkers, it’ll almost certainly result in a dropped shot.

Salt-tolerant Seashore Paspalum grass has been used extensively throughout to ensure uniformity of playing surfaces, promoting firm and fast conditions as much as possible.

Par is set at 72 for a layout that can be stretched to 6,730 yards, with the course configured as two returning 9-hole loops.

Lakowe Lakes

Lakowe Lakes Golf & Country Estate is a gated community development situated half an hour’s drive to the east of Lagos, with a modern 18-hole golf course as its sporting centerpiece.

Ikoyi Club 1938 was formed as an amalgamation of the European Club and The Lagos Golf Club, both of which joined forces in September of 1938 to create what is now one of the most active recreational clubs in West Africa. Around ten thousand members enjoy a wide range of sports, including swimming, tennis, squash, badminton and, of course, golf.

For a long time, Ikoyi remained largely an “expat club” which was frequented by European civil servants and members of the diplomatic community, until it evolved over time to became more inclusive, transforming itself into one of the best multiracial clubs on the continent, with membership drawn from all parts of the world.

The Ikoyi golf course is laid out within a large 465-acre property, extending to just over 6,000 metres from the back tees. The par four 7th is regarded as the signature hole, where the tee shot is played over a lake to a fairway that narrows as it approaches a tree-encircled, elevated green. On the back nine, the short par four 13th presents a good birdie opportunity, provided golfers avoid the many bunkers that sit in front of the green.

Ikoyi

Ikoyi Club 1938 was formed as an amalgamation of the European Club and The Lagos Golf Club, both of which joined forces in September of 1938 to create what is now one of the most active recreational clubs in West Africa.

Nigeria is one of the most populated countries in the world with around 150 million inhabitants, and it is estimated that one in four people in all of Africa is Nigerian. It is one of the largest oil producers in the world with petroleum products accounting for a significant proportion of the country’s earnings.

Located on the west of the continent in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria shares borders with Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, gaining the status of a republic in 1963. The country was governed for years by the military but it now enjoys an elected leadership, which can hopefully steer it in the right direction towards prosperity.

Football is the chosen sport of the Nigerian people and the national team has performed well in recent World Cup and African Nations tournaments. Athletics, basketball and boxing are other sports that attract large numbers of followers but golf is beginning to capture the imagination of a growing number of Nigerians.

Castle Rock Golf Club in Yenagoa was expected to debut in 2020 but when we contacted architect Ron Garl in August of that year he told us the course was still not opened. Garl, who also designed the course at the Smokin Hills Golf Resort in Llara-Mokin, drew up the plans for Castle Rock, with Florida contractor Total Golf Construction carrying out the build.


 were reviewed in June 2019, click the link to read the story.