El Gouna occupies a distinctive setting along Egypt's Red Sea coast, approximately 25 kilometers north of Hurghada. Designed by Fred Couples and Gene Bates and opened in the late 1990s, the course was built as part of a planned resort community developed on what was previously desert terrain. The design required extensive earthmoving and irrigation infrastructure to create playing surfaces in an arid coastal environment where natural vegetation is sparse. The routing takes advantage of manufactured elevation changes and incorporates water features throughout, with several holes playing alongside lagoons that are part of the broader resort's canal system. The layout presents a parkland character unusual for the region, with palm trees and imported grasses creating contrast against the surrounding desert landscape. Prevailing winds from the Red Sea influence play, particularly on holes with open exposure to the coast. The course serves primarily resort guests at the Steigenberger property and visiting golfers drawn to the Red Sea region. El Gouna represents one of the few regulation eighteen-hole facilities along this stretch of Egyptian coastline, offering year-round play in a climate characterized by warm winters and hot summers. The facility includes practice areas and clubhouse amenities typical of resort golf operations. The design emphasizes strategic bunkering and water hazards rather than extreme length, with multiple tee positions accommodating different skill levels. The course has hosted regional amateur competitions and remains a notable golf destination for European visitors seeking winter golf combined with Red Sea resort amenities.