Maldives builds $500 million floating golf course

Featuring 18 holes connected by underwater tunnels, the course will be made up of several islands floating in the Indian Ocean, which will contain two or three holes each.

The floating islands will also be linked to a series of hotels by more underwater tunnels, which will overlook the golf course and surrounding coral reefs.

The project also has an environmentally aware side - it will be powered by solar energy with sustainable desalination and water cooling techniques, and will work in co-operation with the Maldives' rising sea levels.

Dutch Docklands, a company which has a reputation for producing zero footprint floating projects, is the developer behind this latest project, and they claim that it will be a "scarless development, which has zero footprint on the Maldives region".

The project will be designed by Waterstudio.NL, Troon Golf in also on board to assist with the design of the golf course itself.

Due for completion in 2015, the course will be strategically located five minutes from the airport to attract stop-over golfers.

There is no word yet on how much 18 holes will cost.