Destination of the Week – The Courses to Play in Dubai
All Square 4min read •
8 Oct 2017
Having developed from a desert outpost into a vacation hotspot where tourists from all around the globe visit to enjoy sunshine, shopping and family fun, Dubai offers amazing and unique opportunities for sightseeing. Discover Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building), the Bastakia quarter, which preserves a taste of the city’s past, and the numerous malls. Dubai is a word-class holiday destination, with warm weather all year round and plenty of luxurious activities for you to choose from, including a marvelous golfing experience.
In recent years Dubai has begun attracting players from all over the world with its amazing scenery, spectacular clubhouses and excellent facilities that feature golf academies, recreation amenities and residential developments.
Emirates Golf Club – Majlis Course
It would seem amiss not to start with the host course for the men’s and ladies Omega Dubai Desert Classic. The tee shot at the sixteenth on the Majlis at Emirates Golf Club has become one of the most famous views in modern golf. Stepping up and ripping a drive towards the Dubai skyline will be a special moment in your golfing memory.
The course here is like an oasis. The natural flora and fauna have been used by designer Karl Litten to complement the course beautifully. The clubhouse is also an iconic feature. The Bedouin-style buildings can be seen from many points on the course including the 8th which is a favourite of many.
This is a unique course and a must play. Follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest golfers and play this wonderful modern masterpiece.
The course has many of the features we’ve become familiar with when it comes to Greg Norman’s work including many large bunkers. This is a great course with rolling gentle hills. It has taken inspiration from the inland courses of North America.
Like the Majlis, this course has used its natural surrounds to frame the facility. The trees and shrubs around the holes provide the perfect frame. This course is worthy of its place as the host course of one most important events on the European Tour calendar. The Fire Course on the property is also a great track.
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
The golf course at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club was one of the first to be built in the Dubai area. One of the best stories from this facility is that they couldn’t get sand for their bunkers and had to have it shipped from Oman. I guess you can sell sand in the desert.
Anyway, this fantastic facility makes the most of its waterfront location. The clubhouse design was inspired by the Arab dhows that used to sail in the waters beside the course. The 17th and 18th are two of the greatest finishing holes in the world.
Emirates Golf Club – Faldo Course
The original course opened in 1996. Ten years later it re-opened after a makeover from Sir Nick Faldo. The Faldo at Emirates Club is a great course and one that will challenge golfers of every level. Faldo has designed the course to test golfers and has paired it with rugged terrain. The course looks fantastic.
This is an engaging and charming course. This is a course for the strategic golfer, although at over 7,300 yards you’ll want some length too. Like the Majlis, the Faldo has the incredible Dubai skyline as a backdrop. A stern test of golf on a perfectly kept course awaits here.
The Els Club
The experience that you can expect at The Els Club is hard to beat. From comprehensive facilities to an immaculate and superbly-designed golf course, The Els Club is a treat. The two-time major winner took inspiration from some of his favourite courses in the world when putting the course together.
The bunkers on the second hole are like those of Royal Melbourne, the greens are reminiscent of Pinehurst No. 2 and the general links-style set-up has a British feel to it. This fairly young course has won a host of awards and continues to impress. It has quickly gained a deserved reputation for being one of the best courses in the world.
Dubai has grown rapidly as a city and as a golf destination alike. You can also play night golf in Dubai. Do not miss that experience! Skratch TV posted a great video of a 24-hour golf trip to the area that can be viewed here. Other great courses include: The Address Montgomery Dubai and Trump International Golf Club Dubai.
