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Dubai offers a wide range of superb golfing
opportunities for both the serious competitor and those playing for
fun. Dubai holds two professional tour events, the European PGA
(Professional Golf Association)
Dubai Desert Classic and the Asian PGA Dubai Creek Open.
General Information
The following three courses require a handicap of 28 or less for men
and 45 or less for women. For all golf courses in Dubai, players
should adhere to the dress code, which requires proper golfing
attire at all times, including soft spikes on their shoes. Visitors
to the courses are welcome on a “pay as you play” basis.
Emirates Golf Club
PO Box 24040, Dubai UAE.
Tel: (+9714) 3473222, Fax: (+9714) 3472888
E-mail:
emiratesgc@dubaigolf.com
Opened in March 1988 and designed by American golf architect Karl
Litten, the Emirates Golf Club was the first grass golf course in
the Middle East. The Wadi course was later added and opened on 1
November 1996. The unique and spectacular clubhouse and buildings
are designed as Bedouin tents.
The Emirates Golf Club boasts 36 championship holes in total:
Majilis Course, the original 18-hole, par 72
championship grass course a total length of 7,101 yards. This is a
formidable test with fairways and large greens. The 18th hole, a
547-yard par 5, ends the game dramatically with the obstacle of a
long dogleg and a lake.
Wadi Course, an additional 18-hole, par 72
championship grass course, a total length of 7,100 yards. This is
very challenging with strategically positioned water hazards and
desert rough. The 14th hole is surrounded by water and demands
accuracy.
The Emirates Golf Academy provides a comprehensive range of coaching
programmes for beginner, intermediate and advanced course with
tuition by PGA professionals.
Other sporting facilities include the two driving ranges of which
one is floodlit, four floodlit tennis courts, two squash courts,
swimming pool and gymnasium. The Pro Shop offers a wide range of
sports clothing and golf equipment. A golf club repair service is
also provided.
There are four dining and entertainment areas within the club: Le
Classique, a five-star À la Carte restaurant; The Conservatory;
Sports Bar and the Spike Bar that is open 6.30am to 11pm daily.
The Emirates Golf Club is open daily between 6am and 11pm.
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
PO Box 6302, Dubai, UAE.
Tel: (+9714) 2956000, Fax: (+9714) 2956044
E-mail:
dubaicreek@dubaigolf.com
Work began in September 1990 and was completed by November 1992
although the golf course was not officially opened until 28 January
1993.
The golf course was constructed using 450,000 cubic metres of earth.
It has six lakes with three irrigation lakes holding 16 million
gallons of water, 25 kilometres of undersoil pipes and 700
computer-controlled sprinklers.
Dubai’s second world-class golf course is the centrepiece of an
80-hectare sport & leisure complex that also incorporates a
115-berth marina for pleasure crafts. Located along the banks of the
Creek, the 45 metres high clubhouse, designed in the shape of the
billowing sails of a traditional Arabian dhow, captures the essence
of Dubai’s seafaring traditions.
The championship course is an 18-hole, par 72 championship grass
course; a total length of 6,839 yards.
The beautifully landscaped course is considered very challenging,
deceptively snaking between six man-made lakes, rolling green dunes
and clusters of palm trees. At the 8th hole a lake separates tee and
pin, with two more water hazards to overcome at the 10th hole.
A nine hole, par three grass course is fully floodlit, enabling
players to practice the short game both day and night. It takes
approximately one hour to complete. A variety of shots are playable
enabling good practice for putting, pitching and placing.
The Creek Golf Academy provides tuition by PGA professionals and
caters to both complete beginners as well as the more experienced
player. A fully floodlit, double-ended driving range permits the
opportunity to practice well into the night.
Gym 2000 provides additional leisure facilities such as swimming
pool and tennis and squash courts. The Pro Shop offers a wide range
of golfing equipment – from golf clubs and bags to T-shirts and
caps. Club repair facilities are also available.
The Fairways Restaurant & Terrace, along with Spikes Bar provide
entertainment.
A separate yacht club incorporates a seafood restaurant with a floor
to ceiling aquarium. Boardwalk restaurant is renowned for being the
only restaurant above the creek water.
The existing golf course and Academy, which will be closed from
December 2003 to December 2004, will be expanding with seven new
holes.
Nad Al Sheba Club (formerly Dubai Golf and Racing Club)
PO Box 52872, Dubai, UAE.
Tel: (+9714) 3363666, Fax: (+9714) 3363717
E-mail:
info@nadalshebaclub.com
The 18-hole, par 71, 6428 yards championship grass golf course
opened in October 1993.
The back nine holes are built inside the perimeter of Dubai’s main
racecourse at Nad Al Sheba, home of the richest horse race in the
world, Dubai World Cup. The front nine, opened in 1996, run
alongside the ‘home straight’.
The club offers the only fully floodlit 18-hole course along with a
floodlit driving range in the Middle East and night-time golf has
proved very popular. The course is built around eight lakes, three
of which are for irrigation, and has all the characteristics of
Scottish links, with rolling fairways and deep pot bunkers. Emphasis
is on accuracy, not length, but wind can be a factor on the treeless
landscape. The course is generally flat with the new front nine
holes featuring raised tees.
The three-storey blue tiled clubhouse offers panoramic views across
the racetrack and the golf course. The traditionally British styled
clubhouse has an interior featuring panelled walls and leather
sofas.
Entertainment within the clubhouse includes the Spike Bar and a
100-seater steakhouse restaurant. Ten first-floor banqueting suites
offer corporate entertainment facilities on golf and race days.
A fully equipped Pro Shop can also be found at the clubhouse. Golf
instruction is available from five PGA qualified members.
The Nad Al Sheba Club is open daily between 7am and midnight.
Dubai Country Club
PO Box 5103, Dubai, UAE.
Tel: (+9714) 3331155. Fax: (+9714) 3331409
www.dubaicountryclub.com
Visitors interested in a completely different golfing experience can
find playing from sand courses, or “brown” as it is popularly
referred to, quite a novelty. The Dubai Country Club is the oldest
course in the emirate. Golfers carry a small piece of artificial
turf with them across the “browns” and use it to play off when on
the fairways. The etiquette is that a ball in the rough should be
played as it lies and after putting the browns should be brushed.
The challenging 18-hole course is 6,431 yards, par 71 whilst the
nine-hole course is over 2,270 yards and has a par of 32 with
alternate tee boxes which can be used to play over 18 holes. There
is also a 24-bay floodlit driving range with nets where putting on
“brown” can be practised. Coaching is available from fully qualified
PGA professionals.
The Dubai Country Club is an extensive complex with several bars and
restaurants. Additional facilities include a swimming pool, racket
sports and a variety of leisure activities.
The Dubai Country Club is open for golf from Saturday to Thursday
with tee times between 7am and midnight.
Hatta Fort Golf Courses
PO Box 9277, Dubai, UAE.
Tel: (+9718) 523211, Fax: (+9718) 523561
The mountain retreat resort, Hatta Fort, houses a floodlit mini-golf
course of 18 holes and nine holes, and a 1,057 yards cross-country
fun course. Upon request golf clubs and lessons are available.
Hyatt Golf Park
PO Box 5588, Dubai, UAE.
Tel: (+9714) 2096741, Fax: (+9714) 2091235
The Hyatt Regency Hotel, located in the heart of Dubai City, also
features a floodlit golf park. This consists of a nine-hole pitch
and putt course as well as an 18-hole crazy golf course, ideal for
children or beginners. Golf equipment and instructors are available
on request.
The Resort Golf Club
PO Box 9255, Dubai, UAE.
Tel: (+9714) 8836000, Fax: (+9714) 8835543
E-mail:
hotcluae@emirates.net.ae
Opened on 1 October 1998, the nine-hole grass course is in the Jebel
Ali Hotel complex. The architect of the golf course is Peter
Harradine. The course is set amidst exotic flora and provides the
chance to play amongst various species of exotic birds.
The nine-hole par 36 course offers a selection of four tees per hole
hence providing the opportunity to play either a nine- or 18-hole
round. The nine-hole course is 3,201 yards whereas the 18-hole
course totals 6,375 yards. One of the course’s special features is a
salt lake, around which five holes are designed.
Additional facilities include a floodlit driving range and a 27-hole
putting green. An indoor air-conditioned video swing analysis room
is also available. Qualified PGA professionals can provide golf
instruction upon request. There is also a well-stocked pro shop on
site. Next to golfing, the Jebel Ali Hotel offers an extensive range
of sporting facilities.
The clubhouse is based at Club Joumana overlooking the marina and
1st tee. It opens at 6am daily and offers a range of snacks and à la
carte menu of Arabic cuisine.
General Information
All of the above courses require a handicap of 28 or less for men
and 45 or less for women. For all golf courses in Dubai, players
should adhere to the dress code, which requires proper golfing
attire at all times, including soft spikes on their shoes. Visitors
to the courses are welcome on a “pay as you play” basis.
Emirates Hills – The Montgomerie
Tel: (+9714) 3999955, Fax: (+9714) 3999966
E-mail:
info@themontgomerie.com
Emaar Properties has announced a £153 million, high profile,
residential community project in Dubai featuring two world-class
18-hole golf courses; one to be created by master course architect
Desmond Muirhead in association with Europe’s Scottish golfing star
Colin Montgomerie; while the other to be designed by Australian golf
legend Greg Norman. An integral part of the design of the golf
community will comprise at least 400 exclusive villas bordering the
various fairways and the lakes of the 350-hectare site.
The Montgomerie
The Montgomerie had its official opening ceremony on 1 October 2002.
Set in 200 acres, it features the sort of dramatic landscapes that
are the hallmark of the great Scottish course. The 18-hole course is
par 72 with 79 bunkers and 14 lakes.
There are four grades of tees: Black Pearl (tournament) at 7,308
yards, Sapphire (citizenship) at 6,753 yards, Emerald (leisure) at
6,172 yards and Ruby (ladies) at 5,360 yards.
One of the signature hole designs, the par three 13th, boasts the
largest single green in the world. With a total area of 58,000
square feet – the equivalent of nine greens – its island green can
be played from a 360 degree teeing ground giving the advantage of a
totally different golf hole each time you play.
The practice facility includes a par three academy course, and a
driving range which is fully floodlit. ‘Academy by Troon Golf’
specialised clinics and packages are available.
The Clubhouse is the focal point for the project, straddling the
golf courses and acting as a community centre offering gourmet
dining, spa facilities, six tennis courts, swimming pools and a gym.
New Developments
Jack Niklaus Course At Arabian Ranches
The new project involves building two world-class golf courses, one
of which will be a desert course. The course, which has been created
by Australian designer Ian Baker-Finch in association with Niklaus
Design, is predicted to rank among the top 100 golf courses of any
kind in the world.
The golf club will feature a 7698 yard par 72 course, a residential
community and a luxurious clubhouse.
Al Badia Golf Resort
As part of the new Dubai Festival City’s golfing community, the Al
Badia Golf Resort will include a 7,250 yards, 72 par, 18-hole
recreational golf course with an investment outlay of Dhs 551
million. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II LLC, California’s
internationally acclaimed golfing architectural firm, the golfing
community will include a clubhouse, golf academy, executive town
homes, apartments and a boutique hotel.
Dubai Golf Office
The central reservations office for Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club,
Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Golf and Racing Club can be contacted
for advance and group bookings. The details are as follows:
Reservations Desk, Dubai Golf Office, PO Box 24040, Dubai
Tel: +971 4 3903931
Fax: +971 4 3908413
E-mail: booking@dubaigolf.com
Website: www.dubaigolf.com
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