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| Andrew Testa, The New York Times |
Hosting events on the European Tour
and attracting a vast field of players, with the likes of Rory McIlroy and
Danny Willett, has put golf in Dubai on the map. Courses throughout the city
can boast designs from golfing greats, such as Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Colin
Montgomerie and Tiger woods to name a few. With the four Jumeirah courses
(Earth, Fire, Water, Wind), Dubai Creek and the immaculate Emirates Majlis course
there is no shortage of perfection.
Having said this the real reason I’m
blogging about Dubai is to share my favourite course here, the Faldo Designed
Emirates course. In its own right it’s a great course, but when nightfall sets
in, the Faldo course lights up the night sky with floodlights allowing for
championship standard golf to be played late into the night, whilst in the
heart of the city scape.
Personally, playing under the
floodlights in the atmosphere of the fast moving city scape, has to be one
of my golfing highlights. I played the course the last time I visited, December
time, and the course was in pristine condition with immaculate range facilities
and an aesthetically luxuriant clubhouse. Being the only floodlit course in the
UAE and sporting numerous water hazards, bunkers and undulating greens it was a
really fun challenge.
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| Image: The Eye of Dubai |
The first hole requires some
attention straight away, with an elevated green in the distance the tee shot is
vital. To far right it brings all sorts of rocks and wasteland into play that
can spoil any chance of scrambling a par!
Having settled in to some tricky
holes along the course, the par 4 7th hole was definitely the most
daunting tee shot on the course. The hole is the second hardest on the course
and consists of a dog-leg that has water to the right, just waiting for the
splash of your ball. After, hopefully, negotiating the water the hole isn’t over
yet. The semi island green is protected at the front, by yes, more water. A
precision iron shot is required, that cannot be short of the green or… yup… it’ll
be WET!!
The next hole, is the easiest hole
on the course, a short uphill par three. But it’s not the hole that’s jaw
dropping, it’s the backdrop of the skyscrapers. The flight of the ball against
the skyscrapers is a magnificent sight, one unheralded by any other course.
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| Image: Dubai Golf |
If you reach the 18th
hole with golf balls still in the bag to play the hole after the tests of the
14th, 15th and 16th you’ll be more than
rewarded. The hole offers golfers a true test of their golfing mettle… a 485
yard par 4. With a precision tee shot required, so that you can avoid the wasteland
and go for the green, it’s a tough finishing hole. After the drive you’re left
with a long iron into the green, which to the right of it, is just a complete
no go area… more water. Getting onto the green is key but then it’s time to
read the slopes and try and sink that putt. The hole is an exhilarating way to
end, what is, a fantastic round on a great course. Which is uniquely set,
floodlit and on the backdrop of the architecturally magnificent Dubai skyline.
Definitely recommended for any
golfer to play, and especially under those floodlights… what a thrill!!
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