Golf
Increasing numbers of tourists and a large expatriate population has led to a golf course building boom in Dubai. Each year the city hosts the Dubai Desert Classic, part of the European PGA Tour. During the 2004 tournament, the publicity gained from iconic photographs of Tiger Woods practising drives from the helipad of the Burj Al Arab helped establish Dubai as one of the world’s premier golfing destinations.
The hot climate means millions of gallons of desalinated water are required each day to stop the desert reclaiming the courses. This leads to steep green fees, although on the plus side golf is never rained off.
New courses are being built every year. One of the most exciting projects is Dubai Golf City at Dubailand. Scheduled for completion in 2009, it will offer five courses, a golf academy and a resort hotel and spa.
Golf courses in Dubai are extremely busy, averaging around 45,000 rounds per year compared to 26,000 in the UK. Advanced booking is recommended.
Courses currently open include:
| Course - Location | Holes | Length | Par | Architect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Badia Golf Resort - Dubai Festival City [View Map] |
18 | 7,250 | 72 | Robert Trent Jones II | Players are requested to bring their handicap certificates. |
| Arabian Ranches Golf Club | 18 | 7,698 | 72 | Ian Baker-Finch & Nicklaus Design | Players are requested to bring their handicap certificates. |
| Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club - Deira [View Map] |
18 | 6,839 | 71 | Thomas Björn | Close to Deira City Centre mall. Players are requested to bring their handicap certificates. |
| Emirates Golf Club (Majlis Course) [View Map] |
18 | 7,211 | 72 | Karl Litten | Home of the Dubai Desert Classic. 18-hole Wadi Course also available. Players are requested to bring their handicap certificates. |
| Montgomerie, The [View Map] |
18 | 6,683 | 72 | Colin Montgomerie & Desmond Muirhead | Features the world’s largest green. Players are requested to bring their handicap certificates. |
| Nad Al Sheba - Nad Al Sheba Racecourse [View Map] |
18 | 6,659 | 71 | Karl Litten | The first floodlit course in Dubai. Golfers wishing are requested to produce a handicap certificate. |
| Resort Course, The - Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa [View Map] |
9 | 3,299 | 36 | Peter Harradine | Players are requested to bring their handicap certificates. |