Course Review: Dubai’s Best Golf of 2014

As the European Tour travels to Dubai next week for its annual season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the golfing spotlight is on one of the world’s glitziest cities – and Dubai is rising to the occasion in its usual opulent style.

The best courses in the Middle East’s greenest desert

Desert regions that boast a good selection of golf courses are not impossible to find – Nevada and Arizona in the United States being prime examples – but they are rare. Dubai has become the leading golf destination in the Persian Gulf, with more than seven premier golf courses on offer within a short drive from the centre of this ultra-modern city-state.

With warm weather practically every week of the year and its proximity to the sea, Dubai is able to offer a lush golfing experience that very few Middle Eastern countries can match. Although the summer months may prove to be a little scorching, a well-planned early morning round or nine holes after work is always possible.

Two top Dubai courses

For visitors who are keen to experience the decadent Dubai lifestyle first hand, the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club should be the first stop on any trip to the UAE. This waterside course follows the contours of the Dubai creek, with undulating fairways and local vegetation (including date and palm trees) providing forgiving rough on most holes. The clubhouse is opulent, with attention to detail in all areas of service.

For a truly unique desert golf experience the Arabian Ranches Golf Club is a must-see. Just a few kilometers outside of Dubai, this course – and the luxury residential development that surrounds it – form a golfing oasis in the middle of the Arabian Desert. After traveling through desert terrain to reach the course, golfers will be amazed at its lushness and pristine condition. The manicured fairways give way to challenging greens and sandy rough which makes a bunker shot out of every errant ball.

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