Posts Tagged ‘Dubai’

The Montgomerie Golf Course, Dubai

Jun 25th
2010

The Montgomerie Golf Course, Dubai is a championship golf course designed by Ryder Cup star Colin Montgomerie in association with Desmond Muirhead. Inaugurated in 2002, this Par 72 course and has since then been ranked as one of the top 2 courses in the Middle East.

The course covers 265 acres which consist of 123 acres of turf, 49 acres of man-made lakes (a total of 14 lakes), 93 acres of landscaped gardens and is scattered with 81 large bunkers. The course provides the player with undulating fairways with generous landing areas which challenge and intrigue all levels of golfers, combining the design traditions of truly great Scottish links courses, the design has great character that rewards strategic play, while celebrating the stunning natural beauty. Also worth’s a mention to a magnificent clubhouse and a wonderful practice area with an astonishing view with all the skyscrapers in the background.

One of the signature holes is the par 5 fourth, dubbed the Snake hole for its saddleback fairway which doglegs towards the green, with two bunkers behind forming the eyes of the snake. Further on, the par 5 ninth, with water down the left, is a tough finish to the opening half.  The par 3 thirteenth, a hole designed in the shape of the UAE, boasts a 360 degree teeing area around an island fairway and green, allowing for a completely different golf hole to be played every time. However, it is the par 5 eighteenth that offers a more classic test. At 656 yards it is a monster and, with water protecting the front of the green, it defies even the best player to hit the green in two. This makes The Montgomerie Dubai a unique golfing experience in this part of the world.

Al Badia Golf Course, Dubai

May 30th
2010

Al Badia Golf Course was designed by world-renowned golf course designer Robert Trent Jones II and it was inspired on an oasis theme. The 7,250 yard Par 72 Championship Course has “rivers of sand” and plants indigenous to the Arabian Gulf, extensive water features including 11 lakes and the grass used is salt-tolerant, meaning it can be irrigated with sea water.

Lying at the heart of the Festival City, Dubai, the course captures the character and beauty of Arabia and golfers will enjoy the great views over the Dubai skyline, water is strategically used for lateral hazards as well as carry hazards on twelve of the holes. The “rivers of sand” concept adds another layer of texture to the design – providing a visual extension of the lakes and streams. These sand areas provide visually crisp playing surfaces that, unlike bodies of water, give a golfer the opportunity to recover from an errant shot.

Providing a challenging round for the seasoned golfer, Al Badia is also welcoming for the recreational player. Four sets of tees are featured on each hole – with most offering a variety of teeing angles. The course can be played from the maximum 7,303 yards for championship players, down to 5,398 yards for newer players.