Golf…a game of sweeping green fairways, lush, thick rough and vast water hazards. Sandy bunkers aside, not necessarily a sport you’d associate with the deserts of the Middle East, then. However, the region has plenty of fantastically manicured, well-designed courses to challenge even the most accomplished of scratch golfers.
Here’s our guide to the best 10 across the Gulf.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE
An impressively lush and luxurious Peter Harradine-designed 27-holes of golf just 15 minutes from the city centre. One of the best in the region, without any doubt. Also has all the facilities you’d expect of a top class course.
Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club, Oman
Carved out of the natural mountainous landscape by Paul Thomas whose other courses include La Manga West, Seve Ballesteros Golf Club and Top Players Golf Club, Muscat Hills makes use of the natural wadis that run alongside holes making for spectacular but deadly hazards.
Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, UAE
Arguably the best in the whole region, and home to the PGA-sanctioned Dubai Desert Classic, both The Majlis and The Faldo are exceptional championship courses, although both are exceptionally challenging and high handicappers may find them frustrating.
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Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, UAE
A 6,857-yard par 71 course where several lakes provide hazards and even the Creek itself comes into play on four of the holes. Courses rarely come better looking than this.
Doha Golf Club, Qatar
The 9-hole Academy Course, driving range, putting green and Arabic style clubhouse complement the Harradine-designed 18-holer to create an idyllic golfing destination.
The Royal Golf Club, Bahrain
A small island consisting, predominantly, of desert, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there was no place in Bahrain for golf. However, the Montgomerie-designed championship course is a real golfing gem.
Tower Links, Ras al Khaimah, UAE
A 7,200-yard par 72 course is just outside of the city and on the banks of the creek. A fine links course, should temperatures soar too high during the day, the back nine is floodlit for night play.
Sahara Golf & Country Club, Kuwait
Sahara may be a shorter course – 6,730 yards in length – but with three lakes, 5,000 trees and 12 holes actually encircled by the horseracing track, it’s one of the region’s most interesting challenges to take on.
Dirab Golf Club, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
A half hour from the city in a scenic valley, the Dirab course is always in first rate condition and offers a tree-lined par 72 holer along with the usual clubhouse, driving range, academy and pro shop.
The Tiger Woods and the Earth Course, Dubai, UAE
OK, so they may not be open yet but when they do, later in the year, these two courses, designed by two of the game's greats in Woods and Greg Norman, could reshape the region's golfing landscape.
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