In Dubai, the golf season is in full swing from October. With 18 world-class courses in the United Arab Emirates, all within easy reach, and 13 in Dubai itself, golfers are spoiled for choice. As hosts of major tournaments, the Earth championship courses at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Faldo and Majlis at Emirates Golf Club are televised around the world.
“The Majlis is a very special golf course for so many people,” says Christopher May, CEO of Dubai Golf, the management company of the Emirates Golf Club. “It is the first grass golf course in the Middle East. It was built in 1987 and was central to the growth of golf in the region and has hosted the annual Dubai Desert Classic every year since 1988. “
Golf legends who left Dubai with a trophy in their suitcase include Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Stephen Gallacher. Paul Casey, Lucas Herbert, Bryson DeChambeau, Minjee Lee and Nuria Iturrioz are among the youngest winners.
Dubai is known for its five-star hospitality and world-class dining and viewing experiences, as well as free entry for golf viewers. The top-class golf calendar opens every year with the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic Ladies Tournament (October 27, 2021), which is held on Faldo Course.
The year-round Race to Dubai – a competition to crown number one on the European Tour – will culminate with the DP World Tour Championship (November 18-21, 2021) on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The biggest event ever, the nerve-wracking Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic (January 27-30, 2022), will be held on the Majlis Course of the Emirates Golf Club. As part of the Rolex Series from 2022, the € 6.8 million prize fund will attract the world’s leading golfers.
You don’t have to be a pro to enjoy Dubai’s golf courses. Outside of tournaments, the courses are open to all players.
“We have so many good golf courses. We have 18-hole golf courses designed by renowned golfers like Colin Montgomery, Ernie Els and Ian Baker-Finch, ”said Mark Chapleski, vice president of golf club management company Troon International. “Plus, you won’t find a better place for the weather from November to late April – some of the best weather conditions in the world.”
In addition to the 18-hole courses, there are nine-hole options, including floodlit courses at The Track Meydan Golf and Trump International Golf Club, which make it possible to play rounds at night. Also open day and night, TopGolf is a special kind of driving range. The players hit an outer field of huge dartboard-like targets with microchip balls in order to score points. Inside there is mini golf for children, as well as bars and restaurants.
Apres golf is booming in Dubai, with luxury hotels and award-winning restaurants rewarding players with gourmet cuisine, spa treatments, and suites overlooking the golf course. The award-winning Carine is a fixture on the golf set and is led by renowned local chef Izu Ani. New to the scene is The Orangery, a eclectic eatery inspired by Phileas Fogg’s adventure, where ‘Fish and Chips’ is actually a generous scoop of caviar served on a quenelle of smoked fish mousse with a garnish of colored potato chips. With such fun places, the so-called “19th Hole “definitely not missing.