ABU DHABI
Abu Dhabi City Golf Club
The course: 9 holes, par 35
Yardage from back tees: 3,199
Opened: 1976, sand; 1998, grass
Designed by: Ian Scott-Taylor
Costs to play nine holes: Dh145 on weekdays and weekends, off-peak; Dh180 on weekdays and Dh195 on weekends at peak times
Contact:
; 02 445 9600
Special feature: A two-tiered driving range, the only one in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi Golf Club
The course: 27-hole championship course; 18 holes, par 72 and 9 holes floodlight, par 36
Yardage from back tees: 7,600
Opened: 2000
Designed by: Peter Harradine
Cost to play 18 holes: For UAE residents, Dh425 from Sunday to Wednesday and Dh595 from Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays
Contact:
; 02 558 8990
Special feature: Home to the PGA European Tour Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship
Al Ghazal Golf Club
The course: 18 holes, par 71
Yardage from back tees: 6,711
Opened: 1997
Designed for: Abu Dhabi Airport Commission
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh150 on weekdays and Dh200 on weekends. Golf buggy costs Dh50 per person and AstroTurf mat rental is Dh10 per person
Contact:
; 02 575 8040
Special feature: All-sand course. The "greens" are created from compacting treated sand. There is also an archaeological site on the course along the old coastline
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
The course: 18-hole championship course, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,806
Opened: 2010
Designed by: Gary Player
Cost to play 18 holes: For UAE residents, Dh425 from Sunday to Wednesday, and Dh595 from Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays
Contact:
; 02 557 8000
Special feature: Hosts the Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open on the Mena Tour
Yas Links Abu Dhabi
The course: 18 holes, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,450
Opened: 2010
Designed by: Kyle Phillips
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh599 off-peak and Dh899 at peak times
Contact:
[ www.yaslinks.com ]
; 02 810 7710
Special feature: Voted Number 1 Golf Course in the Middle East for the third year in a row by a panel of judges and Golf Digest 2013 readers
AL AIN
Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club
The course: 18-hole championship course, par 71
Yardage from back tees: 6,839
Opened: 2007
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh340 on weekdays and Dh450 on weekends
Contact:
[ www.aesgclub.com ]
; 03 702 6400
Special feature: The back 9 of the championship course is now floodlit. The resort also hosts the Mena Tour Championship and hosted a Junior Middle East Championship last March
DUBAI
Al Badia Golf Club
The course: 18-hole championship course, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,333
Opened: 2003
Designed by: Robert Trent Jones II
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh595 on weekdays and Dh875 on weekends
Contact:
; 04 601 0101
Special feature: Home to The Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final
The Address Montgomerie
The course: 18-hole championship course, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,396
Opened: 2002
Designed by: Colin Montgomerie in association with Desmond Muirhead
Costs to play 18 holes: Dh825
Contact:
; 04 390 5600
Special feature: A links style course. The 17th hole is designed like a hand-shaped bunker, while the 13th resembles the shape of the UAE. For evening golfing enthusiasts, the course has a 662-yard, floodlit, 9-hole, par-3 Academy course
Arabian Ranches Golf Club
The course: 18 holes, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,691
Opened: 2004
Designed by: Ian Baker-Finch in association with Nicklaus Design
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh460 on weekdays and Dh555 on weekends. Golf cart hire costs Dh60 per person
Contact:
[ www.arabianranchesgolfdubai.com ]
; 04 366 4700
Special feature: A desert-style course similar to those found in Palm Springs, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club Creek Course
The course: 18-hole championship course, par 71
Yardage from back tees: 6,967
Opening year: 1993
Designed by: European Golf Design in association with Thomas Bjorn redesigned the course in 2004
Cost to play 18 holes: For UAE residents, Dh690 off-peak and Dh785 at peak times
Contact:
; 04 295 6000
Special feature: Dubai Creek has hosted the Dubai Desert Classic twice. The course record of 63 is held by Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke
Emirates Golf Club Faldo Course
The course: 18 holes, par 73
Yardage from back tees: 7,348
Opening year: 1996
Designed by: Nick Faldo redesigned the course in 2005
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh595 on weekdays and Dh695 on weekends
Contact:
; 04 417 9999
Special feature: 18-hole night golf, with play from 5pm until midnight
Emirates Golf Club Majlis Course
The course: 18-hole championship course, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,301
Opening year: 1988
Designed by: Karl Litten
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh995 on weekdays and Dh1,100 on weekends
Contact:
; 04 417 9999
Special feature: Hosts the European PGA Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Ladies' European Tour
Jebel Ali Golf Resort
The course: 9 holes, par 36. Possibility of playing 18 holes from different tees
Yardage from black tees: 3,299
Opened: 1998
Designed by: Peter Harradine
Cost to play nine/18 holes: Dh195 for nine holes and Dh265 for 18 holes on weekdays and Dh200 for nine holes and Dh295 for 18 holes on weekends. Dh130 to rent a club set
Contact:
; 04 814 5555
Special feature: Peacocks roam the fairways
Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth and Fire Courses
The course: Two 18-hole championship courses, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,480 (Fire); 7,706 (Earth)
Opening year: 2008
Designed by: Greg Norman
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh595 to play Fire and Dh695 to play Earth on weekdays, and Dh795 to play Fire and Dh895 to play Earth on weekends
Contact number:
[ www.jumeirahgolfestates.com ]
; 04 375 9999
Special feature: Home to the European Tour Performance Institute and European Tour season-ending finale - the DP World Tour Championship, the culmination of the Race to Dubai series
The Track Meydan Golf Course
The course: 9 holes, par 36
Yardage from back tees: 3,706
Opening year: 2012
Designed by: Peter Harradine
Cost to play nine holes: Dh 345 on weekdays and Dh595 on weekends
Contact:
; 04 381 3733
Special feature: No membership fee. The course by the racecourse is open from 6.30am until dusk
The ELS Club Dubai Sports City
The course: 18 holes, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,538
Opening year: 2008
Designed by: Ernie Els
Cost to play 18 holes: For UAE residents, Dh695 on weekdays and weekends. Dh100 for rental shoes; Dh250 for rental clubs
Contact:
; 04 425 1000
Special feature: First course in the Middle East designed by the former US Open and Open Champion Ernie Els
RAS AL KHAIMAH
Al Hamra Golf Club
The course: 18 holes, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,325
Opened: 2007
Designed by: Peter Harradine
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh395 on weekdays and Dh495 on weekends
Contact:
; 07 244 7474
Special feature: Floodlit nine holes, open until 10pm
Tower Links
The course: 18 holes, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,199
Opened: 2004
Designed by: Gerald Williams
Cost to play 18 holes: Dh375 on weekdays and Dh475 on weekends
Contact:
; 07 227 8555
Special feature: Floodlit nine holes, open until 8.30pm
SHARJAH
Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club
The course: 9-hole championship course, par 5
Yardage from back tees: 7,337
Opening year: 2007 Academy; 2008 course
Designed by: Peter Harradine
Cost to play nine holes: Dh210 on weekdays and weekends, off-peak, and Dh285 on weekdays and weekends at peak times
Contact:
[ www.golfandshooting.shj.com ]
; 06 548 7777
Special feature: Floodlit course, open until 11pm and wall-to-wall grass
OMAN
Alouj Golf at The Wave Muscat
The course: 18 holes, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 7,342
Opening Year: 2011
Designed by: Greg Norman
Cost to play 18 holes: 50 Omani rials (Dh477) on weekdays and 60 Omani rials (Dh572) on weekends. All green fees include use of a golf cart and access to the driving range; 5 Omani rials (Dh48) for shoe hire and 12.5 Omani rials (Dh119) for club hire
Contact:
; 00 968 2200 5990
Special feature: Set between the stunning Hajar Mountains and the Sea of Oman, the course was ranked 4th in Golf Digest's Middle East Top Ten courses
Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club
The course: 18 holes, par 72
Yardage from back tees: 6,980
Opening year: 2009
Designed by: Paul Thomas of David Thomas Associates
Cost to play 18 holes: 50 Omani rials (Dh477) on weekdays and 60 Omani rials (Dh572) on weekends
Contact:
; 00 968 2451 4080
Special feature: First grass course in Oman with Flight scope and V1 Software. Five minutes from Muscat International Airport
pmunyal@thenational.ae