Golf courses in the UAE

ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi City Golf Club

The course: 9 holes, par 35

Yardage from back tees: 3,199

Opened: 1976, sand; 1998, grass

Costs to play nine holes: Dh145 on weekdays and weekends, off-peak; Dh180 on weekdays and Dh195 on weekends at peak times

Contact:

[ www.adcitygolf.com ]

; 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

Cost to play 18 holes: For UAE residents, Dh425 from Sunday to Wednesday and Dh595 from Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays

Contact:

[ www.adgolfclub.com ]

; 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:

[ www.alghazalgolf.ae ]

; 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

Cost to play 18 holes: For UAE residents, Dh425 from Sunday to Wednesday, and Dh595 from Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays

Contact:

[ www.sbgolfclub.ae ]

; 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

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

Cost to play 18 holes: Dh595 on weekdays and Dh875 on weekends

Contact:

[ www.albadiagolfclub.ae ]

; 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

Costs to play 18 holes: Dh825

Contact:

[ www.themontgomerie.com ]

; 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

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

Cost to play 18 holes: For UAE residents, Dh690 off-peak and Dh785 at peak times

Contact:

[ www.dubaigolf.com ]

; 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

Cost to play 18 holes: Dh595 on weekdays and Dh695 on weekends

Contact:

[ www.dubaigolf.com ]

; 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

Cost to play 18 holes: Dh995 on weekdays and Dh1,100 on weekends

Contact:

[ www.dubaigolf.com ]

; 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

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:

[ www.jaresortshotels.com ]

; 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

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

Cost to play nine holes: Dh 345 on weekdays and Dh595 on weekends

Contact:

[ www.meydangolf.com ]

; 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

Cost to play 18 holes: For UAE residents, Dh695 on weekdays and weekends. Dh100 for rental shoes; Dh250 for rental clubs

Contact:

[ www.elsclubdubai.com ]

; 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

Cost to play 18 holes: Dh395 on weekdays and Dh495 on weekends

Contact:

[ www.alhamragolf.com ]

; 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

Cost to play 18 holes: Dh375 on weekdays and Dh475 on weekends

Contact:

[ www.towerlinks.com ]

; 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

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

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:

[ www.almoujgolf.com ]

; 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

Cost to play 18 holes: 50 Omani rials (Dh477) on weekdays and 60 Omani rials (Dh572) on weekends

Contact:

[ www.muscathills.com ]

; 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

Golf courses in the UAE

It's not like the UAE to stay out of the sport-light for long, as is evident from the expert-designed courses and training facilities available within an array of golf resorts and catering to professional and amateur golfers, alike. Here's a round-up.