Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai Sports City’s multi-billion dollar development includes the ICC’s Global Cricket Academy, the World Hockey Academy, Davis Lloyds Tennis Academy and Manchester United’s Soccer School along with the Ernie Els designed golf course. It’s in the desert, so the golden desert sand lining the fairways is hardly surprising, but the snow white bunkers feel almost unfair, given the amount of sand on display. The course is links-styled featuring immaculate fairways and few trees, but miss the fairways and you will encounter all the obstacles a desert has to offer.
The par four 3rd begins the deliberation process. Three large bunkers guard the short route to the ideal lie for the approach shot, but require a long carry. The safe route leaves a long iron in to a green which is guarded by three Bunkers in the front and a large one behind for those with less control. The 7th and 15th have two man-made lakes in play. Both appear scarier than they are, probably due to the shock of finding water in this desert. The fifteenth is more difficult with a drive over water to a fairway which doglegs right all along the water. The green lies tight up against the lake and is likely to present a double break for anything more than a few meters from the pin. Sports City also features the Butch Harmon School of Golf. If your hook or slice gets you into trouble on the course, a quick visit may just provide the fix for it.
Write your own review