Dubai is a true golfer’s paradise and has become a popular and spectacular golf destination. Nowhere in the world will you find as many golf courses, luxury hotels and sun, sea and beautiful beaches as in Dubai. This makes Dubai an ideal place for a luxury golf holiday. But even if you don’t feel like being on the golf course, there is plenty to do in Dubai. You can visit the beautiful desert of Dubai, visit the tallest building in the world, shop in one of the many shopping malls in the city or visit an authentic souk in the old center of the city around the Dubai Creek.
Golfing in Dubai
Whether you’re a professional or just getting into golf, Dubai’s golf courses offer something for everyone. With their green environments, challenging layouts and breathtaking views, Dubai’s golf courses are a must-visit for any golf enthusiast visiting Dubai. Are you curious about what Dubai has to offer in terms of golf courses? In this article we have listed the most beautiful golf courses in Dubai for you.
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
The beautiful Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club is on the banks of the Dubai Creek in the old part of Dubai. Beside to the 18-hole golf course, the resort includes a five-star hotel, several luxury villas and a marina. The golf course’s iconic clubhouse is inspired by the sails of a traditional Arabian sailboat, the dhow. This striking clubhouse was designed by the architectural firm Godwin Austen Johnson Chartered Architects and opened in 1993. Around the clubhouse is the 18-hole course, which is located entirely along the coast, and a 9-hole par 3 course.
The Dubai Creek golf course is known as a real paradise for golfers and offers stunning views of the impressive Dubai skyline including the Burj Khalifa. It is not without reason that the course has been chosen by Golf Magazine as one of the top 100 “Must Play” golf courses in the world.
The well-maintained course offers beautiful open fairways surrounded by coconut palms, shrubs and date trees. The course has various obstacles, including large and open water features and strategically placed bunkers. The headwind makes it a challenging course, especially on holes 17 and 18.
Golf course features
Handicap ladies: 36
Men’s handicap: 28
Holes: 18
Website: www.dubaigolf.com
Montgomerie Golf Club Dubai
The Address Montgomerie Golf Club Dubai golf course is in the vicinity of the Emirates Hills district, which is also known as Dubai’s version of Beverly Hills. The course, also known as The Montgomerie, is named after legendary golfer Colin Montgomerie. Colin Montgomerie developed the beautiful golf course in Dubai together with famous course designer Desmond Muirhead.
The 18-hole golf course has a total area of more than 107 hectares, including 20 hectares of lakes, 37 hectares of perfectly maintained gardens and 81 large bunkers.
Golf course features
Handicap ladies: 36
Men’s handicap: 28
Holes: 18
Website: www.montgomeriegolfclubdubai.com
Emirates Golf Club
The Emirates Golf Club is the oldest golf course in Dubai and also the showpiece of the Emirates GC, which has hosted many tournaments including the Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai Moonlight Classic and the PGA Tour. The Emirates Golf Club has two 18-hole courses and a 9-hole course and is known for its beautiful green fairways and challenging layouts.
This golf course was built in the middle of the desert in 1998. In 1998 an out-of-bounds ball quickly hit the arid desert, but today the golf course is surrounded by residential areas full of luxurious villas and many skyscrapers that rise far above the trees. In 2006, the Faldo Course 18-hole course was completely redesigned by golf legend Nick Faldo, who lent his name to the golf course. The unique thing about the Faldo Course is that it is the only course in the region that is illuminated, so you can play golf there at night. Perfect for when you want to play in the cool evenings during the warm summer months.
Golf course features
Handicap ladies: 36
Men’s handicap: 28
Holes: 18 / PAR 72
Website: www.dubaigolf.com
Dubai Hills Golf Club
The Dubai Hills Golf Club is completely designed around the natural environment. The wide fairways follow the slope of the desert and are interspersed with wadis, lakes, strategically placed bunkers and valleys. While you are playing on the course, the Dubai skyline can be clearly seen in the background, making playing on this golf course a unique experience.
The course, opened in 2018, has 18 holes and is suitable for all levels. The golf course also has a spotlight-lit driving range, so you can also play a round in the summer evenings. Hole 5 of the Dubai Hills is considered one of the most difficult and hole 8 is the longest on the course. From the ninth hole, you have to take the wind into account and it becomes more difficult to play.
Golf course features
Handicap ladies: 54
Men’s handicap: 54
Holes: 18
Website: www.dubaihillsgolfclub.com
Els Club
The Els Club is in Sports City in an open desert landscape and contains natural hills and vegetation. Like many other golf courses in Dubai, the Els Club is also run by a professional. Ernie Els, also known as Big Easy, designed the golf course in Dubai.
The former South Africa No. 1 has a penchant for left-wing British courses and has drawn inspiration for his design from courses in the United Kingdom. As a result, some classic British elements have been added to the course and several elements from other well-known golf courses such as bunkers from Royal Melbourne and rolling greens that resemble the world-famous American course Pinehurst No. 2 imitate. The result is a unique desert links course that can be challenging even for an experienced golfer.
Golf course features
Handicap ladies: 36
Men’s handicap: 28
Holes: 18 / PAR 72
Website: www.elsclubdubai.com
JA The Resort Golf Course
The Ja The Resort Golf Course golf course is a 9-hole golf course in the area of the Jebel Ali palm island and is part of the 5-star Jebel Ali Golf Resort. The course is picturesquely laid out and offers an exciting challenge for players of all levels. Each hole is uniquely landscaped with exotic trees, shrubs and a large saltwater lake.
The golf course was designed by Peter Harradine and every hole of the course offers beautiful panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf. Anyone who plays golf on the Jebel Ali course should not be surprised if they see a peacock walking around, as there are many birds walking around on the grounds.
Golf course features
Handicap ladies: 36
Men’s handicap: 28
Holes: 9
Website: www.jagolf.com
Arabian Ranches Golf
The Arabian Ranches Golf course is an 18-hole course designed by Ian Baker-Finch. The desert course is in the beautiful Arabian Ranches estate and offers a beautiful fairway where the sand dunes and bushes pose the biggest challenge. The golf course is designed as a links course where the wind can certainly play tricks. The golf course may not be the most challenging course in Dubai, but due to the desert-like layout of the course, it is one that you must play during your stay in Dubai.
Do you want to improve your game? You can book several sessions at The Academy at Arabian Ranches Golf. This on-site training center offers tips, tricks and techniques to improve your game.
Golf course features
Handicap ladies: 36
Men’s handicap: 28
Holes: 18
Website: www.arabianranchesgolfclub.com
Jumeirah Golf Estates
The Jumeirah Golf Estates is one of the courses in the DP World Tour Championship and the highlight of The Race to Dubai and the European Tour season. The golf course was designed by the legendary Greg Norman and has two separate courses.
The 18-hole Earth course is a beautiful undulating course inspired by the parks of Europe and North America. The 18-hole Fire course is a desert course with a track like the left. There are various natural obstacles on the course, all based on the elements fire, earth, water and wind.
Although the course offers sufficient challenge for players of all levels, the less experienced golfer may still have some difficulty with the many difficult bunkers on the site. The last holes in particular are difficult and are surrounded by water.
Golf course features.
Handicap ladies: 36
Men’s handicap: 28
Holes: 18
Website: www.jumeirahgolfestates.com
Trump International Golf Club Dubai
The Trump International Golf Club golf course is in the heart of the luxurious DAMAC Hills complex and includes a beautiful championship level golf course in inland links style. The course was designed by golf course architect Gil Hanse, known for the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016, and has nine holes.
The Trump International Golf Club is spectacular in design and has rolling fairways inspired by natural desert contours. There are strategically placed bunkers throughout the course and some holes offer an extra challenge due to a large water feature. The course offers a unique experience for golfers of all levels and is also illuminated so you can also play golf in the evenings. In addition to a golf course, you will also find the Trump Dubai Golf Performance Academy with indoor, air-conditioned swing studios.
Golf course features.
Handicap ladies: 36
Men’s handicap: 28
Holes: 9 / PAR 3
Website: www.trumpgolfdubai.com
