Teeing Off in Dubai

Golf Destinations: Just about every golf enthusiast wants to play the golf courses played by the champions of the game. It is a challenge and a dream to drive and putt on the same fairways and greens as the pros. It is with such fanciful visions in mind that we take a closer look at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai.

The Emirates Golf Club is the site of the 2008 Dubai Desert Classic. The DDC has been played 17 times on the club's Majlis course since the tournament's debut in 1989. Other PGA-sponsored events have been hosted as well here. The Wadi is the club's other 18-hole championship course. Nick Faldo redesigned the course in 2005. Additionally, there is a nine-hole par-3 course and a golf academy that is staffed by four PGA professionals.

The Majlis
The Majlis was the first grass golf course built in the Middle East. The par-72 course stretches out over 7,211 yards. Players of all levels bemoan over the degree of difficulty of holes 8 and 9. However, finishing up on the par-5, 564-yard 18th makes reaching the "19th hole" that much sweeter.

The Wadi
Who needs planned hazards when this course has a natural valley running through its entire 7,433-yard layout? "Wadi" is the Arabic word for valley. The Wadi is a par-72 course with a naturally rugged terrain. Tight tee shots over long fairways and wickedly treacherous bunkers make for a most challenging day at the links.

A Backup Plan
The Arabian Ranches Golf Club is open to all players with an official handicap. The course is an Ian Baker-Finch signature course jointly developed with the Nicklaus Design Company. The outlay of course is comparable to course found in the desert climate of Arizona or Southern California. The course features a golf academy with PGA professional instructors.

Decadently speaking, Dubai is considered by many to be the largest luxury-latent destination in the world. The city features the largest manmade island (in a desert!), the largest shopping mall, and the tallest and most expensive hotel in the world. It is a favorite destination for jetsetters and other members of society's modern-day royalty.

Accommodations
The Park Hyatt Dubai is the recommended hotel of the Emirates Golf Club. Check out the cavernous top-floor Royal Suites that overlook the Dubai Creek and marinas. The lavish Jerimiah Essex House is another local five-star destination resort with a palatial decorum that is tailored to the upscale locale. Visit the JustLuxé City Guide on Dubai for more information about the area.

For LxM James Rothaar