THAILAND ONE/ GOLF
SPECTACULAR GOLF IN DUBAI
plays around 165 yards from the standard men’s tees and you are faced with nothing but water in front of you so a precision strike is needed in order to make the carry. A stunning par 3 with a wide green that slopes significantly from right to left where yet more water awaits. The 17th is yet another par 3 in which the hole measures around 180 yards, this time to a peninsula green surrounded by water and more deep
JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES, EARTH COURSE
W E have kept the best until last. The magnificent Earth Course at Jumeirah Estates is the host to the DP World Tour Championship, the final tournament when the best players fight it out to see who will win The Race to Dubai. The club is managed by my long term friend Stephen Hubner , who has had a very interesting career out in the Middle East where he worked his way up through the ranks at Dubai Creek Golf Club from teaching pro to Head Professional, culminating in achieving the Director of Golf position. When Dubai Golf (who own several of the top courses) took over at Jumeirah Golf Estates, there was only one man for the job and Stephen was appointed Director of Golf Operations in October 2018. The course itself is inspired by the great parklands of Europe and North America which is visually stunning with rolling fairways and several »
bunkers. This is an extremely intimidating tee shot, especially when you are coming to the end of your round, many a score card has been ruined here for sure! Hole 18 is one of my absolute favourites in the world. It can measure up to 600 yards depending on what tee box you are on but during the DP World Tour event they tend to move the tee up to put the water more in play for the tee shot as well as enticing those brave enough to go for the green in two. The fairways has a stream that winds its way up the centre of the fairway before it cuts across the front of the green. Needless to say my drive split the fairway and ended up wet! Making a par for most amateurs would be seen as an achievement. — For more details and to book contact www.dubaigolf.com
water features to navigate along the way. Designed by Greg Norman, it is an intimidating course from the tee box as on almost every hole you are faced with gigantic bunkers which stand out dramatically against the luscious green of the fairways. The greens are all large and undulating making it extremely difficult to get close to some of the pin positions. A shot which you might think is right at the flag may well end up 40 feet away if it takes one of the cunningly crafted slopes. The bunkering around the greens is really something to behold. Some of the traps literally have faces that are over 12 feet high so if your not so good in the sand then you better get practicing before coming here! The fairways are perhaps the smoothest I have ever played from, to the point that you can almost see every dimple on the golf ball as it’s almost teed up every time you are on the fairway. In terms of signature holes, the course has too many to mention but I shall name a few. Hole 6
Stephen Hubner.jpg Stephen Hubner
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THAILAND ONE
APRIL/ MAY 2024
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