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Like Steady Eddy in your regular weekend four-ball match you’d rather not bet on, Abu Dhabi patiently illustrated. The UAE capital has only three major golf courses, but all three are championship layouts; the nightlife isn’t crazy, but surprisingly good; and there’s enough culture, entertainment and adventure for a long weekend. Abu Dhabi doesn’t bomb its drives; it winds its way along a translucent sea of ​​green like a putt, weaving a bogey-free card that tops the region’s leaderboard of golf destinations. Step inside and you’ll expect a vision of Dubai’s outskirts, where the desert is still visible, the smell of frankincense wafts in the air, and the sound of horses’ hooves lingers like footnotes to history. What you get instead is an ultra-modern port filled with supercars and a fantastic golf course covered in lush foliage enough to fool you into thinking you’re playing in the tropics.
To be fair, Abu Dhabi isn’t in a desert; instead, it’s a tiny island in the Persian Gulf just a stone’s throw from the mainland. Most of the city is located on the island, stretching across the adjacent Saadiyat Island. Lounging in Shangri-La’s marble beachfront pool and gazing at the illuminated Grand Mosque across the creek in Abu Dhabi, it’s hard to imagine that less than a century ago the city was a nondescript fishing village, surrounded by sea and desert. The moment of epochal change, of course, came when prospectors discovered gold—the world’s sixth-largest oil reserve—in the late 1950s. And, among the many modern wonders that have emerged since then, Yas Island is an artificial island that has become an adventure-leisure-entertainment hub. There are many attractions on the island, but for golf lovers, the spectacular Yas Links golf course is at the top of the list.
Also read: Over the top by Meraj Shah: The Progress of the Pilgrims
With as many as eight holes on Yas Island’s western coastline, this true links layout is as picturesque a waterfront layout as you’ll find anywhere in the world. Authenticity is no coincidence: the course was designed by Kyle Philips, founder of Kingsbarns Golf Course in Scotland. Not surprisingly, Yas Links has been voted the best golf course in the Middle East by Golf Course Architecture magazine and was previously named one of the “Top 10 New International Courses” by Golf Magazine. Sea breeze is a factor around the course, but it blows from the right side of most holes, giving hapless amateurs a second chance who would otherwise chip into the sea. Still, accuracy is very important, with wayward shots either landing in drinks or in something fairly thick. The iconic par 3 17th winds its way around a shoreline inlet and requires a daunting 200 yards of carryover water and some very harsh basin bunkers. Unless you’re a single handicap, technically challenging this course can be pretty brutal, and a white t-shirt is a much more fun alternative. If there was only one course to play in Abu Dhabi, this would be it.
Home to several European Tour events, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club is the most famous course in the emirate and therefore the busiest. Think of a top-notch park course with few trees, lots of sand (with no fewer than 90 bunkers) and water hazards — water plays a role in as many as 12 holes — and you get the idea. Most of the holes on this course are played from left to right, making it easier for players who prefer a lighter ball. For those looking for less challenge (and more fun) than a championship layout, there is the option to tee off on a shorter nine. Centrally located on the course, the Westin is the preferred lodging for the itinerant golfer looking to play an extra round on the course.
The third, and probably the most notable of the three is the Saadiyat Beach GC designed by Gary Player. Overlooking the St. Regis Hotel, this is the first “Ocean” course to be laid along the shores of the Arabian Gulf. Saadiyat is definitely the most scenic golf course in Abu Dhabi, with more than a third of the course offering stunning views of the coastline, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including a herd of impala. You can even expect to see hawksbill and the odd dolphin on the par 3 17th hole. Three lagoons and restored beaches and dunes became hazards on the track. For golf vacationers, the combination of The St. Regis and Saadiyat Beach GC is unbeatable.
Weekends in Abu Dhabi are Friday-Saturday, and it can be difficult to find a weekend spot unless you book in advance. This also applies to guests of the Westin and St. Regis – don’t expect tee times from Thursday to Saturday unless you specify when you book your room. Monday to Wednesday is usually the off-season, so you can find a walk-in spot. The carts on all three courses are equipped with GPS, allowing you to play without a caddie if you’re relatively straight off the tee. Summer in the emirate isn’t exactly warm: from late May to August, Abu Dhabi is best reserved for those living in the kingdom and earning a decent tax-free salary. As a tourist, you’ll find the emirate at its most welcoming from November to April. However, for golfers, the best time is really when the swing feels good. I’ll play a great batting game in the heat of the heat and humidity, anytime… better than a demoralizing, dreary game on a beautiful spring day.
Golfer Meraj Shah also writes about the sport
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