Nick Bayly escapes the dreary depths of an English winter to benefit from the extremely rated golf programs, top-class event motion, and five-star hospitality on provide in Dubai, the place the solar at all times shines and also you’re just a few minutes away out of your subsequent Michelin-stared meal
Dubai, the dazzling metropolis of the United Arab Emirates, is a world-class vacation vacation spot that blends trendy luxurious with wealthy cultural heritage. Recognized for its record-breaking skyscrapers, extravagant buying malls, and golden desert landscapes, Dubai presents an unparalleled journey expertise for each type of customer.
Golf’s progress in Dubai over the past 30-odd years has mirrored that of the expat neighborhood, which at present represents round 88 per cent of the whole inhabitants of 9 million. Lots of the UAE’s 22 golf golf equipment, 14 of that are in Dubai itself, survive for a lot of the yr on a gentle provide of expat golfers and company outings blended in with a couple of native members, however they now take pleasure in a big enhance from travelling golfers, particularly throughout Northern Europe’s winter months. These coming from that a part of the world can soar of a aircraft and be enjoying tour-standard golf below cloudless skies simply seven or eight hours later, relying on the pace of the airport switch.
Final yr noticed over 23 million vacationers go to town, which works an extended solution to explaining why it is advisable to e-book your tee occasions, resort rooms and eating places nicely upfront to keep away from disappointment, particularly from late November by to early March, when the temperature hovers round 25°c and is right for golf at any time of the day.
Whereas Dubai may be very standard with Tour professionals because of its location on the level the place east meets west, and its excellent enjoying and observe amenities, there isn’t a scarcity of beginner golfers trying to pattern the Dubai {golfing} expertise for themselves.
And there’s no scarcity of locations to do it, with town limits providing greater than dozen programs, together with outdated favourites such because the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Membership, to the gorgeous 18 holes on provide at Dubai Creek, and relative newer children on the block such because the Montgomerie Course at Emirates Hills, The Els Membership, and the 2 most up-to-date openings, Trump Worldwide and Dubai Hills.
WATCHING THE STARS ON SHOW
My quick journey to town final November coincided with the staging of the DP World Tour Championship, the ultimate occasion of the Europe’s high tier schedule. So, whereas Jumeriah Golf Estates’ two excellent programs, Earth and Hearth, have been off-limits from a enjoying perspective that week, for our first day within the metropolis we have been handled to ringside seats within the DP World Tour’s hospitality suite alongside the 18th inexperienced from which we have been in a position to watch the gamers in motion through the third spherical.
With packed galleries – particularly for these following eventual winner Rory McIlroy’s each transfer – there was an excellent environment, with followers lining each tee, fairway and inexperienced to catch a glimpse of their hero in motion on the Earth Course, which is undoubtedly one of the difficult layouts in Dubai.
The Earth supplies a very becoming canvas for the denouement to the European season, with the Greg Norman-designed format that includes 102 bunkers, 20 lakes and treacherously sloped greens. The ultimate 4 holes measure over a mile lengthy, whereas the 651-yard 18th, whose fairway is cut up by a rock-lined stream, at all times supplies a surprising climax to the event.
With the course having grown in properly since its opening in 2009, and mature vegetation softening its visible attraction, the Earth course is unimaginable to fault when it comes to its presentation and conditioning, though hole-for-hole it lacks a little bit of the ‘wow’ issue of different programs within the metropolis, with a succession of manicured tees, fairways and greens which are at risk of mixing into one another after some time. That stated, in the event you make a birdie on the final, all shall be forgiven, and also you’ll have tales of the way you ‘conquered the earth’ to inform your folks for a few years to come back.
FOLLOWING IN FALDO’S FOOTSTEPS
The next day we have been in a position to play golf, moderately than watch it, and there are few extra spectacular golf equipment at which to do it in Dubai than the Emirates Golf Membership, which is broadly considered the ‘grandaddy’ of golf on this a part of world, having been one of many first grass programs to open within the Center East again in 1988.
Inside simply eight months of opening, the membership’s Majlis Course had been chosen to host a glitzy new event, the Dubai Desert Basic, which has gone on to grow to be a mainstay of the European circuit’s schedule over the past 35 years, with its conventional Arabic espresso pot being one of the prized trophies within the schedule – together with a hefty first prize of $1.5m. This yr’s renewal, which was held in mid-January, was gained by Tyrrell Hatton, with the Englishman ruffling a couple of feathers following his transfer to LIV Golf shortly after participating on this event final yr.
Whereas the Majlis was a inexperienced oasis within the desert again in 1988, the course is now surrounded by towering workplace blocks and luxurious resorts, whereas single lane filth tracks have been remodeled into six-lane superhighways stifled by site visitors. And the place as soon as golfers needed to depend on the yardage e-book and a neighborhood caddy’s data to present them a sign of the place to hit the ball, they’ll now pick the window of some luxurious penthouse suite from which to take their traces into greens.
With tees from 7,300 yards to six,300, it’s important to play off handicap-appropriate tees in the event you’re to not get into cricket rating territory right here. When it comes to holes to look out for, the three-hole run from the seventh is great. Seven is a stunning par 3 over water earlier than the well-known drive on 8 which, even in the event you efficiently navigate the desert, leaves to with a tricky uphill shot to an undulating inexperienced. The ninth is a par 4 which performs powerful even the very best drive leaves a nerve-jangling method over water. The again 9 ramps up the problem, and the final two holes are significantly notable – the virtually reachable par-4 seventeenth, and the par-4 18th, which, just like the ninth, requires an method over water – whether or not in your second or third.
The Emirates boasts not one, however two programs, with the Faldo Course – which first opened in 1996 because the Wadi course – having the excellence of being the one 18-hole course within the area to be absolutely floodlit, which makes for a enjoyable recreation when the solar lastly units. Our spherical was performed within the sunshine for the entrance 9 and darkness for the again, offering an excellent distinction. Redesigned in 2005 by six-time main winner Sir Nick Faldo, the par-72 format combines a surprising visible design with the nuances and challenges of any championship course in simply the proper measure, offering guests an exceptionally pleasurable {golfing} expertise.
The second, and sadly, the ultimate spherical of our journey, noticed our group make the 30-mile journey alongside the coast to the JA Resort, the place a 9-hole course supplies a small a part of this family-friendly resort, which boasts its personal marina and two luxurious resorts.
The course could be performed as an 18-holer, as there are a number of teeing choices to supply completely different gap views, however 9 is completely sufficient if in case you have different plans for the remainder of the day. The course boasts a blended bag of beneficiant and a few much less beneficiant fairways, a few of that are tree-lined, whereas there may be loads of water to barter.
Opening and shutting with difficult par fives, the risk-reward quick par 4 fifth is broadly considered the course’s signature gap right here, although the powerful, 431-yard par 4 that precedes it, with its slender enjoying hall main previous a saltwater lake to the inexperienced, is one other title contender for greatest gap on the cardboard.
Stored in respectable nick and boasting a keenly priced inexperienced payment – by Dubai requirements – JA is a enjoyable course to play and its two luxurious resorts make it a really perfect vacation golf venue away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown space.
LUXURY LODGINGS
Dubai boasts an unlimited array of luxurious lodging choices, together with the long-lasting 7-star Burj Al Arab, and the surprise of the world that’s Atlantis The Palm. Our journey included a four-night keep at 25hours One Central, a five-star, boutique-style resort that prides itself on being barely extra bohemian than your conventional chain operation.
Situated in Dubai’s enterprise district, and immediately reverse the eye-catching construction that’s house to the Museum of the Future, 25hours is standard with hipsters and inventive sorts. Its 434 rooms and suites provide a large alternative of various rooms shapes and sizes, with themes together with ‘Farmstay’ and ‘Artist Village’, and its quirky vibe definitely presents a refreshing various to the company blandness that may dominate many upmarket resorts.
With a alternative of 5 glorious on-site eating places, together with the Indian-inspired Tandoor Tina, a state-of-the-art spa, a nightclub/bar and a rooftop swimming pool, 25hours proved the proper place to calm down between rounds of golf and sightseeing.
OFF-COURSE ATTRACTIONS
Away from these evergreen fairways, Dubai presents a heady mixture of Center Japanese and Western off-course sights, from its glittering buying malls full of luxurious manufacturers, to ski slopes, to Legoland, IMG’s World of Adventures (the world’s largest indoor theme park), and the aforementioned Museum of the Future, which showcases technological improvement and innovation, particularly within the fields of robotics and synthetic intelligence.
These with shopaholic tendencies can get their retail repair within the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest ‘buying, leisure and leisure’ vacation spot. A temple to other ways of parting you from massive quantities of money, the mall boasts over 1,200 outlets, together with two department shops stocking all the most recent luxurious and trend manufacturers. There are additionally a variety of leisure sights for households, together with a multi-screen cinema, an aquarium, an ice rink and an unlimited kids’s play zone referred to as KidZania.
Dubai’s Gold Souk is an altogether extra glittering attraction that pulls guests from all over the world. Situated within the coronary heart of Deira, this conventional market is famend for its in depth choice of gold, silver, and treasured gems. With over 300 retailers, the souk presents every little thing from intricate necklaces to custom-made jewelry, catering to each critical consumers and informal vacationers.
Due to Dubai’s tax-free standing and strict authorities rules guaranteeing authenticity, consumers can discover high-quality gold at decrease costs than in lots of different international locations. The market operates on a clear pricing system, the place gold costs are primarily based on every day worldwide charges, and bargaining is inspired, making the buying expertise each thrilling and rewarding. This was definitely the case for one member of our group who spent a tense hour negotiating in a single store over the value of an engagement ring and due to one our social gathering with the ability to communicate Arabic, got here away with deal and hopeful a cheerful bride-to-be.
Past the buying, the souk additionally presents a glimpse into Dubai’s wealthy cultural heritage, with its slender alleys, conventional wood archways, and the scent of unique spices within the air creating a fascinating environment. After all, like all avenue market, there may be some stress promoting, however a smile and a easy elevating of the hand is often sufficient to keep at bay undesirable consideration from the smoothest of silver-tongued salesmen.
Competing in your visible consideration, in addition to your {custom}, is the 828-metre Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest constructing, which dominates town’s skyline and whose statement deck on the 148th ground – which is barely two-thirds of the way in which up – is a must-visit to get an concept of the extent of Dubai’s improvement. It additionally options the world’s quickest lifts – elevators, in the event you desire – though fortunately it’s not a kind of scary exterior glass-floored ones.
Guests trying to escape the intense lights of town ought to make a journey on the creek in a conventional wood Arab dhow or, as we did, rent a luxurious personal yacht that supplied a particularly snug oceanside view of Dubai’s spectacular skyline. Xclusive Yachts within the Marina has an enormous choice of boats to select from and could be employed out for brief two-hour cruises and all-day excursions, with foods and drinks included.
These searching for a bit of extra journey ought to head out to the desert, the place an evening or two spent tenting below the celebrities in Bedouin tents, or a sundown safari in a 4×4, supplies a chance to soak up the majesty of the dunes because the solar dropped under the horizon. You must also not miss the possibility to hop on a camel and luxuriate in a delicate, if considerably ungainly, stroll throughout the sands.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Dubai’s meals and restaurant scene is as various and splendid as town itself, providing a mix of world cuisines, high-end high quality eating, and genuine avenue meals experiences. Whether or not you’re searching for Michelin-starred eating places, native Emirati flavors, or hidden gems, Dubai has one thing for each palate.
One of many defining traits of Dubai’s meals tradition is its worldwide attraction. Town is house to top-tier cooks and world-renowned restaurant manufacturers, together with Nobu, Zuma, and Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Avenue Kitchen. Luxurious eating spots usually function breathtaking views, corresponding to Pierchic’s overwater setting or Ambiance on the Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest restaurant.
For these searching for conventional Emirati delicacies, eating places like Al Fanar and Arabian Tea Home serve dishes corresponding to machboos (spiced rice with meat) and luqaimat (candy dumplings). Town’s vibrant souks and avenue meals markets additionally provide shawarma, falafel, and Iranian kebabs, giving guests a style of Center Japanese flavors.
Dubai’s multicultural inhabitants means you’ll find an array of culinary cultures, with Indian, Pakistani, Lebanese, Japanese, Korean and Italian eateries catering to completely different tastes and budgets. From high-end sushi bars to genuine South Asian spots, the range is spectacular.
Our group loved a very pleasurable meal on the kitschly-named Hoe Lee Kow, a South Korean restaurant situated subsequent to the Dubai Hills Mall which specialises in serving trendy twists on Korean classics. Lots of the dishes – most of that are small plates – are introduced out on charcoal grills, though you don’t must prepare dinner the meat your self as is the case at Korean BBQ joints. With pleasant employees who’re blissful to speak you thru the menu in the event you don’t know your bibimbap out of your out of your bulgogi, and really fairly priced, HLK is nicely price a go to in the event you’re within the neighbourhood.
As you’d anticipate, Dubai is rarely sluggish to embrace the most recent international meals traits, with town seeing an increase in vegan, natural, and farm-to-table eating experiences, whereas extravagant bottomless brunches are nonetheless very a lot a factor right here. Eating places like Wild & The Moon and SEVA Desk cater to health-conscious diners searching for plant-based choices, whereas meals vehicles pop-up eating ideas and meals markets, the place you’ll be able to pattern meals from a variety of eating places below the one roof, add a extra informal contact to the meals scene right here.
PLAN YOUR DUBAI GOLF TRIP
For extra details about planning a visit to Dubai, together with issues to do, locations to go to, a diary of upcoming sporting and cultural occasions, and particulars of learn how to e-book a variety of bucket-list experiences, try www.visitdubai.com.
To seek out out inexperienced payment charges, e-book tee occasions, and uncover the most recent golf vacation packages to Dubai, go to www.dubaigolf.com or www.viyagolfholidays.com.
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