Al Zorah Golf Club Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

New Club Car fleet for Al Zorah, adding to their commitment towards sustainability

Golf Digest Middle East — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 08:07:45 +0000

Club Car, a global leader in golf, consumer and utility vehicles, has supplied a fleet of 80 new golf cars to Al Zorah Golf Club, a unique luxury venue in the United Arab Emirates.

The Troon Golf-managed club in Ajman, around 50km north of Dubai, lies in a protected area of large mangrove forests with rich biodiversity and changing tides, which alter the appearance of the Nicklaus Design course throughout the day.

Al Zorah is deeply committed to sustainability, and has chosen Club Car’s highly-acclaimed electric Tempo model to enhance the golfing experience of its members and guests.

“Club Car has been a valued partner of Al Zorah since we opened in 2015,” said Philip Henderson, General Manager of Al Zorah Golf Club. “They share our commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience and we’re delighted with the response we have received since taking delivery of the new fleet.”

“The cars feature a range of premium features, including extra cushioning in the seats, USB ports and screens with GPS technology, and they have made an instant impact: they are more efficient to run and our golfers love them,” Henderson added.

Club Car’s Tempo model has many customisable options including colour, seats, storage, wheels and three programmable drive modes to maximise performance. To learn more about the award winning Club Car Tempo, click here.

Al Zorah’s fleet is dark green to complement the resort’s brand colours, and in addition to the golf cars, the resort has added seven Club Car utility vehicles to assist with the daily operations on and around the course.

Nicolas Le Glas, Club Car’s Regional Manager Middle East and Africa, said: “Al Zorah is a truly unique venue offering a superb golfing experience, and it speaks volumes that they continue to choose Club Car. We are delighted the new fleet has been so well received.”

Club Car supplies many of the world’s leading golf destinations with its wide range of vehicles, and is an official supplier to the DP World Tour, the 2023 Ryder Cup, the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and St Andrews Links Trust.

Image: Club Car

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Al Zorah Golf Club pledges to plant one mangrove tree for every round of golf played in April

Golf Digest Middle East — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 10:59:55 +0000

As part of its latest sustainability initiative, Al Zorah Golf Club has committed to plant a mangrove tree for every round of golf played during April. Over the course of the month an estimated 2,000-2,500 trees are expected to be planted across the 11th hole which recently underwent a major restoration project as a part of the club’s ongoing environmental drive. The 2,000 square metre area was previously covered with overgrown vegetation but after a month of hard work by the agronomy team, the club has successfully rejuvenated the area to create a prosperous environment for the mangroves to thrive. The mangrove trees are all being provided by Al Zorah’s ‘Quest for Adventure’ nursery, who are leading the countrywide efforts to increase the mangrove population across different regions. Throughout April, club members, guests, residents and associates will have the opportunity to each plant a mangrove tree in a collaborative effort to support the initiative.

The restoration itself is further testament to Al Zorah Golf Club’s commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation as it preserves the natural beauty of the region and provides a habitat for a variety of marine life, while also contributing to the global effort to combat climate change. It’s also a unique opportunity for golfers themselves to make a meaningful impact on the environment while enjoying their favourite pastime.

Clinton Southorn, Director of Construction and Agronomy for Al ZOrah’s management company Troon International, commented: “It’s fantastic to see Al Zorah Golf Club taking a proactive approach to environmental conservation through their mangrove planting initiative. I am proud to see one of our clubs leading the charge in sustainability efforts. This initiative is not only beneficial to the environment but also serves as an inspiration to the golf industry as a whole. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of their efforts for years to come.”

Al Zorah Golf Club

The club’s dedication to sustainability was recognised in November last year when they achieved GEO Certification, a prestigious recognition awarded for their efforts in preserving native ecosystems through agronomic work and supporting local communities.

Sustainability has been a top priority for Al Zorah Golf Club and their latest initiative is just one example of this commitment. In addition, Al Zorah’s management team has taken proactive steps to educate their staff on sustainable practices and involve the local community in initiatives such as mangrove cleaning and tree planting. The club has seen great success in encouraging residents to participate in these initiatives, which not only benefit the environment but also enhance community involvement.

Commenting on the club’s efforts, Philip Henderson, General Manager of Al Zorah Golf Club, said: “Preserving the local ecosystem has always been a top priority for us, and we are thrilled to have successfully restored this area to create a new home for even more mangroves and subsequent wildlife. It’s exciting to offer our golfers the opportunity to play a round of golf while also supporting our commitment to the environment. We look forward to seeing how many of our guests will take up this chance and play a part in sustainable initiatives.”

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Al Zorah Golf Club in Ajman awarded GEO Certification

Matt Smith — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 11:38:36 +0000

By GolfDigestME.com
Al Zorah Golf Club has attained GEO Certification, it has been announced.

The joint venture between the Government of Ajman and Solidere International, the leading holistic real estate master developer in the emirate, is surrounded by natural lakes and mangroves, preserved and maintained by the club.

The achievement is a key milestone for the club, whose management has placed sustainability at the forefront of operations for several years. The recognition has come about in two key ways: through the agronomic work to preserve the native ecosystems and through the golf club’s support of local communities.

GEO Certified is a comprehensive modern certification, developed to the highest credibility standard, to help golf facilities, developments and tournaments demonstrate and be recognized for their environmental and social responsibility.

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Emirates Golf Federation’s General Alhashmi wins first UAE National Monthly Medal of the new season

Matt Smith — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 12:41:12 +0000

By GolfDigestME.com
With the new season upon us, the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) hosted the first UAE National Monthly Medal at Al Zorah Golf Club last week. Sponsored by eGolf Megastore, 41 UAE National Golfers lined up to compete across four different divisions. EGF Vice Chairman General Abdullah Alhashmi played a fantastic round of golf and collected the overall victory.

After a countback, General Alhashmi claimed top spot with 35 Stableford points.

“Thank you to all of the players that participated today and thank you to Al Zorah Golf Club for hosting the UAE Nationals,” the General said. “I want this competition to grow every month and I think this is a great start to the UAE golf season. With eGolf as a sponsor and providing great awards, we hope to continue to bring our community of golfers together every week.”

Dean Cheesley, CEO and Founder of eGolf added: “We are proud to support the Emirates Golf Federation and its UAE National Monthly Medal series and UAE tournaments. These events play a key role in the continued development of UAE national golfers at all ages and levels and we feel privileged to be associated with these tournaments. Within our partnership with the EGF, we also aim to open up access to products and club fitting services for all UAE national golfers to continue to foster the development of their game.

Runner-up for the event was Mohammed Al Musharrekh. National Team Member Mohammad Skaik fired a round of 72 for even-par, to win the Best Gross Prize. This was Skaik’s lowest ever round on record.

In the Senior Division (50 or older), Hassan Al Qezmi collected 31 points to win the division.

Awards were also given based on handicap with an A-Division (0-14 handicap) and B-Division (14-24 handicap) winners. Winning the A-Division was Sultan Al Ali with 33 points. Jalal Abbasi won the Division-B prize with 33 points.

For the Ladies’ Division, Aysha Al Mualla won with 38 points, with Dr Rabab Al Haj second on 36 points.

In the Junior Division, the EGF had 12 player compete for the top two spots. First was Mohammed Skaik with 38 points and in second went to Rashed Al Naqbi with 35 points on a countback.

Next month the EGF is looking to host the event in Abu Dhabi, the dates and location are yet to be confirmed.

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The Gulf Club: All the latest news from the UAE golf scene and beyond for June 2022 as Josh Hill makes England team and Chiara Noja thrives

Matt Smith — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 11:25:21 +0000

By Matt Smith

American flavour at EGC

George Clarke and Lyndon Smith

Emirates Golf Club hosted the Emirates US Open Championship with 76 golfers competing on the Faldo Course. The overall winners were George Clarke and Lyndon Smith with 46 points. Runner’s up were Anders Kron and Russell Yeomans with 44 points. In third place were Tauseef Khan and Shiba Wahid with 44 points.

EGF welcomes new faces

72 new National Team graduates at Emirates Golf Federation

Emirates Golf Federation was celebrating its latest National Team graduates, who passed their tests at Abu Dhabi Golf Club this week. There are 72 new additions who will now go on to the next part of their training on their journey in the world of golf.

Josh Hill in England squad

Josh Hill

Dubai’s Josh Hill has once again been chosen to represent England at the European Team Championships taking place at St Leon Rot Golf Club in Germany from July 5 to 9. The English boys team will be up against the finest youngsters from across the continent as 18 teams do battle for the Jean-Louis DuPont Trophy. Trump International’s Hill is 50th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and will join Josh Berry (Doncaster), Frank Kennedy (Trump Jupiter), Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield), Harley Smith (Rayleigh) and Tyler Weaver (Bury St Edmunds) on the England team.

Chiara dominates after injury

Chiara Noja. Annie Krcmarova/ACLC

Dubai-based 16-year-old Chiara Noja showed once again why she is one of the hottest prospects for the future of women’s golf as she bounced back from a rib injury that forced her to miss the Aramco Team Series — London to finish T2 in Belgium and stretch her lead in the Ladies European Tour Access Series Order of Merit. Australia’s Kristalle Blum recorded her first victory on the series at the Golf Vlaanderen LETAS Trophy, one ahead of Noja, local star Sophie Bert and France’s Yvie Chaucheprat and Momoka Kobori from New Zealand. With her runner-up finish, Germany’s Noja continues to dominate the LETAS Order of Merit standings with 1,171.25 points while New Zealand’s Kobori moves to the second spot with 813.75 points.

EGF goes green at Al Zorah

Emirates Golf Federation players take part in tree-planting programme at Al Zorah Golf Club. EGF

Emirates Golf Federation celebrated World Environment Day with EGF golfers at Al Zorah Golf Club, with the players planting mangrove trees following a tournament. The 18-hole golf course, Nicklaus-designed course in Ajman is surrounded by natural lakes and mangroves.

New look in Muscat

Muscat Resorts

Muscat Hills, the first all-grass 18-hole golf course in Oman, is to reopen next year as Muscat Resorts under the management of Troon Golf. Muscat Hills previously opened in 2009 and closed in 2020, and is set for a new lease of life under the ownership of Ominvest, the largest investment company in Oman.

Monthly treat for Vishal

Vishal Tikku

EGC also held the Dubai Golf Monthly where Vishal Tikku claimed top honours in B Division (11-20) with a net 68 (BB9). In Division A (0-10), the winner was that man Russell Yeomans with a net 68. In Division C (21-28), Suresh Shewakramani was victorious with a net 73.

Young UAE star wins in Scotland

Abu Dhabi-based Maya Palanza Gaudin. Emirates Golf Federation

The conveyor belt of young UAE-based talent continues to roll as Abu Dhabi’s Maya Palanza Gaudin took the title at the US Kids European Championship (Girls, 12-years-old Category) at The Glen Golf Club, North Berwick, outside Edinburgh, Scotland. Born in Ethiopia, the 12-year-old, who has lived in the UAE capital with her parents and younger sister for 10 years, plays off a 2.7 handicap and was the 2021 Ladies champion at Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi.

Pairs bear fruit at JGE

Paul McMahon and Drew Foxcroft

Jumeirah Golf Estates hosted their Pairs tournament over the Fire Course with 80 golfers competing in a pairs scramble format. Drew Foxcroft and Paul McMahon won on a card playoff with a net 63 (9-under). Runner-ups were Jack Wanliss and Gary Williams. Third place went to Steve Drake and Sheila McIlroy.

Arabian Ranches heats up

Division 2 winner Salman Karim

In a busy June month, Arabian Ranches also hosted the latest qualifying Round for the UAE Emirates NBD Race to Malaysia ahead of the Emirates Golf Federation-sanctioned national final at Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah on October 1. The next qualifier is at Al Zorah Golf Club in Ajman on September 18, before the final qualifier at Al Hamra Golf Club on September 25. At the final at Al Hamra, the winners of each of the five divisions will qualify to represent the UAE in the World Final in November in Malaysia.

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Emirates Golf Federation celebrates World Environment Day at Al Zorah Golf Club

Matt Smith — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 08:25:04 +0000

Emirates Golf Federation golfers take part in tree-planting programme at Al Zorah Golf Club. EGF

By Matt Smith
Emirates Golf Federation celebrated World Environment Day with EGF golfers at Al Zorah Golf Club, with the players planting mangrove trees following a tournament.

The 18-hole golf course, Nicklaus-designed course in Ajman is surrounded by natural lakes and mangroves.

George Saad, Chief Executive Officer of Al Zorah Development Company, said: “We are pleased to have EGF golfers on the joyous occasion of World Environment Day. The Al Zorah Golf Club was designed and constructed in the Al Zorah mangroves in a way that complements the natural beauty of the landscape here in Ajman. We have preserved the natural forestry and surrounding habitat to keep our golf course environmentally sustainable.”

“As part of the celebration of the Environment Day, each golfer planted their own mangrove tree at the end of the event, to show their appreciation of and dedication towards preserving our natural habitat.”

Four players from the EGF National Team ladies, men, coaches and juniors divisions took part in the EGF event.

Akram Skaik, Director General of the EGF, added: “It comes with great pleasure to work with Al Zorah Golf Club to not only help with the environment but also give the UAE National Team players an opportunity to work together off the golf course. It is our mission in following the path of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the adherence to implementing strategies and programmes to ensure a sustainable future and a healthy environment. Being golfers, the environment is extremely important to us and anything that the National Team or the Emirates Golf Federation can do to help is our mission”

Philip Henderson, Al Zorah General Manager, said: “The location of Al Zorah offers a uniqueness that allows a golfer to experience a world-class golf course and nature in its most refined setting. For any player visiting Al Zorah, you will find a knowledgeable team of associates dedicated to educating players on the importance of our environment and delivering superior service.”

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QUICKSHOT: Al Zorah Golf Club Clubhouse

Matt Smith — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 09:04:38 +0000

Work has begun on the state-of-the-art clubhouse at the Ajman resort

By Matt Smith
Construction work has commenced on the clubhouse at Al Zorah Golf Club, with the aim of transforming it into the leading tourist and golfing destination in the northern Emirates.

The world-class clubhouse will complement the 18-hole championship course, set in the natural landscape and mangroves of Ajman. The clubhouse at the Troon-managed course will offer full leisure facilities, including a gym, golf shop, tennis courts and swimming pool, plus food and beverage outlets will offer visitors a choice to dine, socialise and relax within the club.

Mark Chapleski, Executive Vice-President, Troon International, said: “We are extremely excited about this next phase of the Al Zorah golf journey. It will be a huge step forward with this new state-of-the-art clubhouse sitting right above the 18th green.”

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The Gulf Club: Your round-up of action from golf clubs across the UAE in May

Matt Smith — Tue, 31 May 2022 11:30:22 +0000

The Ladies team triumphed at Emirates Golf Club

By Matt Smith

Clash of the captains

Emirates Golf Club celebrated its annual Captains Matchplay Challenge which saw 32 pairings compete for the title, representing either Amarjeet Radia’s Lady Captains Team or Abdulfattah Sharaf’s Men’s Captains Team. It was the Lady Captains team who were victorious by four points, prevailing 10.5-7.5.

New-look in Ajman

The Al Zorah clubhouse design

There was some exciting news out of Ajman as construction work began at the clubhouse at Al Zorah Golf Club, with the aim of transforming it into the leading tourist and golfing destination in the northern Emirates. The clubhouse at the Troon-managed course will offer full leisure facilities, including a gym, golf shop, tennis courts and swimming pool, plus food and beverage outlets will offer visitors a choice to dine, socialise and relax within the club.

Dubai Ladies take centre stage

Sara Chadwick, Jacqueline de Vries and Sheila McIlroy won the Park Hyatt Dubai Ladies at Jumeirah Golf Estates

Jumeirah Golf Estates hosted The Park Hyatt Dubai Ladies in a three-player cha-cha-cha format over the Fire Course. The format is the best score on hole 1, best 2 scores on hole 2, best 3 scores on hole 3 back to best score on hole 4 and so on. Sheila McIlroy, Sara Chadwick, and Jacqueline de Vries came up with the goods to win with 79 points (7-under), ahead of Trudi McMullan, Rim Sun Lee, and Anna Abbott with 77 points.

Success at Yas Acres

Mousa Shana’ah triumphed at Yas Acres

Over at Yas Acres, Mousa Shana’ah overcame Ji Li, Paul Rezko and Jonathan Selvaraj to win the Gem International Amateur Golf Tour by a commanding seven strokes.

Hole-in-one at Hamra

Patrick Stevens

Patrick Stevens, the 2022 Al Hamra Golf Club Champion, had another reason to celebrate after hitting a hole-in-one on the Ras Al Khaimah Par 3 course.

Black on top at EGC

Emirates Golf Club Gents Tournament of Champions winner Gary Black

It was a busy time at Emirates Golf as the Gents Tournament of Champions also took place, with 30 golfers competing on the Majlis Course in a strokeplay format. Gary Black’s net 67 was good enough for top spot.

Fine on Faldo

Emirates Golf Club Ladies Mutt & Jeff champ Haide Wright

Not to be outdone, EGC held its Ladies Mutt & Jeff Competition , with 16 golfers battling it out on the Faldo Course in a Stableford format. Haide Wright took the honours with a better back six over Fiona Berry.

Peter Cowen Academies bring down curtain

Peter Cowen Academy Dubai Junior Medal Grand Final winners

The Peter Cowen Academy Dubai Junior Medal Grand Final took place at Jumeirah Golf Estates, with the last event of the season seeing 22 juniors from JGE, Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club compete. Winning the best net score was EGC’s Jameel Choudry, who just edged out Dubai Creek’s Audrey Wulff. Best Gross went to JGE’s Ties Wolters.

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Tame the 13th, stroke index 1, at Al Zorah Golf Club

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 03:16:34 +0000

Struggle no more with the Middle East’s toughest holes. In the latest instalment of our monthly series, Al Zorah Golf Services Manager Sam Markram helps you safely negotiate stroke index 1 at Ajman’s Nicklaus Design gem

Thirteen is an unlucky number for some. At Al Zorah Golf Club, it is the number of a hole that can make you feel like a really unlucky golfer, a proven a scorecard wrecker for those who approach without a prudent strategy. Even the pros at past MENA Tour events have run up big numbers here. Water on the left side will play on your mind from the moment you stand on the tee box with your driver until you drop your final putt. The approach shot, yeah that’s a nerve-jangler too. Summed up, making par on this hole is an achievement in its own right but it’s not impossible. Here’s my strategy:

Tee shot: This is the most demanding tee shot on the golf course as water lies to the left and bunkers wait for anyone who bails out right. The perfect shot would be a soft draw off the bunkers. Playing a draw off this tee is still a daunting prospect with all that wet stuff left but trust yourself to set up a decent approach.

Approach: Find the fairway and you’ll likely be left with long to mid iron in. The challenge? The water hazard hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s still hugging the entirety of the hole which means any shot which has a touch of left in it ends up wet. The bailout is short and right which can leave a straightforward pitch shot into the pin. If you go long and right then a treacherous chip shot to the pin with water in the background will give all but the surest of short game exponents pause for thought.

Finishing off: The green on the 13th has an array of movement which can easily lead to annoying three-putts. If the pin is at the back and you come up short with your approach, you’ll need to negotiate a multitude of breaks and undulations. If the pin is on the left side, then putting into the water can also be a real threat. This is a hole where you need to maintain concentration on every shot until your ball disappears into the cup. A pure par or one with the assist of a stroke or two? Perfectly acceptable. A birdie? Well played indeed. – with Kent Gray

BE AT 1 SERIES:
Tame ‘Sea View’, stroke index 1 at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Tame the 15th, stroke index 1, at The Els Club Dubai
Tame the 5th, stroke index 1, at Tower Links Golf Club
Tame the 15th, stroke index 1, at Yas Links Abu Dhabi
Tame the 7th, stroke index 1, at Dubai Hills Golf Club
Tame the 12th, stroke index 1, at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
Tame the 10th, stroke index 1, at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club
Tame the 5th, stroke index 1, at Abu Dhabi Golf Club

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Wee Wonders: The Middle East’s best par 3s

Kent Gray — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 04:56:33 +0000

(Photographs courtesy of the clubs)

Few are short but all are sweet examples of world-class golf design. Welcome to the Middle East’s best par 3s

By Kent Gray
With a defence system including (but not limited to) an old railway shed, a grand hotel, heather, a skinny green, a subterranean pot bunker and an equally uncompromising stone wall, the fearsome reputation of the ‘Road Hole’ at St. Andrews is warranted.

If you still need a refresher on why the 17th at the Old Course is the most recognisable hole in golf, search the ‘Sands of Nakajima’ and follow the endless thread. Just don’t say you weren’t forewarned, especially if you are of a nervous disposition in the sand already.

Thankfully you needn’t be a 450-yard par 4 at the Home of Golf to inspire awe.

There’s something about par 3s that trigger the golfing senses. Picture the 12th at Augusta National, the island greened 17th on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass or to the tiny (f)lick that is the ‘Postage Stamp’ at Royal Troon. How about wedging toward the pounding Atlantic Ocean that backdrops the downhill, 106-yard 7th at Pebble Beach?

In the Middle East, we’re blessed with countless examples of how a good little ‘un often beats a good big ’un. That, of course, begged this, the definitive compilation of the region’s finest short holes.

So what’s the criteria to make the cut in our list of treacherous tiddlers? It’s the same exhaustive process that determines the world’s most respected course rating system, seven categories which reward shot values, design variety, resistance to scoring, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning and ambience.

Our Top 10 Courses in the Middle East 2020 judging panel applied the same criteria to each par 3 at all the courses rated. We then tallied the scores and ranked them accordingly to compile our list from 18 to No.1. A couple of clubs feature more than once, other clubs not at all. Some selections will surprise from courses flush with memorable par 3s. It all serves to emphasise the impartiality of the system.

Without further ado, welcome to the Middle East’s best par 3s, wee wonders all. Enjoy.

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18. 16th Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
180 Yards, Stroke Index 16
Hit the ball right to left? Welcome to the warm turquoise waters of the Red Sea my friend, a place where Dustin Johnson’s title hopes momentarily took a dip with his ball in the final round of the inaugural Saudi International in 2019. Bail out right and you may still donate your sphere to Davy Jones’ Locker given how tight the green is cut to the wet stuff. Soak in the views while trying not to think about blading your chip or bunker shot.

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17. 16th Ayla Golf Club, Jordan
210 Yards, Stroke Index 14
The odds are against even low markers on this downhill, normally downwind hole to a green that slopes away to a back left bunker. Back right? Water. A pure strike is required to hold the green with the strong prevailing wind lowering ball spin. Come in too low and the ball will find its way to the back or fall into the sand. Gulp.

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16. 2nd Fire, Jumeirah Golf Estates
250 Yards, Stroke Index 17
You might be sensing a theme emerging by now and it’s not the fact Fire, like Ayla, came from the design board of Greg Norman, nor that the Shark loves a good bunker. What we are trying to say is, ball striking baby, like, you better be ripping your irons today kinda ball striking. You’ll need something stronger if you play from the tips here, something we strongly advise against. It’s easy enough to drop a shot or three without going further back than most of us travel to work nowadays.

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The pyramids are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and a magnificent distraction at NEWGIZA.

15. 4th NEWGIZA Golf Club
187 Yards, Stroke Index 13
If you like your golf with a hearty dollop of history, put NEWGIZA on your must-play list. The signature hole at the Cairo layout – the last project of Thomson Perrett & Lobb – includes elevated views to the Great Pyramids of Giza. Breath-taking.

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14. 17th The Els Club, Dubai
212 Yards, Stroke Index 15
Trust us, don’t leave it short on this beastly par-3. Don’t go long either come to think of it. Or right. And definitely not left. Gosh no. Any two putt par, one each of which will be a slippery down or side hiller, is cause for celebration. An up and down par? Well played, Seve.

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13. 16th Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
198 Yards, Stroke Index 17
With views to the Burj Khalifa on the 5th, that big carry over water on the 8th and the equally memorable 14th, you might be surprised by the par 3 that resonated with our judges at DCGYC. But by a fraction, they plumbed for a mid-iron carry over sand to the elevated 16th and a test with the putter. The start of a magical three-hole finish that gives the ‘The Creek’ its name and your card all those big numbers.

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12. 12th Abu Dhabi Golf Club
186 Yards, Stroke Index 16
The green here isn’t tiny but boy, how magnetic is that water short? And that sand left and right. Heck, we’ve even bounced it off the boulders at the back trying to take all the other hazards out of play. Like the 7th on The National, this is another gem from Harradine Design. Which leads us too…

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11. 8th JA The Resort Golf Course
177 Yards, Stroke Index 15
Club selection is critical from the elevated tee where you are treated to lovely views over the resort’s marina and out to the Arabian Sea. With water wrapping around the left side of the green, it’s easy to find sand right and then leave your bunker escape short for fear of a thin into the H2O beyond. A seemingly simple hole where dropped shots are not uncommon.

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10. 17th Al Zorah Golf Club
224 Yards, Stroke Index 8
We’re huge fans of the short 2nd hole at Al Zorah which tests your mettle early with wetness waiting any weak or pulled (pushed for lefties) strike. We also enjoy the short 15th but for design and resistance to scoring, the 17th at the Golden Bear’s Ajman layout takes some beating. Forget par if you are short here, especially if you draw a sticky lie when the tide is out. All carry, all class from Jack Nicklaus Design.

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9. 15th Majlis, Emirates Golf Club
190 Yards, Stroke Index 14
The final par 3 on the Majlis isn’t dissimilar to the 17th at Al Zorah. This is a hole all about hitting and holding the green because anything short or left will leave a tricky desert lie to an elevated green and likely a frustrating blob on your scorecard. Beyond the green? Best left for spectating at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

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8. 17th Dubai Hills Golf Club
203 Yards, Stroke Index 2
Few of the holes in our selection have a single figure stroke index rating. A clear exception to that coincidence is the penultimate hole at Dubai Hills. Good players will look to draw the ball away from the water that hugs the right-hand side of this hole but even low handicappers will be frustrated by a poor strike or an untimely gust at some point. Brutal!

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7. 17th Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
147 Yards, Stroke Index 15
Framed by the white sands and the sparkling waters of the Arabian Gulf, the penultimate hole at Gary Player’s Abu Dhabi masterpiece scored well for aesthetics. It also resonated with our judges for resistance to scoring despite being a mere flick most days. Proof that par 3s needn’t be monsters to be memorable.

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6. 11th Al Mouj Golf
230 Yards, Stroke Index 13
The island-style green on the 5th at Greg Norman’s Muscat gem makes for a memorable par 3 but it can only doff its cap to the 11th where the green seemingly melds into the horizon. Don’t be distracted by those dreamy Sea of Oman vistas…you’re going to need a pure blow to escape with par or better here.

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5. 9th Dubai Hills Golf Club
220 Yards, Stroke Index 3
They clearly like their par 3s tough at Dubai Hills as witnessed by the two entries in our list, including the stroke 2 17th. The 9th is the most picturesque of the memorable collection of par 3s (we like No.2 as well) and, at 220 yards from the tips, is not for the faint of heart. We’d love a dirham for every water ball and two for every bailout right.

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4. 7th Majlis, Emirates Golf Club
186 yards, Stroke Index 15
The second of the memorable collection of par 3s imagined into life by Karl Litten on the Majlis more than 30 years ago wouldn’t be out of place today at one of the UK’s famous old parkland courses. Beware the false front ready to suck your ball back into the lake and don’t be surprised if you face a lengthy first putt. And a knee-knocker for par. Or bogey.

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3. 17th Earth, Jumeirah Golf Estates
195 Yards, Stroke Index 8
It’s the UAE’s answer to the 17th at TPC Sawgrass and like The Players Championship, the penultimate hole on Earth regularly has its say in the outcome of the Race to Dubai decider, often with a incredible escape from one of the bunkers. Club selection can be tricky if the wind is swirling. Par here is never to be sniffed at.

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2. 17th Trump International Golf Club, Dubai
156 Yards, Stroke Index 18
Designer Gil Hanse clearly got the memo on the beauty of short, short holes. It’s easy to be sucked in by any pin cut to the front right of this cleverly sculpted green. Anything short is a bogey-plus in the making and good luck negotiating that shallow wee bunker beyond the green too. The sage option is to aim for the middle of the green and take your chances with the flat stick.

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1. 17th Yas Links Abu Dhabi
204 Yards, Stroke Index 13
The downhill 4th, the nifty 8th, the pretty little uphill 13th. All stunning. But the penultimate hole at Kyle Phillips’ Abu Dhabi masterpiece? In a different league. Any tee-ball other than a green finder leaves a devilishly difficult up and down. A par here will linger in the memory, as will the social media mementoes you snapped with your phone camera from the tee. And looking from beyond the greenback towards the tee. It’s majestic from every angle and in every sense.

The post Wee Wonders: The Middle East’s best par 3s appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.