The challenging par 4 7th hole at Dubai Hills Golf Club is perfectly sandwiched between two of the more scoreable holes at the region’s newest course and two tough, long holes to close out the front nine.

At 440 yards off the black tees, all but the longest hitters will be left playing a longer iron or more with their approach. Accuracy is vital off the tee to avoid the drop off waste area on the right and the cleverly positioned bunker on the left. Only then will finding this long two-tiered green seem realistic. I have seen many cases of players getting off to fast starts over the first six holes only to come unstuck at this tough hole, myself included. Here I will share my thoughts on how you can avoid this problem. –With Kent Gray

Tee shot: From the back tees the bunker on the left is 230 yards to reach and over 250 yards to carry so it’s important that you have a realistic understanding of how far you can hit the ball. Few players are going to have the firepower to launch it over that trap, so the line is just right of it. A gentle fade off the bunker suits the shape of the hole well. Anything too far right though will kick off the slope end up down in the waste area and then it’s simply pot luck as to how you find your ball sitting. If you do end up down there don’t try to be a hero, simply get the ball back in play and keep the damage to a minimum.

Approach: Even if you do manage to find the fairway, the approach to this green is no cinch.  Any shot landing too close to the front right of the green will roll down the run off area potentially leaving a tricky chip back up the slope. Playing towards the left centre of the green is always a safe play and a miss slightly left could still leave you with a chance. With the ball often slightly below your feet on this shot it is likely to finish right so adjust for this. Make sure you club up for your approach as well – the green is slightly raised and anything short will run back further away from the green. A bunker front left is also waiting to catch anything slightly under hit. A green in regulation is a great effort but by no means is the hole complete.

Closing out: The green slopes back to front and gently left to right following the general shape of the hole. Pace putting is a priority here. Anything left and long and you will need to be cautious with your speed – don’t get aggressive with your first putt or you’ll leave yourself an awkward length coming back. Walk off this green with your score still intact and you should be one very happy golfer.

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 12th, stroke index 1, at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
Tame the 13th, stroke index 1, at Al Zorah Golf 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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The Middle East’s 18 favourite holes
The Middle East’s best par 3s
Top 10 Golf Courses in the Middle East: The Class of 2020
FIRST LOOK: Dubai Hills Golf Club is an instant icon

The post BE AT 1: Tame the 7th, stroke index 1, at Dubai Hills Golf Club appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

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.

RELATED: Top 10 Golf Courses in the Middle East: The Class of 2020

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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.

RELATED:
Top 10 Golf Courses in the Middle East: The Class of 2020
Be at 1: Tame stroke index 1 Middle East courses

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

What would a compilation of the Middle East’s favourite holes look like? Stunning. Long. And very, very tough. Welcome to the region’s dream 18.

By Kent Gray
“The ideal hole is surely one that affords the greatest pleasure to the greatest number, gives the fullest advantage for accurate play, stimulates players to improve their game, and never becomes monotonous.”

Alister MacKenzie departed this life 86 years ago, more than 50 years before golf first met grass in Dubai and longer still before the game spread its virtuous tentacles around the Middle East.

But if he could, the revered British course architect surely would doff his Tam o’ Shanter to this, our compilation of the Middle East’s favourite holes.

Judged by the expert panel that brought you Golf Digest’s Top 10 Courses of the Middle East 2020 ranking (click here) and dreamed into a composite 18 by the editorial team, this is an impressive and imposing test of golf.

The criteria to be considered for the region’s dream 18? The same exhaustive process that determines the world’s most respected course rating system, a series of seven categories which reward shot values, design variety, resistance to scoring, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning and ambience. The kicker is that holes had to receive at least 75 per cent of the panel’s collective ‘your favourite hole’ vote at a respective course to be considered.

There is nothing more subjective in sport than the apples versus pears ranking of players or matches from different eras. The same can be applied to the rating of golf courses where one players manicured hybrid of parkland and desert, is another’s modern-day seaside layout, or, in the Middle East at least, yet another’s inland links wannabe. Drill down further to individual holes and the debate is even hotter. The most impartial way to measure that is with Golf Digest’s internationally trusted formula.

What is indisputable is that our composite layout complies to the criteria of the ideal hole as MacKenzie once famously hypothesised. Each and every hole inspires, demands accuracy (or acceptance of a lack thereof), will send you to the range searching for solutions and could never, ever be considered tedious. Enjoy.

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s iconic 16th makes the cut in our favourite holes selection.

1. The 16th, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
488 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 1
We’re fans of course architects who like to ease you into a round with a simple hole, providing, if not a birdie chance, then a relatively straight forward shot at par. There is no such luxury at our composite course. With its tight tee shot, magnetic waste bunker hugging almost the entire right-hand side of the fairway and approach over yet more sand to a deceptively large green well protected by humps and hollows, par is no cinch. Add in a breeze off the Arabian Sea and, well, good luck. This hole is stunningly brutal, a bit like designer Gary Player’s fitness regime.

READ MORE: Tame ‘Sea View’, stroke index 1 at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

Soak in those Red Sea views on the 16th at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Saudi Arabia

2. The 16th, Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
180 Yards, Par 3, Stroke Index 16
We’ve gone for a par-4, par-3, par-5 opening to our composite 18 to test every club in your bag early. You won’t find many short holes in the Middle East more picturesque than the last par 3 on the Kingdom’s most recognisable course but don’t be lulled by those turquoise Red Sea views. Dustin Johnson nearly lost the inaugural Saudi International here before producing a miraculous recovery from the drop zone for a bogey to hold off Li Haotong in 2019.  Take par and run.

Any par on the closing hole at The Address Montgomerie Dubai will help you soar up the club’s monthly medal leaderboard

3. The 18th, The Address Montgomerie Dubai
656 Yards, Par 5, Stroke Index 1
How many good and great rounds at The Monty have been sunk by Colin’s (in)-famous closing hole? Finding dry land off one of the numerous teeing grounds is cause for mini celebration but this par 5 will keep you sweating till the end. The hole is relatively straight forward if you can get off the tee but isn’t it amazing how sensible strategy goes out the window with so much water everywhere, or how you suddenly chunk a wedge that has been co-operating so well until now? The potential sucker punch is under clubbing what should be your third (but probably your fourth, fifth of sixth) shot into the green. You deserve a drink but we are only getting started…

The 18th at Greg Norman’s Muscat gem, Al Mouj Golf, tests the European Tour’s best in the Oman Open so don’t fret your score

4. The 18th, Al Mouj Golf
410 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 9
Speaking of tough closing holes with watery graves…

The 18th at Greg Norman’s Muscat masterpiece tests the mettle of the European Tour’s top players at the Oman Open so it’s a given that it will keep the blowtorch focused on your ball striking now you’ve warmed your way into our composite course. Slicers can’t aim far enough left off this tee – and invariably they’ll hit it straight into trouble if they do. Don’t be tempted by any pin cut in the right half of the putting surface or you could be playing pinball with the rocks which elevate this green, and hole, to favourite status among our judges… a big call on a layout overflowing with memorable holes.

The 16th at Al Ain is another par 4 where getting wet is an ever- present danger

5. The 16th, Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club
421 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 5
This par-4 ranks as just the fifth toughest hole at AESGC but don’t be fooled by the stroke index or the alluring design aesthetic. A telephone number awaits any player who strays from the fairway off the tee and that’s just the beginning of the fun. Ideally you’ll shape your drive around the dogleg and past the two furthermost palm trees on the right, hopefully without needing a second or third ball with all that water right and sand and OB left. Now play smart, ignoring any back left (bunker bound!) or centre-right (you’re wet!) pin. Simply rifle your mid-iron to the centre of the green, two-putt and walk off with a big smile and plenty of lead left in your pencil.

Good luck if you need a birdie to win your match on the 18th at The Faldo at Emirates Golf Club. Actually, best of British if you need a par

6. The 18th, The Faldo, Emirates Golf Club
485 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 5
We find The Faldo one of the region’s most exacting tests off the tee, particularly on the outward nine with all those tight doglegs. And sand. And water. To be fair, the closing hole on the Majlis’ sister course at Emirates G.C. offers a generous landing area for all but the biggest slicers but there are few more intimidating approach shots than here. Sir Nick was one of the game’s great shotmakers. You’ll feel like one too if you escape with par of better here.

The curvy 18th at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai is another testy finishing hole but comes early in our dream 18

7. The 18th, Trump International Golf Club, Dubai
425 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 3
Just don’t go left, right? Easier said than done on designer Gil Hanse’s closing hole at Trump Dubai. With that man-made lake hugging the dog-legged par 4, it’s easy to push it way right off the tee which then brings the wet stuff into play with your approach. Aim right of the green and hope for a members’ bounce onto the putting surface because any chip, downhill and with that ever-present water begging, is sure to unearth any jitters in your short game. In effort not to thin it? A frustrating fat? Fun and sometimes frightening.

8. The 16th, Al Zorah Golf Club
354 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 14
The 16th at Nicklaus Designs’ Ajman gem will have you umming and ahhing like the ebb and flooding tides that engross the hole’s island tees. The smart strategic play, with sodden marshland left and desert despair right, dictates a hybrid or mid-iron off the tee and a flick of a wedge in. But maybe, just maybe, you could get there with driver, maybe even a 3-wood? A classic risk and reward hole from another classic course Jack (kinda) built.

The 4th at The Track, Meydan Golf isn’t quite the shortest par 4 in our composite layout but it is a, ahem, tall order for those who suddenly get nervous with a bit of H20 to negotiate.

9. The 4th, The Track, Meydan Golf
358 Yards,  Par 4, Stroke Index 7
For further, irrefutable proof, that a hole needn’t be long to be memorable, welcome to this feisty little dogleg at The Track, Meydan Golf. You could almost throw it off the tee and have a shot at a green that is generously proportioned. Isn’t it amazing how even the silkiest of swings suddenly becomes a little twitchy though when you have to negotiate a bit of H20. And good luck if you over club (prudent) with your approach and leave yourself a slippery downhill chip, looking back at that hypnotic water.

RELATED: Top 10 Golf Courses in the Middle East: The Class of 2020

You’ve done well to make it to the turn with balls left in your bag, not to mention the will to carry on. Grab yourself a nice drink and perhaps an extra sleeve or two of your favourite ammo and prepare for yet more fun.

Do you pull the trigger from this spot on the closing hole on the Majlis course at Emirates G.C. or lay-up and risk getting wet with a wedge anyway?

10. The 18th, Majlis, Emirates Golf Club
546 Yards, Par 5, Stroke Index 12
It’s the scene of so much OMEGA Dubai Desert and Moonlight Classics glory – and amateur heartache. Go straight off the tee and you run the risk of not reaching the corner of the dogleg and blocking yourself out or overpowering things and running out of fairway. Hit it too far left and you’re in the trees or lush rough at best. Somewhere in between and either wooden or watery fate potentially awaits. Then you must decide to go for it or lay-up and test your nerve over the water. Short is wet while air mailing the green brings another chance of the same. A brilliant strategic test.

11. The 18th, Dubai Hills Golf Club
486 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 10
European Golf Design architect Gary Johnson wanted to differentiate Dubai Hills’ finale from the par-5s that predominate the UAE golfscape. The Scot surely did – the 485-yard finish is an absolute brute. Getting it in play off the tee of this par 4 (don’t go too far right) is the (not so) easy bit. Afterwards you’ll need to rifle a mid-iron to a peninsula green guarded by water left and magnetic bunkering front right that looks like it’s cut tight to the green but is actually a clever optical illusion. Par? You’ve just roared up the leaderboard.

12. The 18th, Yas Links Abu Dhabi
646 Yards, Par 5, Stroke Index 3
There is arguably no tougher finish in Middle East golf than Yas Links’ closing par-5, a hole that just keeps coming at you. That’s why we’ve slotted it in early in our inward nine, to leave you some energy to get back to the 19th! You’ll need a solid drive and two decent whacks from there to stand any chance of reaching a green large enough to make three-putting almost inevitable. Into a breeze? Your blob won’t be the first or the last today.

The approach shot to the 16th is one of the trickiest shots on Earth at Jumeirah Golf Estates

13. The 16th, Earth, Jumeirah Golf Estates
486 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 10
The best players on Earth breathe a sigh of relief if they escape here without a scorecard glitch during the DP World Tour Championship each November so who are we to sniff at par? Proof again a hole needn’t be long to be challenging. Watch that your tee shot doesn’t bound right, never to be seen again. Commit fully to the approach shot too, ignoring the water that frames the partial island green. Yeah, we can’t either.

It’s the most photographed hole in the Middle East, the iconic 8th on the Majlis at Emirates G.C.

14. The 8th, Majlis, Emirates Golf Club
459 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 3
Is there a more iconic hole in the Middle East? Is there a hole where more golfers miss right off the tee anywhere in the world? Dust yourself off at the end of this famous par 4 and remember that no matter your score, you’ve got a marina views selfie your pals the world over will be jealous of.

Any par on the 15th hole at The Els Club, Dubai is to be celebrated, especially if you manage to get up and down from the bailout area pictured to the right of the green here

15. The 15th, The Els Club Dubai
489 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 1
Thankfully in our composite 18, you haven’t had to play the par 4 that mirrors the 15th at The Els Club Dubai because, no doubt, you’d rock up to this tee with the mental scar tissue from negotiating the 6th hole at Ernie’s course still fresh in your mind. Instead, rid your thoughts of the water right, that welcoming pot bunker in the landing zone off the tee left, and the bailout area left of the green, a no go zone for those with a twitchy wedge game. Instead, find the fairway, pure your approach to the heart of the green, two-putt and walk away with a par and the lingering admiration of your playing partners. If only golf was as simple as the Big Easy makes it look.

The 17th at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club (foreground right) didn’t make the cut in our dream 18 but easily could have. The closing par 4, as you approach the iconic Dhow shaped clubhouse, did and thoroughly warrants the distinction

16. The 18th, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
421 Yards, Par 4, Stroke Index 3
Likewise, be thankful you haven’t had to play the previous hole at the Creek (see p.39) before you roll up to this beautifully brutal par-4. There is actually no option here other than hitting it arrow straight down the middle and then purposefully onto the green. There is no Creek. Or sand. Or rocks guarding the green to send your ball there anyway. Who are we kidding. Grab a group selfie with the iconic clubhouse in the background and forget that double. Or was it a triple?

The sun sets on one of the prettiest – and most testing – par 3s in the Middle East, the 17th at Yas Links Abu Dhabi

17. The 17th, Yas Links Abu Dhabi
204 Yards, Par 3, Stroke Index 13
For golf eye candy, it doesn’t get much better than the penultimate par 3 at Kyle Phillips’ Abu Dhabi masterpiece. Aesthetically pleasing yes, easy no. You’ll need to strike it crisp, long and straight to walk away with a score anywhere as attractive as those shots your entire group did manage to nail off the tee – with their camera phones. Majestic.

18. The 18th, Abu Dhabi Golf Club
567 Yards, Par 5, Stroke Index 5
Great closing holes effortlessly conjure great late drama. A doff of our cap then to architect Peter Harradine for the climax to the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship each January. Risk and reward comes in wet and sandy waves, tempts the big hitter, teases till the end with its speedy, sprawling green and lures all to the most astonishing clubhouse anywhere in the Middle East. You’ve made it and well played, regardless of your score. Enjoy your drink and the debrief of the Middle East’s favourite holes.

RELATED: Top 10 Golf Courses in the Middle East: The Class of 2020

The post The Middle East’s 18 favourite holes appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

This is our sixth biennial ranking of the best golf courses in the Middle East, and for the third time, we have broadened our scope to include a range of excellence that exists beyond the boundaries of 18-hole layouts. Unsurprisingly, these categories were just as hard to separate as the courses themselves.

This is a region that excels both on and off the course. The amenities are among the best in the world and the service is exemplary. Of the six nine-holers in the Middle East, not one doesn’t leave us pining for its imaginary second nine. As for the category of Best Clubhouse, there is scarcely one that doesn’t combine arresting architecture with a seamless blend of comfort and convenience.

We sifted through the views of our panel and tallied the reader votes to arrive at this, the final list of winners and runners-up. The very best of the best in a region that consistently sets its own international benchmark. – RG

•  BACK TO 2020 TOP 10 LIST
•  MEET THE 2020 PANEL
•  2020 READERS’ CHOICE

The post Top 10 Courses: 2020 Best in the Middle East appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The par 72 European Golf Design, managed by Troon International, received the gong at the 6th annual World Golf Awards Gala Ceremony held at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi earlier this week.

RELATED: FIRST LOOK – Dubai Hills Golf Club is an instant icon

Nestled within the luxurious residential and lifestyle development Dubai Hills Estate, Dubai Hills G.C. led a number of UAE courses recognised. Based on a voting system for golf tourism professionals and consumers, World Golf Awards celebrates excellence in golf, world-class courses and golf destinations.

“We are honoured to have received this prestigious award, a testament to the great efforts of the entire team here who are fully committed to providing a first-class service to all of our members and guests,” said Adam Duston, Golf Operations Manager at Dubai Hills G.C. by Jumeirah.

“Dubai is a fantastic golfing destination and our goal is to offer an exceptional golfing experience that will leave every golfer with a desire to return. I wish to thank all those who have contributed towards this recognition.”

Carnoustie Golf Links was named the world’s best course, Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore the world’s best club while Royal Greens Golf & Country Club was awarded the world’s best clubhouse. European Tour legend Colin Montgomerie was named the world’s best course designer and also received a lifetime achievement award.

The other regional winners were:

Middle East
Best Golf Destination 2019: Oman
Best Golf Course 2019: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club:
Best 9 Hole Golf Course 2019: The Track, Meydan Golf (UAE)
Best Golf Hotel 2019: The St. Regis Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
Best Golf Tour Operator 2019: Arabian Greens Tours

Abu Dhabi
Best Golf Course 2019: Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Best Golf Hotel 2019: Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa

Bahrain
Best Golf Course 2019: The Royal Golf Club – Montgomerie Course
Best Golf Hotel 2019: The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa

Dubai
Best Golf Course 2019: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
Best Golf Hotel 2019: Address Montgomerie

Oman
Best Golf Course 2019: Al Mouj Golf Course
Best Golf Hotel 2019: The Chedi

Saudi Arabia
Best Golf Course 2019: Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
Best Golf Hotel 2019: Nofa Resorts

United Arab Emirates
Best Golf Course 2019: Abu Dhabi Golf Club
Best Golf Hotel 2019: The St. Regis Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi
Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator 2019: SNTTA Emir Tours
Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator 2019: Connect World Golf

Launched in 2014, the World Golf Awards strive to drive up standards within the golf tourism industry by rewarding the organisations that are leaders in their field.

The post Dubai Hills voted world’s best new golf course appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

We’ve taken all the leg work out of finding the best rates to ensure you get your golfing fix this Eid Al Fitr holiday. Enjoy!

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DUBAI GOLF:  2 for 1 at Emirates Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Creek

Enjoy 2-FOR-1 golf on the Majlis and Faldo courses at Emirates Golf Club, the Earth and Fire courses at Jumeirah Golf Estates and the championship course at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club this Eid Al Fitr when booking exclusively with Golf Central.

Simply click on the links below to avail this deal: download the Golf Central app today:

App Store or Google Play (Android)

Terms and conditions apply and promotional tee times are subject to availability so get in quick. Follow Dubai Golf on Instagram @golfcentralapp for the latest promotions and competitions.

RELATED: How to conquer Dubai Creek’s iconic 6th hole

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TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB DUBAI

From June 3-6th, book a round on Trump Dubai’s Gil Hanse-designed championship course and get complimentary access to the club’s infinity pool on the same day. What better way to cool off after your round than with those elevated, watery views? 

International Women’s Golf Day 2019 – June 4, 2019
Ladies can tee it up on International Women’s Golf Day at Trump Dubai for just AED 200 from 9am to noon, or AED 50 all day for a round on the club’s epic par-3 layout. You can also enjoy the Infinity Pool on the day if you book a round on the 18-hole course.

Trump Dubai is also hosting a women’s only academy open day from 9am to 10am and again from 4pm to 5pm where the club’s pros will be on hand to provide tips.

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SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB

If you have a smart phone, a UAE mobile number and WhatsApp, you’re on your way to the best deals at SGSC. Check out the deal here:

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DUBAI HILLS GOLF CLUB

Dubai Hills Golf Club is offering a special summer rate from June 1, starting from AED 350 on weekdays (Sunday to Thursday) and AED 425 during weekends (Friday and Saturday).

Book on dubaihillsgolfclub.com or via the Troon App. Alternatively, call +971 4 362 7555 or email info@dubaihillsgolfclub.com

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YAS LINKS ABU DHABI

Kyle Phillips’ Abu Dhabi masterpiece is maintaining its midweek rates throughout the whole of the Eid period – a steal at just AED 295.

Yas Links is also running an early bird rate of AED 250 between 6:30am-7am and a matching Twilight rate of AED 250 for tee times between 3pm-4:30pm. There’s also a Beat the Clock special when you tee off between 5pm-6pm.

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THE ELS CLUB, DUBAI

Ernie Els is known as the Big Easy and it’s easy to see why the Eid Al Fitr deal at the South Africa major winner’s celebrated Dubai design will be a winner. The Els Club, Dubai is offering an “Eid Bundle” which started on Sunday , June 2 and runs to June 8. Check it out: 

• 3 rounds of golf (valid from Sunday 2nd to Saturday 8th)
AED 495 for Troon Executive Card holders
AED 595 for all other categories

• 7 days of golf (June 2nd to June 8th)
AED 695 for Troon Executive Card holders
AED 795 for all other categories

T&C’s apply – the deal is not transferable for example – but there’s a seven-day booking window. So what are you waiting for? Get clicking! 

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JA THE RESORT GOLF CLUB

We are mightly impressed by the recent rejig of Dubai’s pioneering 9-holer at Jebel Ali and here’s a great way to experience Peter Harradine’s handiwork from June 4-6 inclusive.

You can play nine holes at JA The Resort Golf Course for AED 195 per person including green fee, cart hire and range balls as well as a 20% discount on F&B. Whats more, they’ll throw in a  voucher for another 9-hole round to be utilised over the summer period.

Simply quote ‘Golf Digest’ upon booking to avail the offer. Book now on 04 814 5023 or golf.teetimes@jaresorts.com

The post The UAE’s best Eid Al Fitr holiday green fee deals appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
The championship course at Arabian Ranches Golf Club is to close for upwards of 4.5 months for a makeover designed to ensure its greens once again “compete” with those of its world-class Dubai neighbours, old, new and soon to be opened.

All 18 greens at the Troon International-managed, Ian Baker Finch-designed course are to be rebuilt as the centrepiece of a summer renovation set to begin on June 1.

Arabian Ranches G.C. General Manager Elliott Gray also confirmed the practice putting green at the Emaar property would be rebuilt while the driving range, turf nursery and the desert surrounds on most holes would be enhanced as part of the ambitious course improvement programme. It is also hoped some of the final back nine pipework to combat the club’s on-going drainage issues will be laid during the renovation although this is yet to be confirmed.

It is hoped the course will re-open in mid-October after what will be the “largest enhancement” since its opening in February, 2004. Gray said the majority of the club’s “loyal membership” has chosen to “defer their membership or suspend it until returning in October. With summer round the corner, many members travel and play less in the summer [anyway].”

“We regret the inconvenience this causes but we assure you of a refreshing new experience,” Gray continued.

“With new golf courses opening, we believe that it is important to enhance the experience that we deliver for our members. It is important to take timely action now to maintain the integrity of the turf for the future and with this in mind we are very excited that our course will compete on a level that allows us to have an active membership and tournament calendar which resembles years gone by.”

The renovation will be undertaken by Desert Landscape who also completed Dubai Hills Golf Club. “The grass will match that of Dubai Hills Golf Club which is known for its superior conditioning,” said Gray who also oversees the management of the emirate’s newest course.

Sean Kinsley,  Emaar Hospitality Group’s Director of Agronomy, explained the technical side of the makeover.

“The purpose of the greens re-surfacing is to eliminate the existing mixed turf sward and replace it with a new higher quality playing surface,” Kinsley said.

Sean Kinsley our Director of Agronomy – Emaar Hospitality Group and I discussing the the greens renovation, not long to get your last game in now, we close June 1st. ???‍??‍@RanchesGolfClub @skinsleygolf @troonint @Troon pic.twitter.com/M0sN2qZerX

— Elliott Gray (@ElliottGraygolf) May 19, 2019

“The existing Tifeagle Bermuda turfgrass has become weakened and contaminated with off type mutations, Tifway 419 and significant Paspalum encroachment. The intent is to remove this plant material along with the top 150 mm of greens/collars root zone and replace with a new USGA Greens Root Zone (greens core) and Red Sand (collar core) and then replant with Platinum TE Paspalum.”

Kinsley added: “Works are forecasted to occur June through August 2019 [13 weeks] from mobilisation onsite to grassing. The golf course will be closed for the duration of the construction and grow-in works. The construction will require several teams to establish a progressive program of completion and handover for each hole.”

Gray admitted the mid-October target for re-opening is dependent on initial growth. Robin Evans, Vice President of Troon Agronomy and Construction, will travel to Dubai to ensure the handover of the new greens meet expectations and standards.

“Mid-October is the targeted date for nine holes with the balance nine coming towards the back half of October. It will all depend on progress in the first two months of the project and the timing of the sprigging of the greens. Rest assured we will have all hands on deck to ensure there are no significant delays in regard to the work plan.”

Gray said Arabian Ranches hoped to host a MENA Tour event in January/February 2020.

“Many Pros who played here when there was very little contamination on the greens know how good this ‘hidden gem’ is,” Gray said. “Many ex-members are also excited to come back and play and with our social engaging atmosphere, we only see participation and membership sales increasing.”

The post Arabian Ranches to close for 4.5 months; club promises “refreshing new experience” after major greens renovation appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

A closing 68 saw the 32-year-old South African double the two-stroke advantage he took into the final round at Dubai Hills Golf Club to win by four from Englishman Matthew Baldwin and seal his third victory on the regional Pro-Am circuit.

The $13,500 payday saw Keyser jump to second in the Journey to Jordan race with $23,650 after four of five spring swing events – $3350 behind money list leader Baldwin.

The top five players heading into the Troon-Series – Royal Golf Bahrain Open beginning Monday – Baldwin, Keyser, Daniel Gaunt (Australia), Nick Marsh (England) and Erik Jonasson (Sweden) – could emerge top of the Spring Swing which carries an invite to the European Tour’s Maybank Championship in Malaysia (Mar. 21-24).

It’s not just the Malaysia Open invite that will have the leaders on tenterhooks; the top five players at the conclusion of the 54-hole Bahrain Open on Wednesday will be rewarded with the second placed player headed to the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco (April 25-29), third to the new Jordan Mixed Open at Ayla G.C. (April 4-6) while Asian Tour invites to the Indonesian Masters (July 4-7) and Indonesian Open (Aug. 15-18) await the fourth and fifth-placed players respectively.

Keyser already has a Challenge Tour start at the Slovakia Challenge (July 4-7) to look forward to after outlasting Baldwin (70) and Frenchman Antoine Schwartz (72).

#LiveUpdates

Troon Series – Dubai Open presented by @T_A_Golf@KeyserMG – our champion!#HBFS #JourneyToJordan pic.twitter.com/80cReezscJ

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) March 7, 2019

“It’s a great feeling. I have won at least once every year since 2016 and it is great to get a ‘W’ so early in the year. This is going to do be great for my season,” said the Jumeirah Golf Estates-attached Keyser.

“I knew it would be difficult to follow the 61 with a low round again. So, I told myself to just avoid making any bogeys and then I’d be hard to catch, especially if the wind picks up. And that’s exactly what happened.

Keyser’s couldn’t quite go bogey-free after dropping a shot on the Dubai Hills’ 13th but had five birdies to finish on 19-under par 197

“Both Matthew and Antoine were playing very well and it got tight towards the end. But that birdie on the 17th was the deal-sealer. It was a nice, low-spinning four-iron there. I have just changed my shafts in my irons and the new ones really helped me out there in the wind.”

Baldwin, winner of the B Stage of Qualifying School and Journey To Jordan-1, the inaugural event of the 2019 season, kept it interesting until the end before an unfortunate bogey on the difficult par-3 17th hole proved crucial.

The 32-year-old from Southport had a poor third hole where he made a double bogey, but did not give up. He kept chipping at Keyser’s lead and on the 17th tee, the duo was separated by just one shot.

But Baldwin’s three-iron tee shot got caught in the stiff headwind and came up short, wedged in the rocks fronting the water. He had to take a drop and made a bogey. On the other hand, Keyser smashed a 4-iron safely to 25 feet and made the putt to go ahead by three.

A bogey by Baldwin on the last hole, where Keyser laid up into the fairway bunker and then hit a beautiful third shot to three feet, ensured the final score.

Baldwin may have lost the chance to win a second title this season, but he was pleased for Keyser and also the way he fought back from the double bogey on the third hole.

“It was not to be today and MG played great golf, but at least I pushed him until the 17th hole,” said the Englishman who continues to lead the Journey To Jordan (Order of Merit).

BITE-SIZE INTERVIEW
(With Matt Baldwin)@MattBaldwin26 put up a stunning fight despite an early double bogey in the final round of the Troon Series – Dubai Open presented by @T_A_Golf.

He talks about his day and the incident at the 17th hole…#HBFS #JourneyToJordan pic.twitter.com/Nh1NNy2UTH

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) March 7, 2019

“I was first up on the 17th and I knew it was a three-iron for me but not sure if it was a full three-iron or a knock-down. The double at third was all right. I had a lot of golf to play after that and I did manage to come back from that.”

In the Amateur category, there was a tie at the top between England’s Ben Davies (73) and compatriot Jack Floydd (72) at four-under par 212.

Troon Series Dubai Open presented by Turkish Airlines – FINAL SCORE (par-72)
197 – MG Keyser (RSA) 68-61-68
201 – Matthew Baldwin (ENG) 68-63-70
203 – Antoine Schwartz (FRA) 62-69-72
205 – Henric Sturehed (SWE) 73-63-69
206 – Harry Ellis (ENG) 76-64-66
207 – Robert Harrhy (ENG) 71-66-70, Victor Riu (FRA) 69-68-70, Ryan Evans (ENG) 70-65-72
208 – Lionel Weber (FRA) 71-69-68, Benjamin David (ENG) 67-72-69
209 – Stefan Still (GER) 69-72-68, Jack McDonald (SCO) 72-68-69, Christopher Mivis (BEL) 72-67-70, Scott Henry (SCO) 68-70-71, Robin Roussel (FRA) 71-67-71
210 – Daniel Hendry (SCO) 72-69-69, Clemens Prader (AUT) 70-68-72, Erik Jonasson (SWE) 72-66-72, Todd Clements (ENG) 69-68-73, Luke Joy (ENG) 68-69-73
211 – Joshua White (ENG) 72-71-68, Richard Bland (ENG) 71-71-69, James Allan (ENG) 72-68-71, Peter Stojanovski (MAC) 68-71-72, Craig Ross (SCO) 67-71-73, Zane Scotland (ENG) 68-70-73, Tom Shadbolt (ENG) 69-69-73, Jake Ayres (ENG) 68-69-74, Leo Lilja (ESP) 71-66-74

The post Keyser’s Dubai Open triumph sets up thrilling spring swing finale in Bahrain appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 29-year-old Frenchman eventually settled for a 62 at Dubai Hills Golf Club and a five-shot lead over England’s Benjamin David, Scot Craig Ross and Dutchman Pierre Junior Verlaar heading into Wednesday’s second round.

Schwartz also has a share of two records to cling on to as others need to make big moves on moving day; his 10-under-par effort matched the developmental tour’s lowest round in relation to par, a mark he now owns with South Africa’s MG Keyser and Dubai amateur Rayhan Thomas who both shot 61s at the 2017 Dubai Creek Open. His five-shot buffer also matched the circuit’s largest 18-hole lead, equalling the advantage Zane Scotland enjoyed at the 2013 Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open, a tournament the Englishman went on to win for the third of his record 10 MENA Tour wins.

The story behind this sensational card by Antoine Schwartz…https://t.co/DEt9L2fLNp pic.twitter.com/uldjoCBheW

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) March 5, 2019

Schwartz, who topped the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit in 2016 and qualified for the European Challenge Tour last year, was two-under par after four holes with birdies on the 1st and 3rd, before unleashing a flurry of stunning shots over the next eight holes.

He birdied seven of them and eagled the 11th before cooling down. A bogey on par-4 16th, where he hit a wedge shot from the middle of the fairway into the greenside bunker and failed to make his up-and-down was his only mistake of the day. The 10-under par 62 round was his best as a professional, bettering an eight-under-par 62 four years ago in Austria.

“It was just an unbelievable day. I hit so many good shots today. Everything was just perfect,” said Schwartz, playing his first season on the MENA Tour.

“Of course, you are thinking about a 59. The last five-six holes here are tough, and even more in the windy conditions that we faced almost throughout the day. I just tried to stay aggressive and I even gave myself a couple of chances, but it was not to be. I’d love to shoot 62 every day, but this one was very special because the golf course wasn’t playing easy because of the wind.”

Schwartz hit 16 greens in regulation and needed just 24 putts to finish his round.

“I was doing everything well, but I think the key was that I did not miss a single putt from inside four meters (12 feet),” said Schwartz.

“I spoke to my coach, Guillaume Biaugeaud, last night and I told him that I felt I was getting too technical over my putts. He told me to just concentrate on the speed and hit my putt and not to think about the line. It worked.”

BITE-SIZE INTERVIEW
(With Antoine Schwartz)

After getting to 11-under par through 12 holes on a tough scoring day at @DubaiHillsGolf, Schwartz had 59 on his mind before finishing on 10-under 62 in Troon Series – Dubai Open presented by @T_A_Golf#HBFS #JourneyToJordan@troonint pic.twitter.com/44KWUOzYx5

— MENA Tour (@theMENATour) March 5, 2019

Seven players were tied for fifth at four-under-par after 68s. That group included Scotland, Journey to Jordan money-list leader Matthew Baldwin and fellow Englishman Luke Joy who was forced out of last week’s tournament at Ghala Golf Club after a suspected case of food poisoning.

England’s Jack Floydd was the best of the 11 amateurs in the 120-strong field with a two-under-par 70, followed by his compatriots Curtis Knipes and Ben Davies (both 71).

The winner this week earns an invite to the European Challenge Tour’s Slovakia Challenge (July 4-7).

Dubai Open – Leading 1st Round Scores (par-72)
62 – Antoine Schwartz (FRA)
67 – Benjamin David (ENG), Craig Ross (SCO), Pierre Junior Verlaar (NED)
68 – Peter Stojanovski (MAC), Zane Scotland (ENG), Luke Joy (ENG), MG Keyser (RSA), Scott Henry (SCO), Jake Ayres (ENG), Matthew Baldwin (ENG)|
69 – Tom Shadbolt (ENG), Todd Clements (ENG), Karl Abledinger (AUT), Stefan Still (GER), Alasdair Plumb (SCO), Sam Hobday (ENG), Victor Riu (FRA)
70 – Ryan Evans (ENG), Steve Webster (ENG), Conor O’Neil (SCO), Clemens Prader (AUT), Jake Shepherd (ENG), Jack Floydd (Am-ENG), Adam Sagar (ENG), Jack Doherty (SCO), Mathias Weiderman (SWE), Seve Benson (ENG), Rocco Sanjust (ITA)
71 – Max Smith (ENG), Robert Harrhy (ENG), Richard Bland (ENG), Leo Lilja (ESP), Lucas Norman (SWE), Daniel Owen (ENG), Robin Roussel (FRA), Ben Davies (AM-ENG), Leonhard Asti (AUT), Constantin Schwiertz (GER), Kyson Lloyd (ENG), Lionel Weber (FRA), Curtis Knipes (AM-ENG)
72 – Joshua Greenville-Wood (ENG), Jose Rolz (GUA), Mark James (ENG), Tim Gornik (SLO), Robert Dinwiddie (ENG), James Allan (ENG), Aaron Leitmannstetter (GER), Jack McDonald (SCO), Maarten Bosch (NED), Erik Jonasson (SWE), Gabriel Axell (SWE), Oliver Ross (AM-ENG), Joshua White (ENG), Lindsay Renolds (CAN), Christopher Mivis (BEL), William Nygard (SWE), Daniel Gaunt (AUS).

The post Parisian powers to five-shot Dubai Open lead after flirting with MENA Tour’s first ever 59 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The 26-year-old Scot is trending nicely leading into the $75,000 Troon Series – Dubai Open presented by Turkish Airlines starting Tuesday with top-10s in the circuit’s three proceeding events.

Ross tied 10th in the season-opening Journey to Jordan-1 in Aqaba, followed it up with a share of 4th at the Al Zorah Open in Ajman and went one better at Ghala Golf Club in Oman last week.

“I have been hitting the ball well and putting well. I am just going to go into this week hoping for more of the same and [see if I can] win this event,” said Ross, who recorded his first win as a professional at last year’s Clipper Logistics Championship on the EuroPro Tour.

RELATED: Fresh from the Oman Open, Matthew Baldwin eyes a quick return to the European Tour via the MENA Tour

“I have given myself good chances the last couple of weeks but haven’t been able to get over the line. I will do the same things again and hopefully have a chance again on the final day. We will then see what happens after that.”

Ross actually led by three shots going into the back nine at Al Zorah before a double bogey on the 12th stalled his progress before further dropped shots on the 14th and 15th snuffed out his challenge.

At Ghala, the big-hitting Scot closed with 65 and 66 but had left himself with too much to do after an opening 72.

“Last week, Nick [Marsh] was just fantastic. But I had a great opportunity at Al Zorah. When I look back at it, it was just one bad swing that cost me a double. I know that I can pull off that shot and will probably do the same if I were in a similar situation again. I was still leading, but my short game let me down over the next couple of holes.”

Ross expects the scoring to be low at Dubai Hills, providing the wind doesn’t kick up.

Ross poses on the tee of the par-5 5th hole at Dubai Hills Golf Club.

“It was quite windy when we played the pro-am, and I have been told we can expect similar wind every day,” he said.

“Coming from Scotland, I don’t mind the wind. I don’t hit the ball that low, but I love playing in the wind. The fairways are wide, so you can smash your driver, which suits me. The bunkers are placed strategically, but as I said, the greens are challenging. You need to hit your approach shots with some thought.”

This week’s champion will cash $13,500, three Official World Ranking Points and an invite to the Challenge Tour’s Slovakia Challenge (July 4-7).

PROFESSIONAL ORDER OF MERIT
(After  Ghala Golf Club Open in Muscat, Oman)

POS     NAME                                      EARNINGS (US$)

1.         Matthew Baldwin (ENG)          18,000.00
2.         Daniel Gaunt (AUS)                 17,725.00
3.         Nick Marsh (ENG)                    14,006.00
4.         Erik Jonasson (SWE)               12,600.00
5.         Robin Roussel (FRA)               10,510.00

AMATEUR ORDER OF MERIT

POS     NAME                                      POINTS
1.         Curtis Knipes (ENG)                4,442.00
2.         Josh Hill (ENG)                        2,775.00
3.         Jack Floydd (ENG)                  2,712.00
4.         Rayhan Thomas (IND)            1,800.00
5.         Arjun Gupta (IND)                   1,425.00

The post Big-hitting Scotsman Craig Ross trending nicely as Dubai Hills makes MENA Tour bow appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.