SPONSORED CONTENT – Closing in on 18-months since the re-opening of JA the Resort Golf Course and a good thing just keeps on getting better.

Harradine Golf’s redesign of the opening three holes of the nine-hole course, 20 years after the iconic Dubai golf destination was originally opened, has clearly captured the imagination. That much we can deduct from JA The Resort Golf Course again being named the region’s best 9-holer in the ‘Best in Middle East’ category of the 2020 Golf Digest Middle East Top 10 Courses ranking.

RELATED: 2020 ‘Best of the Middle East

The expert panel tasked with judging the biennial Top 10 Courses in the Middle East ranking and you, our loyal readers, were effusive in your praise of the update by principal designer Peter Harradine to accommodate the resort’s impressive new, 348-guest room JA Lake View Hotel.

A recent round for an upcoming Stay & Play feature underlined this resounding tick of approval to the Golf Digest Middle East editorial team. Not only were we thoroughly enamoured by Harradine’s re-imagined opening third, we were also mightily impressed with the condition of the entire nine, headlined by greens as pure as any we putted in the UAE during the peak spring months.

RELATED: Jebel Ali’s new opening gambit adds lustre to Dubai’s 9-hole icon

All of which makes JA The Resort Golf Course’s ‘Ultimate Summer Golf Package’ even more attractive.

For AED 3700 per person or AED 6500 per couple, the ‘Summer Swing’ package offers way more than just unlimited golf, seven days a week, from May 1 to September 30, even though that presents as great value in itself.

But throw in the following and it’s simple to see why JA The Resort insist “you’re guaranteed an enjoyable golfing summer with the whole family”:

UNBEATABLE PACKAGE BENEFITS
– Unlimited practice facilities and par 3 course when applicable
– Unlimited access to gym and leisure facilities
– 20% discount on all food & beverage outlets
– 15% off on golf lessons at The Leadbetter Golf Academy
– 10% discount at the golf retail shop
– One complimentary 30-minute professional swing assessment
– Preferential room rates

You also get unlimited access to an 800-metre private beach and swimming pools for 2 adults and 2 children throughout the five-month package, a perfect addition in the summer months.

For bookings and inquiries, please email golf.teetimes@jaresorts.com 

Terms and conditions apply.

The post JA The Resort Golf Course unveil the ‘Ultimate Summer Golf Package’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

We could tell you it was because of the cattle-infused imagery of Arosa Golf Course that accompanied the release, stunning as it is. There’s also the link with all the Middle East courses the Dubai-based company have been involved in, the new 9-holer at the Al Barari residential development off Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road (the 311) in Dubai, the latest among them.

Related: The Legend Grows at Dubai’s newest course

But lets be honest – we perked up because any press release from Harradine Golf is worth its weight in quotable gold courtesy of principal designer Peter Harradine. The colourful character doesn’t disappoint as he surveys Arosa which lies at 1850 meters above sea level.

“This course is a true Alpine layout and not for the faint hearted,” he starts. “Only a few years ago the first task of the greenkeeper was to remove the cow dung from the fairways as one of the contractual obligations of the club was to let the cows graze at night. In fact cows still graze in the rough.”

We love it. And Harrdine’s trademark, never ever honey-coated honesty.

“Environmentalists should take this course as an example instead of always citing Augusta and other manicured examples. Maybe it is because it is extremely environmentally friendly that we received the building permits in such an incredibly short time [the application was made in January and received in April].

“This must be an absolute record for Switzerland as it usually takes years for such permits to be released, especially due to the environmental lobby which always has many and mostly incredible objections to anything that is connected to golf courses.”

The renovation has a special significance for the Harradine family with the original nine holes designed and built (and relatively untouched since) by Don Harradine, Peter’s father, in 1945.

Peter Harradine designed the second nine in 2001 and supervised the construction the following year.

Related: Stunning Jebel Sifah Golf Course Opens in Oman

The approved modernisation is set to start in September, the end of the Swiss golfing season. The estimated re-opening date is September next year.

We can’t wait for the new pictures. And more of refreshing honesty from the Middle East game’s most interesting rent-a-quote designer.

The post Harradine Golf poised to transform ‘cow dung’ splattered Swiss course appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
The cliché promises good things for those who wait and it couldn’t ring truer than for the team behind Living Legends.

Fifteen years after the nine-hole layout was first commissioned and five years after ground was originally broken on the project, Dubai’s newest old course is now, finally, full-steam ahead.

The full-length driving range (with views to the Burj Khalifa) has been grassed and the already shaped holes of the Harradine Golf-design will quickly follow suit.

Given the stuttering progress to date, pinning an opening date on principal architect Peter Harradine or builders Orient Irrigation Services is a trifle unfair, although play is likely within a year and possibly well before next spring. The wait will indeed be worth it as Golf Digest Middle East’s exclusive tour of the course, the centrepiece of real estate developer Tanmiyat’s extensive Al Barari residential development off Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road (the 311), illustrated.

Harradine is noted for creating layouts that are the antithesis to the monster “championship” courses that predominate the region’s modern golf landscape and Living Legends is no different.

The routing was largely dictated by the available corridors within this portion of the 500 villa-12 apartment block development, essentially two horseshoes that snake around four man-made, saltwater lakes. It hasn’t stopped Harradine sculpting a collection of holes offering strategic challenges from tee to green with ample, eye-catching elevation changes.

The landing areas for tee shots looked tight in their nude state during our inspection but this is apparently some sort of optical, pre-grass illusion – they are in fact a generous 40-55 yards wide in most instances. All will be revealed once the wall-to-wall Paspalum Platinum T3 grass grows apparently and with just one fairway bunker, to the right of the 4th fairway, the course appears imminently playable in trademark Harradine style. There are also five tee options on each hole – spanning 3248 yards from the tips to 2543 yards from the forward-most red markers – to cater for all ability levels.

Principal designer Peter Harradine surveys progress, here on the approach to the 1st green.

The lakes, all on the left of the holes they hug, will give right-handers with a hook and lefties with a slice pause for thought on four of the nine holes. Harradine also promises plenty of trees to separate adjacent fairways, offer protection to homeowners where necessary and no doubt frustrate those trying to stay out of the wet stuff. Otherwise, the stiffest challenge will come on and around the sizeable greens that are to be well protected with a combined 11 large, deep bunkers.

Without grass and the benefit of a loop or three with clubs in hand, it’s hard to single out the best holes although the par-3 4th and par-5 next look like a beauty and beast back-to-back and the 7th will be another stern test with all that water. The two pars 3s also shape as thoroughly memorable, both played to downhill greens that are blessedly only 180 and 153 yards from the tips (Memo to contemporary architects: 200-yard plus par-3s are no fun for club golfers).

Living Legends takes some finding off the 311 but once discovered, it shapes as a fun-friendly beacon for residents and guests alike, especially as the layout is to be fully floodlit. It joins Abu Dhabi G.C., Doha, Al Hamra, Mirage City (Egypt), plus four other nine holers at Jebel Ali, The Track, Sharjah and Jebel Sifah (Oman) in Harradine Golf’s Middle East portfolio. It might be the latest addition, but on first evidence we trust it won’t be the last. The game here is fortunate to have an architect with an everyday golfer (read common sense) touch to modern day design.

The new driving range with views to the Burj Khalifa.

The post The Legend Grows at Dubai’s newest course appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Jebel Sifah GC is the 9-hole epicentre of a seaside and yacht-dotted residential/resort community by the same name, 65km southeast of Muscat, Oman’s capital city. Managed by Troon International, the desert-links was designed by Harradine Golf whose principal architect Peter Harradine is the antithesis of many of today’s contemporary course designers.

While developers elsewhere continue to unveil overly difficult behemoths in a foolhardly attempt to lure tour events and/or to future-proof their investment against the advances of club and ball technology, Harradine’s design philosophy has long focused on the physical ability (or relative lack thereof) and potential enjoyment of “average players”. The first pictures of Jebel Sifah clearly illustrate the fun factor Harradine desires.

Wide fairways, large greens and the absence of “useless” fairway bunkers promise aesthetically pleasing, resort-style golf where the natural topography has been cleverly enhanced to offer a strategic challenge.

The par 36 layout, which can be stretched from its forward-most tees at 2,843 yards to a championship standard 3,634 yards from the tips, is easily able to be toughened with greens that offer “easy, difficult and very difficult pin positions”. The use of a second set of pins on each of the nine greens can also transform the course into a par 72, 18-holer.

Sweeping Gulf of Oman views, natural wadis and a majestic Al Hajar Mountain backdrop complete the alluring picture at Harradine Golf’s first seaside offering.

“Surprisingly and for once, the client did not want a monster ‘championship’ layout but a resort course that would be fun for average players that are, after all, the backbone of the golf industry,” Harradine Golf said.

“Two holes play towards or along the Indian Ocean [Gulf of Oman] and the nearby mountains provide a dramatic and constant backdrop. Play is also interesting thanks to a continuous breeze from the sea that often changes direction, obliging difficult club selection [decisions] and playing strategy.

“Despite the topography, the course is rather flat and a pleasure to walk, which is not always the case with courses on real estate projects as they often have great distances between the greens and the next tees.”

Harradine Golf praised the developer, Muriya (a joint venture between Orascom Development Holding and Omani master developer Omran) for heeding its recommendations regarding the safety limits of the real estate that fringes the course.

“The stylish houses are therefore unobtrusive around the course as it meanders through and around wadis, which are filled with torrential water during the few but violent rainfalls. The complete sub-surface is composed of big and small calibre gravel, which ensures rapid drainage during those storms.”

Set along five kilometres of natural coastline and spanning 6.2 million square metres, Jebel Sifah is a premium destination that is home to a burgeoning multinational community. Easily reached by car or water taxi from Muscat, the development boasts an array of affordable luxury villas and apartments with stunning sea, Marina or golf views. The freehold residences, which entitle all nationalities to residency in Oman, offer a contemporary lifestyle to a diverse range of homeowners including Europeans, Americans, Indians, Omanis and GCC nationals.

Head Professional Gavin Campbell is on hand to deliver advice from a golf shop stocked with a wide variety of golf brands such as TaylorMade and Adidas. The golf course also offers players a chance to break from the mould with a game of FootGolf on its own dedicated grounds.

Jebel Sifah’s acclaimed Marina is no more than 50 yards from the golf shop. Additionally, the development is home to excellent dining, entertainment and leisure outlets, in close proximity to the Sultanate’s natural wonders. The Sifawy Boutique Hotel, another major component of Jebel Sifah, has launched new Stay and Play packages to provide golfers with the ultimate convenience when hitting the greens. Based on two golfers sharing, the packages include twin room, breakfast, ice cream at lunch, dinner with first beverage and 18 holes per night’s stay. Rates are OMR136pn (Jan 18 – May 18 and Sep 18 – Dec 18) and OMR90pn (Jun 18 – Aug 18) all taxes included. Golfers can also enjoy the Nine & Dine packages offering a three-course meal at the popular The Bank Beach Club. Rates are OMR25.

Green Fee (18-holes) rates are OMR20 for visitors or OMR17 for residents, inclusive of a golf cart, two bottles of water, tees, towel and scorecard. Resident fees apply to golfers living in Jebel Sifah or staying at the Sifawy Boutique Hotel.

www.jebelsifah.com
Email: golf@jebelsifah.com
Shop: +968 2474 9193

The post Travel Guide 2018: Jebel Sifah appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The latest addition to the Middle East’s enviable course portfolio offers a refreshing alternative to the “monster championship” layouts that predominate the region’s golfing landscape.

Jebel Sifah GC is the 9-hole epicentre of a seaside and yacht-dotted residential/resort community by the same name, 65km south-east of Muscat, Oman’s capital city.

To be managed by Troon International, the desert-links was designed by Harradine Golf whose principal architect Peter Harradine is the antithesis of many of today’s contemporary course designers.

The 5th green

While developers elsewhere continue to be delivered overly difficult behemoths in a foolhardly attempt to lure tour events and/or to future proof their investment against the advances of club and ball technology, Harradine’s design philosophy has long focused on the physical ability (or relative lack thereof) and potential enjoyment of “average players”

The first pictures of Jebel Sifah, obtained exclusively by Golf Digest Middle East just after the course’s soft opening, clearly illustrate the fun factor Harradine desires.

Stunning Gulf of Oman views across the 6th green

Wide fairways, large greens and the absence of “useless” fairway bunkers promise aesthetically-pleasing, resort-style golf where the natural topography has been cleverly enhanced to offer strategic challenge.

The par 36 layout, which can be stretched from its forward-most tees at 2843 yards to a championship standard 3634 yards from the tips, is easily able to be toughened with greens that offer “easy, difficult and very difficult pin positions.” The use of a second set of pins on each of the nine greens can also transform the course into a par 72, 18-holer.

Sweeping Gulf of Oman views, natural wadis and a majestic mountain range backdrop complete the alluring picture at Harradine Golf’s first seaside offering.

The 1st tee leads the eye towards the majestic mountain range

“Surprisingly and for once, the client did not want a monster ‘championship’ layout but a resort course that would be fun for average players that are, after all, the back bone of the golf industry,” Harradine Golf said.

“Two holes play towards or along the Indian Ocean [Gulf of Oman] and the nearby mountains provide a dramatic and constant back drop. Play is also interesting thanks to a continuous breeze from the sea that often changes direction which obliges difficult club selection [decisions] and playing strategy.

“Despite the topography, the course is rather flat and a pleasure to walk which is not always the case with courses on real estate projects as they often have great distances between the greens and the next tees.”

Harradine Golf praised the developer, Muriya (a joint venture between Orascom Development Holding and Omani master developer Omran) for heeding its recommendations regarding the safety limits of the real estate that fringes the course.

There are no fairway bunkers but challenging traps around the greens

“The stylish houses are therefore unobtrusive around the course as it meanders through and around wadis which are filled with torrential water during the few but violent rain-falls. The complete sub-surface is composed of big and small caliber gravel which ensures rapid drainage during those storms. “

Jebel Sifah is the latest addition to Harradine Golf’s Middle East portfolio which includes European Tour venues Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Doha Golf Club (Qatar) and Al Hamra GC (Ras Al Khaimah/Challenge Tour) plus Jebel Ali Golf Resort (Dubai), Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club and Mirage City Golf Club in Egypt.

The 8th green

Set along five kilometres of natural Omani coastline and spanning 6.2 million square metres, Jebel Sifah is home to one luxury hotel and has five more in planning. Able to be reached by water taxi from Muscat, the resort also includes “Golf Lake Villas” and marina apartments which can be owned freehold by Omanis and expats.

The second hole bathed in late evening sunlight

The post EXCLUSIVE: Stunning Jebel Sifah Golf Course Opens in Oman appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.