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A relatively straight forward opening hole, with a bowl shaped fairway ready to gather most errant tee shots. The best approach to the green is from the right side of the fairway however, out of bounds flanks the right side of the hole and care must be taken. The green sits at an angle and is protected by bunkers while anything short will be swept away into the swale.
A relatively straightforward opening hole, with a bowl shaped fairway ready to gather most errant tee shots. The best approach to the green is from the right side of the fairway however, out of bounds flanks the right side of the hole and care must be taken. The green sits at an angle and is protected by bunkers while anything short will be swept away into the swale.
A dog leg to the right which requires a decision on the tee to either play safe up the left side avoiding the lake, or take an aggressive tee shot carrying the lake and biting off some of the dog leg. An attacking tee shot will be rewarded with a much shorter approach shot, over a meandering stream to a shallow green.
A demanding par 3, measuring 224 yards from the championship tees. A lake guards the entire left side of the hole and tucks round behind the green, while bunkers await any shot missing the green on the right. A par on this hole will be considered a great result.
With the prevailing wind coming from the left and the hole gently rising, a well positioned tee shot will find a narrow landing area with a "River of Sand" flowing up the right side of the fairway. The second shot will play uphill where a bunker guards the left side of the green while a swale will gather shots that miss the green short and right.
Al Badia's hardest hole, this is a true 3 shot par 5. The ideal tee shot will be positioned neatly between the bunker complex on the left and the lake on the right. A stream cuts the fairway in two, which should be crossed with the second shot. A small green awaits the approach shot and care must be taken as a body of water flanks the left side of the green. A par is a great achievement!
An exciting hole that offers two landing areas. For the conservative golfer, the route to the right provides the larger area, however, water must be crossed with the approach shot. The aggressive tee shot to the left portion of the fairway will be rewarded with an easier approach shot covering land. The green is guarded by bunkers on the left and a lake to the right and back.
The only par 3 on the course where water does not come into play! The 7th has a "River of Sand" hugging the left side of the fairway. The green is well protected by bunkers at front and back and requires an accurate shot to find the putting surface.
A right to left dogleg benefiting from the prevailing wind that will allow longer hitters to carry the bunker complex on the left side of the fairway to set up a long second shot to the green. When laying up with the second shot, beware of the strategically placed cross bunker in the centre of the fairway. Bunkers guard the narrow entrance to the green on either side as it widens towards the back.
A superb par 4 with stunning views of the clubhouse to the left and the magnificent signature waterfall to the right of the green. The fairway is flanked by bunkers and water, demanding accuracy with the tee shot while the approach shot plays uphill. An extra club may be required to find the green which juts precariously toward the waterfalls.
A relatively straightforward par 4 with a generous landing area, try to avoid the bunkers on the right side. A tee shot down the left of the fairway will open up the green and allow the pin to be attached whole bunkers in front will catch anything landing short.
A beautiful short hole set amongst the cascading waterfalls. From an elevated tee, you have an excellent view of what awaits you. Water is in play in front and down the left side of the green, those feeling not so brave should play for the right side where the bank may ease the ball on to the edge of the putting surface.
A long par 4 which narrows for the longest hitters as the fairway snakes between bunkers strategically positioned on either side of the fairway. One of the most difficult greens on the course credited to its slopes and undulations. Another hole where you will be happy to walk off with par.
Another long par 5 measuring just under 600 yards from the championship tees. There is little trouble from the tee, however the second shot does require accuracy. The safer option is to play down the right and set up an approach over the "River of Sand" with the more confident to challenge and cross this feature leaving a simple approach to the small green. A challenging par 5 that only the longest hitters will reach in two shots.
The shortest par 4 on the course and a brief respite before the closing four holes. A long iron or fairway wood from the tee will leave you just out of the fairway bunkers reach! The approach shot plays slightly uphill to a very shallow green, be aware of the large bunker which lies patiently in front.
With the prevailing wind blowing toward and to the left of you, the water on the right side of the green is very much in play. A safer play is to opt for the left side of the green with your tee shot and rely on your short game to get up and down for par. A dangerous hole where a bogey may be acceptable only if you have a good score going.
Water is in play all down the right side of this hole and wraps around the back of the green waiting for any bold approach shots. The ideal tee shot should be played up the left and short of the bunkers. This will leave a medium to short iron approach through a narrow entrance to the green.
A great par 4 which is all about accuracy! Consider a 3 wood or long iron for your tee shot to avoid the lake on the left side and find the relatively narrow landing area. This sets up a medium or short iron approach to a small green which drops off to the left toward the lake, nestled on the right of the green is a substantial bunker waiting for the chance to penalise an inaccurate approach.
Al Badia's signature hole with spectacular views of the waterfalls, clubhouse and the beautiful skyline of Sheikh Zayed Road. Longer hitters can take on the pt bunker which requires a carry of 242 yards from the championship tee. From there, the green can be reached by long iron or fairway wood, but watch the lake shouldering the left and bunkers positioned on the right. A safer route can be taken by playing the hole in three shots. With the relevant risk assessed, winning against this hole is rewarding and a lasting experience.
This hole has been lengthened over the years to make it more challenging for the Tour professionals, and with a carry of just under 280 yards over the bunker on the left, and 290 yards to reach the bunker on the right, driver is the club here every time. The second shot is to an elevated green which is 28 yards deep. Always make sure to take into account the slightly uphill nature of the shot and take enough club to find yourself in the centre of the green as there are no prizes for coming up short and leaving yourself a tricky bunker shot. The green has subtle borrows but is not too challenging - putts can be holed regularly on this green. A great opening hole.
The strategy here is to hit the driver again, so any errant tee shot slightly right of the intended line will go far enough to take you past the water on the right. A great birdie chance, normally with less than 100 yards for the second shot being the norm.
The first of the par 5's is out of reach in two shots for most mortals - a few of the longer hitters can still reach this in two shots. The driver off the tee leaves you with a blind second over the hill towards the green. A sensible lay-up into the fairway, short of the greenside bunker, is required. By laying up at this 80-yard mark, this gives you a good opportunity to wedge the ball close to the hole for a birdie chance. This green is always tough to hole putts on due to subtle breaks.
A fantastic short hole that proves to be one of the most difficult holes on the course, year after year, with water guarding the right side of the green. Try to play for the left half of this green and let the ball come off the slope into the middle of the green. Putting is never easy on this hole, the key being to make sure you leave yourself an uphill putt rather than a side hill or downhill putt. Be happy with a par here.
Rated the hardest hole on the course, the 5th hole requires a well-struck tee shot. The drive needs to be kept in the fairway and the temptation is to hug the tree line to shorten the hole. Try to favour the right side, taking the trees out of play, although it leaves a longer second shot. The second shot should be kept below the hole if possible to increase your chances of a two putt on this steeply sloping green.
The sixth hole, regarded by many as harder than the 5th, requires both power and accuracy - power from the tee to get you far enough down the hole so that you shorten your second shot to a very narrow green and accuracy of distance with the second to a green that is 50 yards long and very narrow across.
A real treat of a hole off the back tee. The tee shot, over an expanse of water, requires you to ensure that you do not make the cardinal sin of being short. At just under 170 yards to the front edge, the breeze has to be taken into consideration when selecting your club. The key is to try and get the ball pin high to give you the chance of a birdie putt on one of the flattest greens on the course.
With the tee box at the back, the drive to the fairway requires the ball to be hit 240 yards just to reach the short grass. The driver should be used every time here. The second shot is sharply uphill and the pin position should be taken into consideration when selecting your club. A good tip is to take one more club than you originally thought. The green is no pushover as it slopes from back to front, leaving some tricky putts to negotiate before the hole is finished.
A great hole to finish the front nine with. From the back tee, driver is the club again with the run out to the water at around 300 yards. Care should be taken to avoid the fairway bunker on the right that would prove troublesome for your second shot. Once well placed in the fairway, you should always tend to favour the right side of the green as anything finishing there leaves a relatively simple chip or putt. Any shot leaking left may end up in the water with the green's slopes gathering the ball down to the water. Making a par on this hole is usually a relief.
A great birdie chance with a wide fairway to hit from the tee and a green reachable in two for the longer hitters. Driver should be played from the tee and then you would normally lay the ball up to a comfortable distance short of the bunkers surrounding this green so that you can attack for birdie with some aggressive wedge play. A green with subtle borrows should be studied carefully before a putt is struck.
A short hole but one that can cause problems as Ernie Els found out when he carded his only bogey here on route to his course record 61. Club selection is paramount as the green is 44 yards in depth, making it imperative that you try and get the ball pin high. A general rule of thumb on this hole is that if you hit the ball to the centre of the green, you will not be too far away! Birdies can be made here but be careful.
One of the tougher holes on the course, this hole can play more like a par 5 than a par 4. Always play the driver from this tee and try and keep it down the left side of the fairway to try and shorten the hole as much as possible. The second shot is slightly uphill to an elevated green and with a fairly long shot coming into this green; the centre is again the goal. A tricky green with 3 putts very possible at any time.
A risk reward par 5 where a brave tee shot can set up a birdie or spell disaster. A sharp dog-leg left provides an exciting driving hole for aggressive players. You can try and hit driver here and attempt to cut the corner to allow the chance of a birdie by hitting the green with the second shot. A good drive will leave around 200 yards to the green and the target would generally be anywhere on the putting surface. The safe option sees you playing right of the dog-leg and playing the hole as a true par 5. This two-tiered green is not easy to putt on if you are on the wrong level so always try to leave yourself an uphill putt on this fast green.
Another dog-leg left. Picking the line for your tee shot is key. Again, try to hit driver from the tee to make sure you get a flat lie at the bottom of the slope, which comes down from the corner of the dog-leg. A downhill lie for the second could make this a tricky hole. Once on the flat lie, it leaves a fairly easy shot to a flat green and you should really be thinking that a birdie is a good possibility from the centre of the fairway.
This par 3 may provide some real difficulties. Excitement could unfold if the pin position is back left at over 200 yards to the pin with desert just short of the putting surface. Take the yardage to the centre of the green and play for that point, favouring the right side of the green as anything left of the green leaves a tricky escape from the sandy waste, which is below the level of the putting surface.
A generous driving hole allows you to open the shoulders and hit a long one. Driver should be the club for this tee shot. A relatively simple approach shot requires the priority to be distance control and club selection. Leaving the ball in the wrong place on this green could put you in three-putt territory with several tricky slopes running through the centre of this green. You should be hopeful of a birdie on this hole but not disappointed with par.
A hole that can be played in different ways. You can have a go at the green with your driver if you are long enough and push hard for your birdie or try the conventional route of hitting the ball down the fairway, relying on a good wedge shot and making birdie that way. Make sure your tee shot is accurate - a second shot from the rough or sandy waste will prove tricky.
All great golf courses feature a great finishing hole, and this is one to compare with the best. A birdie here will bring a marvelous climax to any round, but a par is always satisfying. With the fairway turning left 90 degrees, cutting the corner is a temptation difficult to resist, even if your best drive may still leave the green well out of reach. The second shot needs concentration to lay the ball up at your favourite distance. Be sure to clear the water with your third and enjoy the green that has seen great finishes to the Dubai Desert Classic over the years.
