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Boasting jaw-dropping good looks and as much character as the wily old sea dogs who have docked in its waters over the centuries, Dubai Creek is undoubtedly an A-list golf course.
In a recent poll of the 100 must-play courses on the planet by leading magazine Golf World, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club was ranked 81st. No mean feat for a course that only opened 14 years ago when you consider the all-star cast featured venues steeped in history such as Turnberry, Augusta and St Andrews, the home of golf.
Acceptance by the establishment is never easy, but its iconic clubhouse, whose sweeping contours are shaped on the sails of a traditional Arab dhow, would open the doors to any celebrity party and is as much a landmark of Dubai as it is the symbol of the club.
Add to that its location beside the luxurious Park Hyatt hotel and a marina brimming with million-dollar vessels, and it is clear this is no ordinary golf club.
Set in the heart of bustling Deira, yet alongside the quiet serenity of the Creek, the par-71 championship course has something of a split personality, but this merely adds to the overall playing experience.
A course with such an eye-catching appearance, unsurprisingly, has had some famous suitors over the years, especially in 1999 and 2000 when it hosted the Desert Classic and the stars of world golf tread its 6,857 yards.
If the European Tour event was to return to the course, originally designed by Karl Litten, the likes of David Howell, Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez would face quite a different challenge.
Under the watchful eye of Thomas Bjorn, who took the Classic title at the Majlis in 2001, the course has been redesigned and when it reopened in 2005 boasted a completely new front nine.
While the clubhouse is always on the horizon, beautiful, yet fearsome, water hazards are soon the focus of your attention.
Shrubbery and the date and coconut palms that flank many of the well-groomed, undulating fairways give the course a chilled tropical feel, however, numerous daunting shots over water ensure golfers can never relax.
Nerves must have got the better of many a player on the spectacular sixth tee. Set on a stilted platform 10 metres into the creek, players must stare down the water’s edge as they prepare to hit inland – the temptation to aim too wide is huge, but with a lake menacingly placed on the left, there is almost no room for error on the par-four dogleg.
If your scorecard has not yet sunk into a watery grave, the next shot is nearly as treacherous. The lake juts into the fairway and a gentle waterfall adds to the scene as you consider going for glory with a shot over the water to the green.
While the stylish bunkers common to most courses in Dubai characterise much of the inland holes, the 13th’s island green also makes quite an impression. The 14th hole, at just 145 yards off the white tees, presents a chance for a birdie, but the penalty for failing to judge the length is costly with water lying in wait in every direction.
The 17th and 18th holes are even more memorable. Running alongside the creek, the light breeze coming off the water does little to alleviate the pressure on the tee. The signature 18th hole is particularly testing as a large lake protecting the green poses the dilemma of laying up or going for broke, but with a subtle waterfall and the reflection of the clubhouse on the water completing the scene, it provides a fitting finale to your round.
Looks can often be deceiving, but Dubai Creek has a personality to go with its glamorous appearance. It presents a challenging, yet fair, test of golf with a scenic backdrop that will leave many a player with both scorecard and postcard memories.
Green fees
A round costs Dhs 540 at the weekend during the winter and Dhs 440 Sunday to Wednesday. The club often run a sundowner promotion which allows you to play as many holes as you can after 3pm for Dhs 325 peak and Dhs 270 off-peak. During the summer a round costs Dhs 330 all week, while various special deals are also in operation.
Equipment Hire
Carts with GPS cost Dhs 60 for 18 holes and Dhs 40 for nine, while a trolley can be rented for Dhs 20 for 18 holes and Dhs 10 for nine. A set of Ping clubs can be rented for Dhs 150/75, while shoes cost Dhs 50.
Training facilities
The Academy boasts a floodtlit par three nine-hole course, driving range, practice bunkers and putting and chipping greens. It is open until 10pm and a bucket of range balls costs Dhs 25. A round on the par-three course costs Dhs 60 and it is possible to hire clubs at Dhs 5 per club. An individual 30-minute golf lesson with a PGA professional costs Dhs 160. However, a range of packages, incorporating the latest V1 Digital software swing analysis and the new Trackman system, are available and can be tailored to meet any individual requirement.
The 19th hole
More of a sprawling resort than a traditional golf club, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club offers facilities to match the spectacular surroundings. Whether you want to charter the club’s fishing yacht, Sneakaway, for a cruise or a deep-sea fishing trip, stay in the elegant five-star hotel, relax in the tropical pool, work up a sweat at the health club, or dine in one of the club’s eateries, there is no denying Dubai Creek is a lot more than merely a golf club.
There are six restaurants all offering a different dining experience. For fine dining, there is the Aquarium seafood restaurant and Legends steakhouse. If you are looking for a less formal setting, the academy serves up traditional fare, or you could take in calming views of the creek on the terrace of the LakeView restaurant or the hugely popular and reasonably priced Boardwalk, which is set on three tiers of decking perched over the water. And if you are looking for a bite while listening to some tunes, just along the bank is QD’s nightspot.
Membership
An annual golf package – which incorporates all the club’s leisure facilities, including tropical pool with swim-up bar, health club and state-of-the-art gym, and entitles you to discounts in all the club’s restaurant outlets – costs Dhs 15,500 for men, and Dhs 21,000 for families, plus a Dhs 6,000 joining fee.
Golf membership is currently full with an extensive waiting list, however there is limited availability for Club membership, which offers pool gym etc. An annual Club membership, which allows you to use all the facilities except the golf course, costs Dhs 5,500, while the family rate is Dhs 7,500.
What to wear
Mock/turtle neck or polo shirts with collars and sleeves, and trousers or tailored shorts are required. Denims and beachwear are strictly prohibited.
How to get there
From Emirates Towers, head in the direction of Deira on Sheikh Zayed Road. Take the first left after the Garhoud Bridge and then follow signs for the golf club, which is opposite Deira City Centre.
More information
Tel: +009714 2956000
E-mail: dcgyc@dubaigolf.com
www.dubaigolf.com
Have you played this course? Do you find its facilities to be accessible? Are the fees fair, low or high? How would you compare it to other courses in the country? Which is the best course in the UAE? Share your views with us.
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