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Every golfer dreads hitting a bunker; their score hanging in the balance as they walk up to the sand trap praying for a lie which will allow them to chip out at the first attempt. Many a great round has been destroyed as a seemingly wonderful drive trickles into a bunker and comes to a halt lodged impossibly against the face.
It appears absurd then that any sane golfer would choose to play on a sand course, but it is surprisingly good fun and should be on the hit list of essential things to do before leaving the UAE for every expatriate golfer.
And if you only do it once, you might as well do it at the best. Al Ghazal Golf Club in Abu Dhabi is home to one of the finest desert courses on the planet and hosted the 2004 and 2005 World Sand Golf Championships.
The unusual concept of golf without grass lured some of the game’s greatest players, including Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Nick Faldo, Michael Campbell and Ian Woosnam.
No doubt even they struggled with the challenge of a desert course. It’s golf, but not as you know it – not quite crazy, but certainly a little off the wall.
Driving is not much different, except that you hit from a raised paved platform which has an area of hard-packed sand for you to tee up your ball.
After that, though, things get interesting on the par 71 6,487-yard course, that is set on an archeological site which thousands of years ago formed the original Abu Dhabi coastline.
Trees and vegetation flank many of the fairways – which are marked by a row of stakes on either side – and the reward for a good strike is that you get to play your next shot off the small Astroturf mat that you carry around with you in your buggy.
Playing off the mat is just like hitting balls at the range so it’s no real drama, but the punishment for failing to find the fairway is severe. The rough is basically just one almighty bunker which can present a soul-destroying test for those golfers forever troubled by escaping sand traps.
Although one advantage for the more wayward of players, is the rough presents a chance to catch a glimpse of the three feet-long desert lizards which, along with 30 gazelles and a variety of birds, call Al Ghazal their home.
What truly is deranged, however, is the fact bunkers guard the putting surfaces – known as ‘browns’ – which, unbelievably, are extremely true and as good as many of the greens you will have encountered.
Browns are created by compacting and rolling a mixture oil and sand, a concept pioneered in the 1940s by a group of expats working for a petroleum company.
Flat-soled shoes must be worn to protect the surface and footprints must be swept with giant brushes, which presents a tough logistical challenge and a stern test of teamwork.
The sight of four gormless golfers plodding in a line like clumsy elephants as they try to manoeuvre themselves around the surface with minimum disturbance to the sand can raise a smile on the face of even the most serious player.
Having fun is a key ingredient for a day Al Ghazal. As you zoom down the fairways in a buggy leaving your opponent in a trail of dust, there is no denying it is a million miles away from the pretentious air which suffocates enjoyment at many golf clubs.
Hopefully, Al Ghazal Golf Club will be able to transform this refreshing atmosphere to the nine-hole grass course which they plan to build alongside a 155-room airport hotel.
The club is also in the process of constructing three lakes on the sand course, and with the addition of more vegetation and an extensive landscaping programme, the intention is to give golfers the impression they are playing in a desert oasis.
It may be a case of different strokes for different folks, but sand is a great alternative to grass and an unusual golfing experience is guaranteed.
Green fees
To play 18 holes at Al Ghazal at the weekend in the winter costs Dhs 120, while off-peak charges are Dhs 100. Nine holes cost Dhs 75/Dhs 60. During the summer it costs Dhs 110 to play 18 all week and Dhs 70 to play nine.
Equipment Hire
Depending on the standard of clubs, renting a set costs either Dhs 100 or Dhs 60 for 18 holes, while the charge is Dhs 70/40 for nine. To hire a buggy it costs Dhs 30 for 18 holes and Dhs 20 for nine. The fee for a trolley is Dhs 15 for 18 and Dhs 10 for nine. Electric trolleys are also available at Dhs 20/15.
Training facilities
The range is geared up for practicing both sand and grass golf, with 30 floodlit driving bays and chipping and putting areas. The academy also boasts two teaching professionals who have some of the most advanced teaching technology at their disposal, including Durnian frames for swing practice and The Royle Golf Visual Communications System for video analysis.
Individual lessons cost from Dhs 85 for 30 minutes, inclusive of range balls, but a variety of tuition packages are available for almost any requirement. If you only want to use the range, a bucket of 55 balls costs Dhs 20.
The 19th hole
Dust yourself down and enjoy a cold drink on the elevated terrace which, with fantastic views of the course and the Abu Dhabi skyline, is great for sundowners. Inside the clubhouse, Chesterfield sofas and wooden floors give the bar/restaurant area a genuine Ye Olde England feel and the kitchen serves up superb bar meals and a la carte dishes at excellent prices.
Al Ghazal is more of a sports club than a golf club and also benefits from a five floodlit tennis courts, a full-size snooker table, outdoor swimming pool, gymnasium jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. In addition, there are rugby and football pitches, which are home to the Abu Dhabi Rugby Football Club and the Abu Dhabi Football Academy.
Membership
The club has 250 members and there are a variety of deals available, ranging from Dhs 890 for a standard health club package to Dhs 2,950 (plus Dhs 1,000 joining fee) for golf, tennis and health club access. A basic golf package costs Dhs 1,710 (plus joining fee).
What to wear
Golfing attire is expected, although standard golf shoes are forbidden. To protect the browns, flat-soled footwear is essential.
How to get there
From Emirates Towers, take the Shaikh Zayed Road to Abu Dhabi. Once out of Dubai follow signs for Abu Dhabi International Airport. Al Ghazal is sign-posted from the airport. Allow more than an hour.
More information
Tel: 04 3905600
E-mail: golfclub@emirates.net.ae
www.alghazalgolfclub.ae
*All prices and information correct when first published in June, 2007.
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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