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DATE: 09 Feb 2022
Doha, Qatar Design 30 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 7 Total 75
Qatar with two entries in the top 20 might surprise a few but only if they haven’t been there, because it has contrasting but excellent courses. Doha has a terrific routing, nice movement in fairways and several interesting holes. If its presentation continues to be refined, it will rise higher.
Doha, Qatar Design 30 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 6 Consistency 8 Presentation 9 Total 75
This Jose Maria Olazabal design is the second course to be built in Qatar and was a hit with European Tour players. One of the best-conditioned tracks in the Middle East – and that is saying something. Not especially forgiving off the tee but a fine all-round test. Wouldn’t be out of line 10 places higher.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Design 28 Setting 12 Memorability 11 Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 Total 75
A ‘resort course’ you’d always relish playing but Saadiyat has lost a bit of its wow factor with the residences that have risen up on its edges and restricted sea views. It still looks pretty with sand splashed around and the wildlife – from birds to gazelles – is testament to its tranquil seaside location.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Design 29 Setting 13 Memorability 13 Playability 7 Consistency 6 Presentation 8 Total 76
The marks tell the story of this Dubai golf icon; an awesome Setting and memorable holes for part of the round, but also some more modest phases. The best stretches (4-7 and 15-18) are high calibre and it’s a challenge and strategic in places. Gusts off the glistening creek adds to the test.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Design 30 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 Total 76
Laid out by European Golf Design’s Gary Johnston, this newcomer has already made a significant mark. Forgiving off the tee but asking good players to find the best angles of approach, there is plenty of fun around the greens. The 5th is a real standout hole, with Burj Khalifa as the target line off the tee.
Cairo, Egypt Design 31 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 Total 76
A Greg Norman course set within one of Cairo’s most exclusive residential communities, so it is lined by elegant houses throughout. So, no enchanting views but plenty of interest as its undulating fairways slither between and over lakes, streams, rocks and vegetation.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Design 30 Setting 12 Memorability 12 Playability 6 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 Total 76
The venue for the DP World Tour’s finale is every inch the modern ‘championship’ test. Its deep bunkers look nothing like their links counterparts, but do the same thing strategically – they are unforgiving. The greens are big and you need to hit the right part of them. Strong stretch from 15-17.
Marrakesh, Morocco Design 30 Setting 12 Memorability 11 Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 Total 77
Marrakesh’s clear No.1 is a 2014 design by Niall Cameron that cleverly winds through undulating terrain in the lee of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. It’s 20 minutes from the old town (Medina) of the vibrant city, yet playing it is a tranquil experience. A desert-style course with lots of nice touches.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Design 31 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 7 Consistency 8 Presentation 9 Total 77
This long-time host of the Abu Dhabi Tour event is one of the region’s best technical courses and was popular with the pros. There are interesting holes especially on the front nine and it is in terrific nick. Inland rather than seaside setting but a memorable 18th in front of the iconic falcon clubhouse.
Cairo, Egypt Design 31 Setting 12 Memorability 11 Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 Total 78
The most recent addition to Egypt’s portfolio is, in our opinion, already its best. This course on the outskirts of Cairo – with the Pyramids visible from certain points – was a long time in the making, having been started by Thomson, Perrett and Lobb and finished by Tim Lobb after the death of Open icon Peter Thomson.
The Surrey-based Australian has made a wonderful job of routing the course on an undulating, rocky site that led to a variety of holes and interesting green complexes. Built to a high specification, Newgiza is part of an upscale development and would very comfortably fit in this list’s top 10.
Highlights include the drop par-3 4th in the direction of the Pyramids, which is part of a fine opening salvo. Playable off the tee, but often enjoyably devilish on and around the greens.
El Jadida, Morocco Design 29 Setting 13 Memorability 13 Playability 8 Consistency 7 Presentation 8 Total 78
Located near El Jadida on Morocco’s Atlantic coast and opened in 2010, this Gary Player design has a ‘look’ of a links course and is a proper test at well over 7,000 yards and with coastal breezes to contend with. Towards the end of the front nine the pulse raises as the holes play alongside the coast.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Design 29 Setting 13 Memorability 13 Playability 7 Consistency 7 Presentation 9 Total 78
The panel felt the Dubai Desert Classic host lacked a touch of nuance to be higher. It’s a great test and a memorable experience with its famous backdrop, as well as interest in the slick, revamped greens. Shows its best face at the 4th, a subtle par 3, the 12th – with a great, bunkerless green – and the 17th.
Ajman, United Arab Emirates Design 31 Setting 12 Memorability 12 Playability 8 Consistency 7 Presentation 9 Total 79
Set among mangroves, so has a rare tidal element. While the tide is in, you often hit over water from floating tees. It usually isn’t though, so it is less intimidating and Insta-worthy. Some really good stretches, notably the 6th-9th and 13th-16th. Gary Player track in small emirate of Ajman is in terrific nick.
Ifrane, Morocco Design 31 Setting 12 Memorability 12 Playability 7 Consistency 8 Presentation 9 Total 79
A Jack Nicklaus design overlooking the Atlas Mountains from a position within the stunning Ifrane National Park. Significant elevation change is a notable feature of a challenging, entertaining course. Rock outcrops, ravines, lakes and contoured greens characterise this modern classic.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Design 32 Setting 11 Memorability 11 Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 10 Total 80
Playing firm and fast sets Els Club apart from target courses in Dubai. Short grass around the greens adds to the difficulty and fun. Loses a mark for setting as a result of some holes surrounded by houses, but the use of the desert areas is more imaginative than other Dubai courses. Peerless conditioning.
Rabat, Morocco Design 33 Setting 12 Memorability 12 Playability 6 Consistency 9 Presentation 8 Total 80
Robert Trent Jones’ masterpiece is set in a cork oak forest and mixes the technical expertise of the famous architect with a tranquil setting of trees, flowers and water. Restored by Coore-Crenshaw associate James Duncan, fifth is the least the Trophee Hassan host deserves. Tough, but brilliant.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Design 33 Setting 11 Memorability 12 Playability 9 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 Total 81
Trump Dubai gets mixed reviews – including among our panel – and we can’t help but feel that might be something to do with its owner, because this is a wonderful course in our opinion.
It’s a close second behind Yas in Middle East terms for some, as a result of green complexes that are firm, fast and have huge interest in them. The depression in the middle of the 7th is a particular highlight. Their requirement for you to be under the hole dictates strategy a lot, and celebrated architect Gil Hanse also gives a lot of options off the tee so the course gets better with each play.
The highlight is arguably the driveable, bunkerless par-4 12th – one of the most simple yet strategic holes you’ll find. It epitomised the benefit of width and angles beautifully, as is Hanse’s style.
Agadir, Morocco Design 33 Setting 13 Memorability 13 Playability 7 Consistency 8 Presentation 9 Total 83
One of the world’s most exclusive clubs, but fortunately we have enough experience of it to be confident about how we rank it.
It is the King of Morocco’s personal course and as such invitations to play it are negligible – although the European Tour was a regular visitor in the 2010s.
Laid out by Cabell Robinson under the Robert Trent Jones umbrella, it combines a gorgeous seaside setting with interesting architecture and predictably flawless conditioning.
Muscat, Oman Design 32 Setting 15 Mem’lity 14 Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 Total 85
So, so close at the top. Al Mouj would have been a worthy No.1 and if Yas had not improved its presentation of late, it would have snatched top spot. This is our favourite work by Greg Norman, who made fine use of a wonderful Gulf-side site to create hole after memorable hole.
It pips Yas for setting, and rarely do you go for long with hitting towards, alongside or over the edge of the water. That is very rare in the Middle East and sets Al Mouj apart from pretty much anywhere else.
A contender for our World Top 100, it is beautifully presented and Oman has a course to be exceptionally proud of.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Design 34 Setting 14 Memorability 14 Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 Total 86
Our inaugural Middle East and North Africa No.1 is, perhaps, no surprise, given it is in our World Top 100. It had strong competition, as the marks illustrate, but Yas’ combination of a breathtaking location on the edge of the Arabian Gulf and the nous of master craftsman Kyle Phillips make this an outstanding, bucket list course.
Its name and its look suggest a links experience, but it is ‘links like’ rather than the type of thing we experience on our coasts. You aren’t going to find fescue grass in this climate, so you can’t run the ball as much as you would at Elie, Aberdovey or Deal. Nevertheless, Yas has the superb shaping, greens and bunkering that Phillips is known for at the likes of Kingsbarns and California Club, and with sand-capped fairways and a regular breeze it is a treat to play.
There’s a really high-class finish, with 15-18 a tough climax, especially into the wind. It now has the Abu Dhabi Championship and the television images of this exhilarating seaside course will be a game- changer in terms of perceptions of golf in this part of the world. Now managed by Troon Golf, who are exceptionally strong in the Middle East, Yas has improved its conditioning in the past two years to match the quality of the course.
“I wanted to create a little piece of Scotland in the Gulf and I’m delighted with how it has turned out and developed down the years,” says Phillips. We wholeheartedly agree.
AUTHOR: Chris Bertram, Todays Golfer
06 Feb 2024
27 Oct 2023
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