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Designer wars Big-name golf course designers are flocking to the land that knows no boundaries. |
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| It is fact that new golf courses thrive on having big-name designers. With many of the game’s most recognisable players taking to the planning process in recent years, the fairways and the scorecard are no longer the only battlefield for some of golf’s finest performers. Nowhere is this more apparent than the UAE. Design interest in the Emirates reads like the ‘who’s who’ of the world’s best golfers. As more and more developments come to the fore, the Emirates have become the definitive hotspot of the best new courses in the world. With the booming market for real-estate sales off the back of the course designers’ credentials, it is no surprise that Tiger Woods agreed to his first foray into course design in the Emirates. Set for completion in 2010, much anticipation surrounds the results of the world number one’s design. Tiger Woods’ stated objective is to create a course that does not look or feel new, even to the extent of mature trees being shipped in from as far as New Zealand to create the desired look. Ernie Els has numerous projects on the go worldwide, but chose Dubai Sports City to house the first ever Els Club. Carved out of the desert, the unique layout is a real contender as the best new venue in the UAE and business has been positively booming both on the course and in its surrounding real estate. Indeed, the project has achieved the honour of being the first amenity to open in Dubailand’s eighth wonder of the world, Dubai Sports City. The course itself is immense as prevailing winds sweep across the links making for testing conditions. Faced with the issue of large volumes of sand moving during design, Ernie’s design team have done an unbelievable job creating such a natural looking course. The Greg Norman-designed Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates will host the inaugural finale of the Race to Dubai next year. As part of Leisurecorp, the company behind the Race to Dubai, Jumeirah Golf Estates will be an impressive resort. Norman is not the only big name here. Former world number one Vijay Singh and European Ryder Cup hero Sergio Garcia, along with the father of modern course design, Pete Dye have also put their design hats to produce the Wind, Fire and Water courses. Ian Baker-Finch’s layout at Arabian Ranches is really a Championship layout at a course that has now become a four-star member’s club course on the Dubai landscape. So what about neighbouring Abu Dhabi? One could argue that the powers there have taken a more classic approach to the design process. The focus has been on course layout and course intricacies. With such designers as Kyle Phillips, whose previous work includes Kingsbarns, and Robert Trent Jones rumoured to have done deals on some of Abu Dhabi’s latest developments, and with Gary Player already locked in and visiting his course on Saadiyat Island, it is a statement of intent as to the role golf will play in this emirate’s tourism drive. With some of the most awe-inspiring developments under planning and construction, TDIC (created to manage the development of real estate assets held by the government of Abu Dhabi) are making sure what is put on the design blueprints are worthy of the Abu Dhabi brand. Dubai on the other hand has created a fantastical land of wonder with courses from some of the biggest names in golf. True, there has been a focus on the marketing element to these courses. The Montgomerie, Dubai is a prime example of a course developed by someone not necessarily renowned for his design work, but one of Europe’s playing greats. Designed in conjunction with Desmond Muirhead, the whole facility captures the imagination of its guests by offering a golfing experience to rival anything in the world. Away from the tour name designers, it is a little recognised Swiss architect called Peter Harradine who rules the design battleground of the Middle East. He is the man behind Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Al Hamra and Jebel Ali. The former two can both claim to be the best designs in the Middle East. Trent Jones’ design at the Four Seasons Golf Club and Ernie’s design at The Els Club rival Harradine’s claims for the top spot. As time progresses, developers in the Emirates jostle for position to bring something innovative: “The Ultimate Golf Experience”. This is the Holy Grail for golf clubs and nowhere more so than the UAE. It is safe to say that the Emirates is creating a selection of golf courses that can rival the very best. |
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