Golfing around... Abu Dhabi 2011

Originally published on www.businesstravellerme.com 06/06/2011 - Filed under: Golf »

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SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB

With its fast fairways, challenging bunkers and striking setting, Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Beach Golf Club is a welcome addition to the UAE golfing scene, discovers Robbie Greenfield

Where is it? The 27sqm Saadiyat Island is Abu Dhabi's culture-meets-leisure hotspot. It's easily accesible from Abu Dhabi (seven minutes from downtown), 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport and around 50 minutes from Dubai.

What's it like? From the azure backdrop of the Gulf, to the marble white sand of this untouched stretch of beach, Gary Player has combined Bermuda and dropseed grasses with the native vegetation to create a vivid array of colours.

It is Saadiyat’s aesthetic beauty, combined with a collection of holes that appeal to a gambler’s spirit, which has prompted Player to call the Beach course, ‘the finest I’ve ever designed’.

While it is not a links course in the true sense of the word (despite its proximity to the sea), Saadiyat shares many similarities with the old style of the game that Player so enjoys. The playing surfaces are firm and fast, encouraging a player to use the undulating terrain as well as the aerial route. The bunkers are treacherous in places, while the exposed nature of the site will test your ball striking when the wind blows.

"What I love about the course is that each hole offers you the opportunity to either play safe of take a risk. And there’s a great variety of holes. I believe that each one is memorable, and you can’t say that about too many golf courses," says Player.

The names of the holes themselves give clues as to the conundrums that lie in store. Split Personality (hole 2), Right is Wrong (8) and Native Decisions (9) are just some of the holes that will test your course management skills to the full.

On Mousetrap, the short driveable par 4 10th, you can attempt to find the green with your tee shot but will risk getting caught in the deepest and trickiest bunkers on the course should your drive not be accurate enough.

Although the course can play over 7,600 yards from the back markers (it is expected that the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship will move here in 2011), this is not a layout where each tee shot is a no-brainer with the driver. Like the links courses he used to relish plotting his way around, Player has presented the golfer with more options off the tee than a menu at Starbucks.

While a mid-iron may often represent the safest route, a more daring shot holds the promise of a straightforward birdie chance if negotiated successfully. It will be fascinating to see how the European Tour pros approach the challenge if they do indeed tee it up here in 12 months time (Player’s Fancourt Links, host of the 2003 Presidents Cup, is already a firm favourite among the top pros).

With ‘daily fee’ golf prioritised by operating experts Troon Golf, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s unique experience will be freely available to all. And Player believes it won’t be long before the club earns a stellar reputation. “We’ve done over 300 courses and I believe this is the best one we’ve ever created. For me, it is one of the five best courses I’ve seen in my life.”

Address: Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, PO Box 51545, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Contact details: Tel (9712) 5578000, email: info@sbgolfclub.ae

Club hours: tee offs from 6.30am, and last reservations are 5pm in summer.

Facilities: The Golf Institute by Troon Golf will sharpen up all aspects of your game, and the golf shop sells men's, women's and children's 'resort wear'.

Price: For international guests, the current rate is AED300 for 18 holes on weekdays, rising to AED425 at weekends (Thursdays to Saturdays).

Minimum handicap: not necessary.

Can I hire some clubs? Yes, club hire costs AED220 and includes six balls.

After the golf: The Hawksbill restaurant serves the requisite post-round bites and cold drinks - its menu stretches to 60 dishes so it's not your standard club fare - and features a sweeping terrace where you can sit outside in winter. The St Regis Saadiyat Island, due to open before the end of the year, will be among its five-star neighbours soon.

For more information, visit sbgolfclub.ae