Dubai may be the most unlikely place to find a golf course. The city is located in the arid Arabian Desert where lush green grass is rarely seen and temperatures could rise above 38° centigrade. Yet the irony of finding these lush recreational facilities in the desert is but one of Dubai’s charms, which is a city known for phenomenal feats of transformation.

Dubai is quickly becoming one of the world’s top golf destinations. Just a few years ago, Dubai was a fledging city with just two golf clubs, one of which is a sand-only course. As Dubai developed as a major mid-East financial capital and as the city attracted numerous expatriates to move into the city, developers began to see the enormous potential of golf courses. The city is now home to several world-class luxury golf courses designed by many of the world’s most renowned golf course architects and pros like Tiger Woods.

One of these is the four Seasons Golf and country Club within the luxurious hotel and recreational development of Dubai Festival city. Designed by the master golf course architect Robert Trent Jones II, the Four Seasons golf and Country club features an 18- hole championship standard course, which is made more challenging with 11 lakes, several smaller streams, and sand traps.  The Clubhouse, which overlooks the 8th and 18th greens and offers spectacular waterfall views, features a formal restaurant, Mezzanine and Academy Sports  bars, tennis and squash courts,  beauty and  spa centers, as well as massage and wellness rooms. The clubhouse is designed in a wrapping of golden roofs, stone, and blue glass which comes together at a central atrium, wherein an internal oasis is located. Extensive water features and palm trees are found throughout the clubhouse, all of which matches the Al Badia, or land of the Bedouins, theme. One key advantage of Dubai Festival city, and the Four Seasons Golf and Country club, is its close proximity to Dubai International Airport.  Located just 2 kilometers away, guests can make their travel from the airport to Dubai Festival city in just five minutes.

Another prestigious golf course found in the city is the Arabian Ranches Golf Club. Designed by Ian Baker-Finch, in association with Nicklaus Design, the Arabian Ranches Golf Club is a desert style grass course that features an 18-hole par 72 course, with 7,698 yards championship tees.  Enhancing any golfer’s first-rate experience is the Global Positioning System (GPS) yardage service afforded by every golf cart.  Its Spanish colonial style clubhouse houses the ranches bar and restaurant with a terrace that overlooks the scenic panoramic views of the 9th and 18th holes.  It also features 11 fully-furnished guestrooms that provide breath taking views over the golf course or the lake.  The clubhouse also hosts a pro shop and the Baker-Finch Room, which is complimented by a Terrace and the Birkdale Bar.

Situated on a land donated by the late Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Dubai country club was established as an all-exclusive club. In 1971, the country club was made the home of the first golf course in the city, which was a 9-hole sand course.  The Dubai Country Club now hosts two sand courses which offer a unique golfing experience for both beginner and seasoned players. 

First of these is the Al Air course, which is an 18-hole course with a challenging layout of 6,346 yards.  This San course is made more challenging for the players with water hazards and bunkers that must be carefully navigated with.  The second course, called the Creek Course, is 9-hole shorter course.  Its layout, unlike the former, is ideal for beginner and junior players.

The Dubai Country Club has been traditionally hosting the Dubai Men’s Open.  The first Men’s Open was held in 1977, and the Women’s Open was held three years later. The Open golf Championship is the oldest in Dubai and is open to both amateur and professional golfers which hold a maximum of 9 handicaps that is played over 36 holes on two consecutive days.  The championship has been attracting top players in the UAE, the Gulf region, and international players as well.

The Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club is one of the emirate’s prestigious golf clubs.  It was also voted as one of the world’s “top 100 must-play golf courses”. This facility is a resort that combines an 18-hole golf  course, a 9-hole par 3 shorter course, a golf academy, bars and restaurants, a gymnasium tropical swimming pool, 92 executive villas, the 250-bedroom Park Hyatt Dubai, and a 121-berth marina.  One of its most notable features is the yacht club, which is designed to resemble a luxury cruise ship.  It is home to three of the city’s most prominent outlets-- Qd’s, The Boardwalk, and The Aquarium and Vines Wine Bar.  Found within the golf club house, on the other hand, are the equally prominent dining establishments of Legends Steakhouse and international restaurant Lakeview.  Its marina is the first marina in the city to be ISO certified.  It has berthing capabilities for 121 vessels with varying lengths with the maximum length set at 165 feet.

The Emirates Golf club is a well-known name in international golf competitions, wherein it had played host to the European PGA Tour.  It features two 18-hole courses, one of which is a 7100 yards, par course, while the other is a 7127 yards Par 72 course. These courses can be quite challenging, with players employing more than straightforward maneuvers. Its club house features a unique design, wherein it is made to look like an encampment of Arabian tents, Housed within the clubhouse are several bars and restaurants, as well as a pool area.  The facility also features Glass-back Squash Courts, tennis courts, football pitches, volleyball courts, basketball courts, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and conference facilities.

Other notable and equally prestigious golf courses in the city include the Nad al Sheba Golf Club which features an 18-hole links style course with par 71 and 6428 yardage, Victory Heights at The Dunes - Dubai Sports City and features a 18-hole championship link style course with 7,538 yardage and 72 par, The Montgomerie which is situated along the Sheikh Zayed Road and features an 18hole golf course with 7308 yardage, and the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa that features a 9-hole course with 4 different tees and  a yardage of 3299 for men and 2904 for women at par 34.