Special Places - Jumeirah Golf Estate

The European Tour season comes to an end with the culmination of the Race to Dubai, the Dubai World Championship. The top 60 in the European standings make their way to Jumeirah Golf Estates in the United Arab Emirates for the third playing of the event, previously won by Lee Westwood in the inaugural championship in 2009 and in 2010 by defending champion Robert Karlsson. Ultimately, Jumeirah Golf Estates will comprise four courses when the Water and Wind layouts are built. For the time being there are two spectacular Greg Norman designed courses open for play, the Earth and the Fire, with the Earth Course hosting the Dubai World Championship three years in a row.

Fully grassed in April 2008, the Earth Course was allowed to rest and bed in for more than 18 months before hosting the Championship in late 2009. This beautifully presented 7018m par 72 parkland design has spacious ryegrass fairways laid out over naturally undulating terrain, and large wickedly sloping bermudagrass greens. The round begins with a par 4 just over 400 metres that has fairway bunkers lying in wait for the longer hitters, and three greenside bunkers protecting the putting surface. An abundance of sand traps - all filled with pristine white sand imported from North Carolina - continue to defend the holes up the 6th where water protects the left half of the green on the 170m par 3. The 15th is a 339m par 4 where players will be tempted to go for the green if the tees are up. The 178m par 3 17th with an island green is the signature hole on the course, and although the target is quite large, almost ever-present crosswinds can make it tricky to find the short grass. The 18th is an unusual par 5 that has a stream meandering down the centre of the fairway from tee to green, placing a premium on accuracy and shot selection.

With the Championship starting two weeks later than last year, the opportunity was taken to over-seed the tees, fairways and rough with ryegrass which will give a stronger definition and contrast to the bunkers and landscaped areas of the course. It will also add to the challenge of what is fast becoming one of golf's premier destinations.

Golfweather Editorial