Special Places - Majlis

The final leg of this year’s Desert Swing sees a star-studded field including the world top three teeing it up this week at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates. Hosted at the flagship course at Emirates Golf Club 15km southwest of downtown Dubai, the event will take place on the prestigious 6677m par 72 Majlis layout.

Adjacent to a sister course designed by 6-time Major winner Nick Faldo, the challenging Majlis was designed in 1988 by Florida-based architect Karl Litten and was the first grass golf course in the Middle East. Meandering through a site in the dunes that has retained the natural flora and fauna, this testing layout is complemented by seven fresh and saltwater lakes. The name Majlis is from the Arabic for ‘meeting place’ and the Majlis building itself became a Dubai landmark since the course opened. Among the accolades collected by the Majlis are a Best Middle East – Asia Course award and a world Top 100 ranking.

The round begins with a 420m slightly uphill dogleg left par 4 requiring a 255m carry to avoid the bunker on the left. A large bunker protects the front of the green and another gathers any approach shot that drifts off to the left. Finding the green is rewarded with a relatively straightforward putting surface that will yield its share of birdies. The second hole is a 320m par 4 that is driveable for the longer hitters if the tees are up. The most challenging hole on the course is probably the 400m par 4 5th where finding the narrow fairway is key. The second shot must stay below the hole on this wickedly sloping green that is protected by grass mounds and a false front. Par is a good score here. The pros will look to take advantage of the back nine that has three of the course’s four par 5’s.

All the par 5’s are reachable with two well-struck shots but the pick of the bunch is the marvellous finishing hole. At 515m with a sharp dogleg left and a huge lake protecting the front of the kidney-shaped green it shares with the 9th hole, the 18th is a worthy climax to the round with all the classic elements of risk and reward.

As a footnote, Michael Rowells, a lieutenant colonel in the US armed forces, won an online competition and will get to put his 9 handicap to the ultimate test playing in the Wednesday pro-am alongside Tiger.