Dubai Hills Golf Club

From the Black tees, Dubai Hills Golf Club stretches to 7,283 yards, a proper championship examination, yet five teeing options down to 5,130 yards make it a sensible round for mixed groups. The par 72 moves across broad, sweeping fairways, with level ground giving way to gentle undulations, valleys and lakes as the holes progress. There is room from the tee, but that freedom can be deceptive. Water and bunkers frame many approaches, so distance control and a clear plan into the greens matter more than simply opening the shoulders with driver. The Burj Khalifa remains in view from almost every hole, giving the round a distinctly Dubai backdrop without distracting from the golf. Conditioning is a notable part of the appeal, particularly on the greens, which are kept to a consistently high standard.

The academy building and practice areas give you time to settle into the pace and surfaces before teeing off, with coaching, carts and a golf shop all on site. Later in the day, the warm-up area can be arranged as a nine-hole short course, useful for an extra competitive hour when a full second round is not on the agenda. Dubai Hills Estate is around 15 minutes from Downtown Dubai and City Walk, placing the club close enough for an evening in the city after golf while keeping the course setting separate from the busier central districts.