Jumeirah Fire

The uphill par-five 18th brings Fire Course Jumeirah Golf Estates to a fittingly demanding finish. Big hitters can consider reaching the green in two, but the drive must avoid bunkers and find the right part of the rolling fairway before the slope and contours begin to matter. At 7,480 yards from the back tees, this par-72 Greg Norman design gives strong players plenty to think about, yet its range of teeing grounds changes both the angles and the scale of several holes. It is a course where position from the tee tends to count as much as distance.

The terrain has a links-inspired movement, with rippling fairways, reed grasses and extensive sandy waste areas shaping the eye from the first hole onwards. There is also a desert-parkland feel to the setting, but the test is decidedly precise. Generous landing areas can tempt a driver, while taller rough waits beyond them and substantial bunkers protect the smaller greens. Approaches need to be judged carefully, particularly when the pin is tucked behind a bunker or set on a shallow section of green. The natural contours reward a player prepared to plot a way around rather than relying on power alone.

Before a round, the practice area offers a useful chance to settle into the conditions and work out the pace required on the greens. Afterwards, the clubhouse provides a relaxed base for a meal or drink, with the Fire Course and neighbouring Earth Course forming the focal point of the wider Jumeirah Golf Estates community. It is a particularly satisfying course for a group holiday, as the varied tee options allow different standards of golfer to take on the same strategic questions without making the round feel one dimensional.