Wind Cheater

Conquer Jebel Ali’s signature par-3

Let me help you conquer Jebel Ali’s iconic 8th hole.

“Every layout has its signature hole and at Jebel Ali it’s the 8th...”

MY ASSOCIATION WITH EUROPEAN TOUR star and Jebel Ali ambassador Rafa Cabrera Bello made JA The Resort Golf Course a natural fit for my first academy in the Middle East. The practice facilities are great and I love that players can take what they’ve learned straight out onto Peter Harradine’s recently modified nine- holer, a tough little examination that has only got better. Every layout has its signature hole and at Jebel Ali it’s the 8th/17th. Let me show you how to tackle this tricky par-3 ...and escape the sand if you don’t quite get it right first time.

Dubai has some great golf and this little layout certainly doesn’t let the side down. There’s nothing little about the 8th/17th mind you, especially when you play from the back tees at 177 yards and into that prevailing Arabian Gulf breeze. It certainly adds an extra layer of protection to a hole already wellshielded by water left and long and sand front and right.

It’s a hole that calls for a lower shot that rides under the wind and hopefully onto the green for an easy par. Here’s how. First, ensure you take enough club to clear the water and reach the green. I’ve got a 5-iron in my hands here where I might normally take a six or seven; hit a normal shot and chances are it will balloon up into the wind and fall well short.

“Hit a normal shot and chances are it will balloon up into the wind...”

Now, grip down a little and play the ball slightly further back in your stance to trap it at impact. This will also help ensure the shot is launched low.

It’s important to stick to your pre-shot routine and especially so on tough shots like this. Try to visualise a wind- piercing ball flight and then concentrate on staying nice and relaxed, employing a three- quarter backswing and shorter finish. Remember the higher you finish, the higher the ball will fly and vice versa. Practice this shot on the range and you’ll be armed with a shot that will not only help you negotiate this iconic par-3 but can also be taken anywhere where an into the wind hole threatens a card-wrecking blow out.

David Leadbetter is a Golf Digest Teaching Professional. He recently opened his 40st worldwide academy at JA The Resort Golf Course in Dubai.