THE THREE SUPERSTARS OF Abu Dhabi
Yas Links, Saadiyat Beach and Abu Dhabi GC are three of the Middle East’s finest courses – and their close proximity to each other makes them perfect for a high-class, low-hassle golf holiday
Yas Links
This Kyle Phillips-designed course ranks No.48 in the world golf rankings and combines visual glory with the thrill of golf’s ultimate test.
The 18-hole course presents the kind of challenges that golfers from all over the world dream about while the ninehole par 3 course and practice facilities are the perfect fit for all abilities.
The clubhouse is set alongside the water’s edge, offering dramatic views of the Arabian Gulf and providing the perfect setting for dinning and events.
Yas Links represents the first true Links course in the Middle East region, designed by Phillips – one of the world’s leading course designers.
The Championship links course is located on the west shores of Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s Island of Entertainment, and also offers a luxurious clubhouse, gym, swimming pool, male spa and world-class, floodlit practice ranges, now with state-of-the-art Toptracer range technology and Golf Academy.
The par-72 championship course opened in 2010 and incorporates undulating fairways and seashore green locations in the same manner as the great links of Scotland.
Off the course, Yas boasts Toptracer – which is revolutionising how people watch golf on TV – on its practice range. Utilising advanced proprietary technology, Toptracer captures and displays ball flight in real-time during more than 100 broadcasts per year – making it the most used ball-tracing technology in golf.
Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar at Yas Links offers amazing views of the 18th green and course, the endless mangroves and the shapely coastline.
Meanwhile MATSU’S dishes are taken back to their basic ingredients, describing the real taste of Japanese dining culture.
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Breathtaking Saadiyat Beach Golf Club was the Arabian Gulf’s first beachfront course. Designed by the legendary Gary Player, the 18-hole championship course and top of the range practice facilities harness the beauty of Saadiyat Island and create an unparalleled golf experience with views of the Gulf’s glittering ocean.
Host venue of the first Ladies European Tour event in Abu Dhabi, the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open, and voted ‘Best Course in the UAE’ in 2015 and ‘Best Course in Abu Dhabi’ in 2019 in the World Golf Awards, it is recognised globally as a world-class destination.
The eco-conscious course respectfully harnesses the natural beauty of Saadiyat Island’s white sand beaches for a stunning playing experience. It is one of only 900 in the world designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary – and an extremely rare
migratory bird called the Steppe Whimbrel has even been spotted on the 18th. The course provides a wealth of sea views, with the chance to spot dolphins at play in the glistening Arabian Gulf. Three salt water lakes and restored beach and sand dunes provide majestic on-course hazards, while more than 60 bunkers force even the bravest to pause for thought on this challenging par-72 track.
Designed with amateurs and professionals in mind, carefully positioned tee boxes ensure the total yardage starts at 5,290 but can be extended to 7,784 yards for pros.
The clubhouse is known as a dining treat and has a great terrace for prizegiving ceremonies or outdoor socialising.
For an unforgettable dining experience and enticing wide range of a la carte cuisine, Hawksbill restaurant provides a fabulous dining venue.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club
Abu Dhabi GC is home to 27 holes of championship golf. The National, its 18hole championship course, is a tough but fair challenge and is home to one of the European Tour’s most prestigious events, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, a Rolex Series Event. It has been won by a star-studded line-up of British golfers including Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood and Tyrrell Hatton.
An oasis of tranquility carved out of the desert, Abu Dhabi GC offers one of the most luxurious golf resort experiences in the Middle East and a facility of excellence.
With lush fairways, strategically placed bunkers and immaculate greens, the course has been described as a “super course” by leading golf media.
The 162-hectares of Abu Dhabi GC also features the floodlit nine-hole Garden course, which provides a great test for those keen to enjoy championship golf once the sun’s gone down! The 3,341-yard, par-36 course is more forgiving than the National course, making it an enjoyable experience for all players.
Overlooking the lakes from the far end of the course, the Falcon clubhouse dominates the scene. Inside and out, the superbly designed building creates an atmosphere of relaxed elegance, one of the key characteristic of the design was to ensure that all three floors of the iconic clubhouse would be able to enjoy prominent and unhindered views across the 9th & 18th holes of the championship course, designed by Peter Harradine.
Constructed in 1995 the Falcon clubhouse is one of the most instantly recognisable designs in the world. There are a wide range of dining and event options in this fabulous building.
Finally, 800 yards from the clubhouse is the five-star Westin hotel, which makes this the Middle East’s leading play-andstay options – and one of the world’s best.