When Donald Trump last came to Dubai in 2014 to tee it up in front of the world’s media and draw global attention to the Trump International Golf Course in Dubai you wouldn’t have believed that just two years later he would become the most powerful man in the world as America’s President Elect.
The moment I received the invitation to play a round I couldn’t wait. Entering the complex, it’s still a building site but the clubhouse is certainly close to completion, a futuristic unconventional design that is located in the heart of things.
The usual inward and back nine layout means it flows well in terms of convenience and the driving range is only a five iron away. So rushing to that first tee wasn’t a problem.
The first thing that grabbed me was the tee boxes. Gil Hanse has tried to give the course a natural feel and he’s made the tee boxes flow with the contours of the land, which means they are not all totally level. They are a novel change to the norm but hitting a driver off the what feels like a fairway came as a bit of a shock to the system.
The opening hole is long and without any yardage guides or course planner it was an even tougher shot than, I guess, it really is. With desert scrub running down the left and Out of Bounds down the right you would think it’s a nervy opener. But far from it. It’s wide and open with no rough to worry about. Your only concern is going long as the fairway narrows and brings bunkers to play on the right and the desert landscape opens up to create one large bunker area close to the green.
UNDULATIONS
Walking to the green gives you a feel of the multitude of undulations Hanse has created. Some are subtle, others are visually intimidating. This is where you need to be on your guard. Don’t be fooled by the lack of rough, as you do on, say, The Els Course. You need to pay attention to pin positions and use the contours to your advantage and stay away from trouble. That’s easier said than done but don’t just line your approach straight at the pin and hope for the best as it could all end in tears.
This style of layout is very links-like, a style Trump is also very fond of. So it came as no real shock. The big surprise was just how good the course and greens were. They could have opened the course months’ ago but it’s good to see DAMAC are waiting to finish the clubhouse so members and guests can get the full, luxurious experience.
Front Nine
Holes 2 through to 7 boomerang around a wall of luxury apartments where the ‘links’ theme continues. Once the residents are in situe, it will give a unique grandstand feel to the course. It will be the ideal gallery spot whenever a championship event is staged here.
Hole 8 starts to make its way away from the apartments as you head for home. But this is one hole that you need to watch out for. A fairway bunker on the left will draw you into playing out to the right where there is plenty of room. But you are positioned at the wrong angle to approach the green and will have to tackle three greenside bunkers that guard the elevated green. Again, Hanse has you thinking you are playing a links course.
Hole 9 has desert scrub down both sides of a narrowing fairway and houses on the right. The challenge is the green that is protected by a large lake that cuts in from the right. There’s also a series of bunkers to the left and right edge. There is plenty of room to the right but watch out as your ball could easily come into play on the first fairway. It will be interesting to see what the ruling for this hole turns out to be.
Back Nine
Hole 10 doglegs slightly to the right, away from the clubhouse and around the left edge of the practice range. It’s tight and if you draw the ball like me, it’s not an easy hole to master.
Leave the driver or even three wood in the bag and play for position. The 11th hole brings you back up to the clubhouse with the desert landscape on the right and left, though the landing area is quite forgiving. It might not be the longest hole on the course but if you miss the fairway don’t try any heroics, just settle for getting back in play.
You can relax a little until you make it to the 14th. A long par 5 with a tee shot over desert scrub and down the right edge for most of the length of the hole. Anything left is a cart path followed by housing but the fairway opens up further down,so it might be a hole where three wood for position could be the wise move.
The raised green runs off in every direction and a wicked greenside bunker is positioned to capture those shots that just don’t make it.
The 15th hole is a short par 3 but, like all the holes so far, pay close attention to the pin position. The 16th is a great-looking hole with plenty of room on the right with bunkers and a landscaped desert waiting once more for those shots tight down the left. The fairway drops down to the elevated green that is guarded by three deep bunkers. It will come as no surprise to find the green has plenty of run- offs and undulations.
Signature Hole
The 17th has to be the ‘Signature’ hole. A short par 3 that just draws you in visually around the manicured desert landscape and bunkers. But it’s more straightforward than you might think. With a wedge or nine iron in your hand you can afford to go long and bring the ball back towards the hole using the open area at the rear as a back stop.
Coming to the last reminds me of the 18th at TPC Sawgrass. Anything left is a reload and right is in the country with scrub and palm trees. The fairway doglegs around the lake to the green that is positioned at the lower edge of a large slope in front of the clubhouse. If you can hit a fade you can play safe on this hole as you can shape the ball into the green. If you can’t, you will have to take on two very deep bunkers that sit within the slope to the centre and right edge of the green. This hole could be a card wrecker.
VERDICT
THE course has been created with the Tour player in mind. It’s a true test of golf from start to finish. Depending on how they set the course up with tee boxes, flag positions and green speeds it’s not ideal for the high handicapper. For those who want to put their game to the test then there are 18 holes that will ask the questions. Gil Hanse has managed to present Dubai with another outstanding course with its own personality. It’s a fair course for those who like a challenge. When Donald Trump paid his visit here back in 2014 he promised to provide a course, ‘like nobody had ever seen before in the Middle East.’ Well he’s certainly got one earth-shattering prediction correct.
By Alex Gallemore
