Stepping out of the shadow of its illustrious sibling next door, the Fire course gets its chance to shine on the world stage as host of the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World this month.
Fire by name and fiery by nature, the course presents a challenge for high, low and scratch handicappers, and while the Earth is a bold attack on the senses with bright white sand and deep red mulch framing the lush greens fairways – the Fire course offers a more natural visual dynamic. The redness of the sand gives a rustic touch and the ruggedness of the fescue – which lines the sandtraps – links the course with its immediate surroundings.
What makes the Fire stand-out for the casual golfer is the more subtle contours on the greens – and the greens themselves are easier targets than those found on Earth. The complexes are not as raised on Fire as on Earth, making it less penal, and the greenside bunkers are less deep. The lake to the south of the course comes into play on two holes. The par-3 14th is played over the water and the tee shot on the par-4 15th requires a good strike to carry the lake. The only other pond on the Fire course comes at the eighth, a short par-3, with the water guarding short and the entire left hand side of the green. While the Earth has been basking in the glow as the venue for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship since 2009, the Fire has been patiently waiting for its opportunity and this month it finally presents itself to the best players on the European Tour.
Earth course – A fitting finale
Over the last five years the same few holes have exchanged the status as the easiest and hardest holes at the DP World Tour Championship, so the players with past experience know when to attack and when to adopt some pragmatism. Three of the four par-5s have at one time or another ranked the easiest, with the second hole providing the easiest to navigate over the last two years. In 2017 the closing hole was the softest, averaging a score of 4.58 over the four days, and in the two years prior to that hole 7 came in with averages of 4.67 and 4.58.
The hardest pair of holes come towards the half-way point – numbers 8 and 9 – which are both long par-4s. At 462 yards, the eighth plays slightly easier while the ninth, at 499 yards, has been ranked inside the top three most difficult holes on each of the last five occasions. Jon Rahm (inset) bogeyed both holes in last year’s final round but hung on to win by picking up strokes on the back nine. Indeed, the eighth plagued Rahm all week, as he played it in 4-over.
From the turn, the course then follows a sequence of two easier holes followed by two tougher ones. The back nine begins with two gentle par-4s which both measure less than 440 yards and with a good drive should require little more than a short iron into the greens. The 12th is a long, slightly uphill par-4 at 476 yards which was ranked the hardest last year and then a crisp iron is needed at the 205 yard par-3 13th which is heavily guarded by bunkers. On a day when the hole is cut in the front left hole location pin-point accuracy is required for any realistic chance of birdie.
The 626 yard par5 14th offers some respite and then the 371 yard par-4 15th is often reachable if the tees are pushed forward. Water then plays a big part in the next two holes, guarding half the green at the long par-4 16th and completely surrounding the target at the stunning par-3 17th. These two have both been in the top-7 most difficult holes over the last five years. The final hole represents a birdie chance if the tee-shot avoids the wadi, which splits the fairway up the centre.
“If you’re hitting the ball solid and give yourself a lot of opportunities, you can really attack this golf course and with the greens being so pure if you putt well you’ll have a chance. The greens are large, and if you can hit the right shots you can use a lot of the slopes to get the ball close – and from there the putter just needs to wake up.” – Patrick Reed, Race to Dubai leader.
