A course now tried-and-tested by many of the game’s stars, Al Mouj Golf returns to host the second instalment of the Oman Open. The stunning Greg Norman layout began its early life as the venue for the European Challenge Challenge Tour before being upgraded to host the Tour’s Grand Final for three consecutive years. Last year, following increasing accolades from players, officials and spectators it was elevated to a host venue on the European Tour.
Set alongside the picturesque coastline on the outskirts of the capital city, Muscat, Al Mouj Golf flanks the pastel-blue colours of the Gulf of Oman to create one of the most magnificent courses in the region and is a more than a fitting venue for a $1,750,000 showdown. Water plays a big role throughout the course design, which Norman regards as one of the finest he has ever created, and is a factor on more than half the holes, including the island green on the par-3 14th.
There are 69 different types of birds that frequent the grounds at Al Mouj Golf and sustainability is a key component of the facility. All of the plant life on the course is natural and indigenous to the area. The area has been transformed into a wildlife sanctuary that fits into the image of Oman, which is fast becoming one of the most popular tourism and golf destinations in the Middle East Almouj Golf is a links-style course and is the result of the imagination of course designer Greg Norman, who instantly pictured what he wanted to achieve on his first site visit back in 2006.
“I believe that the true test of a golf course is that you should be able to remember every hole. Each one should have its own unique characteristics and the course should have as wide a variety of holes as possible. I think we have achieved this at Al Mouj Golf. It’s a course which is close to my heart and it’s certainly one of the finest golf courses I have ever designed anywhere in the world. There was no doubt in my mind that this would eventually become one of the most unique golf destinations of the world, so we certainly had to build a course that would measure up to that standard.” – Greg Norman on his seaside masterpiece.
After carefully studying the topography and weather conditions of the site, and using his years of experience designing and playing top golf courses around the globe, Greg and his associates from Greg Norman Design produced a truly inspiring layout. Since the course opened in 2012 its reputation has grown and another stellar edition of the Oman Open is sure to make Al Mouj Golf the talk of world golf once again.
