The Emirates Golf Club, Majlis Course

The Majlis Championship Course at the Emirates Golf Club, is a challenging par 72, 7,301-yard layout that will be familiar to any fans of golf in Dubai. The original 18 holes were built in and around the dunes on the edge of the city of Dubai. Thirty years on, the course is now encircled by skyscrapers and urban development making it easy to reach from most hotels once the rush-hour traffic has abated.  The land was donated by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with the express instructions that the desert flora was maintained in its natural state.

Opened in 1988, The Majlis was the first grass course in the Middle East. It takes its name from the Arabic word for ‘meeting place’ and one of the most prominent features on the course is the Majlis building which has become an iconic landmark synonymous with golf in Dubai.

The course has developed a worthy reputation as a testing layout and is home to the Omega Dubai Desert Class tournament contested every January as part of the European Tour. It is a must-play for any serious golfer visiting Dubai for a golfing holiday.

Highlights include the par 3, 4th. Only 180 yds, this testing short hole will prove to be one of the most difficult holes on the course. The hole is guarded by water on the right so the ideal line is to play for the left half of the green and let the ball come off the slope into the middle. The key is to leave yourself an uphill putt rather than a side cross-slope or downhill putt.

The 9th is a great hole to finish the front layout with. From the tee box you can open up your shoulders and use a driver, however care should be taken to avoid the fairway bunker on the right that could mess up your chances of making the green in regulation. Your approach shot should tend to favour the right side of the green as anything finishing there leaves a relatively simple chip or putt. Any shot leaking left could end up in the water with the green’s slopes gathering the ball down to the hazard.

For more information about Dubai golfing holidays and playing at the Emirates Majlis course, contact us here or call +44 208 249 5919 to speak to our Golf Holidays team.