Back
It's a warm November afternoon in Dubai, as the city attempts to fight back against the winter chill that started descending upon it a week ago. Jon Rahm stands on the 9th green, lining up his shot as a rapt crowd watches from the grandstand. The ball rolls toward the hole with a tap from his putt and falls neatly into it. An appreciative cheer fills the air, followed by a smattering of applause. Just one more step forward for the eventual winner of the DP World Tour Championship and one of many highlights in a golf-filled weekend.
Hosted at the Earth course in Jumeirah Golf Estates, the DP World Tour Championship is the season-ending tournament of the European Tour and is the climax of the Race to Dubai. It is considered to be one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world and has been played in Dubai since 2009. The four-day tournament brings 60 of the world’s finest golfers to Dubai, more specifically to Jumeirah Golf Estates, a normally tranquil residential community that is transformed into a rolling green circus for the duration of the championship. It is a prime opportunity to witness some of the world’s golfing greats in the heart of Dubai.
The Luxury Property team was at JGE over the weekend, and while the tournament was the main item on the agenda, it also served as a handy excuse to enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful weather.
As we toured the links, we caught glimpses of DP World Tour champion Jon Rahm and Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood in action, surrounded by dedicated golf enthusiasts. Later in the afternoon, we grabbed some burgers from the food & beverage pavilion, which was packed with the more laidback golf lovers lounging about the grounds.
Other pavilions included children's play areas and practice courses offering free golf lessons. A jaunt around the main clubhouse revealed yet another group of fans, those of the armchair variety, clustered around a big screen TV to watch the game in progress.
We ended the afternoon watching Tour runner-up Shane Lowry sink a tricky putt into the 18th hole. It was a great weekend of golf, and ultimately so much more than just a sporting event.
Dubai: The Perfect Golf City
Boasting a long history with the sport that goes back to the opening of the first golf course in 1988, Dubai is an ideal golf haven thanks to its year-round warm weather, with a winter that’s especially temperate. Veteran players such as Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo have put their stamp on the city in the form of exquisitely designed courses, and several of today’s stars consider it a home away from home. Quite literally, in the case of two-time Race to Dubai champion Henrik Stenson, who owns one of the luxury villas in Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Related Blogs: