JA The Resort Golf Course
About
A charming, high-quality 9-hole parkland course kept in immaculate condition
Voted Best Nine Hole Golf Course in the Middle East in 2015 and a stalwart of the Dubai golf scene since it opened in 1998, the Peter Harradine-designed JA The Resort Golf Course is an iconic 9-hole championship layout that plays host to the world’s best players as a curtain raiser for the The Dubai Desert Classic. A charming parkland course built around a large saltwater lake, its wooden gazebos, free roaming peacocks and wonderful sea views are reminiscent of a secret garden.
Thanks to the four tee options, the course is accessible to players of all abilities, but the strategic bunkering and unpredictable sea breezes mean you’ve got a challenge on your hands as you negotiate its well-maintained Paspalum greens and Bermuda fairways.
After a gentle opener with a wide open fairway, and a large, inviting green that slopes back to front, the second is a theoretically driveable short par 4. You’d have to carry water, trees and sand to make the green, while hoping your ball doesn’t run on into the new lake beyond, but it’s just about possible.
The par-3 that follows looks like a birdie opportunity until you start trying to master the tricky contours of the large putting surface; unless you stick your tee shot close, two putts here is no mean feat.
The approach to the 4th is a highlight, requiring a nervy carry over both a saltwater lake and a cavernous greenside bunker, while massive bunkers just short of the putting surface at the twin par 4s that follow stand ready to punish any undercooked second shot.
There are great views on offer from the elevated tee at the par-3 8th, the highest point of the course, and the hole itself is a stunner, with a semi-island green protected by a large sand trap to the right. Picking the right club to match the breezy conditions is key.
The last hole, a short par 5, plays from an island tee box to a narrow fairway bordered by trees and dusty wasteland. There’s not much room for error, but if you can go straight and long, there’s a chance to be putting for eagle if your second can sneak between the twin bunkers guarding the entrance to the green.
The Facilities
The extensive practice facilities at JA The Resort Golf Course include a floodlit driving range with bunkers and target greens, a practice green and even a pitching green where you can get a feel for the sand traps you’ll no doubt encounter on the course. The Leadbetter Golf Academy offers lessons, and includes an indoor ‘Swing Room’ offering the latest in video analysis.
The resort itself is one of the emirate’s best loved, boasting four hotels, 800 metres of private beach, and over 1 million square metres of leisure facilities. With seven swimming pools, a watersports centre, spa, and a wide selection of restaurants and bars, there’s plenty to keep non-golfers occupied as you tackle the course.
An idyllic parkland course kept in immaculate condition, you’ll wish there were more than the nine hugely enjoyable holes. Whether you’re staying at the excellent resort itself or making the short drive from downtown Dubai, The JA The Resort Golf Course is a course that demands to be included on any Dubai golf holiday.
Reviews
Excellent place. Worth spending money. Great service.
Having played golf during the Dubai summer months, I am convinced that the JA Golf Resort is the best course for casual play. They are very kind and welcoming. Carts also have blankets, drinks and extra water cooler, plus fruit for any golfer. During the play, cold towels are offered by the marshalls, which are the mainstay of the course.Course Info
Key Facts
Notable Awards
Amenities
Scorecard Summary
Tee | Par | Length | CR | SR |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blue | 35 | 2933 yds | 35.4 | 140 |
White | 35 | 2686 yds | 33.4 | 132 |
Red (W) | 35 | 2394 yds | 35.3 | 132 |
Technical Difficulty
Handicap Requirements
There are no handicap requirements at JA The Resort Golf Course.