Jumeirah Golf Estates (Fire Course)
About
Less daunting but no less visually stunning than its sister course, this Greg Norman design is a must-play
While less heralded than it's sister course, the Greg Norman-designed Fire Course at Jumeriah Golf Estates is no less deserving of its place on any list of the best golf courses in Dubai. Framed with a wide variety of captivating flora and designed to work in harmony with the natural desert landscape, it's a more golfer-friendly affair than the ultra-tough Earth Course, offering golfers of all abilities that chance to post a decent score.
It's a visually stunning course where the lush, carpeted fairways contrast beautifully with the 'red' sand of the plentiful bunkers. Its location on the outer edges of the resort leave it at the mercy of the wind, so the course plays like a links course—the firm, fast conditions offer chances to play a bump-and-run game, making use of the extensive contouring. The greens aren't quite as lightning fast as the Earth Course, but there's still quick by any standards, making putting a slightly more manageable proposition.
The Front Nine
The 3rd is a tricky par 4 with a fairway that slopes right to left, bringing the twin bunkers around 280 yards from the tee into play. You'll need to carry a truly massive bunker just short of the green to reach the putting surface in regulation, but if you've gone well off the tee you should have a short iron in hand to make the job easier. Make sure to find the centre of the green though, as the flat middle section falls away on all sides, meaning anything wayward will face a very tricky up and down.
The 6th features a huge bunker right in front of the raised green that will play havoc with your psyche, while the 8th is a long par-3 that plays over water to a ridged, elevated green guarded on both sides by sand traps both of which will make saving par something of a challenge. The front nine ends with a 400-yard par-4 where from the tee you face an array of bunkers lurking menancing in the distance.
The Back Nine
The pick of the back nine on the Fire Course at Jumeriah Golf Estates is probably the 12th, a short par-4 where the entire 100-yard stretch just short of the green consists of bunkers staggered up the side of a hill in front of the green. Go too long off the tee, and you'll find the bottom bunker; go too short on your approach and you'll find the top one. The narrow green has more more sand behind, so a deft touch is required if you want to make par here.
After the 14th, a pretty par-3 requiring a carry over water to a green framed by the villas that line the course, you come to the 15th, which is a brute of a par 4, often playing into the wind. Here, a nervy drive over water is followed by a trickly approach that must avoid a huge bunker complex that starts to left of the green and cuts into the fairway, leaving just enough space to encourage you to take on a bump and run with your long approach.
After the tough uphill par-4 17th, with an approach that demands a subtle fade around the bunkers protecting the left hand side, the round ends with a very long par-5 where plotting your way past the massive bunkers that border the hole on both sides is the main challenge. If you can carry the sand trap that's found in the middle of the fairway with your second, the route to the green is clear, although even more sand awaits any miscued approach. Get it right, and there's a chance at a birdie in front of the impressive clubhouse.
Summary
Overall, the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates really ought to be held in as high esteem as it's sister course. While it's by no means easy, it's certainly less daunting than the Earth course, and you'll have a prettier scorecard at the end of what will no doubt be a very memorable round in stunning surroundings.
Away from the course itself, you'll find everything you could ever need before or after a round, including high-quality locker rooms, a well-stocked pro shop and a wide selection of bars and restaurants. Booking a tee time here could not come more highly recommended.
Reviews
Waste of money !
We were chased by a company of 3 behind us. We kept the pace (checked my watch and kept pace with ball in front of us), so I told the Marshal … 3 times!! They were hitting balls that could have hit us. When we hit second shot at hole 15 the 3 behind us where already at Tee. We checked, and both hole 13 and 14 where empty. At hole 15 both woman in the ball behind us hit there 2:nd shots (Par 4) before we even started to putt at the green. At hole 17 I called the Marshal for the 4:th time, and told him again. This time I was very upset and I said to him that if they stress us any more, I would tee up my driver and hit it backwards. At hole 18, they hit there Tee-shots even when we had finished our 2:nd shots. At green hole 18, I told the Marshal for the 5:th time (!!!!). This time I said that I better not be confronted of the ball behind me or I cannot answer for the consequenses. Overall, this made our golfday one of the worst experiences I ever had on a golf course. If staff (Marshals) can’t keep the pace both ways, I belive they should flipp burgers at Mc Donalds instead. We will never ever return to this course again, it ruined our day.Very popular course, but extremely slow.
Course was very good. We played just after the DP Tour event. It was a shotgun start, and we started nearly 30 mins late, which meant rushing through to try finish before sunset. While course was beautiful, they allowed too many players to play slow. Last few holes were played in badly fading light. For what you pay, you would expect to at least start on time and complete your round.Fantastic experience
Course in great condition, the only negative was on several holes bunkers had not been raked, but that is down to players not following what is requiredCourse Info
Key Facts
Amenities
Scorecard Summary
Tee | Par | Length | CR | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 72 | 7480 yds | 75.6 | 136 |
Blue | 72 | 7062 yds | 74.1 | 130 |
White | 72 | 6507 yds | 71.6 | 125 |
Red (W) | 72 | 5619 yds | 72.5 | 121 |
Technical Difficulty
Handicap Requirements
There are no handicap requirements at Jumeirah Golf Estates (Fire Course).
Course Location
Address
Nearby Airports
Nearby Attractions
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Weather Forecast for Jumeirah Golf Estates (Fire Course)
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