Tower Links Golf Club
About
An enjoyably scenic challenge away from the bustle of downtown Dubai
If you’re looking for a change from golfing in the shadow of the Dubai skyline, a trip to Tower Links Golf Club in the northern emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah, a 60 minute drive from downtown Dubai, will be rewarded with an excellent round of golf amidst the scenic mangroves and abundant wildlife that reside in the shadows of the majestic Hajar mountains.
The open expanses of this 18-hole layout, which clocks in at 7199 yards from the back tees, are reminiscent of Scottish links courses thanks to the rippling fairways, deep sand traps and quick, undulating greens that make up the course. Winding its way through a mixture of mangrove swamps, sandy wasteland and man-made lakes, it’s a course that places a premium on accuracy off the tee, especially in the more demanding back nine.
The Front Nine
After a fairly sedate start, the stretch of holes from the 5th to the 7th, locally known as the “Green Mile” and made up of two par 5s and a long par 4, is particularly tough. In particular, the 583-yard 5th more than warrants its stroke index 1 status, involving a nervy tee shot over the mangroves to a snaking fairway protected by a large fairway bunker in what would otherwise be the ideal landing zone.
Even with the best of drives, attempting to make the green in two is a very risky proposition, so your best bet is to lay up to a narrow landing zone that features sand on the right and a lake to the left, before taking a short iron into a green the juts out into the lake and boasts bunkers on both sides.
The long par-4 6th tees off over water to a fairway that’s cleaved in two by sandy wasteland and a smattering of date palms. The fairway to the right is easier to find, but will leave you a longer, more challenging approach into a mercifully unprotected. There’s no getting out of this hole without at least one tough shot, so it’s up to you whether you want to face the challenge with a driver in hand or a long iron.
The Green Mile concludes with a long, gently doglegging 616-yard par-5 with sand both sides off the tee. Aim for the left of the fairway as the mounds to the right tend to feed your ball into the sandy wasteland that runs all the way up the right hand side of the hole. Staying left is also good advice for your second shot, with the wasteland eating into the right hand side of the fairway, although the firm conditions offer a chance to go for the gentle green if you get a good drive.
At the 8th, the longest par-3 in the Emirates at an eye-popping 258 yards from the back tees, it’s all about carrying the two bunkers just short of the green, while the front nine ends with a particularly memorable approach shot over the mangroves into a green guarded by a very long bunker.
The Back Nine
After the turn, the course plays shorter but tighter, although the short par-4 10th makes for a gentle opener, especially if you can drive long enough to open up the green and avoid carrying the bunker that sits in front of the green. The many contours of the elevated 10th green make scoring well more of a challenge that it may at first seem, while there’s a good birdie opportunity at the very short par-3 that follows if you can stay out of the sand to the right of the putting surface.
The mangroves are a constant threat on the par-5 13th, eating into the narrow fairway on three occasions making it a tough ask to attempt to reach the well-protected green in two, while the 14th is a driveable dog-leg par-4, so long as you accept that falling short on what is essentially a blind shot will leave you in big trouble.
The 15th and 16th, a short par 4 and a straightforward par 3 respectively, offer the chance to pick up a shot or two before taking on the two excellent, challenging closing holes. The sharply doglegging par-4 17th requires the most accurate tee shot of the round: far enough to get a clear sight of the green, but not so far as to end up in the tidal channel that runs up the side of the second half of the hole.
The round concludes with a short par-5 that will tempt you with thoughts of an eagle. Having a go at the semi-island green with bunkers front and left is nearly irresistible, but you’re realistically more likely to end up with a seven than a three, especially with the added pressure of playing in front of the onlookers on the clubhouse balcony. If you’re allowed one mulligan on your round, save it for this moment.
The Facilities
Tower Links Golf Club offers extensive practice facilities, including a floodlit driving range, a chipping area and a putting green, giving you the opportunity to get your game in shape before taking on the course itself. It’s also worth mentioning that the back nine is floodlit, meaning you can play during the hot summer months.
At the clubhouse you’ll find a well-stocked pro shop, elegant locker rooms, spa, and the Links Restaurant, which serves excellent Middle Eastern, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine and offers great views over the course. The Bunker Lounge is a great place to watch sport on the big screen or enjoy a game of darts or pool with a beer or snack after your round.
Tower Links Golf Club faces some stiff competition on the Dubai golfing scene but more than holds its own. While it’s not in quite the pristine condition of some of its more illustrious peers, it’s an enjoyable mix of scoring opportunities and intoxicating challenges in a beautiful natural setting, mercifully free of the endless villas that tend to border the courses in Dubai itself. The green fees are reasonable too, so booking a tee time and making the short drive from Dubai will definitely not disappoint.
Reviews
Good value for the money.
One of my favorite golf courses in Dubai, suitable for all handicaps! It's so far from Dubai, but it's worth a trip!Course Info
Key Facts
Amenities
Scorecard Summary
Tee | Par | Length | CR | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 72 | 7199 yds | 75.2 | 141 |
Green | 72 | 6693 yds | 73.6 | 139 |
White | 72 | 6201 yds | 71.1 | 133 |
Red (W) | 72 | 5540 yds | 72.7 | 131 |
Technical Difficulty
Course Location
Address
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Weather Forecast for Tower Links Golf Club
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