Consider this week the Duel of the Deserts. While the PGA Tour convenes in
Scottsdale, Arizona, for the FBR Open, the European Tour’s caravan makes camp in
Dubai for the Dubai Desert Classic.
Both events have plenty of star power. The FBR Open coincides with
Super Bowl week, with kickoff just minutes after the winning putt. In the days
preceding football’s biggest day, there should be plenty of big names stopping
by the TPC Scottsdale to watch Aaron Baddeley as he tries to defend his
title.
Inside the ropes, however, the FBR can’t match the top-heavy field
at the Emirates Golf Club: Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Jose
Maria Olazabal. And, of course, Tiger Woods, who won the 2006 Dubai Desert Classic and finished two strokes behind Henrik Stenson last year.
Also in the field is Ernie Els, who will begin the week by opening
his design at the Els Club (pictured), located in the community of Victory Heights
in Dubai Sports City, a 50-million-square-foot complex centered around three
stadiums and several sports academies. The ambitious, futuristic city also
includes residential, commercial and retail space, along with schools,
accommodations and medical facilities.
This will be the first of several Els Clubs, a series of elite clubs around the world that offer the very best of the luxury
lifestye that Els has seen during his more than 20 years of traveling around the
world.
When completed, the clubhouse will have numerous amenities,
including meeting rooms and several restaurants.
Using natural dunes and native flora, Els and design associate
Greg Letsche gave the 7,538-yard desert layout a links style, incorporating
closely mown feed-in areas that encourage play along the ground. "We call it a 'desert links' and I think that captures the essence of this golf course nicely," said Els.
Many holes have wide corridors, encouraging players to consider
their options carefully before choosing the line that best sets up the hole, as
at the 443-yard 12th, which dares players to challenge the dogleg, or the
350-yard 16th, a classically risk/reward par 4 that often plays downwind.
"The Els Club in Dubai is definitely good enough to one day host a Tour event," said Els, "and yet every other day of the year, golfers of all standards are going to love it, too."
