Dubai; the playground of the rich and famous, and the most ‘Marmite’ of cities. But few could deny it’s broken every mold throughout an unparalleled transformation. Two centuries ago, Dubai was home to 1,000 people plus a few goats and camels. 70 years later, savvy sheikh ruler Al Maktoum established Dubai as a free port, with no import / export tax, together with free land and guarantees for merchants. It worked a charm, with the discovery of oil in 1966 only serving to supercharge their development.
Today, Dubai is home to 3.6m people, 75% of which are ex-pats and of which 10% are British. It’s easy to see why so many flock there, with salaries equivalent to London, but with property averaging a quarter of the cost, and zero income tax! But after a stressful day in the office, what does one do with all that disposable income? The famous bottomless brunches and late night bars are largely a weekend preserve… so how about partaking in a totally different kind of ‘night clubbing’?
Golf in Dubai originates as recently as 1988, when Emirates Golf Club (‘EGC’) became the first grass course in the gulf. Over a dozen more have since sprung up, including DP World hosts Jumeirah Golf Estates (17th island green pictured) and Dubai Creek, together with the OG, EGC. But with sunset rarely later than 6.30, and temperatures in the summer months topping 40C, opportunities for a daytime round – even if you have £200+ for green fees spare – are somewhat limited.
Enter… Night Golf! Once again EGC were the pioneers, relaunching their 2nd ‘Wadi’ course in 2006 as ‘The Faldo’, following Nick’s redesign, with floodlights added as an integral part of the new setup. It makes for an amazing spectacle, on top of a thoroughly practical offering, with a much cooler setting, and with green fees around 25% below the daytime rate. On our visit in late February, the course is very quiet, in superb condition, and with the most mesmerising backdrop of the Dubai Marina skyline.
Off the back tees, The Faldo is a par 73 and plays over 7,300 yards, which in itself has a certain synergy that makes us ponder how many course’s par requires an average of over 100 yards per shot. The next challenge, besides making sure your driver game is on point, is accuracy. There’s various water hazards to avoid, plus they’ve utilised the fact this was once desert, to leave sandy expanses in what would ordinarily be rough, punishing tee shots either wayward and short.
So it’s fair to say that this is not a course for the highest handicappers, or the faint-hearted. But when the twinkling lights of the cityscape come firmly into view on the 6th, it’s an utterly breathtaking scene, filing numerous deposits into the long-term memory bank. The Faldo at EGC is open 24 hours a day… though we didn’t stick around to witness whether the patrons at 3am are shift workers, insomniacs, or tipsy revellers favouring an alternative type of after-party!
Whilst The Faldo is the only 18 holer under lights, there are other night golf options, generally open until around 10pm. The Address Montgomerie has 9 lit holes built around 14 lakes, Dubai Creek also has a par-3 option amidst coconut and palm trees, and The Trump International has an illuminated offering too, including holes based on it‘s big brother’s. Then finally there’s The Track (pictured), at Mayden Racecourse, another 9 holer, overlooked by the world’s tallest building.
But what if you’ve got a golf itch that needs scratching, but don’t want to play a round? Maybe you’re on holiday and don’t want to have to hire clubs, you’re short on time, or just fancy hitting some shots over a few beers… without all the walking. Well, after all, this is the destination marketed as ‘where anything is possible’, so naturally Dubai has you well covered. The Emirates Golf Club, not content with just their Faldo offering, have added Topgolf, a 96 bay state-of-the-art floodlit driving range.
Topgolf Dubai is set out over 3 floors, with bays for up to 6 people hired by the hour. There’s a selection of games, linking the 10 targets on the range to in-booth screens. Clubs are included for those without, with both ladies and men’s, and right and left-handed options. There’s a bar with an array of big screens, and outdoor terrace overlooking their numerous courts for the latest tennis craze, Padel. The bays are spacious and well equipped, and an ideal setting for a few drinks and some food with friends.
But the pièce de résistance at Topgolf Dubai is undoubtedly the view, with every shot being made towards the beautiful Dubai Marina skyline, which is even more transfixing when lit up at night. It’s open until 2am, 7 days a week, and on our visit we were further entertained by roaming musicians and a magician. For around £40 an hour, it might be a little more than a bucket of balls at your local range, but for a memorable group experience it’s worth every penny!
For videos from our trip to check out night golf in Dubai visit us on Instagram or TikTok.
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