Course Review: Jumeirah Golf Estate & Royal Cape

The climax to the 45 event European Tour season arrives with the DP Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course. The facts and figures show that this 7050m par 72 design by all-time great Greg Norman has 102 bunkers, 20 lakes and two streams. The fairways and rough are ryegrass and the greens are Tifeagle Bermuda grass, and more than 3500 mature trees are scattered across the course.

The round begins with a gentle downhill par 4 that should give up its share of birdies. The 225m 4th is the start of a challenging and exciting four-hole stretch. The 5th is a short par 4 with the landing area off the tee and the green well protected by sand traps. A 170m par 3 follows with water guarding the front and left of the green and the 7th is a reachable par 5 with invitingly positioned fairway and greenside bunkers.

The final four holes – the driveable par 4 15th, a 444m par 4, the island green par 3 signature hole 17th, and the 570m par 5 18th with a meandering stream bisecting the entire length of the fairway – have been dubbed by Greg Norman as the most challenging mile in golf. In the three years since the Earth Course opened for play there has been significant maturing of the rolling parkland terrain and the immaculately manicured layout is a perfect stage for the top 60 on the Order of Merit to show off their talents.

The Sunshine Tour pays a 2-day visit to the oldest golf club in South Africa, Royal Cape. Founded in 1885 and receiving Royal status in 1910, this Grand Dame hosted 10 SA Open Championships up to 1996 but has been overshadowed in recent years by some of the new signature offerings around the country. However, the classic parkland layout remains a stern test of the shot-maker's skills, especially when the southeaster kicks up.

The most notable holes are the long par 4 3rd that is usually played downwind, and Royal Cape's self-styled Amen Corner, 13, 14 and 15 – a deceptively difficult par 3, a dogleg par 4 with water lurking for those that don't hit the tee and approach shots, and a well-protected par 3 played into the prevailing winds. Charles Murray's 1928 design has seen many upgrades over the years without any significant routing changes, and Royal Cape has succeeded in retaining its character, challenge, charm and relevance.

A Golf Weather
Editorial