The Els Club Dubai manages both a masterful blend of refinement and challenge set against the striking backdrop of the desert. It’s a course that doesn’t shout for attention, but rather earns it, one perfectly shaped fairway at a time.

Tucked within the serene Dubai Sports City, The Els Club was the first signature design in the Middle East from the man himself, Ernie Els. Known for his smooth rhythm and effortless power, “The Big Easy” has infused those very qualities into the course. The result is golf that flows naturally, feels generous from the tee, and yet quietly demands precision from start to finish.

There’s something distinctly “Ernie” about the place. The routing is relaxed, the movement through the dunes graceful, and there’s a calmness that belies the strategic bite beneath the surface. The course draws its inspiration from the great sandbelt and links layouts: wide corridors, sweeping bunkers, and green complexes that ask clever questions rather than harsh ones.

Fairways are generous, but they’re flanked by cleverly positioned hazards that make you think twice before reaching for the driver. It’s not a course that beats you up; it tempts you into overconfidence and then punishes the slightest lapse in judgement. That balance is what makes it so engaging.

The par-5 7th perfectly captures the course’s character — reachable for the bold, treacherous for the careless. Then there’s the short par-4 10th, a beautifully framed hole that rewards shape and touch over brute force. And the closing stretch? A trio of holes that demand focus all the way home, with the 18th playing beneath the gaze of the elegant Tuscan-style clubhouse, a fitting finish to a course of understated grandeur.

Dubai is a city that thrives on spectacle, soaring towers, gleaming hotels, and world-class experiences at every turn. Yet, step inside The Els Club and the pace immediately shifts. The air feels different — quieter, calmer, more reflective. The clubhouse is effortlessly sophisticated, the hospitality warm and genuine, and the conditioning consistently superb.

It’s no surprise that The Els Club has become a favourite among residents and visitors alike. It’s golf at its purest, elevated by luxury but rooted in tradition, a rare balance that few modern courses achieve.

Ernie Els has always been about grace and rhythm, never flash or fuss. His design here mirrors that perfectly. It’s not a course that tries to be everything to everyone; it’s a course that knows exactly what it is — refined, intelligent, and quietly confident.

Whether you’re plotting your way through its wide fairways for the first time, or revisiting for another round under the desert sun, The Els Club offers a kind of golf that stays with you, smooth, satisfying, and perfectly in tempo.

So, if you’re searching for a round that captures Dubai’s signature polish but delivers it with a touch of soulful restraint, look no further.

The Els Club Dubai isn’t just one of the city’s best — it’s golf’s version of the Big Easy himself.

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The Els Club Dubai - Spotlight

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