Yas Links Abu Dhabi - Spotlight
The moment you catch sight of its emerald fairways rolling towards the Arabian Gulf, you know you’re somewhere special, somewhere that redefines what desert golf can be.
Set on the western shores of Yas Island, just a short drive from downtown Abu Dhabi, Yas Links is a course of striking contrasts. The Arabian Sea on one side, the desert beyond, and in between one of the most beautifully crafted layouts in the Middle East. Designed by Kyle Phillips, the man behind Kingsbarns and Dundonald Links, it’s a course that feels both authentic and adventurous, traditional in spirit, yet unmistakably modern in execution.
It’s easy to forget that Yas Links was built entirely from reclaimed land. Phillips and his team moved millions of cubic metres of sand to sculpt a landscape that looks as though it’s always been here — low dunes, rippling fairways, and greens that appear to melt into the shoreline.
That’s the genius of it. What could have been artificial feels completely natural.
Wind is the ever-present companion here. One day it helps, the next it hinders, but it’s always part of the conversation. The course asks for flight control, creativity, and patience, exactly what true links golf should demand, even under a desert sun.
Yas Links - Abu Dhabi
Yas Links is full of those holes you think about long after the round. The par-3 6th, played over a lagoon to a green framed by the sea, is as photogenic as it gets. Then there’s the 10th, a stunning par 5 that snakes along the coastline, offering risk and reward in equal measure.
And the finish, what a finish. The 18th, played right along the water’s edge with the skyline of Yas Island glinting in the distance, is one of the great closing holes anywhere in the region.
Part of what makes Yas Links so appealing is how seamlessly it fits into its surroundings. Just beyond the course lie the thrills of Yas Marina Circuit, the roar of Formula 1 cars, the calm luxury of Yas Beach, and the sophistication of the W Abu Dhabi hotel. It’s an experience as much as it is a destination, golf woven into the rhythm of island life.
Yet for all that glitz, the course itself remains grounded. There’s an honesty to it, a sense of purity that appeals to golfers who appreciate the craft of shot-making over the spectacle of resort design. The conditioning is immaculate, the greens fast and true, but it’s the feel of the place that lingers, that sense of standing on the edge of land and sea, plotting your way home against the wind.
Yas Links - Abu Dhabi
Yas Links has matured beautifully since opening in 2010. It’s hosted the world’s best at events like the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, yet it remains wonderfully playable for the everyday golfer. It doesn’t punish; it challenges. It rewards thought, touch, and imagination, just as any great links should.
There are few places on earth where you can finish a round watching the sun sink into the Gulf, cool drink in hand, and feel completely connected to both the game and the landscape. Yas Links offers that — and more.
For anyone seeking golf that blends artistry with adventure, Yas Links Abu Dhabi is not just a must-play. It’s a reminder that true links golf doesn’t need to be born from centuries of tradition, sometimes, it can rise from the desert, shimmering under the Arabian sky. Desert golf really doesn’t get much better than this.
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Yas Links - Abu Dhabi