Tiger Woods to design new Dubai course

Joy Chakravarty 14:29 09/12/2014
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • 'Special' course: Tiger Woods' designed course is due to open by the end of 2017.

    Golfing superstar Tiger Woods will design the new 18-hole championship golf course in Dubai to be built by luxury real estate developers, DAMAC Properties and operated by The Trump Organization.

    After the massive success of their first golf course community, Akoya – which will feature an 18-hole championship course designed by Gil Hanse, the man who is also bringing to life the Olympic golf course in Rio – Damac have announced their latest project, Akoya Oxygen, with Woods’ golf course forming the heart of the new community in Dubailand area.

    The golf course will be managed by the Trump Organisation and will be called ‘Trump World Golf Club Dubai’. Site preparation work on the Trump World Golf Club Dubai is already underway, with the course due to open by the end of 2017. Woods is expected to make a site visit “very soon”, although no dates have been released.

    The earlier golf course was announced in 2006 and was part of a $1.1 billion project called ‘Tiger Woods Dubai’. The golf course, which was called Al Ruwaya, was the 14-time major champion’s first course design project.

    In reply to Sport360 query, a Damac official confirmed that the new golf course is in the same area, and that Tiger Woods Dubai indeed purchased by the luxury real estate company in August this year.

    Woods had already completed shaping and grassing three of the 18 holes when the project became a victim of the economic slowdown and work was halted. 

    The three completed holes were supposed to be the par-3 12th, the par-4 17th, and the beautiful par-4 18th, a long 507-yard hole with a creek cutting across the fairway and then running all along the right side.

    While satellite image on Google map shows that these holes still exist and haven’t been eaten up by the desert, Damac have said that Woods will actually create new design for all 18 holes.

    Al Ruwaya still finds a mention on the website of Tiger Woods Design, and it outlines the former world No1’s vision for the course as one “to transform the blank canvas into a distinctive golf course that allows for more than 100 feet of elevation change, creating visual interest as well as a dramatic golf shots”. 

    The new course will be set within the 55 million sq ft master community of Akoya Oxygen, and Ziad El Chaar, Managing Director, Damac Properties, said: “Tiger Woods is one of the most famous and iconic sportsmen in the world who will bring his design expertise and worldwide playing experience to this amazing development.

    “Add to that the golfing prowess and skills of The Trump Organisation, our leadership position in luxury real estate development, with the global appeal of Dubai, we believe The Trump World Golf Club Dubai, designed by Tiger Woods, will be a market leader, judged against the best golf courses in the world.”

    Woods, whose first golf course design is set to be launched this month – the El Cardonal in Mexico – and he said through a release: “I’ve been fortunate to play great golf courses all over the globe, from the original links courses in Scotland to the famous parkland courses in America and the distinctive layouts on the sandbelt of Australia.

     

    “I hope to bring elements of those great courses and others to the Trump World Golf Club Dubai with the end result being a course that golfers will want to play again and again.

    “Dubai is fast becoming one of the most influential golfing destinations in the world, both for the professional game and for amateurs looking to enjoy the great weather, great courses and amazing lifestyle. I can’t wait to see this stunning project come to life.”

    Recommended