Doha Golf Course And Club – The Crown Jewel Of Qatar’s Sport World

By Habeeb Salloum

We were on our way to the Doha Golf Club, one of Qatar’s main tourist attractions, when Saraj Al-Deen, our driver, pointed to the building before us. "Look!  Have you ever seen such an impressive post office as this?"  I was amazed!  Its upper story appeared to be a collection of large tubes glued together. Yet, it was only one of the many unique and architecturally pleasing new structures we had seen in Doha, Qatar's capital.

A minute past the post office, we stopped by a delightful and sparkling white and blue building topped by traditional wind-towers - once a natural form of air conditioning found along the shores of the Arabian Gulf. "Do you like it?” Saraj asked. "It's our Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex.”  He continued, “Most of our new buildings are built with the past in mind. I am proud of our engineers who have given traditional meaning to our modern structures.”

Past the architecturally eye-catching University of Qatar, we turned off the main road into the Doha Golf Club. Before us the traditionally designed and quaint Arabic clubhouse shone like an enchanted palace in the noonday sun. It was a great introduction to Qatar’s only grass golf course in Qatar. There are two others but they are old ‘sand’ golf courses built by American and British oil workers in the 1940s.

Dominating the golf course, the clubhouse is located on one of the highest points in the area.  Inside the clubhouse, built in the style of a typical Qatari house and with a marble interior, was equally impressive. A central fountain, waterfalls, outdoor terraces with a fine breathtaking panoramic view of the course and parts of the city give the clubhouse a cool and welcoming aura. Designed to provide customers and visitors with a feeling typical of Qatari atmosphere it offers fine dining outlets and cafes such as ‘the grill room’, an elegantly decorated restaurant.

Opened by Qatar National Hotels in 1997 and located edging the sparkling blue waters of West Bay Lagoon, the 150 ha (370.5 ac) Doha Golf Club is a manmade oasis with a spectacular view of Qatar University. Full use was made of the original barren landscape with its natural outcrops of eroded rock. It was landscaped with 1,300 palm trees, 10,000 other trees, 5,000 shrubs, 65 Saguaro cacti brought in from Arizona, lush green fairways and an attractive collection of colour from the flowers and decorative foliage. The Course’s water and greenery attracts birds, butterflies and other wildlife, making the Club not only a place to play golf but also a delightful spot in which to unwind.

The club offers an 18-hole Championship Course designed by Peter Harradine. The par 72-course measures 7,355 yards, with eight artificial lakes, freshwater and saltwater and both stocked with a variety of fish winding their way along most of the holes. The lakes serve the double role of hazards for the golfers and reservoirs for the irrigation system that uses millions of gallons of water to keep the fairways green and the desert at bay. The course challenges the beginner yet, tests the abilities of even the most seasoned golfer. It is a course for the long hitter.  If the desert wind starts to blow, the 639-yard ninth hole can ruin the best of rounds.

Also, besides its delightful clubhouse and Championship Course, the Club includes a 9-hole floodlit Academy Course - ideal for new and less experienced golfers. Measuring 2808 yards long it offers spectacular views of West Bay Lagoon and is open until midnight.

All during the year, the Doha Golf Club hosts a good number of local and regional tournaments.  However, the top event held at this unique and challenging championship golf course is the Qatar Masters, first held in 1998, which attracts some of the top golfers on the European tour. The Club is well known to golf fans from all over the world as the home to the annual European and Asian PGA Tour Qatar Masters.

It attracts top professionals from all over the world.  Ernie Els is perhaps the most famous winner of the tournament, having in 2004 shot a final round seven under par 65 to win by one stroke.  Winners of the Qatar Masters besides Ernie Els, to mention a few, include the major champions, Paul Lawrie and in 2007 Retief Goosen.

The Club is open to golfers as members and playing non-members. It has become popular with nationals and expatriates, and overseas visitors from Europe and the Americas. Tour companies offer organized golfing tours for players and friends who want to combine golfing with an exotic holiday in a seductive oriental atmosphere. As well, the Doha Golf Club is becoming a popular destination for teaching groups from Europe who travel to Qatar to avoid the winter cold and snow of Europe.

The Club serves as a prestigious tourist card for Qatar and, hence, helps in drawing the ever-increasing visitors. It has a strong local membership of nationals and expatriates while some local schools use the Club’s facilities and offer golf as an extra-curricular sporting activity.  Some 320 golfers are now using the Doha Golf Club on a regular basis – some join as individuals; others as members of an organization. Corporate membership can be for a minimum of three named executives from the same organization and offers several advantages including a waiver of green fees for a number of guests and a waiver of the joining fee for each executive added to the corporate membership.

There is not much doubt that the Doha Golf Club, with an active membership of 600 plus a waiting list of 100, is the crown jewel of Qatar’s sport’s world, and is ideal for those who are searching for an unusual golfing holiday. The Course is developing a reputation as being challenging, exciting and spectacular - drawing golfers from the four corners of the world.

More About Doha Golf Club:

The Doha Golf Club is located close to West Bay Lagoon, 8 km (5 mi) north of central Doha.

The Club can be reached by public transportation - via taxi or limousine.  Also, visitors’ parking is available at the Club.

For More Information, Contact:
Doha Golf Club, Tel: +974 496 0777.  Fax: +974 4834790. 
Email: info@dohagolfclub.com Website: http://www.dohagolfclub.com/