Al Zorah - United Arab Emirates
Al Ettehad Street,
Ajman,
United Arab Emirates
+971 6701 4700
40 km N of downtown Dubai
Welcome
Philip Henderson
Tian Wentzel
Unveiled at the end of 2015, the 18-hole layout at Al Zorah Golf Club was the first golf course to open for play in the United Arab Emirates for more than six years. Exactly two years to the day after construction started, the Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaima, officially opened the Nicklaus Design course.
Holes are laid out inside a natural mangrove landscape, with 1.5 kilometres of boardwalks installed to cope with the rising and falling water levels at some of the tidal-affected fairways. If the tide’s out and your ball strays into a “mangrove recess” then you may well be able to manage a recovery shot from the wet sand.
A couple of lakes also feature during the round, most notably at the par three 2nd hole, although a tought sequence of holes is found on the back nine, where the par four 13th is rated stoke index 2 for good reason – there may be a lack of greenside bunkers on this hole but water threatens all the way from tee to green down the left side of the fairway.
Reviews for Al Zorah
Al Zorah is a very nice golf course in super condition. For some reason the tide always seem to be low when we play and only once have we experienced the wet areas being real water hazards.
The course is not overly difficult but a good test for a friendly game. The clubhouse still needs to be finished and the drive to / from the first tee is a bit of sightseeing.
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Personally I think this ranks lower than in the current listing, it’s a beautiful course but with lots of development work taking place around the edges. The greens were extraordinarily quick (a bit glassy) but the setting was brilliant. Set in the mangroves played better with the high tide as the water would make a difference to the vista.
(Side note - staff were rushed and starter made a point in hustling a 2 ball behind a slow 4 in front of a slow 4…)
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I think this is one of the most underrated courses in the country. It caught me by surprise - it’s exceptional as a golf course in the country. The restaurant and wider facilities are a little lacking and maybe the drive to the first tee box from the club house is excessive (10 minutes in a golf buggy). It’s not busy, it’s the best value circa $100 for a round and is really well maintained in a beautiful little part of Ajman. Worth driving over for from Dubai considering many courses charge 2-3x over weekends without returning the same value, speed of play and course condition. When in the UAE, this has to be comfortably in the 5 foremost golf clubs to play. Excellent.
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Overall review is that it is a good course in good condition at a decent rate vs the pricier, more well known courses.
Positives:
- fairways and greens are in good condition
- some interesting holes, mostly on the back 9. With island tee boxes, lakes etc.
- decent value vs other courses close to Dubai
- marshalling - did very well keeping up pace of play and getting people let through etc.
Draw Backs:
- Clubhouse is completely at the wrong end of the course for Range, 1st Tee and 18th Green. It seemed like a 10 minute buggy ride from Clubhouse to those.
- Front 9 a little dull
- a bit scruffy around the edges (away from Greens and Fairways), a few greens a bit riddled with pitchmarks.
- it is 45 mins or so out of Dubai
All in all It was nice to play but I wouldn’t rush back.
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See other reviews from Edward Bromley-Martin
Wow just surprised myself having played here and kept beating on to my friends about how much this course reminded me of the Nicklaus courses in the Murcia region in spain to which they thought I was an idiot.
It wasn't until I started reading the reviews did I realise it was a nicklaus design so I am patting myself on the back that i do have some idea when it comes to golf courses !
A pleasant enough course and decent value , but not a bucket lister I am afraid.
3 weeks after playing it I can't remember that many holes but from memory a couple of outstanding holes towards the end of the round based around a lake , a couple of nice par 3's towards the end. Other than that, good but not amazing
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Played Earth, Majlis and Al Zorah in one trip and this was by far the best condition wise. Due to location I think it gets far less traffic than the others but that’s not the only reason it’s great. The layout is fantastic, challenging for your average golfer and due to water on so many holes, an easy scorecard ruined. Coming back to Dubai next year and this will be the first on the list.
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Played this course yesterday and the fairways and greens were the best I’ve ever seen in the Middle East and the top 3 of any I’ve played around the world. Add in a price of £45 for the round and you have yourself one hell of a great golf experience
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This is a great golf course and has a different feel to others in the region. It is also great value as it is an hours drive our of Dubai so gets less traffic. Interesting layout with water everywhere, and was in magnificent shape when I played it in September. There is something visually alluring about every hole, and it almost feels linksy, certainly compared to the other top courses in the middle east (Yas aside). Well worth the drive and would highly recommend it.
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