Course Review: Doha Golf Club, Doha, Qatar

Strong winds have often been a crucial factor in determining who wins and who loses at the Doha Golf Club, this week's Middle East venue for the European Tour's Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

And when I wrote this preview on Monday the wind was howling.

At noon, according to our Golf Weather.com boffins, a north west wind was gusting at up to 45 kph and, on one of the longest and toughest par-72 courses on the European Tour, this would have been making life very unpleasant for anyone getting in a practice round ahead of the Qatar Masters.

Luckily, however, the wind, according to the boffins, will drop significantly before the Masters tees off on Thursday and is not expected to get up to anything much above 10kp/h on any one of the four days of play.

DOHA'S CHAMPINSHIP COURSE

Doha Golf Club offers its members, their guests and the public an 18-hole, par-72 championship course with some especially difficult par threes, a 9-hole Academy Course, an enormous driving range, practice putting greens and a highly professional teaching academy - and at 7 374 yards its Championship layout is certainly a long one.

Designed by Peter Harradine and unveiled in 1997, it strongly reflects the natural beauty of a diverse landscape in which a lush green golf course has been carved out of rock and desert sand.

This spectacular diversity is assisted, of course, by eight, strategically-placed, man-made lakes, 5 000 shrubs, 6 000 trees, and 10 000 cacti, among them 65 giant cacti imported from Arizona.

The lakes provide a good few water hazards on the championship course, these coming into play on holes, 3, 8, 9, 13, 15 and 18.

The back nine features a series of limestone rock formations which can be lethal to anyone straying too far from the fairways.

The fairways, a good few which are dog-legged, the tee boxes and the rough are all turfed with Bermuda 419 over-seeded with a Rye blend, and the greens, which run at between 11.6 and 12 on the Stimpmeter, with Bermuda 328 over seeded with Poa Trivialis.

THE ACADEMY COURSE

The Academy Course is less demanding and can be played by beginners and those who want to get in a quick nine holes. The fairways are larger, the holes are shorter with less hazards and generally the course will allow the not-so proficient golfer to enjoy their games.

VIRTUAL TOUR:

To take a virtual tour of the Doha Championship Golf Course and get more detail about each hole you should go to http://www.dohagolfclub.com/virtualtour/VT_main.html

THE CLUBHOUSE:

Doha GC features an Arabian-style clubhouse, with some magnificent marble interiors and outdoor terraces, traditional artifacts and solid teak doors imported from Thailand and hand-engraved in Doha.

Beautifully crafted marble, internal waterfalls and a central fountain create a cool and welcoming atmosphere.

WINING AND DINING:

The clubhouse is home to some of the town's most popular bar lounges and dining venues including the Shamai Cafe, the Spikes Lounge and the Oasis Members Lounge. The club will tell you that its unique atmosphere makes Doha Golf Club an absolute must for residents, business people and tourists visiting Qatar.

Each restaurant reflects an ambience of its own which is quite evident in the thoughtfully designed decor, the specially prepared menus and the friendly and attentive staff.

 THE PRO SHOP

The pro shop at the Doha clubhouse stocks exclusive sportswear from most leading brands. These include Adidas, J Lindeberg, Cutter & Buck, Crestlink, Greg Norman and Polo by Ralph Lauren. The shop also sells a wide range of branded footwear including Adidas, Footjoy, J Lindeberg and Ecco. Oakley and Sundog eyewear can also be found there as can many other accessories such as tees, gloves, caps and golf balls.

WHAT AN 18-HOLE ROUND WILL COST YOU

Note: 3.65 Qatari Rial = 1 US Dollar

CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE

Visitors

Sundays to Wednesday: (6.30 to 15.00) -  QR650.00; (15:00 onwards) - QR420

Thursdays (6.30 to 11.00) QR650.00

Thursdays (from noon) to Saturday's (6.30 to 13.28) - QR875

Member's Guests:

Sunday-Wednesday (06:30 to 15:00) - QR 440; (15:10 onwards) - QR 385

Thursday (06:30 - 11:00) - QR 440

Thursdays (from noon) to Saturday's 6.30 to 13.28 - QR550

ACADEMY COURSE

Visitors:              

Sunday- Thursday (06:32 to 14:24) - QR365; (14:32 to 20:30) - QR 420

Friday - Saturday - QR 420

Member's Guest            

Sunday- Thursday (06:32 to 14:24) - QR 340; (14:32 to 20:30m) - QR365

Friday - Saturday - QR365

CONTACT THE CLUB:

Post To: Doha Golf Club, PO Box 13530 Doha, Qatar
Tel: +974 4496 0777
Fax: +974 4483 4790
Mobile: +974 555 30965
Email: gm@dohagolfclub.com
Course Website: www.dohagolfclub.com
Tournament Website: www.qatar-masters.com.

For any feedback or ideas you are welcome to email: neville@golfweather.com.