[ad_1]
Host of three Problem Tour occasions between 2016-18, Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Hamra Golf Membership first joined the DP World Tour’s schedule in 2022, when it was given the uncommon honour of internet hosting back-to- again occasions in February as a result of cancellation of the Qatar Masters as a result of Covid restrictions. First staging the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, after which having simply sufficient time to roll the greens and restore the divots for the next week’s Ras Al Khaimah Basic, each tournaments have been effectively supported by members of the tour, with Ryder Cup hopeful Nicolai Hojgaard profitable the Championship and rising Kiwi star Ryan Fox taking the spoils within the Basic.
My journey coincided with Al Hamra’s internet hosting of the 2023 Ras Al Khaimah Championship, which additionally attracted an honest subject, with each Fox and Hojgaard again to defend their honours, whereas an entire host of stars, together with former Ryder Cup participant Thorbjorn Olesen and three-time main champion and former Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, have been additionally within the beginning line-up.
At some point of our journey we stayed within the five- star Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, which is only a drive and a pitching wedge from the golf membership, and likewise occurred to be the place the gamers have been being hosted, so it was fairly one thing to not solely be invited to attend the pre- occasion social gathering with all of the gamers, but in addition to sit down down at breakfast every single day and be surrounded by {golfing} greats.
Taking a courtesy buggy to the course on apply days I shared a journey with Thomas Bjorn and Padraig Harrington at separate instances, which isn’t one thing you get to do a most tournaments! I used to be additionally fortunate sufficient to be invited to play within the Professional-Am for the occasion, and was paired with rising German star Yannik Paul, who was not solely nice enjoyable to play with but in addition a severely good ball striker.
Our group loved a memorable spherical on Al Hamra’s wonderful course, which, as you’d count on for a Tour-level venue managed by Troon Golf, was offered in excellent situation. First opened in 2008, Al Hamra was designed by Peter Harradine, who’s accountable for lots of the Center East’s prime tracks, together with the Nationwide Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Membership.
Situated on a largely flat swathe of land, the holes are laid out round a collection of lagoons, and as such water options closely on lots of them, most notably both facet of the golf green on the par-5 third. The sixth and seventh are the primary two ‘dry holes’ – a powerful par 4 and a stunning brief gap, and these opening seven, together with 17 and 18, even have floodlights for night golf and make an ideal 9-hole loop.
A really lengthy par 5 and a maximum-distance par -4 take you to the flip earlier than the again 9 begins with a trio of very scary holes. The tenth and twelfth are most likely the 2 hardest par 4s on the course, each with greens perilously near the lagoon, they usually sandwich a really scenic par 3 with a inexperienced that juts out into the water.
There’s some respite from the water over the following 5 holes and hopefully the prospect to choose up a shot or two on the cardboard. The spherical finishes with the extraordinarily intimidating par 5, the place water threatens all the best way down the best facet of the outlet to the very fringe of the triple-tiered inexperienced. It jogged my memory of a mirror picture of Pebble Seashore’s 18th, the place water is omnipresent down the left.
Sadly, regardless of our greatest efforts, our group didn’t win any prizes, however we totally loved the day. Yannik simply missed the reduce in the primary match, however has since gone on to complete second in occasions in India and Thailand, and is using excessive within the DP World Tour rankings, so fortunately his time with me didn’t hurt his future prospects!
I spent the following two days delivery backwards and forwards on the shuttle between the luxurious environment of the Waldorf Astoria and the golf course, watching the professionals in motion. If you happen to’ve not been to a match earlier than, and even when you’ve got, I’d strongly suggest coming to this occasion, as I’ve not been to 1 the place you’re in a position to get nearer to the motion or the place you may have interaction with the gamers on such an intimate degree. England’s Dan Gavins received the occasion with a rating of 17 underneath, and with the reduce coming at 4 underneath, it exhibits simply how good these guys are.
The Waldorf Astoria was none too shabby both, with 346 spacious and splendid rooms and suites overlooking the Arabian Sea, eight fashionable eating choices, together with a buffet and seafood, steak and Japanese eating places, in addition to a pool and seashore bar. There are two massive out of doors swimming swimming pools and also you’re lower than a minute’s stroll away from the 350-metre non-public seashore overlooking the azure waters.
Being solely an hour’s drive north of Dubai, you would simply slip in a sport at Al Hamra and a keep on the Waldorf Astoria as a part of an prolonged journey to the UAE, however I’d strongly advise giving over a few additional days to discover what this distinctive space has to supply. In addition to one other 18-hole championship course at close by Tower Hyperlinks Golf Membership, there are many memorable actions to do in ‘RAK’, as it’s identified by Emiratis.
Amongst private highlights was a visit to the close by desert for a sundown dinner on the stunning Sonara Camp. Situated the guts of the sand dunes, it had every thing you would ask for, together with some enjoyable actions to maintain you entertained earlier than dinner. Whether or not that be a brief
camel journey, feeding a falcon, sand boarding or reside music – it had all of it as you watched the solar go down. When the camp lit up it was time for a decadent three-course dinner, accompanied by some distinctive reside leisure together with a charming hearth present and acrobatics. A Harvester this wasn’t.
Whereas it was a particularly peaceable finish to the night time watching the solar setting over the dunes, the identical couldn’t be mentioned for the adrenaline-fuelled actions I skilled the following day. About an hour’s drive away from the Waldorf Astoria sits the spectacular Jebel Jais, the very best peak within the Hajar Mountain vary which gives breathtaking views proper from the very prime. It’s additionally residence to the world’s longest zip wire expertise, and within the bus on the best way over, our group started to sound a bit nervous as what lay forward of us got here into view.
The zip line, Jais Flight, measures 1.8 miles from prime to backside – or moderately facet to facet – hovering throughout the jagged mountain peaks and swooping by way of the deep ravines and roads under. Standing on the prime platform, it’s definitely a frightening prospect, however it’s merely an unmissable expertise. If travelling horizontally in a tangerine jumpsuit whereas strapped to face all the way down to a gurney- fashion harness at speeds of up 80mph for nearly three minutes is your thought of enjoyable, then be my visitor. It’s breathtaking in additional methods the one, however when you recover from that preliminary worry and open your eyes, the views throughout the vertiginous valleys are unbelievable, whereas the adrenalin rush is off the charts.
As soon as our coronary heart charges had settled down and our stomachs returned to someplace near the place they need to usually be, we loved an outstanding lunch at 1484 By Puro, a mountain-top restaurant named after its peak in metres above sea degree which provides extra of these majestic views and a few fabulous meals – though I gave the oyster platter a miss whereas I waited for issues to cool down within the tummy area.
As if the zipline wasn’t sufficient adrenaline for someday, after lunch was considerably digested, it was time for the ultimate exercise, the Jais Sledder. It’s successfully a bobsled on a monorail that reaches speeds of 30-40mph – though it feels a lot quicker as you’re sat so near the bottom – which hurtles you down the Hajar mountain vary on a 1.8km winding monitor. Whereas it might not be as heart- pounding because the zipline, it’s nonetheless a particular must-do should you like seeing the whites of your knuckles as you maintain on for expensive life as your cart flies round hair-raising hairpins. And similar to the zipline, it solely takes a few minutes earlier than it’s throughout, however the reminiscences will stick with you for much longer.
One of many different fascinating experiences on my journey, though barely much less irritating than the excessive wire, was a go to to a neighborhood pearl farm. Situated within the outdated fishing village of Al Rams, about 20 minutes from our lodge, we boarded a conventional pearl fishing boat and headed out into the lagoon to study in regards to the progressive scientific methods utilized in modern-day cultured pearl farming and find out about how Emiratis used to dive for pure pearls. We explored the Suwaidi Pearl farmhouse, which was situated on a floating pontoon, whereas our data information helped us to reap a handful of oysters and opened them to seek out out whether or not there have been any Arabian pearls inside – which there have been! All informed, it was a superb few hours on the water and an fantastic perception right into a centuries outdated enterprise that also thrives as we speak in Ras Al Khaimah.
Though it has lengthy been a well-liked weekend retreat for Dubai’s stressed-out residents, ‘RAK’ seems destined to draw adventurous travellers from everywhere in the world due to its distinctive mixture of pure wonders and man-made excitements each on and off the golf course. And that appears certain to be fast-tracked by the approaching opening of a brand new island off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah. As a result of open in 2026, the island shall be one big leisure and hospitality complicated operated by the Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts, that includes a 1,000-room lodge, 10 eating places, and, in response to newest stories, the area’s first licensed on line casino. If that involves fruition, it actually shall be a game- changer for Ras Al Khaimah and its future on the world stage.
STAY
Rooms on the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah begin from £217 per night time. For bookings, go to hilton.com
PLAY
Al Hamra Golf Membership, Inexperienced charges from £110 for 18 holes, alhamragolf.com Tower Hyperlinks Golf Membership, Inexperienced Charges from £70 for 18 holes, towerlinks.ae
ATTRACTIONS
Try all of the adventures and points of interest at rasalkhaimah.com
FLY
Emirates provides flights from the
UK to Dubai Worldwide Airport (emirates.com). From there it’s an hour’s drive to Ras Al Khaimah
[ad_2]
Source link
