Rolling Hills Golf Course, Dhahran

Rolling Hills Golf Course, Dhahran, is one of those that everybody hears about in Saudi Arabia but that most have never seen. It is a course built for the use of Saudi Aramco employees and one that access is limited to. It is a course that I originally didn’t include on my list of Saudi Arabia golf courses due to the restrictions in getting in here, but thankfully, I have gotten to play it this weekend.

Being the only grass golf course in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, it is a great benefit to the employees of the facility that play golf, as the only other alternative is to travel to Bahrain for a round on a grass course!

So what is it like to play this course? Does Rolling Hills Golf Course live up to its name? How well maintained is this company course? Below I’ll try to answer these and more.

Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)

The course is, as the name suggests, home to a few ‘rolling hills’. A lot of the holes are uphill or downhill. There is a nice variety of holes on the course. From straight holes to dog legs. Holes you can take some off the corner, and holes where you need to go straight out with your drive and take the dog leg with your second shot.

The drive on the last hole shows some of the elevations on the course

There are strategically placed bunkers in some of the fairways and these can lead to a missed stroke if you go into them because of their depth. Planning your way around the course will often involve avoiding these bunkers.

Some of the holes have dry water hazards, while you can hit out of these you cannot ground your club. It’s more fun to play the course as if they are filled with water and you need to avoid them altogether.

The approach to the 16th would be a lot scarier if the dry water ditch in the front was full with water

According to members, there used to be a lot more bushes and shrubs on the sides of the fairways, but these are now cleared in a lot of areas making the holes more open and playable if you’re wild off the tee.

The par 3’s are quite long off the blues, and the rest of the holes have a nice variety of length, with some you are playing a very short iron on your approach and others a mid or long iron.

The 4th hole is a long par 3 which is slightly uphill and guarded by bunkers

Course condition (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆)

Rolling Hills Golf Course I felt was in a good condition for what can be termed as a ‘company course’. Looking from the clubhouse to the 9^th and 18^th greens they looked in good condition. My playing partners for the day told me that they get better in the summer so they are not in top condition at the moment. But when I played them, even though there may have been some instances where the green affected my putt, it wasn’t many, and I thought they were in quite good condition.

A lot of greens were two tier but were in quite good condition

Preferred lies were in place for the day as the fairways were a little bobbly in patches. Again it was nothing major, it wasn’t down to a shortage of grass or any other serious issue, and you could easily play it from where it lies.

The fairways weren't perfect but they weren't bad either as seen on the 13th hole here — The fairways weren’t perfect but they weren’t bad either as seen on the 13th hole here

The rough areas could hold up your ball, but again nothing that would cause you to lose your ball. Unless you went far off the fairway into the bushes or extremely long grass, then you had trouble finding it. But in general it was quite forgiving in the rough.

Hazard Areas

The bunkers were probably the one area where they could have been better. Some were ok but others were quite compacted. Hitting out of them needed a bit of skill, and a lot of luck. The ones I was in were ok but I did notice others that would have caused problems if I was in them.

The one thing that was strange was that the water hazards had no water in them. Anyone who went in them just played out normally. It kind of defeated the purpose of a ‘water hazard’.

Around the greens the grass was easy to chip from and you had a great chance to save a par if you missed the green on your approach.

Overall, I thought the ground team had done a good job of maintaining the course.

Facilities (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆)

Rolling Hills golf Course has a driving range and a chipping and putting area for practicing before your round. The range goes to about 250 yards but the balls don’t compress like regular balls so it’s a big hit to go past this. You can easily practice your driving here too.

The driving range on Rolling Hills Golf Course

Most of the members have their own buggies here. If you do get the chance to play here, then you will need to hitch a lift with one of your playing partners.

There is a Pro shop where you can top up with whatever you need before your round.

The clubhouse serves snacks but as we were here as part of a tournament we didn’t get to sample these on this occasion!

Price (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆☆)

The course is not open to the public and the only way you will get to play it is by getting an invite from a member, or by joining a tournament that is registered with the club as we did.

Setting & Course location (⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆☆☆☆)

Rolling Hills Golf Course is located in Saudi Aramco’s facility in Dhahran. To enter here you need an access request number which will be given to you by your contact. With this number you need to go to the Dala Gate and process your access. Then you will be allowed into the facility. The golf course is located less than 5 minutes inside this gate.

Conclusion

Rolling Hills Golf Course is an enjoyable one. It has a nice variety of holes and shots that will keep you on top of your game. The bunkers, especially those around the greens are mostly deep and punishing but again will sharpen up your bunker play.

Rolling Hills is a nice course to play and as a company run course its in good condition. — Rolling Hills Golf Course is a nice course to play and as a company run course its in good condition.

For a course that is not operated by a large franchise it is in good condition and great to play.

What I would like to see changed

I would like to see the bunkers worked on, and the water hazards filled in. Having water in the hazards would make the course tougher to play with more thinking involved. Having better sand in the bunkers would allow for more consistent bunker shots, even though as mentioned before they weren’t the worst I’ve seen so it is not a major thing.

Another thing I noticed was that there didn’t seem to be a lot of yardage markers. I know a lot of people have yardage devices now but I’m old school and like to work off markers so for me it was difficult to gauge distance sometimes.

I’m glad I got the chance to play Rolling Hills Golf Course. It’s one that I was not expecting to play due to the difficulties getting access here, but I’m thankful I did. The course is a great addition for the employees of the facility, and hopefully they realize how lucky they are to have such a great thing literally on their back doorstep.

It’s not up there with some of the top Middle Eastern courses, but you must remember that this is a private company course and not one operated by a large franchise like Troon and for that they have done a great job!

Note: The course has a little bit of local history attached to it on the 9^th and 18^th fairways. On these there is a local graveyard marked by green and white posts. This exists from the times before the facility was built. If your ball goes in these, you must take it out and drop it elsewhere.

The graveyard on the 9th hole where you must remove the ball from if in it

OVERALL RATING – (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆☆)

Hole-by-Hole

All distances from the blue tees which I played from. Indexes are men’s indexes.

Hole 1: Par 4, 348yds, index 8

The first hole is a dogleg to the right. You have the opportunity to drive over the corner and get close to the green; however, I would suggest taking a long iron or fairway wood out the middle. There is a fairway bunker to catch those that go a little short and right when playing out the middle. Also present are two deep bunkers to the front left and right of the green which are tough to play out of if the flag is on the front. The green is very narrow on the front portion and chipping needs to be accurate if just short.

Rolling Hills - 01A. The first tee shot can either be out the middle with a long iron to (A) or cut the corner on the right (C) with a driver — The first tee shot can either be out the middle with a long iron to (A) or cut the corner on the right (C) with a driver

Rolling Hills - 01B. The approach shot needs to avoid bunkers short left and right of the green with a narrow passage in — The approach shot needs to avoid bunkers short left and right of the green with a narrow passage in

Hole 2: Par 5, 577yds, index 6

The second hole is a long par 5. It is a slight dogleg right from the tee shot. You can aim for the right side of the fairway to carry a dry lake on the right hand side. For your layup you will need to avoid two bunkers each side of the fairway. Your approach shot needs to be mindful of two bunkers, short left and right of the green and of water if you are too long.

Rolling Hills - 02A. A good line for the second tee shot is down the right hand side of the fairway to (A) — A good line for the second tee shot is down the right hand side of the fairway to (A)

Rolling Hills - 02B. The second hole is quite straight but there is water behind the green if long — The second hole is quite straight but there is water behind the green if long

Hole 3: Par 4, 436yds, index 2

For short hitters on this hole it is common to lay up in front of the dry river. Long hitters can go straight out the middle but take care of a bunker each side of the fairway on the landing zone. The approach shot will likely be with a long iron and the green slopes front to back meaning it can be tough to hold. There is bunkers short left and right of the green.

Rolling Hills - 03A. The ideal tee shot off the third is to the right side of the fairway towards (A) — The ideal tee shot off the third is to the right side of the fairway towards (A)

Rolling Hills - 03B. The second shot is a long iron in and the green slopes front to back — The second shot is a long iron in and the green slopes front to back

Hole 4: Par 3, 213yds, index 14

A nice par 3 slightly uphill. There is a large deep bunker in front of the green which will catch you if short. On the short left of the green is also a bunker. The best bail out is to the right pin high. This is a tough green to hit as you may be between fairway woods and your longest iron.

Rolling Hills - 04. The green is guarded by bunkers to the front and you need plenty of club to get up there — The green is guarded by bunkers to the front and you need plenty of club to get up there

Hole 5: Par 4, 383yds, index 12

This hole is an uphill par 4. A good drive will leave a short iron in. The green is slightly elevated and has a large bunker on the right hand side and two very small bunkers on the left hand side. One of these bunkers is barely big enough to stand in so take care of this one!

Rolling Hills - 05A. The tee shot for the fifth goes slightly downhill and needs to be out between the tree lined passage — The tee shot for the fifth goes slightly downhill and needs to be out between the tree lined passage

Rolling Hills - 05B. The approach is slightly uphill and needs to avoid bunkers on the front — The approach is slightly uphill and needs to avoid bunkers on the front

Hole 6: Par 5, 519yds, index 10

A relatively short par 5 which is reachable in two if you hit the fairway. Aim for the left hand side of the fairway to leave a good angle for your second shot. The only danger on the approach is a large bunker on the left hand side and three smaller ones on the right hand side of the green. Not a very hard hole to par.

Rolling Hills - 06A. The tee shot needs to aim for the middle floodlight at (A) — The tee shot needs to aim for the middle floodlight at (A)

Rolling Hills - 06B. The view to the green is impeded by the rise if right of the fairway. Aim between the two sets of palm trees towards (A). — The view to the green is impeded by the rise if right of the fairway. Aim between the two sets of palm trees towards (A).

Rolling Hills - 06C. The approach shot if laying up needs to avoid three bunkers right and one left — The approach shot if laying up needs to avoid three bunkers right and one left

Hole 7: Par 4, 346yds, index 16

A pretty straight par 4 but there are two fairway bunkers to avoid. These are possible to hit over with a good drive which leaves a short iron in. Try to place your drive on the left side of the fairway to give a good line in. Bunker short left of green and short right of green.

Rolling Hills - 07A. Try to keep your drive on the left side of the fairway at (A) — Try to keep your drive on the left side of the fairway at (A)

Rolling Hills - 07B. A good drive will leave you with a short iron in — A good drive will leave you with a short iron in

Hole 8: Par 3, 152yds, index 18

The shortest par 3 on the course but by no means the easiest even if it is Index 18! The green is slightly elevated and is protected on all sides by bunkers. If you walk away with a par on this one well done!

Rolling Hills - 08. Slightly uphill this can be a hard green to hit — Slightly uphill this can be a hard green to hit

Hole 9: Par 4, 397yds, index 4

Quite a long par 4 mainly due to it being uphill all the way. Your drive needs to go straight out and a little right if possible. Be aware that there is an old local graveyard here short of the fairway marked by green and white stakes and you must remove the ball from here if you are in it. On the right hand side of the fairway is a large deep bunker catching you if drifting right off the tee, and if long off the tee there is also a fairway bunker to avoid. Your approach shot needs to be long enough to carry three bunkers in front of the green. The green has an interesting little tier on the back right which is a very difficult pin position if used!

Rolling Hills - 09A. A dogleg right and its advisable to play it like this to (A). It is an extremely long shot to cut the corner at (C) — A dogleg right and its advisable to play it like this to (A). It is an extremely long shot to cut the corner at (C)

Rolling Hills - 09B. The green is uphill and you need to carry the bunkers in front — The green is uphill and you need to carry the bunkers in front

Hole 10: Par 4, 431yds, index 5

Another par 4 which is quite long, and which has a fairway bunker positioned to catch your drive off the tee on the left hand side. There is desert area to the right hand side of the fairway. Your approach will possibly be with a long iron to a green that slopes front to back and is difficult to hold.

Rolling Hills - 10A. Try to stay to the right hand side of the fairway (A) to avoid the fairway bunker on the left — Try to stay to the right hand side of the fairway (A) to avoid the fairway bunker on the left

Rolling Hills - 10B. The second shot is a long shot and the green slopes front to back — The second shot is a long shot and the green slopes front to back

Hole 11: Par 3, 188yds, index 17

This is a nice looking par 3 tree lined on the right hand side. It is uphill and a good long iron shot to get there. The green is quite big and has a bunker on the right hand side. There are three small hollows on the left of the green which can also catch your ball.

Rolling Hills - 11. An uphill par 3 so you may need to take extra club to get here — An uphill par 3 so you may need to take extra club to get here

Hole 12: Par 5, 532yds, index 1

The Index 1 and a hole which would be a lot tougher if there was water in the dry designated water zones. Your target for the drive is the floodlight off in the distance which should set you up for a good layup on the left side fairway. If brave you can go over the dry water area to go for the green but if short you may lose your ball in the desert area there. To lay up you have a shot of about 150 yards over the bridge on the left which will leave you about 100 yards to the green. If played smartly this is not a very tough hole although it looks intimidating.

Rolling Hills - 12A. A long dogleg par 5 where you need to take a lot off the corner with your drive. — A long dogleg par 5 where you need to take a lot off the corner with your drive.

Rolling Hills - 12B. For the second shot you can lay up over the bridge on the left (A) or go for the green on the right (C) — For the second shot you can lay up over the bridge on the left (A) or go for the green on the right (C)

Rolling Hills - 12C. If you choose to lay up this will be your approach shot — If you choose to lay up this will be your approach shot

Hole 13: Par 4, 338yds, index 11

Another uphill par 4, with a deep bunker on the left hand side to catch your drive. With a good drive it’s not a long approach shot but there is a bunker short left and one long left. There is a large bank at the back of the green if long but your ball will likely get caught up in rocks or bushes so don’t rely on this to bring it back down to the green.

Rolling Hills - 13A. A slightly uphill tee shot but you need to miss the bunker on the left — A slightly uphill tee shot but you need to miss the bunker on the left

Rolling Hills - 13B. The bank at the back of the green will hold your ball if you are too long — The bank at the back of the green will hold your ball if you are too long

Hole 14: Par 3, 192yds, index 13

A downhill par 3 with deep bunkers on the left hand side. It’s a long iron shot which must also avoid the bunker on the right hand side. Being downhill it does take some off the distance but you need to be accurate.

Rolling Hills - 14. A downhill par 3 with deep bunkers on the left — A downhill par 3 with deep bunkers on the left

Hole 15: Par 4, 378yds, index 9

Standing on the tee your aim is to the left side of the green as there is a bunker on the right hand side of the fairway. You can drive over this but you may get caught up in some bushes down here. Your approach is over a small deep bunker in front of the green, but don’t put too much club on your shot as there is water at the back if too long.

Rolling Hills - 15A. Stay on the left side of the fairway (A) as there is a bunker on the right — Stay on the left side of the fairway (A) as there is a bunker on the right

Rolling Hills - 15B. If short of the green a deep bunker will catch you and if long there is water — If short of the green a deep bunker will catch you and if long there is water

Hole 16: Par 4, 382yds, index 7

Your target for the tee shot on this hole is left side of the fairway. Don’t go too far left as there are trees and bushes that will catch you. Not only is it tough to find your ball but you will be hacking out or taking a penalty to get out of them. At the front of the green is a dry water area and there is a bunker at the back. The green slopes right to left so bear this in mind when hitting in.

Rolling Hills - 16A. Avoid left of the fairway (E) as there is bushes that you can lose a ball easily in — Avoid left of the fairway (E) as there is bushes that you can lose a ball easily in

Rolling Hills - 16B. The approach shot is over a dry water area to a green sloping right to left — The approach shot is over a dry water area to a green sloping right to left

Hole 17: Par 5, 533yds, index 3

This looks like a straight forward par 5 off the tee and if played right it can be. The fairway is quite wide to take your drive. There are bushes on the left and right of the fairway. There is a dry water area just before the main fairway starts if short. The fairway narrows slightly for your approach shot. Your approach shot needs to avoid a long bunker on the front right side of the green. There are bushes if left and long of the green.

Rolling Hills - 17A. A downhill tee shot and try to stay right side of the fairway (A) — A downhill tee shot and try to stay right side of the fairway (A)

Rolling Hills - 17B. The lay up area (A) is straight in front of the green — The lay up area (A) is straight in front of the green

Rolling Hills - 17C. After laying up your approach needs to deal with a large bunker in front of the green — After laying up your approach needs to deal with a large bunker in front of the green

Hole 18: Par 4, 342yds, index 15

The final hole is another where you need to be respectful of the local graveyard so watch out for the green and white markers. The hole is uphill but is straight. There are bunkers on the left and right of the fairway. The green can be difficult to hit being uphill and you can’t see the ball land. Take care of the bunker short right of the green and the large one right of the green. If you’re going to miss the green miss left but this does leave a tricky downhill chip off a bank.

Saudi Arabia » Rolling Hills Golf Course, Dhahran

Rolling Hills Golf Course, Dhahran

Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆)