Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi

Yas Links Golf Club, often voted the number one course in the Middle East. Once you drive up to the entrance gate you start to feel you know why. This course has the feel of a proper links as soon as you see it. As you drive in you see Ferrari World to your side. Take a walk through the clubhouse and look at the closing green close to the clubhouse and you already get nervous about your approach shot with all the spectators that will be there!

This is my second time playing this course, and it was and still is my favorite course in the Middle East so far.

 

Course layout

Right along the coast, with nine of the holes basically along the water, this is not an easy course if you are not hitting the ball straight! Thankfully they have made it slightly easier by not including that many big fairway bunkers. It’s stressful enough with all the water you need to contend with! Veer off the fairways and you have a shot out of some interesting vegetation!

The-start-of-the-closing-three-holes-is-a-par-4-dogleg-to-the-left
The start of the closing three holes is a par 4 dogleg to the left

The layout of Yas Links is beautiful. Not just the course, but the setting. Seeing the large Ferrari World building alongside, hearing the screams from the roller coaster, this course is something special.

The-par-3-17th-is-a-quite-long-shot-over-water.-Then-there-is-those-bunkers-to-avoid
The par 3 17th is a quite long shot over water. Then there is those bunkers to avoid.

There is little chance that you will play three finishing holes quite like this anywhere else. If you can par the 3 of these, then bravo to you! All run along the water, with the 17th being a long par 3 surrounded by bunkers. Not just that but it’s all carry to the green! The 18th is a long par 5 where I doubt even pros would get there in two!

After-playing-a-great-drive-on-the-last-hole-this-is-the-next-shot.-Your-work-isnt-over-yet-to-try-to-hit-this-green-in-another-two-shots
After playing a great drive on the last hole this is the next shot. Your work isn’t over yet to try to hit this green in another two shots

Three of the four par 3’s are over water, one is the 17th, and the other two are shorter, but no less hard! Hit these greens and give yourself a biscuit! You’ve earned it!

The-13th-looks-nice-and-easy-until-you-stand-up-on-the-tee-lots-of-danger-here
The 13th looks nice and easy until you stand up on the tee. Lots of danger here.

 

Course condition

Again, Yas Links is in stunning condition. There is nothing to fault here. Playing off the fairways is like playing off the greens in other courses. Sometimes you’re afraid of taking a divot in case you damage the perfect fairways!

The-lush-green-fairways-stand-out-all-around-against-the-contrasting-desert-areas-native-to-the-area
The lush green fairways stand out all around against the contrasting desert areas native to the area

The greens are fast, like a true links would be. It’s easy to be looking at a dodgy three footer for par after being confident about a ten foot birdie putt a few seconds before!

The-greens-in-Yas-Links-are-manicured-to-perfection-with-some-interesting-undulations
The greens in Yas Links are manicured to perfection with some interesting undulations

 

Facilities

Yas Links has a good clubhouse with an excellent restaurant. Sit down here and have a meal and a beer after your round and wash your troubles away. You can sit outside close to the 18th green and watch everybody else shake at the knees with their approach shot like you did!

The range is right next to Ferrari World and it’s hard to concentrate on your warm up when you can’t stop looking at this feat of architecture.

The-Ferrari-World-building-is-located-just-off-the-driving-range.
The Ferrari World building is located just off the driving range

 

Price

Yas Links is about $260 to play. But for this course, I feel it’s worth it. True it’s a lot of money for a round of golf. But when you play this course, and walk away with so many scenic images and ‘wow’ moments in your mind, you can’t complain.

 

Course location

Yas Links is on Yas Island, and is about 25 minutes from the airport. It’s not too long to reach there from anywhere in Abu Dhabi.

For the location on Google Maps please click here. 

 

Conclusion

Yas Links is spectacular. It’s going to be hard to knock it off its perch of my favorite course in the Middle East! It feels special when you play it, you look at some of the holes and think ‘What am I supposed to do here?!’. The best thing is to just enjoy it! Enjoy the views, the setting, the course, and the fact that you are playing on one of the most beautiful courses in the Middle East!

 

Contact Details for Yas Links Golf Club

Website: Click here
Telephone: +971 2 810 7710
Email: info@yaslinks.com

 

For other courses in the UAE please click here!