Jumeirah Golf Estates – Dubai

Few people experienced Greg Norman’s Earth course, even though the layout was fully grassed in April 2008. In January 2009 a handful of Pros including Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Darren Clarke were invited to play the last four holes of the Earth course, described by Norman as “the most challenging mile in golf”. Since then, the Earth course was closed for play, waiting for its curtain call at the inaugural Dubai World Championship in November 2009.

We’re led to believe that never before has a course been closed to the public for so long, simply waiting for its debut. The theory being that the Earth course would not only look and feel established but also it would boast a level of conditioning which most of the top pros had never experienced before.

The Fire course, also designed by Greg Norman, opened for play in January 2010. Vijay Singh’s Water course was next on the list, followed by the final course in the elementally named series – Wind. The Wind course, co-designed by Sergio Garcia, Greg Norman and Pete Dye, promised to be the most celebrated Jumeirah course, which was to be routed through the desert dunes in a traditional links-like style. Unfortunately, the global financial crisis put paid to either development.

The world was transfixed by the Earth course as the Dubai World Championships unfolded into a very exciting climax to the 2009 season. In the end, England’s Lee Westwood cruised to victory, closing on 23 under par. His final round of 64 was not only one of his career best performances but also a course record on the Greg Norman-designed Earth course. Along with the title, Westwood claimed the €830,675 first prize and the European No.1 spot for the second time in his career.

Robert Karlsson overcame Ian Poulter in a play-off to win the 2010 Dubai World Championship, but it was Martin Kaymer who won the Race to Dubai, becoming only the second German to finish the European season as No.1. 2011 was Luke Donald’s year. The Englishman achieved an historic US and European money list double after finishing 3rd at the Dubai World Championship. Alvaro Quiros lifted the 2011 title but Donald grabbed the headlines, becoming the first player in history to claim the double. In 2012, Rory McIlroy emulated Luke Donald’s achievement, winning the US and European money list double, but the Northern Irishman went further in the season-ending finale and birdied the Earth’s last five holes to secure the DP World Tour Championship title by two shots.

2013 was Henrik Stenson’s year, winning the World Tour Championship by six shots from Ian Poulter, the big Swede became the first golfer to win the Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup in the same year. In 2014, Stenson successfully defended the title, the first title defence of his career but Rory won the Race. McIlroy went on to win the 2015 World Tour Championship title and became the first golfer to retain the Race to Dubai trophy since Ernie Els in 2004. Matthew Fitzpatrick won the season-ending title in 2016, but the Race to Dubai honours went to Henrik Stenson for the second time. Jon Rahm, European Tour Rookie of the Year, lifted the 2017 title but Tommy Fleetwood won the Race to Dubai after Justin Rose came up short in the final round.

Danny Willett won the 2018 DP World Tour Championship, his first title since the 2016 Masters, but Italy’s Francesco Molinari won the Race to Dubai and was crowned European No.1 after defending champion Tommy Fleetwood failed to win the season-ending tournament. Jon Rahm won the 2019 event by birdieing the final hole to deny Tommy Fleetwood and evergreen Lee Westwood won the 2020 Race (eleven years after winning the inaugural event) becoming the oldest ever golfer (47) to be crowned European No.1. Collin Morikawa won the DP World Tour Championship in 2021 becoming the first American to win the European Tour’s money list.

Bob Knott, the senior development manager for golf courses at Leisurecorp, reckons that the Earth course will be rated “the world’s best newcomer” and he also thinks that within five years both Fire and Earth will be World Top 100 golf courses. Knott’s prediction has so far failed to come true.