Dubai: Multi-time Major champion Ernie Els believes shot-makers will revel at the inaugural Dubai Open, to be staged at The Els Club Dubai.
The South African, who is an Asian Tour honorary member and international ambassador, said his signature design in the Middle East will offer a challenging test for players in the final event of the 2014 Asian Tour season from December 18-21.
“We are so excited. The guys at The Els Club, we’ve kept the course in great shape every year. They are so ready for this golf tournament,” said Els, whose company, Ernie Els Design, is a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
“It’s a thrill for us that The Els Club Dubai has been selected as the venue for the Dubai Open. We couldn’t be more proud.”
Els said his design philosophy is to challenge players to shape their shots into the greens.
He warned participants at the Dubai Open that some greens will resemble those at Augusta National Golf Club, which hosts the Masters Tournament, with drop-off areas punishing less-than-precise iron shots into the flags.
“It’s going to be tough. I like to set up wide fairways because of the way I drive it. You’re going to feel there is plenty of room off the tees at The Els Club Dubai but the second shots will test the players,” he said.
“Some of the greens, when the wind blows, it’s going to be very severe. The first green, ninth green and 10th green are going to be severe. It’s really a second shot golf course. A lot of the guys will get it in play but you’ve got to play your second shots to the right position.
“Shot-makers will have a good time. On a lot of par-threes, you’ve got to draw or fade it and we’ve got a good mix of holes with various lengths. You’ve got to shape a lot of shots to score on the course. The iron play and short game will test the players.
“Players will also find a lot of areas where the balls goes away from the pin, like at Augusta National. And then you’ve got to chip it back onto the green. There won’t be a lot of rough but a lot of shot-making will be required.”
Els says years spent traversing the globe as an international golfer has given him ideas in his design work.
“I took a lot of my ideas from the things I’ve seen around the world. Early on in your designing career, you have to have a concept that you go after. I said to my guys I didn’t want to trick it too much off the tees but test the players with the second shots. I feel in my career, my iron play has been quite good and I’ve been pretty good with my short game as well, hence the design to reward good iron play,” he said.
“If they play the Dubai Open off the back tees, it could be very long. I hope the guys will mix the tees around on the par-threes and par-fives especially.”
The Els Club Dubai is situated within the sprawling Dubai Sports City where the par-72 course combines links style golf with traditional ‘classical era’ design. Opened for play in 2008, the course stretches to 7,538 yards.