Welcome to Trump International GC Dubai’s sister course, the little links that could very well change your game.

Established players can be rather snobbish when it comes to par 3 courses, if not downright dismissive. Isn’t that the place beginners’ are sent? Never mind that fluffed chip you just (mis)hit, the resulting three-putt or the fact you haven’t hit a green in regulation for weeks or played to your handicap in months. Nothing to see here. We’ll move on to the club’s championship course, thanks all the same.

But are we entrenched golfers missing a trick? Quite aside from being an ideal place to introduce friends and family to the game in bite-sized chunks (think length of time required as opposed to the length of the holes), mini-me layouts have long lured better players looking to hone their approach play and short games.

There is challenge aplenty for even the lowest of handicappers.

Trump International Golf Club Dubai’s newly opened par 3 course is a contemporary, 1257-yard case in point. There mightn’t be a bunker in sight but with its attractive moonscape fairways, tightly clipped runs offs around large undulating greens, water in play and tee shots stretching to a big-boy 210 yards, there is challenge aplenty for even the lowest of markers.

For newbies and juniors or those looking to dial in their wedge distances, the little Gil Hanse-designed links style course can be played from tees set up between 65 and 110 yards. The club’s teaching pros are happy to tag along for a playing lesson too.

Open from 8am to sunset and eventually slated for floodlights, there’s another big little course benefit – the cost. At just AED 100, given that the pristine surfaces are a match for any course, big or small, in the UAE, its unbeatable value.

Photograph by Kevin Murray