Since the 2023 edition of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, 22 months have past, and one of the teams key goals was to restore the original design features of the golf course with the main focus being on bunker shaping. We have been lucky enough to work with the original designer Kyle Philips to have his input for these works.
A true links course should have the true defence from the natural elements of the wind. However, this year we will be able to present the course with more challenging areas for the players.
Jack Balfour – Senior Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Yas Links Abu Dhabi
The thing is, it’s a real challenge to get the golf course to play as a true style of links golf, but we are fortunate with the grasses on the golf course being platinum paspalum, this can be cut super low to get the course to play firm and fast. A true style of links.
All golf courses are tough to maintain, and every course has its own unique challenges. For us growing turf in extreme conditions and looking after the staff is the real challenge, especially for this tournament as most of the preparations have been done through the hottest summer months.
There are some key changes to Yas Links, on the basis of the feedback at the DP World Tour, and they are mainly to holes 16 and 18.
The par 4 16th has had the blind bunker in the landing area reduced and is now more of a small pot bunker. As well as this the fairway has been extended on the left to encourage a risk reward style of tee shot, welcoming more of an aggressive play.
The 18th landing area extended on the left. Harry Grimshaw
The par 5 18th has had all the ice plant removed on the left (Tyrrell Hatton will be pleased) and the fairway extended further out to the left to open up the tee shot and allow the aggressive play down the left hand side of the fairway. This has included a tee extension in doing so to give more options for the tournament setup.
Yas Links continues to evolve as a golfing destination for which our agronomy team persists to look to improve the golf course. Multiple changes continue to be tweaked with enlarging greens and reshaping of the fairways and its surroundings, which continues to enhance the true links aspect of the golf course.
It’s such a special place for many reasons, but mostly due to how passionate the agronomy team are about the golf course. They really feel it is theirs to protect and nurture it.
With this passion, it means they are able to create great surfaces and a great golf course that challenges the best golfers in the world. We can’t wait to welcome the DP World Tour back once again!
Jack Balfour is the Senior Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Yas Links Abu Dhabi
Main Image: Harry Grimshaw
