By Kent Gray
All eyes will be on the Earth course for this week’s European Tour decider but there’s another of the golfing elements at Jumeirah Golf Estates that management company Dubai Golf hope will inspire amateurs just as much.
Earth’s sister 18 at JGE has undergone “significant enhancements” for the first time since opening in 2010. Redefined fairways and “strategic updates” to landscaping and grass lines have been made to recreate the risk-reward strategy originally intended by Fire layout designer Greg Norman.
Even the Great White Shark himself is in on the sales pitch for Fire following “significant investments” to the 7480-yard course which is open for play in advance of the 11th DP World Tour Championship.
“From a design perspective, the Fire Course is worthy of recognition equal to that of the Earth Course and should be regarded as one of the region’s finest,” the Australian said.
“The Fire [course] delivers a true test of golf where risk and reward holes abound, and takes the honour of my personal favourite of the two.”
Enhancements will continue into 2020 with plans to improve the design of the native desert setting. Fire’s bunkers, which contribute to the layout’s challenging reputation and unique topography, will also be improved.
“Exposed wind, elevation changes, long reed grasses and sand dunes that mimic those of the Dubai landscape make for a visually stunning and challenging layout with an abundance of variation that leave the golfer wanting more,” Norman continued.
