By Kent Gray
The 12th hole isn’t the toughest you’ll face at Al Mouj Golf, home to the European Tour’s Oman Open. Indeed, with a stroke index of 17, only a slightly elevated par-3 four holes earlier is considered easier at the Muscat gem, a Greg Norman design which ranked third in the biennial Golf Digest Middle East Top 10 courses ranking earlier this year.

Don’t be lulled into any false sense of security as you step onto the 12th tee though. It might be picturesque but this is a hole that can also pack a punch, especially if there is a breeze rolling off the Gulf Of Oman. With water left, it’s easy to leak your tee shot right, let alone when the wind plays up. From there par becomes problematical, especially if your tee ball ends up in the collection of bunkers positioned just off the right edge of the fairway.

Thankfully, Josh Thornton is here to help you negotiate this potentially nervy tee shot, and indeed the entire hole. Check out the PGA Professionals’ impressive wedge work towards the end of the video and be sure to book a stay and play at Al Mouj Golf, one of the Middle East’s most under-rated courses even given its lofty ranking in our Top 10 courses ranking.