Al Hamra

Part of an impressive resort that includes two Hilton hotels - Al Hamra village and Al Hamra Golf & Spa Resort - the course was designed by Peter Harradine and it widely impressed our Middle East panel.

Harradine was born in Switzerland but lives in Dubai having established himself as a Middle East expert with other designs in Doha, Dubai (Jebel Ali) and Sharjah.

Al Hamra is in super condition and has the feel of a course that was well constructed from the start.

It is an absolute beast off the 7,325-yard back tees given that water, bunkers and mature trees (as well as some sizeable villas) line the lush fairways.

It does however give you a chance to ease yourself into the round, even if water is in play before the green of the two-shot 2nd and also lines the whole of one side of the epic par-5 3rd.

There is also a tricky par 3 over water to an angled green, which provided the last of the water before what is a theatrical finish by Harradine.

This playable theme is common on the first seven holes as well as the last two, and it is easy to detect that those were the first to open when Al Hamra was born in 2007.

The following year nine new holes followed and in the meantime Harradine must have decide the first section was a little too easy because the second batch were distinctly more exacting.

These begin with three stiff par 4s; the sand-dominated 9th, the following hole where water occupies your mind on the left before cutting across the front of the green, and then at the 12th with water up the right.

There is also a tricky par 3 over water to an angled green, which provided the last of the water before what is a theatrical finish by Harradine.

The tee sits on the water’s edge and indeed the entire length of its 500+ yards and is a fine conclusion to an impressive course.

Al Hamra’s first seven holes and last two are floodlit, which we weren't sure about initially but is actually good fun and means you can start very early/late when it's cooler.