16 May 2009
While the Earth course has attracted most of the attention in the build-up to the inaugural Dubai World Championship, Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE) is confident its sister course will reinforce their status as one of the world's leading golf destinations.
Sixty of the world's top professionals arrive in Dubai on November 19 to tackle the Greg Norman-designed Earth for the first time, when the richest competition in the sport promises to write a new chapter in the history of the game.
And although the now fully-constructed Fire course will lie dormant as golfers focus on the $2 million (Dh7.35m) first prize on offer at Earth, Leisurecorp sees its latest project as a future venue for the lucrative event.
"Without doubt," confirms Bob Knott, the company's senior course development manager. "Fire's my favourite golf course. I knew it as soon as we started building it. It's the love of my life and I realised that from the moment we started shaping it.
"It's going to be a fantastic course. Everyone will want to play Earth because of the Dubai World Championship taking place there, but I bet you in three or four years' time you won't be able to get your name on the sheet to play the medal on the Fire golf course.
"It'll be filled up by the members. They'll love it."
Knott's team finished grassing the Fire course eight weeks ago, after completing 98 acres of hydro-seeding through January and February. The 18-hole development boasts four par-3s and a quartet of par-5s - two of which stretch more than 600 yards - with membership exclusive to those who have purchased property in the designated Fire and Earth neighbourhoods.
Knott, though, is confident the look and feel of Fire - described as having a "strong sense of classic links-style play" - will offer its members a completely contrasting golf experience to that provided on the nearby Earth course.
"It's totally different to anything that's been in the UAE to date," he says. "It's difficult to find the right terminology for it, but I like to describe Fire as having a more rustic feel.
"The course is wall-to-wall grass and the playing surface is Bermuda grass [the same variety used on the Earth course]. But the outer peripheral areas - the landscape areas - on the Fire course are a centipede grass, so that in itself is a totally different look to what anyone's brought out here before."
Other distinguishing Fire features include a different landscaping of the feature bunkering, which is more informal to that found on Earth. Some of the bunkers measure up to 2.5 acres in size, so members will be getting familiar with their sandwedges when it opens towards the close of this year. Knott also reveals that more than 3,000 mature trees have been planted throughout both courses, which started "by accident" when the former British Rail civil engineer bought a load of 900 from the Dubai Country Club after it closed down for redevelopment.
"And that set us off on a race really," he explains. "Every time we were down in Jumeirah One and someone was knocking down houses to rebuild, we'd go in and buy five or six trees, or sometimes they were just given to us."
The members of Fire, and those 60 professionals that land in the emirate in November, will reap the rewards of Leisurecorps' labours: Two championship courses that confirm JGE as a leading golfing destination.
A Fantastic Milestone
Greg?Norman, the former world No1 and designer of the Earth and Fire courses, has spoken of his satisfaction at being able to provide two contrasting challenges on the Jumeirah Golf Estates development.
"Fire will offer a completely different golf experience to its close neighbour Earth," said the 54-year-old, who has been involved with 117 golf course design projects. "While the Earth course resembles playing conditions often found in North America and Europe, with broad fairways, lush vegetation and fast-flowing water, Fire will be a stark contrast and is designed to reflect the local surroundings.
"Features include vast areas of informal bunkering, narrow fairways and wall-to-wall varieties of grass.
"I believe these elements will combine to create an equally stunning golf course, but also an equally challenging course from a player's perspective."
David Spencer, CEO - Golf, Leisurecorp, echoed Norman's sentiments and agreed that the season-ending, $10 million Dubai World Championship could switch from the Earth course for future tournaments.
"This is a fantastic milestone for Jumeirah Golf Estates, which can now claim two Championship golf courses. Both courses are testament to Greg Norman's legendary talents and incredible eye for detail and both are completely different looks and challenges.
"Jumeirah Golf Estates is arguably the world's most anticipated golf course development and while Earth will host the Dubai World Championship, Fire will also provide a fitting test for the world's finest golfers. It's quite possible that we would consider it for future stagings of the season-ending spectacular."
While the Earth course has attracted most of the attention in the build-up to the inaugural Dubai World Championship, Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE) is confident its sister course will reinforce their status as one of the world's leading golf destinations.
Sixty of the world's top professionals arrive in Dubai on November 19 to tackle the Greg Norman-designed Earth for the first time, when the richest competition in the sport promises to write a new chapter in the history of the game.
And although the now fully-constructed Fire course will lie dormant as golfers focus on the $2 million (Dh7.35m) first prize on offer at Earth, Leisurecorp sees its latest project as a future venue for the lucrative event.
"Without doubt," confirms Bob Knott, the company's senior course development manager. "Fire's my favourite golf course. I knew it as soon as we started building it. It's the love of my life and I realised that from the moment we started shaping it.
"It's going to be a fantastic course. Everyone will want to play Earth because of the Dubai World Championship taking place there, but I bet you in three or four years' time you won't be able to get your name on the sheet to play the medal on the Fire golf course.
"It'll be filled up by the members. They'll love it."
Knott's team finished grassing the Fire course eight weeks ago, after completing 98 acres of hydro-seeding through January and February. The 18-hole development boasts four par-3s and a quartet of par-5s - two of which stretch more than 600 yards - with membership exclusive to those who have purchased property in the designated Fire and Earth neighbourhoods.
Knott, though, is confident the look and feel of Fire - described as having a "strong sense of classic links-style play" - will offer its members a completely contrasting golf experience to that provided on the nearby Earth course.
"It's totally different to anything that's been in the UAE to date," he says. "It's difficult to find the right terminology for it, but I like to describe Fire as having a more rustic feel.
"The course is wall-to-wall grass and the playing surface is Bermuda grass [the same variety used on the Earth course]. But the outer peripheral areas - the landscape areas - on the Fire course are a centipede grass, so that in itself is a totally different look to what anyone's brought out here before."
Other distinguishing Fire features include a different landscaping of the feature bunkering, which is more informal to that found on Earth. Some of the bunkers measure up to 2.5 acres in size, so members will be getting familiar with their sandwedges when it opens towards the close of this year. Knott also reveals that more than 3,000 mature trees have been planted throughout both courses, which started "by accident" when the former British Rail civil engineer bought a load of 900 from the Dubai Country Club after it closed down for redevelopment.
"And that set us off on a race really," he explains. "Every time we were down in Jumeirah One and someone was knocking down houses to rebuild, we'd go in and buy five or six trees, or sometimes they were just given to us."
The members of Fire, and those 60 professionals that land in the emirate in November, will reap the rewards of Leisurecorps' labours: Two championship courses that confirm JGE as a leading golfing destination.
A Fantastic Milestone
Greg?Norman, the former world No1 and designer of the Earth and Fire courses, has spoken of his satisfaction at being able to provide two contrasting challenges on the Jumeirah Golf Estates development.
"Fire will offer a completely different golf experience to its close neighbour Earth," said the 54-year-old, who has been involved with 117 golf course design projects. "While the Earth course resembles playing conditions often found in North America and Europe, with broad fairways, lush vegetation and fast-flowing water, Fire will be a stark contrast and is designed to reflect the local surroundings.
"Features include vast areas of informal bunkering, narrow fairways and wall-to-wall varieties of grass.
"I believe these elements will combine to create an equally stunning golf course, but also an equally challenging course from a player's perspective."
David Spencer, CEO - Golf, Leisurecorp, echoed Norman's sentiments and agreed that the season-ending, $10 million Dubai World Championship could switch from the Earth course for future tournaments.
"This is a fantastic milestone for Jumeirah Golf Estates, which can now claim two Championship golf courses. Both courses are testament to Greg Norman's legendary talents and incredible eye for detail and both are completely different looks and challenges.
"Jumeirah Golf Estates is arguably the world's most anticipated golf course development and while Earth will host the Dubai World Championship, Fire will also provide a fitting test for the world's finest golfers. It's quite possible that we would consider it for future stagings of the season-ending spectacular."
By John McAuley
© Emirates Business 24/7 2009
