My good friend Robert Wells invited me to play a Thursday morning round at Al Badia Golf Club. It was a short drive from our hotel, The Address Downtown Dubai, to Wellsie’s home course. I first met Robert about a year earlier when I was playing solo at the Montgomerie Dubai, and we hit it off immediately. I’ve enjoyed many rounds with him and his wife, Brenda. Joining us this time was Global Traveler Advisory Board member Wayne Tallman. The weather was perfect for golf: clear blue skies and mild spring temperatures.
Wellsie explained that Al Badia means “land of the Bedouins” — a fitting name when you watch how our shots wandered across the property. The Robert Trent Jones II design features many water hazards and what the architect describes as rivers of sand. Jones sculpted the bunkers with recovery in mind, letting players escape errant shots without excessive penalty. He faced design and construction challenges here, but by choosing paspalum grass he was able to irrigate with seawater and treated wastewater, meeting turf requirements while conserving fresh water. The course is planted with indigenous flora that creates a distinct Arabian atmosphere. It opened in 2005 as the Four Seasons Golf Club Dubai Festival City, and later became part of the InterContinental property.
The clubhouse architecture draws on Bedouin tradition; some say it resembles swirling sand, others a golf swing. Either way, find a friend, tee up and experience the warm hospitality of the region.
Hole 1 | 408 yards, par 4
There were a few “breakfast balls” off the tee, but I managed a solid drive with my usual right fade into the fairway. Wayne was still recovering from illness and struggled through the round. The safe play is toward the right side of the fairway, as out-of-bounds lurks if you push it. My approach shot was poor, blading to the right side of the green, but a fortunate chip and a single putt saved a par.
Hole 3 | 224 yards, par 3
I ended up with a bogey after a difficult hole. A lake runs along the left and wraps behind the green, so accuracy matters. My tee shot went awry and landed near the ladies’ tee box. The next shot found the right bunker, but a solid up-and-down and one-putt kept the damage to a single over. Wellsie and Brenda managed par and bogey respectively. Wayne, still feeling rough, fared worse.
Hole 5 | 632 yards, par 5
This is Al Badia’s toughest hole. Unless you possess prodigious distance, it takes three strong strikes to reach the green in regulation. The ideal drive finds the corridor between the left bunkers and the lake on the right. I tried a low, powerful shot that used the cart path for extra roll, coming up short of Brenda. Most of the group followed with decent plays, though Wayne sent his ball into the water. My second shot was a risk: I hit a 3-wood over the stream crossing the fairway and barely avoided a splash. Brenda struck the concrete bridge abutment and ended up precariously close to the water—she reminded us afterward that she’d played the same ball all round. Wells maintained steadiness with a par; I overshot the green and took a bogey, which felt fair given my earlier drive.
Hole 9 | 444 yards, par 4
This hole offers lovely views of the clubhouse and a waterfall beside the green. The fairway carries bunkers on the left and water along the right. Wellsie advised aiming toward the two left traps to avoid the pond, and I followed his guidance, finding the center of the fairway. Wells’ tee shot ricocheted off the pond bank into the drink. After a crisp 170-yard approach to the center of the green, I strutted a bit, much to Wellsie’s mock amazement. Brenda and Wayne carded bogeys while I two-putted for par. Wells, apparently not content to lose on his home turf, was ready to strike back on the back nine.
Hole 10 | 386 yards, par 4
I’d played well on the front nine and was enjoying solid recoveries, but at the turn Wellsie and Brenda suggested a beer to celebrate. That convivial pause was the beginning of my unraveling. Hole 10 itself is generous, with a wide landing area, which I found while avoiding the right bunkers. A string of poor shots followed and I ended up with a double bogey. Wayne, favoring the left side, managed to play clean and had a chance for par.
Hole 13 | 598 yards, par 5
Teeing off on this highly ranked hole, the opening shot is straightforward; the fairway narrows visually but opens to generous landing ground. The critical second shot demands accuracy—favor the right side while watching the river of sand that curls from the fairway’s right all the way to the green. The scorecard shows how this hole penalizes mistakes, and several players posted high numbers. Wellsie and I each walked away with bogeys, which felt like a small victory.
Hole 15 | 217 yards, par 3
Aim left on this green, as the prevailing wind moves slightly leftward and can push shots into the water to the right. A bogey is a respectable result, and that’s what I recorded while Brenda calmly carded a par. Wayne continued to fight through his lingering illness.
Hole 18 | 538 yards, par 5
The signature finishing hole offers sweeping views of the waterfalls, the clubhouse and the Dubai skyline along Sheikh Zayed Road. The fairway traces a horseshoe shape and invites aggressive tee shots for players who can cut the corner. Most of us aimed for the broader part of the landing area and played conservatively. I strayed right and lengthened the hole for myself, while Wells hit a modest tee shot and recovered with a solid second. We navigated the horseshoe toward the green and finished what felt like a small stampede. After battling the closing stretch, we retired to the clubhouse for a well-earned lunch, sharing stories of triumphs and blunders.
Al Badia Golf Club
InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
tel 971 4 60 10 101
albadiagolfclub.ae