Al Ghazal Golf Club

Al Ghazal Golf Club offers something almost nowhere else still has: an 18-hole sand golf course. Opened in 1997, this par-71 layout keeps alive the tradition of desert golf that came before grass courses arrived in the Gulf. It measures about 6,711 yards from the white tees.

Sand golf plays differently from grass. Players hit from artificial grass mats on the fairways, and the greens are compacted-sand "browns" instead of turf. It's a sustainable design that uses far less water than a conventional course, and it's a genuinely different golf experience that many visitors try just for the novelty. The front nine runs around an archaeological site on an ancient coastline. The back nine has been redeveloped recently, with water in play on the 11th and 17th holes.

The club's motto is simple: everyone is welcome, members and guests of every ability. Beyond the course there's a driving range, a golf simulation room and a sports bar. Basketball, tennis, table tennis, baseball, cricket and football facilities make it a real community sports club.

For golfers in Abu Dhabi who want to try traditional sand golf, or who enjoy a relaxed, unpretentious round, Al Ghazal is a unique golf venue.

It's also a fun course to play in a group. With CoGolfers, you can host golf games at Al Ghazal Golf Club and invite members of the CoGolfers community to try sand golf, or join golf games that others have posted. It's an easy way to find golf partners, meet golfers in Abu Dhabi and connect with golfers near you. Join the community to form golf groups and discover a different side of Gulf golf with new golf buddies.