Revel in the beauty

The first hole sets the tone for the rest of the round. It’s a gentle par 4 flanked by large dunes to the left and right. The wide fairway sweeps from left to right meaning that longer hitters must shorten their approach shot with a tee shot that skirts the right-hand fairway bunker.

The green is large and well protected by greenside bunkers and so care must be taken with the approach shot.

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Hole 2 invites a tee shot played between the large sandy area to the right and the expansive fairway bunker to the left. Although the right-hand side of the fairway is more generous, the mounding to the right-hand side of the fairway bunker may mean that only the top of the flag can be seen for the approach shot.

The green is generous but care must be taken when the flag is in the front left portion to avoid the greenside bunkers.

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A moderate par 5 with incredible views from the tee over the front 9 towards the coast. The fairway is lined by dunes and is thick with local fauna making this an intimidating driving hole. Players face semi blind layup over a rise in the fairway and so care must be taken to avoid the complex of bunkers lying 100 yards short of the green.

A generous but well protected green awaits where the elevation changes and swales ensure that even when reaching this point, the golfer must still be on their game.

• Continue to hole 4
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The shortest par 4 on the course, this is a real ‘risk and reward’ hole. For the brave player a well hit drive may find its way towards the front of the green, however two deep pot bunkers mean that any rewards will have been well earned. For the more conservative golfer, a long iron or fairway wood from the tee should mean that the pot bunkers are not within reach.

The approach shot will probably be influenced by the larger of Al Mouj Golf’s two lakes that border the green on two sides.

• Continue to hole 5
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One of Al Mouj Golf’s signature holes played as the golfer makes the turn back towards the clubhouse. A mid length par 3 played entirely over water to an all but surrounded green. Although the tee shot may look intimidating, a generous target has been placed at the end of what will, under normal conditions, be a mid to short iron.

Golfers will be thankful of the green size however frequent afternoon winds might mean this hole requires a well struck long iron.

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This par 4 is played parallel to the coast and often into the prevailing wind. Two fairway bunkers on the right indicate the driving line off the tee, only those hitting it over 300 yards need to be cautious or should consider hitting to the left-hand side of them.

A lengthy second shot is made slightly easier as there are no greenside bunkers allowing a running shot to be played into the green. Once again, the green is surrounded by grass adding to the challenge.

• Continue to hole 7
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Measuring over 600 yards, this is the longest and toughest par 5 on the course. The waste area to the right of the tee should not be in play but the tee shot must be hit to the left of the awaiting fairway bunkers guarding the right-hand side of the fairway.

The layup shot must consider the waste area running up the right-hand side of the fairway but a well-placed shot will leave an approach to the green protected by two large sentry like bunkers placed to the left and right. A change in elevation on the green creates two tiers where the more difficult of them presents itself as a small shelf located in the back right of the putting surface.

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Hole 8 is a medium length par 3 hole stunningly framed by the Hajar Mountains in the distance. The large green is protected by a solitary greenside bunker but swales and run offs await an errant shot leaving the golfer with a tricky chip shot.

A well struck iron shot followed by precise putting will give the golfer a par to be proud of.

• Continue to hole 9
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A truly great hole to finish the front nine, where only the best tee shot will present the golfer with an opportunity to chase the flag with the approach. The fairway itself is generous and banks away from the awaiting coastline.

The true test of this closing hole is in the multitude of greenside bunkers dominating the last 60 yards and which must be avoided in order to finish the front nine safely.

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The opening hole of the back nine is played from an elevated tee and gives the golfer a true taste of what is to come. Looking left is a panoramic view of the stunning coastline and to the right and in the distance, the majestic Hajar Mountains. The tee shot should be hit between the fairway bunkers to the left and right. Once past the first fairway bunker, a natural ‘khor’ or water hazard extends down the left-hand side of the hole also protecting the front of the green.

If over cautious with the approach shot, the golfer may find a grass swale to the right or the collection of greenside bunkers waiting beyond the putting surface.

• Continue to hole 11
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A truly stunning par 3 hole where the green is set against the exceptionally beautiful backdrop of azure sea. Played from the back of the tee, it will need a long iron or fairway wood to find the expansive putting surface.

Players must factor in the sea wind when selecting the club as both the tee and green are elevated.

• Continue to hole 12
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Located on the coastline, a moderate length par 5 hole which gives the golfer a chance to pick up an early shot. There is plenty of room off the tee for an aggressive drive which, if well hit, may mean it’s possible to reach the green in two.

The green is well protected with bunkers and the ideal route to the flag is often from the right-hand side of the fairway.

• Continue to hole 13
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The second of Al Mouj Golf’s par 3 holes and one where it can be difficult to maintain focus as the green sits precariously on the coastline.

The green is very long from front to back and so the pin placement will determine the choice of club.

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As the player makes the turn back towards the clubhouse, this gentle par 4 allows for a little more room from the tee. The well protected green is elevated slightly from the fairway ensuring that only a well struck approach shot will hold the putting surface.

A large swale sits to the righthand side of the green which is likely to collect any errant iron shots.

• Continue to hole 15
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The longest par 4 on the course which if played from the black tees stretches beyond the 500-yard mark and borders one of Al Mouj Golf’s two inland lakes.

A well hit drive is essential in order to reach the green in two shots. To compensate for its length, there aren’t any bunkers around the green allowing for a long club to find the target.

• Continue to hole 16
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A strategic par 5 where the green is out of reach for most players in two shots. Although the fairway appears narrow from the tee, the mounding flanking on either side will help to feed the drive back towards the fairway. Thought should be given to the second shot as ending up in either of the two large bunker complexes in the layup area will make finding the green in three a challenge.

The green itself is raised above the level of the fairway making club selection for the approach shot very important.

• Continue to hole 17
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A stunning hole which unfolds beautifully as the player climbs to the elevated tee. Natural khors to the left and right will influence the tee shot which should be played just to the right of the solitary tree.

Because the fairway gently climbs towards the green, the golfer should be aware that although sheltered, the elements will almost certainly affect the approach shot.

• Continue to hole 18
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A superb hole to finish what hopefully was a fantastic round of golf. It’s testing given the fairway skirts the coastline as it gently bears from left to right.

A cautious tee shot should be played to the left side of the fairway which in turn will leave a longer second shot to the expansive green. A brave tee shot will need to be played on a more aggressive line which if successful, will drastically shorten the approach shot. This hole presents a true ‘risk and reward’ challenge and is a great hole with which to close out the round.

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