The popularity of golf in Oman is dramatically increasing, with three of the most prestigious and challenging golf courses of the region now calling the Sultanate home; Almouj Golf, Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club and Ghala Golf Course. In addition, construction of a new 18 hole PGA Harradine signature golf course is underway at the fully integrated town of Jebel Sifah, close to Muscat.
Oman is a naturally diverse country and the three golf courses are perfectly positioned between the magnificent Al Hajar mountain range in the west and the pristine coastline to the east, providing golfers with idyllic backdrops. With temperatures ranging from 19ºC to 30ºC, minimal rainfall and up to 12 hours of sunshine per day, Oman offers the perfect climate for a golfing holiday between the months of September and May.
Designed by golfing legend Greg Norman, the PGA standard Almouj Golf opened in 2012 and stretches six kilometres along the natural lines of Muscat’s coastline, bordered by the Al Hajar mountain range on its other side. Almouj Golf was recently voted the second best golf course in the Middle East in 2016 by the prestigious Golf Digest magazine. The course is home to a golf academy with a state of the art swing studio, driving range and private golf lesson area as well as fantastic dining options that showcase the renowned Omani hospitality.
Last month, Almouj Golf renewed its partnership with Mercedes-Benz for the fifth consecutive year and upcoming collaborations between the two luxury lifestyle icons will include quarterly exclusive golf events, with the Mercedes-Benz Members Guest Series and the Mercedes-Benz Matchplay Championship that will culminate with the finals at the end of the season. www.almoujgolf.com
A second stellar course in Oman is Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club, a truly unique golf development comprising an 18-hole PGA-certified green golf course and a high quality residential development on the outskirts of Muscat. Golf in Oman was originally played on sand golf courses and Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club was the first ever grass golf course in Oman, located between the mountains and the sea it’s only a five minute drive from Muscat International Airport. www.muscathillsgolf.com
Ghala Golf Course, which was originally created as a sand course in 1971, opened the first nine holes of its grass course in December 2010 and the back nine was completed in 2012. Bill Longmuir designed the initial brown course, and the grass course has been designed to follow the original brown course design as closely as possible. Ghala Golf Club is unique in the Middle East in that it is built into a natural wadi with the course flowing through a beautiful setting of mountainous backdrops and spectacular sea views. While there are some forgiving holes, there are also a number of challenging holes which make the course suitable for all skill levels. www.ghalagolf.com
Oman Tourism’s representation office in the UK team@tourismoman.co.uk