Bahrainguide: Golf

The Riffa golf course is one of the finest in the Middle East

PGA quality course boasts
18 major attractions

A few years ago, the notion of playing a round of golf on perfectly manicured greens in the heart of the Arabian desert might have seemed far-fetched, to say the least. However, thanks to modern irrigation systems and clever engineering, golf in the Gulf is now very much a reality. Bahrains Riffa Golf Club is a perfect example of the type of superb PGA standard facilities gracing the region.

Now three years old, the club is a familiar green landmark in the otherwise arid desert landscape south of historic Riffa, in the centre of the island. The par 72, 18 hole championship course is described as challenging but fair and is beautifully landscaped with more than 600 date palms and shrubs, and features five lakes complete with resident ducks and geese. Each hole has four teeing grounds and a detailed course guide booklet is available at the club to help visitors make the most of their round.

Traditional Arab architecture has been successfully blended with modern design trends to create a bright and airy clubhouse overlooking the course on three levels. Here, golfers and non-golfers alike can relax in Braids, the clubs informal spike bar on the ground floor, serving refreshments and light meals all day.

The clubs golf shop carries a broad range of leading brand golf equipment and top label apparel for ladies, gents and children. Riffa Golf Club also happens to be the official Bahrain custom fitter for PING, Callaway and Titleist golf clubs, and one of the clubs three full-time golf professionals, William Dow, is an experienced golf club customiser.

Riffa Golf Academy, Bahrains only official golf school, has superb facilities including two air-conditioned swing studios where you can escape the heat if you wish and practice your swing into nets, while being recorded on camera. The tape is then replayed for you so your coach can critique your technique. Theres even a split-screen facility that allows you to compare your swing with that of some of the worlds champion golfers like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

The academys 30-bay floodlit driving range offers ample opportunity for practice until late. In fact, as this edition went to press, the club was breaking ground for the installation of a floodlighting programme that will light holes 10-18, allowing golfers who start their game in the late afternoon to finish after dark.

Visitors and members guests are welcome at any time. Weekend, midweek and twilight tariffs apply according to when you play, and golf clubs and shoes can be hired from the golf shop.

Whether youre a keen golfer or someone who has never swung a club in your life, the 15 minute trip from Manama is well worth the drive. Even if its just to marvel at the beautiful green vistas stretching away against the backdrop of Riffa Fort high on the escarpment at the edge of the Al Hunayniyah Wadi, its a great experience.

For more information, call the club on 750777.