Special Features
Earth Golf Course by Greg Norman
Earth is one of three Greg Norman creations at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the others being Fire and the Norman, Sergio Garcia and Pete Dye designed Wind. The fourth course, Water, has been designed by former world number one, Vijay Singh.After a challenging first three holes, the front nine’s magical stretch starts from the downhill 253 yard par 3, 4th Hole, moving on to the 5th Hole played uphill, requiring both tee shot and approach to be threaded through a myriad of bunkers.
The par 3, 6th Hole is played over water to the largest green on the golf course. And the 7th Hole, a classic par 5 that requires the best of playing strategies and an even greater necessity of execution, is sure to leave the most skilled player battling to maintain par.
Following a varied and complex middle stretch between the 8th and 14th, the players will arrive at the final four holes which make up what Greg Norman calls ‘the most challenging mile in golf’’. This comprises a short, beautifully bunkered par 4; a thinking player’s long par 4 played to a tantalising heavily contoured green sat on the edge of a lake; a showstopper of a par 3 across water to an island green; and a closing par 5 played uphill, generally into the prevailing wind, with a stream bisecting the fairway. The opportunity for a two or three shot swing over the closing stretch will cater to the best players and will be a defining moment for spectators and the television audience alike.
Stats and facts on Earth
• Earth has 97 bunkers
• Earth’s water features will include six interconnecting lakes and two meandering streams that wind their way through the course
• Fairways / Rough – use Tifway 419 Bermuda grasses
• Greens / Tees – use Tifeagle Bermuda grasses, hand grown and especially selected for Jumeirah Golf Estates
• Trees used on the course include Ghaff, Cornicarpus and Casurina
