Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course
Greg Norman's Earth Course is Dubai's grandest stage, the home of the DP World Tour Championship and the climax of the European Tour Race to Dubai every November. A par 72 stretching beyond 7,700 yards through rolling, tree lined fairways and vast sculpted bunkers, it closes with one of the most dramatic finishing holes in resort golf.
Photo: Zsolt Sásdi via Google.
The verdict
Greg Norman opened the Earth Course in 2009 as the purpose built finale to the European Tour season, and it has staged the DP World Tour Championship ever since. Inspired by the great parkland courses of Europe and America, it is laid across rolling fairways that look more like fitted carpet than grass, framed by thousands of mature trees and some of the largest, most artfully placed bunkers in the region.
It is a big, generous driving course off the tee that tightens dramatically around the greens, where Norman's bunkering and water do the defending. For the travelling golfer it is the marquee round of any Dubai trip, immaculately conditioned, walkable in the cooler months and built to be watched as much as played. Pair it with the Fire Course next door and the Majlis at Emirates for the classic Dubai championship week.
The Earth Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2009
- Designer
- Greg Norman
- Type
- Championship parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,706 yds
- Green fee
- Around $245
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Greg Norman Golf Course Design and leading course databases. The Earth Course plays to around 7,706 yards in championship setup and has hosted the DP World Tour Championship every year since 2009. The green fee is indicative, around 245 US dollars in peak winter season with a shared cart usually included, lower in summer. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Earth saves its drama for the closing stretch, which Norman himself calls one of the toughest miles in golf. The run home from the fifteenth tightens the screw, water and bunkering crowding the approaches just as the round comes to the boil.
The monstrous par 5 fourteenth is a genuine three shotter, length off the tee essential to carry the left side bunkers before a layup short of the cross bunker that splits the fairway. It sets up the grandstand finish, and most rounds are decided over the last four holes.
The par 5 eighteenth is the signature and a true design masterpiece, the fairway divided in two by a meandering creek that offers the bold a shorter line and the cautious a longer one. The huge, well guarded green sits beyond the water, a fitting place to settle a Race to Dubai and a hole every visitor remembers.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Pay and play, open to visitors, bookable up to 72 hours ahead by phone or the resort app |
| Green fee | Around 245 US dollars in peak season, shared cart included (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book direct with Dubai Golf or through a tour operator; winter tee sheets fill fast |
| On the day | Carts included, caddies available, smart golf dress, range access before play |
| Getting there | About 30 to 40 minutes from Dubai International Airport, in the heart of the Dubai golf belt |
| Best months | November to March for comfortable temperatures; summer play is early morning only |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Jumeirah Golf Estates sits in the newer Dubai golf belt out toward Dubailand, an easy drive from both the Marina and Downtown. Most visitors base themselves on the Marina or Palm Jumeirah and drive out, though on site residences put you within minutes of the first tee.
Dubai packs a remarkable cluster of championship courses within half an hour of each other, so the Earth combines naturally with the Fire Course alongside it, the Faldo and Majlis at Emirates, Dubai Creek and the Els Club. A week here is as much about the city, the hotels and the dining as the golf, which is exactly the point.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Earth Course.
Build a Dubai golf trip
We secure the Earth Course tee time, pair it with the Fire Course, the Majlis and Dubai Creek and book the hotel and transfers in the right order. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Earth Course questions
Who designed the Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course and when did it open?
The Earth Course was designed by Greg Norman and opened in 2009 as the purpose built host of the season ending Dubai World Championship, now the DP World Tour Championship. It was the first course on the estate, with the Fire Course following alongside.
What is the par and length of the Earth Course?
The Earth Course is a par 72 that stretches to around 7,706 yards in its championship setup, played through rolling parkland fairways, large sculpted bunkers and water on the closing holes.
How much does it cost to play the Earth Course?
Indicative 2026 green fees are around 245 US dollars in peak winter season, with a shared cart and range access usually included. Rates are lower in the summer heat and change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play the Earth Course?
Yes. The Earth Course is pay and play and open to visitors, bookable up to 72 hours ahead direct with Dubai Golf or through a tour operator. Winter tee sheets fill quickly, so book well in advance.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.