Al Mouj Golf (Championship Course), Muscat
Standing on the peaceful sea frontage with the water lapping at the shore, the grassy dunes to the side, and the rolling fairways behind, I could be on one of the old links courses from Old Tom Morris times. But I’m not; I’m in Al Mouj Golf in Muscat, Oman, and playing their Championship Course.
The course is a Greg Norman design, and takes inspiration from the surrounding landscape. “Al Mouj” literally means “The Wave” in Arabic and you can imagine how the waves of the sea replicate the dunes on the sides of the fairways.
With the Hajjar Mountains as a backdrop, and the low flying planes coming in to land on the adjacent international airport, this course is a treasure to any golfer. For the last few years the course has been on the European Tour circuit and has been praised by the professionals who have played it.
It’s time to see what Al Mouj Golf has to offer!
Course layout (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)
First things first, if you’re not hitting your driver straight, leave it in the bag! The layout is tight and not forgiving if you’re not straight. You will be rewarded for long straight tee shots, but anything offline will leave you in trouble. Whether it’s the deep grass on the dunes, or in one of the fairway bunkers, you will be losing at least one shot.
Par 3’s
About half of the holes are along the sea and the views are great from them. The par 3’s are gorgeous holes. The 11th hole you are hitting into an infinity green with the ocean as a backdrop, and the 13th you need to hit over a portion of the sea to make the green. The 5th is a short but deadly par 3 into an island green.
Par 5’s
The par 5’s are long and you will be doing well to make them in two shots if going for them. With tight fairways and strategically placed bunkers even hitting the fairway on your drive doesn’t allow you an easy second shot. The 16th is an especially tough one as you’re laying up onto a portion of fairway surrounded by a cluster of bunkers waiting to catch your ball.
Par 4’s
The par 4’s are a good challenge and a lot have you wondering if you’re better laying up instead of taking your longest club off the tee. The 9th and 18th are beautiful holes where you need to drive over the sea to hit the fairways for your next shot.
With water coming into play into about 10 of the holes, you’re constantly reminded of the threat that you need to be straight with your shots. The layout is a great challenge for your game and it’s a course you can play very aggressively or very strategically.
Course condition (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)
The condition of the course was excellent needless to say. The tees were perfect, the fairways were amazing to hit from, the greens were lovely and fast and rolled true. The bunkers had a good consistency to them and even though they punished you they were still good to hit from.
Facilities (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆)
The course has a nice looking driving range for warming up on and two putting greens also. As well as this there is a par 3 Academy Course which I have covered in another article here.
For dining there is a restaurant available and by the evidence of the large crowds there it is well worth eating at. The staff in the pro shop and everywhere else on the course were friendly and very helpful especially in the reception.
The golf carts are in good condition and all have GPS to give you yardages for your next shot as well as your name on them when you arrive.
The only thing that I thought was a pity was that the clubhouse wasn’t located closer to the 9th and 18th greens as you would have great views of the sea and of people finishing their rounds. It does seem like there is ground available down there and it would be nice to see it utilized in the future.
Price (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆)
Green fees range from OMR30 in the summer weekdays to OMR60 in the winter weekends. However, it is a course where the cost is definitely justified. If you can handle the humidity in the summer and get to play it for OMR30 then you won’t play a better course for that price anywhere.
For the full list of green fees please click here.
Setting & Course location (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)
The course is located on 18th November St.; it’s easy to get to from Muscat and is only 5 minutes from the airport. From the centre of Muscat it’s about a 15 minutes journey.
You need to watch for the slip road to the entrance of the course as if you miss it you have a long drive to take a roundabout to come back on yourself.
For the location on Google Maps please click here.
Conclusion
Al Mouj Golf is a beautiful course and I really think that at the moment it’s my favorite course in the Middle East. It has some tough competition but with a great layout and fantastic condition it will be hard to knock it off the top of my list.
It’s a course where you will want to come back to again after playing it as it leaves so many memorable holes in your mind.
As for me, I can’t wait for the next time I get the chance to play Al Mouj Golf!
OVERALL RATING – (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)
Contact Details for Al Mouj Golf, Muscat
Website: Click here
Telephone: +968 22 00 59 90
Email: golf@almoujgolf.com
Hole-by-Hole
All distances from the blue tees which I played from. Indexes are men’s indexes.
Hole 1: Par 4, 409yds, index 12
The first hole is a nice easy hole to guide you into the course. Being slightly uphill you need to hit between the bunkers and the green is slightly right from there. Don’t be too far left off the tee as its OOB, and too far right may put you in heavy rough. The approach shot is again uphill and your only real danger is a bunker to the right of the green.
Hole 2: Par 4, 350yds, index 16
You can get close to this one if long and accurate with a driver but the safer option is to take a long iron or fairway wood right of the bunker on the left of the fairway. Two bunkers short and left are waiting to catch your approach shot.
Hole 3: Par 5, 548yds, index 4
A tight tee shot waits on this hole. You need to thread it between the two sets of bunkers each side of the fairway. You’re next shot has you choosing the right club to miss the next batch of bunkers in you’re next landing zone. If going for it then you need to be wary of bunkers all around the green. Laying up in the middle of the fairway with your second shot is a good option to leave a nice approach into the green.
Hole 4: Par 4, 345yds, index 8
With bunkers in your landing zone you can be brave and try to carry them to leave a pitch to the green, or take a fairway wood out to be short of them. Anything right is gone and trouble waits on the left with bunkers. The approach shot needs to be careful of the water right again and two bunkers on the left of the green. Getting your distance is crucial for the approach as the water returns around the back of the green.
Hole 5: Par 3, 143yds, index 14
A really tough little par 3. Hitting the green is daunting here with water all around it. The right hand side of the green is closer to you as it comes in a bit so aim for that to give yourself the best chance of hitting it. If you are going towards the left hand side you may drop short in the water. Anything close to the edges has the possibility of going into the water.
Hole 6: Par 4, 404yds, index 6
A very slight dog leg to the left. Aim to the left of the bunker on the right of the fairway to make sure you carry the desert on the left. Once you have hit the fairway the green is pretty easy to hit with only two bunkers on the left protecting it. A nice relaxing hole after the nervy 5th!
Hole 7: Par 5, 571yds, index 2
Another long par 5 with bunkers in your landing zone on the right hand side of the fairway. Be on the left side of these and you’re next shot is straight up the fairway towards the green whether you are going for it or laying up. On your approach shot take care of the bunkers on the left and right of the green.
Hole 8: Par 3, 169yds, index 18
The safest of the par 3’s on the course and the easiest hole on the card. The only trouble on this hole is the bunker on the left of the green but avoid this and it’s not a hard hole.
Hole 9: Par 4, 449yds, index 10
Hitting over the sea to hit this fairway you need to be accurate. Stay to the left of the fairway bunkers on the right side of the fairway as the sea returns in slightly and may catch you if long. Don’t go too close to the bunker though as there is rough to the right of it. Your approach needs to come in over some bunkers but there is a bail out area to the right if you can’t make it.
Hole 10: Par 4, 385yds, index 11
With bunkers and the possibility of going in a lake with a driver off this tee the safe option is a long iron or fairway wood down the middle. You still need to be accurate as bunkers can catch you on the right hand side and there are bunkers and heavy rough on the left hand side. You approach shot needs to carry the lake and there are bunkers and heavy rough back of the green so club selection is important.
Hole 11: Par 3, 202yds, index 13
One of the most scenic holes on the holes. This par 3 has an infinity green which is a little elevated so make sure and club enough to get up there. It’s quite a long shot and there are desert bunkers on the right hand side waiting to catch you. The safe shot if you’re not sure of making it is a bail out to the left.
Hole 12: Par 5, 515yds, index 17
This par 5 is quite reachable and the fairway is pretty open for the drive. Stick to the left hand side but not too far as you have the sea to worry about. There are bunkers all up the left for your second shot which you need to carry if going for it. If laying up go right of these to leave a nice short shot into the green. A bunker protects the right hand side of the green as well.
Hole 13: Par 3, 160yds, index 15
Another scenic par 3 and another one over water. You need to watch your distance here as anything too long or too short is in the water. Too far left is in the water, and out right is a large bunker.
Hole 14: Par 4, 371yds, index 5
Again hitting a fairway wood off the tee may be the safest option here as there is a small landing area for a driver between the two sets of bunkers. With more bunkers short, left, and right of the green the approach shot needs to be accurate and long enough.
Hole 15: Par 4, 439yds, index 1
This is a tough hole and you will need everything you have to make it easy to hit in two. With water right you need to make sure to be left of this but there are bunkers to catch you if too far left. The approach shot depending on where the pin is may need to carry water at a distance so you may want to bail out short left to leave a chance at an up and down par.
Hole 16: Par 5, 561yds, index 7
The tee shot on this hole doesn’t really have any problems apart from being straight out the middle. There are no bunkers to worry about but veer too far left or right and you have heavy rough. The next shot however has to thread its way through a lot of bunkers whether you’re laying up or going for it. It’s a big hit to reach in two so laying up is the safest option. With a good lay up you still need to be careful of the bunkers right and short of the green for your approach shot.
Hole 17: Par 4, 431yds, index 3
A blind teeshot into a small landing zone here makes you think about your club selection. If going long then take care of the water on the right hand side which may catch you. A fairway wood is a safe option just right of the tree on the left of the fairway. Your approach will possibly need to carry some of the water but it shouldn’t be too long to cause any problems.
Hole 18: Par 4, 397yds, index 9
The last teeshot is another over the sea and the hole is a lovely hole to finish the round. Aim towards the bunkers in the middle of the fairway and you should be sitting nicely for your next shot. Go right and its water, too far left is bunkers and heavy rough. Your approach shot is also a tester, going over the water again to find the green take care of the bunker on the left. Don’t go too far right as the water can catch you here too.
