Quick, before a sheik beats you to it, stake your claim at The Tiger Woods Dubai, a golf community underway in the United Arab Emirates. Just for home(palace) owners and for guests at the 5-star hotel, the Al Ruwaya Golf Course here will be Tiger's first design, a 7,800 yard whopper studded with 1,200 trees imported from Thailand and South Africa.
Of his par 3, 173-yard twelfth hole, Tiger said, “Visually it’s very dramatic due to the elevations and vegetation, but its also very strategic. It plays over a 30-foot depression of native grassland and shrubbery to a somewhat crowned green. Pin position will dictate strategy off the tee and club selection will be very important. You are really going to have to think on the tee about your shot, especially if the wind is up.” Aaahh . . . the wind across the desert.
Tiger Woods Dubai is part of Dubailand, an ambitious multi-billion-dollar development that, when complete within a decade, will be the Middle East's mega-version of Disneyland for the tragically uber-rich, to include numerous theme parks, live entertainment venues, the Snowdome indoor ski resort––already wildly popular, with a second, larger ski hill on the drawing boards––plus a sports city, wildlife and eco-tourism exhibits, 55 hotels, and . . . one wonders why . . . outlet malls.
Bids are being taken on 22 palaces, 75 mansions and 100 villas. Tiger said, "We will be hitting golf balls at the beginning of the year", meaning 2009.
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