MIDDLE EAS T


M I DDL E E A R T H


Think of golf in the Middle East and your mind usually wanders to luxury, with good reason. We take a look at Qatar, Oman, Abu Dhabi and Dubai,


to discover different ways to indulge on and off the course Words: Sarah Woods


QATAR W


ith its gilded reputation for lavish boutique hotels and sumptuous fashion


brands, Qatar is a seductive proposition to discerning holiday- makers. Home to a high-flying international community of ambitious, monied expatriates, it offers a VIP lifestyle built on vast gas and oil reserves. Doha’s dazzling skyline is growing at a breakneck pace with signs of new wealth evident everywhere. Decadence abounds in Qatar’s


select handful of shopping choices with Western designer names at the Villagio, Landmark and City Centre Malls. Grab a Champagne cocktail at the Strata Lounge, smoke a fine Cuban cigar at the wood-panelled Library Lounge or indulge in a 10-course tasting menu at one of Doha’s highly starred restaurants. Chi chi hotels provide the most popular dining options, including celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s eatery and the Market at the trendy W Hotel in downtown Doha — Qatar’s hippest place to be and be seen. Set in palm-scatered buzzing West Bay, the signature- styled 442-room W Hotel offers red


Doha Golf Club


carpet insider access to the hotest hang-outs in Doha on the edge of the blue Arabian Gulf. Just minutes from the city’s


contemporary-styled venues, bygone Qatar begs to be discovered: with its vibrant cafe culture, traditional hospitality and spice- filled market stalls. Sip robust Arabic coffee or sweet mint teas and feast on lightly spiced skewered meats fresh from the grill, in the cosy sheesha joints at the Souk Waqif.


The golf Head to the 18-hole Championship course at Doha Golf Club: a lush scenically landscaped facility set around expansive lakes. Tough from the back tees, the layout offers enough tests to give even a scratch golfer a headache. Curvaceous fairways trimmed with vibrant blooms rise up to a palm-tuſted peak where the Arabic-styled clubhouse commands mesmerizing views across the 150-hectare site. Green fees are around £84. dohagolfclub.com


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