Renowned golf course architect Peter Harradine has emphasized the importance of creating more enjoyable golf courses for the average player, following his involvement in the redesign of the Garden Golf course at the Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa. Harradine, who originally designed the course in the late nineties, believes there are too many 'Championship' courses and not enough champions. In a recent interview with Khaleej Times, Resort General Manager Luke Sacco provided an update on the project, which includes significant investments in the resort, particularly the golf club and course.
The Abu Dhabi Golf Club and National Course, also designed by Harradine in 1998, has hosted 16 consecutive editions of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the DP World Tour, as well as the 2023 Eisenhower Trophy. The nine-hole Garden Course was closed earlier this year for redesign, with plans now confirmed and construction underway. The project is set to be completed in just over 12 months, ready for the 2025-26 season.
Sacco shared that the redesign will incorporate Harradine's vision, aiming to make the course comfortable for all golfers, especially newcomers and beginners, promoting fast and fun play. The course will be floodlit, similar to the National Course, ensuring play feels almost like daylight. Sacco emphasized the need to adapt and provide facilities that meet the needs of both existing and new customers.
Harradine added that the redesign aims to maintain the original intent of the course, which was to be a fun course for the 'normal' player. He criticized the previous decision to include the nine-hole course in a 27-hole loop, stating it was a mistake. Harradine reiterated the global issue of having too many 'Championship' courses and not enough champions. The redesigned course will feature minimal hazards and bunkers, with a natural desert feel similar to the Doha Golf Course.
Harradine recommended that UAE golfers visit the Doha Golf Club in Qatar, one of his best designs, known for its desert-style layout and numerous accolades. The redesigned Garden Course will offer three sets of tees: White, Yellow, and Red, with the White Tee Course playing at a maximum of 2,755 yards as a Par 34.
