At its core, Al Zorah is simple, with a focus on fun. The tidal feature is a nice touch, but golf courses will always be judged on the quality of their holes, and this Nicklaus Design layout is full of good ones. In a country where the aerial form of the game reigns supreme, it’s refreshing to find a course with firm and fast playing surfaces.

Tee shots scamper down the fairways and poorly struck approaches can wander into the swales and run-offs that protect Al Zorah’s greens. It’s not a links course but, in places, it plays like one. It was clear from the beginning that the club’s short holes would be the stars of the show. Holes 6, 8, 15 and 18 are all outstanding and may just rank as the finest collection of par 3s anywhere in the region. Al Zorah expertly treads the fine line between challenging and playable, with generous fairways giving way to demands for more precision around the greens.