Where there were rolling dunes and wasteland, there's now a collection of rolling verdant fairways, deep bunkers, wispy rough and inviting, sloping greens with their traditional heartbreaking run-offs. Against all the odds, Phillips has created a modern classic and the par-72 layout, which plays to a maximum of 7,450 yards, is endowed with nine holes that dramatically hug the coastline, while all 18 holes boast views of the shoreline making it one of the best courses to play in the UAE. Multiple teeing areas make all this enjoyable for most golfers.
In addition to the championship 18-hole course, there's a nine-hole academy course, clubhouse, golf academy and floodlit practice facilities, set against dramatic views of the Arabian Gulf.
Yas Links is also memorable because it's situated on the spectacular Yas Island, strategically located between the coast and city of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with a range of world-class hotels, theme parks, golf courses, mega malls, apartments and villas, and much more. There's a Ferrari theme park, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, featuring the world's fastest roller coaster, and if you want more excitement the Warner Brothers theme park and Yas Water Park should suffice. This is also the home of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Yas Hotel is also a unique attraction, with a spectacular aerodynamic gridshell exterior that is a fully programmable cloak of illuminated glass panels, enabling it to act as a light show at night, providing different shades and colours, including animations. Like the fantastic Scottish links-style course in the desert, it's all a little surreal, but makes a trip here all the more memorable.
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links
Yas Links has been the host of The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship since 2022. The winner of the 2022 event was Belgian Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters who finished on -10 for 4 rounds which was enough for a 1 shot victory over Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Shubhankar Sharma.
The 2023 event was won by France's Victor Perez who finished on -18 with rounds of 71, 65, 68 and 66. This was enough for a 1 shot victory but also claiming his 3rd victory on The European Tour.
