Who designed the Emirates course in Dubai?

[Brian Phillips]

Does anyone know who designed the course?

Cheers

Brian

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Desmond Muirhead

[Greg Ramsay]

I understood that Karl Litten designed the Emirates, the Dubai Racing CLub course, and the Dubai Creek course as well.  Talk about a monoculture of designers!  I worked in Dubai for a short time, and played them all and whilst very enjoyable and fantastic engineering feats, i wouldn't say any had great architectural values.  Greg Norman Design is chasing a job there at the moment with Troon Golf, they may have got it actually.

Greg Ramsay
www.barnbougledunes.com

[Mike_Cirba]

Greg is correct.  THe Emirates course was designed by FLorida-based architect Karl Litten.  I played one of his courses in NJ (Cape May National), which has some fairly decent architecture, if perhaps an over-emphasis on forced carries in spots.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Sorry, I spoke too soon. Thats two out of three nights I have done that!

Desmond designed Emirates Hills.

[Greg Ramsay]

I totally agree with Mike about the forced carries.  In my opinion forced carries (eg like Litten's bunker-ringed greens at Emirates where there is absolutely no opening) show a lack of attention to the finer parts of golf course architecture.

Greg Ramsay
www.barnbougledunes.com

[Tommy_Naccarato]

We have one of our very own Litton courses here in Orange County! Of course it has Gary Player's name on it--Pacific Golf Club in San Clemente. (Which also, in fine OC fashion has nary a view of the Pacific)