Golf courses in environments which are mostly sand are not impossible to create, and so it is with great relief that golfers who come to Saudi Arabia find that they have access to some pretty good courses. Dirab Golf  Club is home to the first course that was established around Riyadh, and for a variety of reasons it is many people’s favourite.

A short drive from Riyadh

From the Diplomatic Quarter, it takes about 30 minutes to reach the club, driving on Mecca Road and heading south after passing over the escarpment of the plateau on which Riyadh lies. After this escarpment, the environment changes dramatically. It is here that marks the beginning of the large agricultural and animal farms, and the end of the urban spread. 

Once at the club, visitors quickly realize that it took a lot of work to create a golf course here. On the drive out there is very little vegetation, save for some scrub and bushes fit for camels to feed on.

The pro shop stocks a variety of equipment and clothing for purchase and hire, so golfers don’t need to worry if they have left their clubs back at home.

Good quality golf course

A lot of work goes into maintaining the course, although in summer, when the temperature in the area soars to mid 40 degrees Celsius, it is difficult to maintain the quality and evenness of the grass, hence the greens may be slower than expected due to the grass being kept longer than normal.

The club does not encourage golfers to walk the course, and every group must take a buggy. The exception to this is early mornings and late afternoons, if the course is quiet, during the cooler months.

Whilst the golf course itself is of pretty good quality, it is a pity that the clubhouse does not offer more in the way of encouragement to make people stay and enjoy the surroundings a bit more. The food and drinks on offer are fairly basic, and the environment quite stark and functional.

More than just golf

Dirab Golf and Country Club also has horse riding facilities, where people can go riding for an hour at a time. There are also chalets that can be booked for overnight and weekend stays.

A visit to Dirab Golf and Country Club is a pleasant trip out of Riyadh. The environment makes sure the pressures of the city are left far behind, and the greenery ensures the air quality is fresh and fragrant.

Booking tee times in advance is necessary at weekends.

Let us know what you think about Dirab Golf Club in the comments section below

Whilst not yet having achieved the following of the Ha’il Rally, the Jeddah edition is a well organized event with spectacular racing that will grow every year it is run.

​For a short movie showing a Land Rover tackle some of the course, click here

The Jeddah Rally Twitter feed has some great photos from the events

Three of KSA’s four golf clubs are in around Riyadh. There is also a private one in the eastern region, and there is talk of a fifth over in the western region at some stage.

Of the three in Riyadh, the most impressive is undoubtedly Nofa Golf Club.

Time Out from the City

Located on a huge property to the south of Mecca Road about an hour out of Riyadh, visitors will notice the huge metal dishes close to the entrance. These collect solar energy and are rumoured to provide power to the entire estate.

Click here to see how to get to the club (thanks to Wael Soliman)

There are also villas on the property that can be rented out for a weekend golfing getaway.

To visit the resort website, click here.

Nofa is an excellent golfing option, and the extra activities make it a pleasant outing for non-players too. It is the furthest from Riyadh of the clubs in the region, but the facility encourages players to spend some time there after a round, and food is available for those who want to stay for lunch.

Modern Saudi Arabia has embraced car culture, and in the cities a day doesn’t pass without a person seeing first hand Saudi youth trying to pull some tricks with a family sedan – a practice which is frowned upon by most, except the perpetrators, as being dangerous to those who are performing such stunts as well as to other motorists and their families.

Motorsports in the Desert

The Ha’il Rally is one of the largest, most successful events in the kingdom. It is an opportunity to see some skilful racing, and to experience some authentic local culture, and is well worth a visit even for a couple of days.

If you would like to be kept up-to-date about it, visit the Facebook page.