Al Ghazal Golf Club: While you're in UAE, why not try a round of golf on one of the world's best sand courses, and sample golf as it was originally played in the desert. Al Ghazal is unquestionably a very good and testing layout, although perhaps not as easy-on-the-eye as if it were grass. Here the entire game is played on sand, and that means fairways, greens (called browns) and obviously the bunkers. The course stretches out across an upper and lower plateau, which creates some interesting elevation changes on several holes. Within its testing 6724 yards (off the white tees) are many excellent dog-legging par-4's, uphill and downhill par-3's (the 11th is a gem), substantial bunkering and occasional water hazards, the most dangerous of which comes into play at the long par-5 17th, another excellent hole. The large and sloping browns, which include several arranged on two-tiers, roll as straight, fast and true as anything you'll find on a grass course. Sand golf may not be to everyone's liking, but it is remarkable how close to grass golf it comes - what's missing are all those lush green fairways. The "greening" effect here, comes from a pleasant array of palms and small trees that surround the course and line some of the holes, and of course the small artificial grass mat you carry around, for shots from the marked-out fairways. This may not be golf as you've known it before but you may just get to like it ! Rumour is that even Monty became a convert once he'd played at Al Ghazal !