It is a career first for four-time Major winning Ernie Els – teeing-up in a professional tournament on a golf course he designed and at a club named after the champion South African.

Els will contest the inaugural Asian Tour’s Dubai Open to be staged on the Els Club course from 18th to 21st December, 2014.

www.golfbytourmiss.com had the pleasure just reccently, and with thanks to Rolex, in played the Els Course and it was in perfect condition, and it’s little wonder Els is excited at this ‘first’ in his career.

“We are so excited. The guys at The Els Club, we’ve kept the course in great shape every year. They are so ready for this golf tournament,” said Els.

“Obviously it’s a thrill for us that The Els Club Dubai has been selected as the venue for the Dubai Open. We really couldn’t be more proud.”

Els also is no stranger to savouring success in Dubai having captured the 1994, 2002 and 2005 Dubai Desert Classic.

And he has warned his Asian Tour colleagues traveling to the UAE that some greens would resemble those at Augusta National Golf Club, with drop-off areas punishing less-than-precise iron shots.

Ernie Els is no stranger to winning in Dubai having won three Dubai Desert Classic titles.

“It’s going to be tough. I like to set up wide fairways because of the way I drive it. You’re going to feel there is plenty of room off the tees at The Els Club Dubai but the second shots will test the players,” he said.

“Some of the greens, when the wind blows, it’s going to be very severe. The first green, ninth green and 10th green are going to be severe. It’s really a second shot golf course. A lot of the guys will get it in play but you’ve got to play your second shots to the right position.

“Shot makers will have a good time. A lot of par threes, you’ve got to draw or fade it and we’ve got a good mix of holes with various lengths. You’ve got to shape a lot of shots to score on the course. The iron play and short game will test the players.

“Players will also find a lot of areas where the balls goes away from the pin, like at Augusta National. And then you’ve got to chip it back onto the green.”

Naturally, Els is extremely proud of his masterpiece at The Els Club Dubai, saying his years traversing the globe as an international golfer has given him various ideas in his design work.

“I took a lot of my ideas from the things I’ve seen around the world. Early on in your designing career, you have to have a concept that you go after. I said to my guys I didn’t want to trick it too much off the tees but test the players with the second shots. I feel in my career, my iron play has been quite good and I’ve been pretty good with my short game as well,” said the South African.

“If they play the DUBAi Open off the back tees, it could be very long. I hope the guys will mix the tees around on the par threes and par fives especially. Depending on the wind, you could get the winning score to 12 to 14 under but I could be proven wrong.

“I think the guys will enjoy it although there could be some greens which are a little severe but for the most part, it’ll be a great challenge.”

The DUBAi Open, promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi, will be the Asian Tour’s final event of The Els Club Dubai is situated within the sprawling Dubai Sports City where the par-72 course combines links style golf with traditional ‘classical era’ design. Opened for play in 2008, the course stretches 7,538 yards and was named as ‘Best New International Course’ by prestigious US magazine,