The sun was still 15 minutes away from making its presence felt when Eoin Clarke and myself stood on the opening tee of the Yas Island Links course at Abu Dhabi.
This was in contrast to a few years back when I joined a group of journalists covering the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship to inspect the yet completed layout.
On that occasion we made our way out to the 8th hole, a stunning par three laid out on the Yas Island shoreline, where we were introduced to course designer, Kyle Phillips.
The eighth was one of the first holes completed and Phillips had traveled straight from the airport to the course.
Phillips is a renowned golf course designer having designed Kingsbarns that each year plays host to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Yas Island Links has since become a ‘must play’ course in visiting the Middle East.
But on this visit Eoin and myself had traveled less than five minutes from the comfort and surrounds of Park Inn Hotel located at Yas Plaza.
In fact, the golf course has been like my constant companion since arriving into the UAE capital on Sunday night, as one of the first tasks in rising each morning is to pull back the curtains.
The view out over the golf course is simply stunning.
Eoin Clarke on the 9th tee at Yas Island Links.
However it was still rather chilly in arriving at the first tee at 6.40am, and with it still quite dark as we tried to find the line off the tee
However it was not long before all was revealed on one of the UAE’s newest golf course laid out on what is a stunning natural canvas for all to see.
Here is the only two website links you need:-
https://www.yaslinks.com/ & http://www.parkinn.com/hotel-abudhabi
The great aspect in being afforded the opportunity to play new golf courses such as Yas Island Links is to observe first hand how the course continues to mature.
Equally rewarding this week has been the comfort of residing at the Park Inn Hotel and if you could find no better golfing reward during your stay in the UAE capital than to book into the Park Inn.