Qatar Masters

The Qatar Masters is a golf tournament held annually at the Doha Golf Club in Doha, Qatar. The tournament started in 1998, and is part of the PGA European Tour. The Championship course, which measures 7,374 yards, was designed by Peter Harradine, the designer or co-designer of more than 160 courses around the world. Peter is the son of the late Don Harradine who was himself a famous course architect.

The tournament attracts a good number of top players from all over the globe, and over four days the participants compete for around $2,500,000 in prize money. Race to Dubai enthusiasts will be interested to note that Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh, who have both helped to design courses at Jumeirah Golf Estates, have previously featured in the Qatar Masters.

Qatar – more formally referred to as the State of Qatar – is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The region boasts some spectacular views, not only from the perspective of the natural world but also in terms of architecture. Perhaps the most famous building in Doha is the Grand Mosque, which features several domes and never fails to impress.

For those who have little time for sight-seeing, the Doha Golf Club is itself very impressive. The course is designed around eight lakes, more than sixty giant cacti and a number of limestone rock formations, with superb green fairways contrasting sharply with the desert region.

February 6, 2012