Flights, 4 Nights, 3 Rounds
If you love a proper links test but fancy playing it in reliable sunshine, Yas Links in Abu Dhabi could be the one. Regularly featured in Golf Digest's Top 100 and rated number one in Abu Dhabi and the Middle East, it's a course with serious pedigree.
Designed by Kyle Phillips, the architect behind Scottish favourites Kingsbarns and Dundonald, Yas Links is a genuine links-style layout shaped from flat desert ground. I'm a sucker for links golf, and this is one of the few places you can get that rumpled, running-game feel without packing waterproofs. Expect deep pot bunkers, firm turf that rewards the bump-and-run and enough wind to turn a comfortable par into a proper scrap. More often than not, you'll be doing it in T-shirt weather rather than bracing yourself against a North Sea squall.
Based on Yas Island, you're less than 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport and within easy reach of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Abu Dhabi Golf Club if you want to add more rounds. Off the course, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Mall are right on your doorstep.
Who is this for?
Golfers chasing a links-style layout in the sun, plus anyone wanting a trip where the non-golfers have plenty to do on Yas Island.
Who is it best for?
Low-handicappers and links lovers who enjoy using the ground game in the wind, plus groups wanting an easy base near the airport with options to add Saadiyat Beach and Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Flights, 4 Nights, 3 Rounds
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Flights, 5 Nights, 4 Rounds
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You'll choose your departure airport, and flight requirements later.
Flights, 4 Nights, 3 Rounds
Flights, 4 Nights, 3 Rounds
Flights, 7 Nights, 4 Rounds
These are example flights.
You'll choose your departure airport, and flight requirements later.
Flights, 7 Nights, 4 Rounds
These are example flights.
You'll choose your departure airport, and flight requirements later.
Flights, 4 Nights, 3 Rounds
Flights, 7 Nights, 4 Rounds
These are example flights.
You'll choose your departure airport, and flight requirements later.
Flights, 4 Nights, 3 Rounds
Where there were rolling dunes and wasteland, there's now a collection of rolling verdant fairways, deep bunkers, wispy rough and inviting, sloping greens with their traditional heartbreaking run-offs. Against all the odds, Phillips has created a modern classic and the par-72 layout, which plays to a maximum of 7,450 yards, is endowed with nine holes that dramatically hug the coastline, while all 18 holes boast views of the shoreline making it one of the best courses to play in the UAE. Multiple teeing areas make all this enjoyable for most golfers.
In addition to the championship 18-hole course, there's a nine-hole academy course, clubhouse, golf academy and floodlit practice facilities, set against dramatic views of the Arabian Gulf.
Yas Links is also memorable because it's situated on the spectacular Yas Island, strategically located between the coast and city of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with a range of world-class hotels, theme parks, golf courses, mega malls, apartments and villas, and much more. There's a Ferrari theme park, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, featuring the world's fastest roller coaster, and if you want more excitement the Warner Brothers theme park and Yas Water Park should suffice. This is also the home of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Yas Hotel is also a unique attraction, with a spectacular aerodynamic gridshell exterior that is a fully programmable cloak of illuminated glass panels, enabling it to act as a light show at night, providing different shades and colours, including animations. Like the fantastic Scottish links-style course in the desert, it's all a little surreal, but makes a trip here all the more memorable.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Kyle Phillips |
| Opened for play | 2010 |
| Tee 74 | 7,414 yards | SSS 76.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tee 70 | 7,037 yards | SSS 74.9 |
| Tee 66 | 6,611 yards | SSS 72.5 |
| Tee 62 | 6,236 yards | SSS 72.0 |
| Tee 54 | 5,434 yards | SSS 72.0 |
The Yas Links floodlit Par 3 Academy Course is the ultimate tune-up. Small, challenging greens demand pinpoint accuracy. Ranging from 83 to 185 yards, every hole is a scoring opportunity and a crucial test for your handicap.
This fully floodlit 9-hole course, also a masterpiece by Kyle Phillips, is built to test your iron play and accuracy.
Yas Links has been the host of The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship since 2022. The winner of the 2022 event was Belgian Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters who finished on -10 for 4 rounds which was enough for a 1 shot victory over Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Shubhankar Sharma.
The 2023 event was won by France's Victor Perez who finished on -18 with rounds of 71, 65, 68 and 66. This was enough for a 1 shot victory but also claiming his 3rd victory on The European Tour.
In 2024 Paul Waring shot a 4 round score of -24 to beat Tyrrell Hatton by two shots, he established a lead in the event with a course record 61 on the Friday and displayed nerves of steel holding off the rest of the field with a 66 in the final round.
Aaron Rai secured his second Rolex Series title at the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off. Rai sank birdies on the 16th and 17th to tie Fleetwood on the final hole. After missing a winning putt in regulation, Rai didn't falter on the first extra hole, holing his birdie putt to claim his third DP World Tour win.
| Year | Winner | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Aaron Rai | England | -25 |
| 2024 | Paul Waring | England | -24 |
| 2023 | Victor Perez | France | -18 |
| 2022 | Thomas Pieters | Belgium | -10 |
Jeff
✓7 Mar 2020
Greens were exceptional, fairways and tees in good shape but with some bare patches. Played their twice, on the second round there was slot of course maintenance in preparation for a tournament and the bunkers were poor so it’s worth checking condition before you go. Tough golf course but definitely would return.
Colin
✓13 Feb 2020
Some areas of GUR but unless you were off the fairway, it rarely impacted us. Views are lovely, course is strategic but I don't think as difficult as Saadiyat but thoroughly enjoyable.
Kelvin
✓2 Feb 2020
Unfortunately not in the best condition, but the sun was out .
Dale
✓7 Nov 2019
Several Fairways and bunkers were GUR Great views 17th was a perfect challenge
Martin
✓16 Oct 2019
Yas Links was new to me on this tour but was highly rated by some of my playing pals. Current condition is sporadic, they obviously need some cooler weather to allow some areas to repair and there remains an insane amount of construction going on around the perimeter of the course. However, the layout of this course is awesome with the back nine, in particular, a joyous challenge. We played in a shotgun start format which kicked off at 12-45pm so it was truly hot (39c) but we benefited later on from a breeze which made our back nine (actually the front nine) more pleasant. The clubhouse is somewhat understated but comfortable and relaxing and extremely friendly. All in all we had a great day at Yas Links but were not expecting preferred lies and very straggly rough. In perfect shape this would be a fantastic experience to play, for us it was just really enjoyable but not perfect.
Robert
✓17 Sep 2019
I have played a lot of links courses in the UK and this is one of the best.
Nicola
✓26 May 2019
Excellent condition and lovely course staff very friendly
Ray
✓9 May 2019
This course was one of the most pristine, immaculately presented course I’ve had the pleasure of playing. It is set up for everyone, whatever handicap, to challenge themselves . A Superb Test !! Can’t wait to go back.
Nigel
✓8 Apr 2019
Paul
✓1 Apr 2019
Tough windy conditions with fast and undulating greens created a real test. Few other players on the course the day we played, so it was real millionaires golf on a millionaires golf course!
