With the European Tour’s much-heralded and troubled Dubai World Championship finally getting under way today, signature designer Greg Norman officially opened the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates yesterday, along with Marwan al Qamzi of developer Nakheel.

The Great White Shark took the final putt on the eighteenth hole of the course before declaring it officially open. The club will open to members on 1 December.

Measuring 7,705 yards, the Earth course features Norman’s trademark ‘mile of golf’ for the final four holes. The course closes with a 651 yard par five with a split fairway.

Norman said: The second can be played either directly towards the green or up the left, as a falaj splits the fairway in two for its entire length. Although more risk involved, the shot played right is narrower but opens up the green for approach, whereas the shot played left is easier but brings into play a large group of dangerous bunkers. The green is raised and uphill from the fairway with the falaj off to the left.”