Small but mighty - Bahrain
For motorsport fans, the "Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix" is always the first highlight of the year. On the one hand because it is the only desert race in the Formula 1 circus and is held as a spectacular night race on the fully illuminated International Circuit in Sakhir, and on the other hand because the brilliant supporting program afterwards puts pretty much everything in the shade. Make a note of the weekend from March 19 to 22 and take your golf equipment with you.
Golf & culture, luxury & lifestyle
Yes, where is Bahrain actually located? On Wiki I find the explanation: The Kingdom of Bahrain is located in the Persian Gulf, on the east coast of Saudi Arabia and is connected to the mainland of Saudi Arabia by a 25 km long bridge, the "King Fahd Causeway". The island state borders Qatar to the south-east and the Arabian Gulf lies to the north. The temperatures are perfect for golfing right now and with three golf courses, the small desert state has a lot to offer. Around 20 minutes from the capital Manama, the 27-hole course at the Royal Golf Club invites you to play a truly royal round of golf. No wonder, as the layout was designed by golf icon Colin Montgomerie. In 2008, he opened 18 holes plus the 9-hole par 3 course called the "Wee Monty Course" - perfect for golf beginners or for practicing with floodlights. Since 2012, the course has been managed by Troon Golf, which won the World Golf Award in 2015. Perhaps also because there is an incomparable range of offers here: From the golf academy, soccer golf, meeting and banquet rooms, "weddings", fine dining and a huge pro store with the best golf equipment. I can hire the latest Callaway clubs here, which are better than the ones I have at home. You can only score well here - and with birdie & par! But no wonder - the course is relatively short for ladies, has clearly laid out tees and no particular obstacles. Conclusion: a wonderful golfing experience that you won't forget in a hurry. The second 18-hole course near the Royal is completely different. Historically, the Awali Golf Course has been around since 1927, when workers from the US oil company Bapco introduced the game of golf to Bahrain. They built six sand fairways near their company premises in Awali so that they could play after work. Under the name Bapco Golf Club, it was run by the employees until 1937. The current 18-hole course was built in the 1940s and the first Bahrain Open Championship was held here in 1964. Even today, you still play on a complete desert layout - which means that the ball has to be teed up on a green mat and the "greens" are made of brown sand and have never seen a blade of grass. The only advantage - the balls travel a miserable distance on the compressed sand and once again you have your own "longest drive" of what feels like 200 meters.
Then and now
Al-Bahrain means "the two seas" in Arabic. This refers to the location of the island state, whose 33 islands are spread over 750 square kilometers in the bay on the Arabian Gulf. There are an unbelievable number of bridges connecting the two, creating a sea of lights, especially at night. History tells that the island state was already famous for its pearl trade 1000 years ago. Based on the shallow waters where freshwater springs meet salt water and provide ideal conditions for oyster beds. Until the 1930s, pearl diving was also a lucrative source of income - at least for the traders. After that, the industry lost importance and was replaced by the oil and gas industry. Today's Bahrain scores above all with luxury. The 5-star hotel industry can already boast the best brands and the liberal multi-cultural society attracts Arabs with their families in particular, but also Europeans. If you have a week to spare, you can discover the most important hotspots here after golfing: the large Al-Fatih mosque, Muharraq with its historic palaces, the millennia-old Qal'at al-Bahrain fortress, the historic Manama Souk bazaar district, where the smell of Indian spices and fresh Arabic coffee mingle and you can find the most beautiful things to browse through. Similar to the Bab el-Bahrain Souk, modern and stylish and very different from what you are used to in the Orient. The Bahrain National Museum is a must-see, as it tells the complete history of the kingdom and the depictions, pictures and animations are incredibly realistic. Afterwards, you can look forward to the Thalasso offer at the Sofitel Hotel, which is located directly by the sea with 5-star comfort and offers the best service. Yes, one last tip: The Merchant House, newly opened in the city center, is still an insider tip, but I was totally thrilled. The boutique hotel, which belongs to the Small Luxery Hotels, impresses with its furnishings, the art on the walls and, last but not least, the finely tuned menu. My verdict: worthy of a star!
Further information:
www.btea.bh www.evisa.gov.bhto apply for a visa
www.sofitel.com/6722
www.theroyalgolfclub.com/courses/
www.awaligolfclub.com www.campbellgrayhotels.com/merchant-house-bahrain
