RAK mountain tee proves no handicap for top golfers

European golfers teed off from the UAE's highest peak, Jebel Jais, to promote a golf event in Ras Al Khaimah.

Sweden’s Joel Sjoholm, Dutchman Jurrian van der Vaart and Monaco’s Sandro Piaget shoot balls off Jebel Jais. Courtesy photo

RAS AL KHAIMAH // Golf professionals faced a different challenge when teeing off from the top of the UAE’s highest peak, Jebel Jais.

Sweden’s Joel Sjoholm, Dutchman Jurrian van der Vaart and Monaco’s Sandro Piaget fired a series of blistering drives into the rocky caverns of the Hajjar Mountains to promote the RAK 2016 Golf Challenge at Al Hamra Golf Club.

The temporary tee is soon to be replaced by a viewing deck to boost tourism in the region and allow walkers to take in the magnificent views.

Golfers hit their balls from more than 1,700 metres above sea level, enabling drives of more than 360 metres. No mountain goats were injured in the making of a short film on their tee-offs.

Like many newcomers to the region, Sjoholm, 31, was unaware of the hidden gem that is the Hajjar Mountains.

“I didn’t even know there were mountains in the UAE, especially mountains as vast as these,” the Swede said.

“You can’t quite see Oman but it’s fascinating to know this stretch of mountains links the final two tournaments of the season.”

The promotional stunt took place ahead of the opening round of the RAK 2016 Golf Challenge, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday, where players compete for a prize pot of US$350,000 (Dh1.2 million).