Three of KSA’s four golf clubs are in around Riyadh. There is also a private one in the eastern region, and there is talk of a fifth over in the western region at some stage.
Of the three in Riyadh, the most impressive is undoubtedly Nofa Golf Club.
Time Out from the City
Located on a huge property to the south of Mecca Road about an hour out of Riyadh, visitors will notice the huge metal dishes close to the entrance. These collect solar energy and are rumoured to provide power to the entire estate.
Click here to see how to get to the club (thanks to Wael Soliman)
Not Just Golf
Horses are exercised early in the morning at Nofa Golf Course
There is more than just a golf course on this property. It is also a facility for training horses, and if you get there early enough in the morning (before the heat of the day sets in) you may get to see some being exercised.
As well as a training facility, Nofa also has a track for horse racing, and apparently the stables are world class. The back nine of the golf course are contained inside the track.
Golf and horse racing at Nofa Golf Club
Well watered fairways contrast with the surrounding sand dunes at Nofa Golf Club
The grass at Nofa Golf Club is well watered and always in great condition. The contrast of the lushness of the fairways and the surrounding sand dunes makes for an aesthetically pleasing experience.
Well watered fairways contrast with the surrounding sand dunes at Nofa Golf Club
A Safari Park Too!
Arabian Oryx and ostrich at Nofa Golf Club
Ostrich at Nofa Golf Club
An added bonus to Nofa Golf Club is the animals. There is a ‘safari park’ on the property, and there are several animals that can be spotted during a round: Arabian Oryx, ostrich, and others.
There are also villas on the property that can be rented out for a weekend golfing getaway.
To visit the resort website, click here.
Our Opinion
Nofa is an excellent golfing option, and the extra activities make it a pleasant outing for non-players too. It is the furthest from Riyadh of the clubs in the region, but the facility encourages players to spend some time there after a round, and food is available for those who want to stay for lunch.
Please let us know your experience of Nofa Golf Club in the comments section below.