Dubai is fast-becoming a hub of world-class golf resorts and facilities, but despite the sport's growing popularity in the emirate it is trying to retain an air of exclusivity, with low memberships and steep property prices.

The latest project, the Tiger Woods Dubai, has set its membership limit at 200, while membership at the Els Club in Dubai Sports City currently sits at 250. Both aim to cater for niche markets and feel they need to maintain a level of privacy to attract a select clientele.

Woods was in Dubai this week to unveil final plans for Tatweer's exclusive golf community, the Tiger Woods Dubai, adding to a growing number of professional golfers lending their names to projects in Dubai.

Players such as Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie already have affluent golfing enthusiasts honing their swings on signature courses in Dubai, yet it is the Al Ruwaya golf course and its accompanying real estate development at Tiger Woods Dubai that looks set to stand alone as the region's preeminent golfing getaway.

The Dh4bn project has promised to provide 22 palaces, 75 mansions and 100 luxury villas, but despite Tatweer claiming demand is there, purchasing property on the development will come at a hefty price.

It is reported that palaces will start at around Dh180m, mansions at Dh115m and built signature villas will go onto the market at Dh67m. If that scares off even the most enthusiastic of golfers, then they could part with a mere Dh27m to secure land for a signature villa.

The golf course will open its membership to only 200 entrants, with priority given to its residents. The unofficial motto is: Exclusivity is key.

"Membership is by invitation only," says Abdulla Al Gurg, Project Director at TTWD. "The pricing guide of the golf club is yet to be decided, but the golf club will also be accessible by the guests of the boutique hotel of the Tiger Woods Dubai.

"The project is proving very popular with golf fans and people seeking exclusivity and privacy. TTWD has been in very high demand since its launch and hence has been inundated with regional and international enquiries since the start of the sales process.

"We are not able to divulge specific sales figures, but can say that we are well ahead of sales targets for this stage in the development.

"We are seeing global interest in the project and have already sold a significant proportion of the development."

Yet, while these developments target a smaller market, Thomas Rubi, General Manager of the Els Club, believes the explosion of golf courses in the region will only continue to flourish.

"There is an insatiable demand for golf at the moment," says Rubi.

"Right now there's only about eight and a half grass courses in the region – seven and a half [in Dubai] and one in Abu Dhabi – and everyone's very busy at that.

"You have to remember that Nad Al Sheba and Dubai Country Club closed a year or so ago, taking 100,000 rounds out of circulation so now those displaced players are going to other places."

"There's not enough golf courses to meet the current demand and we don't see that changing for at least five years, especially with what's due to be delivered to the market place in the next three – five years."

Those developments are coming thick and fast. Alongside the established offerings from Els and Montgomerie, Greg Norman, Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh have collaborated with legendary golf architect Pete Dye to design four courses at Jumeirah Golf Estates, at a cost of Dh2.5bn.

The quartet – named Fire, Earth, Water and Wind – will host the Dh36.7m Dubai World Championship from next year, a tournament open to the top 60 players in the Race to Dubai – formerly the European Order of Merit – that will compete for a further Dh36.7m bonus jackpot.

US Masters champion Trevor Immelman has also revealed plans to design in the region, when he spoke exclusively to Emirates Business after his triumph at Augusta in April.

His compatriot Els launched the inaugural Els Club – a cornerstone development in Dubai Sports City – earlier this year and immediately announced it would serve as a global base for the golf star's international design business operation.

But few projects will excite golf fans more than the Tiger Woods Dubai. The winner of 14 majors, Woods has proved throughout his career that any test he undertakes usually yields results.

The 32-year-old is undaunted by building a plush golfing landscape in the arid Arabian desert, saying he drew inspiration for the project from clubs in the 'sandbelt' region of Melbourne, Australia. "Designing in the real world, not just on paper is a lot more difficult than I thought," reveals Woods.

"A lot more goes into it than just putting something on paper, a lot more detail. To be part of this is a lifelong dream of mine. I want this to be an oasis, an escape from the city. As everyone knows, Dubai has grown quite a bit and this will be a place to get away from the hustle and the bustle of the city."

Tatweer acknowledge the significance of providing the best player in the world's first foray into course design.

"It's crucial," says Al Gurg. "Having the golf course designed by the top golfer means he already has comprehensive understanding of professional players' requirements in a golf course, which is reflected in our golf course.

"Al Ruwaya will provide a strategic and dramatic test of golf for players of all skill levels. Six tees on each hole provide a variety of length and challenge for all golfers.

"The course will create an aesthetic experience unlike any other in the region, and will feature dramatic elevation changes, lush landscaping, and stunning water elements throughout.

"Only the world's number one golfer, Tiger Woods, can design a golf course with such perfection."

However, to guarantee perfection in today's game, Woods may just have to do the 'Tiger-proofing' of Al Ruwaya himself.

The first phase of TTWD, that includes the golf course, will be completed by the last quarter of 2009.



Landscaping

  - A 25-hectare turfgrass nursery is being constructed at a site adjoining the project that will service the needs of the golf course and the development

  - A tree, palm and plant nursery of 30 hectares is to being constructed for more than 11,000 trees and palms to be installed on the golf course

  - A reverse osmosis plant will provide 5,000 sq m of treated water to the nursery. It will eventually provide 30,000 cubic metres treated water that will create premier playing surfaces and pristine waterways on the golf course – and ideal growing conditions to the highest botanical industry standards in the nursery



Properties

The hotel

  - The project recently announced a strategic agreement with world renowned Lebanese designer Elie Saab to develop the exclusive Dh600m signature hotel at the site.

  - The 360,000 sq ft luxury boutique hotel will include 90 suites and 17 bungalows from 1,600 to 9,500 sq ft. The hotel will target top-tier clientele and boast a 10,000 sq ft swimming pool, as well as one of Dubai's most luxurious spas.

  - An agreement has been signed with world renowned French Chef Guy Savoy to open a signature restaurant at the hotel.


The residences

  - Homes will include 22 palaces, 75 mansions, and more than 100 villas.

  - All residences will be built on large land areas: palaces will cover 100,000 sq ft, mansions have been allocated 50,000 sq ft and large villas will stretch more than 30,000 sq ft.

  - The highest design standards will be applied to all structures and common areas throughout the development area and purchasing property will come at a hefty price.