GET TEED OFF

The Sport: Golf

The Arena: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Your Adventure: Ever since Tiger Woods teed off from the heliport of the Burj Al Arab (pictured), the tallest hotel in the world, in 2004, Dubai has taken on a deep mystique for duffers. (Hey, if they've got alpine skiing in a snow dome, why not golf?) The over-the-top city has seven public 18-hole outdoor courses, from the Bedouin-tented Emirates Golf Club, a stop on the PGA European Tour, to the Robert Trent Jones, Jr.–designed Al Badia Golf Resort, where rivers of sand spoon with lakes and streams. But you'll never forget you're in the Middle East: Mosques and minarets (and lots of construction cranes) serve as the backdrop, and at Dubai Country Club, the greens are soaked in oil—really!—for slicker shots. When it's time to get out of the sun, throw your clubs down at the Madinat Jumeirah, a somewhat feverishly decorated property based on an Arabian Nights fantasy, with a mere 867 rooms and suites to choose from, plus a private beach. Remember, though, Dubai parties at night: Change out of those plaid pants, please.

Madinat Jumeirah
Tel: 971 4366 8888
Doubles from $790

Dubai Golf
Tel: 971 4380 1919