The Address Montgomerie is an area of expansive green, something you don’t see too much of in the middle of Dubai. It’s soothing on the eyes. Walking through the driving range and over to the hotel and club house for breakfast I feel a sense of the space wash over me as I gaze out on all the lushness.
My husband and I are on a date morning – breakfast followed by a pool session at this impressive yet peaceful hotel. This isn’t a buzzing tourist destination but more of a hang out for those on a luxury getaway, usually with a passion for golf. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a world class course with excellent facilities including a lovely hotel and a really good academy (for lessons). It just never feels busy, even when the golf course is full.
We pass the jumping castle set up at the driving range and I feel a slight twang of guilt for leaving the boys at home with their new boxes of Lego. However by this time of the morning my passion is for breakfast and the pang of guilt is relatively short lived.
After being slightly disappointed that the breakfast buffet that I had anticipated is not on, I settle for brioche French toast with berry compote and mascarpone cream. I also order a fresh mango, banana and passion fruit smoothie. My husband has the full breakfast which includes an omelette with everything and orders the smoothie as well.
The breakfast conservatory is quiet and we enjoy our meals and conversation without the usual hum of activity you might expect on a weekend. Perhaps we are a bit earlier than the usual crowd as the room begins to fill up as we are finishing.
After settling the bill we head out to the pool, also quiet, where towels are laid out and cold water dispensed for us. I go for a dip as the days are still quite warm and the cool (chilled) water is refreshing. Once I am suitably refreshed from a swim I settle into my pool lounge with a magazine picked up from the lifeguard’s desk and spray on some complimentary sunscreen for good measure. Life is good.
A few magazine articles later I take another dip and sit on the edge, watching the children play and the adults lounge. Just as I am beginning to feel hot again, the lifeguard comes around with chilled, scented towels and tangy lemon & mint icy poles. The children are delighted. The rest of us are secretly delighted too.
After a couple of hours of alternate swims and magazine sessions I am ready to get out of the midday sun and head into the clubhouse for a shower and to change. The dressing rooms are nothing less than sumptuous and I wonder if I could perhaps sneak back here to use them again sometime. My husband, Jason, has now headed off for his round of golf and I wander back home past those at the driving range endlessly trying to perfect their swing.
I am almost feeling content to spend the afternoon playing with the boys after such a relaxing morning.
Would I Return?
Yes. The Montgomerie is really for golfers and I am not one of them. It is all very nice – the restaurants, the pool, the club and I am sure that I will return. Having said that there are a lot of nice golf clubs around Dubai and if you are serious about your swing, you will probably want to explore them all.