Use your credit card to play golf for FREE

How Your Credit Card Gets You on the Green

Believe it or not, holding the right premium credit card in the UAE can unlock free golf rounds every month. Banks partner with top golf clubs and booking platforms to reward cardholders with complimentary tee times — saving you AED 200–600 per round. With just a bit of planning and meeting spend requirements, you can play regularly without paying for green fees.

Key Factors to Consider

1. Annual Fee vs. Value

   Premium cards (World Elite, Visa Infinite, Signature) often have higher fees (AED 600–2,000/year), but regular golf play can more than offset that cost—especially if your card offers 4+ freebies monthly.

2. Spend Conditions

   Most cards require monthly spending thresholds (AED 5k–10k). If you don’t meet them, green fee waivers may be revoked or replaced by a charge (e.g., AED 250–500 per round).

3. Course Selection

   Some cards offer multiple UAE courses — Arabian Ranches, Yas Links, Trump Dubai, Abu Dhabi Golf Club — while others limit you to just one high-profile club. Decide if variety matters to you.

4. Monthly Round Limits

   Free rounds range from 1–4 per month, but caps matter — e.g., Mashreq Solitaire offers up to 4 (formerly 6), HSBC Black gives 2, CBD provides 4 at Trump Dubai, Citi Ultima offers unlimited weekdays + 1 weekend round, etc.

5. No-Show & Cancellation Fees

   Miss your tee time without cancelling in time? You could be charged AED 250–525 or lose your round. Each program has different policies — Thriwe typically charges AED 250 and SpikesOn may debit the discounted green fee. Always cancel at least 48 hours ahead to avoid penalties.

Booking Platforms: What to Expect and How to Book

No matter which credit card you use, booking your free golf round requires planning ahead. Tee times — especially on weekends — are in high demand across all platforms. You’ll often need to book 7 to 30 days in advance to lock in a preferred slot. Availability is tightest at top courses like The Els Club, Yas Links, and Trump Dubai during peak morning hours, especially from October through March.

SpikesOn (Used by HSBC, Standard Chartered)

SpikesOn is a favorite among golfers for one reason: instant booking. It functions like a modern tee time app — you log in, see live availability, and book your round with just a few taps. HSBC Black and Standard Chartered Journey cardholders upload their card into the app or web portal to verify eligibility. Once verified, they can book rounds up to 7 days in advance at some of the UAE’s top courses like Montgomerie, Saadiyat, and Dubai Hills. Cancellation is simple (within 48 hours), and the interface is sleek.

Thriwe (Used by Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic)

Thriwe’s platform is a bit more old-school. Instead of live slot visibility, you submit a request for a course, date, and time window—then wait for a confirmation email. While it works, it’s less immediate than SpikesOn, and tee time confirmation can take hours or even days. Emirates NBD and Emirates Islamic cardholders access the portal through their bank’s benefits site. Despite the slower flow, Thriwe still gets the job done if you book early and aren’t chasing peak weekend mornings. Note: missed tee times here often trigger a AED 249–500 no-show fee depending on the card.

Other Platforms (GolfLan, Concierge, Direct Booking)

Mashreq uses GolfLan, which combines a booking portal with concierge support. It’s more generous—allowing cardholder + guest—but also more manual. Citibank and CBD cards rely on email forms or direct booking via the club or a concierge. These can be surprisingly effective but require advance notice of 2–3 weeks and don’t offer live slot visibility. If you’re a planner, they work well. If you like to book last-minute, you might get frustrated.

Top Credit Cards with Free Golf Benefits

1. Emirates Islamic Visa Infinite (Flex Elite, Skywards Infinite)

• Rounds: Unlimited (spend ≥ AED 10k)
• Courses: Arabian Ranches, The Track Meydan, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Abu Dhabi City Club
• Platform: Thriwe
• Key Notes: No monthly cap; must meet AED 10k spend. Two free cancellations/month allowed.
• Best For: Avid golfers who consistently meet spend and prefer flexibility

2. Mashreq Solitaire

• Rounds: Up to 4/month with a cap of 2 weekend games (spend ≥ AED 10k)
• Courses: Arabian Ranches, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, The Track Meydan, The Els, Jebel Ali
• Platform: GolfLan
• Extra: Covers cardholder + guest (considered as 2 rounds used); cancellation penalties apply
• Best For: Couples or friends who play often and want diversity

3. Emirates NBD Visa Infinite (and co-branded variants)

• Rounds: 2 rounds/month (spend ≥ AED 5k)
• Courses: Jebel Ali Golf Club, Arabian Ranches Golf Club, The Track Meydan, Abu Dhabi City Club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club
• Platform: Thriwe
• Key Notes: AED 30 booking processing fee + AED 249 no-show fee
• Best For: Players wanting good diversity at moderate spend thresholds

4. Citi Ultima (including co-branded Emirates versions)

• Rounds: Unlimited weekdays + 1 weekend round/month (spend ≥ AED 5k/month)
• Courses: The Els, Al Zorah, Arabian Ranches, Montgomerie, and Abu Dhabi Golf Club
• Platform: Concierge (form/email, 15+ days ahead)
• Best For: Serious weekday golfers, don’t mind planning ahead

5. Standard Chartered Journey Credit Card

• Rounds: 1 round/month (spend ≥ AED 10K/month
• Courses: The Els Club, Dubai Hills, Montgomerie, Trump, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Al Zorah
• Platform: SpikesOn
• Best For: Casual golfers looking for a great booking experience

Maximize Your Free Golf Strategy

• Mix and match cards. Pair an online booking platform like SpikesOn card (SC Journey) or Thriwe (Emirates Islamic Flex Elite) with a concierge‑based one (Citi Ultima/Mashreq Solitaire) to optimize timing and courses.
• Book early. For app-platforms, book exactly 7 days out for weekends; for concierge providers, submit 2–3 weeks ahead.
• Track spend. Monitor monthly spend to avoid penalties.
• Plan cancellations. Avoid fees by cancelling >48 hours or >4 days in advance depending on the program.

Final Takeaway

If you play golf even once or twice per month, a premium UAE credit card with golf benefits can pay for itself — and then some. Choose between instant‑booking apps (SpikesOn for convenience), high round caps (Emirates Islamic, Mashreq), or weekday value (Citi). With proper planning, monthly spending, and early booking, you can enjoy free green fees at Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s best greens.

Ready to tap into exclusive golf perks? Compare cards now and tee off with savings! Apply through Kredit today.

FAQ

Which card gives the most free rounds per month?

The Emirates Islamic Visa Infinite gives unlimited rounds (with AED 10k/month spend).

Do I need a handicap to play?

No, you don’t need a handicap to book a complimentary a golf round with a credit card.

Can supplementary cardholders get free rounds too?

It depends on the program, but some of them (ENBD and Emirates Islamic) are also offering additional benefits for the supplementary cardholders.

Are guest rounds included?

Generally no. Only Mashreq Solitaire explicitly covers both your and your guest’s rounds for free.

What if I miss the spending requirement?

Banks will either charge green fees per round (AED 249–500) or block the benefit for that month.