Emirates Golf Club has appointed London-based architects Thomson Perrett & Lobb (TPL) to modernise its flagship Majlis Course, home of the Dubai Desert Classic.

TPL will carry out an audit of the course's bunkering as part of a wider modernisation programme, overseeing the repositioning and reconstruction of bunkers to upgrade the course for professional events as well as day-to-day club and visitor play.

The 7,301-yard, par-72 layout, which opened in 1988 and was one of the first grass golf courses in the Middle East, was ranked 97th in the list of the 100 top golf courses outside America by Golf Digest magazine in May 2009.

Rod Bogg, special advisor to Dubai Golf, who oversaw construction of Emirates Golf Club 22 years ago, said: "Our bunkers are out of date and, due to modern equipment, out of play.

"Some of the players are hitting the ball 60 or 70 yards past the fairway bunkers during the Dubai Desert Classic. While that is only one week of the year, we need to ensure that the course remains the enjoyable challenge that it is for professionals and amateurs all year round."

"We are not redesigning the course and not adding additional bunkers to the course, but we are looking at relocating, reshaping and reconstructing the bunkers we do have to bring the course up to the highest modern standards, as well as making some improvements to the aesthetics of the course." The new look course will be in play for the Dubai Desert Classic in 2011.