Women’s Golf Month is here once again and June has seen the annual drive toward equal opportunities in the sport both on and off the course.

As the occasion was celebrated across the UAE, a historic moment was marked earlier this month as the R&A confirmed that the UAE has become the first country in the world to have every club signed up to the Women in Golf Charter, which leads the R&A’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the golf industry.

The signing of the R&A’s Women In Golf Charter at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Supplied

At an event to mark the signing, General Abdulla Alhashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation said: “The Emirates Golf Federation is proud that the UAE is the first country in the world to have all its golf clubs signed up to the Women in Golf Charter. Today’s celebration of women in golf is a great example of the different initiatives that the R&A can bring to the UAE and the region. With this being Women’s Golf Month it is a perfect time to celebrate having all affiliated UAE golf clubs signing the charter and collaborating to encourage women’s golf participation at every level including professionally.”

To mark Women’s Golf Month, Golf Digest Middle East spoke to some of the most influential women in the sport in the UAE to tell us about their experiences and the changes they have seen during their time here:

Bindu Mohandas, Office Manager, Emirates Golf Federation
My primary role at the EGF is handling EGF memberships and player handicaps as well as supporting the team in event management.
Over the past three decades I have been here, I have seen a steady growth in the number of women taking up the game in the UAE. The level of competitive golf has also intensified in amateur levels, thanks to the Order of Merit Ladies Opens and Inter-Club Challenges to name just two. We have quite a few WAGR ranked golfers as well in the country, while the UAE national ladies team is getting better and better.
The increase in female teaching pros at a number of the clubs across the UAE has helped in attracting Emirati girls and women to the game.
During my time, I have been fortunate to meet some of the top professional golfers up close while I worked with Dubai Desert Classic and Dubai Ladies Masters operations teams. It has been an exciting learning experience and it is also delightful to watch homegrown prodigies making their mark in regional and international golf scenes.
The best change I have witnessed is the introduction of short-game formats, par-3 events and ladies’ open days across the clubs. An increase in initiatives such as weekday competitions, discounted membership fees could attract even more females to the game and more ladies’ golf societies would be helpful too.
Golf is the simply best outdoor family sport — there is fun, mental and physical activity and I don’t think there is another sport that is more sustainable. Golf takes you closer nature than any other sport.

Sandy Meyer. Arabian Ranches

Sandy Meyer, PGA Professional, Arabian Ranches Golf Club
I’ve lived and worked as a golf professional in Dubai for 33 Years and have watched the women’s game grow considerably since I have been in Dubai.
What was once viewed as a sport for the older generation, we have seen many more young girls starting to learn the game through our junior programmes, as well as seeing more interest from ladies taking up the game at a much younger age.
There has also been a huge growth in the game for women through modernisation, which has helped golf become more attractive to the fairer sex. The old stigma seems to have fallen away to a game which incorporates not just the physical enjoyment of sport, but also includes a strong social dynamic as well as attractive fashion trends.
One of my most memorable moments in life was when I caddied on the European Ladies Tour in the 1980s, this was an incredible experience and gave me the opportunity to rub shoulders with some amazing players like Dame Laura Davies.
What is important to know is that golf can be learnt at any age. It’s also important to understand that learning golf is challenging but at the same time rewarding in so many ways.

Nishanthi Balasuriya​, Golf Operations Administrator, Emirates Golf Club
I have been in the UAE for the last 27 years, joining EGC in June 1996. So much has changed since then with the rapid development of Dubai and increased number of golf courses around the city.
The game has gained immense popularity among women and UAE nationals. At the beginning it was few Western ladies playing the game, but now you could see it is becoming popular across all nationalities. Through the young girls taking up the game, you can see the huge prospect for golf in Dubai. It is so good  to see young Emirati girls taking up the game and I would not have dreamt that 25 years ago.
With the real estate boom in Dubai, main luxury apartments are being built around the golf courses, increasing popularity further, allowing women at home to take up the game more easily. Golf has become a passion for some of the ladies and they make the clubs the place where they meet friends and spent some quality time.
When I look back at all these years where it started and how far it has come, it feels so amazing and this will never stop.

Olivia Jackson. Matt Smith/Motivate Media Group

Olivia Jackson, LPGA Golf Professional, Emirates Golf Club
I’m currently the LPGA teaching professional at EGC, and have been based in Dubai since January 2020.
Covid definitely helped the game of golf in the UAE. Pushing more people outdoors with social distancing.  Since moving here I’ve really seen an increase in the number of women taking the sport up, this includes junior girls and young women too.
For me when I was growing up watching golf, Annika Sorentstam, and Lorena Ochoa dominate the women’s game and made it very exciting and made it more athletic. I love to watch the Solheim Cup — the tension and competitiveness between the USA and Europe always makes for the best viewing. When I saw Suzann Petersen make the winning putt in her final Solheim Cup was emotional and fantastic to watch.
I think the continued monetary increase for the main tours and the entry level tours will see more women get into golf and make the game more competitive. It’s nowhere near the men’s in terms of prize money and we need to see that gap closer together if we want to see growth in the women’s game. More money focused on the lower tours to help develop aspiring professionals would really help.
I’d also like to see more funding put behind the junior game to encourage young girls that golf isn’t just a short-term recreational game but a sport for life that can take you down many different avenues and meet people from all walks of life!

Pansy Gonsalvez. Dubai Golf

Pansy Gonsalvez​, Head of International Sales, Dubai Golf
Having started my career in travel and tourism, I moved to Dubai Golf 18 years ago, and was recently promoted to Head of International Sales.
My focus is to increase awareness and promote the UAE as a golf destination. This has resulted in a close relationship with all the golf clubs here in the UAE, tourism boards, local and international partners, hotels in the region. I represent Dubai Golf and Viya Golf at various international golf exhibitions and travel roadshows. Over the years this has built strong and long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders in the industry.
Unlike when I started in the industry, golf has evolved to become more inclusive to all. The number of women players and members in the UAE has grown substantially over the years, and golf clubs have taken the initiative by organising ladies tournaments, hiring women golf pros and offering group lessons with a social element to promote the sport to even more women.
Only last week, the UAE became the first country to sign up all its golf clubs to the R&A’s Women in Golf Charter. This is in support of R&A’s drive to increase the number of women and girls playing golf, and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the industry.
The first time I ever played the game was at the Academy Course at Dubai Creek Golf Club, even before I started working with Dubai Golf, and I had a birdie on a rather challenging hole. That motivated me to stick with and enjoy the game, and also helped with the subsequent decision to move in to the industry shortly after.
Other memorable moments included playing DP World European Tour and Omega Dubai Ladies Masters Pro-Ams with some of the world’s best professional players — who play at a level that I, as an amateur, found intimidating.
While golf is only about 35 years old in the region, women have made great strides to catch up with their male counterparts, both on the course, and behind the scenes. The UAE has actively created opportunities and has fostered a supportive environment for women in sports.
Golf has become an escape from the grind of everyday life, it is a chance to re-invigorate oneself — just as much as a day at the spa. Golf is not just a sport, but also a social activity, with the opportunity to meet new people.  It offers a support system to get you to any level you want based on your time, inclination and ability.
Golf is social and an exercise that can be played you can play anywhere in the world and for us women, interestingly golf fashion (apparel) is become fun.

The post Celebrating Women’s Golf Month in the UAE — with the women who have seen the ladies’ game grow over the decades appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

American flavour at EGC

George Clarke and Lyndon Smith

Emirates Golf Club hosted the Emirates US Open Championship with 76 golfers competing on the Faldo Course. The overall winners were George Clarke and Lyndon Smith with 46 points. Runner’s up were Anders Kron and Russell Yeomans with 44 points. In third place were Tauseef Khan and Shiba Wahid with 44 points.

EGF welcomes new faces

72 new National Team graduates at Emirates Golf Federation

Emirates Golf Federation was celebrating its latest National Team graduates, who passed their tests at Abu Dhabi Golf Club this week. There are 72 new additions who will now go on to the next part of their training on their journey in the world of golf.

Josh Hill in England squad

Josh Hill

Dubai’s Josh Hill has once again been chosen to represent England at the European Team Championships taking place at St Leon Rot Golf Club in Germany from July 5 to 9. The English boys team will be up against the finest youngsters from across the continent as 18 teams do battle for the Jean-Louis DuPont Trophy.  Trump International’s Hill is 50th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and will join Josh Berry (Doncaster), Frank Kennedy (Trump Jupiter), Dylan Shaw-Radford (Huddersfield), Harley Smith (Rayleigh) and Tyler Weaver (Bury St Edmunds) on the England team.

Chiara dominates after injury

Chiara Noja. Annie Krcmarova/ACLC

Dubai-based 16-year-old Chiara Noja showed once again why she is one of the hottest prospects for the future of women’s golf as she bounced back from a rib injury that forced her to miss the Aramco Team Series — London to finish T2 in Belgium and stretch her lead in the Ladies European Tour Access Series Order of Merit. Australia’s Kristalle Blum recorded her first victory on the series at the Golf Vlaanderen LETAS Trophy, one ahead of Noja, local star Sophie Bert and France’s Yvie Chaucheprat and Momoka Kobori from New Zealand. With her runner-up finish, Germany’s Noja continues to dominate the LETAS Order of Merit standings with 1,171.25 points while New Zealand’s Kobori moves to the second spot with 813.75 points.

EGF goes green at Al Zorah

Emirates Golf Federation players take part in tree-planting programme at Al Zorah Golf Club. EGF

Emirates Golf Federation celebrated World Environment Day with EGF golfers at Al Zorah Golf Club, with the players planting mangrove trees following a tournament. The 18-hole golf course, Nicklaus-designed course in Ajman is surrounded by natural lakes and mangroves.

New look in Muscat

Muscat Resorts

Muscat Hills, the first all-grass 18-hole golf course in Oman, is to reopen next year as Muscat Resorts under the management of Troon Golf. Muscat Hills previously opened in 2009 and closed in 2020, and is set for a new lease of life under the ownership of Ominvest, the largest investment company in Oman.

Monthly treat for Vishal

Vishal Tikku

EGC also held the Dubai Golf Monthly where Vishal Tikku claimed top honours in B Division (11-20) with a net 68 (BB9). In Division A (0-10), the winner was that man Russell Yeomans with a net 68. In Division C (21-28), Suresh Shewakramani was victorious with a net 73.

Young UAE star wins in Scotland

Abu Dhabi-based Maya Palanza Gaudin. Emirates Golf Federation

The conveyor belt of young UAE-based talent continues to roll as Abu Dhabi’s Maya Palanza Gaudin took the title at the US Kids European Championship (Girls, 12-years-old Category) at The Glen Golf Club, North Berwick, outside Edinburgh, Scotland. Born in Ethiopia, the 12-year-old, who has lived in the UAE capital with her parents and younger sister for 10 years, plays off a 2.7 handicap and was the 2021 Ladies champion at Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi.

Pairs bear fruit at JGE

Paul McMahon and Drew Foxcroft

Jumeirah Golf Estates hosted their Pairs tournament over the Fire Course with 80 golfers competing in a pairs scramble format. Drew Foxcroft and Paul McMahon won on a card playoff with a net 63 (9-under). Runner-ups were Jack Wanliss and Gary Williams. Third place went to Steve Drake and Sheila McIlroy.

Arabian Ranches heats up

Division 2 winner Salman Karim

In a busy June month, Arabian Ranches also hosted the latest qualifying Round for the UAE Emirates NBD Race to Malaysia ahead of the Emirates Golf Federation-sanctioned national final at Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah on October 1. The next qualifier is at Al Zorah Golf Club in Ajman on September 18, before the final qualifier at Al Hamra Golf Club on September 25. At the final at Al Hamra, the winners of each of the five divisions will qualify to represent the UAE in the World Final in November in Malaysia.

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The post The Gulf Club: All the latest news from the UAE golf scene and beyond for June 2022 as Josh Hill makes England team and Chiara Noja thrives appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Fortunately, you can learn the secrets of Patrick Reed’s wedge wizardry as part of a deep dive cover feature where you can make your own call on whether the media or the complex man himself are responsible for Captain America’s mixed public image.

We talk to the UAE’s No.1 player Ahmad Skaik on his historic Dubai Golf Trophy captaincy, join Matthew Brookes at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club to learn the science behind escaping deep rough and head to Arabian Ranches Golf Club where Ryan Smith shows you how to tame the Dubai course’s No.1 stroke hole.

New golfers will enjoy our ‘Welcome to Golf’ feature where seasoned players share tips they wish someone had given them when they started out while players old and new will benefit from the latest instalment of our annual Hot List, this month focused on irons.

All this and much more in the May 2021 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided or download the bumper May 2021 issue FREE to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

The post Get the May 2021 issue of Golf Digest Middle East FREE today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Welcome to the first edition of The Sand Trap, where we scour the worldwide inter-web for the Middle East’s best golf news before expertly splashing it out with absolutely no (okay, sometimes a little) spin. Call it old school polishing (reporting) of today’s social media overload, a light-hearted take on everything that is great about golf in the game’s hottest destination.

We’re unapologetically Middle East centric – our colleagues at Golf Digest H.Q. in New York will continue to update you on the best global goings on via ‘The Grind’ and the ‘Dew Sweeper’ – so if it has even a tenuous link to the game here, we’ll be all over it.

If you win a title and your club does the needful online, check in here – you might just feature (remember to smile and share!) alongside the region’s more high profile players. Don’t be shy to share that viral worthy post either. A trick shot or a laughter educing whiff from one of your golfing pals perhaps? Simply tag us @GolfDigestME and we’ll do the rest. Who knows, you really could go global with the assistance of Golf Digest.

With that, enjoy this, your first escape from with the Sand Trap, which we coincidently launch just as the year’s final major is about to take the starter’s orders in St. Louis. Enjoy.

THIS WEEK IN THE INCREDIBLE RISE AND RISE OF JUNIOR PHENOM JOSH HILL

Before we head to Bellerive Country Club for the 100th staging of the U.S. PGA Championship, divert your attention, Dear Sand Trappers, to Royal Dornoch where they’ve apparently been golfing since 1616. That’s 402 years ago according the abacus at Media One Towers, or 388 years since Josh Hill was born right here in Dubai. The drawn out connection here is that Hill is set to tee it up at Dornoch on Tuesday as England opens the defence of its Boys Home Internationals title. And that’s as stunning as the fabled Scottish highlands links land hosting the matchplay event where each team faces the other over three days in five morning foursomes and 10 afternoon singles matches each day.

Hill’s selection to the U-18 England team – remember he’s 14! – continues a meteoric rise. It wasn’t that long ago he was posing with Ryder Cuppers Andy Sullivan and Rory McIlroy as a wide-eyed 12-year-old having just played the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am at JGE, coinsidently where he trains.

That was late 2016. Fast-forward to early 2018 and Hill marked himself as the hottest prospect in UAE golf since the emergence of Rayhan Thomas, courtesy of eight wins in a magical three month stretch to April. It will be fascinating to see how Hill fares in the pressure-filled matches against Scotland, Wales and Ireland as England aim for a title three-peat. Whatever happens at Dornach, Dubai looks to have unearthed a genuine gem. Best wishes to Josh and kudos to his supportive parents Russell and Jo and Butch Harmon School of Golf Dubai instructor Joe Marshall. All can be justifiably proud of the unexpected international call-up.

JP ON THE ROAD (AGAIN) TO THE 100th PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Talking of the BHSG Dubai, the stock of the Els Club Dubai-based academy’s Director of Instruction, Justin Parsons, continues to rise. ‘JP’ has been criss-crossing the globe recently working with former major champions Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen who are now firmly ensconced in a stable that also includes Peter Uihlein, Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera and the aforementioned Rayhan Thomas. The Northern Irishman was in Akron last week and departed for the PGA Championship thoroughly encouraged by Schwartzel’s storming finish to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, a 63 at Firestone Country Club propelling the former Masters champion up to a share of 31st with, among others, Tiger Woods.

Great to watch @charlschwartzel get it going today- 63 to finish the week strong. Firestone is a great venue and will be missed, glad I saw the last one. On to the @pgachampionship

A post shared by Justin Parsons (@jparsonsgolf) on Aug 5, 2018 at 1:07pm PDT

Here’s more of JP’s recent handiwork (scroll through the Insta post to see Oosty and Schwartzel in practice at Firestone).

Great to be in Akron for the WGC!!

A post shared by Justin Parsons (@jparsonsgolf) on Jul 31, 2018 at 6:12pm PDT

Parsons was headed to Bellerive (Schwartzel, Oosthuizen, Uihlein and Lorenzo-Vera are all in the field) overnight via a road trip with International Sport Management (think Chubby Chandler’s company) player manager Louis Martin in an RV.  (FYI, Oosthuizen and Uihlein are ISM clients).

So the NFL Hall of Fame is here, flights are full. This legend and I are taking a road trip from Akron-St Louis in an RV. Story to follow- seems like a good idea ????? @ Firestone Country… https://t.co/PtJyDK0xQT

— Justin Parsons (@JParsonsGolf) August 5, 2018

It’s a pretty epic sounding trip – all 900km of it – and we do hope JP shares some footage as promised. What we can guarantee, cough, cough, splutter, splutter, is that it’s not the final destination for the UAE’s best known coach. Again, watch this space.

Related: Woods, Rory and WGC-Bridgestone champion Thomas paired for PGA

TALKING OF GLOBE-TROTTING UAE PROS

With the mercury at sizzling point and the UAE’s driving ranges relatively empty as a result, it’s an ideal time for the UAE’s hard working PGA teaching professionals to grab some well-deserved R&R. And some, like Trump International Dubai head pro Sven Nielsen, are doing it better than most as these epic pictures from Scotland highlands illustrate.

Some breathtaking views at @carnegielinks with the guys yesterday!! Great to play in 20 degrees again. #summergolf #golf #golfer #greatgolfcourse #views #unreal

A post shared by Sven Nielsen (@svennielsenpga) on Aug 3, 2018 at 11:17am PDT

The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle is a private club “offering limited tee times to non-residents”. As a former pro at Trump Turnberry, we’re guessing Nielsen didn’t have too much trouble getting on. He certainly had little trouble playing his Tiger-esque stinger:

Little 2-iron stinger here!!! ???? Amazing day at @carnegielinks with @msweenie_golf @rob.satterley.golf and @calsatterley what a phenomenal golf course and experience!! Thanks for having us!!! #golf #golfer #golflesson #golfcoach #greatcourse #greatgolfcourse

A post shared by Sven Nielsen (@svennielsenpga) on Aug 2, 2018 at 4:55pm PDT

Nice shot, Sven. But perhaps not quite as flush as your recent ace at Trump.

?HOLE IN ONE? today for me while playing with one of my clients. 145yards PW. ???? #golf #golfer #holeinone #golfcoach #golflesson @trumpgolf @trumpgolfdubai

A post shared by Sven Nielsen (@svennielsenpga) on Jul 20, 2018 at 11:52pm PDT

We’re genuinely happy for the hard-working South African but won’t be so generous if the Springboks show as much class in the upcoming Rugby Championship. Did we mention the team behind the Sand Trap are ardent supporters of the All Blacks?

LUKE’S PRO V1 JOY

Just like the mighty All Blacks, we love golf swag at the Sand Trap, especially swag of the, well, you know, free kind. Check out the booty MENA Tour player Luke Joy has just recieved from a couple of well-known sponsors.

Huge thanks to @GOLFPRINCIPLES @callawaygolf @Callaway_Mat for all the help with getting the new X- Forged irons set up ?Awesome service and superb product come as standard! Many thanks guys?#golfprinciples #lukejoygolf #callaway #rogue #trackman pic.twitter.com/erN0cnP3Nj

— Luke Joy (@JoyBoy59) July 28, 2018

Always great to get a delivery from @titleistukireland / Africa Thanks @titleist for keeping me stocked up… I use the Pro V1 X Ball and Players glove?. #1 #1ballingolf #prov1x #golf #titleist #golfball #lukejoygolf

A post shared by Luke Joy – ‎ليوك (@lukejoygolf) on Aug 3, 2018 at 10:48am PDT

Nice. We’re guessing these shiny new spheres will travel a little further than the tee shot of Joy’s brother Ollie during a recent social round.

So bit of social golf today with my Bro @ollie_joy85 and Cousin at Queens Park GC… Both didn’t make it past the ladies tee… Rules are Rules ? #queenspark #sunshine #pantsdown #golf #keepingitfun #ladiestee #familygolf #family #priceless #bournemouth #england #funinthesun #chef #aussie #lukejoygolf

A post shared by Luke Joy – ‎ليوك (@lukejoygolf) on Aug 2, 2018 at 1:55pm PDT

Rules are rules but enough of those shenanigans. The Yas Links-attached Englishman is just back from a steady 12th place finish in last week’s Sunshine Tour stop in Kenya, an encouraging bounce-back after playing like a complete plonker – his words, not ours – in Open Championship qualifying. 

Joy still has designs on a European Tour card via Q-School ahead of a series of starts on the Sunshine and Asian Tours towards the end of 2018 “with the end goal of punching a ticket to secure European Tour status or at least have some events with a full playing category on the Challenge Tour”.

“I’m working hard with Matt Parker down at Yas so all seems to be working towards the ET for the coming years.”

Here’s hoping, although don’t be surprised if you see more off the course action on JoyBoy59’s twitter feed in the coming weeks; the 30-year-old Dorset pro is getting married at the end of the month. We’re sure fiancée Lauren-Leanne Bellows wouldn’t mind a prolonged honeymoon following hubby to some of the European Tour’s more exotic locales.

To be fair, Joy will need to keep winning to continue to afford experiences like this watching his beloved England in the World Cup.

Thanks for an amazing few weeks @England … You got a whole nation believing, dreaming and singing! Gutted yes, but the future looks very promising for this young side ???????#threeloins pic.twitter.com/BarrHQw8br

— Luke Joy (@JoyBoy59) July 11, 2018

JoyBoy indeed!

FRIENDLY REMINDER #1

It’s not long now until the climax of the European Tour season at JGE. In fact, it’s 99-days until the DP World Tour Championship. Follow the prompt for free tickets, Sand Trappers.

Only #100daystogo until the #greatestplayersonearth return to @JumeirahGolfEst for the #dpwtc. Register for free general admission now #racetodubai pic.twitter.com/MOX8le3aOw

— DP World Tour Championship (@DPWTC) August 5, 2018

DUBAI TROPHY BLAST FROM THE PAST

Former head pro Malcolm Young is clearly in a nostalgic space as he packs up after 10½ years at Arabian Ranches to take up a new posting in Hong Kong. Or perhaps he just found this picture as he was clearing out some clutter.

Either way, it’s a cool rewind to the 2010 Dubai Golf Trophy which the professionals snuck by a solitary point. The Pros will miss Young’s talents next winter as they try to avert a fourth straight loss to the EGF’s best amateurs, but not half as much as the quietly spoken Scot’s old clientele at Ranches. Dubai’s loss is the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf’s gain. Yup, that’s how highly rated Young is.

ANOTHER SAD FOND FAREWELL

There are leaving dos and then there’s the way Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club do the leaving do. Stick with us here.

How about honouring New Zealand-bound course superintendent Marty Brown with his own golf tournament.

Marty Brown, our Golf Course superintendent is leaving (after 12 years service). Come down and join us on his farewell golf day on 10 August.#golf #sharjah #sharjahgolf #golfindubai #farewellgolf pic.twitter.com/KpYl2d4qRF

— Sharjah Golf & SClub (@SharjahGolf) August 2, 2018

A classy move from a club that is making a habit of doing classy things and best of all, there’s still time to farewell Brown by entering the event.  The Kiwi leaves huge steel-capped boots to fill after presenting SGSC in pristine condition for the last two Staysure Tour (formerly European Senior Tour) Sharjah Senior Golf Masters events. Go well Marty. Oh, and I’m sure you’ll join us in wishing the Mighty All Blacks all the best as well. We did warn you!

TODAY’S TEAR-JERKER

Okay, here’s the Sand Trap’s first tenuous Middle East link. Sure Justin Thomas hasn’t played in the Desert Swing yet – perhaps the American will be the star draw at January’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship or even the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic? – but we just couldn’t ignore his win in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational overnight. More to the point, we loved that JT’s grandparents were on hand to see his third win of the season at Firestone.

What a day for the family

A post shared by Justin Thomas (@justinthomas34) on Aug 5, 2018 at 7:59pm PDT

What a keepsake that pic will be. And now on to Bellerive with Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy set to push Thomas all the way in his defence of the Wanamaker Trophy. Golf is deep. Really, really deep as this 72nd hole drive from JT shows. And to think McIlroy hit a 400+ yarder in the final round at Firestone.

JT’s 394 yards drive at the 18th is the second longest drive ever hit on the final hole at Firestone (396, Tiger in 2003). ・・・ #WGCBridgestone Repost #europeantour

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme) on Aug 5, 2018 at 9:54pm PDT

GEORGIA ON OUR MINDS

The newly-minted Ricoh Women’s British Open champion has been a perennial contender at the OMEGA Dubai Ladies Classic is recent years so there’s a genuine Middle East link to this snippet.

Stunning moment @RICOHWomensBrit #champion @georgiahall96 and a crowd of very #excited youngsters just shows what a young #homegrown #talent can do for #golf #congratulations #georgiahall @ricoheurope @CallawayGolfEU @goodwood_golf #berenberg @RandA @GettySport pic.twitter.com/gw0NORULmW

— David Cannon (@Cannonball63) August 5, 2018

And these stunning pictures are from our favourite golf photographer too, UAE regular David Cannon. Enjoy.

David Cannon

David Cannon

David Cannon

David Cannon

THE GULF CLUB

How about the play of David Baldwin and Leighton Johnson in capturing the EGF’s Summer Pairs Open sponsored by Golf Superstore. Check out all the action in his post from Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club:

Looks like they were having fun in the sun (okay, blistering heat) at Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club too in annual Troon Executive Card Summer Series.

We had fantastic TEC Summer Series over the weekend at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Thank you all for your participation and congratulations to the winners! #playgolf #troongolf

A post shared by Saadiyat Beach Golf Club (@saadiyatbeachgolfclub) on Aug 5, 2018 at 4:58am PDT

We had fantastic TEC Summer Series over the weekend at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Thank you all for your participation and congratulations to the winners! #playgolf #troongolf

A post shared by Abu Dhabi Golf Club (@abudhabigolfclub) on Aug 5, 2018 at 5:01am PDT

The winners were grinners in the fourth round of the Summer BMW X5 Series Open Social at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club too.

Aurn & Vivian win. The fourth round of the Summer BMW X5 Series Open Social was hosted on the 4th August 2018. The format was Betterball medal on the front nine and a Texas Scramble Medal on the back nine. The duo returned net 35 (1 under par) in the betterball & net 30 (6 under par) in the nine hole Texas Scramble format. Giving the pair a combined score of 65, 7 under par. Congratulation to both! @bmwmiddleeast #golf #sharjahgolf #sharjah #greatprizes #summergolf #winners

A post shared by Sharjah Golf (@sharjahgolf) on Aug 5, 2018 at 5:38am PDT

WE. CAN’T. STOP. WATCHING.

Finally, if you’re not already following us on Instagram, here’s a couple of recent posts that should entice you to sign-up at golfdigestme:

Father and son weekend goals. ?‍?

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme) on Aug 2, 2018 at 1:38pm PDT

Talk about father-son goals.

And then there is this in the latest installment of Phil Being Phil, just in case you missed it (quite how that is possible is beyond us).

In My Philings ???

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme) on Aug 2, 2018 at 9:35pm PDT

We don’t know what Lefty’s Dad dance is so weirdly alluring. But… We. Can’t. Stop. Watching. At least it was better than his running putt in the U.S. Open. But lets move on, maybe by watching again. Until next time…Wow Phil. Just wow.

The post Welcome to the ‘Sand Trap’, a social media take on all things Middle East golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Golf Digest Middle East has teamed up with Lifestyle Events FZ to provide the major prize for the winners of the 4th Autism Golf Challenge to be hosted by Arabian Ranches Golf Club on Thursday, April 26.

And what a prize it is. The champions from Arabian Ranches will be personally escorted by Golf Digest Middle East to the Golf Digest C&S Golf Invitational in Prague in late July for a five night, 72-hole stableford tournament. You’ll tee it up against players representing other Golf Digest affliiates from around the globe at four of the Czech Republic’s leading courses.

Here’s the itinerary:

July 31 – Prague City Golf, Zbraslav 

Photo courtesy www.praguecitygolf.cz Prague City hosts an event on the European Challenge Tour

Aug 1 – Panorama Golf Resort

Picture courtesy www.panoramagolf.cz

Aug 2 – Ypsilon Golf Resort, Liberec 

Picture courtesy www.ygolf.cz

Aug 3 – Royal Golf Club Marianske Lazne

Picture courtesy www.golfml.cz

The winners will stay at the Ambassador Zlata Husa Hotel in Prague (share twin) and will also enjoy a tour of the historic European city and an opening ceremony reception hosted by the mayor.

So what are you waiting for – enter the Autism Golf Challenge today.

It’s an 18-hole foursomes (pairs alternate shot) event open to amateurs (handicap certificate required) and professionals. The AED 695pp + VAT entry free covers your golf at the Ian Baker-Finch-designed Arabian Ranches G.C. (1pm shotgun), prize-giving BBQ and “tournament goodies” with the proceeds of the charity event going to support autism.

The tournament will be played with a handicap allowance of 50 percent of each pair’s combined gross index and there are some great prizes outside of the Prague trip, including a Nerouno Chronograph timepiece from tournament Hole-in-One partner Montegrappame.

If you’re still wavering, here’s a video of Panorama Golf Resort in Prague to get you in the mood.

ENTER THE 4th AUTISM GOLF CHALLENGE HERE

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By Kent Gray
The Omega Dubai Desert Classic mightn’t have gone exactly to plan for Rayhan Thomas but that he got to peg it up in the European Tour event at all has a lot to do with the Al Naboodah Trophy.

The UAE PGA par-3 junior series has been revived after a seven-year hiatus courtesy of a collective of five clubs and Thomas, as the two-time defending champion from the last edition in 2011, was on hand at Arabian Ranches for the re-launch.

“When I was growing up the Al Naboodah was the biggest thing going around for us juniors,” said the 18-year-old teen who missed the Desert Classic cut at Emirates G.C. but savoured the consolation prize of a practice round with eventual runner-up Rory McIlroy.

“I remember we’d all carpool and get to Al Ain and to Ras Al Khaimah and try to play all these par 3 events. It’ll start with one hour practice sessions before the round and was just very intense, a great atmosphere to be around playing competitive golf. I think competition is just the biggest thing you can do for experience. To put yourself in pressure situations even at that young age, we took it very seriously but it was also a great amount of fun, and I think it was a huge pillar in my game right now to have that type of competition at an early age.”

Malcolm Young (Arabian Ranches), Luke Plump (UAE PGA), Sven Nielsen (Trump Dubai), Jack Woods (Dubai Creek), Jonathan Craddock (Emirates G.C.) and Fraser McGlashan (Al Ain) have taken it upon themselves, with the backing of their respective clubs, to develop the next generation.

Five events on the region’s perfectly suited par 3 courses will make up the series, opening at Trump on Feb. 24. Thereafter Al Ain (March 16 or 17, TBC), Arabian Ranches (April 7) and Dubai Creek (April 28) will host the tournaments before the grand final at Emirates G.C. on May 12.

The strokeplay events are open to “par 3 ready” juniors up to the age of 16 (there will be two divisions) and the Al Naboodah Trophy has been dusted off for the timely resurgence of the series. More than 115 players registered for the last series in 2011 and Young is hopeful the now clearer stepping stone between the junior development programmes at individual clubs to EGF Order of Merit events and beyond will entice even greater support.

“The ultimate goal would be to produce more golfers of the calibre of Rayhan Thomas,” said Young.

“The first series has produced a lot of juniors that are now in the higher levels of junior golf in the country and we’ve got two kids that are going to college in the U.S. already, as well as Rayhan of course. These were the first events they played in terms of proper competition at that development phase which is very important.”

Plumb also hopes to see the series grow.

“The reason we’re all here in the region is to grow the game and to grow golf,” said the Trump Dubai-based UAE PGA CEO. “The EGF obviously have a junior OOM on 18 hole courses but there’s nothing like this in the region that allows young aspiring players with no handicaps that are in the development programs to actually play competitive golf on par 3 courses. I think its a great platform for them to go onto junior order of merit, then on to order of merit and then to Dubai trophy and onwards.”

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Train your aim to align putts correctly and avoid the resulting errors
By Malcolm Young

Putting is a skill that’s often neglected by the average golfer, which is strange because it’s the area that the majority of professionals focus most intently on. Holing more putts can galvanise your score, not just because they turn fives into fours, but because of that priceless golfing commodity – momentum. Most amateurs I know often resign themselves to relying on luck when it comes to putting.

We know that putting is all about line and pace, and what’s demoralising for golfers is that when they get the line wrong, even well struck putts that are going at the right speed will miss. Typically what I see most often is that golfers under-read the amount of break in any given putt. The most common error is visualising the curvature of the putt then aiming at the apex point (the point furthest from the straight line from ball to hole). In reality, your eyes don’t quite see the slope well enough and as a result you aim well off target, particularly when side slope increases and the amount of break gets significantly higher.

As a knock-on affect, the tendency is to get into the habit of striking putts too firmly (to negate the lack of allowed break) and watch the ball shoot past the hole, or worse, to actually manipulate the putterhead at impact, leading to inconsistency in stroke patterns and ball roll.

Accurate green-reading is the foundation for good putting.

A simple way to assist green reading on any putt is to use tee pegs, as pictured here, at four-inch intervals from the hole. Finding a fairly short, breaking putt on the practice green and learning to adjust your alignment to factor in the true break can be revealing – you might find that your tendency is to under-read the putt by almost half the necessary amount.

Malcolm Young is the senior professional at Arabian Ranches Golf Club. He teaches regular AimPoint Express clinics to help golfers master green-reading. Email myoung@arabianranchesgolf.ae for more details

Photograph by Kristina Nabieva
Photo Illustration by Clarkwin Cruz

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