“I think I have lost count,” May chuckles when asked how many Desert Classics he has been a part of. “I was just trying to work out how many myself, because when I first came to the UAE, I was at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, and my first week of work was the Desert Classic when it was held there in 1999.

“That was such a great first experience to see just how big the tournament was even back then.

“It has obviously grown hugely since then and now we have the elevation to a Rolex Series event for the past two years and with our new sponsor,  Hero, this year has again made a huge difference to the strength of the field, the prize money and the general feel around the whole tournament and the week.”

May has followed the evolution of the tournament since his early days.

“I have been at every Desert Classic since the nineties and the real years of growth were when Tiger Woods first came out to play in 2001 — the crowds were like I have never seen before and the event sold out for the first time.

“We were very lucky to see Tiger play here in his prime and also win here twice in 2006 and 2008, all while doing some amazing things on the golf course.

“There have been many, many other special occasions here such as Rory McIlroy’s first professional win in 2009 — it is all the more special when you look at what he has achieved now and now he returns to Emirates Golf Club as the world No. 1.

“I recall Rory even coming across here as a kid with some friends — he is a great example to the kids of today — and he was out at 6.30am on the par-3 course playing over and over, showing such dedication from an early age and he is a great example to many, many people and it is great to see him back here.”

As the competition has grown, it has become sewn into the fabric of Dubai’s community.

“The Classic is a great event in its own right as a tournament, but it has become so much more,” May explained. “It is a social event, a meeting point and a major occasion on the UAE calendar, not just for the local community but also for the global golfing world, which comes here each year — travelling thousands of miles from the US, from Asia, from Europe, from Australia just to play 18 holes in the Pro-Am, for example. That tells you it is special.

“It is a privilege to be involved in this event in any form. It is pretty special. We sometimes get spoilt in this part of the world with the number of golf and sporting events and opportunities, but when you hear from people who are experiencing it for the first time and they say: ‘Wow. What an event,’ with the condition of the course and the way they are looked after with the Arabian welcome and the hospitality is second to none.

“Along with the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links, we are very lucky to have three Rolex Series events here in the UAE, and I really enjoy seeing people experience it for the first time and see their reaction.”

With such experience and high-standards comes the challenge of improving that experience for visitors at the Dubai Desert Classic — from near and far — year on year, and May knows that you need to stay ahead of the game.

“We work across the board with [tournament organisers Falcon & Associates] and the DP World Tour year on year, looking to improve all the time and benchmarking ourselves against the best tournaments globally — and in other sports too, not just golf.

“With the Dubai Desert Classic in particular, since its elevation to the Rolex Series, we have seen vast improvements, not just from the player perspective, but also for the media, the stakeholders and, of course, the spectators.

“Our responsibility first is the golf course and making sure that is in the best possible condition. The team work really hard year-round to get the course to peak for this event, but also to have the world-class standards for the other 51 weeks of the year. Along with the weather and the accessibility to play the same courses as the best players in the world, that is what makes the UAE so popular year-round for visitors from around the world, and this week is the pinnacle of all the effort that goes in.”

The post Dubai Golf’s Chris May reflects on the evolution of the Dubai Desert Classic appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Catch up with Cameron Smith as LIV Golf heads for its two big showdowns in Bangkok and Jeddah as the Australian looks to chase down Individual Championship leader Dustin Johnson in Thailand and Saudi Arabia. The inaugural season reaches its climax ahead of the Team Championship finale at Trump National Doral, Miami.

All this and much more in the October 2022 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

Also featured is GDME’s trip to the new Club Med Magna Marbella resort in Spain, plus Viya Golf’s plans for its new Abu Dhabi clubs, Luxury Carts and how to get the best out of your wedges. Pro golfers Alex Riggs, Tom Ogilvie and Conor Thornton keep you right on the fairways, while Oktoberfest also returns!

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download 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.

See below for the third issue of the Arabic edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The post Get the October 2022 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here in both English and Arabic today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

In late 2021, Yas Acres Golf & Country Club became the latest addition to that ever-expanding portfolio of courses, once again affirming the country’s place at the pinnacle of the sport.

Now — once again — that drive, vision and passion for perfection has led to the latest development in the UAE’s golfing landscape, but this time it is a little more behind the scenes.

In late August, Viya Golf, part of Wasl Hospitality & Leisure, entered into a management deal with Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties to manage its golf courses and clubhouses, leisure facilities, and all dining outlets at Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Yas Acres Golf & Country Club.

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Photo courtesy of the club

The agreement will see Viya Golf look after all aspects of the golf operations; maintaining areas of existing excellence and delivering operational improvements to enhance all golf, leisure and dining experiences for members and visitors. This includes adding Aldar’s clubs to the Viya app, giving its members rewards and access to golf, leisure and dining experiences.

Golf Digest Middle East spoke with Viya Golf Chief Executive Officer, Christopher May, about these recent developments and the vision for the future. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to be involved with Abu Dhabi and these three fantastic venues,” he said. “Yas Links is so special in the region and has to be on every golfer’s bucket list. Saadiyat is not far behind, and it has such unique features with its wildlife and sustainability. These are two special courses that bring people from all over the region and beyond to Abu Dhabi to play.

“And now there is the new addition. Yas Acres is a fantastic nine-hole course, a real jewel and I would recommend it to anyone. Where else can you get 27 holes in a brilliant setting like that in one day, thanks to the floodlights?  

“So, already we have three fantastic additions to our portfolio and we thank Aldaar for this opportunity. We have been in discussions for a number of years and finally we reached a deal. 

“The operations teams are already doing a fantastic job at each of the three venues and, as we come in, initially we will look to upgrade some club facilities — similar to what we did when we took over Jumeirah Golf Estates — and these improvements usually take about six months to implement. 

“We will review the current operations and bring in whatever improvements we feel are needed, be it in F&B … whatever we can offer to improve the overall experience of golfers and non-golfers alike. 

“The operations are the real superstars here and we want to get more people seeing what they can experience. While golf plays a massive part, there is so much more to help drive tourism in Abu Dhabi.

“It is an exciting time for the UAE capital and Yas Island — we have UFC, NBA, F1 all coming up ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links in January. Then there is the World Cup in the region. These events all show how big sport is in the region, and the UAE in particular, and with tourism now getting back to normal, these events can show the world what we have to offer — and maybe get some racing or football fans to find some time for a round of golf, too.

“We get 25,000 golfers coming through Dubai too, so possibly now, through Viya we can get them and others to extend their stay and make it a two-city vacation.” 

Viya is the region’s fastest-growing golf business, transforming and modernising the game across the Middle East through technology-led innovation. Alongside its sister business, Dubai Golf, Viya forms part of Wasl Hospitality & Leisure’s diverse, fast-growing golf and leisure portfolio. In addition to developing and operating its successful golf booking, lifestyle and membership app. 

Yas Acres Golf & Country Club. Photo by John Magdalinos

“Since we launched Viya two years ago as a member booking app, “May explained, “you could say it has evolved into something of a bigger entity with 80,000 active users, who use it for such things in Dubai as golf tee times, lessons, facilities such as the gym or spa, dining and salons across a wide network of golf clubs and Wasl properties.

“Now we can incorporate our Abu Dhabi portfolio to offer our users even more opportunities as we continue to grow.”

Viya also recently launched the new golf holidays booking website, Viya Holidays, to help grow inbound tourism to the UAE.

“We are looking to expand across the region to open up more opportunities and experiences and with the website now up and running it will help us with flights, bookings and growth throughout the region,” May said.

“While Viya is still in its infancy, we already have 80,000 active users, like I said, and that number is growing all the time.

“Interestingly, the vast majority of those users are non-golf club members, showing the potential to bring in more people to enjoy what our facilities have to offer, and that will only grow with the addition of Abu Dhabi and the growing number of international travellers coming to the UAE, seeing Viya and downloading the app.”

Ever-improving…

We can only imagine what 2023 will bring.

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The post Welcome to the club: Viya Golf’s Christopher May talks about expanding their portfolio to manage three of Abu Dhabi’s elite clubs  appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Matt Smith
Every year, just as the heat rises to remind us all that another summer of sweat is on the way, the finest golfers in the UAE gather for one of the most popular events on the calendar — the Dubai Golf Trophy.

Now in its 23rd year, the event sees the top 16 amateurs in the UAE and the finest professionals battle it out for the bragging rights in this Ryder Cup-style event. And 2022 carried more weight than usual as the ‘Ams’ were going for an unprecedented seventh consecutive triumph over the ‘Pros’.

Fans hoping for another gripping encounter — this tournament has served up many classic clashes over the years — were not disappointed as Mike Major’s Pros finally stopped the rot to reclaim the coveted prize from their rivals after six long years. 

Played over two days at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club (Sunday) and Emirates Golf Club (Monday) in Dubai, the competition closely follows the format of the Ryder Cup, with Day 1 seeing eight foursomes and eight fourballs matches, before 16 individual clashes on Day 2.

Chris May, CEO of organisers Dubai Golf, was on hand to watch the spectacle unfold. “It is such a privilege to host this great event that is steeped in UAE golf history,” he told Golf Digest Middle East. “It raises the game and the standards of golf for the UAE. We are delighted to be involved in such an occasion.

“There used to be such a gap between the pros and the amateurs, but we have really seen that gap close up due to the competition and the quality of facilities and academies on offer in the UAE. In recent years we have seen a few kids come through like Josh Hill, Toby Bishop, Ahmad Skaik and Khalid Yousuf. You see this flurry of quality come through as they push each other. But they seem to be coming along more frequently after the likes of Rayhan Thomas, who has done very well and is now in the States. The others take inspiration from that, saying: ‘If he can do it, or she can do it, I can do it to.’

“The Dubai Golf Trophy really plays a key role in this as we get everyone together and they can really see how they compare, regardless of upbringing, race or even club. It is a really meaningful team format, and reflects how far the amateur game has come.”

While the pros held the advantage after the action at Dubai Creek — with the most slender of leads at 8.5-7.5 — they held their nerve when it looked like they might throw it all away.

Khalid Yousuf’s amateur team were so quick out of the blocks on Day 2 at EGC and had their noses in front when Yash Majmudar and Hugo Garcia thumped Michael Bolt and Steven Munro 6&4 and 4&3 respectively.

The other two early matches between Sujjan Singh and Max Burrow, and Jackson Bell and Craig Vance were halved, and the amateurs were scenting another victory.

But then came the blue wave of Pro scores as Graham Forbes thrashed Jay Mullane 4&2, Tom Buchanan denied Yousuf 2&1 and Thomas Ogilvie chalked up a 3&1 win over Ali Parlane.

History-making Olivia Jackson showed her mettle as the first ever female to play in the event as she saw out a see-saw battle against Sam Mullane to snatch a vital half-point.

“To see Olivia come through to become the first female to compete at this tournament is wonderful,” added May. “It is great for us all as she is our pro here at EGC, but she is such a great role model and inspiration for the next generation of boys and girls.

“She can definitely hold her own against the boys and I think she is going to play more competitively this summer in tournaments back in England, so she is only going to get better.”

Back out on the course, just when it was looking all rosy on the blue side for the Pros, the red army charged back as amateurs Toby Bishop (3&2) and David Guinee (2up) saw off Nathan Kernaghan and Jack Woods respectively.

Loius Gaughan (4&2 v Raghav Gulati) got the pros back on track, but wins for Tom Nesbitt (4&2 v Sam McLaren), and Jonathan Selvaraj (4&3 v Luke Plumb) meant that the two-day epic came down to the last game and the last green.

Barry Pavic held a one-hole advantage with three to play, which would have meant a 16-16 tie and the amateurs retaining the trophy as defending champions. But up stepped Purna Sharma for the professionals, winning on 16 before halving the last.

That triggered a wave of celebrations from the Pros, and the Ams graciously accepted defeat 16.5-15.5 in one of the closest ever Dubai Golf Trophy clashes. Amid a sea of buggies, Sharma was embraced by his teammates before going on to lift the trophy.

“That was the hardest two-putt in my life,” Sharma told Golf Digest Middle East just after coming off the final green. “I can’t believe I held my nerve there.”

It was quite the celebration to end a dramatic day. Major, the non-playing Pro captain reflected on a tumultuous weekend, having been on the receiving end for the past six years as a player.

“I guess we can take a hint. I don’t play and we finally win,” he joked, an ACL operation taking him out of this year’s playing capabilities. “But every player was tremendous today and every single one of them contributed points over the two days. For it to be so close shows you the quality on both sides of the ‘divide’. The Ams were brilliant but we managed to find that little bit more when needed … at long last. I must thank Dubai Golf for putting on such a great event, with both the Creek and the Majlis in impeccable conditions. It has been a long, long journey to get here this weekend and we are so glad to win.”

Losing captain Yousuf was gracious in defeat. “They were tremendous,” he said. “We thought we had a chance there at the end but they held on. It was a great two days but sadly we have to give up the trophy after six great years. We will regroup. There is a whole new batch of youngsters coming through and we will see who will make the grade. We are losing a few guys like Josh Hill, Toby Bishop, Yash and (non-playing UAE No.1 amateur) Ahmad Skaik. But as we have proved time and again, there are always more and more players coming through and, each year, the quality gets better and better. Congrats to the Pros, it has been a long time for them.”

So now, the rebuilding process starts all over again, with new faces emerging and older ones bidding farewell ahead of 2023. Will the Pros or the Ams prevail? The Pros’ Buchanan perhaps explains it best. “It has been a long time coming,” he said. “It is always nice to play here and it was great to put on quite a show. Who knows who will win next time around, but this is the best weekend in UAE golf, bar none.”

What they said

Olivia Jackson, Pros
“They will be hurting having lost. Last year I was around the team even though I was not playing. We did not want to go out after the defeat. We just wanted to go home and I think they will be feeling the same. But we will all be friends again tomorrow and they will regroup as it was such a close thing.”

Toby Bishop, Ams
“It was unfortunate to get the loss, but everyone tried their best. Obviously the pros got the win but it was a fun weekend and that was the main part.”

Tom Buchanan, Pros
“The team spirit was fantastic out there and every player contributed to our points, showing how we were pulling for each other. The crowd at the last and the buggies everywhere shows you just what this means. A fantastic day once again.”

Khalid Yousuf, Ams captain
“I have been part of this event for so long. It was nice to finally captain the team. We tried our best. We came up slightly short but it was nice that it came right down to the last match and the last shot. Shows you what it meant to everyone involved.”

Mike Major, Pros non-playing captain
“It was great until the final hour. That was a horrible time as I was not playing so I couldn’t do anything about what was going on. It has been six years to get here and it is much down to the guys who didn’t play today, pushing up the standards, that has helped us finally win.” 

Yash Majmudar, Ams
“It was a great event, we were behind from the get-go yesterday, but each session was so close and a few things didn’t go our way — a few putts here and there. But I am really proud of how we performed.”

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The post Home is where the heart is: Looking back at the dramatic Dubai Golf Trophy with captains and players appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Emirates Golf Club witnessed one of the closest, most dramatic days in UAE golf history on Monday as the ‘Pros’ defeated the ‘Ams’ to reclaim the Dubai Golf Trophy.

The competition is one of the biggest events on the UAE golf calendar and this year it lived up to its reputation as history was made left, right and centre.

Now in its 23^rd year, the Dubai Golf Trophy pits the UAE’s top 16 professional players against the top 16 amateurs in the region. Each team consists of 12 automatic qualifiers from the season-long UAE PGA tournaments and qualifying Emirates Golf Federation events across the UAE. Both team captains then took their additional four ‘wildcard’ picks.

The event, which closely follows the Ryder Cup format, saw two teams of 16 battle it out in the team matches at Dubai Creek on Sunday and then 16 matchplay singles on the Majlis at Emirates Golf Club on Monday.

And it was an epic.

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Relive all the live action here

While the pros held the advantage after Day 1, with the most slender of leads at 8.5-7.5, they held their nerve when it looked like they might throw it all away and give the Ams the bragging rights and the Trophy.

Khalid Yousuf’s amateur team were so quick out of the blocks on Monday and had their noses in front when Yash Majmudar and Hugo Garcia thumped Michael Bolt and Steven Munro 6&4 and 4&3 respectively.

The other two early matches between Sujjan Singh and Max Burrow, and Jackson Bell and Craig Vance were halved, and the amateurs were scenting another victory.

But then came the blue wave of pro scores as Graham Forbes thrashed Jay Mullane 4&2, Tom Buchanan denied Yousuf 2&1 and Thomas Ogilvie chalked up a 3&1 win over Ali Parlane.

History-making Olivia Jackson showed her steel as the first ever female to play in the event as she saw out a see-saw battle against Sam Mullane to snatch a vital half-point.

While it looked all rosy on the blue side for the pros, the red army charged back as amateurs Toby Bishop (3&2) and David Guinee (2up) saw off Nathan Kernaghan and Jack Woods respectively.

Loius Gaughan (4&2 v Raghav Gulati) got the pros back on course, but wins for Tom Nesbitt (4&2 v Sam McLaren), and Jonathan Selvaraj (4&3 v Luke Plumb) meant that the two-day epic came down to the last game and the last green.

Barry Pavic held a one-hole advantage with three to play, which would have meant a 16-16 tie and the amateurs retaining the trophy as defending champions. But up stepped Purna Sharma for the professionals, winning on 17 before halving the last.

That triggered a wave of celebrations from the Pros, and the Ams graciously accepted defeat 16.5-15.5 in one of the closest ever Dubai Golf Trophy clashes. Amid a sea of buggies, Sharma was embraced by his teammates before going on to lift the trophy.

“That was the hardest two-putt in my life,” Sharma told Golf Digest Middle East just after coming off the final green. “I can’t believe I held my nerve there.”

Chris May, CEO of organisers Dubai Golf, was on hand to watch the spectacle unfold. “It is such a privilege to host this great event that is steeped in UAE golf history. It raises the game and the standards of golf for the UAE, not just for the professional arena but across the globe for every aspiring golfer. We are delighted to be involved in such an occasion.”

It was quite the celebration to end a dramatic day. Mike Major, the non-playing pro captain reflected on a tumultuous weekend, having been on the receiving end for the past six years as a player.

“I guess we can take a hint. I don’t play and we finally win,” he joked, an ACL operation taking him out of this year’s playing capabilities. “But every player was tremendous today and every single one of them contributed points over the two days. For it to be so close shows you the quality on both sides of the ‘divide’. The Ams were brilliant but we managed to find that little bit more when needed … at long last. I must thank Dubai Golf for putting on such a great event, with both the Creek and the Majlis in impeccable conditions. It has been a long, long journey to get here this weekend and we are so glad to win.”

History-making Jackson added: “It is an honour to become the first female to play in this event as it gives us the recognition we deserve. But I really do not see the gender difference as these guys are all my colleagues and friends. I play with them every week and this just reflects how we should have more mixed events and prove we are all equals.”

Losing captain Yousuf was magnanimous, even if it was with a wry smile. “They were tremendous,” he said. “We thought we had a chance there at the end but they held on. It was a great two days but sadly we have to give up the trophy after six great years. We will regroup. There is a whole new batch of youngsters coming through and we will see who will make the grade. We are losing a few guys like Josh Hill, Toby Bishop, Yash and (non-playing UAE No.1 amateur) Ahmad Skaik. But as we have proved time and again, there are always more and more players coming through and, each year, the quality gets better and better. Congrats to the pros, it has been a long time for them.”

So now, the rebuilding begins once again before the 2023 showdown. Will the Pros or the Ams prevail? The Pros’ self-nominated spokesman Buchanan puts it best: “Who knows but this is the best weekend in UAE golf, bar none.”

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The post ‘The best weekend in UAE golf’: Reflections on the Dubai Golf Trophy drama at Emirates Golf Club appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Emirates Golf Club has gone right back to the beginning to secure the future of the most recognisable greens in the Middle East.

Members began putting the Majlis’ fully renovated greens on September 30 with October 17 slated as the day that the green fee paying public can experience the new surfaces for the first time.

All 18 greens and the practice surface beneath the club’s iconic Majlis clubhouse have been fully renovated to USGA specification. They’ve all been brought back as close as possible to the original shape and size specified by designer Karl Litten when the region’s first grass course was built in 1988. That means members and visitors will have their lag putting tested with the greens increasing in size by an average of 40 percent.

The Majlis bunkers previously didn’t have built-in drainage, impacting playability throughout the day as greens were irrigated and water filtered into the sand. Every greenside bunker was renovated alongside the greens overhaul, a process impressively achieved in-house in just two weeks.

Originally built as ‘push up’ greens and subject to the region’s high-stress climatic conditions, the greens had come to the end of their natural 20-25 year lifespan. 

Aptly-named American Terry Baller, who has significant global experience with many top design companies, was brought in as design consultant and Tifeagle Bermuda grasses flown into the UAE in refrigerated containers from Atlas Turf in Georgia in the U.S.

Dubai Golf took advantage of the five-month course closure/rebuild to add drainage to each of the Majlis’ greenside bunkers and level out teeing grounds. A major tree trimming programme was also undertaken, bringing much needed light and air circulation to areas where grass growth has proven problematic.

“The team have done a tremendous job under the guidance of [superintendent] Matthew Perry to return the Majlis to the condition and standards expected of such an important course,” said Dubai Golf CEO Chris May.

“On bringing the greens back to the sub base by removing 60- 70cm of the previous greens, the original shape size and contours of the Karl Litten design was evident, so members and guests playing the Majlis will notice very subtle changes in movement and slope on the greens as they have been returned to their original design.”

The upgrade was timed to allow nearly four months of bed-in time before Emirates G.C. hosts the 33rd Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, itself enhanced to $8 million Rolex Series status in 2022.

Perry is confident of a smooth return for the European Tour’s finest after last year’s Desert Classic, won by Ryder Cupper Paul Casey, was decided on highly stressed surfaces sadly showing their age to global TV audiences.

“The thing to expect over the coming months is that the greens will get quite hard as we want them to develop and build organic matter,” Perry told members in a recent edition of Club Life, Emirates G.C.s newsletter. “We won’t be needle tining as it will loosen the surface too much. The ball roll will be good. There may be the odd jump here and there, which would simply be down to some areas of the greens that is still settling.

“It is very important to make sure we repair pitch marks as it is young grass [which] needs to be given a good amount of time to recover… not fixing these pitch marks straight away will prevent that.”

1. The 11th green on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club highlights the rapid progress of the renovation. 2. The 1st green in similar before and after photos. 3. All the tee complexes were flattered, including the picturesque 7th, one of the best par 3s in the region. 4. The 5th green comes at you after one of the Majlis’ trickiest drive-approach combos.

Baller is likewise pleased with the outcome of the renovation.

“Due to the nature of construction and corresponding disturbance to each green complex, we wanted to maximise enhancement opportunities that maintained the original design intent and strategy,” said the American.

“We were able to identify green surfaces that can benefit from enlargement while simultaneously enhancing bunker/green surface relationships, reducing severely sloped areas to promote playability and increase pinnable areas, and improving the overall drainage of green surfaces and areas surrounding the green perimeter by tying into the existing grade more suitably.”

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The post Back to the Future: The five-month rebuild of the Majlis greens is set to test your lag putting appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
When the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11 last year, experts were swift with cataclysmic predictions for the global economy.  Governments were already scrambling, with varying degrees of success, to ensure their hospital systems were not completely over-run by this new invisible enemy and scientists sped to formulate vaccines.

Lockdowns, physical distancing, mandatory mask wearing, hand sanitising and Netflix binges became our norm. Employees were furloughed, already struggling businesses went to the wall and we all fretted for the future in this scary, uncertain time. Unless of course you worked in a non-essential service industry like golf where it seemed likely the inevitable global downturn would only serve to hasten the game’s already well-documented participation rate nose dive. With people dying at alarming rates around the world, golf seemed so insignificant. The outlook for the royal and ancient game was bleak.

Top Outcome
What few saw coming was the almost complete reverse of that doomsday forecast. With the beauty of hindsight, that golf has boomed as we slowly emerge from COVID-19 (or at least learn to live with the deadly virus) is not all that surprising. Even the most pessimistic of epidemiologists agree that a more socially distant and safe outdoor pastime you will struggle to find.

With that, the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) set about ensuring the game was the first in the UAE to open up post lockdown, initially in ‘bubbles’ complete with partially filled-in holes, flagsticks you dear not touch and rake-free bunkers. Clubs who had seen round numbers plummet from 54,000 in April 2019 to 12,000 the following April (the EGF officially recorded just 2964 rounds) at least had hope after months of empty tee sheets.

Fast-forward 12 months and the latest statistics are astonishing with  80,000 rounds recorded across the UAE’s 18 courses this past April. That “approximate” figure was released at the Emirates Amateur Golf League (EAGL)’s recent ‘Future of Golf’ forum which shone a light on the state of the UAE golf industry. 

So how did we get here and how does the industry ensure the unforeseen spike in participation is not wasted? The answer to the former, in the UAE anyway, is two-fold. It’s clear established golfers who suddenly found themselves out of the office took advantage by hitting the links and playing and playing and playing some more. Former players, with equal amounts of time to fill, dusted off their old sticks and it seems in many cases, rediscovered their love for the game. 

Perhaps the most significant development, which just happened to coincide with the height of the pandemic, was the opening on January 3 of Topgolf Dubai. Since then, the impressive entertainment facility on the old Faldo driving range at Emirates Golf Club has seen an average of 10,000 players a week whack microchipped balls into the floodlit night skies while supping on refreshments and grooving to beats.

It’s golf, just not as the UAE has known it before, according to Chris May, the CEO of Golf Dubai who critically own the Topgolf licence for the Middle East.

“Why did we decide to bring Topgolf to the UAE?” May said in response to a question from moderator Joy Chakravarty. “Two main reasons. Firstly, we felt the business model was a good model and it would work in Dubai. That’s proven to be true and correct. But secondly and probably more importantly was to grow the game of golf and that has been proven to be definitely correct.

We are putting golf clubs into the hands of people that have never had a golf club in their hands before and they are having fun. – Chris May

(L to R) Moderator Joy Chakravarty, Ismail Sharif, Chris May, Simon Corkill, Mark Chapleski, Nick Tarratt and Roger Duthie at the EAGL forum

“The one thing that we’ve seen that has been really pleasing has been that Topgolf in Dubai, 75 percent of the people that play are non-golfers. So we are putting golf clubs into the hands of people that have never had a golf club in their hands before and they are having fun.”

Drilling deeper into the makeup of the 75 percentile encourages May even more. “The diversity of nationalities, the diversity of age-groups, the number of UAE nationals and GCC nationals who are picking up a golf club for the first time and playing and having fun, it’s really something I don’t think we’ve seen in this region before.” 

May doffed his cap to the EGF for getting golf back on its feet before turning the heat up on the region’s clubs to keep the momentum going. All with an exciting, Topgolf carrot.

“I think golf has a great opportunity because of COVID. We’ve been very fortunate thanks to the hard work of the Emirates Golf Federation…[vice-chairman] Adel Zarouni in particular made us very fortunate to be the first sport that was open post the lockdown and I think that gave us a great advantage in seeing a huge uplift in the number of rounds played in the region.

“Now it is all of our responsibility to take that [participation spike] to the next stage and make sure people are playing Topgolf and then converting to green grass golf.”

Topgolf Dubai

The exciting bit? That non-golfers outside Dubai won’t always have to travel to the emirate to discover the joys of the game.

There’s nothing concrete planned yet, May insisted, but “based on the success of Dubai you’ll see other Topgolfs. 

“The first one is likely to be in Abu Dhabi but I think you’ll see it around the GCC, other Topgolfs coming up. Perhaps not as big as the one in Dubai but smaller, making sure it is successful in that city, wherever it goes, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see four, five, six in the region within the next two, three years.”

Fresh Ideas
When Nick Tarratt arrived in Dubai 31 years ago with “short trousers and long hair” to serve as secretary and golf manager at Emirates Golf Club, the game in the emirate was a very exclusive affair.

“The only way you could play Emirates Golf Club was as a member, member’s guest, corporate golf day or an international guest through a hotel. There was no local pay and play so we’ve gone from there to here.”

There’s still a way to go to entice non-golfers to a sport that is still perceived to be stuffy and rule-ridden by uninitiated outsiders. Even Tarratt struggles letting go of tradition but knows the time has come.

“Let’s not forget I’m a jacket and tie, blazer man who likes the traditional 18 holes, the majors, the monthly medals, I still love that. But to encourage new golfers, the people Chris [May] at Topgolf and all of us here at the forum are trying to encourage, I think it will engage with the youth of today and not just old blazer and tie guys like me.”

The ‘it’ Tarratt was referring to is the Emirates Amateur Golf League (EAGL], amateur golf’s answer to IPL cricket complete with franchise-style teams and live broadcasts of 9-hole matches designed to give average Joes (and Janes) the chance to experience what touring pros encounter every week. The EAGL Mini-Series played before the forum, a dress rehearsal to an annual three-month league scheduled to start in November, was greeted with widespread approval.

 Tarratt, as tournament director, clearly has a vested interest but sees ventures like the EAGL as part of the ongoing solution to grow golf’s appeal.

“Is this the short-form of golf [going forward]? Golf has tried Sixes, it’s tried Shot Clock Masters, maybe it was invested in those rather than engaged,” said Tarratt, best remembered as the former chief of the European Tour’s Dubai office. 

“And Shiv [EAGL ambassador and four-time Asia Tour winner Shiv Kapur] told me, ‘I think 9 holes is the future of corporate golf’. It’s great for the clubs to work in at quieter times rather than a big shotgun at 12.30pm, peak time; it helps the sponsor, it’s a little cheaper, you’re playing with perhaps more different people. What was great today [the EAGL Mini-Series] was that it was a genuine networking opportunity. It wasn’t you playing with three mates and having fun and just winning the same glass trophy and the same buffets so I must applaud [EAGL founder and CEO] Sudesh [Aggrawal] and all the team. Going forward, I think short-form golf is the future, Topgolf is a great example. 

EAGL founder Sudesh Aggrawal

“I think engaging with the youth, short form, having more fun, music on the 1st tee, not on the golf cart…” 

Tarratt’s answer tailed off, perhaps because he realises the old blazer brigade are in a losing battle when it comes to what the next-gen needs to be attracted to golf and what they want to stay invested.

Facilities Rethink
Another veteran of the UAE game is Ismail Sharif, a seven-time national champion who currently serves as Managing Director of Dubai Golf-managed Jumeirah Golf Estates and is passionate about getting the nation’s youth off their screens and out onto the course. 

The problem he sees is facilities to meet the newbie end of the market.

 “We’ve done a great job so far but [the] only mistake that we’ve done, we’re always focusing on the five-star [experience],” said Sharif. 

“If we look at the hotel business, you will see the pyramid is five-star first, then two is four-star, and then come down. Golf needs to be the same if we want to grow the game. But our pyramid is upside down, we are all having five-star golf courses, we don’t have nothing at the bottom to support the [new people] who like to come and play golf. 

“Now, with the help of Topgolf and some programmes like here at JGE – we have started a programme called ‘Get into Golf’, it’s for one month, coaching in group lessons for 495 dirhams…normally you would [only] get one lesson for 495 dirhams. This is the things we need to do, work with all the golf courses if we want to bring this business to sustainable [levels] and have more golfers. We need to start somewhere.”

There are indeed new courses in the wings – the new Tiger Woods layout in Dubai will be a top dirham experience but perhaps Yas Acres in Abu Dhabi and the 9-hole Peter Harradine design on ice at Al Barari in Dubai could serve as more affordable entry points to the game. Time will tell.

Global Profile
Afascinating aspect of the game’s overall health in the Middle East centres around the region’s high-profile European Tour and Ladies European Tour events. Two key players in that space are Simon Corkill and Roger Duthie and both shared interesting, even slightly contentious, thoughts at the forum.

Corkill, Executive Tournament Director for Falcon and Associates which run and promote the men’s OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic and LET’s OMEGA Dubai Moonlight Classic, said the region had made an “exceptional statement” by safely running pro events at the height of the pandemic.

OMEGA Dubai Moonlight Classic

“It [COVID-19] continues to cause us all challenges in everyday life but for example, when the Desert Classic was on, the [case] numbers were up to 5000 people a day and it was a really tense time but Dubai came through and demonstrated we could run safe events.

“This is not going away but I see the events at the end of the year, the DP World [Tour Championship] and the events for 2022, we will have events, the players will come, we can run hospitality safely and we can host spectators safely. Dubai and the UAE are right up there as world leaders.”

Corkill also wondered out loud if the tournaments he oversees at Emirates Golf Club might also become trailblazers in terms of media engagement.

“The other big change I’ve seen has been the whole clamber for content is becoming really, really strong and we need to adapt. As tournaments, we need to create content that is snackable, it’s engaging and we’re doing it.”

No one in golf does social media better than the European Tour and Corkill believes events need to adapt likewise. In the case of the OMEGA Classics, they might even go a step further.

“One thing that we’re looking at, and this has come around very recently, [is our] policy on press interviews having seen what has happened to Naomi Osaka in the tennis world. We’ve got to assess that situation. Is a press conference right if people don’t have direct consent? We’re looking at these things, we looking at, okay, if players don’t have direct consent on post round interviews, do we encourage all the players to speak on the social media channels pre, during and post the event? I think we might get a really good result out of it. We’re considering it for a trial at our ladies event in October. We’re not sure yet but it’s certainly something we have to look at. We have to work with the times. 

Naomi Osaka

“Dubai has traditionally done this, pushed the boundaries, adapted and that’s why we’ve got a really good place in global golf. The events here are going from strength to strength but we adapt quickly and we will continue to.”

Global golf and boundary-pushing. A timely segue to introduce Duthie to the conversation. The former Emirates Airlines sponsorship guru is now Chief Sponsorship Officer for golf marketing and consultancy agency Performance 54 which enjoys strong links to the global game’s most ambitious new market, Saudi Arabia. Duthie is also an Independent Sports Sponsorship Adviser and while he wasn’t asked to comment on the “exciting project” he’s currently engaged in, the room read it as a challenge to the game’s current status quo.

Time will tell if the mooted Super League (formerly the Premier Golf League) will make it from concept to big money reality, but Duthie is adamant the game needs to kick on now the “Tiger factor” is wearing off. 

“…over the last 10 years the average age of the TV viewing audience in America, say, is 63 years old. Golf is still getting older. We don’t have that Tiger factor anymore so how do you capture a young audience? Topgolf is one way, right, this forum, today’s tournament [the EAGL Mini-Series] is another way but we have to look at other ways at attracting that younger audience because, sadly, we’re all getting older, decision makers are getting older as well, so we need to look for creative, new ways to find and attract new audiences.

“On a similar vein, it’s interesting to note, from a sponsors point of view, you want the top players to play and I was involved in the European Tour, and I love that partnership, and the Asian Tour. But right now there is about 40 percent of the time when the world’s top 48 golfers play in an event, so you’re not guaranteed Tiger, Phil, Rory etc, etc. Those are the people the fans want to see and the sponsors want to see and the broadcasters and that’s what makes this wonderful ecosystem work.

“We’re not having that right now so wouldn’t it be wonderful from a fans point of view, from a sponsor’s point of view if you could guarantee once a month, maybe every five weeks, that you could guarantee the top 48 players in the world or so playing in a tournament? How good would that be for the world of golf? Then you could create narratives throughout the season, you could generate new fans, new interest, you could highlight different players if you did a different type of format, there are so many ways to grow the game now. We’re looking at it through my business right now and hopefully we’ll be successful.”

Watch this space. And welcome all those newbies emerging from Topgolf bays to green grass tees with open arms. The game, in this strange period of history, will endure and prosper if we become more inclusive, less exclusive. Maybe even turn up the stereo.

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Tourism Rebound

Mark Chapleski was asked for his thoughts on sustainability, golf latest’s “buzz word” as he put it, at the EAGL’s Future of Golf Forum. He reported that the region was “ahead of the curve” globally after making “great strides” over the past 30 years with agronomy practices and more recently with the phasing out of single use plastics.

But first, the Dubai-based, Troon International President waxed lyrical on the region’s participation numbers announced by moderator Joy Chakravarty.

“You talked about 80,000 rounds in April and that is an incredible number. I don’t think any of us sitting here would have ever had of thought it was possible with the local market to do those kind of numbers, so it’s phenomenal, it’s been incredible what golf has gone through.

“But what’s even more incredible is that [number] was with less than one percent of tourists which we would…typically in the peak season we would get at least 10 percent and that’s something we are working towards getting more of those.”

Troon’s Abu Dhabi cluster of clubs – Yas Links, Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Beach – are indeed working towards opening up the emirate to Green List countries including the U.S., Germany, Italy and Spain.

With more than 93% of those eligible now reportedly vaccinated in Abu Dhabi, Troon Abu Dhabi now has the ability to function as a tour operator, creating a “one-stop hub” for all international golf tour operators to package all required services including additional services such as hotel rooms and restaurant bookings with preferred rates.

A sharp increase in demand for autumn and winter golf breaks is expected as a result.

Said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi): “Golf is an important part of the sporting ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. The three championship golf courses managed by Troon complement Abu Dhabi’s golf offering and attracts professional and amateur players from all over the world. It is exciting to welcome back international golfers to challenge themselves on these beautiful courses in a safe and worry-free environment. The stringent safety measures Abu Dhabi has put in place to protect residents and non-residents alike will reassure our future golfing visitors.”

The post State of the Nation: What now for UAE golf? appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Dubai Golf CEO Chris May has heaped praise on the Emirates Amateur Golf League (EAGL) for bringing some of the leading decision-makers in the industry together at the Middle East Golf Forum, which is set to take place at the EAGL Mini-Series on June 20 at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

May will join Mark Chapleski, President of TROON International; Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director, OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic; Ismail Sharif, Managing Director of Jumeirah Golf Estates; Roger Duthie, Sponsorship Officer, Performance 54 and Nick Tarratt, Tournament Director for the EAGL Mini-Series and a 31-year veteran of the industry, to debate ‘The Health of the Game of Golf in the UAE and the Middle East in 2021’ at the showcase event for the main EAGL series scheduled later this year. The forum will be moderated by Dubai Eye’s Robbie Greenfield and well-known golf journalist Joy Chakravarty.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to bring everyone together as it doesn’t happen enough so something like this has given an opportunity for everyone to get together and discuss some of the issues that we all face,” said May, who oversees Dubai Golf’s three properties – Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Creek & Yacht Club and Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The current state of the game in the Middle East will be addressed along with ideas on how to keep growing the game in the future. Despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, clubs in the region have been thriving and May hopes to capitalise on the increased interest game since the lockdown ended in the country last year.

“Although there were challenges last year, I think that golf in the region is in a very positive place, we have seen a number of golf rounds increase by 20% since the COVID-19 lockdown of 35 days between March and April,” said May.

“That’s a real positive because we have seen an increase in the number of memberships, rounds by members and non-members and number of lessons being taken. So, there is definitely an increase in the interest in golf in the region and we have great opportunities to capitalise on that going forward and really grow the game.”

Before lending his voice to the Forum, May will be looking to get his hands on the inaugural Mini-Series trophy as he leads out the Dubai Tigers in their match against the English Roses over the Fire course.

“The EAGL is quite unique in the amateur game, you have seen something similar in other sports with the team formats but in the amateur game, there are a couple of elements that are really key,” he said.

“The team element is really important. In professional golf, you see how important events like the Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup are and how much interest those events garner, so I think that having something like this for amateur golfers, where they really play in a team format is important and something that will be really interesting.

“It’s a brand-new initiative and I think that having those elements of changing things up a little but in golf is probably a good thing as well, it’s something that is quite exciting to be involved with. It’s going to be an interesting day and I think the event has a very good chance of being very successful going forward.”

The EAGL Mini-Series one-day summer event is a taster for the EAGL Series proper, the world’s first franchise-based tournament for amateurs. It is scheduled to take place throughout the UAE late this year. The 9-hole tournament, held on the Fire course, will provide a taster of what is to come with eight four-man teams going head-to-head followed by the Golf Forum, Gala Dinner and prize presentation against the backdrop of the final round of the US Open.

To register your interest in the EAGL Series proper as a player, sponsor or team owner then visit eagl.ae

The post Dubai Golf CEO lauds EAGL for bringing industry together appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Former British and Irish Lions rugby representative Mike Phillips has lent his celebrity, and golfing skills, to the ambitious new Emirates Amateur Golf League (EAGL).

The most capped scrumhalf in Welsh rugby history with 94 caps, Phillips will lead the European Seves in the EAGL’s Mini-Series on June 20.

To be staged on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the one-day event will showcase the pro-level experience the EAGL is promising when the franchise-based league proper launches in November. That includes a two-hour live broadcast, initially to social media channels.

RELATED: Three-time Asian Tour winner Shiv Kapur unveiled as EAGL ambassador

Phillips’ European Seves will face the Abu Dhabi Roars, to be captained by Abu Dhabi Golf Club owner Khalfan Al Kaabi, in their EAGL Mini-Series showdown.

“I’m excited to be part of what promises to be a fantastic event. The EAGL is going provide a huge boost for amateur golf in the region,” said Phillips, now 38.

Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images
Phillips playing for Scarlets during a Guinness Pro14 match against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, South Africa in 2017.

EAGL Tournament Director Nick Tarratt has explained the format for Fire which will include 9-hole matches.

“The EAGL Mini-Series has eight four-player teams whereas the EAGL tournament proper will have eight 12-player teams, so it’s a more condensed version,” Tarratt said

“The unique match play format is player versus player with matches within each four-ball over nine holes and the winner earning two points.

“If the match is won prior to the ninth green, there will be a ‘Press match’ [option] and if the loser wins the Press, one point is claimed back with a net one point to the original winner. If the winner also wins the Press they can win no more than two points and a halved match over nine holes sees one point to awarded to each team.

“This will encourage all matches to go to the final green and encourage a tournament buzz around the last hole.”

In addition to a gala dinner and prize-giving, the evening programme on June 20 will also feature a special UAE Golf Industry Forum which will bring together some of the game’s leading decision-makers to discuss the current state of the game in the UAE. Dubai Golf CEO Chris May (who doubles as captain of the Dubai Tigers), Troon International President Mark Chapleski, Falcon & Associates Executive Tournament Director Simon Corkill, Abu Dhabi Golf Club owner Khalfan Al Kaabi and Tarratt are among the confirmed participants.

The EAGL kits were unveiled at Tuesday’s official media briefing.

EAGL Mini-Series 2021

Abu Dhabi Roars
Sponsor: Abu Dhabi Golf Club
Captain: Khalfan Al Kaabi

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Dubai Tigers 
Sponsor: Dubai Sports Council
Captain: Chris May

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English Roses
Sponsor: Gulf News
Captain: Mark Rix

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Mena Golfers
Sponsor: Worldwide Golf
Captain: Rick Bevan*

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Indian Lions
Sponsor: Khaleej Times
Captain: Rajeev Khanna*

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Emirates Players
Sponsor: Emirates Golf Federation
Captain” Ismail Sharif* and Khalid Yousuf**

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Asian Jumbos
Sponsor: ARN
Captain: Robbie Greenfield

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European Seves
Sponsor: Dubai Sports TV
Captain: Mike Phillips

* Denotes non-playing captain, ** Denotes playing captain

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EAGL Mini-Series draw – June 20
Indian Lions v Emirates Players
Dubai Tigers v English Roses
MENA Golfers v Asian Jumbos
European Seves v Abu Dhabi Roars

The post Former Wales scrumhalf Mike Phillips a big hit for EAGL’s Mini-Series showcase appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
The five-month rebuild of the most recognisable greens in Middle East golf is underway. In the meantime, may we humbly suggest you brush up on your lag putting.

All 18 greens on the Majlis layout at Emirates Golf Club, plus the practice green beneath the club’s famed Majlis clubhouse, are being dug up and rebuilt to full United States Golf Association (USGA) specification.

Originally built as ‘push up’ greens in the late 1980s, the surfaces are subject to the region’s high-stress climatic conditions so had come to the end of their natural 20-25 year lifespan.

That was evident at January’s OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic but Dubai Golf CEO Chris May is confident the rebuild will impress members and guests when the course reopens in late September and the pros when they are fully bedded for next year’s European Tour stop.

Like for Arabian Ranches Golf Club’s recent greens rebuild project, Emirates G.C. is having the chosen Tifeagle Bermuda grasses flown into the UAE in refrigerated containers from Atlas Turf in Georgia in the U.S.

The most noticeable change will be the significantly increased size of the surfaces, thus the aforementioned tip to work on your lag putting in the intervening five months.

“The greens will essentially remain the same as Karl Litten’s original design,” said May. “The most noticeable difference on re-opening in September will be the increase in size of the greens. The putting surfaces will be brought back to their original size with the average increase being close to 40 percent.”

Scratch beneath the surface and the big long-term benefits can be found.

“The fundamental change will be enhancing the drainage in the greens complexes by building to USGA specifications.

The 1st green on the Majlis is prepped for the rebuild.

“This will enable the golf course maintenance team to manage and present the greens to the world-class conditions that are expected on the Majlis course. The greens will be hand sprigged to ensure a consistent coverage with this work to be complete by the end of June after which the grow in will take place through to opening.”

Dubai Golf is also investing in drainage to the Majlis’ greenside bunkers to improve playability. Al Naboodah Contracting, the company responsible for the majority of golf courses in the region, is undertaking the construction.

American Terry Baller, who has significant global experience with many of the top design companies, is the design consultant.

“We are very much looking forward to reopening for play in September for our members and guests and providing world-class putting surfaces on the Majlis course for many years to come,” said May.

The post Majlis greens to grow up to 40% as USGA specification rebuild begins at Emirates Golf Club appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.