It would be easy, then, for the team at the Damac Hills destination to rest on laurels past as we head into the warmer months. No chance. The continual improvements that have marked the club’s swift advance into the Golf Digest Middle East Top-10 courses ranking are again at the fore with their latest summer tempters.

So what’s new at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai and makes the club’s Weekday Summer Pass and Summer Academy packages even more tempting?

Par 3 Course

How about a new putting green and short game area on the club’s full-length Par-3 course which has just been nominated for the World Golf Awards best PAR 3 golf course? New tee boxes, set to be operational this summer, will spice up things further on the 9-Hole floodlit layout. Talking of tasty offerings, don’t miss Trump Golf Dubai’s new casual dining venue, Caddy Shack Drive-In, which offers garden seating near the Par-3 course where you can enjoy a range of tempting meals, from easy bites to gourmet burgers with boozy shakes combos. Caddy Shack Drive-In often hosts entertainment, including kids’ movie nights, so stay tuned to their Instagram feeds @caddyshackdubai 

Game Improvement
From its floodlit driving range enhanced by TrackMan Range technology, to the multi-faceted short game practice area and climate-controlled state-of-the-art swing studios, the club has continually upped the ante when it comes to game improvement. The enhancements have continued with new floodlights recently installed near the Academy range to allow for more lessons during the evenings throughout summer. Choose from a variety of Summer Academy Packages starting from June 1.

Pro Shop
The latest summer apparel collections exclusively available at the club, such as Greyson, Travis Matthew, EP PRO, Fairway and Greene and the latest from B Draddy to name a few are available this summer along with the leading brands such as Adidas, Nike and Footjoy to enhance your golfing lifestyle fashion. Stay tuned for the Pro Shop’s much-anticipated summer sale and book appointments at the TaylorMade fitting studio complete with the brand’s new SIM 2 range. The club will also be hosting demo days to showcase pioneering hardware equipment from top golfing brands.

Food, glorious food
Trump Golf Dubai has been a foodies paradise since opening in Feb 2017 and the club has stepped it up again to make this summer even more delicious. The club’s main restaurant has a new family chic interior and fantastic weekly promotions including Steak nights, Carvery roasts and BBQ deals with an all-new concept with Italian flair coming this summer.

71 Sports Bar will continue to screen all the latest international sporting events while cigar connoisseurs can relax in a plush haven serving gourmet platters and premium cocktails whilst enjoying some light classic tunes at the Embers’ Lounge. Caddy Shack Drive-In offers a variety of casual bites and beverages in a fun space to enjoy with family and friends. The Hills Pool Bar and Lounge brings about the joy of basking in the sun whilst sipping on your favourite poolside beverages and enjoying the Café del Mar style vibes all throughout summer. All of Trump Golf Dubai’s dining facilities are managed by Skelmore Hospitality Partners.

Weekday Summer Pass

World-class golf is at the core of the Trump International Golf Club, Dubai’s lifestyle. It’s no surprise then that the 18-hole championship layout is also in the running for World Golf Awards gongs, having been nominated for best course in Dubai and across the UAE. That endorsement alone makes the club’s Weekday Summer Pass, where you can enjoy access on the main course on weekdays from June, an even more enticing prospect. Don’t forget the variety of summer offers available at the Trump Dubai Performance Golf Academy to help you improve your game.

What now?
Experience the Trump Golf Dubai lifestyle by visiting trumpgolfdubai.com for all the latest weekly offers, or call +971 (0)4 245 3939.

The post Live the luxurious Trump International Golf Club, Dubai lifestyle this summer appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Bob Carney
Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, like most California courses, announced March 19 that it was closing until at least April 8 after the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, issued a stay-at-home order to slow the spread of Covid-19. Then, a day later, a new announcement came from Poppy Hills: “Open for play with limitations.”

In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order that closed, among other business, all clubhouses and, it appeared, banned golf entirely. Then the Michigan Golf Alliance clarified that courses could stay open for play.

This whipsaw messaging at golf courses nationwide continues. Many Pennsylvania courses were open until Gov. Tom Wolf declared all “nonessential” businesses shut. When his “urging” turned into a mandate, Olde Homestead Golf Club in New Tripoli, which had remained open until then, said it was closing: “This pains us greatly. As many of you know, we are the facility that is ALWAYS open!”

In Missouri, courses in Columbia stayed open despite a Covid-19 death in the county. In Lafayette, La., courses were open and then some weren’t. In Des Moines, golf continued at Bright Grandview Golf Course, but not in the suburb of Ankeny at Otter Creek.

Of the dozens of courses we monitored nationwide, municipalities tended to be quicker to close. Six Salt Lake City courses issued a “walking only” order last weekend, then announced they were closing on Monday. Oak Hills Park in Norwalk, Conn., which had been doing a booming early-season business, suddenly closed when the county saw a spike in Covid-19 cases. Nearby Greenwich Country Club closed when a member tested positive for the virus. Meanwhile, private clubs and daily-fee courses, like Poppy Hills, tended to try to extend play with guidelines in place to protect golfers.

In short, although golf seemingly offered an opportunity for escape and exercise while practising social distancing, courses struggled to keep fairways open against a Covid-19 infection curve that looked like a 1-iron, toe to handle.

Wherever golf was still being played, it had a new set of rules:

Off course

Online booking (mostly): To the extent that they are able to, courses and clubs are limiting golf-shop traffic by booking tee times online. Club dues were to be paid that way or dropped off in an outside box. Banquet businesses, like the robust one at Great River Golf Club in Connecticut, have ended.

Clubhouses closed: Gatherings of more than 10 in some states, even fewer in others, were banned. One club created a dropbox for payments. At facilities that remained open, management began distributing bottles of hand sanitizer. “Tables have been spaced six feet apart from each other to promote social distancing,” said a note at The Oaks in Covington, Ga. “Employees have been instructed to wipe down all equipment continuously throughout the day to keep customers—and themselves—out of harm’s way.”

Golf-shop traffic restricted:  Where digital arrangements were impossible, limits on the number of visitors to a golf shop were established. Poppy Hills originally limited this to four. Others have allowed only one at a time.

Curtailed bag handling: At clubs such as Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn., members were expected to handle their own sticks. Brooklawn also suspended its caddie program to limit exposure. At other clubs, outside staff wore protective gloves. At the Oasis Golf Club in Mesquite, Nev., “sanitizing stations” were set up to make sure golfers were clean before they entered the facility.

Members only: Guest play has been suspended at most private clubs.

No simulator play: One of the latest trends at golf courses and clubs is, for the time being, no more.

Practice range restricted: One club allowed only four players at a time—spaced out. Others have simply closed their ranges.

Food service suspended: At most facilities, it was takeout only. Rock Ridge Country Club in Connecticut added curbside pick-up.

On course

Walking encouraged (or required):  Clubs have urged members to walk, and many are requiring it. “It’s a form of social distancing,” said a note to members at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, home of the Travelers Championship.

One to a cart: This was one of the limitations Poppy negotiated with Monterey County to re-open. Sierra Sage Golf Course in Reno, Nev., allows only family to share a cart.

No seed bottles: Golfers were asked to replace divots instead.

Two club-lengths:  Although nearly every club advised social distancing, the Central Links Golf association in Kansas was very specific: “Stay at least six feet away from your playing partners.”

Flagsticks in: Virtually every course that’s open urged players to leave the flagstick in and to avoid touching it when retrieving holed putts.

Cups up: At Richter Park in Danbury, Conn., superintendent Robert Dorsch has raised cups two inches out of the hole so that balls bounce off rather than dropping. “Any ball that touches the cup is considered holed.” Some superintendents are cutting two-inch pieces of PVC pipe or “noodle” material and lowering them over the flagstick into the hole. Putts that are holed remain slightly above the rim of the cup, allowing for removal without touching stick or cup.

No rakes:  At one course, members are urged to “use a gloved or covered hand when using a rake.” Others ask players to ignore the rakes and smooth the sand with their feet, and even others, like MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary, N.C., and Lake Forest in St. Louis removed all rakes.

No ball washers: “We’re not putting out ball washers,” said Dave Roe of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, public courses. “Nothing that people touch regularly.”

Cart clean-up: At some TPC courses, golfers were asked to remove their own trash from their carts. In addition, extra cleaning and sanitation practices were in place. “We’re cleaning things every 20 to 30 minutes, like keypads, touchpoint stuff, carts, seats and steering wheels,” announced one private course.

No high-fives: Golfers at nearly every facility were asked to dispense with shaking hands, high-fives or hugging.

Despite the restrictions, golf appeared to be thriving in some areas. “It’s ridiculously busy,” said Jeff Swanson, the head professional at Cedar Knob Golf Course in Somers, Conn. “We had 200 players on Friday. Chambers Bay in Tacoma, Wash., booked 590 rounds from March 11 to 17, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. “It’s a small world in the golf world,” said Mike Moore of The Classic Golf Club in Spanaway, Wash. “We know each other and talk. We’ve received calls from folks asking what we’re doing and offering what they’re doing.”

For golfers, any chance to play amid a new, self-quarantine reality, was a godsend. “The calm serenity of the golf course, where the only thing that’s on your mind is golf, takes you away from the negative of the world and the chaos of the pandemic,” Braeden Berry of Covington, Ga., told the local news.

Regardless, we all have to be prepared to adjust. Confirmed cases of Covoid-19 in the United States approached 25,000 as of March 20, with nearly 300 deaths. These numbers are expected to continue to rise sharply. Bolder measures are likely needed to “flatten the curve.” “Things can change in an instant,” Howie Friday, president of the Connecticut Section PGA and a golf professional at Stanley Golf Course said in a message to players late last week. “We will keep you updated if the situation changes.”

It did. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said all nonessential businesses would close as of Monday, March 23. Likewise, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued a similar order—and courses scrambled to learn if that really meant no golf.

The post Golf courses across the U.S. continue to adapt as restrictions pile up appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

After consulting with our staff management team and other clubs in the area, our initial communique last Friday was that the golf course and range would be open and we would have limited dining. The new golf simulator we installed in the clubhouse would be shut down. Carts would be available (and be heavily sanitized), but in understanding that many members would not feel comfortable riding, we waived the “trail fee” (a charge for walking) that we normally employ on weekend mornings. We encouraged members to take their clubs and shoes with them to reduce the number of “touches.” We told people not to shake hands but rather offer a wave.

At the time, this felt appropriate, sensible and safe. It also seemed a reasonable way to allow our members to enjoy the club during what is an unsettling time. Little did we know that less than 24 hours later we would be sending a follow-up note to the membership informing them dining and bar service would be suspended and in the clubhouse, only the locker rooms would be open. In order to keep on some hourly staff, we offered take-out food orders with curbside pickup. Drive out and your order would be placed in your car by a member of the wait staff wearing gloves.

Since then even more steps have been taken. Flagtsticks are to remain in the hole, and bunker rakes have been removed from the course—all in an effort to limit touch points. Carts are restricted to one person per cart unless immediate family. To give our social members (who do not have golf privileges) an opportunity to get out, we extended them temporary golf privileges on a couple of weekdays.

We are currently having further discussions. What do we do with ball washers and trash bins? Do we open the tennis courts (if you’re playing doubles that means four players are touching the same ball)? And what happens when we run out of sanitizing products? So many things to consider, all through the prism of trying to do what’s safe while offering people a respite from a distressing 24-hour news cycle. A bit of normalcy. A bit of fresh air.

We’re also discussing if there is a way to help the community in the process. With schools closed, kids who rely on school for nutrition are impacted. Is there a way we can help in that regard? So many questions. So few solid answers.

Short of mandates at the government level, every club has to make its own judgments based on the best information available, then adjust if needed. Many clubs we’ve spoken to have reflected similar steps—trying to keep the golf course open, heavily sanitizing carts and limiting (or discontinuing altogether) food service. Some clubs with caddies are left to decide whether they’re essential during the crisis. Social distancing guidelines might suggest no, but that’s another income impacted.

Some municipal courses are closed not only for health reasons, but because of broader directives about non-essential facilities. In other words, even in the time it takes to post this to our website, something could change.

Other clubs have come up with some creative ideas worthy of consideration. Blackledge C.C. and Shorehaven G.C. in Connecticut are taking the additional step of raising cups slightly above the putting surface and deeming any putt to hit the cup as holed to eliminate the need to touch the cup or flagstick. Brownson C.C., also in Connecticut, is offering its members a 5 percent discount on future food and beverage purchases as a way to generate cash flow during this time where revenue is scarce. Rye G.C. in New York has access to its clubhouse by appointment only.

Quaker Ridge G.C., a Golf Digest 100 Greatest Golf Course, informed its members on March 12 it has adjusted with many of the above steps for golf along with staggered shifts for employees; caddies with gloves and disinfectant sprays; closing its indoor golf studio; and all food in pre-packaged containers among other measures.

Out west, Haggin Oaks in Sacramento is dealing with a mandate that anyone 65 and older must self-quarantine. According to Ken Morton Jr., 40 percent of the his facilities’ staff is in that category, including entire departments like carts and course marshals. Morton says the facilities will shorten retail-store hours to help shift some of its staff in the stores to help cover shifts elsewhere.

Sherwood CC in California is closed but is allowing its members to play golf (no carts or caddies), racquet sports or swim at their own risk. They also are paying its impacted staff their regular hours through the end of March as a first step while researching existing and developing state and federal programs and actions to assist its staff.

Such steps are more the norm than the exception. According to the National Club Association, 40 percent of its clubs have indicated moderate modifications as a result of the coronavirus, approximately 25 percent have indicated “a lot” (such as canceling all events) and nearly 20 percent have closed their facilities. Only 1 to 2 percent indicate they have made no modifications. A recent online town hall drew more than 2,000 people to hear experts in the medical and club fields while also collecting data on what many clubs are doing. Some of the actions the NCA is advocating clubs consider include (For more information, go to coronavirus.nationalclub.org):

• Establish phone trees to efficiently contact employees to check on and alert them during an emergency.

• Keep contact information for suppliers, vendors and other key contacts both in print and online in case of absence of an employee who typically deals with those individuals.

• Prepare for operational disruptions now by conducting employee cross-training, if possible, for key responsibilities and positions, as well as lining up backup staff.

• Review HR policies for paid and unpaid leave and teleworking.

• Establish club policies during a pandemic and be aware of Family Medical Leave Act requirements (if the club has more than 50 employees).

As I mentioned earlier, my club’s course is open at the moment. I played this past weekend as did many others. Still, there was a sense that these rounds were more like the final few rounds you squeeze in prior to the course closing for winter than the start of a new season.

We can only hope that this “winter” is as mild as possible.

The post How golf clubs in the U.S. are adjusting to find a role amid coronavirus crisis appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.