The EGF aims to use the Future Falcons National Junior Development Program and these Par 3 events to push participation for all national and residents. More importantly, the EGF is implementing a program that will not only develop golfers but also focus on Long Term Athletic Development.

Winners of the Future Falcons Monthly Medal Par 3

Winning the Beginner’s Boys Division was Saeed Almaazmi, followed by Sultan Almaazmi. Moving forward, at the Intermediate Level, after 6 holes played, Mohammed Al Haddad was the winner and Ali Al Haddad finished as the runner-up. Hind Almaazmi came 2nd Place in the Intermediate Division, and the winner was Aya Al Awadhi.

In the last level of the Future Flacons program, the Advanced Division was Aarya Ganguly followed by Yasmeen El Husseini, and the boys, Emile Gonzalvez followed by Aarav Gangly were the proud winners. 

The Nearest to the pin was Zayed Almaazomi and at the advanced level was Emile Gonzalvez.

“It was great to see all our students out on the course again after a successful pilot at the beginning of the year. Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club was a fantastic host, and we cannot wait to see the number of participants grow in this next season. We encourage all juniors of any ability to get in touch and join the league. Thank you to eGolf Megastore for supporting this project and thank you to my team for making this possible. See you at the next one”, said national coach, Cameron Van Rooyen.

Images: Supplied

The post EGF hosts second Future Falcons Monthly Par 3 Medal of 2023-24 golf season appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Your stance can help you draw or fade a shot and also help with a low flight off the tee to help take the wind out of the equation.

THE DRAW
First up is the draw, where the ball needs to start on the right of the target and curve to the left all the way to the target point. This is an ideal shot if you are faced with a dogleg left. To get the curve you will need the club face ‘closed’ to the path it is on, and add that right-to-left spin.

For that we aim to the right with the line of our body (feet, hips and shoulders) and swing the club in this direction while keeping the face of the club on the target, so club face is closed to the path of club.

THE FADE
Next up is the fade, where the ball needs to start on the left of our target and curve to the right (dogleg right). To get the curve you will need to club face ‘open’ to the path that’s is on, which should feel left.

This time around, we do the opposite with our body, aligning our feet, hips and shoulders left of the target and swing the club in this direction. Remember to keep the face of the club on the intended target.

LOW FLIGHT
Finally, sometimes you could be faced with a straight approach from the tee, but you are playing into the wind. Here, a low-trajectory flight is perfect to help take most of that wind out of play as a high ball will get caught and stop dead. 

To achieve this, your set up in front the ball needs to be altered. Try to tee up the ball lower than normal, with the ball in the centre of your stance. Try to get a feel for something like a punch and hold your finish half way, keeping your hands, arms and clubhead lower than usual during your finish.

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Lea Pouillard is PGA teaching professional at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Peter Cowen Academy Dubai.

More golf tips and instruction:
The flight of the ball will dictate how far the ball will roll
How to maximise the distance off the tee
Master your short-game options around the green
Putt in place on the dancefloor
Straight to the point for short-game success
It is never too late to pick up a club for the first time — some tips to get started
Mobility and stability are key links in the chain to golf fitness
The chips are down if the hips are right
Looking for more power? It’s all about kinetic sequence forces
Understand golf’s power chain and how to avoid a weak link in your swing
Why solid putting starts with a sound set-up
Alignment is a fine balancing act to stabilise clubface
Why you are wasting your time on the range
Claude Harmon III’s simple impact drill
How Billy Horschel’s simple backswing move will make you a better ball-striker

The post WATCH: A fade, draw or low flight can get you on the dancefloor when tee shots prove tricky appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

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

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.

The post Get the December 2022 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Lea Pouillard
Often when you find yourself on the fringe of the green, a simple chip is all that is required to get close to the pin.

However, often when I ask my students where they want to ball to land in this situation, the answer is “really close to the flag” or “right at it”. 

Almost always, this will result in overshooting the hole and leaving you with a tough, long putt.

Here we will see a few skills you can try out in relation to distance control.

Chipping is about analysing your situation, or lie, as that will dictate how you want to launch the ball. Distance control is all about trajectory and spin — a low launch will roll further than a high launch, and choosing the right trajectory will be the key to success. 

The ‘landing zone’ is influenced by the flight of the ball. For example, the lower flight of the ball will land closer to you and release, or roll far, while, a higher flighted shot’s landing zone should be closer to the hole, as it will significantly less.

For these exercises, try to imagine a landing zone — say eight metres away — and hit three shots each with low, medium and high trajectories, trying to make them all hit the same zone. This will help you see how more or less the ball will roll related upon landing in the zone, in turn helping you visualise the shot you need when the situation next arises.

I have chosen three different colours of balls to illustrate the difference and marked out a simple landing zone with tees. for each shot, you should use the same club. 

LOW FLIGHT
For a low trajectory, set up the ball more on the back foot, with your body weight slightly on the front foot. Your shaft line should be leaning more towards the target and do not move your wrists throughout the swing. 

MEDIUM FLIGHT
Aiming at the same zone, from the same distance, to get a medium flight, set up with the ball more centre of your stance, with body weight equally spread between both legs. Again keep the shaft line slightly towards the target but swing with more clubhead release.

HIGH FLIGHT
Now, to get the ball launched. Set up with the ball centred in the stance and, once again, the same goes for the body weight. The swing should see your bounce (sole of the club) on the ground, with your hands finishing closer to your body, and the head of the club higher than the hands.

You should see the difference, with the low launches rolling further and the high shots stopping almost dead if properly implemented. Keep practising until you see the desired results for all shots and, through the right selection, your distance control issues should become a thing of the past distance.

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Lea Pouillard is PGA teaching professional at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Peter Cowen Academy Dubai.

More golf tips and instruction:
How to maximise the distance off the tee
Master your short-game options around the green
Putt in place on the dancefloor
Straight to the point for short-game success
It is never too late to pick up a club for the first time — some tips to get started
Mobility and stability are key links in the chain to golf fitness
The chips are down if the hips are right
Looking for more power? It’s all about kinetic sequence forces
Understand golf’s power chain and how to avoid a weak link in your swing
Why solid putting starts with a sound set-up
Alignment is a fine balancing act to stabilise clubface
Why you are wasting your time on the range
Claude Harmon III’s simple impact drill
How Billy Horschel’s simple backswing move will make you a better ball-striker

The post WATCH: The flight of the ball will dictate how far the ball will roll appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

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

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.

The post Get the November 2022 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

A wide stance and high tee will help your balance and get the ball to travel further 

By Tom Ogilvie
The average driving distance on the PGA tour is now over 300 yards. In the last two or three years, distance has been a big talking point, especially with the likes of Bryson DeChambeau making headlines for his increase in clubhead speed and enormous drives off the tee. 

There are a few factors we must get right before we move into the swing, and this is the set up. Having a wide stance to keep your balance while swinging at high speed is very important and, if you want to maximise carry distance, tee the ball high on your
lead foot. 

While taking the club into the backswing, we want to feel a big shift in momentum away from the ball. Almost instantly as you move the club back, shift your weight into your trail side and start to rotate your body. Swing catalyst highlights around 80-90 per cent pressure should be on your trail foot by this point. 

Once the club moves wide and away from the ball, this is where the body should wind or coil up to the top of the swing. A good sign is when you feel the right hip moving up as you get to the top of your swing.  

Into the downswing, it is imperative that your head stays behind the ball before the club is delivered at impact. This will allow the club to work on a shallower angle and increase the angle of attack helping maximise carry distance because of less spin on the ball. 

During your speed practice, focus on the clubhead speed and not so much on the result. With use of a launch monitor such as Trackman, gaining 3-4mph can result in an increase of 9-12 yards. Practise at a high intensity and treat it like a workout. Hit several balls in a short space of time to get your heart rate up. Keep note of your highest recorded swing speed and try to beat this each time you practise. You will notice over time that your cruising swing speed will become higher.

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Tom Ogilvie is a PGA teaching professional at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Peter Cowen Academy Dubai.

More golf tips and instruction:
Straight to the point for short-game success
It is never too late to pick up a club for the first time — some tips to get started
Mobility and stability are key links in the chain to golf fitness
The chips are down if the hips are right
Looking for more power? It’s all about kinetic sequence forces
Understand golf’s power chain and how to avoid a weak link in your swing
Why solid putting starts with a sound set-up
Alignment is a fine balancing act to stabilise clubface
Why you are wasting your time on the range
Claude Harmon III’s simple impact drill
How Billy Horschel’s simple back swing move will make you a better ball-striker

The post WATCH: How to maximise the distance off the tee 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.

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

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.

The post Get the September 2022 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Hold each exercise for one to two minutes when stretching or performing stability exercises. Always be aware of your breathing when stretching. Always take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth.

1. Breakdancer Hamstring Stretch — Assisted (Mobility)
In a seated position, fold one leg so the base of the foot is up against the inner thigh of the other, now keeping your leg straight reach for your toes and, if necessary, use a rope for assistance to pull yourself towards your foot.

2. Open Book Ribcage (Mobility)
Lying on your right side, curl your knees up to your chest, then place the right hand on top of your knees and then place the other hand under your ribcage, the side closest to the floor. Then pull these two parts of the body apart, rotating to your left as far as you can.

3. Golf Posture, Single-Leg Balance with Torso Rotation (Stability)
This exercise is great to help with short game most of all and is something everyone should be doing to help their game drastically. Get into golf posture, with your arms crossed over your shoulders. Then bring your feet together and bend one from the knee, so you’re standing on one leg. Now keeping the lower body stable, do small and smooth rotations with the shoulders, rotating around your spine and avoiding a rocking motion of the shoulders at all costs.

4. Pattern Assistance Single Leg Balance (Stability)
With a light resistance band anchored to a fixed object in front of you, place one end in each hand, then walk away until there is some tension within the band. Now keeping the arms down by your side and straight, pull the bands behind you making sure you retract the shoulder blades as well. This will engage your core muscles and help with your posterior chain. Then raise one knee up, so the thigh is parallel to the ground and hold for one minute each side.

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Matthew Brookes is a PGA teaching professional and golf specific fitness trainer at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Peter Cowen Academy Dubai.

More golf tips and instruction:
The chips are down if the hips are right
Looking for more power? It’s all about kinetic sequence forces
Understand golf’s power chain and how to avoid a weak link in your swing
Why solid putting starts with a sound set-up
Alignment is a fine balancing act to stabilise clubface
Why you are wasting your time on the range
Claude Harmon III’s simple impact drill
How Billy Horschel’s simple back swing move will make you a better ball-striker

The post WATCH: Mobility and stability are key links in the chain to golf fitness appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Fed Ex Cup play-offs are fast approaching and the DP World Tour, LIV Golf series and both the Ladies European Tour and LPGA begin to ramp up for their respective finales.

We take a look at Laguna resort in Thailand now golfers are travelling more once again, speak to Carlota Ciganda about the women’s game, catch up with Saudi stars Faisal Salhab and Saud AlSharif, provide plenty of tips for golfers of all ages and abilities and discuss the vision of MyGolf Dubai.  We also ponder why the 7-wood is the new must-have club in your bag.

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

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 August 2022 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here in both English and Arabic today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.