Welsh Six Nations legend Mike Phillips has been named as one of the playing captains for this month’s Emirates Amateur Golf League (EAGL) Mini-Series on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Phillips will lead the ‘European Seves’ in the June 20 event which is designed to showcase the ambitious new franchise-based amateur league slated for a November launch.

The one-day event will give the eight four-man teams a taste of the ‘tour pro experience’ the EAGL is promising later in the year. The event will be capped with a gala dinner and prize presentation, as well as a special UAE Golf Industry forum. This against the backdrop of the final round of the U.S. Open although the participants may be more interested in a reply of the two-hour live broadcast of the Mini-Series being promised for social media channels.

The brainchild of Dubai-based businessman Sudesh Aggarwal, the EAGL will offer businesses and individuals the opportunity to own a team franchise in a business model similar to that of the IPL.

“Our vision is to give a new dimension to amateur golf in the UAE and create a tour that is at a different level to those in other countries,” said Aggarwal. 

“The franchise model has not been seen before in golf and we are excited to be able to showcase this new approach. The series will create a business proposition that benefits corporates, investors and team owners in enhancing their marketing efforts through multiple event channels and on and off-course branding opportunities as well as providing a platform for a truly world-class networking experience.”

The series proper, which is officially sanctioned by the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) and backed by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and the Dubai Sports Council, boasts European Tour pro Shiv Kapur as its ambassador.

“The EAGL will raise the bar and set distinctive high standards for amateur golf in a pro-style setting where the competitors will be treated like Tour professionals for the day with bespoke team shirts, names on lockers, branded golf carts, valet parking, media coverage, on-course branding and more,” said EAGL League Administrator Priyaa Kumria.

“The league has been envisioned to take corporate golf to a new level and give those who take part a sense of what it feels like to play in a professional team event. This Mini-Series event will showcase many of the unique highlights the full series will feature later in the year.” 

Uniquely qualified 

By luring three-time Asian Tour winner Shiv Kapur as an ambassador, the EAGL has already signalled the seriousness of the region’s ambitious new franchise-based amateur golf league. Nick Tarratt’s appointment as Tournament Director ahead of this month’s EAGL Mini-Series ups the ante further.

The former Director of the European Tour’s Middle East division, Tarratt’s involvement in golf administration dates back to the early 1980s when he started his career at The Belfry for the PGA. He was a key member of the 1985 Ryder Cup organising committee at the fabled Warwickshire resort and worked as an Official Referee during Europe’s historic 16½ – 11½ victory.

“We are delighted that Nick can join us with immediate effect for this exciting golf project,” said EAGL founder and CEO Sudesh Aggarwal. “Nick has huge and perhaps unique experience of organising golf events around the world, especially in Dubai…we are all excited by the commitment, passion and experience he will bring to our group.”

Tarratt will assist in all areas of planning as well as acting as the Rules Official and Senior Auditor of Handicaps for the tournament.“It’s great to be able to join the EAGL team and get back into mainstream golf,” said Tarratt. 

“I have taken a sabbatical over the last two years for personal reasons and am returning fully energised, batteries recharged and excited to hit the ground running for this summer project. Sudesh and the EAGL team have ambitious plans to raise the bar for corporate golf in Dubai and the UAE which should be applauded.

“There is huge potential for the EAGL vision longer term and I’m sure it will be well received by players, sponsors and the golf industry in this pilot project.”

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By Kent Gray
A desire to showcase the Fire course at Jumeriah Golf Estates to a global audience by transitioning the European Tour’s Race to Dubai decider across from the club’s more famed sister course never advanced beyond the now historical planning stage. But Fire is finally set to move out of Earth’s shadow with the 32nd Eisenhower Trophy (men) and 31st Espirito Santo Trophy (women) to be staged on the desert links in 2023. After an unsuccessful bid in 2008, the Emirates Golf Federation, in concert with Dubai Golf and Falcon and Associates, won hosting rights at the International Golf Federation’s biennial meeting in Lausanne last month, edging the Singapore Golf Association in a close vote. It will be the first time the World Amateur Teams Championships will be held in the Middle East.

“We are very proud to welcome the best amateurs from around the world to the UAE to play on the Greg Norman-designed Fire course at JGE,” said Chris May, CEO of Dubai Golf which manages JGE, Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. “The EGF should be commended for their commitment to the sport. This gives all young aspiring golfers from the UAE and the GCC region something to focus on and work towards. It’s an amazing opportunity to help take amateur golf to the next level in this region.”

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Earth’s sister 18 at JGE has undergone “significant enhancements” for the first time since opening in 2010.  Redefined fairways and “strategic updates” to landscaping and grass lines have been made to recreate the risk-reward strategy originally intended by Fire layout designer Greg Norman.

Even the Great White Shark himself is in on the sales pitch for Fire following “significant investments” to the 7480-yard course which is open for play in advance of the 11th DP World Tour Championship.

“From a design perspective, the Fire Course is worthy of recognition equal to that of the Earth Course and should be regarded as one of the region’s finest,” the Australian said.

“The Fire [course] delivers a true test of golf where risk and reward holes abound, and takes the honour of my personal favourite of the two.”

Enhancements will continue into 2020 with plans to improve the design of the native desert setting. Fire’s bunkers, which contribute to the layout’s challenging reputation and unique topography, will also be improved.

“Exposed wind, elevation changes, long reed grasses and sand dunes that mimic those of the Dubai landscape make for a visually stunning and challenging layout with an abundance of variation that leave the golfer wanting more,” Norman continued.

The post Re-energised Fire set to steal some thunder from the greatest show on Earth appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Registrations for the opening round of the 20th Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge, proudly supported by Lincoln/Al Tayer Motors, are now open.

ENTER THE 20th Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge here TODAY! 

The September 27 qualifier on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates falls on the Thursday before Thomas Bjorn’s Europeans square off against Jim Furyk’s visiting Americans near Paris. As such, the popular pairs betterball strokeplay event will open with a Ryder Cup twist.

As well as playing for first, second and third place qualifying glory and a total of five places in the 20th XCGC Grand Final in December, each pair entered will be drawn to represent either “Europe” or “Team USA” at Fire.

The pair in each fourball that records the lowest combined net score over 18 holes will contribute a point towards their designated team – halves will count as such – with additional prizes on the line for the winners of the XCGC’s inaugural Ryder Cup.

For full entry details including special Xerox Emirates customer discounts and JGE club member and Emirates Golf Federation rates, click here.

Stay tuned to Golf Digest Middle East – the official media partner of the XCGC – for all the news and results from the 20th edition of the region’s best corporate golf series.

Paul Abouchacra and Hisham Shammas were crowned last season’s champions after 36 high quality and high pressure holes on JGE’s Fire and Earth courses.
Here they are flanked left by Onside Sports Steven Munro and Xerox Emirates GM Chris Govier (far right).

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The Korean duo, who captured last year’s XCGC after an unstoppable late charge to the title, fired an 11-under-par 61 to win Thursday’s series opener by two shots on JGE’s Fire course. They are pictured above with Xerox Emirates General Manager Chris Govier collecting their reward from series prize sponsor Under Armour.

It comes after Hwang and Jang waltz last season’s grand final at Al Zorah with a 36-hole pairs betterball tally of 87 stableford points after reaching the decider in Ajman with victory in the final qualifier. The title earned the pair an unforgettable stay and play experience at St. Andrews, the home of golf.

Again representing Team Hankook, Hwang and Jang edged Paul Abouchacra and Hisham Shammas (Team Under Par) who carded a 63 on Fire in this year’s new betterball strokeplay (net) format.

Jan Hooftman and Ivan Fornazaric (Team Hytec International) signed for a 64 to secure third place on countback from Subhojit Biswas and Siddharth Dutta (S&S) who also qualify for this December’s 36-hole grand final to be held on Fire’s sister course Earth, the Greg Norman-designed layout which hosts the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship each November.

In a commendable innovation unveiled at Fire, Dave Storey and Mike Piek (Buses and Tractors) won a new gross division with a three under 69. They will contest a special gross division at December’s grand final – a real lure for low handicappers who traditionally struggle to compete in corporate events across the Middle East.

Bahrain’s Royal Golf Club hosts the second round of the 2017 series this Saturday (April 22). The next qualifier in the UAE is scheduled for Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on Thursday, May 4.

The multi-award winning Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge, which again returns to South Africa in 2017, is set to announce several new venues this year. Golf Digest Middle East is proud to be the series’ official media partner. Key sponsors are IG and City Tower.

For more info and entry options, visit www.xeroxcgc.com

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