By Kent Gray
Steel is the gift traditionally associated with 11th anniversaries. Fortunately, the matching edition of the annual Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Golf Series offers prizes of a far more precious kind. Indeed, for weekend warriors, it’s golfing gold.

Starts in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic Pro-Ams will again be the reward for the champions at the 11th Golf Digest Middle East Classic to be hosted by Emirates Golf Club on October 16.

The 11th GDME Classic is the culmination of the three event, 2018 Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Golf Series which is again proudly presented by King’s College Hospital London and AutoRoute.

ENTER THE 11th Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Series TODAY! 

The series opens at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on September 27 with the first of two pre-qualifying events. The winners of the respective men’s A (0-10 handicap), B (11-24 max) and women’s divisions at Saadiyat and at The Els Club, Dubai on October 4 will automatically qualify for the 11th GDME Classic, as well as walking away with a pair of hospitality passes to January’s 30th Desert Classic. There are still spots available at Saadiyat Beach and the Els Club so enter here today for your chance to win Pro-Am spots.

Entry to the qualifying tournaments at Saadiyat Beach and The Els is AED 445, top value as winter green fees kick in around the UAE, not to mention the once-in-a-lifetime Pro-Am prizes on offer as well as the post-round buffet that will be held at each venue.

Those unsuccessful in reaching the GDME Classic on golfing merit can still play in the Majlis decider on October 16 although spots – at AED 555 per player including entry fee, green fee and prize-giving buffet – are limited, with preference given to those who have played in one or both of the qualifying events.

There are also some great prizes for the minor placings at all three venues, with goodies from support sponsors Callaway and ECCO shoes as well as season passes to the two European Tour Desert Swing events and the Dubai Rugby 7s.

For the record, the winners at the 11th GDME Classic will waltz away with the following: Desert Classic Pro-Am spot (Div A men’s champion), Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Pro-Am spot (Div B men), Omega Dubai Ladies Classic Pro-Am spot (women).

Players must be able to prove an official club or Emirates Golf Federation handicap to enter.

The post WIN! Desert Swing and Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic Pro-Am spots appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
For most amateur golfers a spot in a Pro-Am is but a dream, especially in a prelude as prestigious as those held on the eve of the European Tour’s annual Desert Swing events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and before the Dubai Ladies Classic.

But the dream of teeing it up with a superstar the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jon Rahm or Shanshan Feng is real for UAE amateurs with the launch of the 2018 Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Golf Series presented by King’s College Hospital London and AutoRoute.

ENTER THE 2018 GOLF DIGEST MIDDLE EAST SERIES ONLINE TODAY!  

The three tournament series, culminating in the 11th Golf Digest Middle East Classic, opens in Abu Dhabi next month.

The winners of Thursday qualifying tournaments at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on September 27 and The Els Club, Dubai on October 4 will automatically qualify for the 11th Golf Digest Middle East Classic to be hosted by Emirates Golf Club on Tuesday, October 16 (all three are 1pm shotguns and Stableford events).

Saadiyat Beach G.C. hosts the first qualifier on September 27.

At the final on the fabled Majlis, the winners will walk away with Pro-Am spots to the Omega Desert Classic Pro-Am spot (Div A men, 0-10 handicap), Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (Div B men, 11-24 max) and the Omega Dubai Ladies Classic (women).

Entry to Saadiyat Beach and The Els is AED 445 and includes entry fee, green fee and prize-giving buffet.

The Els Club hosts the second qualifier on October 4.

Those unsuccessful in reaching the GDME Classic on golfing merit can still play in the Majlis decider on October 16 although spots – at AED 555 per player including gala dinner – are limited, with preference given to those who have played in one or both of the qualifying events.

RELATED: 100th edition cover star wins 10th Golf Digest Middle East Classic

The entry fees are top value as higher winter green fees kick in around the UAE, not to mention the once-in-a-lifetime Pro-Am prizes on offer. There are also some great prizes for the minor placings at all three venues, with goodies from support sponsors Callaway and ECCO shoes, as well as season passes to the two European Tour Desert Swing events and the Dubai Rugby 7s.

David Cannon The series culminates at the 11th Golf Digest Middle East Classic on October 16 where the Pro-Am spots will be won.

Players must be able to prove an official club or Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) handicap to enter.

ENTER TODAY HERE 

The post 11th Golf Digest Middle East Series offers Desert Swing, Ladies Classic Pro-Am prizes appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Staff reporter
Guy Williams didn’t quite travel the furthest to the second event of the Golf Digest Middle East, in association with King’s College Hospital London, Amateur Series but he sure left Al Hamra Golf Club happiest.

The Abu Dhabi City G.C. member made the trek from the UAE capital to Ras Al Khamiah – with wife Amanda – well worth it when he captured the division A title (0-10 handicap) with 34 stableford points on September 30. The avid Springboks fan overcame sweltering conditions and Sean Kinsley by two points to depart with a pair of new Ecco shoes and a hospitality pass for the Thursday of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

Kinsley’s consolation wasn’t too shabby either – hospitality on the Saturday of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, also in January.

Kyle Taggart won division B (11-24 handicap) with 36 stableford points from Byung Jin Woo (33 pts) while Ken Davies scored a weekend drive in a Mercedes, courtesy of series’ official lease parter, Autoroute, after winning the nearest-the-pin prize on Al Hamra’s picturesque 7th. For the record, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club member David Nabi, who features in the tweet below, made the biggest commitment to get to RAK.

Casper Schonfeldt, meanwhile, took the gross prize with a fine 78 given the energy-sapping conditions. His prize is an invite to the Kings College Hospital London-sponsored Golf Digest Middle East Classic, the series finale, at Emirates Golf Club on Oct.17. He will also return to the Majlis in Jan. after winning Saturday hospitality to the Desert Classic which will be headlined by the PGA Tour star Pat Perez.

Related: PGA Tour cult-hero Pat Perez to headline 2018 Omega Dubai Desert Classic

The 2017 Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Series decider will coincide with the official 100th our issue celebrations.

Related: Happy Anniversary to us!

The three-tournament series opened at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the home of the HSBC Championship, on September 21.

Related: See our photo gallery from Abu Dhabi

The post Springboks fan wins Golf Digest Middle East, in association with King’s College Hospital London, Amateur Series at Al Hamra appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Fast-forward nine years and approximately another 99 missed deadlines and we are set to do it all again in celebration of our 100th issue.  The best bit is that you, Dear Reader, are invited to join the fun.

The inaugural tournament has grown into the 2017 Golf Digest Middle East Series which this year takes us to the home of the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and Omega Dubai Desert Classic, as well as the host venue of the European Challenge Tour’s penultimate Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge.

We’ve negotiated great green fees and sorted the prizes so all that is left is for you to do is to enter online and ensure your mates are in on the fun too.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER ONLINE 

You can play one, two or all three events – there’s a prize for the overall order of merit champion – and we’re looking after players of all abilities with two divisions for the men (0-10 and 11-24 max).

The Western Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa are offering a special double room rate of AED 500 for players considering staying at the on-site luxury hotel the night before or after the tournament. For information, please ask to be sent info in the “Any special requests” section of the online entry form.

Spaces are limited at all three events, especially at The Majlis where all our awesome sponsors – including Official Lease Partner Autoroute –  will be joining the fun. So get the crew sorted and get your entries in TODAY!

We look forward to seeing you on the tee!

The post Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Series: Places in Al Hamra tournament Saturday still available! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Fast-forward nine years and approximately another 99 missed deadlines and we are set to do it all again in celebration of our 100th issue.  The best bit is that you, Dear Reader, are invited to join the fun.

The inaugural tournament has grown into the 2017 Golf Digest Middle East Series which this year takes us to the home of the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and Omega Dubai Desert Classic, as well as the host venue of the European Challenge Tour’s penultimate Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge.

We’ve negotiated great green fees and sorted the prizes so all that is left is for you to do is to enter online and ensure your mates are in on the fun too.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER ONLINE 

You can play one, two or all three events – there’s a prize for the overall order of merit champion – and we’re looking after players of all abilities with two divisions for the men (0-10 and 11-24 max).

The Western Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa are offering a special double room rate of AED 500 for players considering staying at the on-site luxury hotel the night before or after the tournament. For information, please ask to be sent info in the “Any special requests” section of the online entry form.

Spaces are limited at all three events, especially at The Majlis where all our awesome sponsors – including Official Lease Partner Autoroute –  will be joining the fun. So get the crew sorted and get your entries in TODAY!

We look forward to seeing you on the tee!

The post Golf Digest Middle East Amateur Series: Places in Abu Dhabi tournament Thursday still available! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.