It may only be Tuesday, but the Hero Dubai Desert Classic has already witnessed a little bit of history as Dubai Golf’s Communications & Marketing Manager Will Tickell landed his first-ever hole-in-one, upstaging playing partner and Hero Cup star Antoine Rozner at Emirates Golf Club.

Playing in the Motivate Media Group team in the Tuesday Pro-Am alongside Rozner, Motivate’s David Fairservice and Golf Digest Middle East’s Oktoberfest champion Michael Harradine, Will’s magical moment occurred on the fourth hole (his 13th after teeing off from hole 10) — and Rozner called it all the way.

“It was pretty funny because David hit his shot pretty close and was looking good for nearest-to-the-pin,” the Frenchman said. “Then Will shows up and as soon as he hit it I said: ‘Uh-oh, maybe he’s gonna beat you. I think that is going in.’

“It is always a delight to see a fellow player get an ace and it was really good fun today.”

Not feeling upstaged in the slightest, the world No. 147 added: “It was nice and he has given me a few ideas for the week.”

Will Tickell with his special golf ball. Clarkwin Cruz/Motivate Media Group

Still basking in his moment, Will described the ace.

“Fourth hole. Majlis Course. A bit into the wind at around 156 yards,” the 29-year-old, who has been playing golf for 15 years, said. “I kept changing between a six and seven iron and went with the six, which was a good decision in the end. It was funny when Antoine called it in the air and I thought they were having me on. But to get a first hole-in-one is fantastic. I have been playing long enough, so it is about time.

“I will be treasuring this ball. As is usually the case, it is not the best ball and has a few marks and scuffs on it, but it is a very special one now.”

Oktoberfest champ Michael added: “It was a great day out. Antoine played great and Will and David also played very well. It wasn’t my best round, but it was a great day out and that’s what it is all about. I will be back at Oktoberfest to give it another go this year and see how we get on.”

David, who missed out on that nearest-the-pin prize, saw the funny side.

“The weather was perfect, and we had a few surprises. I saw my first hole in one and typically it came to beat me closest to the pin,” he laughed. “I thought I had it, but there you go!”

The Motivate Media Group Hero Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am team with Managing Partner and Group Editor-in-Chief Ian Fairservice. Clarkwin Cruz/Motivate Media Group

Motivate Managing Partner and Group Editor-in-Chief Ian Fairservice was on hand to watch the special moment.

“It is the first hole-in-one I have ever witnessed,” he said. “Antoine called it off the clubface and his caddie Patxi got the binoculars out just to check what had happened. As we approached the green, we got further confirmation — if it was needed — from the players on the adjacent seventh green.”

Motivate Media Group is Official Publisher of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic

The post Dubai Golf’s Will Tickell upstages Antoine Rozner with hole-in-one at Hero Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

DUBAI- January 28: With Golf Digest Middle East celebrating its 150th issue in January, the future of the global game – and the region’s increasingly influential place within it – has fittingly never been more fascinating.

 The title’s sesquicentennial edition focuses on the rapidly evolving power play for the professional game, including the roles that the freshly-minted DP World Tour (formerly European Tour), the Asian Tour, and the also Saudi-financed LIV Golf Investments are playing in the ever-changing landscape.

To mark the milestone, the Motivate Media Group title has become the world’s first Arabic language golf magazine. Not since the Royal and Ancient game first met grass in the Middle East with the opening of Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course in 1989, has the game here enjoyed a more influential, or culturally appropriate, moment.

It is a particularly poignant moment for His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Chairman of both Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation since 2018. 

“Following my recent appointment as President of the Arab Golf Federation, these are just the type of initiatives I want to support in my new role,” said H.E. Al-Rumayyan

His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Chairman of both Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation.

“I am a passionate golfer and therefore I want to introduce this great game to as many people as possible in the Middle East. So, by now having an Arabic language resource which can provide regular updates to an entirely new audience, I am confident that Golf Digest can play its part in growing participation in our game here in the region.”

They are sentiments echoed by Majed Al Sorour, the CEO of Golf Saudi and Deputy Chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation.

“It’s great to see the inaugural Arabic issue of Golf Digest published in both print and digital. In my roles not only in Saudi Arabia but also as Secretary General of the Arab Golf Federation, I want to support golf’s growth in new markets, particularly the Middle East and I want to work together with other stakeholders to showcase the game’s many benefits to new Arabic audiences. This magazine will help us do exactly that.”

Majed Al Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi and Deputy Chairman of the Saudi Golf Federation.

Ian Fairservice, Motivate Media Group Managing Partner & Group Editor-in-Chief, is proud of the multi-media company’s ongoing contribution to the growth of the game across the Middle East. 

“The first edition of Golf Digest Middle East was published before the launch of the Race to Dubai in 2009 and the title, along with others in the Motivate Media Group stable, has proudly partnered the golf industry on the incredible journey the game has taken in the Middle East ever since,” Fairservice said.

“Golf Saudi’s emergence as a true force in the game, in the region and beyond, has been a huge part of the story in recent years and we’re proud to enhance the Kingdom’s golf journey with the world’s first Arabic golf title. It illustrates our commitment to helping Golf Saudi grow the game in what is undoubtedly the most progressive new golf market in the world.”

Scroll the historic issue in this browser or download it for FREE HERE and to stay up to date with all the latest developments, from the alignment of the regional developmental MENA Tour with the Asian Tour, to the DP World Tour-PGA Tour alliance fighting traditions’ corner against the Greg Norman-front LIV Golf.  

The post Golf Digest proudly becomes world’s first Arabic language golf magazine appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.