In a Dubai first, players can get the sort of feedback the world’s best players and coaches rely on courtesy of a system that delivers eight of TrackMan’s most essential ball data points.

It’s as simple as downloading the TrackMan Range app to your mobile phone or tablet through the Google Play Store or IOS App store and then choosing a selection of game improvement options.

Not only can you get an actual handle on how far you hit each club (let’s be honest, it’s typically shorter than we tell ourselves and especially our mates), you can also play a series of games to sharpen up any practice session.

Keeping in line with Dubai’s 2020 vision. We at Trump Golf Dubai strive to deliver the ultimate golfing experiences in the region, coupled with the latest in technological advancements.
Another step towards the future of golf in Dubai.#trumpgolfdubai #trackman #taylormade pic.twitter.com/f1eFBXfWDM

— Trump Dubai (@TrumpGolfDubai) February 17, 2020

Golf Digest Middle East was particularly impressed with the option that recorded shot dispersions to a selected pin, adding a competitive element to practice that was fun practicing solo. With up to six players able to share a bay, practice sessions could even have some real spice and will certainly banish the pointless bashing of balls onto the distance.

Coming soon, TrackMan Range will also allow players to play a virtual round at one of the game’s most prestigious courses or a famous hole over and over thanks to the system’s “ultra-precise course renderings and hyper-real graphics”.

“It’s fun,” says Trump Dubai General Manager Casper Schonfeldt.

“It’s one of the new technologies in golf. We feel it’s been a great investment, really well received by members. Young people love it, beginners love it and good players love it because it is a great tool to practice with.”

Head professional Sven Nielsen sees real benefits to game improvement starting with “simply knowing how far you hit each club.”

“The games are also great fun,” said Nielsen. “A lot of our junior members have used it already and love it. When you’re having a bit of fun with your mates, you get up to six people per bay, you can hit to different pins, you can see who can make the most points. We were just doing it just there [at a media day launch], it’ a lot of fun, it’s good, it’s exciting.”

The TrackMan Range experience is included as part of the package in any 18-hole green fee.

www.trumpgolfdubai.com

The post ‘TrackMan Range’ ups the practice ante at Trump Dubai appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Welcome to the first edition of The Sand Trap, where we scour the worldwide inter-web for the Middle East’s best golf news before expertly splashing it out with absolutely no (okay, sometimes a little) spin. Call it old school polishing (reporting) of today’s social media overload, a light-hearted take on everything that is great about golf in the game’s hottest destination.

We’re unapologetically Middle East centric – our colleagues at Golf Digest H.Q. in New York will continue to update you on the best global goings on via ‘The Grind’ and the ‘Dew Sweeper’ – so if it has even a tenuous link to the game here, we’ll be all over it.

If you win a title and your club does the needful online, check in here – you might just feature (remember to smile and share!) alongside the region’s more high profile players. Don’t be shy to share that viral worthy post either. A trick shot or a laughter educing whiff from one of your golfing pals perhaps? Simply tag us @GolfDigestME and we’ll do the rest. Who knows, you really could go global with the assistance of Golf Digest.

With that, enjoy this, your first escape from with the Sand Trap, which we coincidently launch just as the year’s final major is about to take the starter’s orders in St. Louis. Enjoy.

THIS WEEK IN THE INCREDIBLE RISE AND RISE OF JUNIOR PHENOM JOSH HILL

Before we head to Bellerive Country Club for the 100th staging of the U.S. PGA Championship, divert your attention, Dear Sand Trappers, to Royal Dornoch where they’ve apparently been golfing since 1616. That’s 402 years ago according the abacus at Media One Towers, or 388 years since Josh Hill was born right here in Dubai. The drawn out connection here is that Hill is set to tee it up at Dornoch on Tuesday as England opens the defence of its Boys Home Internationals title. And that’s as stunning as the fabled Scottish highlands links land hosting the matchplay event where each team faces the other over three days in five morning foursomes and 10 afternoon singles matches each day.

Hill’s selection to the U-18 England team – remember he’s 14! – continues a meteoric rise. It wasn’t that long ago he was posing with Ryder Cuppers Andy Sullivan and Rory McIlroy as a wide-eyed 12-year-old having just played the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am at JGE, coinsidently where he trains.

That was late 2016. Fast-forward to early 2018 and Hill marked himself as the hottest prospect in UAE golf since the emergence of Rayhan Thomas, courtesy of eight wins in a magical three month stretch to April. It will be fascinating to see how Hill fares in the pressure-filled matches against Scotland, Wales and Ireland as England aim for a title three-peat. Whatever happens at Dornach, Dubai looks to have unearthed a genuine gem. Best wishes to Josh and kudos to his supportive parents Russell and Jo and Butch Harmon School of Golf Dubai instructor Joe Marshall. All can be justifiably proud of the unexpected international call-up.

JP ON THE ROAD (AGAIN) TO THE 100th PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Talking of the BHSG Dubai, the stock of the Els Club Dubai-based academy’s Director of Instruction, Justin Parsons, continues to rise. ‘JP’ has been criss-crossing the globe recently working with former major champions Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen who are now firmly ensconced in a stable that also includes Peter Uihlein, Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera and the aforementioned Rayhan Thomas. The Northern Irishman was in Akron last week and departed for the PGA Championship thoroughly encouraged by Schwartzel’s storming finish to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, a 63 at Firestone Country Club propelling the former Masters champion up to a share of 31st with, among others, Tiger Woods.

Great to watch @charlschwartzel get it going today- 63 to finish the week strong. Firestone is a great venue and will be missed, glad I saw the last one. On to the @pgachampionship

A post shared by Justin Parsons (@jparsonsgolf) on Aug 5, 2018 at 1:07pm PDT

Here’s more of JP’s recent handiwork (scroll through the Insta post to see Oosty and Schwartzel in practice at Firestone).

Great to be in Akron for the WGC!!

A post shared by Justin Parsons (@jparsonsgolf) on Jul 31, 2018 at 6:12pm PDT

Parsons was headed to Bellerive (Schwartzel, Oosthuizen, Uihlein and Lorenzo-Vera are all in the field) overnight via a road trip with International Sport Management (think Chubby Chandler’s company) player manager Louis Martin in an RV.  (FYI, Oosthuizen and Uihlein are ISM clients).

So the NFL Hall of Fame is here, flights are full. This legend and I are taking a road trip from Akron-St Louis in an RV. Story to follow- seems like a good idea ????? @ Firestone Country… https://t.co/PtJyDK0xQT

— Justin Parsons (@JParsonsGolf) August 5, 2018

It’s a pretty epic sounding trip – all 900km of it – and we do hope JP shares some footage as promised. What we can guarantee, cough, cough, splutter, splutter, is that it’s not the final destination for the UAE’s best known coach. Again, watch this space.

Related: Woods, Rory and WGC-Bridgestone champion Thomas paired for PGA

TALKING OF GLOBE-TROTTING UAE PROS

With the mercury at sizzling point and the UAE’s driving ranges relatively empty as a result, it’s an ideal time for the UAE’s hard working PGA teaching professionals to grab some well-deserved R&R. And some, like Trump International Dubai head pro Sven Nielsen, are doing it better than most as these epic pictures from Scotland highlands illustrate.

Some breathtaking views at @carnegielinks with the guys yesterday!! Great to play in 20 degrees again. #summergolf #golf #golfer #greatgolfcourse #views #unreal

A post shared by Sven Nielsen (@svennielsenpga) on Aug 3, 2018 at 11:17am PDT

The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle is a private club “offering limited tee times to non-residents”. As a former pro at Trump Turnberry, we’re guessing Nielsen didn’t have too much trouble getting on. He certainly had little trouble playing his Tiger-esque stinger:

Little 2-iron stinger here!!! ???? Amazing day at @carnegielinks with @msweenie_golf @rob.satterley.golf and @calsatterley what a phenomenal golf course and experience!! Thanks for having us!!! #golf #golfer #golflesson #golfcoach #greatcourse #greatgolfcourse

A post shared by Sven Nielsen (@svennielsenpga) on Aug 2, 2018 at 4:55pm PDT

Nice shot, Sven. But perhaps not quite as flush as your recent ace at Trump.

?HOLE IN ONE? today for me while playing with one of my clients. 145yards PW. ???? #golf #golfer #holeinone #golfcoach #golflesson @trumpgolf @trumpgolfdubai

A post shared by Sven Nielsen (@svennielsenpga) on Jul 20, 2018 at 11:52pm PDT

We’re genuinely happy for the hard-working South African but won’t be so generous if the Springboks show as much class in the upcoming Rugby Championship. Did we mention the team behind the Sand Trap are ardent supporters of the All Blacks?

LUKE’S PRO V1 JOY

Just like the mighty All Blacks, we love golf swag at the Sand Trap, especially swag of the, well, you know, free kind. Check out the booty MENA Tour player Luke Joy has just recieved from a couple of well-known sponsors.

Huge thanks to @GOLFPRINCIPLES @callawaygolf @Callaway_Mat for all the help with getting the new X- Forged irons set up ?Awesome service and superb product come as standard! Many thanks guys?#golfprinciples #lukejoygolf #callaway #rogue #trackman pic.twitter.com/erN0cnP3Nj

— Luke Joy (@JoyBoy59) July 28, 2018

Always great to get a delivery from @titleistukireland / Africa Thanks @titleist for keeping me stocked up… I use the Pro V1 X Ball and Players glove?. #1 #1ballingolf #prov1x #golf #titleist #golfball #lukejoygolf

A post shared by Luke Joy – ‎ليوك (@lukejoygolf) on Aug 3, 2018 at 10:48am PDT

Nice. We’re guessing these shiny new spheres will travel a little further than the tee shot of Joy’s brother Ollie during a recent social round.

So bit of social golf today with my Bro @ollie_joy85 and Cousin at Queens Park GC… Both didn’t make it past the ladies tee… Rules are Rules ? #queenspark #sunshine #pantsdown #golf #keepingitfun #ladiestee #familygolf #family #priceless #bournemouth #england #funinthesun #chef #aussie #lukejoygolf

A post shared by Luke Joy – ‎ليوك (@lukejoygolf) on Aug 2, 2018 at 1:55pm PDT

Rules are rules but enough of those shenanigans. The Yas Links-attached Englishman is just back from a steady 12th place finish in last week’s Sunshine Tour stop in Kenya, an encouraging bounce-back after playing like a complete plonker – his words, not ours – in Open Championship qualifying. 

Joy still has designs on a European Tour card via Q-School ahead of a series of starts on the Sunshine and Asian Tours towards the end of 2018 “with the end goal of punching a ticket to secure European Tour status or at least have some events with a full playing category on the Challenge Tour”.

“I’m working hard with Matt Parker down at Yas so all seems to be working towards the ET for the coming years.”

Here’s hoping, although don’t be surprised if you see more off the course action on JoyBoy59’s twitter feed in the coming weeks; the 30-year-old Dorset pro is getting married at the end of the month. We’re sure fiancée Lauren-Leanne Bellows wouldn’t mind a prolonged honeymoon following hubby to some of the European Tour’s more exotic locales.

To be fair, Joy will need to keep winning to continue to afford experiences like this watching his beloved England in the World Cup.

Thanks for an amazing few weeks @England … You got a whole nation believing, dreaming and singing! Gutted yes, but the future looks very promising for this young side ???????#threeloins pic.twitter.com/BarrHQw8br

— Luke Joy (@JoyBoy59) July 11, 2018

JoyBoy indeed!

FRIENDLY REMINDER #1

It’s not long now until the climax of the European Tour season at JGE. In fact, it’s 99-days until the DP World Tour Championship. Follow the prompt for free tickets, Sand Trappers.

Only #100daystogo until the #greatestplayersonearth return to @JumeirahGolfEst for the #dpwtc. Register for free general admission now #racetodubai pic.twitter.com/MOX8le3aOw

— DP World Tour Championship (@DPWTC) August 5, 2018

DUBAI TROPHY BLAST FROM THE PAST

Former head pro Malcolm Young is clearly in a nostalgic space as he packs up after 10½ years at Arabian Ranches to take up a new posting in Hong Kong. Or perhaps he just found this picture as he was clearing out some clutter.

Either way, it’s a cool rewind to the 2010 Dubai Golf Trophy which the professionals snuck by a solitary point. The Pros will miss Young’s talents next winter as they try to avert a fourth straight loss to the EGF’s best amateurs, but not half as much as the quietly spoken Scot’s old clientele at Ranches. Dubai’s loss is the Jack Nicklaus Academy of Golf’s gain. Yup, that’s how highly rated Young is.

ANOTHER SAD FOND FAREWELL

There are leaving dos and then there’s the way Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club do the leaving do. Stick with us here.

How about honouring New Zealand-bound course superintendent Marty Brown with his own golf tournament.

Marty Brown, our Golf Course superintendent is leaving (after 12 years service). Come down and join us on his farewell golf day on 10 August.#golf #sharjah #sharjahgolf #golfindubai #farewellgolf pic.twitter.com/KpYl2d4qRF

— Sharjah Golf & SClub (@SharjahGolf) August 2, 2018

A classy move from a club that is making a habit of doing classy things and best of all, there’s still time to farewell Brown by entering the event.  The Kiwi leaves huge steel-capped boots to fill after presenting SGSC in pristine condition for the last two Staysure Tour (formerly European Senior Tour) Sharjah Senior Golf Masters events. Go well Marty. Oh, and I’m sure you’ll join us in wishing the Mighty All Blacks all the best as well. We did warn you!

TODAY’S TEAR-JERKER

Okay, here’s the Sand Trap’s first tenuous Middle East link. Sure Justin Thomas hasn’t played in the Desert Swing yet – perhaps the American will be the star draw at January’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship or even the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic? – but we just couldn’t ignore his win in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational overnight. More to the point, we loved that JT’s grandparents were on hand to see his third win of the season at Firestone.

What a day for the family

A post shared by Justin Thomas (@justinthomas34) on Aug 5, 2018 at 7:59pm PDT

What a keepsake that pic will be. And now on to Bellerive with Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy set to push Thomas all the way in his defence of the Wanamaker Trophy. Golf is deep. Really, really deep as this 72nd hole drive from JT shows. And to think McIlroy hit a 400+ yarder in the final round at Firestone.

JT’s 394 yards drive at the 18th is the second longest drive ever hit on the final hole at Firestone (396, Tiger in 2003). ・・・ #WGCBridgestone Repost #europeantour

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme) on Aug 5, 2018 at 9:54pm PDT

GEORGIA ON OUR MINDS

The newly-minted Ricoh Women’s British Open champion has been a perennial contender at the OMEGA Dubai Ladies Classic is recent years so there’s a genuine Middle East link to this snippet.

Stunning moment @RICOHWomensBrit #champion @georgiahall96 and a crowd of very #excited youngsters just shows what a young #homegrown #talent can do for #golf #congratulations #georgiahall @ricoheurope @CallawayGolfEU @goodwood_golf #berenberg @RandA @GettySport pic.twitter.com/gw0NORULmW

— David Cannon (@Cannonball63) August 5, 2018

And these stunning pictures are from our favourite golf photographer too, UAE regular David Cannon. Enjoy.

David Cannon

David Cannon

David Cannon

David Cannon

THE GULF CLUB

How about the play of David Baldwin and Leighton Johnson in capturing the EGF’s Summer Pairs Open sponsored by Golf Superstore. Check out all the action in his post from Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club:

Looks like they were having fun in the sun (okay, blistering heat) at Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club too in annual Troon Executive Card Summer Series.

We had fantastic TEC Summer Series over the weekend at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Thank you all for your participation and congratulations to the winners! #playgolf #troongolf

A post shared by Saadiyat Beach Golf Club (@saadiyatbeachgolfclub) on Aug 5, 2018 at 4:58am PDT

We had fantastic TEC Summer Series over the weekend at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Thank you all for your participation and congratulations to the winners! #playgolf #troongolf

A post shared by Abu Dhabi Golf Club (@abudhabigolfclub) on Aug 5, 2018 at 5:01am PDT

The winners were grinners in the fourth round of the Summer BMW X5 Series Open Social at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club too.

Aurn & Vivian win. The fourth round of the Summer BMW X5 Series Open Social was hosted on the 4th August 2018. The format was Betterball medal on the front nine and a Texas Scramble Medal on the back nine. The duo returned net 35 (1 under par) in the betterball & net 30 (6 under par) in the nine hole Texas Scramble format. Giving the pair a combined score of 65, 7 under par. Congratulation to both! @bmwmiddleeast #golf #sharjahgolf #sharjah #greatprizes #summergolf #winners

A post shared by Sharjah Golf (@sharjahgolf) on Aug 5, 2018 at 5:38am PDT

WE. CAN’T. STOP. WATCHING.

Finally, if you’re not already following us on Instagram, here’s a couple of recent posts that should entice you to sign-up at golfdigestme:

Father and son weekend goals. ?‍?

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme) on Aug 2, 2018 at 1:38pm PDT

Talk about father-son goals.

And then there is this in the latest installment of Phil Being Phil, just in case you missed it (quite how that is possible is beyond us).

In My Philings ???

A post shared by Golf Digest Middle East (@golfdigestme) on Aug 2, 2018 at 9:35pm PDT

We don’t know what Lefty’s Dad dance is so weirdly alluring. But… We. Can’t. Stop. Watching. At least it was better than his running putt in the U.S. Open. But lets move on, maybe by watching again. Until next time…Wow Phil. Just wow.

The post Welcome to the ‘Sand Trap’, a social media take on all things Middle East golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

In the UAE nine clubs have organised official events offering lessons, the first step on a pathway to “skills that last a lifetime”.

It’s a commendable campaign but Trump International Golf Club, Dubai is determined to go above and beyond in the push to introduce women to the game.

Dubai’s newest club has unveiled its #ladiesluvgolf campaign. Set to launch on International Women’s Golf Day, the campaign is designed to demystify the sport with easy to follow learn-to-golf videos and regular how-to-articles just for ladies, as well as discounted women’s golf lessons and events.

As part of the push, Trump International’s experienced PGA golf professionals, Sven Nielsen and Michael Bolt, will continue their popular ‘Golf & Coffee Mornings’ each Monday and Wednesday from at 8am. Join the fun group lessons between June 4 and 10 and enjoy a 50% discount in celebration of International Women’s Golf Day.

“Golf is on a roll, re-inventing itself and growing the game. It’s also set its sights on attracting more women to the sport [and] that’s why Trump International Golf Club, Dubai is proud to launch it’s #ladiesluvgolf campaign,” Trump Dubai General Manager Andrew Whitelaw said.

Head PGA Professional, Sven Nielsen, offers novice golfer, Caitlin, golfing instruction at a recent Trump Dubai Ladies Golf & Coffee morning

Trump Dubai’s Director of Golf, Craig Waddell, agreed the “secret was out” with women discovering golf is a fun, social workout. The Damac Hills-based property is “an easy location for ladies to stop in, learn golf and also enjoy fantastic dining across our four restaurants. “

“Dubai is a cosmopolitan, sporty city and ladies here love to catch up with friends and workout together, so golf is the ideal sport to try,” Waddell added.

“They are increasingly being inspired to pick up a club by high-profile professionals, such as Lexi Thompson and Michelle Wei, with these athletes proving that golf is exciting and no longer a man’s world.

“Golf now understands the importance of creating diverse ways to grow the game, as well as making it more appealing to a younger generation. In the men’s game we now have GolfSixes and the ladies recently had Lexi Thompson even parachute onto the 1st tee! So, we’re extremely excited to also be heavily invested in the future of ladies golf here at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai.”

Why not give golf a try?  Join Trump International as it helps ladies to discover how fun and active golf is. Follow Trump Dubai on social media @trumpgolfdubai to discover why #ladiesluvgolf is the the ideal introduction to the game of a lifetime.

For more information email golfacademy@trumpgolfdubai.com or call 04 245 3939.

The post VIDEO: Trump Dubai launches <br> women into golf campaign appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The winter (peak) season rack rate fee for weekday and weekend play on the 7229-yard, par 71Gil Hanse-designed layout has been set at AED 895 and AED 995 respectively.

Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) members will pay AED 715 weekday and AED 795 at weekends.

While not the cheapest green fees in the UAE, the Trump pricing is not the most expensive either and comes with the promise of “golf inspired by the game’s homeland, blended with culinary excellence, white-gloved service and exceptional leisure facilities to create an elegant lifestyle oasis within DAMAC Hills.”

The emirate’s first new course for seven years, Trump Dubai, is to be officially opened in a lavish ceremony headlined by the U.S. President’s sons, Donald Jnr and Eric Trump, on Saturday evening.

SEE ALSO
Top Trump – Our review of the U.S. President’s latest contribution to golf

The course, sculpted by acclaimed Rio Olympic Games course designer Hanse, has been in play for more than a month and is expected to create much interest, for its golf and food and beverage offering as much as for the controversial name on the gate.

The club features a soon to be opened nine-hole Par 3 academy course, double-ended and floodlit driving range and excellent short game facilities.

Trump Dubai’s Golf Academy, led by South African Sven Nielsen who was headhunted from Trump Turnberry for the role, is also now taking bookings and will employ technology such as SAM Puttlab and TrackMan Golf in its teaching.

SEE ALSO
Pro you didn’t know: Trump Dubai’s Sven Nielsen

General Manager Andrew Whitelaw, a 20-year veteran of the Dubai golf industry, is confident Trump Dubai “will reinvent golf and leisure in the region”.

“From it’s world-class golf course, white-gloved Trump Golf service to its exquisite Clubhouse and restaurants, Trump International Golf Club, Dubai brings an unforgettable, seven-star golfing and lifestyle experience to the Middle East,” he says.

Trump Dubai said it was still accepting a “limited number” of founding memberships.

The post Trump Dubai green <br> fees unveiled appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

For more from Sven, get your February 2017 issue of Golf Digest Middle East today!

Sven. It’s not the most South African name?
I have certainly confused many people over the last few years. Add in my slightly Scottish accent from living on the West coast of Scotland over the last nine years and you have yourself a Scottish-South African hybrid. My parents are South African, but my grandparents were Dutch and German.

Home club?
The first club I joined at the age of six was Benoni Lake Golf Club, but I played most of my junior golf at ERPM, a parkland golf course close to my house.

Your favourite golfer?
Has to be Tiger Woods, from what he has achieved in the game to what he has done for the game of golf. I think every touring professional golfer knows they can thank Tiger for that extra couple of zeros in their bank accounts. But also how he strived to keep getting better, even when he was winning all the time, to change his swing completely to keep improving, more than once.

Tiger during the 1997 US Masters – Getty Images

Who’d make up your dream fourball ?
Tiger and Nicklaus, just so I can ask them, ‘so, who is the best ever? ‘ And Henrik Stenson – one of the nicest guys I’ve met, with a great sense of humour!

And your favourite course?
Apart from Trump International here in Dubai? The re-designed Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry is a favourite. It will certainly take a lot for any course worldwide to beat the new re-designed Ailsa! It has everything a golfer could ask for.

Bucket list golf experience?
Augusta, just because of The Masters, from the pristine fairways to the stimp 14 greens. It’s a course I’ve always wanted to play and it will remain on top of the bucket list until I get the honour to play it.

Best round?
I think the best feeling I have ever had after a round was the first time I broke 70 on my home course when I was 13. I shot 66 in a members tournament and I remember all the adult gathering around the 18^th as the word spread around the course that I was quite a few under par. It was the first time I could picture how it would feel coming down the stretch in a major tournament having to par it to win. The lowest was 64 a few times at my home course.

Nielsen spent nearly 10 years at The Open Championship venue – Image courtesy Trump Turnberry

Best win?
Representing South Africa as a Junior Springbok was a great honour, and being the only unbeaten player in the three days was a pretty good feeling too!

Favourite sport outside of golf?
Rugby. It’s a South African thing I guess. That with a braai and we are happy! But I do enjoy watching tennis too, Djokovic has been a favourite for years – another great athlete with a great sense of humour.

Which begs the question – what’s happened to South African rugby?
It’s painful to even answer this question, especially when the question is coming from an All Black (supporter). I just think we need to change structures from school levels all the way to the top and too many South Africans are playing abroad. We will be back, don’t you worry!

Which tournament do you dream of winning?
The Green Jacket! Everything about the Masters is magical…the course, the jacket, driving up Magnolia Lane. I’d like to copy Henrik Stenson and play ‘Ice Ice Baby’ from Vanilla ice on the radio while driving up…but I’m sure the members there would feel much different if it was me doing it.

What do you like to do on a day off?
I like to play golf. I know, you would think I would like time away from the game, but no, I love the game! Always trying new things! The friends I played with it Scotland always asked me ‘So Sven, what is your swing thought for today’ as they knew I always tinkered with my own swing and technique striving to improve and see what works and what doesn’t. But then again, if I don’t tinker, how would I know if it works or not? If not golf, family and friends are important to me, so I spend time with them.

How long where you at Turnberry and what was the standout highlight?
I was at Turnberry for nine years, almost 10. The history and being a part of the team in 2009 when we held the 138^th Open. The best experience ever, to have all the best players in the world there practicing weeks before and looking after them was an experience I will never forget. Walking with Tiger for two days inside the ropes was probably the single best golfing memory for me personally!

Nielsen prepares his approach to the par 4 8th hole at Trump Dubai – Image Kent Gray

Give us your early impressions of Gil Hanse’s creation, Trump Dubai?
I love the design and unique qualities of the course Mr Hanse created. He has achieved exactly what he wanted to, a course for all abilities, which will be fun to play. It’s rewarding and challenging at the same time. Some imagination can be used around the links styled greens, with undulations reminding me of the links in Scotland.

What can members and guests expect from a Trump golf experience?
A very high quality customer service experience from a golf and F&B element while playing golf on a challenging but fun course.

The post Pro you didn’t know: <br> Trump Dubai’s Sven Nielsen appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Indeed, Golf Digest Middle East savoured every moment (if not every one of the many shots) during an exclusive loop of Trump International Golf Club Dubai earlier this week.

We report this not to gloat but to implore readers to enter our competition to win three places in one of the very first fourballs set to play the latest collaboration between Donald Trump and Gil Hanse, the acclaimed Rio Olympics course architect. Take it from us, you won’t regret paying the green fees here, never mind scoring a freebie.

Played in the company of new head pro Sven Nielsen, a young South African headhunted from another of the U.S. President Elect’s golf properties, Trump Turnberry in Scotland, this weeks round was technically “work”.

As well as being a prelude to a full review in the February issue of Golf Digest Middle East, it was also a reconnaissance mission to ensure our competition winners don’t get lost with the fourth spot in the aforementioned fourball reserved for the not unhappy new editor.

Okay, who are we trying to kid. The truth is this was pure, unadulterated pleasure despite the lousy golf on a course thus far played by a lucky few, former European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke and two-time Dubai Desert Classic champion Stephen Gallacher among them.

You’ll have to wait until February for our detailed verdict but needless to say, Hanse has achieved exactly what he set out to do with Trump Dubai.

“If we can build courses that are perceived to be fun and actually are fun, that’s a great accomplishment,” Hanse told Golf Digest Middle East during a pre-Christmas interview which features in our January issue.

Mission accomplished. The greatest compliment the editor can pay Hanse is to say he wanted to go straight back out despite his golf being more turvy than topsy (his fault, not the architects).

Hanse has somehow melded an eminently playable course into a major real estate backdrop, generous fairways, few bunkers and no discernable rough sure to keep even the highest of handicappers engaged.

The real joy – aside from the rustic, links-style aesthetics, pristine playing surfaces and a majestic clubhouse for the post round debrief – is found around the greens where every shot in your short game arsenal will be tested. Some truly gnarly recoveries await if you miss the greens, believe us, and particularly if you short side yourself.

There’s honestly not a poor hole among the 18 (we can’t wait to try the par 3 academy course now) and so many truly memorable ones, but more detail later. For now, grasp your chance to play one of the first rounds at The Trump International Golf Club Dubai with two friends and the giddy author.

Answer the simple question below and fill in your details before January 25, 2017, for your chance to win.

Stay tuned for full details of opening dates and rates as well. This is a course that should definitely be on your must-play list for 2017.

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