“In leading our international efforts, Mark has certainly left his fingerprints across the globe, growing the sport and the locations where golf can be enjoyed,” said Bruce Glasco, Troon’s Chief Operating Officer. “Mark’s passion for the game is surpassed only by his compassion for people and those providing first-class service to our many members and guests.  While I am sad to see him retire, I know he will be making an impact in whichever community he settles in.”

Prior to joining the business side of the golf industry, Chapleski enjoyed a successful collegiate golf career at Miami University in Ohio, where he earned All-American honours during his junior year. After a brief stint on the PGA Tour in the mid-1980s, the Michigan native hung up his golf spikes to pursue a career in club management. He entered the PGA programme while working at Yuma Country Club in Arizona and became a PGA of America member. After serving as an assistant golf professional at public and private facilities in the Southern California desert, Chapleski moved to Hawaii to work at Ko Olina Golf Club. He would later be promoted to Director of Golf Operations at Ko Olina, working nearly 10 years at the property.

Troon International’s Mark Chapleski.

In 1999, Chapleski joined Troon as the Director of Operations in Asia as part of the company’s start-up team in Japan. Five years later in 2004, Chapleski was appointed Area Managing Director for Troon Middle East and relocated to Dubai. In 2017, Chapleski became President of Troon’s International division, a role in which he oversaw the division’s growth and helped expand golf and golf opportunities across the globe. He was promoted to his current position of Executive Vice President in July 2021.

“Throughout my time at Troon, growing the game of golf has always been my number one passion. I have always believed that the work we do is having a positive and life-changing impact not just for the properties we oversee and the countries they operate in but most importantly of all, our colleagues,” said Chapleski. “The growth we have experienced has been nothing short of phenomenal. When I started in late 1999, I believe we had just under 40 golf courses, and the only international ones were a few in Australia.

“Today we are at 750-plus worldwide and 40-plus in the International region. As part of that expansion, we have been fortunate to have been involved in several projects that we were either first in market or new in a very immature market and realising the immediate positive impact we are able to make in these locations is very satisfying.

“Bringing a completely different level of operation and event experience to countries like Morocco, Egypt, India, Czech Republic, Cambodia and the UAE, to name a few, has been very rewarding for all of us in the International division. It has been a privilege to work alongside some of the most forward thinking, creative and devoted Troon associates both in the field and in our office.”

All the best from everyone at Golf Digest Middle East, Mark!

The post Troon International’s Mark Chapleski to retire in July appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Nasser Rashid Al-Shibli, Chief Real Estate Officer, ORIS, Ominvest, welcomed the news of Troon’s appointment. “Troon is the global leader in club management and have the expertise to help us achieve our vision. This is why we partnered with Troon,” he said.

Mark Chapleski, Executive Vice President of Troon International, whose division will oversee Muscat Resorts, added: “We are delighted to be working with such a forward thinking and passionate ownership group in Ominvest and look forward to bringing this club to new levels.”

Freddie Rexstrew. Troon Golf

Spearheading the reopening of Muscat Resorts is Operations Manager Freddie Rexstrew, who has nine years of operational experience, the majority of which have been in the Middle East. Rexstrew began his career in the UAE across a range of golf operations roles, including Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Beach Golf Club as well as Abu Dhabi Golf Club, previously home to 15 editions of the European Tour.

Rexstrew moved to Saudi Arabia and Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in 2017, where he was part of Royal Greens’ pre-opening team and worked as an Assistant Golf Professional before returning to the UK to take over as Director of Golf at the Centurion Club for four years.

Rexstrew will now oversee the reopening of Muscat Resorts. “Having now worked for Troon for nearly a decade I have been extremely fortunate to work at some great facilities in the UK, the Middle East and Asia,” he said. “This new opportunity to take on and run a facility that has been closed for a considerable amount of time is really exciting. I am looking forward to working closely with a very passionate ownership group in Ominvest to build something truly special and unique, not just within the Sultanate but also the Middle East.”

Muscat Resorts will be the first facility in Oman to have a Toptracer Range.

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The post Muscat Hills to reopen as Muscat Resorts in Oman next year appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Matt Smith
The second edition of the Egypt Troon Cup saw The Allegria and Madinaty Golf Club, two flagship properties managed and operated by Troon, once again go head to head in Cairo.

The matchplay clash took place at Madinaty GC with 20 members representing each club in a Ryder Cup format.

The fixture was a close-run spectacle with Allegria just managing to hold off their rivals in a friendly atmosphere, with the winning team receiving medals and allowing them bragging rights for the second year in a row as they retained the trophy.

Madinaty will not have to wait long to get revenge however as the rematch is already scheduled for September at Allegria’s Greg Norman Signature Course.

This tournament is beginning to foster a friendly social aspect between the clubs, where members benefit from Troon Advantage rates at a second course. The Allegria is located close to the Great Pyramids of Giza, while Madinaty lies to the east of Cairo, close to Cairo International Airport.

Josh North, General Manager of Madinaty, said: “Despite the result, all of us at Madinaty Golf Club have really enjoyed working so closely with team at The Allegria. Once again, two Troon-managed golf clubs have come together to create a unique experience for our local golfers to enjoy. Thanks must go to our agronomy team for ensuring the golf course was in peak condition for this fixture. However, next time we’ll really mean business to prevent a dreaded Allegria hat trick.”

Madinaty Golf Club, which opened in late 2020, is already playing a very active role in the Egyptian golf scene, having hosted the prestigious Egyptian Amateur Championship and implemented a fantastic grow the game programme of ‘Girls Go Golf’ bringing over 50 ladies together to introduce them to the game of golf.

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The post Allegria retain Egypt Troon Cup, holding off Madinaty in Cairo appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The DP World Tour’s calendar year opener couldn’t want for a more picturesque, or challenging, canvas

By Kent Gray
Amateurs lucky enough to call the UAE home and international visitors in the know have been smitten for years. Now the rest of the golf world will be let in on the joys of Yas Links Abu Dhabi. Of all the 2022 Desert Swing events, the switch of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from Abu Dhabi Golf Club after 16 editions is easily the most mouth-watering prospect. Kyle Phillips’s desert-links gem, ranked 48th in Golf Digest’s global Top 100 courses, has returned to its former glory after a challenging two-year dip in conditioning due to water challenges. Here’s hoping the famous Arabian Gulf breezes waft in over the mangroves to give Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy and co. a taste of the challenge presented by the undulating layout, particularly so on the stunningly difficult three-hole closing stretch which has been the scene of many amateur hour meltdowns.

BE AT 1 SERIES:
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Tame the 15th, stroke index 1, at Yas Links Abu Dhabi
Tame the 7th, stroke index 1, at Dubai Hills Golf Club
Tame the 12th, stroke index 1, at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club
Tame the 13th, stroke index 1, at Al Zorah Golf Club
Tame the 10th, stroke index 1, at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club
Tame the 5th, stroke index 1, at Abu Dhabi Golf Club
Tame the 5th, stroke index 1, at Arabian Ranches Golf Club

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The post QUICKSHOT: Yas Links Abu Dhabi appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Jared Goldstein
Golf is cool. Golf is fun. And most importantly, golf is for everybody.

Two major stakeholders in golf participation have announced a partnership to help make golf more accessible. Troon, the world’s largest golf course operator, and Golfzon, the world leader in the golf simulator marketplace, will work together to open three new ZSTRICT indoor golf entertainment facilities in 2022 with more to come, the companies said.

“The ability to drop some of the preconceptions you have about what it’s going to be like playing golf at a club and doing something that really is very familiar to a younger, broader customer base, and doing something from a technology standpoint, we love that,” said Tim Schantz, president and chief executive officer for Troon.

“We love the fact that it lessens the barriers, if you will, based on race or the like, but we also like that it just lessens the barriers overall and gets people swinging golf clubs and having a fun experience with great food and beverage, and off we go.”

With the rise of non-traditional golf experiences over the past few years, golf’s stakeholders have become increasingly excited about how these types of activities can help grow the number of avid golfers. Simulator golf falls in that bucket and should be a fertile area in which to grow the game. For example: According to the National Golf Foundation, only 3 percent of green-grass golfers are Black, but 15 percent of off-course players are Black. As golf looks to invest in ways to become more diverse, non-traditional activities such as simulator golf is a natural focus point.

“According to the National Golf Foundation the number of golfers who enjoy the game at off-course venues like ZSTRICT is now almost identical to those who play on traditional courses,” Tommy Lim, CEO of Golfzon North America said.

Over the past five years, the overall pool of golfers in the United States has grown to nearly 37 million, roughly a third of whom only hit balls away from a traditional golf course. The opportunity to participate in golf without a dress code with quality food, beverage and music available is integral to future ZSTRICT facilities.

Each hitting bay will feature Golfzon’s advanced technology, which includes being equipped with hydraulic swing plates that match the contours of the course and three playing surfaces—fairway, rough and bunker sand—to provide the most realistic possible simulation.

So while it may be difficult to check The Old Course at St. Andrews off your bucket list in real life, a ZSTRICT simulator can give you a taste of what The Home of Golf is really like. In addition to lifelike golf experiences, ZSTRICT also offers multiple ways to earn cash prizes. Through Challenge Mode on more than 90 world-class courses, including Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black and The Ocean Course at Kiawah, any player who makes an eagle, albatross or ace has a chance to win a portion of the daily purse. Short and long-term tournaments are regularly held, and placing top-three in a flight earns a portion of the purse. ZSTRICT has paid out more than $65,000 in cash prizes to date, the company said.

The companies didn’t offer specifics but said its first three locations will be in New York State in 2022.

The post Troon partners with simulator giant Golfzon to grow screen golf in the U.S. appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
Pals Simon Mellor and Edward Bloom were planning the golfing trip of a lifetime with Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill among the courses on their bucket list. But before the California dream took flight, Mellor’s world was suddenly turned upside down.

It’s March 2020, before the world really understood the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, and Mellor’s wife Paula was diagnosed with Leukemia.

“Following a routine health check in March, my wife was diagnosed with Myeloid Dysplastic Syndrome, a form of blood cancer which quickly became Acute Myeloid Leukemia,” says Mellor.

“Her only hope for life [was] a bone marrow transplant, which requires a bone marrow registry, something unfortunately not prevalent in the region.

Paula was forced back to the UK as a consequence and was hospitalised last September, the start of a gruelling regime of chemo, endless tests and medication. The couple’s six-year-old daughter, Georgiana, “struggles every day not seeing her Mum, with it now being almost six months since we spent time as a functional family. It has been an exhausting year.”

Blessedly, there is light at the end of a long, dark tunnel for the Mellors.

“Fortunately, we appear to be winning our particular battle, but equally we know that other families do not have such a positive outcome. All that led to us subsequently wanting to do something in the fight against this terrible disease.

Cue the 18 on Eighteen challenge, a unique charity golf event that Mellor and Bloom will spearhead on May 3. The epic 540km, par 72 challenge will see the duo play a composite course across five emirates made up of 18 of the UAE’s signature holes.

All funds raised will be donated to the Friends of Cancer Patients charity.

Mellor, the Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, and  Bloom, the Director of Dubai World Trade Centre’s DXB Live, will start their mammoth quest under floodlights on the 5th hole at Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Khaimah, before moving on to Sharjah Golf Club, Al Zorah Golf Club in Ajman, a dozen courses in Dubai and, finally, a trio courses in Abu Dhabi.

Here’s the full list of holes:

1. Al Hamra Golf Club – Hole 5 (Par 4)
2. Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club – Hole 9 (Par 4)
3. Al Zorah Golf Club – Hole 15 (Par 3)
4. Dubai Creek Golf Club – Hole 6 (Par 4)
5. Meydan the Track Golf Club – Hole 9 (Par 5)
6. Dubai Hills Golf Club – Hole 18 (Par 4)
7. Arabian Ranches Golf Club – Hole 10 (Par 4)
8. Trump International Golf Club – Hole 9 (Par 5)
9. The Els Club – Hole 17 (Par 3)
10. Jumeirah Golf Estates, Earth – Hole 16 (Par 4)
11. Jumeirah Golf Estates, Fire – Hole 4 (Par 4)
12. The Montgomerie Golf Club – Hole 9 (Par 3)
13. Emirates Golf Club, Faldo – Hole 12 (Par 3)
14. Emirates Golf Club – Majilis – Hole 9 (Par 4)
15. Jebel Ali Golf Resort – Hole 4 (Par 4)
16. Saadiyat Beach Golf Club – Hole 10 (Par 4)
17. Yas Links Golf Club – Hole 17 (Par 3)
18. Abu Dhabi Golf Club – Hole 18 (Par 5).

The 18 on Eighteen challenge will not only see Mellor and Bloom challenge themselves with the pair to also host two guest players on each of the 18 individual holes and compete against sponsor teams playing full rounds at each of the 18 courses they visit.

Based on a Texas Scramble Format, the overall winners of the sponsor line-up will claim the inaugural “Friend of Cancer Patients Challenge Trophy” at a presentation dinner later in May.

In addition to the duo’s awareness-raising swing across the Emirates, the generosity of the UAE’s golf course operators – including Troon Golf, Dubai Golf and various independent courses management companies, as well as the region’s wider golfing fraternity – has led to Mellor and Bloom creating what they dub the “ultimate prize in UAE golf’ for members of the public to win.

“Anyone who correctly guesses what Ted and I shoot alongside our two playing partners on each hole will go into a prize draw. One lucky winner will then take away the ultimate prize in UAE golf, which includes a set of custom-fitted clubs, coaching lessons for a year, access to hospitality at the three leading professional events, plus a round of golf with three friends at each of the eighteen courses. It’s a mega prize that gives the whole country – and beyond – the opportunity to take part and make a difference,” explained Mellor.

Members of the public entering the ‘Ultimate Prize in UAE Golf’ competition will be asked to donate a minimum of AED100 to the nominated charity when posting their guess on the event’s Facebook page (18onEighteen), with all donations routed directly to www.focp.ae.

“It goes with saying that 2020 wasn’t an easy year for any of us and nobody was immune to the struggles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mellor.  “But other adversities haven’t just disappeared as we can testify.

“Although a crazy aspiration at the start of the year, 18 on Eighteen now seems the perfect solution; it helps promote golf in the UAE while raising money and awareness in respect of all types of cancer, thanks to the humbling love and support of golfing friends within the region and beyond.”

To sponsor one of the 18 on Eighteen holes, or to get involved with the event in any way, please contact Simon Mellor or Edward Bloom through the 18 on Eighteen pages on Facebook or Instagram.

To make a donation to Friends of Cancer Patients via 18 on Eighteen, please visit: www.focp.ae/donate-programs/

The post Pals to play 18 holes across five emirates in a day to raise funds, awareness for families affected by cancer appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

But they’re excited about a truly rare birdie, one of the actual feathered kind, at the Gary Player-designed oceanfront course. Indeed, the Steppe Whimbrel is so rare it was once declared extinct.

According to a media release from Troon Golf, the “extremely rare subspecies” of migratory bird has been sighted by the lake on the club’s 18th hole in recent weeks.

“The Steppe Whimbrel was formally known only by museum specimens taken in late 1800s / early 1900s and formally declared extinct in 1995. In early 2000s a small number of birds were found at breeding sites in south-central Russia and later discovered on wintering grounds in Mozambique in 2016,” the release said.

“The global rarity of the bird is reflected in the fact that no more than 19 breeding pairs have been located at three breeding sites and the maximum ever seen together is 11, on migration on the Caspian Sea. This highlights the importance of the find in Abu Dhabi. The significance is amplified by the fact this specific sighting is the first-ever juvenile Steppe Whimbrel identified and photographed in the field and the first-ever recorded sighting in the Middle East.”

News of the sighting has even reach course designer and World Golf Hall of Famer Player.

“My brother, Ian Player, was a world-leading conservationist and so a passion for wildlife has always been in my blood. On my farm in South Africa, there were 124 different species of bird and every morning, I used to call them in order to feed them on my verandah. I have always had a special affinity for birds.

“When I was informed that the Steppe Whimbrel had been seen on the golf course, I got goose pimples. Birds love water, greenery and fresh air and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club has these in abundance. With the course having secured the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Certified property award, the appearance of the Steppe Whimbrel is very encouraging news. I only wish I had the honour of seeing such a rare bird myself.”

Saadiyat Beach G.C. recognised with Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Certification early this year.

Local resident bird enthusiasts, Oscar Campbell and Simon Lloyd, spotted the Steppe Whimbrel, one of 183 bird species (and steadily increasing at a rate of approximately 5 new species per year), recorded at Saadiyat Beach G.C.

“Our juvenile Steppe Whimbrel has been spotted several times over the past couple of weeks, signifying a lengthier stay to refuel before it journeys further south to Africa. We hope to continue seeing these rare sightings in the near future and look forward to welcoming more species over the upcoming seasons,” the report said.

The post Rare birdie at Saadiyat Beach G.C. leaves course designer Gary Player with  ‘goose pimples’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The cost of a membership is prohibitive to some, especially those new to the game or busy executives who can’t reconcile the expense versus time available for recreation equation. Thankfully, Al Hamra Golf Club has come up with a novel solution to a long term problem in the UAE.

The Troon International-managed club in Ras Al Khaimah is offering the region’s first flexible membership which offers busy golfers and new players a flexible and affordable membership option.

For just AED 12,000 annually, the membership affords players up to six rounds per month – made up of four full and two twilight rounds – along with all the usual benefits of being a member at the leading course in the Northern Emirates. You’re not limited to just six rounds with the applicable member guest rate to be applied for any other rounds you manage to squeeze in during any given month.

The new Flexi Membership at Al Hamra G.C. – which can be paid in monthly instalments – comes with other benefits in addition to the par-72 18-hole championship course, including a 10 percent discount in the Golf Shop and on food and beverage purchases.

Al Hamra Golf Club is part of Troon’s portfolio of daily-fee, resort and semi-private properties that deliver superior guest services, the finest playing surfaces, and outstanding amenities. With clubs located across the globe, Troon Golf facilities are synonymous with quality and consistency, with uncompromising attention to detail, and a pursuit for perfection in overall guest satisfaction.

For more details about Al Hamra Golf Club’s new Flexi Membership, please email golfdesk@alhamragolf.com, call +971 7244 7474 or visit alhamragolf.com

The post Al Hamra Golf Club launches the region’s first flexible golf membership appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The inaugural Golf Saudi Summit may have concluded on Tuesday but the gathering of global industry heavyweights and domestic business leaders looks set to trigger profound long-term benefits for the game in Saudi.

Norman, Schantz, nine-time major champion Gary Player, course architect Robert Trent Jones Jnr, and Asian Tour and Ladies European Tour (LET) CEOs Cho Minn Thant and Alexandra Armas were among the high profile attendees flown in to assist Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation fast-track the development of a new “eco-system” to grow the game.

Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) is already well entrenched in the revolution, having inked a deal in September to build a 27-hole course in Wadi Safar valley in Diriyah, 30 minutes north-west of the centre of Riyadh.

RELATED: Plans for a new Greg Norman-designed course near Riyadh gather momentum at Golf Saudi Summit

Beyond his obvious commercial stake, the Australian is impressed by the foundations already taking root including a focus on access and infrastructure, events, national team and academies, mass participation and tourism. It hit home to the Great White Shark at a junior clinic he attended on the sidelines of the summit in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).

“I think the most powerful thing for me yesterday was with the kids. To see the kids’ eyes and their passion for learning how to play the game and just chip the ball, truly got to me,” Norman said.

“No matter where you are in the world, you should invest in grassroots programmes and Golf Saudi, I think, is at the forefront of that, more than anyone else to tell you the truth and that’s how it is going to grow, right.”

Troon already manages Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in KAEC which hosted the just-completed second edition of the Saudi International, won on Sunday by Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.

RELATED: Strike another one up for the 40-somethings as McDowell captures Saudi International

Schantz sees huge potential for the game and companies willing to partner with Golf Saudi’s vision and local residential developers.

“I think this is one of the greatest opportunities to come around. It’s been 15 years since I’ve been to a conference that’s got this level of energy, excitement or heat and that tells you that something special is going on here,” Schantz said.

“It’s my first time to the Kingdom. I haven’t seen a lot of the country but I’m talking to people and hearing just how beautiful it is and how quickly things are changing.”

The power of partnerships.
Together we can create the most unique and impressive golf landscape for the people of Saudi Arabia #PowerOfTheGame pic.twitter.com/NqtGPcRdG1

— Golf Saudi جولف السعودية (@Golf_Saudi) February 4, 2020

Qiddiya, a new “entertainment megaproject” currently under construction 40km outside Riyadh as part of the Kingdom’s ‘Vision 2030’ socio-economic development programme, is one area experiencing rapid change. Golf will play a central role in the new city with Sir Nick Faldo (Faldo Design) linked to one of two championship courses as you can see from this YouTube video posted in September:

“Saudi Golf has been a very important partner for us,” said Qiddiya CEO Mike Reininger during the Golf Saudi Summit.

“We have a lot on our plate to make Qiddya come together. We’re going to have two championship-level courses that will be surrounded by a series of other somewhat non-traditional, sort of exciting golf opportunities as a way of introducing the youth of the Kingdom [to the game] and trying to capture their imagination.”

Majed Al Sorour, the dual CEO of Golf Saudi and Saudi Golf Federation, sees golf as the conduit to a healthier and happier nation. That vision spawned a #PoweroftheGame discussion at the summit.

“We are getting to a place where we need to add value. Delivering the value is beyond golf, it’s an ambitious plan that we will keep up to get that Vision 2030, to transform and [so golf can] become an integral part of Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Majed Al Sorour, dual CEO of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation., delivers the closing speech at the Golf Saudi Summit.

“The lifestyle is different than the sport itself. So people want to live around greenery and when we build golf courses we want to introduce to them the lifestyle change by openness, by inclusion, by having people walking around in beautiful green fields. We think it is going to transform the idea of people from seeing it to doing it [playing golf].”

The Saudi International has star billing in Golf Saudi’s events portfolio but inclusion is also a key pillar of the over arching remit. It will see the $3.5 million European Tour event joined by a trailblazing LET event at Royal Greens next month. LET CEO Alexandra Armas hailed the strategy employed by Golf Saudi over and above the $1 million event that is an obvious boon for the rebuilding LET.

“Golf Saudi have done a very clever approach to growing the game, making sure they brought the big names and drawn the right attention. They have suddenly, you know, opened this window into what Saudi has to offer.”

CEO Asian Tour Cho Minn Thant can also see opportunities.

“I think we share common goals. I think a lot of nations that support the Asian Tour, not just in Asia but also Australasia, Africa and in Europe, it’s very much the goal of the host nations to see their domestic players prosper. It’s no different here and I think working together with Golf Saudi and hopefully doing some tournaments over here would be a perfect fit.”

Player, as he often does, had the last word after also attending the junior clinic.

“Golf is a game forever. I tell young people, play it, it’s a passport to the world,” the 84-year-old South African said.

“It enables you to meet wonderful people and it’s a challenge. What I strongly advise is that they teach them golf in the schools. I did a clinic yesterday and all these mothers and children all get together as a family. I just loved it.”

The post Greg Norman: Golf Saudi ‘truly at forefront’ of grassroots development appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Yas Links will join Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club as Troon-managed venues in the UAE capital

By Kent Gray
Troon’s influence in the Middle East golf industry has just been underlined with the global course management giant adding celebrated Yas Links in Abu Dhabi to its regional portfolio.

The Kyle Phillips-designed desert links, ranked 44th in the most recent Golf Digest Top 100 global rankings, becomes the 10th club in the UAE and 17th in total across the Middle East to fall under the management umbrella of Troon’s Dubai-based International division.

Opened to instant acclaim in 2010, Yas Links is owned by Aldar Properties PJSC. The decision to commission Troon’s management, marketing and development expertise is a logical step after Aldar acquired the already Troon-managed Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in 2018.

RELATED: Parker happy to be back as Director of Instruction at Yas Links

The 9th at Yas Links is framed by the club’s stunning clubhouse

“Having seen the work that Troon has done with Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club over the years, we have been very impressed with their expertise in agronomy and general golf operations, which has developed these clubs into worldwide icons that feature on the Ladies’ and Men’s European Tours,” said Aldar Investments  CEO Jassem Saleh Busaibe.

“It was logical for us to move Yas Links under the same management umbrella as these other two world-class Abu Dhabi clubs, forming the best trio of golf courses anywhere in the Middle East region.  We look forward to growing our relationship with Troon International and seeing positive results.”

As well as the challenging 18-hole Championship course, Yas Links also boasts a nine-hole Par 3 academy course, floodlit practice facilities and luxurious clubhouse.

RELATED: Toptracer tech ups the ante for game improvement and family fun at Yas Links

“Yas Links is an exciting signing for us,” said Troon International President Mark Chapleski.

Yas Links’ imposing natural hazards are showcased on the 8th hole.

“As a flagship venue in the Middle East, we are delighted to be managing the property going forward and to promoting Abu Dhabi as a must-visit destination for any golf enthusiast.

“Our Troon associates around the globe have proven time and time again that they can produce results through their expertise in golf club management, and we are very optimistic about the future of these three facilities under one ownership group.  Our primary goal is to make sure that they are running to their maximum efficiency, with superior service standards.”

RELATED: UAE Special Olympians welcomed by Yas Links after World Games medal haul

Troon International’s Middle East portfolio

Bahrain
Royal Golf Club (Rifaa)

Egypt
The Allegria Golf Club (Cairo)
Madinaty Golf (Cairo)

Morocco
Golf Du Soleil (Agadir)

Saudi Arabia
Royal Greens Golf & Country Club (King Abdullah Economic City)

Oman
Jebel Sifah (As Sifah)
Ras Al Hamra Golf Club (Muscat)

UAE
Abu Dhabi Golf Club
The Address Montgomerie Dubai
Al Hamra Golf Club (Ras Al Khaimah)
Al Zorah Golf Club (Ajman)
Arabian Ranches Golf Club (Dubai)
Dubai Hills Golf Club
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club (Abu Dhabi)
The Els Club, Dubai
The Track, Meydan Golf (Dubai)
Yas Links (Abu Dhabi)

For more information on golf at Yas Links, click here

The post Troon International to manage Middle East ‘flagship venue’ Yas Links appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.