The Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) will also sanction and supervise the September to April league for the first time. The seal of approval from the region’s governing body is the latest step in the continuing efforts of players cum “Amateur Committee” administrators Mike Mezei and Chris Alderman to enhance the league’s credibility and appeal.

Dubai Hills Golf Club is the 17th club to join the league for the new-look 2019-2020 season after the EFG entered a team for the first time last season. Dubai Hills will enter the fray in the new nine-team ‘Players’ division where the two top teams will automatically earn promotion to the following season’s ‘Scratch’ division.

The formation of the new divisions was determined by the clubs’ respective finishes in last season’s Scratch League which was won by Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club after it edged Dubai Golf stablemates Emirates Golf Club 4½ – 3½ in the two-leg final.

 

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Creek win the 2019 scratch league!!! Congratulations to all competitors

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Dubai Creek and Emirates G.C. are the top seeds in their respective divisions for the 2019-2020 Scratch championship where the bottom two teams will be relegated to the following season’s Players division. Joining DCGYC in group A are Jumeirah Golf Estates, The Els Club, Dubai and Yas Links Abu Dhabi while 2017-18 champions Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, talent-rich Trump International Golf Club Dubai and either Abu Dhabi Golf Club or Sharjah Wanderers will mix it with Emirates G.C. in group B.

It is hoped a neutral venue, pre-season playoff can be arranged to determine which of Abu Dhabi G.C. and Sharjah Wanderers stays in the top division after they finished tied last season. The side that drops down will find itself in group A of the Players division alongside The Address Montgomerie Dubai, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Tower Links. Group B is headed by the EGF, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, Dubai Hills G.C. and under renovation Arabian Ranches.

The home and away round-robin matches in both divisions will still be organised by the respective clubs and volunteer administrators Mezei and Alderman on a match-by-match basis but the EGF will “preside over the league in regards to rules, regulations and format” and give the competition greater visibility with results to be published on the governing body’s website egfgolf.com.

All round-robin matches must be completed by March 8 ahead of semifinals (by March 29) and finals – to again be played over home and away legs like the semifinals – by April 19.

 

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Scratch league committee meeting today..off to the races. 2019/20 season will get underway soon. Two leagues this year. Draw to be issued this week to all clubs!!

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The format for both divisions remains pairs fourball played by eight-man teams. The side that wins a respective match earns two bonus points in addition to points won in the match while a 2-2 draw would earn each side a bonus point apiece.

Mezei said the addition of the EGF team and now Dubai Hills made the prospect of a one division competition in 2019-2020 unwieldy. It is hoped the new two-division format will better cater to the respective depth of clubs and thus ensure more competitive matches.

“With the new format, the hope is that nearly every match will count for something and add to some further competition, bragging rights and banter among the players and clubs,” said Mezei.

“Hopefully this format, combined with the EGF website coverage will also make the league easier to follow for golf fans and members in the UAE. Prior to this season, there was very little visibility regarding league standings and results.

“We also hope to arrange a year-end dinner for the first time to present both the Scratch and Players’ trophies and get everyone together to help foster the spirit of comradery that the league embodies.”

SCRATCH LEAGUE

Group A
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
Jumeirah Golf Estates
The Els Club, Dubai
Yas Links Abu Dhabi

Group B
Emirates Golf Club
Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club
Trump International Golf Club Dubai
Abu Dhabi Golf Club or Sharjah Wanderers

PLAYERS LEAGUE

Group A
The Address Montgomerie Dubai
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Abu Dhabi Golf Club or Sharjah Wanderers
Tower Links

Group B
Emirates Golf Federation
Abu Dhabi City Golf Club
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club
Dubai Hills Golf Club
Arabian Ranches Golf Club

The post EGF to preside over new-look UAE Scratch League appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Kent Gray
It has been quite the month for Nathan Fisher and an even better year for his beloved Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club (SGSC).

The 33-year-old South African did the small club with big ambitions proud by winning the 36-hole Emirates Golf Federation OOM Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in early May, edging JGE teen Arjun Gupta in a sudden death playoff for his maiden EGF title after a run of near misses.

Related: Fisher chalks one up for the ‘old guys’ at EGF Championship

Fisher survived another nerve-jangling playoff to land an even bigger title for the little 9-hole club that could at the weekend as SGSC overcame regional superpower and perennial title contenders Emirates Golf Club in the UAE Scratch League Final.

The two-day decider went to sudden death after the honours where shared on the Majlis 2-2 and the Peter Harradine-designed Sharjah layout, also 2-2, in regulation play, making it 4-4. SGSC opted for Fisher (+3.3 handicap) and Chinese 15-year-old Zi (William) Ang Xu (+0.6 handicap) to face former touring professional Mike Mezei (+3.8) and Kenny Babcock (+2.5) in overtime. It was some matchup with Fisher and Xu unbeaten all season and the Emirates G.C. duo flawless in the Grand Final.

“Miracle” par saves from Babcock and Mezei, the former from sand and the latter from water, kept Emirates GC in it on the 1st and 2nd respectively before the quartet halved the 3rd, again in pars.

Fisher then produced the telling blow, his 4-iron from 220 yards finding the back of the 553-yard par-5, 4th at Sharjah. The four-time SGSC champion rolled the ensuing 30-footer to three feet and then held his nerve to clinch the title before a rowdy crowd of nearly 50.

SGSC Director of Golf, Martin Duff, singled out Fisher and Xu, who only made his debut for the team in January, for special praise afterwards.

“I am extremely proud of everyone involved but the way our two players played the four playoff holes really was quite incredible and I really do believe they deserved the win,” said Duff.

The victory capped a memorable season for SGSC which celebrated its 10th anniversary in March with a second successful staging of the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters, the only tour event played on a 9-hole course. The Staysure Tour (formerly European Senior Tour) season-opener was won by Thai Thaworn Wiratchant.

Related: Wiratchant wins Sharjah Senior Golf Masters in dramatic playoff

“The golf course turned 10 years old at the start of March and to have won a title like the UAE Scratch League, beating much bigger clubs with much bigger memberships really is something for everyone involved to be extremely proud of,“ Duff continued.

SGSC had earlier edged Abu Dhabi Golf Club in their Scratch League semifinal while Emirates overcame Dubai Golf sister club, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, to reach the final.

The post Fisher helps Sharjah hook maiden UAE Scratch League title appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.