Editor: Jacqui Barry barrydxb@eim.ae
FEBRUARY
2017
ISSUE 66
2017
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Editorial
elcome to all players participating in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic this month; I’m sure it is going to be very exciting as the previous two Desert Swing events have been. With 10 of the 12 members of the 2016 European Ryder Cup team as well as Tiger Woods and many past winners of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, there is an excellent field and I’m sure we are in for a real treat this coming weekend.
Welcome back to all past/life members who are here for this event too….Past Captain Mick Brett, currently living in Wales, Past Lady Captain Angela Connor and Omega Dubai Desert Classic starter Bob Connor, also living in Wales, Micky Brigg, Barbara Fotheringham, Graham Thewlis, former Head Chef François Porte and Francie and Kashe Gerbich. The team at golf in Dubai have certainly made a few changes this year with the addition of the Dallahdrome - the stand overlooking the first tee box with the ‘pub’ in Le Classique to the back of it. (Dallah is the name of the traditional Arabic coffee pot). Some nice touches with the full size images of familiar names in golf who have passed away in recent months..Arnold Palmer, John Jacobs, Wayne Westner, Mike Gerbich, as well as one of Max Zechmann, the caddy who passed away at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters in December 2016.
EMIRATES GOLF CLUB SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Christopher May
Chief Executive Officer cmay@dubaigolf.com
Craig Haldane
Barney Coleman
Club Manager bcoleman@dubaigolf.com
Andy Meech
Director - Golf Course Maintenance chaldane@dubaigolf.com
Head of Sport and Leisure ameech@dubaigolf.com
Rhys James
Chef Nicholas Cuomo
The course is looking immaculate and all credit must go to Craig Haldane and the entire crew at Golf Course Maintenance. I have just returned from South Africa where I spent a whole month and had a great time; what a fantastic country, wonderful, friendly people, superb golf courses, delicious food and wine…definitely the place to visit!. If anyone needs information on what to do or where to go, please let me know as I would be more than happy to give you some information, recommendations and contacts! When we get into mid-February, we can look forward to playing the Majlis course in the same condition as the professionals will be playing it this weekend and I’m sure it will not be easy! However, the condition of the course will be at its best and I must congratulate Craig Haldane and his GMC team for all the hard work they have done to keep our courses in fantastic condition. Congratulations to Craig also on his Ironman event at the end of January in which he did exceptionally well. How he manages to do that and get the Majlis in this immaculate condition is amazing but he is a ‘top man’. We are so fortunate to have such a great team at EGC who do all the organising and see to our every needs - colleagues at bag storage, driving range, Spike Bar, membership services and recreation - we are truly spoiled!
Golf Services Manager rjames@dubaigolf.com
Ganesh Mangathil
Dubai Golf Publishing Manager gmangathil@dubaigolf.com
Executive Chef ncuomo@dubaigolf.com
Adele Cowgill
Head of Sales and Marketing acowgill@dubaigolf.com
We have many golf and social events taking place in the next few months so please make a note of these in your calendars…these events would not take place without the support of the members so do try to get involved if you can.
Jacqui
Steen Simon
Food & Beverage Manager ssimon@dubaigolf.com
Saeed Ahamed
Financial Controller mahamed@dubaigolf.com
CONDOLENCE
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was very sad to hear this week that one of our long term colleagues, Chef Bala, passed away in India last week after battling cancer. Bala was a sincere and humble man who loved his job and enjoyed being with his work colleagues; he never failed to come to speak to me ( and many other members) if he saw me in the Spike Bar, always enquiring how the family was and if there was anything different I might like that was not on the menu!. He was a special, one of a kind person who he left the Club just over a year ago after being diagnosed with cancer. I spoke to him by phone a couple of months ago and, being the kind of person he was, he insisted he was well. However, he recently passed away peacefully, at home, with his family beside him. RIP Bala
S
adly Wim Dommisse, one of our life members and a regular visitor to Dubai, passed away suddenly, at his home in The Netherlands on January 31st. Our condolences go to his wife, Annike, and all family members.
Stephen Deane
Head Academy Professional sdeane@dubaigolf.com
Haridas Palliyalil
Resident Engineer hpalliyalil@dubaigolf.com
EGC Key Telephone Numbers Main Switchboard Members Golf Reservations Membership Recreation Accounts SensAsia Urban Spa
04 04 04 04 04 04
417 417 417 417 417 417
9999 9800 9801 9850 9875 9820
Follow Emirates Golf Club on Facebook for the latest news, views and special offers. We already have over 36,346 likes. Follow us on Twitter @emiratesgc and Instagram @emiratesgc
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MEN’S COMPETITION RESULTS Friday 6th January 2017 David Voller
80 Gross
A DIVISION (handicaps 0-10) Winner:
Bipin Bhatia
73 Net
Runner-up:
Boyd Edmondson
75 Net
Third:
Anil Shivanna
75 Net
B DIVISION (handicaps 11-20) Winner:
Ivan Fornazaric
73 Net
Runner-up:
David Moody
74 Net
Third:
Ronnie Pegna
76 Net
C DIVISION (handicaps 21-28) Winner:
Mohit Khatwani
NEAREST THE PIN Hole #7:
Zoff Khan
Vipen Sethi Club Captain 2016-2017
In association with
OMA EMIRATES MONTHLY MEDAL Best Gross:
The clubhouse verandah is looking very nice and comfortable with the new furniture in place. I find more people sitting down for a drink or two after their games and I am sure this new look will add to the F&B fortunes of the Club. These are all very positive change in my opinion. By the time you get this issue of Club Life, I am sure the Desert Classic will be behind us and we all as members will look forward to having all the facilities at Emirates Golf Club to ourselves. With a busy golf calendar planned for the months from February up until May 2017, I urge all members to keep a tab on tournament dates so that you enter on time. I am sure it will be busy out there. Lastly friends, enjoy the great golfing weather, the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and I wish you a great season ahead. Happy Golfing.
Captain’s Message
Dear Friends, t the outset, I would like to place on record our many thanks to Jacqui for putting together Club Life magazine month after month. The January issue is a tribute to the very active celebrations and activity at the Club to bid 2016 goodbye and to welcome 2017. I trust that all members had a good break and that you managed to spend quality time at the year end with your near and dear ones. The successful Omega Dubai Ladies Masters has made way for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic which has attracted Tiger Woods this year along with many great golfing names who will be participating. I have been inundated with calls from family and friends who want to visit Dubai at the time of the Classic just to watch Tiger play. His draw of golfers and non-golfers to the course is unprecedented. Let’s hope he plays well and returns in the future. The Majlis and the Faldo courses have also lived up to their class and are playing extremely well. The greens have been well maintained throughout the season and I look forward to playing them close to the big event. Thank you to Craig and his team for a stupendous job on course.
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79 Net
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OMA EMIRATES GRAND FINAL
Friday 20th January 2017 OMA Emirates Medal Order of Merit Winners 2016
Competition Results
In association with
OMA Emirates 2016 Medal Championship Grand Final
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ongratulations to Mohammed Al Musharrekh from Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, who scored a net 70 on the Majlis course to win the OMA Emirates 2016 Medal Championship Grand Final at Emirates Golf Club. Mohammed’s solid score saw him fight off the challenge posed by Marcus Wallman of Emirates Golf Club who shot a net 71, and Emirates Golf Club’s very own Club Captain, Vipen Sethi, who shot a net 72 on the day. It turned out to be very tight at the top of the leaderboard! Notably, the tournament was well contested on a tough Majlis golf course which is in fantastic condition. Congratulations to all those who qualified for the event, having finished in the top 36 places on their respective Order of Merit standings for the year of 2016. Huge congratulations are in order to both Order of Merit winners for the 2016 season. Joe Smith topped the table at Emirates Golf Club after a very consistent year of solid scoring, and Ashok Sindhu led Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club’s Order of Merit. The best gross prize on the day went to Edoardo Galeppini of Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club who scored a fantastic round of 75, three over par gross. As a feature of Emirates Golf Club’s Monthly Medal events, Porsche Centre Dubai kindly sponsored nearest-the-pin competitions throughout the year, and the culmination of this challenge took place on the 18th hole on the Majlis, with a Porsche Hole-In-One shootout across the water to the 18th green. Each nearest the pin winner throughout the season had the opportunity to win a brand new Porsche, plus three additional golfers from the day selected from a random draw. Unfortunately nobody managed the hole-in-one but two nearest the pin prizes were claimed! Charles Jones won nearest the pin with the prize kindly sponsored by Porsche and the runner-up was Jimmy Sangani, winning a prize kindly sponsored by RSA. A big thank you to both Porsche and RSA for their support of the event, in particular Anshuman Kishore of Porsche Centre Dubai and Chris Dooley, CEO of RSA. Once again, a huge thank you and congratulations to all for participating in such a successful event and best of luck for the 2017 season ahead!
Emirates Golf Club: Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club: OMA Emirates Medal Grand Final Champion: Runner-up: Third: Best Gross:
Joseph Smith Ashok Sindhu
Mohammed Al Musharrekh (DCGYC) Marcus Wallman (EGC) Vipen Sethi (EGC) Edoardo Galeppini (DCGYC)
70 net 71 net 72 net 75 gross
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EMIRATES AMATEUR OPEN
Mark Burrell wins Omega Emirates Amateur Open
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ark Burrell, from Links Hope Island Golf Club in Australia won the 28th Omega Emirates Amateur Open one stroke ahead of nearest competitor Christopher Rahm from Jumeirah Golf Estates. With this victory, Burrell, who won the tournament with a total score of 148 on the Faldo and Majlis courses, gained an invitation to a European Challenge Tour event, the Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge which will be held in October this year, courtesy of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. Third place went to Thomas Strandemo, representing the United States Golf Association, with a total score of 150. This year’s field was strongly represented with over 90 competitors playing the Faldo and Majlis courses. After round one, the tournament leader was Ahmad Skaik (EGF) with a score of 72 on the long Faldo course after a substantial fog delay. Burrell, the eventual winner, trailed by six strokes after day one, having opened with a six over par 78. However, he rallied to an excellent score of two under par 70 on the Majlis on day two, finishing with back to back birdies to claim the top prize. The net competition was also keenly contested with Laurent Truquet (EGC) clinching the top prize with net rounds of 74 and 68 for a 142 total. The second net prize went to Sidney De Souza (EGF) with a score of 150, narrowly beating Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Dean Wilkinson after a better back 18. Also in the prizes were Borislav Todorovic from the Serbian Golf Federation and Rohit Nath (EGF) for best net scores on day one and day two respectively. Individual best gross prizes went to Ahmad Skaik (EGC) and Mark Williams from Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club who both shot even par 72s on the Faldo and Majlis courses respectively. Emirates Golf Club would like to take this opportunity to thank Omega for their continued support of this event and also for supporting golf in the region. Champion:
Mark Burrell (LHIA)
78 + 70 = 148
Runner-up:
Christofer Rahm (JGE)
72 + 77 = 149
Third:
Thomas Strandemo (USGA)
75 + 75 = 150
Fourth:
Joshua Hill (JGE)
80 + 72 = 152
OVERELL BEST NET Winner:
Laurent Truquet (EGF)
Runner-up:
Sidney De Souza (EGF)
74 + 68 = 142 81 + 69 = 150
Third Net:
Dean Wilkinson (JGE)
75 + 75 = 150
DAILY GROSS Best Gross Day 1: Ahmad Skaik (EGF)
72
Best Gross Day 2: Mark Williams (DCGYC)
72
DAILY NET Best Net Day 1:
Borislav Todorovic (GAS)
74
Best Net Day 2:
Rohit Nath (EGF)
73
in’s Lady Capta Message
Thursday 12th & Friday 13th January 2017
in’s Lady Capta Message
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T
he Ladies took to the Majlis course on 9th January to play in the first Medal of 2017. How wonderful to start the New Year playing the course when it is in such stunning condition and with cooler temperatures allowing us to walk the course in comfort. There were some amazing scores with Sandra Chia scoring net 66 and Fiona Berry a net 68. Margaret Breen won her second Medal of the season with a net 72. Former junior member Kavita Sehmi, who was home for Christmas holidays from Maryland University and playing off +2 handicap, won best gross with a fabulous score of 70.
Fourball Betterball competition on the Faldo. Unfortunately Lady Vice-Captain Najla wasunable to compete due to a family bereavement but her team did her proud with the first ever tied match result of 8.5 points each. Well played everyone and, even though this is a ‘friendly’ matchplay competition, I know how much you all want to win! It was lovely to receive such positive feedback about the Waltz competition held on 23rd January. The ladies enjoyed playing with others from different divisions and the fun scoring format.
That day we also presented our cheque of AED 58,490 from the October Pink Ball Competition to Nihal Aboushousha of Al Jalila Foundation who was able to tell the ladies first hand exactly how our donation is used and how vital it is.
Maura Duggan Lady Captain 2016-2017
Sponsored By
SOFITEL MEDAL Monday 9th January 2017
Sandra Chia Wins January Monthly Medal
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ith a New Year came a great start for Sandra Chia who shot the lowest score of the day, a net 66 to claim Silver B Division by four strokes from runner-up Elise Hanson, who shot 70 net. It was truly a very impressive day of scoring. Fiona Berry won Silver A Division with a fantastic score of net 68, the second lowest score of the day which saw her finish ahead of runner-up Veronica Elias who shot a net 72. The best gross score of the day was won by Kavita Sehmi with a score of two under par, 70. In Bronze Division, Margaret Breen topped her division for the second month in a row - a winning score of net 72 seeing her collect the prize. On a very successful day, Margaret also collected the Raffle Prize as a lucky winner. Our prize winners will now enjoy some fantastic hospitality courtesy of our Medal sponsors Sofitel, Dubai Jumeirah Beach.
February will be a short but busy month with a Medal, Camel Trophy the prestigious Ladies’ Club Championship played over two consecutive days on the Faldo and the Majlis as well as the home match of the InterClub Competition on 21st February. In addition, the ladies will be going on their golfing trip to Ras Al Khaimah staying at the Hilton Al Hamra Beach and Golf Resort. I’m really looking forward to following the many golfing superstars around the Majlis over the four days of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and being in awe at how easy they make the game look! I hope you also get the opportunity to enjoy it.
Thanks to all the ladies who took part in the annual Lady Captain v Lady Vice-Captain’s Challenge; 14 teams on each side played a
COMPETITION RESULTS
Whilst the Majlis and Faldo have been closed for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, it has provided the perfect opportunity for some of the ladies to play in competitions on ehe Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates and also at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
SILVER A DIVISION (handicaps 0 – 14) Winner: Fiona Berry Runner-up: Veronica Elias Best Gross: Kavita Sehmi SILVER B DIVISION (handicaps 15 –23) Winner: Sandra Chia Runner-up: Elise Hanson BRONZE DIVISION (handicaps 24 –42) Winner: Margaret Breen Raffle Winner: Margaret Breen
68 net 72 net 70 gross 66 net 70 net 72 net
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LADY CAPTAIN’S TEAM V LADY VICE-CAPTAIN’S TEAM With each team scoring 8.5 points, this annual match was halved but the trophy was retained by Lady Captain’s team who were the current holders of the trophy.
This trophy was donated by past Emirates Golf Club members, Bets and Derek De Villers, when they left Dubai to return to their native South Africa in 2006. They are both well and enjoying their extended family of 11 grand children!
Competition Results
DE VILLIER TROPHY
LADIES’ WALTZ STABLEFORD COMPETITION Monday 23rd January 2017 INDIVIDUAL Winner: Runner up: TEAM Winners: Runners-up:
Thea Hendrickx Kiyono Taniuchi Veronica Elias Elvira Smith Najla Bartette Antonia Ludvigson Carmel King
38 points 36 points 76 points 75 points
#teamdubaigolf #meettheteam Meet Miles Entwistle, our new Assistant F&B Manager at Emirates Golf Club! From England, Miles has been in Dubai for almost two years and started working at Emirates Golf Club this season. When he is not at work, he enjoys practising boxing, jiu-jitsu and golf; however, his golf skills can be somewhat erratic! His favourite food? Sushi
Welcome to Donal Mulvey, our new Fleet Manager at Emirates Golf Club. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Donal has been at Emirates Golf Club for just over a month after moving to Dubai in May 2016. He has previously worked at Al Badia Golf Club and The Royal Dublin Golf Club. He graduated with a BSc in Horticulture and is also currently studying Golf Course Management with the SRUC. When he is not working, he plays GAA for the Dubai Celts. He hopes his next adventure will be a triathlon!
Meet Majid Ahmed Issa Albalushi, Guest Relations Officer at Emirates Golf Club. From Dubai, Majid has been working at Emirates Golf Club for two years. When he is not at work, he enjoys playing billiards and watching movies. Something you don’t about Majid? He is a professional diver!
Meet Mohammed Shafraz Shahabdeen from the Spike Bar. Originally from Sri Lanka, he has been working at Emirates Golf Club for almost 10 years. When he is not working, Shafraz enjoys listening to music and watching horror movies! His favourite food? Thai.
8 Junior Link
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Improve your golfing skills with The Academy in association with Peter Cowen at Emirates Golf Club. Pete coaches some of the world’s best golfers including Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett and Darren Clarke. To book a lesson with one of The Academy Golf Professionals, contact +971 4 417 9845 or emiratesacademy@dubaigolf.com
junior links Great to see out juniors participating in the JTS Medical junior tournament at Arabian Ranches Golf Club last month with Team Captain Yash Gupta, Vedant Pal, Oliver Locke, Kalle Williams, Annika & Jai Shivpuri! Good luck!
A Romantic Evening at Le Classique
Celebrate
Valentine’s Day
AT EMIRATES GOLF CLUB
Make it a day to remember with a five course sharing menu prepared by Chef Remi. Choose to dine indoors or enjoy the idyllic al fresco setting on the terrace with stunning views over the golf course for a memorable celebration. AED 795 per couple including a welcome cocktail, half a bottle of grape or sparkling and Valentine’s chocolates to home at the end of the night
A Royal Affair Impress your loved one with dinner at the Royal Majlis from 7pm this Valentine’s Day. Indulge in a four course set menu as the live band makes it a night to remember. AED 595 per couple including a welcome cocktail and half a bottle of grape or sparkling To make a booking at Emirates Golf Club, please contact +971 4 417 9999 or email emiratesdining@dubaigolf.com
Pro’s Tip of the Month
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any amateur golfers still believe that warming up before they play can be a bit of an inconvenience but on tour this procedure is vital and very detailed. PGA tour players will conduct a specific warmup routine that they stick to prior to every round which is, on average, about 115 shots over 50 minutes. A good practice routine has many benefits; before you play you need to get a feel for your swing and the ball and improve your strike pattern. This will enhance your confidence going onto the course. Try to use as many of the clubs you will typically use during the round. If you follow the same routine weekly this will set you up perfectly for your game and offer good time management. I have been through this structure in many of my lessons before a course playing lesson/game analysis and the results by many players have showed significant improvements in scoring. Concentrate on aspects such as balance and rhythm (80% shots); it’s too late in the day to be thinking about swing mechanics. Below is my structured routine – 73 shots over 35 mins approx. Sand wedge: 6 x ¾ swing Pitching wedge: 6 x ¾ swing 8 iron: 8 shots at specific target 5 iron: 5 shots at specific target Hybrid (no tee): 4 shots in between 20 yard targets Driver: 7 shots in between 30 yard targets (thinking of my tee shot ahead) Over to the chipping green Sand wedge: 6 high 25 yard shots 9 iron: 4 low running chips Bunker: 8 shots Putting green 5 putts from 5 feet 5 putts from 10 feet 5 putts from 10 feet moving clockwise around the hole 4 putts from 30 feet; I see many players putting from hole to hole and 15/20 feet is not the length to practise as your success rate is low yet three putts shouldn’t be an issue. Focus on holeable putts you will have to save on the course then finish with a few speed putts. Time total 35mins Off to the first tee!!
Academy
by GOLF Professional Mark Bruce
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Report by golf in DUBAi
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he Omega Dubai Desert Classic will be bursting with energy when a blockbuster field, headlined by Tiger Woods and European Tour’s top-notch heavyweights, descends on Emirates Golf Club this week to create their own slice of history at the Majlis course.
With 10 of the 12 members of the 2016 European Ryder Cup team joining Woods in the fray, including Olympics silver medallist Henrik Stenson and defending champion Danny Willett, top potential storylines are many, but none would be more compelling than Woods who will be hoping to bring back his usual incisive game as he continues his comeback from a back injury. Woods, 41, may not have won a tournament since his seven-shot victory in the Bridgestone Invitational in 2013, but the 14-time major winner gets another opportunity this week to pick up the momentum after missing the cut in his first full-field tournament in 17 months at Torrey Pines last week after a 17-month layoff. Maintaining a positive attitude, Woods insisted he would try to look at the positives and take that into Dubai. “It felt great to be back competing. I’m going to Dubai, I know the course, the greens, the putts, how it’ll play having played it in so many different conditions over the years,” Woods was quoted as saying at Torrey Pines. “It’s nice going to a course you know, like the South Course (in Torrey Pines),” said Woods, a two-time winner in Dubai. Fresh from racking up a creditable tied eighth at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, in-form Stenson will come out all guns blazing, certain to provide a gruelling challenge to the field. Should the 2016 Open champion claim the title for a second time in Dubai, he would move to the top of the list for most European Tour titles in the Middle East with five following his wins in the 2006 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, 2007 Omega Dubai Desert Classic and 2013 and 2014 DP World Tour Championships in his 50 starts in the region, highlighted by four wins and 20 top tens overall. Watched with great interest will be defending champion Willett who will be aiming to emulate Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher as the only back-to-back winner of the Major of the Middle East. A successful defence of his crown will also see Willett become the first Englishman to win the same event two times in a row since Luke Donald, who achieved the feat at the 2011-12 BMW PGA Championship. Hoping to conjure up some old magic will be Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn — Ryder Cup captains, past and present — in one of the major highlights of the field, studded with nine Major champions with 24 titles combined, four European number ones and 11 past champions.
OMEGA DUBAI DESER
With Curtis Luck, the 2016 US Amateur champion, joining young Rayhan Thomas, the winner of the MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title, the amateur division will see a keen tussle between the two rising stars. Luck, a 20-year-old Perth native, has flashed glimpses of his burgeoning talent, finishing in a tie for 49 at three under at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, highlighted by a 65 in the second round while Thomas,17, will be hoping to make the most of the massive opportunity along with fellow tour members Craig Hinton, Luke Joy and Zane Scotland, who have made it to the starting field after finishing among top three in the Order of Merit for professionals. Providing a distinct Arab flavour to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic will be the Moroccan duo Ahmed Marjan and Younes El Hassani, who have honed their skills on the MENA Golf Tour. Every good story has an engrossing subplot, and this the 28th edition of the Omega Desert Classic has many, promising an exciting finish when the players hit the final stretch on Sunday. The Omega Dubai Desert Classic is backed by OMEGA as the title sponsor and Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC as sponsor. The co-sponsors are: CNN, Drydocks World, Emirates NBD, Gulf News, JA Resorts & Hotels, Mercedes-Benz and wasl, while Dubai Duty Free, Neocasa Interiors and Motivate Publishing are the Patrons in golf in DUBAi’s drive to showcase the emirate’s vibrant golfing scene to a worldwide audience.a
RT CLASSIC 2017
’
GREENKEEPER S CUTTINGS
Greenkeepe Cuttings
r’s
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By Craig Haldane Director - Golf Course Maintenance
T
he course is looking immaculate in the run-up to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Take a bow Craig, Luke and the Golf Course Maintenance crew.
Luke Partridge going through the Pogo readings with Justin Harrison and Wayne Walker, an important aspect of how we manage the courses at Emirates Golf Club.
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AFRICAN TURF ACADEMY INTERNSHIP
r’s Greenkeepe Cuttings
Students Justin Harrison and Wayne Walker from the African Turf Academy at Silver Lakes Golf Course out with us for 2 weeks to be part of the preparation for this years Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Here to learn and try their hand at the various tasks we do and they are fitting it really well with all our colleagues!
WHAT’S ON IN FEBRUARY? Golf CalendaR • Thursday 9th February • Monday 13th February • Friday 17th February
Midcom Midnight Madness: Sofitel Ladies Monthly Medal: OMA Emirates Medal
FULL GOLFING MEMBERS ONLY • Monday 20th February Ladies Camel Trophy • Sunday 26th February Ladies Club Championship Round 1 • Monday 27th February Ladies Club Championship Round 2 Strokeplay • Friday 3rd March OMA Men’s Emirates Medal FULL GOLFING MEMBERS • Saturday 4th March
Legacy Prime Pro-Am Cup
Scramble Strokeplay Men’s Strokeplay
Stableford Strokeplay Strokeplay
Team stroke play
FULL GOLFING MEMBERS To register for an event, please visit the Members’ Zone. Should you want to modify or cancel, please contact Golf Reservations
Rules By R
hys
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RULES BY RHYS
9 Holes of Rules...
In this month’s article I will answer nine questions that will help to recap and brush up on your basic knowledge for the next time you head out to the course. What does the term “Equity” mean? Equity means to treat like situations alike. Some situations are not covered by the rules of golf, thus the decision must be made according to what is fair under the rules. Equity is NOT a substitute for the proper application of the rules. Can a player place a club on the ground to help alignment? Yes, provided the club is removed before playing the stroke. Otherwise the player is penalised two strokes. If my ball lands in a bunker can I rake it before I play my shot? Yes, provided that it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course. For example, your ball lies on the left hand side and after retrieving the rake you smooth your footprints in order to keep the bunker tidy before moving to your ball. There are no penalties providing that the smoothing does not improve: • the lie of the ball. • the area of your intended stance or swing. • your line of play for a stroke. May a player clean a ball by rubbing it on the putting green? Yes, provided the act is not for the purpose of testing the surface of the putting green. However, It is strongly recommended that a ball be cleaned in other ways to eliminate any questions as to the player’s intentions. A player’s ball is lying on the fairway and in taking a practice swing, he accidentally moves the ball. Does he incur a penalty? The player did not make a stroke, as they had no intention of making a stroke. However, the ball was in play and the player has caused the ball at rest to move. The player incurs a one stroke penalty and must replace the ball. May stakes defining a water hazard or lateral water hazard be moved? A water hazard stake is an obstruction. Therefore if such a stake is movable it may be removed without penalty. Please note that white OOB posts MUST not be removed!
Where can a player deem his ball unplayable? A player can deem his ball unplayable anywhere on the course except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable. Must a player announce that he intends to change his ball between the play of two holes? It is not required by the rules to inform anyone what type of ball he intends to play at a hole. However, such an announcement is highly recommended to avoid any possible confusion.
Can I remove sand that lies on the putting green even though my ball lies off the putting green? Sand and loose soils are loose impediments ONLY when they lie on the putting green. Provided that the sand and loose soil lie on the putting green and NOT the surround, it may be removed. If you have any rules queries that you would like to discuss over the coming weeks then please do not hesitate to ask on your next visit to the club or simply email your query to rjames@dubaigolf.com
BIRDS OF THE EMIRATES
Common Myna Photo Courtesy: Akhil Menon, golf in DUBAi
by Akhil Vinayak Menon Scientific Name: Acridotheres tristis Shot: Par 3 Hole Area Date shot: September 2016 Wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Common_myna Description:
O
ne of the most common birds of the UAE, the Common Myna, has also made Emirates Golf Club, its home. These birds belong to the starling family and are omnivorous with a strong territorial instinct similar to crows. These birds have adapted very well to urban environments and are increasing at an extremely rapid rate, so much so that, in 2000, they were declared as on the world’s
most invasive species. They are one among the three birds in the top 100 species that pose an impact on biodiversity, agriculture and human interests. In Australia, these birds have been categorised as pests as well. At Emirates Golf Club also, their pecking habits have been a problem for our greenkeepers. They are easily identified by their brown body, black hooded head and yellow patch behind the eye. Their bill and legs are also yellow in colour. The sexes appear similar and are usually seen in pairs. Their calls include croaks, squawks, chirps , clicks, whistles and ‘growls’. The birds also raise alarms when intruders or predators are in proximity. These birds usually pair for life
and nest on trees as well as on urban walls. A normal clutch size is four to six eggs with an incubation period of 17 to 18 days. They feed on insects, arachnids, crustaceans, reptiles, seeds, grains and small animals. They are also seen to forage on grass, picking up insects such as grasshoppers. This nature has given them the generic name ‘Acridotheres’ and this means ‘grasshopper hunter’. At Emirates Golf Club, it would be a surprise if you did not spot one during your round of golf. The birds are found distributed throughout the course and are seen all-year round.
Fit Lab
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Dear Members,
INSANITY CLASS
ts great to see those of you with New Year Resolutions taking it seriously and in the gym burning off those extra calories gained over the festive period.
Monday is all about Insanity with THM Fitness Dubai - TRACY MARKS! Insanity is a challenging, cardio conditioning and body strengthening class designed for people of all fitness levels. Challenge yourself and get in the best shape of your life! Get ready to unleash your inner athlete and reach your personal best because progress starts outside your comfort zone. To book your space, call 04 417 9850 or email fitlab@dubaigolf.com
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The key to this is sticking to the plan! As most of you are aware we have a fantastic team at Fit Lab to motivate and guide you through when the going gets tough; rom our fantastic Personal Trainers in Alan, Michael, Sonja and Nikky to an array of classes - Tracy’s Zumba, PIYO and Metafit classes, Michael’s Circuit and Parveez’s TRX. Classes are great ways to enhance your motivation levels and above all, help you reach your ultimate goals. Nikky Harradine, who most of you will know as she has been in Dubai for many years, is still working as hard as ever on the squash court, in the gym, bootcamps and much more that is all on offer here at Emirates Golf Club. Please see her description below: KIDS’/TEENAGERS’ FITNESS/SQUASH
PERSONAL TRAINING Our resident Fitness Professionals at Fit Lab are looking forward to welcoming you to Fit Lab this month! Book your personal training now, for extra motivation, advice to cover all fitness goals and ambitions and tips to make effective use of the equipment in order to help you meet individual goals! Call 04 417 9850 or visit to book your session now!
These involve activities and exercises that will help coordination, ball sense, agility, endurance, quick reactions, speed and all-round fitness. These activities are planned to achieve understanding of what you can do with your body, footwork, and moving around so that you have the ability to control situations and achieve things in everyday life; they will also will help you in any sport you take up, whether it be squash, tennis, golf or any physical activity. This combination, together with my squash coaching, enables youngsters to have an easier opening into squash and have fun learning a new sport. Bootcamps can be tough and intense but I always say to my clients, “You know your own body and only you know how far you can push yourself”. Everyone is different, so as long as you make the effort, you are already achieving your goal. My bootcamps are always outside unless it is raining! They involve cardio, upper body work, abdominals and leg work which is a combination of strength exercise and mobility. It can involve running, light weights but much of the time you will be using your own body weight. This is a great all-round workout using every muscle in your body if done it correctly. SQUASH COACHING Squash coaching can be a private or an individual lesson, or you can have a semi-private lesson with your partner, friend or family member. This involves learning the technique, positioning, timing, co-ordination and footwork and it further involves understanding the game of squash, tactics, rules and regulations as well as experiencing game situations. This is a sport in which you can have intense physical training in a short period of time and come off the court feeling that you have used every muscle in your body. What is so great about squash is that you can still play it come sand storm, rain, heat or snow and you can beat it every time. So come and give it a try and you will be hooked. Coaching is available for everyone, juniors to seniors, from beginners to advanced standard at any time to suit you seven days a week. Healthy Regards, Andy Meech Head of Sports & Leisure
ZUMBA Shrink everything but your smile. Let the music free your body with Zumba at Fit Lab every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday morning! The ultimate dance-fitness party will groove you into shape. Call 04 417 9850, email fitlab@dubaigolf.com CIRCUIT TRAINING Fit Lab offers one of the best training methods to develop muscular endurance, strength and cardiovascular fitness all in one session. Circuit training is ideal for individuals looking to lose weight, tone up or gain fitness for sport or general health and is a combination of bodyweight exercise and various training tools such as TRX, kettlebells and battling ropes. From general health focused individuals to elite athletes, this class has something for everyone! Call 04 417 9850
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COLLEAGUE
IN FOCUS
EXERCISE TIP OF THE MONTH
Mel is our Recreation Coordinator and has been with us for six months. He is from Quezon City in the Philippines where he studied Hotel & Restaurant Management but he fell in love with the Health & Fitness Industry. What do you like about working at Dubai Golf? I feel at home already with Dubai Golf and I really enjoy working with my colleagues and looking after the members.
FRONT SQUAT
BY MICHAEL LANCESTER The front squat is an excellent variation of the squat. As the weight is loaded on the front, it works the balance of the core muscles differently than the more popular back squat, and also has transference into Olympic lifting style movements such as clean and press. Place your feet shoulder width apart, toes slightly pointing out. Hands should be placed on the bar just outside of shoulder width, with
What are your hobbies? I enjoy working out regularly in the gym and playing basketball. What do you like about Dubai? I already feel very comfortable in Dubai and I love how Dubai Golf looks after and makes colleagues feel that they are part of the family and that is the same in every department looking after its team What do you miss the most from home? I obviously miss my family the most… and my Mum’s cooking!!
a loose grip just resting on the fingers. Elbows are high to allow the bar to rest comfortably across the shoulders. Descend into the squat bringing the hips back and down to 90 degrees or just below, keeping the knees back and in line with the toes. Maintain a straight back, and keep pressure through the heels. With this movement, start light and get used to the feeling on your wrists and shoulders. Try adding it into your leg routine with a simple 4 sets of 10.
Fit Lab
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el Espinosa is this month’s colleague in focus. He is 36 years of age and is married to his wonderful wife Jewel and they have a gorgeous daughter.
s t e p p i n S e l 19th Ho
Great to see the first golfers of 2017 on the Majlis course on January 1st - President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and partner Ivan Michailovich Egorov playing with Senior Professional Alastair Brown!
Jacqui Barry was playing golf at De Zalze Golf Club in the Stellenbosch area of South Africa last month and, whilst on the 9th green, she looked over to the putting green and saw someone who looked identical to Mimi Hosking (Mimi did a double-take also!) What a coincidence that the two were there at the same time!!!
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Senior European Tour Professional, Des Smyth tested out the new Trump course in Dubai with Past Captain Tom Barry, Past Captain Colm McLoughlin and his son Niall. “Very impressive� was the reaction!
Emirates Golf Club welcomed members from Mission Hills Golf Club last month who thoroughly enjoyed playing here.
Defending champion Danny Willett visits the Agronomy Team responsible for the course and to thank them all for their hard work throughout the year!
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Congratulations to Craig Haldane on the Ironman 70.3 challenge last week in Dubai, This was the Half Ironman - a long distance triathlon race The 70.3 refers to the total distance in miles covered in the race, consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. Each distance of the swim, bike, and run segments is half the distance of that segment in an Ironman Triathlon which will be Craig’s next big challenge in South Africa in two months’ time. Good luck Craig and well done!
The views from the Dallahdrome at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic - a great addition to the spectators’ areas 2nd
9TH JANUARY Congratulations to team Party Fears who won Quiz Night on 9th January followed by teams Happy Hookers and Where’s Matt!
2ND JANUARY Congratulations to the Christmas Cakes team who were winners of the Spike Bar Quiz Night on 2nd January, followed closely by teams Quizimodo and Lynch Mob winning AED 300 vouchers.
Congratulations to Tej Chabra on his hole in one on the Faldo 12th on 19th January Good to see Lynne & Andy Whitelaw in town last month. They were passing through on their way to New Zealand from Spain where they are currently living.
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The Bellam y Brothers in concert at Emirates G olf Club last month
LADIES THAT
BRUNCH!
+971 4 417 9999 emiratesdining@dubaigolf.com www.dubaigolf.com