Club life june 2013

Editor: Jacqui Barry egc@dubaigolf.com

NE 2013

ISSUE 32 JU

Captain’s Day 2013

M

Emirates Golf Club Senior Management

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t’s been another very busy month but we are heading into summer and the end of our season as members start departing for slightly cooler climates and some chill-out time.

Club Captain Moshe Kohli held his Captain’s Day on 3rd May which was open to men and ladies and what a superb day it was, with on-course food and beverages and entertainment, followed by a wonderful dinner in M’s and on the terrace there. Moshe, thank you for all your efforts and enthusiasm this season and thanks for an excellent Captain’s Day, a difficult one to follow!

As we are nearing the end of our season, please try to adhere to the cart rule by not taking carts into restricted areas and not driving them in the sand and close to the greens. The photos below show a recent mishap – so easy to do if you are driving in places you shouldn’t be…save any embarrassment by keeping to the designated areas!!

Christopher May

Andrew Whitelaw

Chief Executive Officer cmay@dubaigolf.com

Barney Coleman

Golf Services Manager bcoleman@dubaigolf.com

Club Manager awhitelaw@dubaigolf.com

Chef Max Grenard

Andy Meech

Culinary Director mgrenard@dubaigolf.com

Head of Sport and Leisure ameech@dubaigolf.com

The staff party was, as usual, full of bonhomie and the performances were excellent. The fancy dress was really interesting with Greek and Roman gods and goddesses parading in all their finery. The setup was done very well with the staff’s own private discotheque ‘Amnesia’. Justin Bieber mania was noticed in the Club recently as there was a rumour that he was coming to play golf, so for all the stalkers, a little disappointment when only his security team came and played.

Enjoy the rest of the season!

Jacqui Barry

Julian Danby

Senior Manager - Commercial & Business Development jdanby@dubaigolf.com

Kate Adams

Membership Manager kphillips@dubaigolf.com

Adele Cowgill

Craig Haldane

Marketing & Director - Golf Course Communications Manager Maintenance acowgill@dubaigolf.com chaldane@dubaigolf.com

Ganesh Mangathil

In House Publishing Manager gmangathil@dubaigolf.com

The Black Tee Challenge, Patrons’ Day, and finally the Tournament of Champions were three big tournaments and I must congratulate all the worthy winners. Thank you to all the sponsors for your support in making these days really enjoyable and for your generous contributions. I must congratulate those who represented the Club in the Clash of the Titans against Dubai Creek, and thank you for winning on their turf and bringing the trophy home - the first time that a visiting team has won. Well done Emirates. The Scratch League players Johnny, Charlie, Trevor, Ewan, Ed, Tony, Ian, Dave, Marcus, Rohit, Raashid, Paul, Inaan, Ross and Pontus really did the Club proud. They may have lost in the play-off in the finals, but they kept Emirates Golf Club right on top throughout the season.

Keith Wilkes

Retail Manager kwilkes@dubaigolf.com

We have had exceptional weather this season and the golfing gods have been kind. We now get into ‘Jolly June’ when the school seasons are coming to an end, the summer golf calendar comes into play, summer vacation planning is on and the good times away from here are being planned. We have the Staff v Members Scramble followed by the end-of-season Scramble in the middle of June. May I request that you all participate and truly finish this season on a jolly high.

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ay was an action-packed month of mayhem with the intensity building up from Captain’s Day on 3rd May. Words are not enough to thank the 232 members who turned out to play and over 300 who attended the dinner. For me, it was so moving to witness the support of my friends wearing saffron coloured shirts, symbolising the colour of India. I wore a maroon shirt which was the same as the one worn by Ummer and his team on that day. Nina’s balloons of saffron, white and green were really endearing and Yana and Maggie, in the splendour of their regal sarees, were truly majestic.

Chef Sri outdid himself in setting up an outstanding Indian menu. Big thanks must go to Barney and his team and to Steen and Andre for the on-course arrangements which were enjoyed by all. The Sitar recital accompanied by Tabla was greatly appreciated and then Pete joined in for jugal bandi (fusion) on the guitar and it was melody at its very best. I must thank the Indian Consul General, HE Mr Sanjay Verma, who, despite having three other official commitments on that day, came to grace the prize presentation. It was a truly memorable day for me as it is perhaps the highlight of my term in office. Thank you very much friends. Andrew, that restaurant naming was very special and real class. I am as touched as can be.

Captains Co

Editorial

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I recently visited the Royal Springs Golf Club in Srinagar, Kashmir Valley and had the pleasure of meeting HE Dr Farooq Abdulah, Union Cabinet Minster Government of India, erstwhile Chief Minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and the father of the current Chief Minister. This is an absolutely stunning golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. II and is one of his best creations on the shores of the Dal Lake and in the midst of the Kashmir Valley. It is the personal li with Moshe Koh creation of Dr Abdullah and I Abdullah, Dr Farooq E H r, could see the pride in his eyes, et in Ministe Union Cab le when he drove me around the dia, erstwhi In of t ov G ter of the golf course. It is truly a creation of Chief Minis mmu and one man’s pursuit of a dream and Ja of e at St and the ir, the passion reflected in the great hm as K e present th of man’s eyes when he showed me er fath inister M ef hi every little stream and the cherry, C almond, plum, apple and apricot trees that lined this majestic course. The link is http:// royalspringsgolfcourse.golfgaga.com/, I would definitely like to bring my friends from our Club to this heaven on earth, as Kashmir is often described.

I have one more message to write next month and then it’s time up! I just must thank Ed J (Editor, Jacqui Barry) for the patience and passion with which she puts together this magazine. I am writing this from Kashmir where the weather is lovely and while I am sitting by the river watching birds fluttering and hoping that the internet connection works when I return to the hotel.

Moshe Kohli Captain 2012-2013

MEN’S COMPETITION RESULTS Steen Simon

Food and Beverage Manager ssimon@dubaigolf.com

Chef Benoit Cart

Executive Sous Chef bcart@dubaigolf.com

Saeed Ahamed

Financial Controller mahamed@dubaigolf.com

EGC Key Telephone Numbers Main Switchboard 04 Members Golf Reservations 04 Membership 04 Recreation 04 Accounts 04 SensAsia Urban Spa 04

www.dubaigolf.com

417 417 417 417 417 417

Stephen Deane

Head Academy Professional sdeane@dubaigolf.com

Haridas Palliyalil

Resident Engineer hpalliyalil@dubaigolf.com

9999 9800 9801 9850 9875 9820

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Captain’s Day Friday 3rd May 2013 TEAM PRIZES: GROUP A: MAJLIS F9 & FALDO F9 WINNERS Gerard Kehoe, Selma Kehoe,

David Richardson, Jenny Richardson 113 RUNNERS UP Vikram Arora, Anand Kapoor,

Anvita Kapoor, Akash Kumar 114 THIRD Maura Duggan, Frank Duggan,

Paul Byrne, Saeed Fahim 115 TEAM PRIZES: GROUP B: MAJLIS B9 & FALDO B9 WINNERS Trevor Hardwick, Robert Curtis,

Janet Curtis, Andrew Robinson 116 RUNNERS UP Anand Lakhiani, Nelly Amarnai,

Ishu Rupani, Jamshed Batliwala 118 THIRD Mike Pearce, Lesley Pearce,

Kevin Thorp, Elizabeth Thorp 118 CAPTAIN’S DRIVE (224) Gurmukh Ghuldu 230 Yards Longest Drive - Trackman on Range Winner Chris Turlik 270 Yards LONGEST DRIVE – FOR PAST CAPTAINS HOLE # 10 (MAJLIS ) Jenny Ayres HOLE # 3 (FALDO) Mike Tracey

Moshe Kohli, Andrew Robinson, His Excellency Mr Sanjay Verma, Consul General of India, Janet Curtis and Bob Curtis

HOLE PRIZES: GROUP A NEAREST THE PIN HOLE NEAREST THE PIN HOLE NEAREST THE PIN HOLE NEAREST THE PIN HOLE HOLE PRIZES: GROUP B NEAREST THE PIN HOLE NEAREST THE PIN HOLE NEAREST THE PIN HOLE NEAREST THE PIN HOLE

# # # #

4 (MAJLIS ) 7 (MAJLIS ) 2 (FALDO ) 8 (FALDO )

Vikram Pradhan Husam Al-Sayed David Richardson Mahabir Singhal

# # # #

11 (MAJLIS ) 15 (MAJLIS ) 12 (FALDO ) 17 (FALDO )

Kish Bandopadhyay Ian Scott Veneet Mohan Bill Wong

www.dubaigolf.com

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Champion Chris Cornwall with Muhammad Afifi – Store Manager, Thomas Pink, The Dubai Mall

BLACK TEE CHALLENGE 10th and 11th May 2013 Sponsored by

CHAMPION Chris Cornwall (EGF) RUNNER-UP Rayhan Thomas (DCGYC) THIRD Ricky Dominguez (SG&SC) FOURTH Andrew Moffat (EGC) OVERALL NET PRIZES OVER 36 HOLES FIRST NET Ishpal Bajaj (DCGYC) SECOND NET Abizher Mohamed (TEC) THIRD NET Ed Hesson (EGC) GROSS DAILY BEST GROSS Day 1 Ahmed Al Musharrekh (EGF) BEST GROSS Day 2 Tim Evans (EGF) NET DAILY BEST NET D-1 Rattan Sehra (EGF) BEST NET D-2 Aaron Loats (EGC)

73 + 74 = 147 79 + 73 = 152 81 + 73 = 154 78 + 77 = 155 70 + 69 = 139 71 + 74 = 145 72 + 75 = 147

74 76 73 (BB9) 70

Moshe Kohli (Club Captain), Nishith Patel and Caetano Fernandes (Head of Mashreq Gold)

70 70 72 71 69 69 70 70

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS Friday 24th May 2013 CHAMPION RUNNER UP THIRD BEST GROSS

Nishith Patel Ed Hesson Jignesh Sangani Ewan Cameron

Net 69 Net 69 Net 70 Gross 71

Men’s Medal Friday 17th May 2013 A DIVISION (HCP. 0-10) WINNER Tim Evans RUNNER - UP Tony Azoulay THIRD Inaan Budhiraja BEST GROSS Inaan Budhiraja B DIVISION (HCP. 11-20) WINNER Haris Michaelides RUNNER - UP Iain Everingham THIRD Anand Lakhiani C DIVISION (HCP. 21-34) WINNER Gautam Vir

From the Pink Ball Breast Cancer Charity Day in October, to my Charity Day in aid of Amar Forever in March, the ladies at Emirates Golf Club have not disappointed. Without a doubt, these events have given me the opportunity to raise funds for the most deserving charities, but mainly they have reminded us all how lucky we are! Amarjeet Radia and I made a visit to Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs this month to present a cheque from our Charity Day and we were delighted to be given a tour of their inspirational facilities in Al Barsha. They really are making a huge effort to improve disadvantaged children’s lives here in Dubai and it was a pleasure to meet many of the children, teachers and helpers who strive on a daily basis to make a difference. Fantastic! Our small donation, which was gratefully received, will certainly add to their efforts.

Medal sponsored by BMW & Harvey Nichols – Dubai Friday 24th May 2013 A DIVISION (HCP. 0-10) WINNER Ewan Cameron RUNNER - UP Jignesh Sangani THIRD Marcus Wallman BEST GROSS Ewan Cameron B DIVISION (HCP. 11-20) WINNER Nishith Patel RUNNER - UP Ed Hesson THIRD David Ellis C DIVISION (HCP. 21-34) WINNER Jan Hooftman

70 70 72 72 65 69 69 71

Haris Michaelides with Parag Tikekar (Mashreq Gold)

A

s I come to the end of my active Captaincy, I have been reflecting on what has been an incredibly fulfilling year.

Moshe’s Captain’s Day lived up to expectations and a record breaking field of 232 members on both courses, enjoyed what can only be described as a ‘day to remember’. What a great idea to have us play nine holes of both the Majlis and the Faldo, really mixing things up, and, together with Moshe’s famous generosity, it culminated in a lot of comaraderie and celebrations at the prize presentation dinner. What a day…and a fitting tribute to Moshe’s dedication and loyalty to Emirates Golf Club and its members. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Moshe and I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks for all his support, but mainly for all the fun.........thank you Captain!

The May tournaments have continued at full speed with the Past Captain’s Trophy, May Medal and Tournament of Champions all providing us with tough competition.

Congratulations to all of the May winners! Special mention must go to Jenny Ayres, who has continued her winning streak after winning the Mixed Matchplay with Trevor Varri, by winning the Past Captain’s Trophy and the Tournament of Champions…what an end to a very successful season and a true ‘purple patch’. Well done!

Carolyn Thompson triumphed in the Singles Matchplay, defeating Naema Maya in the final to claim the trophy and a stunning Omega watch from our Matchplay sponsors Rivoli Group; this has been a great season for Carolyn too, well done!

Viv Caley has certainly been one of our steadiest players this season and, with great success in most of our Monthly medals, she was awarded the ‘Lady Golfer of the Year’ trophies for gross and net. Congratulations.

Club News

Club News

The Curtisy Cup, between Europe and Rest of the World, again didn’t disappoint, and on a typically hot May day in Dubai, we battled for the trophy on our resplendent Majlis course. After the morning Greensomes, everything was all square, so it meant that it would be the afternoon betterball matchplays that would decide the eventual winners. It really was one of the closest Curtisy Cups that I can remember with Europe clinching the trophy in the very last match. Well done to both Captains, Carolyn Thompson and Hiromi Ohashi for guiding us all through this year’s event and continuing the tradition and spirit that makes this tournament so popular. Celebrations continued into the night with both teams toasting Europe’s success!

Only one more tournament in our Ladies’ season remains - the End-of-Season Scramble on 3rd June I look forward to seeing you all there to finish off what has been for me as Lady Captain, a hugely enriching, and memorable year!

Before I sign off, I would like to thank my Vice-Captain Barbara Head, for her outstanding loyalty, commitment, encouragement, dedication and humour, and I wish her great success next year in her Captaincy which I am sure will be a lot of fun!

As I slide into my ‘retirement;, I would like to wish you all an enjoyable summer break, and look forward to seeing you all next season from the sidelines!

All the Best, Glynis Hendry Lady Captain 2012-2013

LADIES’ COMPETITION RESULTS MONTHLY MEDAL Monday 13th May 2013

Commiserations to our EGC Scratch team who got through to the final against The Montgomerie and, after the home and away matches, the score was 4 - 4 resulting in a sudden-death play-off which EGC unfortunately lost. Well done to all team players for the great results throughout the season and for reaching the final.

Past Lady Captains

Glynis Hendry leads her team to victory in the match between Lady Captain’s team and Lady Vice-Captain’s team Lady Captain, Glynis Hendry, and her playing partner Lynne Whitelaw, secured a good 2 up win over incoming Lady Vice-Captain Mitsuko Emmerson and Janet Curtis to lead her team to an overall 10 to 3 victory in this popular annual match.

Top scoring partners for the Lady Captain’s team were Maura Duggan and Jacqui Barry with a superb 5 and 4 victory over the pair of Najla Bartette and Naema Maya.

For the Lady Vice Captain’s team, it was the pair of Noemy Bertuol and Selma Kehoe who scored the top win for their team with a 5 and 4 victory over the pair of Lynne Dickinson and Nina Larm.

www.dubaigolf.com

LADIES STABLEFORD AND PAST LADY CAPTAIN’S TROPHY Monday 6th May 2013 PAST CAPTAIN’S TROPHY Best Past Lady Captain Jenny Ayres STABLEFORD COMPETITIONS Overall Winner Evelyn Sword SILVER DIVISION (HCP. 0 – 23) Winner Han Soon Shin Runner Up Carolyn Thompson BRONZE DIVISION (HCP. 24 –42) Winner G. A. Cho Runner Up Sue Hopwood

SILVER “A” DIVISION (HCP. 0 – 14) Winner Jenny Ayres Runner Up Mitsuko Emmerson Overall Best Gross Mitsuko Emmerson SILVER “B” DIVISION (HCP. 15 –23) Winner Mego Han Runner Up S L Rim BRONZE DIVISION (HCP. 24 –42) Winner Josie Tracey

Net 71 Net 71 Gross 81 Net 68 Net 71 Net 67

35 Pts 42 Pts 39 Pts 35 Pts 38 Pts 37 Pts

Jenny Ayres collecting her prize from Lady Captain Glynis Hendry and Academy Professional Mark Bruce.

www.dubaigolf.com

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Jenny Ayres receiving her prize from Glynis Hendry

CHAMPION Jenny Ayres RUNNER UP Rosemary Turlik THIRD Maria Petre BEST GROSS: Rosemary Turlk LADY GOLFER OF THE YEAR Viv Caley STABLEFORD COMPETITION WINNER SILVER DIV.: Lynne Dickinson WINNER BRONZE DIV.: Maureen Platt

Net 67 Net 69 Net 70 79

37 Pts 38 Pts

MIXED COMPETITION RESULTS

CLASH OF THE TITANS

T

he bi-annual Dubai Golf event, The Clash of the Titans, took place on May 16th at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. The event is a contest between Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and Emirates Golf Club with each team being made up of the Club’s golf professionals and Club members. This year was the turn of Dubai Creek to play host and there was all to play for with the standings tied at 2-2 from the previous four events.

The format for the event is Pairs Betterball Stableford with one professional from

either club playing among each four ball.

As ever, the Creek course was in great condition, and this set the stage for some good scoring and fun competition.

Some fantastic golf was played and the scores at the end of the day reflected

this. EGC scored an overall winning total of 380 points to the 355 points made by DCGYC. This EGC victory was the first time in the history of the event that a team had won away from their home club.

Golf, Alan DCGYC Director of ndry and MacKenzie, Glynis He C Captain) George Horan (DCGY

The next event is to be held at Emirates Golf Club in December and the DCGYC team will be looking to replicate the away success displayed by their counterparts this time around.

Dubai Creek team in green shirts, Emirates team in grey shirts

Omega Emirates Matchplay Championships

T

he finals of the Omega Emirates Matchplay Championships concluded last week with the winners of the Singles and Mixed Matchplay each receiving a fabulous watch from sponsors Omega.

The Omega Men’s Singles matchplay final was the most keenly contested of all. Scratch team regular Ewan Cameron took on Kevin Roy and it was Cameron who needed to rely on all his Matchplay experience to defeat the in-form Roy by one hole.

The Omega Ladies’ Singles final saw Carolyn Thompson take on Naema Maya. Both players were off the same handicap so in effect it was a scratch matchplay final over the famous Majlis course. Thompson, who has performed well under pressure in recent

mixed open events, came out the victor by a 2-hole margin over the consistent Maya.

The Omega Mixed Foursomes Matchplay saw 64 members sign up at the start of the season and the top two pairs were Trevor Varri and Jenny Ayres and Paul Byrne and Maura Duggan.

Varri and Ayres, fresh from a superb victory in the Hankook Greensomes Championship, were too strong on the day and claimed a 5 and 3 victory.

Omega continued their support of events at Emirates Golf Club following a successful Omega Emirates Amateur Open back in February. Omega Vice President and International Sales Director, Mr. Raynald Aeschlimann,

Men’s Fourba ll Matchplay Champions Tony Hutchins on and Bob Curti

Golfer of the Year, net and gross, Viv Caley

s

Club News

Club News

Tournament of Champions Monday 20th May 201313

commented; “Having been title sponsors for the Omega Dubai Ladies’ Masters, Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Omega Emirates Amateur Open it is befitting for us to now be supporting some of the prestigious Matchplay events that are contested for over the season by the members of Emirates Golf Club.”

The Men’s Fourball Matchplay final saw Tony Hutchinson and Bob Curtis defeat Charlie Stricklin and Mathys Oberholster 5 & 4. Hutchinson and Curtis have formed a strong partnership in this format having won the title two years previously.

Lorraine Logan & Chris Dyball defeated Ashley Anderson and Jenny Isles 7 & 6 in the Ladies’ Fourball Matchplay.

Ladies’ Fourball Matchplay winners, Lorraine Logan and Chris Dyball

dies’ OMEGA La play ch at M s le g Sin n Champio pson m o Th n ly Caro

Mashreq Bank wins the CEO Clubs Golf Tournament

C

EO Clubs Network Worldwide, one of the world’s largest business networking clubs held a ‘CEO Clubs Golf Tournament 2013’ for its members in Dubai recently.

The Mashreq Bank team were crowned champions of the 2013 event, by winning a closely contested

tournament on the Majlis course, with Emirates NBD in the runners-up spot and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce taking third place. Sponsored by Cadillac, Emirates NBD, Emirates Airline, Royal Falcon Fleet and Grand Midwest, this year’s event proved very popular with more than 20 member companies’ teams taking part.

Trophies were presented to the winners in a ceremony which was attended by local and international members of CEO Clubs including VIPs. CEO Clubs Network Founder and CEO Dr. Tariq Ahmed Nizami congratulated all the winners of this year’s tournament, as well as announcing that the 2014 Golf Tournament will return to Dubai next year.

OMEGA Mixed Foursomes Matchplay Champions Trevor Varri and Jenny Ayres

OMEGA Men’s Singles Matchplay Champion Ewan Cameron

Academy Summer Packages Make the most of your practice time this summer with The Academy’s Summer Packages. Our experienced team of Golf Professionals are on hand to not only help perfect your swing, but also look at key areas of your game including custom fitting and physical conditioning.

Choose from individual 30 minute lessons for AED 200 per member or a host of packages, including the special Members Package for AED 2,000, which includes 8 x 30 minute lessons, a 9 hole playing lesson and Trackman session.

Call 04 417 9845 or email emiratesacademy@dubaigolf.com

www.dubaigolf.com

www.dubaigolf.com

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By

S

Hi, my name is Keir Welsh and I’m 13 years old. I attend The English College and other than golf, I play football and rugby.

I started golf when I came to Dubai six years ago but it wasn’t my favourite sport and I didn’t really play much apart from a 30-minute lesson once a week at the Montgomerie. I had been playing for about a year and then my dad joined Emirates Golf Club so I carried on my lessons there but I still only played once a week and that was during my lessons.

After a few years of not playing golf, towards the end of 2011, I decided to start again. I still had the same weekly lessons but instead of that being my only playing time, I tried to go to the range or even practise at home. I carried on the group lessons for about a year and a half and after losing on the Par 3 to my Dad regularly, I then decided to move on to individual lessons.

Since having lessons with Stephen Deane, I feel I have improved a lot in a very short period of time and I am also really enjoying playing golf now. Stephen has helped me so much by changing many different aspects of my swing, grip and posture; when I was being taught them I felt they were only minor tweaks but they actually significantly improved my game.

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Pro’s Tip of the Month

Don’t Drag The Grip!

Why hands ahead is killing your short game.

which actually makes it harder to catch the ball flush.

Most golfers have been taught to chip by pushing their hands ahead of the ball at address, then dragging the handle through impact with the hands leading the club head. The thinking is that this creates a downward strike for solid contact but trying to keep the hands ahead often causes the left arm to pull the butt end of the club away from centre,

The best chippers make a small pivot or body turn toward the target as they swing through. This helps keep the arms and body moving in sync. To groove this, try my tee drill: stick a tee in the butt end of the grip, set up with the tee pointing just forward of your belly button, and keep it pointing at that spot throughout the swing. Play

Incorrect, hands no body

Turn of body maintaining triangle

the ball slightly back in your stance, and put more weight on your left side. As you swing, retain the triangle formed by your arms and shoulders.

Club News

en Dean ph te

Club News

JUNIOR LINKS

The tee in the grip should stay close to your body and move to the left as you turn through the shot and it should stay pointed at the spot where it started. That proves your arms and body are in sync, and your chipping is sure to improve.

I have had a little bit of experience on the full 18-hole course but I would really like to start playing a lot more regularly and work on getting my first handicap by the end of year.

Tee in butt of the club pointing at start point

Rules clinic and comments Barney Coleman recently held a Rules evening for members which was very well received. He will be running more of these next season and dates will be published in Club Life in the near future.

I attended Barney’s Rules evening last Wednesday. It was very informative, fun and an enjoyable night. Barney has so much experience and it was terrific he took the time to share it with the members. I hope that we will have more of these events in

CURTISY CUP 2013

the future.

- Lisa Cadiz Just a quick note to say that I thought the Rules night was a great event and deserves a mention in the magazine. Barney did a great job and it was clear from the discussions that were had during the evening that many more of the members would benefit from a refresher on some of the rules should the Club decide to run it again in future.

- Andrew Baxter Just a quick word about the Rules evening presented by Barney last week. It was a very useful and enjoyable evening, dealing with many of the more common errors we all seem to make, and I think we should encourage more such evenings to widen the knowledge base amongst the membership and hopefully lessen the on-course debates that are all too familiar!

- Kish Bandopadhyay Just a short note to thank Barney for the Rules evening last week. I thought the presentation style and the content was super and the points raised were all very relevant. I would be keen to attend any future evening especially if they go into further examination of the other rules of golf.

- Andy Robinson Many thanks to Barney for holding this Rules evening. It was very useful and appreciated by everyone I have spoken to who attended. It was a great idea to have so many historical video clips and a quiz which gave a fun side to the evening as well. As always, there were a few members who were keen to debate some of their more obscure experiences and obtain the correct ruling. All brilliantly handled by Barney I might add!

- Fiona Munro

www.dubaigolf.com

T

he Curtisy Cup is now in its 26th year, the first one having been played in May 1991 which was an unofficial one at that time, (not a Club organised event) started by Jacqui Barry and named Curtis Cup Match which is contested every two years by teams of female amateurs representing the United States and Great Britain & Ireland. In 1992 it was taken on as an official Club tournament and eligibility for the team is on Golfer of the Year points accrued through playing Medal

rounds. This event has gone from strength to strength and ladies try hard to accumulate points throughout the season to get into their respective teams of Team Europe and Team Rest of the World. This year’s Captains were Carolyn Thompson (Europe) and Hiromi Ohashi (Rest of the World) and, though not an easy task, both did a superb job of organising their teams. It was a very closely fought affair this year which came down to the very last match and the very last putt to give Europe a close

victory of 8 ½ to 7 ½. There were some very close matches but well done to Jenny Isles (ROW) in her match for securing a win on the 18th with her crucial putt and to Maureen Platt who slotted in a pressure putt for a win for Europe on the final hole.

What a great event and long may it continue.

Congratulations to all players who qualified and to the winning team!

www.dubaigolf.com

How to get club membership in five holes

1 Help me! Help me... I was abducted by aliens the other night as weird as that sounds! Don’t have much time, they’re coming back.

Who knows where they are taking me?

A true story

by Pavel Foubik

T

he question was the same as always: For someone who plays his home course, Emirates Golf Club, every day I asked my regular golfing partner Rudi, “Which course are we going to play today my friend?” I didn’t want to play the Majlis for the twentieth time in a row.

My second question was, “Which golf course have you never played in Dubai?”

2 I was able to take a photo of the Aliens... do you know them?

This turned out to be Al Badia so, with a tee time booked, Paul, (also an Emirates member), Rudolf and I went to see how we would fare on this beautiful golf course.

3

These abductors are not so bad. Amazing disguises eh? They look like Europeans. We got upgraded on the flight too!!

6 5

Once they finally realised and went back to get me, they then dragged me to a rodeo, then baseball game and the waterpark. I’m a little dented but nothing toooo serious!

Okay as you can see from the picture my abductors decided to go camping.

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AN AMUSING STORY

The Talker Cup trophy (Europe v N. America) mysteriously disappeared at the evening celebrations last month. A series of photos and captions then followed, written and sent by ‘The Talker Cup’ They were too good not to share!!

4

We are in Houston now and then heading to Arizona. The week was a little awkward though; first of all they left me in the airport.

It was very nice to visit one of their friends in Arizona... a Mr. Mike Gerbich!

Now there were some great laughs.

Everything started as usual that daypractice driving, putting, say hello to the starter, first tee drive, first tee mulligan drive, three putts – a normal day on the golf course, except it wasn’t going to be!

So, a little later we got to hole no 4 near the refreshment hut when I said to Rudolf, “This hole is an extraordinarily difficult par 5. It is very difficult even for Pros to reach the green with their third shot. Look Rudolf, you are not the youngest man and maybe the green is so far away for you that you cannot even see it. You know, if you reach it with your 4th shot, I will reward you with a membership at Emirates Golf Club. This is my challenge for you today on this hole.” So, this is how it all started.

Rudolf enjoyed a double hot dog and a drink (117 AED – maybe Emirates is not so

expensive after all!). After this he banged a 250-yard drive over the water to the middle of the fairway.

He was concentrating so hard that he would not even speak to me. Calmly he hit his second shot with his 5-wood to a distance of…. 50 yards and the ball fortunately stopped a few inches before the water hazard. Since it was GUR, Rudolf dropped his ball back and hit his next shot 195 yards to the middle of the fairway.

When we stood there together after his third shot, which was now a distance of 165 yards from the front of the green, I told him, “Now I would not like to be in your shoes my friend.”

Rudolf’s 5-iron shot landed pin high on the green so this was to cost me a lot of money but it could not have been better spent and it made me very happy!

Club News

The Talker Cup Trophy

While leaving the 4th green I phoned EGC to speak to the Membership Department and, even though it was Saturday 16:10, Lanie Amora was there. I explained the situation to her and asked her for a quick application for our prospective new Club member.

Fortunately, I had Rudolf’s passport and a visa copy in my iPhone and Paul and I were able to propose and second him; I was able to forward all of this to Lanie… after some good drives by all of us to the 5th fairway!.

By hole 6, Lanie replied that she had received all the documents except for Rudolf’s photo so, despite his protests I took a photo of Rudolf.

Hole number 7 and the invoice for the membership came through!

It was just the authorisation and the payment through my credit card that needed to be done and that was it.

Well I had to miss this hole altogether to finish off the ‘paperwork’.

Hole number 8 and Lanie confirmed payment and registration.

After our 220 yard drives on hole number 9 I received an email from Emirates Golf Club confirming our new member - Rudolf Liska.

Just five holes to become a member of the Club!

Welcome to Emirates Golf Club Rudolf!

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8 What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

Meet The Golf Course Maintenance Team

Craig Haldane, Director - Golf Course Maintenance (R), Luke Partridge, Assistant Golf Course Superintendant (L) and the Golf Course Maintenance Team.

15

The Rules Wizard

Statement from Tournament Headquarters At the Masters, Augusta, the Rules Committee was made aware of a possible Rules violation that involved a drop by Tiger Woods at the 15th hole.

In preparation for his fifth shot, the player dropped his ball in close proximity to where he had played his third shot in apparent conformance with Rule 26. After being prompted by a television viewer, the Rules Committee reviewed a video of the shot while he was playing the 18th hole. At that moment and based on that evidence, the Committee determined he had complied with the Rules.

Club News

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EIGHT EGC MEMBERS ON A GOLF TOUR IN SCOTLAND

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After he signed his scorecard, and in a television interview subsequent to the round, the player stated that he played further from the point than where he had played his third shot. Such action would constitute playing from the wrong place.

The subsequent information provided by the player’s interview after he had completed play warranted further review and discussion with him. After meeting with the player, it was determined that he had violated Rule 26, and he was assessed a two-stroke penalty. The penalty of disqualification was waived by the Committee under Rule 33 as the Committee had previously reviewed the information and made its initial determination prior to the finish of the player’s round.

Fred Ridley Chairman, Competition Committees l-r: Roy Pirie. Drummond Welsh, Bryan Wilson, Mike Tracey

written by Alan Main

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l-r: Alan Main, Dick Purchase, Tony Hutchinson, Johnny Aldridge

find that one of the junior champions way back in the 80s was none other than young Master A. Whitelaw!

From the 7th tee it was possible to look over to Muirfield and see that the stands were already up for this year’s Open. Kingsbarns was by far the most visually appealing course although it was run a close second by the Kings at Gleneagles, both a great test of golf too. The Ryder Cup track on the PGA Centenary course at Gleneagles was a little disappointing as a long, wet winter meant little growth and poor drainage had left the course in poorer than average condition.

his month a hardy group of Club members set off from Dubai to tour some of the classic courses of Eastern Scotland. An ambitious seven-day schedule was booked taking in Gullane No. 1 (Open Championship Qualifier), Carnoustie (Open Championship venue), North Berwick (Open Championship in, Tony Hutchinson Qualifier), Kingsbarns na McRae, Alan Ma l-r: Mike Tracey, Sho (European Tour venue), St Andrews Old Course (Open superlatives Championship venue), from the tour party and nearly all of them Gleneagles PGA Centenary (Ryder Cup Without doubt, the round of the week was were complimentry! To play North Berwick venue) and Gleneagles Kings Course Johnny Aldridge’s sparkling 72 on the Old West Links where golf has been played (European Tour venue). The group flew in Course at St. Andrews. At one point in for over 400 years was special, add in together on the 10th May morning flight the round he was five under par but the the spectacular views of the Bass Rock in from Dubai to Glasgow to be greeted by infamous closing holes ate into that and bright sunshine one minute then sheltering single-digit temperatures, gusting wind and issued a stern warning from the ‘Home of under a bush when the sky turned black rain showers, not quite what they are used Golf’ that it’s never over ‘till it’s over. The with squalls the next and it is quite a to at EGC! rest of the group just stood back in awe. memorable experience. North Berwick Lunch was in the company of former EGC holds the majority vote from the tour Basing themselves in ‘Auld Reekie’ employee Shona MacRae who now works members as the course they would most (Edinburgh) and caring nothing for the for the R&A in St. Andrews. like to re-visit which is quite an accolade weather, the tour set out each morning considering the company it was keeping. with high hopes and were rewarded with As the week progressed the weather Carnoustie was also high on the list and some magnificent scenery along the way, warmed up to the point that the last round to stand by the plaque in ‘Hogan’s Alley’ notably the Forth estuary with its iconic was played in shirtsleeves with some commemorating Ben Hogan’s 1953 Open bridges, the rugged Fife and Tayside members even threatening to bring out Championship and to follow it by clearing coastlines and the rounded peaks and their shorts! At every club the reception the infamous Barry Burn on the 18th (where valleys of the Ochil Hills around Gleneagles. the group received was also warm, friendly Jean Van De Velde came to watery grief) Returning to Edinburgh in the evenings and welcoming. Caddies and starters made for yet another hugely memorable was always a treat as the route either took day. At Gullane the guys were inspecting were completely professional, patient, in the opulent Georgian New Town with the gilded plaques in the Men’s Clubhouse knowledgeable and encouraging all at the its wide avenues, crescents and squares or (ladies have their own clubhouse) and were same time. Looks like its back to else the contrasting mediaeval grandeur delighted to Scotland again next year! of Edinburgh Castle with its hidden nooks, crannies, closes and wynds.

The tour members were: Edinburgh just oozes with history, Alan Main, Dick Purchase, architecture, culture and gastronomy Roy Pirie, Bryan Wilson, so it is as much a treat for the soul as Johnny Aldridge, Drummond the senses, regardless of the weather Welsh, Tony Hutchinson and which thankfully improved as the Mike Tracey week went on.

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s much confusion still seems to surround the recent ruling at The Masters involving Tiger Woods, John Morrissett (Competitions Director at Erin Hills and former Director, Rules of Golf for the USGA) offers the following in hopes of clarifying what, once the key facts are determined, is a much simpler ruling than was initially thought.

First, the facts: On the 15th hole in the second round, Tiger’s third shot struck the flagstick and came back into the water hazard (yellow stakes and lines) fronting the green. He elected to use the stroke-anddistance option under the water hazard Rule (Rule 26-1a).

That option required him to drop a ball as near as possible to where he just played from, but Tiger dropped a ball approximately 2 ½ feet away, a distance that does not meet the ‘as near as possible’ requirement.

He then played the ball onto the green and holed the putt, believing he had scored 6 for the hole. A former Rules official, watching the telecast at home, called to report a possible breach.

While Tiger was still playing (and that is the most important point of the entire incident), the Committee reviewed the video and, believing the results to be inconclusive, ruled

there was no breach. The Committee did not tell Tiger of its ruling, he went on to return his scorecard for the second round, with a score of 6 for the 15th hole.

Following Tiger’s post-round comments to the media that he had dropped “two yards” from the spot of the previous stroke, the Committee wondered if it had made the correct decision. It consulted with Tiger on Saturday morning and retroactively penalised him two strokes on the 15th hole (for playing from a wrong place - Rules 26-1a and 20-7c) but did not disqualify him for returning a score for that hole that was lower than he actually made (Rule 6-6d).

While this seems like a complicated set of facts, the ruling becomes straightforward when it is boiled down to its basic elements: On Friday the Committee made an incorrect ruling (of no penalty), and on Saturday the Committee corrected that incorrect ruling. The key is that, before Tiger returned his scorecard on Friday, the Committee had reviewed the incident on 15 and made the ruling of no breach.

(Even though the Committee did not tell Tiger of this ruling, it was still a ruling.) On reflection, the Committee realised it made an incorrect ruling and corrected that ruling on Saturday (with ample authority and precedent to do so).

If the Committee had not become aware of the incident and had not made a ruling before Tiger returned his score card on Friday, then it would have been a straightforward disqualification. It is interesting to note therefore, that the timely telephone call actually prevented Tiger from being disqualified.

It should be emphasised that Rule 33-7 has been part of the Rules of Golf for decades (at least 50 years).

This Rule was invoked to waive the penalty of disqualification for the scorecard error because the scorecard error was a result of the Committee’s incorrect ruling during the second round. In other words, if the Committee had ruled correctly on Friday and had informed Tiger of the two-stroke penalty for playing from a wrong place before Tiger returned his scorecard, Tiger would have returned the correct score for that hole. Decision 34-3/1 provides authority for the Committee to correct its ruling by adjusting the previous round’s score.

Contrary to what some reported, Decision 33-7/4.5, which was significantly revised two years ago, played no role whatsoever in the Saturday ruling at Augusta National.

That Decision shows sympathy for the player who breaches a Rule because he did not know, and could not have reasonably known, the facts that led to his breach. In Tiger’s case, he could have and should have easily known the facts of the case (i.e., that he dropped 2 1/2 feet away from where he was required to drop), so the principle of this decision does not apply.

Consider the ramifications if the Committee had disqualified Tiger on Saturday. In that case, Tiger would have been justified in being furious at the Committee for failing to advise him of the issue before he returned his score card so that he could have avoided disqualification. Tiger made an error and was penalised two strokes; the Committee’s incorrect ruling should not have resulted in further penalty.

Each of the golf courses drew

www.dubaigolf.com

Dick Purchase EGC Vice-Captain, in a spot of bother

www.dubaigolf.com

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Greenkeeper’s Cuttings Getting to know the ins and outs of your course

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t certain times of year, various courses in and around the UAE go through differing issues dependent largely on their individual circumstances. This may either be related to the grass species involved, a particular issue they are facing resulting in them needing to do things differently for a short period of time, or that they have major issues related to water shortages or quality. Of course, on the positive side, at times courses are in magnificent condition and this is always good to hear, certainly in our industry.

We have recently put together the ‘Middle East Greenkeepers’ Association’ (M.E.G.A) and it is primarily a forum where we as a collective body share information with each other and are able to post photos and share our ideas and experiences with each other.

This is a culture that has always been embraced within our profession and one that we are all very proud of. I guess this is born out of a camaraderie that goes back in ages. Not many professionals have their work on display 365 days a year to be judged by people who really do not have much of an appreciation or understanding of what ‘we’ do. Nor can we expect anyone to as this is simply part of the job.

I was recently taken aside by a member who had played one of the courses in the region and came back saying how terrible he thought it was. When I asked him what in particular was “so bad”, he simply said the greens were not good. I knew exactly what the issue was at this particular course as the Superintendent and I happen to communicate a lot and he had previously helped me out when I had some issues. It was very easy for me to explain to our member what the issue was, why they had to adjust things resulting in the greens being softer and slower than normal. Once this was explained to him, things were suddenly not that bad with him saying that in fact, most of all it was a very good experience. It went from being “so bad” to being “a very good experience” simply because he now understood the issues and could rationalise things to a point where his experience was good.

What is the point of this message you may ask? Well, if we all take a little bit of interest or invest a bit of our time in appreciating and understanding what certain issues may be, we immediately become ambassadors of our respective clubs, the membership, management and owners. It is a great privilege to be a member at any of the golf courses in the region and an even greater privilege for all employees in golf to be able to be a part of delivering on the membership expectations. Our profession involves creating something special for you to enjoy outside of your work. Communication is vital and it ensures that everyone is well-informed and therefore equipped with some knowledge that may in fact help one enjoy the experience that much more.

A quick update on the courses here…the Majlis is transitioning nicely this year. The new irrigation system is proving a great success and the Rye is dying out more evenly than before. Of course we have some bare areas that will require new sod or sprig in the coming weeks, but overall it’s going well. The greens are also improving day by day. We have had Nematodes for the first time and it has been an education for sure. The threshold counts were extremely high and we have managed to bring these down significantly over the past two months in particular. We have now started to bring our mowing heights down again so you will start to see an improved ball roll and speed for sure.

The Faldo has jumped out of winter and we once again have great definition throughout the course. We have a scheduled maintenance closure that will have just finished as this goes to print. We will have hollow-cored all surfaces as is typical for this time of year whichwill certainly benefit us for the summer months ahead.

As the season comes to a close, we look forward to another busy summer ahead with lots of projects to be completed by the team.

Keep your eyes on the notice boards where we will be updating you on proceedings and we will be posting photos on the website to keep you well informed.

Craig Haldane Director - Golf Course Maintenance

www.dubaigolf.com

Fit Lab

Course Con

dition

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DONNA MASING, SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPIST Summer eating for increasing productivity and focus Exercising in the summer can be a challenge. For those used to running outdoors, simply switching to a treadmill is not advised, as this can alter your gait and biomechanics.

Instead, break up your sessions with a little treadmill and also some early morning outdoor runs.

If you are fasting for the Holy Month of Ramadan, it is best to train in the evening after a light meal. Look for nourishing foods in small portions as exercising on a full stomach can lead to cramping and feeling sluggish. Some people prefer to train shortly before Iftar which is fine as long as you feel up to it. Some studies have shown alertness and motor-function can be impaired at this time, so avoid anything complicated. If at any time while exercising you feel light-headed or ill, stop and rest.

Signs that you should stop exercising in the heat are dizziness, excessive thirst, tunnel vision, muscle cramping, nausea or inability to speak in full sentences.

POLINA SPYRIS, NUTRITIONIST ‘Smart’ foods to eat over the summer to maintain a healthy brain include: Fish – two servings a week is enough to lower dementia and stroke risks; hinder mental decline and boost memory. The Omega-3’s in fish really are essential for brain function and development.

Nuts and seeds – The vitamin E in these has been associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline.

Avocado – a tasty way to improve blood flow to the brain since the fats in avocados reduce the risk of plaque formation around the arteries allowing blood to flow easily to every organ of the human body, including the brain.

Berries – Studies have shown a reduction in brain damage caused by free radicals when blueberries are regularly consumed. Even disease risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s may also be reduced with consistent berry intake.

Habits to keep during the summer to maintain a healthy brain include: Eating breakfast – studies have shown improved memory and attention spans when breakfast is consumed daily. This is especially true when eating high-fiber whole grains, fruits and dairy.

Note however that when a high calorie breakfast is consumed concentration can be hindered.

Staying hydrated – this is so important especially during the summer. Most people wait to feel thirsty to drink water but the body is already dehydrated when thirst is a symptom. Dehydration may also lead to lack of concentration, dizziness and headaches.

Balance and variety – the ability to focus throughout the day can be affected by eating too much or not enough. Too much food can lead to lethargy, while not enough food may lead to distracting hunger pangs. Make sure a variety of foods are on the menu and enough is eaten.

POSTURAL TIPS ON THE GOLF COURSE! JOHN BAKER, PHYSIOTHERAPIST Lets say it takes on average 4 hours to get around 18 holes and you can be swinging a golf club easily up to 100 times...is it any wonder you feel those aches and pains from time to time?

John Baker (physiotherapist at Bespoke Wellness) offers some guidance whilst on the course: • How many of you warm up before teeing off? Having tight muscles is a major cause of injury in golfers. A head to toe approach is most effective in not forgetting any major muscle groups. Spend roughly 10 minutes stretching and make sure you hold each stretch for 15 seconds.

• Trolley or no trolley? Hoiking up a heavy bag of golf clubs does not only strain the muscles in the shoulder and neck but carrying the bag on the same shoulder will further stress these muscles inducing stiffness and pain.

Perhaps you could take advantage of a dual harness bag to distribute the weight evenly or better still, take that trolley!

• The hot sun can easily drain the most finely tuned golfer leading to poor posture, impaired swing and higher potential for injury. Ensure you take regular sitting breaks on the golf buggy and stay hydrated to help maintain concentration.

Spend lazy summer days at SensAsia Urban Spa this summer with 40% off selected popular treatments from 1st July – 31st August 2013. (not including weekends) Beat the heat with our Bali chic – a melting pot of massage techniques, this 90-minute full body massage promises that little bit more – pure urban bliss. Book your spa-cation 044179820

19th HOLE

Snippets

Hole-in One Najla Bartette Faldo course, Hole No. 12, 13th May 2013

Ramesh Prabhakar, Brijraj Singh, Vikram Malhotra and Moshe Kohli on the Montgomerie Course, Belek, Antalya, Turkey

It’s no yoke‌ an unusual breakfast at EGC when two members were each served two doubleyoked eggs!

A rare sighting..

Calvin the crab

Congratulations to Ivan Fornazaric & Jan Hoofman from HYTEC, winners of the 15th Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge who secured their places in the Grand Final.

S...

W E N P O H PRO S xtra 20%

e Enjoy an t on all n u o c is d e members ade on th m s e s a h til purc month un y r e v e f 25th o e year. h t f o d n the e

EGC members cheese and grape evening

SUMMER CALENDAR June

Monday 3rd Ladies End of Season Scramble Saturday 8th Dubai Golf Summer Series (Dubai Creek) 13th - 16th U.S. Open, Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania, United States.

Thursday 13th Staff and Member Scramble Friday 14th End of Season Scramble /3 clubs and a putter Friday 28th Mashreq Medal Championship

in Association with BMW and Harvey Nichols Dubai

July

Friday 5th DG (EGC & CREEK members) Mashreq Medal Championship

in Association with BMW and Harvey Nichols Dubai Friday 12th Dubai Golf Summer Series 18th - 21st The Open Championship, Muirfield, East Lothian, Scotland Friday 19th Emirates Summer Open

August

Friday 2nd 4-Ball Shamble (ladies and gents) Saturday 3rd DG (EGC & CREEK members) Mashreq Medal Championship

in Association with BMW and Harvey Nichols Dubai Saturday 10th Dubai Creek Summer Open (Dubai Creek) Friday 23rd Dubai Golf Summer Series (Dubai Creek) Saturday 31st Dubai Golf Summer Series

on Opening so /spa at the gym area coffee shop give it - why not a try?

Martha and Bill with Lynne and Dickie enjoying The Masters at Augusta

The Desert Miracle written by Rod Bogg is available to buy at the Pro Shop at Emirates Golf Club. The price is AED 195, and Emirates Golf Club members receive a 10% discount.

YOUR WORLD. OUR INSURANCE.

10% OFF

travel insurance for Emirates Golf Club members Our travel insurance policy protects your golf clubs and equipment as part of your personal baggage cover as standard.

If you need additional protection for your golfing holidays, you can upgrade your policy to include our golf extension, which covers golf equipment, golf equipment hire and green fees.

Call 800 ZURICH (987 424) and quote EGCT10 to claim your discount.

Terms and conditions apply.

Zurich Insurance Middle East S.A.L is registered under Insurance Companies Register Certificate No. 48 and authorised by the UAE Insurance Authority.