Editor’s Letter

Freshman farewell

Players, and pages, the Middle East can be proud of

By Kent Gray

HOW GOOD IS IT TO SEE Josh Hill secure a scholarship to the University of Tennessee. It’s no coincidence the Vols (as in Volunteers, the state’s nickname) are building one of the most ambitious U.S. collegiate golf programmes around the Dubai prodigy.

The 17-year-old follows in the footsteps of Oklahoma State University Cowboy Rayhan Thomas as a shining example of what can happen when you mix serious talent and tireless dedication with the opportunities presented by Middle East golf’s fi scal might, weather and agronomy miracles and elite level playing opportunities.

By making his fi rst DP World Tour cut on the bubble in Abu Dhabi in January, knowing he had to come back after bad weather and birdie three of his fi nal four holes, the Trump Dubai amateur proved to himself he has the intestinal fortitude to mix it at the highest level. He also knows kinks still need to be ironed out and what better place to do that than in golf’s ultimate fi nishing school – the NCAA.

The state famous for country music, whiskey, Graceland and Elvis likewise know they’ve got a goodie in Hill, a senior England International. The headline on VolsWire, an extension of USA Today, spelt it out: ‘Josh Hill, who beat Brooks Koepka at 15, signs for Tennessee’.

That was in a nine-hole practice round with the then world No.1 in Abu Dhabi two years ago. Don’t forget Hill is also the owner of the world record as the youngest winner of an OWGR event, the MENA Tour’s Al Ain Open in 2019.

The reserved teen has been one of the constants in my fi ve and a half years and 62 editions at the helm of Golf Digest Middle East. I had envisaged eclipsing Robbie Greenfi eld’s 91 issues in charge but sadly a pandemic has put the kybosh on that century ambition. Still, it’s been a pleasure while it lasted and especially so charting the rise and rise of Hill who might just be the youngest player ever to grace the cover of Golf Digest, a feat he achieved inside a week of his world record win at 15 years, six months and 27 days old.

Other highlights? There have been more than a few, like any time I had the chance to tee it up on Yas Links, undoubtedly the best course in the land (honourable mentions to the Majlis, Al Mouj, Saadiyat Beach, The Els and Al Zorah). Kudos to fellow Kiwi Corey Finn and his agronomy team for indeed making the links “great again”.

A regret is that I haven’t had the chance to Topgolf in Dubai, undoubtedly the most important development since golf fi rst met grass in the region at Emirates Golf Club in 1988.

Mostly though, it’s the relationships forged that I’ll treasure. There’s too many good sorts to list here but Simon Payne of Tower Links fame earns the ‘Best Character’ and ‘Outstanding Host’ gongs, all despite being an Aussie. Dubai Golf’s Chris May, still the gold standard when it comes to golf administration in the UAE, is a gentleman in every sense of the word. The unsung designer of these pages, Clarkwin Cruz, is another humble achiever I hold in the same esteem.

Now fi rmly ensconced back in NZ, the land of Ras Al Khaimah Classic champion Ryan Fox, temporarily diminishing rugby stocks, fl ightless birds and countless sheep, I’ll keep a watching brief on all things Middle East golf. It will be fascinating to see where the Asian Tour’s new International Series fi ts into the region’s eco-system and if Greg Norman can lure big names (perhaps any names) to the LIV Golf Invitational Series. It’s critical the MENA Tour is revived so future Rayhan Thomas’, Josh Hills’ and Toby Bishops’ have somewhere local to cut their teeth. Perhaps Saudi riyals are the answer to all of the above?

With that, I’ll hand you over to Matthew Smith, the title’s lucky third guardian. I wish the now former Gulf News Sports Editor the best of British. It’s an honour to represent the Golf Digest brand and privilege to have had you, Dear Reader, along for the ride. Thank you and happy golfi ng.

editor-in-chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer

managing partner & group editor

Ian Fairservice

editor Kent Gray art director Clarkwin Cruz editorial assistant Londresa Flores instruction editors Luke Tidmarsh, Euan Bowden, Tom Ogilvie, Matthew Brookes, Lea Pouillard, Alex Riggs

chief commercial officer

Anthony Milne publisher David Burke

general manager - production

S. Sunil Kumar

assistant production manager

Binu Purandaran

THE GOLF DIGEST PUBLICATIONS editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde

director, business development

& partnerships Greg Chatzinoff international editor Ju Kuang Tan

GOLF DIGEST USA editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde general manager Chris Reynolds editorial director Max Adler executive editor Peter Morrice art director Chloe Galkin managing editors Alan P. Pittman, Ryan Herrington (News) chief playing editor Tiger Woods playing editors Phil Mickelson, Francesco Molinari, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Tom Watson

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