Worldwide Golf January 2017

Worldwide Golf The Middle East’s No.1 Golf Magazine

ANDY SULLIVAN

LOVING LIFE ON THE TOP SHELF

January 2017, ISSUE 188

ABU DHABI INVITATIONAL

ALL STAR CAST AT YAS LINKS

FIRST PLAY

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB DUBAI

Alex

SWEDEN’S LATEST SUPERSTAR RECOUNTS LAST SEASON’S ‘FANTASTIC FOUR’ AND TARGETS MORE OF THE SAME IN THE MIDDLE EAST SWING

TIPS

SCORING BASICS

AT E M IRAT E S G OL F C LU B

UNDERSTANDING THE GRIP WITH

PETE

COWEN

SAND TRAP SECRETS

WITH BERND RITTHAMMER GEAR

TAYLORMADE M1 CALLAWAY XR

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Worldwide Golf is the Official Media partner to The European Tour in the Middle East and the official magazine of the Emirates Golf Federation

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Executive Editor

Gary Player 2017 has a hard act to follow

I

AM at home in South Africa over Christmas and New Year and it gives me plenty of time to reflect on what a fascinating and wonderful year 2016 was for golf. For me, the highlight was to Captain the Men’s and Women’s South African teams at Golf’s return to the Olympic Games in Rio. To be among 11,000 athletes in the Olympic Village was an experience I’ll never forget and I was so happy to see that the golf event was so well attended. Just think, in Japan in three years’ time there will be 20,000+ people there every day.

I didn’t think that the Olympics missed the top-ranked men who stayed away. Once you were there, all the focus was on who was there, and not who wasn’t. One thing I will say about golf in the Olympic Games – we must adhere to the quickness of the Olympics Games and move away from the format of the 72 hole stroke-play medal tournament that mirrors what is played around the professional Tours.

I would like to see Men and Women play together and in a

betterball format so that the sport is played quicker. The Olympics is almost all about speed when you think of the sprinting, swimming and cycling and so forth, and I believe golf needs to keep up and quicken up if it is to remain relevant.

Men and Women competing together will be a showcase to smaller countries that do not have a tradition of golf that women are significant in the sport and from that we will attract a lot of new players.

I was absolutely flabbergasted at the standard of play the women produced and I think the world has got to wake up to the fact that the women play phenomenal golf and there should be more money and sponsors and more of a balance with the men’s game.

Intrigue Change is the price of survival so we’ve got to do things that intrigue people. I want to see a woman who has never played golf before to say ‘gee, I watched this lady pro playing with a man pro and she played so well – she played as well as he did.’ Maybe

“One thing I will say about golf in the Olympic Games – we must adhere to the quickness of the Olympics Games and move away from the format of the 72 hole stroke-play medal tournament.” then she’ll take that home, talk about it with friends and family and it gets the development of the game going.

We need more young people to play this phenomenal game, because it’s a game you can play your entire life. So we’ve got to keep experimenting and see what we can do to make the game more appealing.

I designed a golf course in Missouri, USA, that has 12 holes.

It’s perfect for people who don’t have a whole day, because, let’s

it did more good than the Masters, The Open or the U.S. Open. There were more people there, more viewers than any other event.

It’s a significant tournament in history. You don’t have to be quiet anymore. It has created a new atmosphere. We’re going into a new era where it’s a completely different game, where kids want to play golf and take their cell phones with them. You can’t tell them ‘no cell phones.’

We have got to go with the flow if we want young people to play. If

admit it, that is how long 18 holes can take to play golf. They can play 6 holes, or 9 holes or 12 holes if they please and it’s been a roaring success. You have the choice!

Looking at the Ryder Cup, it brought people who aren’t golfers to see this spectacular event, and

we keep telling them ‘You cannot do this, you cannot wear that,’ then they’re not going to play golf. They are going to go and play another sport. Golf has to adapt and I’m fascinated to see where the governing bodies of the world will take it. n

Worldwide GOLF 2

THE ALL-NEW FAMILY. RADICAL GEOMETRY DELIVERS NEXT LEVEL DISTANCE AND FORGIVENESS.

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January 2017

CONTENTS 14 19 21 23 28 30 42 46

The Starter

The Championship course at Doha Golf Club prepares for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

Plus all the latest happenings from around the globe and a look back at a historical tournament from this month in history.

Pete Cowen Column

PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen talks about the rising costs of golf in Dubai and poses the question – could Tiger Woods be signing with TaylorMade?

David Howell Column

European Tour veteran David Howell is looking in good form after shooting a course record 63 in Hong Kong but could he become the new Miguel Angel Jiménez?

Rafa Cabrera Bello Column

The Spanish Ryder Cup star is fresh and ready to pick things up once more with his sights set on the big names in the Middle East swing.

Tour News

A great night for the European Tour in the Middle East Golf Awards. Find out how you can get involved as Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club prepares to host the European Senior Tour’s inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters.

38

The Road to Mongomo

The Worldwide Golf team go wild on a golfing adventure to Equatorial Guinea as MENA Tour Champion Craig Hinton emerges victorious.

ANDY SULLIVAN

Cover feature: Alex Noren

WWG catches up with with the four-time winner on the 2016 European Tour International Schedule to find out how he’s turned his career around and what his goals are for 2017.

It’s hard to believe that not so long ago he was stacking shelves for a living and now the Ryder Cup player is a leading light on the European Tour. with the support of his ‘Sulli Army.’

BACK IN THE UAE

With his long experience in golf in the Middle East Ed Edwards returns to the UAE as Group General Manager of Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. He talks to WWG about his ideas and the future of golf in the region.

50

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Trump International Golf Course

We get a first play at the Trump International Golf Course Dubai and find out why this differs to the many other championship courses in the region.

CONTENTS GEAR

64

2017 TAYLORMADE M1 TESTED

Jason Ashley, Custom Fit Specialist at eGolf Megastore gets his hands on the 2017 TaylorMade M1 and compares it the outgoing model.

Callaway XR OS Hybrid

Alex Gallemore gets to grips with the hybrid that offers control off the tee and fairway to prove it more than a game improvement club.

X-Golf

Elastomer inserts and a workable sole make the new Ping iBlades a shot-makers dream.

INSTRUCTION

70

SCORING BASICS

Stephen Deane, Head Professional at Emirates Golf Club, shows you the techniques to chip it close from around the green.

THE GRIP

PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen explains the fundementals of the grip and useless you have the correct swing mechanics it doesn’t matter if you opt for a ‘slicers’ or ‘hookers’ grip.

DON’T GET TRAPPED

European Tour Player Bernd Ritthammer passes on his tips on how to escape those deep bunkers.

77 88 66

Arabian Golf

After 22 years of marshalling in the UAE Bernard Dowling will be retiring after this year’s Dubai Desert Classic; Yas Links prepare for the pros and celebrities for this year’s Abu Dhabi Invitational; plus all the latest news from the leading golf clubs in the Middle East.

Saujana Golf and Country CLub

The latest in our series of European Tour Destinations, the Saujana Golf and Country Club isestled amongst 160 hectares of lush tropical gardens and just a stone’s throw from Kuala Kumpur.

WIN TITLEIST 917 DRIVER

Just remember which staff player won a Major with a 917 in 2016 and you could be in with a chance to win one of the most sort after drivers in the market.

Editor’s Letter

By Alex Gallemore

ISSUE No.188 JANUARY, 2017.

Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd.

Trump makes his mark in Dubai

W

ith Donald Trump set to move into the White House on the 20th of this month it was interesting to get a first play of his course here in Dubai. Designed by Gil Hanse, the man behind the course at the Rio Olympics and the guy Trump brought in to rework the famed TPC Blue Monster at Doral in Miami.

Gil has definitely got flair. He’s brought a new style of championship course to Dubai. But how does it fit in with all the other prime tracks in Dubai – turn to page 52 and get my exclusive insight on how it plays.

We also caught up with Alex Noren to talk about his remarkable 2016 season and his plans for 2017. It’s hard to believe that last year’s four-time winner nearly quit the game two years ago, due to having tendonitis in both wrists.

He should have been in the Ryder Cup team. His omission shows just how much the European team selection process is outdated in comparison to the structure implemented by the United States team. One day we might just have the process of the best 12 players from either side going head-to-head and make the captain’s pick a thing of the past.

One Ryder Cup player who really enjoys playing out here in the Middle East is Andy Sullivan. We chatted to him about how he likes to keep things lighthearted and

with the support of his ‘Sulli Army’ led by his father he certainly gets the cheers from the travelling gallery.

Having chatted to Pete Cowen, it was interesting to get his opinion on why the game in Dubai is too expensive and why he thinks the venture capitalists at TaylorMade should offer Tiger Woods a percentage of the business.

It’s not as daft as it might seem, considering he’s opted to put the M2 driver in the bag.

One driver I can’t wait to try is the Callaway Epic. There have been a few leaked images but it appears to be a blend of the current Callaway Fusion driver with their Double Diamond – so, in theory, more forgiveness and adjustment. I’ve also seen a few test numbers but these don’t mean anything until you manage to test one against your own game. The driver Callaway appear set to battle it out against will be TaylorMade’s 2017 M1. It has made some radical changes over the outgoing model but read Jason Ashley’s review on page 64 to find out what the differences equate to off the tee.

With the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship attracting three out of the top four players in the world, valuable points are on the table. Dustin Johnson, currently third and close behind McIlroy in second, makes his debut appearance on the Harradine-designed course and the pair, together with Henrik Stenson, will be looking to close the gap on Jason Day to take the top spot.

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Published in Dubai by: Prografix, PO Box 24677, Dubai, UAE. (Tel) +9714 340 3785.

Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore.

Executive Editor: Gary Player.

Editor: Alex Gallemore. alex@wspglobal.com.

Publisher: Mike Gallemore. mike@wspglobal.com.

General Manager Dubai: Richard Bevan: rick@wspglobal.com.

Editors: Todd Staszko, Scott Grayston, Ashraf Ahmed.

Production/Design Editor: Thameem Rayyan.

Editorial Panel: Gary Player, Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Richard Bevan, Todd Staszko.

Photography: Getty Images June 2009 SSN 1- 46805671 Approval UAE National Media Council: Ref.816 30/5/2007 Trade Licence No. 1/104375/15280

Printed by: Raidy, Dubai Distributed by: Al Nisr Distribution LLC PO Box 6519, Dubai, UAE Worldwide Golf specifies that post-press changes may occur to any information given in this publication and takes no responsibility for goods or services advertised.

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The Course

Doha Golf Club A vibrant green contrast its desert surroundings

S

INCE its inception in 1988 – played every year at the ruggedly handsome Doha Golf Club – the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters has been a breeding ground for the game’s stars.

No fewer than three players won the Qatar Masters before going on to win various Major Championships while fully-established Major champions have also prevailed over the windswept course.

Paul Lawrie famously won the second edition of the tournament in 1999 and later that year went on to win the Claret Jug at The Open at Carnoustie. Australian Adam Scott twice won in Qatar (2002, 2008) before he clinched his maiden Major title at the Masters in 2013 and Henrik Stenson wowed the galleries at Doha in 2006 before finally becoming a Major champion at Royal Troon a decade later.

Meanwhile multiple Major winners Ernie Els (2005) and Retief Goosen (2007) also have a Mother of Pearl trophy in their cabinet, showcasing the tournament’s ability to attract the best.

In keeping with its pedigree as a tournament for the best players in the game, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell headlines the field this year.

First unveiled in 1997, the layout at Doha was the design of celebrated golf architect Peter Harradine, who has work on over 160 courses around the world, and features eight stunning lakes, 65 giant cacti and a number of striking limestone rock formations that contrast with the bright fairways and sandy desert beyond the ropes. n

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“I’m looking forward to returning to Doha for the 20th Commercial Bank Qatar Masters as it has been a few years since I’ve played there and I have fond memories of the tournament.

It’s a great course, there’s always a nice crowd and it’s a lovely time to visit Qatar as the weather is ideal. It’s a good way to start the year and I’m hoping a solid result can kick-start a good 2017 for me." – GRAEME MCDOWELL

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STARTER USGA ENDS BALL-MOVEMENT PENALTIES

STENSON NAMED GOLFER OF THE YEAR For the second time in four years, Henrik Stenson has been named the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year, receiving the award after a sensational year that saw him win his first Major at The Open and win the Race to Dubai.

After the farcical end to last year’s US Open, the R&A and USGA have put their heads together to bring a new rule, starting this year which “eliminates the penalty when a ball is accidentally moved on the putting green”. Eventual winner Dustin Johnson had to play the final 12 holes at Oakmont not knowing if he was going to be assessed a penalty after play.

TIGER WOODS TO PLAY BRIDGESTONE BALLS IN 2017

FINCHEM’S REIGN ENDS AT US PGA TOUR After 22 years as Commissioner of the US PGA Tour, Tim Finchem has stepped down with Deputy Commissioner Jay Monahan taking up the role as his replacement as of January 1st, 2017. “I am greatly honored by the trust the Policy Board has shown in me to succeed Tim Finchem as Commissioner,” Monahan said. “Under Tim’s leadership, the US PGA Tour has made remarkable progress, even in the most difficult economic times and we are now entering a very important time in our organisation’s history.”

With Tiger Woods hopeful of playing a full schedule this year and no longer under contract with Nike he has moved to sign a deal with Bridgestone and play their B330-S ball.

“Controlling launch and trajectory is critical and with this ball I feel I have total control to hit all shots accurately. I’m not here just to play; I’m here to win and the innovative breakthroughs of the Bridgestone B330-S ball can help me do that,” announced Woods.

FENG THREE-PEATS IN DUBAI Shanshang Feng clinched a third successive Dubai Ladies Masters title after a stunning final round 64 gave her a two-stroke win over Charley Hull last month. The win was Feng’s fourth career win of the event having first won at Emirates Golf Club in 2012.

PAUL LAWRIE MATCH-PLAY MOVES TO GERMANY After two years on classic Scottish links courses, the 2017 Paul Lawrie Match Play tournament will be played at the Quellness Golf Resort Bad Griesbach in Germany. Anthony Wall won his first European Tour title since 2000 with his win at Archerfield Links last year.

Q U O T E S "There is nobody in the game of golf that I have seen that is remotely close to the level of performance Tiger was in his prime."

– Phil Mickelson is full of plaudits for Tiger Woods ahead of The Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, at which, Woods is one of the Vice Captains.

O F

T H E

“I think we should bring the anchored putting back. I was all for getting rid of it, but now I’m all for keeping it.”– Rory McIlroy jokes with the media after witnessing Adam Scott win back-to-back titles in Florida – the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral and the Honda Classic – with a conventional putting stroke.

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Y E A R "When I get to 40, I would like to see where I'm at in my career because I might want to go, 'You know what, I'm done. I'm just happy with everything,' and I'm going to go off my merry way and I'll probably never pick up a golf club ever again."– Jason Day outlines his retirement plans.

Spin Back As a fresh-faced youngster, McIlroy gave golf fans a glimpse of what was to come, overpowering the course with an average of 306 yards off the tee.

January 2009

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN FOR RORY W ith all that Rory McIlroy has achieved in his career it is fitting that he first stepped into the winner’s circle as a professional in Dubai at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009. The Ulsterman has a special affinity with Dubai. In addition to his maiden win at Emirates Golf Club, he has won the Race to Dubai three times and the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates twice.

As a 19 year old and in his second full season on Tour, McIlroy opened with a sublime 64 and closed out a one-stroke victory over Justin Rose thanks to a final round 70. Henrik Stenson was third and Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer were in a share of fourth place.

McIlroy's 2009 Desert Classic Stats Driving Accuracy: 60.7% (21) Driving Distance: 306 yards (2) Greens in Regulation: 83.3% (2) Putts Per G IR: 1.635 (7) Putts Per Round: 29.3 (36) Sand Saves: 100%

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Columnist

Pete Cowen Dubai needs to unite behind golf

I

REMEMBER coming to Dubai in the 1980s as the Emirates Golf Club had just opened and it was remarkable to find a grassed championship course with hardly anything but desert surrounding it for miles. Word soon got out that Dubai had produced one of the first golfing wonders of the world and people started to venture to the Emirate to find out what it was all about.

To this day, golf remains the number one tourism sport in Dubai but a great deal has changed. Try explaining to anyone now that Emirates Golf Club used to be isolated in the middle of nowhere and they will think you’ve gone mad – it’s probably now the most central point in Dubai.

Countless other championship courses have been developed since Emirates opened their doors in 1988 and the whole region has grown into a stronghold for the European Tour.

This all sounds great but like many things in Dubai, golf has started to get far too expensive and many British golf tourists have been hit hard on the exchange rate since the Brexit result.

Some friends of mine came over to Dubai for the DP World Tour Championship to support Danny Willett. It cost them £650 per night for a room, plus breakfast and a fourball on one of the championship courses cost £1,000!

If Dubai is to revert to attracting golfers – not just internationally but locally as well – all the clubs need to get on board and sort the pricing out. It’s great to see Worldwide Golf doing their bit, with so many of the clubs getting behind its new discount app but Dubai needs government involvement to unite the various clubs and make the game more affordable.

Dubai had a thriving golf tourism industry with just three courses, now with the wide selection of great facilities that are on offer, with more waiting to open, it should be the go-to destination for any keen golfer. One golfer who enhanced the Dubai golf buzz was Tiger Woods.

We still need him in the game and it would be great to see him at the

OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic but it looks like he’s set to remain in the States, having entered the Genesis Open at the Riviera Country Club in February. But does that leave time for Abu Dhabi to put in a last minute bid to get him to play their championship along with Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy?

TIGER ON THE MOVE That would be interesting, especially when I see Tiger already has better odds than Henrik to win the Masters. That’s the Tiger following for you. Henrik played one of the best final rounds in Major history to win the Open Championship and went on to win the 2016 Race to Dubai. Tiger, on the other hand, showed signs of his old brilliance but came 15th out of 17 at the Hero World Challenge and isn’t officially set to play again until February. That goes to show just how much golfers want Tiger to come back. But there’s a fair amount of tournament rust to knock off before he can challenge on a Sunday.

He’s signed a ball deal with Bridgestone and who knows what he will sign with regards to hardware. I wouldn’t be surprised if the venture capitalists at TaylorMade offer him a shareholding in the company if he plays their clubs, as he currently has the M2 driver in the bag and seems to be getting on great with it.

One driver the lads will be keen to get hold of in the New Year is the Callaway Epic. I’ve not seen it, but the TrackMan numbers I’ve been sent, together with the technology in the head, look very impressive.

Whatever happens, I’m hoping for another great season. Who knows – if my players can bag a few more Majors and tournaments I might stand a chance of winning BBC Sport’s Coach of the Year!

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Columnist

David Howell

Less practice to prelong my career

I

’m really looking forward to the 2017 season. Last year was a difficult time for me. I was beset by injuries but now I’m hoping I can get through the coming campaign without too many problems. I’ve been having trouble with my foot recently and although I shot a third round 63 in the UBS Hong Kong Open I did well to play the four rounds.

It was good to shoot that course record 63, which shot me up the leaderboard 44 places and into the top five, having opened with two 70s, but I was struggling on the final day to score 72 and finished in a share of 14th place. The Hong Kong course seems to suit my game and my course management and I did have a little luck. Hong Kong is what I would call a good old-fashioned course.

Now, looking forward, the 2017 European Tour International Schedule feels like it’s a new dawn for the Tour. The Rolex Series events have been elevated through the increase in prizemoney and World Ranking points and I’d really like to be part of it. I have set my sights on being more successful in my forties than I have been in my thirties.

I would like to do a Miguel Angel Jiménez. He’s a great character and he’s had so much more success as an over-40 and as a Senior golfer on both the European Senior Tour and the US Tiur Champions than he had on the regular Tour. Many players have come to their prime after reaching 40, so why not me? Miguel, in particular, is a bit of a poster boy for players above my age. It’s not unusual, there are many others. If you can stay fit enough to compete and if you’ve still got the desire to win then you can continue to be successful well into your 50s.

The number of injuries I’ve had is mainly down to fair wear and tear so I’ve got to make allowances. To compensate for that I prefer to limit the amount of practice time when I’m at home to the minimum. I now make sure I arrive at the course at least half a day early to practice on the course.

Years ago I used to practice almost as fanatically as Padraig Harrington. I would go to the Queenwood Club near where I lived and they’d leave the key to the gate with me so I could practice until I

couldn’t see. That’s probably why I am often plagued by injuries. I’ve always putted nicely and as time goes on I don’t focus too much on the greens because it puts more pressure on me.

Being a successful Tour pro is all about getting the right balance between family time and professional time. I’ve got the utmost respect for the players who can get it right both on the course and at home. It’s a bit like a life tax.

All the travelling we do from event to event means we have less time to spend with the family and that is the toughest part of the job. It’s essential that we should do everything we can to get the balance right.

It’s been a fascinating 2016 and one person who deserves at pat on the back is Pete Cowen. He is undoubtedly the most successful golf coach ever in European Golf. I’ve had loads of golf lessons from Pete over the years and he really is out on his own.

Players frequently go off on a tangent, looking for the quick fix. Pete doesn’t believe in that theory. He’s there to install his beliefs and he sticks to his guns. He preaches consistency. He doesn’t allow his boys to go off on a tangent.

Pete always comes back to the basics and he doesn’t change from what he believes in. He’s got the right mindset and he insists his players also have the same thoughts. It’s a tricky balancing act. It’s like being a doctor. He prescribes the medicine but you need to know how much to take and when.

It’s tough to get it right but Pete has got it right better than anyone and the 2016 season has been his best year so far in a hugely successful career.

Tour pros are difficult to handle. We can hit a good shot one day and the next day you can hit the same shot and take another stroke. Players may focus on their shot in different ways. We’re like racing cars. Rory’s car goes faster than me so I’ve got to find an alternative route to get to the finishing line first.

Worldwide GOLF 21

Columnist

Rafa Cabrera Bello

Dreaming of Desert Classic déjà vu

I

said in my column last month that 2016 had been the best season of my career, and it certainly was. Competing in my first Masters and finishing 17th, which I’m told is the best finish by a Spanish debutant in the tournament. Then being part of golf’s historic return to the Olympics alongside my good friend Sergio Garcia and coming fifth, and of course making my debut in the Ryder cup (he was the only undefeated European in the team, Ed). Experiences like those are why I became a professional golfer, but despite it being a wonderful season that helped me to my highest ever finish on the Race to Dubai (eighth place) the one thing missing was a win.

The press made a lot about the fact that I haven’t missed a cut on the European Tour for over a year and I came so close to winning on several occasions, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. So when I was leading from the first to the third round of my final event of 2016 – the UBS Hong Kong Open – I thought that win was finally going to come.

I played really well and shot 64-65-70 over the first three days and then played a decent final round, shooting 69 and making a couple of good birdies on the last few holes but was beaten by one stroke by Sam Brazel. I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t hard to take but that’s golf for you, the margins are really small at the top of the game and it’s entirely possible to play fantastic golf and still not win.

People keep telling me that it won’t be long until my performances are converted into victories and so I’m just going to keep doing what I do, which is working hard, enjoying the experience and staying calm!

There couldn’t be a better place for me to go after my third European Tour title than the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic. It’s an event I have very fond memories of after winning my biggest title so far there in 2012. It was a great week for me. I began really well to lead with a 63 on the first day, which was an ideal start, and then stayed in among the leaders all week and was able to get it over the line on the Sunday.

It’s one of the biggest events on the European Tour and to have my idols, Seve Ballesteros and José Maria) Olazàbal, having won there with my friends Miguel Angel Jiménez and Alvaro Quiros winning it in the previous years, just ahead of me, made it really special. It was something that I was dreaming about. That last round was very

special. One of the highlights was on the 16th when I took the risk from the middle of trees through a very small gap to go for the green and I managed to make it for a par. Then I made a birdie on 17 and neither Stephen Gallacher or Lee Westwood birdied the last so I won! I was so excited. It gave me a huge amount of confidence which set up what was to be the best year of my career at that point and catapulted me into the World Ranking, as well as giving me hopes of making the Ryder Cup team.

Dubai Desert Classic I played really well at the Desert Classic last year as well and finished in second place on 18-under-par, the same score I shot when I won it, but unfortunately for me Danny Willett was playing unbelievable golf and he beat me by one stroke. Danny went on to win the Masters not long after that so I don’t think I can feel too bad!

I’ve really enjoyed relaxing and spending time with family over the Christmas break but I’m looking forward to getting back out there. The Majlis at Emirates Golf Club (host venue of the Dubai Desert Classic) is a course I like a lot so it’s a great place for me to play so early in the season. The fact that I now live in Dubai and have many friends there means that it will be even more special this year and I would love to have a repeat of my 2012 win there!

It’s going to be an exciting season on the European Tour with the new Rolex Series meaning we’ve got more big-money events on the Race to Dubai schedule. The Race to Dubai has also got a new logo which I was involved in launching along with Rory and Henrik. It’s great that it is now using the official Dubai logo and great recognition from the Dubai Government of the success the Race to Dubai has had in raising the profile of the emirate around the world.

Hopefully, the new branding will help with that even more. I’m enjoying playing my part in promoting the UAE, too, and it’s something I’m looking forward to doing more of in the future.

RAFA CABRERA BELLO IS A JA RESORTS & HOTELS AMBASSADOR.

Worldwide GOLF 23

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PLAY WITH THE STARS AT THE SHARJAH SENIOR GOLF MASTERS

T

he inaugural Sharjah Senior Golf Masters, taking place at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club from March 14-18, 2017, is set to feature some of the most well-known names in seniors golf with local players are being offered the opportunity and get in on the action, too.

Involving the local golfing community is a big part of what the European Senior Tour’s newest event is all about and there are eight different ways that you can qualify to rub shoulders with the big names.

Clubs across the UAE will be hosting qualifiers with the winner and the runner-up, along with the club captain from each one, qualifying for the National Final held at the Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club on February 12. The National Final's top three will qualify to play the first of two Sharjah Senior Golf Masters Pro-Ams which is set to take place on March 14.

Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club are hosting three qualifying events of their own. The club's monthly medal (for members only), the Senior Open and the Ladies Open will give players another shot at bagging a place in

Pictured above at the 2016 Sharjah Senior Invitational Pro-Am presented by Shurooq: Andy Stubbs, European Tour; Malcolm Mackenzie; Ronan Rafferty; Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Thani, Managing Director and Vice Chairman, Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club; H.E. Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); Paul Broadhurst and Des Smyth.

the second pro-am on March 15, with the winners of each event securing a spot.

Local golfers are also being given the chance to win a place in the main Sharjah Senior Golf Masters event, which will run from March 16-18, with two places being awarded at a gross qualifier which, again, takes place at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club on February 12.

In order to compete in the gross qualifier, players must be male and aged 50 years or older on March 16, 2017. The applicants must be UAE nationals, local residents, GCC nationals or members of the UAE PGA, and professional golfers or amateurs with a 2.4 handicap index or lower.

Martin Duff, Director of Golf at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club said: "It is great to have so many opportunities for people to play and participate and to get involved, whether they are juniors, women, seniors, amateurs or professionals. In theory everyone has a chance to qualify, be it from the three spots from the National Final, the three spots directly through our events in February and the gross qualifying event."

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

T

he Sharjah Senior Golf Masters is looking for volunteers who are enthusiastic about the game of golf to work in a variety of roles at the event.

Everyone from experienced golf fans to those simply looking for a unique and fun-filled experience, is encouraged to register for the four-day (Pro-Am plus three rounds).

It promises to be a rewarding experience and there are various roles available as caddies, marshals and scorers (responsibilities allocated based on volunteers’ availability over the week).

Each role has its own responsibilities and requirements with good fun had by all in the process of ensuring the event runs smoothly.

The deadline for applying is February 16 and the people who have applied for the roles will be contacted by February 23.

To sign up as a volunteer please visit: www.surveymonkey.com/ SharjahSGMVolunteers

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TOUR NEWS

WORLD ROUNDUPS

Date: Dec 1 - 4 Hero World Challenge.

Venue: Albany, New Providence, Bahamas Winner’s Cheque: $1,000,000

Date: Dec 1 - 4 Event: Alfred Dunhill Championship Venue: Leopard Creek CC, Malelane, South Africa Winner’s Cheque: €190,200

MATSUYAMA ON TOP AS WOODS RETURNS Hideki Matsuyama clinched the Hero World Challenge with Tiger Woods finishing15th on his long-awaited return from injury at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. On a tough final day Matsuyama shot 73 to win by two from Henrik Stenson while Woods struggled to a 76 to fall five places, although Woods did shoot a second round 65.

“There's been some great golfers in Japan – Jumbo Ozaki, Isao Aoki, Shigeki Maruyama, Tsuneyuki Nakajima to name a few - to follow in their footsteps is a great honor.”

Pos. Name 1 2 3

Country

Hideki Matsuyama JPN Henrik Stenson SWE Matt Kuchar USA

-18 -16 -13

STONE IN COMMAND Brandon Stone cruised to his second European Tour title on home soil with a seven-stroke win over compatriot Richard Sterne at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Stone carded a final round 67 to finish on 22 under and win the second title in the calendar year of 2016 following his win at the BMW SA Open hosted by City of Ekurhuleni in January.

"To get this win before Christmas is obviously great but more importantly it gets me a good start on the Race to Dubai. I finished 50th for 2016 and I want to build on that.”

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

Pos. Name

65 67 65 73 67 71 66 68 67 67 71 70

270 272 275

1 2 3

Date: Dec 1 - 4 Australian PGA Championship Venue: RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Winner’s Cheque: €175,630

Brandon Stone Richard Sterne Thomas Detry

Country RSA RSA BEL

-22 -15 -13

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

67 66 66 67 68 70 68 67 69 71 67 68

266 273 275

Date: Dec 8 - 11 Event: UBS Hong Kong Open Venue: Hong Kong GC, Fanling, Hong Kong Winner’s Cheque: €311,843

BRAZAL DENIES RAFA IN HONG KONG

VARNER CLINCHES FIRST TITLE Young American Harold Varner III closed with a stunning 65 to win his first European Tour title by two strokes at the Australian PGA Championship.

Home favourites Andrew Dodt and Adam Scott finished in second and third place respectively as Varner III became the first overseas winner of the event since Greg Turner in 1999.

“Winning is hard – I don’t care where you tee it up, so to get it done feels great.”

Pos. Name 1 2 3

Harold Varner III Andrew Dodt Adam Scott

Country USA AUS AUS

R1 R2 R3 R4 -19 -17 -15

65 72 67 65 65 67 70 69 68 68 70 67

Sam Brazal rolled in a birdie putt on the final hole to win his first European Tour title by one stroke from Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello at the Hong Kong Open. The Australian, ranked 480th in the world at the start of the week, closed with a 68 to the Spaniard’s 69 to win and deny Cabrera Bello a first win since 2012.

“It’s been a long time coming. I’ve been playing good golf and it was a thrill to be out there the last few days.”

Total

Pos. Name

269 271 273

1 2 3

Country

Sam Brazal AUS Rafa Cabrera Bello ESP Andrew Dodt AUS

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-13 -12 -11

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

66 66 67 68 64 65 70 69 69 67 67 66

267 268 269

MEGA Winners

NEWS

TOUR

Golf Director of the Year Thomas Rourke - The Track Meydan General Manager/Club Manager of the Year Elliott Gray – Arabian Ranches Golf Club Digital Platform of the Year Golf Gamebook – Onside Sports Best Golfing Product of the Year MyTurf Fleet Management Software Package - Hydroturf Golf Course Maintenance Team of the Year Saadiyat Beach Golf Club [L-R] Mark Gregson-Walters, Director of Instruction, Jumeirah Golf Estates' ETPI, Lesley Wade, Membership Manager at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Rick Bevan, General Manager, WSP Global, Neal Graham, General Manager Club Operations, Jumeirah Golf Estates.

EUROPEAN TOUR AND PARTNERS ENJOY A GREAT NIGHT AT THE MEGAS Jumeirah Golf Estates pick up two flagship awards

I

t was a great night for the European Tour and their partners at the Middle East Golf Awards as key figures from the industry in the region came together for the annual end-of-season red carpet event.

Among the significant winners of the evening, which took place at the stunning One and Only Royal Mirage in Dubai, were Jumeirah Golf Estates, host venue of the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

The club picked up the award for ‘Best Golf Academy’ for their renowned European Tour Performance Institute – one of only two such facilities in the world – which is frequently used

by European Tour players in the off-season or during their preparations for the Race to Dubai’s climactic event.

Second gong

The club also picked up a second gong for ‘Best Summer Marketing Promotion’ after the success of their ‘Greatest Summer on Earth’ summer membership campaign.

“Congratulations to Jumeirah Golf Estates and all the other winners,” said Nick Tarratt, Director of European Tour International Dubai Office. “In a short period of time the MEGAs, organised

by Sport360, have already established these awards as a ‘must-attend’ industry gathering event for the Middle East region.”

Meanwhile, the Emirates Golf Federation’s

hugely successful Arabic Schools Initiative supported by DP World, which saw Golf DXB providing ‘introduction to golf’ lessons to more than 3,000 Arabic schoolchildren deservedly won ‘Youth Development Initiative of the Year’.

The scheme, which saw Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello help out with one of the sessions at a local Dubai school, attracted a great deal of media attention and was instrumental in creating interest in the sport among huge numbers of Arabic children with no previous exposure to golf.

Success Stories

“This grass roots Initiative supported by DP World and the DP World Tour Championship is one of our success stories of 2016,” added Tarratt. “The project has involved school visits to the tournament week itself as well as follow up group lessons over four weeks in January and February 2017.

"We look forward to seeing how we progress this initiative after the year one review. With our collaboration with the Emirates Golf Federation we look forward to establishing a genuine European Tour legacy UAE National golf programme involving our partners.”

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship picked up the award for ‘Best Live Experience at a Professional Golf Tournament.’

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP:

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Youth Development Initiative of the Year EGF Arabic Schools Golf Initiative supported by DP World - Emirates Golf Federation Summer Marketing Promotion of the Year The Greatest Summer on Earth - Jumeirah Golf Estates Amateur Tournament of the Year Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship - Doha Golf Club Corporate Tournament of the Year Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge - Onside Sports/Xerox Best F&B Team of the Year The Els Club Dubai Best Golf Academy of the Year European Tour Performance Institute Best Live Experience at a Professional Event Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Best Golf Course Under Dh500 Almouj Golf Best Golf Course Over Dh500 The Majlis - Emirates Golf Club Best Overall Club Experience Abu Dhabi Golf Club Best Teaching Professional of the Year Danny Jakubowski - Abu Dhabi Golf Club Arab Golf Initiative of the Year MENA Golf Tour National Player of the Year Reema Al Heloo Collaboration of the Year Golf DXB and The Track Meydan Serviceman of the Year Eravathra Parappurath Ummer

NOVEMBER 16-19, 2017 EARTH COURSE AT JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

FEATURE

W ORLD WIDE GOLF GO WILD!

ENGLAND’S CRAIG HINTON, WHO BOOKED HIS SPOT IN THE EVENT AT OUR WORLDWIDE GOLF QUALIFIER, WINS THE 2016 3E ACTUARIES OPEN.

PRESIDENT TEODORO OBIANG AND THE FIRST LADY ARE SHOWN THE EVENT TROPHIES DURING A TOUR OF THE TOURNAMENT WITH HOST OLAWALE OPAYINKA AND EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JOSÉ MARIA ZAMORA.

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AS HINTON WINS BIG IN AFRICA

R I CH ARD BE VAN RE CO U N TS WOR L DW IDE G OL F ’S A F R IC A N ADV EN T U RE I N D E CE MBE R W H IC H C U L M IN ATE D IN E N G L A N D’S CR A I G HI N TO N , T HE 2016 M E N A TOU R C H A M P ION , W IN N IN G T H E BI GGE S T PAY-CHE Q UE OF H IS F L E DG L IN G C A R E E R AT TH E U S $ 150,000 3E ACT UAR IE S OP E N IN E QUATOR IA L G U IN E A , W H I L E CHI L E AN L P GA PL AYE R PA Z E C H E V E R R IA TOOK TH E S P O I L S I N TH E L A DIE S E V E N T.

T

he Worldwide Golf team set off on an intrepid adventure into the unknown last month as we made our way to the little- known West African country of Equatorial Guinea for the 2017 3e Actuaries Open in the jungle territory of Mongomo.

We’d been heavily involved in promoting the event, which features an intriguing mix of international and African tour players – male and female – and was this year complemented with an added attraction in the form of US PGA Tour star Charlie Wi. Having hosted our own UAE qualifier for the event at Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai which saw five MENA Tour pros win spots in the main tournament with flights, accommodation and expenses thrown in, we were excited to see what Equatorial Guinea, and its only professional golf tournament, had to offer.

The early morning flight from Dubai to Equatorial Guinea’s capital Malabo, via Addis Ababa – a good 10 hours in total – passed by in a relaxed haze of comfort and good food due to Ethiopian Airlines’ excellent ‘Cloud 9’ service and we arrived in Equatorial Guinea’s off-shore capital, Malabo in good spirits.

Yas Links’ MENA Tour favourite Luke Joy joined us on our journey and by the time we reached Mongomo via an overnight stop at the magnificent Sofitel Malabo, we had already bonded with a lively group of South African players from the Sunshine Tour. Fun, friendship and shared experience, we were to find out, are a key part of what this unique event is all about.

Our base for the week was the Grand Hotel Djibloho in the heart of the Equatorial Forest and, like the accommodation in Malabo, it was again an exceptionally high standard, although I was struck by how quiet it seemed.

High Standard

A fleet of courtesy cars sent over by President Teodoro Obiang for use at the tournament added to the feeling of being at a top class tour event. But as we travelled to the golf course along a pristine dual carriageway, ir was eerily quiet and I began to wonder if we were the only people there!

En-route we passed beautifully constructed apartment blocks, schools and hospitals but a distinct lack of people. We later found out from the head chef at the hotel that the world-class hotels and the well-developed

Worldwide GOLF 31

R I C H A R D

d l i W

B Y

f l o G Go !

B E V A N

e d i w d Worl

infrastructure we could see all around us are part of the country’s vision of becoming an international commerce and tourism centre by 2020. Hosting global events such as the 2015 African Cup Nations and the 3e Actuaries Open are also clearly helping to drive the country towards that goal.

On arrival at the course, rainy conditions for the opening round led to some up and down scoring as Zimbabwe’s Mohammed Mandhu lit up the beautiful Presidential Golf Course with a faultless 6-under-66 to lead by two strokes from Sweden’s Peter Gustafsson and Zimbabwe’s Madalitso Muthiya.

“I played unbelievable golf for a bogey-free round,” said Sunshine Tour regular Mandhu.

“I was here last year and didn’t know where I was coming to but I was surprised. It’s an unbelievable place – the hotel and the golf course are stunning. The course layout is fantastic. Obviously, the greens are a little slow and a little bumpy because not many people play here but, overall, it’s a great course.”

The opening round also received a very special guest when the President and the First Lady came to declare the 2016 3e Actuaries Open officially open.

FEATURE

W ORLD WIDE GOLF GO WILD!

HINTON IS EMBRACED BY THE FANS AFTER HIS VICTORY OUR DRIVER MOYES TAKES A DETOUR EN-ROUTE TO THE HOTEL TO INTRODUCE US TO THIS COOL DUDE (WORLDWIDE GOLF’S SCOTT GRAYSTON IS THE ONE IN THE BACKGROUND!)

SUNSHINE TOUR PLAYER STEPHEN FERREIRA (WHO FINISHED FIFTH) MAKES A NEW FRIEND AT THE AIRPORT IN MONGOMO.

THE ROAD TO MONGOMO IS COMPLETE FOR THE PLAYERS AS THEY ARRIVE FOR THE 2016 3e ACTUARIES OPEN.

“I’d like to welcome all of the golfers who have come to Equatorial Guinea and thank Olawale Oopayinka, the promoter of the tournament,” said the President.

“I had the idea of building this golf course here in Mongomo and also one in Malabo plus one in Oyala to make the population aware of this wonderful game of golf. “ Former European Tour player Gustafsson, known as the Flowerman, blossomed in the second round with a 5-under 67 to lead by three from Madalitso.

Excellent Golf

The 2009 Tour de Las Americas Order of Merit winner took a year out from the game in 2015 but returned to action last year and looked to be heading for a successful end to the season in Mongomo producing some excellent golf, causing almost as much excitement as the cobra spotted by the local children working as marshals by the first tee!

“I started the tournament pretty well and then took off extremely well today, making two long putts on 10 and 11 and almost holing my approach on 13, so I got to 3-under very quickly,” said the 40 year old who has eight

professional victories to his name. Moving day lived up to its reputation on day three as Hinton seized control of the tournament after shooting a 7-under-par 65 for a new national record.

The 2016 MENA Tour Order of Merit champion was a model of consistency as he tore up the Presidential Course with a stunning round, which featured a back nine of 31, to lead Gustafsson and Muthiya by two at 10-under-par for the tournament.

“I wasn’t expecting that kind of score when I played the practice rounds but luckily things went my way and I managed to chip in on the last to get the national record which is a nice thing to have on the CV,” said Hinton.

The likeable Englishman booked his place in the field via our DSA Architects ‘Road to Mongomo’ Qualifier presented by Worldwide Golf at Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai in September, where he took the last of five available spots via a nail-biting four-man play-off.

“Supposedly the back nine is the tougher one so to go out there and shoot 31 is a great achievement,” said Hinton. “The putts seemed to drop today, which they didn’t for the first

Worldwide GOLF 32

two days, so I’ll take it. It was touch and go whether I’d even be here, so getting that last spot in the Worldwide Golf qualifier was huge for me.

“It was a very well organised event and, hopefully, there’ll be many more in the future.”

The Saturday evening saw the players, officials and media treated to some authentic African entertainment with tribal dancers and music before a sumptuous banquet in the Grand Hotel Djibloho’s magnificent ballroom.

Great Achievement

Back to the golf and with only two shots separating the leaders it was all to play for with a US$24,000 winner’s cheque awaiting and on a day of tough scoring, it was 28 year old Hinton who prevailed with a solid if unspectacular closing 72 to beat Gustafsson, who shot 73, by three strokes while Muthiya signed for a 75 to take third place, another two strokes back.

“It’s been a long day and it was hard work out there so to finally win is a great achievement,” said Hinton who made two bogeys and a birdie on the front nine before

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONE SO MUCH TO MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE. I AM ELATED, DELIGHTED AND OVERJOYED WITH THE OUTCOME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A GREATER AND EVEN MORE SUCCESSFUL EVENT NEXT YEAR.” – tournament host Olawale Opayinka

PAZ SIGNS OFF IN STYLE

ABU DHABI-BASED MENA TOUR PLAYER LUKE JOY IS PICTURED WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL YOUNGSTERS WHO DID AN EXCELLENT JOB WORKING AS VOLUNTEER MARSHALS DURING THE TOURNAMENT. finishing with a faultless back nine closing in style with a birdie at the last. “This win has filled me with a lot of confidence and I look forward to moving on now.

“It was a new experience for me coming to Equatorial Guinea. I knew a few of the boys in the field from the MENA Tour but I hadn’t played with many of the players before,” added Hinton who will tee it up at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic after his MENA Tour triumph.

“There were some good players from the Sunshine Tour and we also had Charlie Wi from the US PGA Tour so it was a really good field and it’s great to come out on top.”

Tournament host Olawale Opayinka said “We have been planning the tournament throughout the year and we had the vision of what exactly we wanted to do.

“We have worked with Worldwide Golf who produced the first qualifier in Dubai.

The invitations were sent to players from 28 different countries and they all arrived and made this tournament special.

“Everything fell into place perfectly. The weather was good and the players performed well on a challenging golf course. We

managed to accommodate the championship for men and for the ladies, and to have players from Europe and South America lifting their respective trophies in Africa is a wonderful thing to witness. I could not have wished for it to be any better.

He added: “We are grateful to everyone who has done so much to make this event possible. I am elated, delighted and overjoyed with the outcome and I look forward to a greater and even more successful event next year.”

Unique Week

So ended a unique week in one of the most intriguing new golf destinations on the planet.

Equatorial Guinea impressed and surprised in equal measures.

In the 3e Actuaries Open the country has an exceptionally well run tournament played on a stunning golf course of which they can be proud.

World-class hotels, great golf and captivating hospitality. This is an emerging country moving onwards and upwards at a fast pace.

Watch this space.

Worldwide GOLF 33

IN THE ladies event, which ran concurrently to the men’s tournament, Chile’s Paz Echeverria, who plays on the LPGA Tour, signed off her professional golf career in style with a closing round of two-over 74 to finish 2-under for the tournament, four strokes clear of Columbia’s Paula Hurtado and Spain’s Luna Sobron.

“I played really well the first three days so I had a couple of shots saved for today,” she said.

“I knew it was going to be a tough day. Luna and Paula were playing really well, too, so I’m happy to get the win.

“It’s my first win outside my country and it’s actually my last win as a professional so it’s even more special.”

Echeverria, who will take up a role developing junior golf within her home country next year, admits to being surprisingly impressed with her experience in Africa.

“I knew nothing about Equatorial Guinea,” she said. “I found out that they spoke Spanish and I thought that was weird as I ever knew they spoke Spanish somewhere in Africa! They invited a friend of mine who also plays on the LPGA Tour and she couldn’t come so she suggested that they invite me instead. I wasn’t sure whether to come or not then they said I could bring a friend so we said ‘why not, let’s do it and see what happens.’

I’m happy I made that decision!

“The layout of the golf course is unbelievable. I think the greens could be a little bit better – that would make it extraordinary but I think it’s a really good course.”

With a US$24,000 cheque also awarded to the winner of the ladies’ tournament Echeverria couldn’t wish for a better way to close the curtain on her career as a professional golfer.

“It’s a wonderful end to my career and the winner’s cheque comes perfectly in time for Christmas!”

Albatross View

A state-of-the-art panoramic hospitality facility which oers floor-to-ceiling unobstructed views of Doha’s signature 16th green, as well as the 10th green and 17th tee.

Don’t miss the action from this reachable par 4 that challenges players with a blind approach shot over a large rock formation. Guests can enjoy an alfresco dining experience along our outdoor terrace or escape to our climate controlled indoor seating to relish in a catered buet lunch provided by InterContinental Hotel.

Patrons will have access to an open bar followed by high tea, as well as live coverage of the action on multiple television monitors.

Daily Package Price Includes Corporate Booking : 10 Daily Badges Individual Booking : 1 Daily Badge Parking Pass Complimentary Buffet Breakfast & Lunch Complimentary Open Bar & High Tea Souvenir Programme & Draw Sheets Live Tournament Telecast on Live Course Feed

Corporate Bookings

Individual Bookings

QAR 12,000 QAR 17,500 QAR 17,500 QAR 17,500 QAR 53,000

QAR 1,200 QAR 1,750 QAR 1,750 QAR 1,750 QAR 5,300

Please specify number of tables

Thursday, 26 January 2017 Friday, 27 January 2017 Saturday, 28 January 2017 Sunday, 29 January 2017 Thursday-Sunday (4 Days)

Please specify number of people

Winner’s Enclosure

Our Winner’s Enclosure delivers an ideal semi-private environment for exclusive entertaining of your guests with elevated views of the 9th and 18th greens.

Guests can enjoy a memorable alfresco experience along our two-storey open-air balconies overlooking the action on course, or retreat to our climate controlled luxury hospitality to enjoy exquisite five-star dining and access to an open bar followed by high tea, as well as live coverage on multiple television monitors.

Guests, seated at reserved tables of 10, will delight in complimentary dining specially prepared by IHG Culinary Ambassadors, Chef Tobias Gensheimer and Chef Hiroaki Nagaishi, for breakfast and lunch.

Chef Gensheimer specialises in Sushi and fine Asian cuisine and is no stranger to the sports world. He has had the privilege of cooking for Thai royalty, several presidents and sports stars such as Pele, Maradona, Yao Ming and Roger Federer. Chef Nagaishi specialises in French and Japanese cuisine and will join Chef Gensheimer in providing guests with an unforgettable culinary experience.

Daily Package Price Includes Corporate Booking : 10 Daily Badges Individual Booking : 1 Daily Badge Parking Pass Complimentary Buffet Breakfast & Lunch Complimentary Open Bar & High Tea Souvenir Programme & Draw Sheets Live Tournament Telecast on Live Course Feed

Chef Hiroaki Nagaishi

Corporate Bookings

Individual Bookings

QAR 20,000 QAR 27,500 QAR 27,500 QAR 27,500 QAR 75,000

QAR 2,000 QAR 2,750 QAR 2,750 QAR 2,750 QAR 7,500

Please specify number of tables

Thursday, 26 January 2017 Friday, 27 January 2017 Saturday, 28 January 2017 Sunday, 29 January 2017 Thursday-Sunday (4 Days)

Chef Tobias Gensheimer

Please specify number of people

Stats 2016 European Tour leaders

Driving Accuracy: 1 2

Francesco MOLINARI Henrik STENSON

76.8% 76.4%

THE top dogs when it came to finding the fairway on the European Tour last year were Francesco Molinari and Henrik Stenson. The Swede was leading the Driving Accuracy stats heading into the season-ending DP World Tour Championship but was passed by Francesco Molinari who hit 85.7% of the fairways at Jumeriah Golf Estates to top the ranking that week. Stenson hit 78.6% and finished the third most accurate off the tee in Dubai.

The Italian is renowned for his ball-striking ability and it’s his troubles with the flatstick that have limited him to only four European Tour victories. He is a keen advocator of working on core strength, as his coach, Dennis Pugh testifies: “A strong core will allow him to store more power as he turns back and then unleashes it through impact.”

Molinari: “The strength of my driving is accuracy rather than distance, so I don’t try to hit the ball too hard. I know that it is better for me to be further back in the fairway than further up in the rough, so I work hard on finding the right line from each tee.”

Stenson’s stats may be misleading. More often than not he takes his 3-wood off the tee, and the fact that he can cream that particular club around the 300 yard mark is something mere mortals can only dream of and 3-woods are also far more controllable than a driver. So Stenson invariably hits more short grass than long. Stenson’s Callaway Diablo Octane Tour 3-wood, which dates back to 2011, is his key weapon. “In today’s world it’s almost a vintage club,” says pundit Frank Nobilo. “The Graffaloy Blue shaft he uses came in 2003, so it’s an old shaft and an old head.”

Sand Saves

Driving Distance Worldwide GOLF 35

Greens in regulatiom

Stats

1 2 3 4

Driving Distance

Dean BURMESTER SĂŠbastien GROS Nicolas COLSAERTS Ryan FOX

315.6 311.7 306.8 306.4

For Ryan Fox, son of All-Black rugby union great Grant Fox, 2016 was a breakout year. The Kiwi represented his country at both the Olympic Games and the World Cup of Golf and he made it onto the European Tour after earning his card through the Challenge Tour’s Road to Oman ranking. His biggest asset is his length off the tee as that puts him in position to attack the pins with a shorter club in his hand.

In 2015 his Driving Distance average on the European Challenge Tour was a whopping 330.9 yards.

Ryan Fox

Worldwide GOLF 36

Greens in Regulation

Sand Saves 1

Alejandro Canizares

82.9%

Getting up and down from the bunker time-after-time on the slick greens on the European Tour is no mean feat. The Spaniard’s secret – adapting after turning professional.

“When I was growing up, I was taught to open myself up to the target in the bunker and cut through the ball – so the sand went left and the ball goes right with cut spin,” says Canizares.

“But when I turned pro I started learning more, and if you set the club more square to the target and release the club without de-lofting the face, the sand should help the ball out of the bunker in the same direction.

“This requires less energy than playing it ‘open’ so you can swing smoother.”

1

Thomas AIKEN

79.2%

2

Henrik STENSON

77.8%

3

Rory MCILROY

77.5%

WE ALL know statistics can confound and confuse and a statistic like Greens in Regulation can be read in many different ways because of the variables that affect them. Of the top five on the ranking, only Rafa Cabrera Bello played more than 15 events on the European Tour last year. Leader Thomas Aiken only played nine – so he had fewer chances to miss the green – but he still played in enough events to earn himself a spot on the season-ending stats ranking. He also didn’t play in many statistically tough events. He only missed one cut, at the US Open, and finished under par in the other eight outings. A 12-under-par total at the Portugal Masters was good enough for 37th place, with his best result of the season a share of fourth place at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Aiken knows his strengths are from tee to green and admits it’s only when his short game gets hot that he truly competes. “I feel like I can win any tournament I play. I’ve been out on Tour a long time and from a ball striking point of view I’m as good as anybody out here. Those weeks where you can merge your ball striking with your short game is when you perform.”

Best results from 2016: T4 KLM Open T5 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Thomas Aiken

Wedges: Ping Tour Gorge

“I set up slightly behind the ball as this helps generates more speed and promotes a higher and flatter ball flight with less spin. Don’t snatch the club from the top of the back swing. You lose speed if you try and aggressively pull it down at the start of the downswing. You actually generate the speed in the swing when the club is parallel to the ground on the downswing into the ball. So my key here is to take it back long and slow, let the club drop into the slot and then hit it as hard as you can on the way through the ball.” – Ryan Fox Worldwide GOLF 37

FEATURE

ALEX NOREN

Worldwide GOLF 38

FRESH off the back of the finest year of his career, Alex Noren enters 2017 as one of the hottest players in the game – and he’s hungry for more of the same after four wins in 2016. The softly-spoken, laid back Swede produced some of the finest displays of iron play and clutch putting to finish third on last year’s Race to Dubai Rankings presented

by Rolex, with almost €4million in earnings. When you consider that in 2014 Noren only managed to play twice on the European Tour after suffering with tendonitis in both wrists, his recent feats are even more remarkable.

Worldwide GOLF 39

FEATURE

ALEX NOREN

ALEX NOREN FINISHES OFF THE FINEST SEASON OF HIS CAREER AT JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES IN THE DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP. FTER a share of 35th place at Abu Dhabi – his best result in the three Middle East Swing events – Noren’s 2016 campaign was a slow burner before his form began to pick up. He posted back-to-back top tens in the Open de España and the Volvo China Open and then, on the windy links of Castle Stuart in July, Noren clinched the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, holding off the challenge of Tyrrell Hatton down the stretch.

“The Scottish Open was a huge win for me,” says Noren. “Especially coming down the last couple of holes. It was quite a tough wind, and being able to par those two holes I felt like I could stand my ground under pressure, which is always a confidence boost.

“That made it a lot easier the next time I had a chance to win, because although I was nervous over those last few holes, I knew I could handle it.”

From there his form went into orbit. He reached the final of the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play, losing out to Anthony Wall, but bounced back with a solid victory at the Omega European Masters in his next start. Wins at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports and then the Nedbank Golf Challenge in the penultimate event of the campaign, saw him record the finest season of his career with €3,995,053 in prize money.

It took Noren 214 events to win his first four European Tour titles. The next four wins

ALEX NOREN ACCEPTS THE WINNER’S CHEQUE FROM GARY PLAYER AFTER HIS VICTORY IN THE NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE IN SOUTH AFRICA BY SIX STROKES.

“I THINK THAT’S BEEN THE DIFFERENCE. RATHER THAN PRACTICE FOR HOURS ON THE RANGE OR ON THE PUTTING GREEN, I’VE TRIED TO PLAY A LOT MORE GOLF, SO I’M MORE USED TO BEING ON THE GOLF COURSE AND EXPERIENCING CERTAIN SITUATIONS. – ALex noren

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came in an incredible 11 event spell.

“I changed coaches two years ago, and I got a lot of help from that, in understanding my swing more than I had done. I’m a little bit more relaxed now because of that,” he smiles. “Then, obviously, with a win comes a lot of confidence, and following those winsI’m just trying to keep improving.

“I got such a boost by pulling off the victory at the Scottish Open and that helped me to achieve the win at the European Masters in Crans-Sur-Sierre. It’s a belief that you don’t have to play perfect golf, you don’t have to hit every shot perfectly to win. I used to think that that was the case.

“You watch TV and you see the top, amazing players not missing a shot, but that’s not the reality of the situation. As long as you manage your game and miss it in the right places and hole enough putts and chip well enough, you’ve got a chance.

“When you’ve done all that, then you can see that you are able to win without having the internal pressure of saying to yourself that you have to hit every shot perfectly.

“I think that’s been the difference. Rather than practice for hours on the range or on the putting green, I’ve tried to play a lot more golf, so I’m more used to being on the golf course and experiencing certain situations.

“So I’ve enjoyed being on the golf course a lot more and enjoyed hitting an 8-iron to ten yards and making par with a tough pin position and not just think ‘oh, I need to hit

NOREN PROUDLY HOLDS THE OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS TROPHY AFTER HIS PLAY-OFF VICTORY OVER SCOTT HEND.

Noren’s 2016 Stats

ALEX NOREN IS PRESENTED WITH THE TROPHY BY KEITH PELLEY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN TOUR, AFTER WINNING THE BRITISH MASTERS SUPPORTED BY SKY SPORTS.

it really close’ all the time. That’s what all the best players are doing – they score well and manage everything well.

Just get a good round in and learn to get good rounds in during practice and during tournaments - and not try too hard to be perfect.”

Quite often players have fairytale seasons on the European Tour and immediately try their hand at conquering the US PGA Tour, but Noren believes that more Europeans will now stay closer to home thanks to the announcement of the new Rolex Series.

“I think if you have all those Rolex tournaments in the future and in addition you have the World Golf Championships and the Majors – that in itself is a great schedule.

“I think all of us Europeans love playing in America, but we love playing in Europe, and we are used to going to Asia and Africa and playing. Nowadays there are so many good players in Europe, and if a player wants to live in Sweden, or France or Italy, then you can, and still have a great schedule.”

Noren is all set to start his 2017 campaign where he left off – as one of the in-form players in the game – and he’s looking forward to teeing it up in the Middle East again. “The Middle East Swing is a perfect place to start the campaign,” said Noren. “The weather is always perfect, the facilities are great and it’s just a fantastic place to knock off any rust and get up and running for the season ahead.”

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70.03%

57.76%

289.3 (yards)

STROKE AVERAGE

DRIVING ACCURACY

DRIVING DISTANCE

72.94%

29.1%

58.9%

GREENS IN REGULATION

PUTTS PER ROUND

SAND SAVES

✮ Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open ✮ Omega European Masters ✮ British Masters supported

by Sky Sports ✮ Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player

FEATURE

ANDY SULLIVAN

From loading Shelves to Stacking Bank Notes

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NDY SULLIVAN knows a thing or two about reassessing goals.

Six years ago the likeable Englishman’s aim was to ditch his job as a supermarket shelf stacker and achieve his dream of becoming a Golf Tour pro. He was earning the princely sum of £6 (27 Dhs) per hour back then. He ticked that box when he turned professional in 2011 and won his first pay cheque as a golfer when earning €6,200 for finishing tied 39th at the Austrian Open – the same amount he would have made for stacking tins of beans for around 870 hours in the West Midlands. Next up was getting his first win under his belt and it’s fair to say he smashed that one out of the park in 2015 when did it three times and almost made it four at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai before being pipped at the post by Rory McIlroy.

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ANDY SULLIVAN TRIES AN EX TENDED DRIVE FROM THE BACK OF A C AMEL DURING A DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC PHOTO SHOOT.

‘I CANT WAIT TO COMPETE IN THE ROLEX SERIES EVENTS. THEY ARE ALL GREAT TOURNAMENTS THAT I HAVE PLAYED WELL IN BEFORE.’ ANDY SULLIVAN

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AST year saw another two huge ambitions realised when Andy Sullivan played at Augusta in the Masters for the first time and then joined Darren Clarke’s team at Hazeltine for a Ryder Cup which ultimately ended in collective disappointment but was nonetheless a stunning personal accomplishment for the 29 year old former Walker Cup player.

The chirpy and outgoing character from Nuneaton, who already has career earnings of over five million euros from his five years on the European Tour, has certainly made a big impression.

The same can be said of ‘Sulli’s Army’ – the group of family and friends who cheer him on all over the world, adorned in matching tee-shirts bearing his photograph. So what are his goals for the 2017 season as he returns to the Middle East for the eagerly anticipated ‘Desert Swing’? As he tells Worldwide Golf’s Richard Bevan in an exclusive interview, he’s simply going to go out there and “have fun.” The rest, no doubt, will follow.

Worldwide Golf: How would you assess your 2016 season and is there anything you’re working on during the off-season ahead of the Middle East Swing?

Andy Sullivan: 2016 was a special year for me that I will remember for a long time. I have very high expectations of myself, and that is not always a good thing unless it’s channelled in the

right direction. My plan for 2017 is, “just go out there and play and have fun.”

WWG: Obviously, the Ryder Cup was a disappointing end result for Europe, but how did you enjoy the experience and how determined are you to make Thomas Björn’s team in Paris for 2018?

AS: I loved The Ryder Cup at Hazeltine. It was an amazing week.

When you’re a rookie, you’re not quite seasoned enough to settle into that sort of atmosphere. The pressure is magnified tenfold.

It was a shame about the result but the US team certainly holed more putts than we did and sometimes that’s just the difference. I can’t wait till we get our own back when we’re on European soil in 2018.

WWG: You’ve had some great results in the Middle East – what is it about the region that brings out the best in you?

AS: I think it’s probably because the weather is so cold and wet in the UK from November until February that I simply can’t wait to get to the Middle East where the sun is shining and the temperature is perfect for golf!

WWG: How important are the events in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai in terms of gaining early-season momentum?

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AS: I love playing in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai so it’s no surprise that I have had some good results in the region.

Playing well during the Middle East swing gives me a huge boost in confidence heading into the rest of the season.

WWG: You are one of the most outgoing players on the Tour.

Do you feed off the attention you get and perform better in front of bigger crowds?

AS: I love playing in front of large crowds. I mean, after all, we are entertainers at heart and I love the energy I gain from my supporters and interacting with them.

WWG: The ‘Sulli Army’ spurred you on to victory in Portugal back in 2015. How big a thrill is it to look over to the ropes and see friends and family cheering you on so vocally?

AS: When the ‘Sulli Army’ come out to support me in force I feel like they are my 15th club in the bag. I love playing well for them as a thank you for coming out to follow me and cheer me on.

WWG: What are your thoughts on the European Tour’s Rolex Series?

AS: I can’t wait to compete at the Rolex Series events. They are all great tournaments that I have played well in before.

It’s great that there are more points to play for this season.

WWG: Statistically, you average almost 300 yards off the tee. Length is obviously important in the modern game but what tips can you give to an amateur to get the best out of their driver?

AS: The one tip I would give any amateur golfer would be to hit it hard but keep your balance. I see too many amateur golfers play scared and simply tap it down the fairway. Give it a good whack but retain a good, balanced swing.

WEDGES Favourite destination: UAE – the weather and courses are great. I love the Middle East swing.

Favourite course: The Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club.

Last movie you saw: Finding Dory! My kids love it.

Last song or album you played?

The Weekend.

Concert or Cinema?

Concert – I love the atmosphere.

Ski holiday or beach holiday?

Beach holiday.

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Any golfing superstitions?

Green line always covering the Pro V1x stamp on the side of my golf ball – it helps a lot with my putting and with identifying my ball.

Biggest influence on your career?

My Mum and Dad, they’ve supported me every step of the way.

Best friends on Tour?

Paul Waring, Bernd Wiesberger.

Oldest club in the bag?

My Ping S55 irons are getting a little worn so I think a new set of their iBlades may be in the bag soon for 2017 season.

Pictured: The 7th hole at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Pictured: Ed Edwards, Group General Manager at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

Happy being back in day to day actionED EDWARDS been an integral part of the golf industry around the Middle East for more years than he cares to remember but after spending the last four years as General Manager of the ground-breaking José Maria Olazàbal golf project in Qatar he is back in the UAE with Troon Golf as Group General Manager of Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Worldwide Golf’s Mike Gallemore talks to Ed Edwards about his future and how he sees the golf business progressing in the region.

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Feature: Ed Edwards at the helm in Abu Dhabi

Exclusive with

Pictured: The 16th hole at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

Worldwide Golf: Why did you chose to return to the UAE after spending so much time in developing the revolutionary Qatar International Golf Club?

ED EDWARDS: I absolutely loved the experience in Qatar, taking a concept on a piece of paper and developing it into a facility that will attract worldwide acclaim not only for the quality of the end product but also the unique vision the golf club has, which revolves around growing the game of golf.

However, when the opportunity came along to become part of the teams at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, I jumped at the chance. It’s not often that you have the opportunity to join an organisation like Troon Golf and be able to build on the success of two such incredible facilities.

WWG: Are you pleased to be back working with Troon Golf after a four year break?

ED EDWARDS: Definitely. Troon Golf is the market leader in

Golf Club Management and I look forward to be once again working with some of the leaders in the golf industry as well as utilising the countless resources the company has to assist with continually improving the quality of the golf offering and the overall customer experience. Troon Golf had a great influence on the success of The Address Montgomerie Dubai when I was General Manager there and I greatly look forward to re-establishing this relationship to the benefit of members and guests at the two facilities in Abu Dhabi.

WWG: One of your outstanding achievements was to take golf into the schools in Qatar and introduce the game to more than 10,000 schoolchildren. Is golf on the curriculum something you’d like see happening in the emirates with schoolteachers being able to also coach golf?

ED EDWARDS: It’s already happening in the UAE. Many of the UAE golf clubs have long-standing and successful 4

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Above: Saadiyat Beach Golf Club provides a breathtaking variety of golf experiences with every hole having its own unique character.

The course has been designed by Gary Player with sensitivity to the surrounding natural environment and in compliance with strict environmental guidelines.

The iconic Falcon Clubhouse at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

junior programmes in place and the Arabic Schools Golf Initiative, recently launched by the Emirates Golf Federation and supported by the European Tour, has introduced golf into Arabic schools with the target of creating 3,000 new golfers. The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open recently hosted at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club was also a great opportunity to enthuse a new generation of golfers. Both Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club have incredible teams of golf professionals delivering junior programmes (including Troon Family Golf and Troon Junior Club) on a daily basis and I look forward to being able to support all initiatives, events and professional teams at the clubs, as well as working with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and other governmental authorities to explore various means of putting Abu Dhabi at the forefront of growing the game in the region.

WWG: One of the principles of the Olazàbal project is to shorten the length of time it takes to play golf. Is this concept something you would like to introduce at Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat?

ED EDWARDS: In Qatar the facility design is unique because it incorporates a Par 3 course, 6-hole championship course and an 18-hole championship course, which gives options to all golfers regardless of ability and time constraints. In Abu Dhabi we have established facilities with an existing clientele that has certain expectations that we have to meet and hopefully surpass. However, any initiatives to speed up a round of golf will be welcomed by the majority

of golfers. Pace of play continues to be one of the top complaints and quicker rounds are an industry trend which Troon Golf has been actively addressing through their ‘Troon Values Your Time’ initiative.

WWG: With golf losing its popularity in so many places what challenges do you see for the future of the industry worldwide and in particular in the UAE? ED EDWARDS: There is a really positive movement in the golf industry at the moment. New role models are now firmly established with Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose, Jason Day and many others and Tiger Woods’ recent comeback can only be beneficial to the awareness and interest of the game. The recent changes in leadership within golf’s various governing bodies has also created new concepts and ideas to try and keep golf relevant and growing.

As operators of a golf club, our job is very much geared towards creating an environment that people enjoy visiting. To provide our members with the high service standards they expect, a golf course that is in great condition, creative events that encourage participation, a food and beverage offering that provides both the quality and ambience plus many other benefits are all things within our control and require constant attention and development to keep our clubs attractive. As a golf destination, it is difficult to think of a place you can visit anywhere in the world that offers an equivalent experience from the variety of clubs to the amazing hotels and attractions available. We realise that the offering will be at the higher end of the

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The 12th hole at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

The 4th hole at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

Feature: Ed Edwards at the helm in Abu Dhbai FEATURE

ANDRE W JOHNSTON

scale when compared to other destinations, however, we must ensure that what we provide surpasses expectation and still represents good value.

WWG: Are you looking forward to working in the emirates again in a ‘hands on’ role on two popular and busy golf courses instead of putting all your efforts into a long-term planning project like Qatar?

ED EDWARDS: When I left the UAE in 2012 I was General Manager of the leisure division of Emaar Hospitality Group, comprising The Address Montgomerie Dubai, Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club and the HAYYA Leisure and Fitness Clubs. With the nature and scope of these different businesses, along with the 880 associates that formed the division, it is safe to say that the role was extremely ‘hands on’ and you had to be available pretty much 24/7. But that’s the hospitality industry in general! I’m pleased to be back in the UAE and getting stuck back into the day-to-day operations at both clubs.

WWG: Do you envisage your new position will have its challenges in dividing your time between the two courses or do you see economies of scale, including your duties, becoming a big advantage?

ED EDWARDS: I envisage both scenarios. There will undoubtedly be some challenges in trying to support both properties equally, however, there are already some great leaders and associates at both clubs who strive to surpass member and visitor expectations on a daily basis.

One of my early priorities is to see how we can capitalise on any economies of scale and use my past experience to structure the businesses for long term success.

WWG: Although the emirates have a number of outstanding golf clubs is there is still much to be done to attract more international golf tourists to the region?

ED EDWARDS: The golf offering in the UAE is amongst the best in the world. However, golf tourism, as with tourism in general, has faced some challenges over the past few years, initially fuelled by the global economic crisis and, more recently due to the strong dollar, making the destination more expensive to several of our main golf tourism markets. I intend to work closely with the tourism authorities, hoteliers, local attractions and other golf clubs in Abu Dhabi to ensure we continue to promote Abu Dhabi as a golf destination for the widest possible demographic and ultimately encourage tourism growth.

Showcase WWG: Do you think the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship should alternate with Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Yas Links?

ED EDWARDS: The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship has grown to become one of the premier events on the European Tour thanks to the long term support of HSBC, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the many sponsors, organisers and volunteers who have worked so hard over the past 12 years, not only to showcase Abu Dhabi Golf Club, but also Abu Dhabi as a destination. Though both Saadiyat and Yas Links are fantastic courses, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, designed by the renowned golf course architect Peter Harradine, has always been the home of the Championship and all of the history that goes with it. It is a perfectly suited venue with The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa in close proximity and the large event space immediately adjacent to the practice area.

WWG: What is your priority for the first few months in the job?

ED EDWARDS: Initially, to get a proper understanding of both businesses by meeting and listening to as many members, associates, sponsors, visitors and supporters as possible, then using my experience working at some great golf resorts worldwide to continue the growth and development of both clubs.

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FEATURE

FIRST PLAY: TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

TRUMP

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Worldwide Golf Editor Alex Gallemore, a single figure handicapper, paid a visit to the Trump International Golf Course to see for himself the Gil Hanse layout that so many people are talking about.

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“This ball is reacting identical with how I want to play.

For me, that’s fun.”

FEATURE

FIRST PLAY: TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

T RU MP GOL F C OU RS E H O LE 1

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HEN Donald Trump last came to Dubai in 2014 to tee it up in front of the world’s media and draw global attention to the Trump International Golf Course in Dubai you wouldn’t have believed that just two years later he would become the most powerful man in the world as America’s President Elect.

The moment I received the invitation to play a round I couldn’t wait. Entering the complex, it’s still a building site but the clubhouse is certainly close to completion, a futuristic unconventional design that is located in the heart of things.

The usual inward and back nine layout means it flows well in terms of convenience and the driving range is only a five iron away.

So rushing to that first tee wasn’t a problem.

The first thing that grabbed me was the tee boxes. Gil Hanse has tried to give the course a natural feel and he’s made the tee boxes flow with the contours of the land, which means they are not all totally level. They are a novel change to the norm but hitting a driver off the what feels like a fairway came as a bit of a shock to the system.

The opening hole is long and without any yardage guides or course planner it was an even tougher shot than, I guess, it really is. With desert scrub running down the left and Out of Bounds down the right you would think it’s a nervy opener. But far from it. It’s wide and open with no rough to worry about. Your only concern is going long as the fairway narrows and brings bunkers to play on the right and the desert landscape opens up to create one large bunker area close to the green.

UNDULATIONS

Walking to the green gives you a feel of the multitude of undulations Hanse has created. Some are subtle, others are visually intimidating. This is where you need to be on your guard. Don’t be fooled by the lack of rough,

THE LOOK OF THE GOLF COURSE IS UNIQUE, IT IS VERY NATURAL IN ITS APPEARANCE. WE TRIED TO RECREATE LANDFORMS THAT ARE PART OF THE DESERT LANDSCAPE, GENTLE DUNES, ROLLS, RIDGES AND VEGETATION. GI L H ANS E

GIL HANSE ON HIS LATEST MASTERPIECE...

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NE of the unique things about Trump International Golf Club, Dubai, is that you will notice a lot of short grass and that is purposeful. We really think that the ground game is an integral part of the game of golf, not only from a strategic standpoint, but because it is very interesting. The word that we like to associate with this golf course, and we hope that you will too, is ‘fun’.

We think that the creativity that is inspired by these shots from around the greens – a lot of the humps and hollows that you will find, the ability to use putter, chip, bump and run and all those sorts of shots are an integral part of the design here. We have built a lot of variety into the golf course; you will find long holes, short holes, short fours, long fours. The par threes range from 250 yards down to about 130 yards. We think this variety is a critical part of the golf course and will add to the interest of it.

From our standpoint width adds a lot to the game and adds a lot of fun, too. So the fairways are wide and generous. We like to get

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golfers off the tee but to score here you need to focus on where you are going to hit the ball off the tee. Some second shots will favour approaches coming from the right and some from the left, but all golfers should be able to find these generous fairways and we hope from there the interest and the strategy of that second shot comes into play.

The look of the golf course is unique, it is very natural in its appearance. We tried to recreate landforms that are part of the desert landscape, gentle dunes, rolls, ridges and also vegetation. We used native vegetations, grasses, bushes and shrubs and a reliance on trying make the golf course feel like it’s a part of the landscape as opposed to be something separate from it. This approach of these perfectly manicured and maintained greens, fairways in contrast with the sandy native areas, and scrubby vegetation will provide a look that is unique to Dubai and the UAE. We feel that the strategy, the interest and the ‘fun factor’ will make your golf experience a memorable one.

N E W VO K E Y D E S I G N S M 6 W E D G E S .

PROGRESSIVE DESIGN. PRECISION PERFORMANCE.

HIGH CG: 58°-62°

MID CG: 54° AND 56°

LOW CG: 46°-52°

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46 – 52 – 56 – 60 –

JORDAN SPIETH

08 F Grind 08 F Grind 10 S Grind 04 L Grind

52 – 12 F Grind 56 – 14 F Grind 60 – 12 K Grind

JASON DUFNER

48 – 08 F Grind 54 – 08 M Grind 60 – 04 L Grind

JIMMY WALKER

FEATURE

FIRST PLAY: TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

TRUMP GOLF COU RS E H OL E 18

as you do on, say, The Els Course. You need to pay attention to pin positions and use the contours to your advantage and stay away from trouble. That’s easier said than done but don’t just line your approach straight at the pin and hope for the best as it could all end in tears.

This style of layout is very links-like, a style Trump is also very fond of. So it came as no real shock. The big surprise was just how good the course and greens were. They could have opened the course months’ ago but it’s good to see DAMAC are waiting to finish the clubhouse so members and guests can get the full, luxurious experience.

Holes 2 through to 7 boomerang around a wall of luxury apartments where the ‘links’ theme continues. Once the residents are in situe, it will give a unique grandstand feel to the course. It will be the ideal gallery spot whenever a championship event is staged here.

Hole 8 starts to make its way away from the apartments as you head for home. But this is one hole that you need to watch out for. A fairway bunker on the left will draw you into playing out to the right where there is plenty of room. But you are positioned at the wrong angle to approach the green and will have to tackle three greenside bunkers that guard the elevated green. Again, Hanse has you thinking you are playing a links course.

Hole 9 has desert scrub down both sides of a narrowing fairway and houses on the right.

The challenge is the green that is protected by a large lake that cuts in from the right. There’s also a series of bunkers to the left and right edge. There is plenty of room to the right but watch out as your ball could easily come into

play on the first fairway. It will be interesting to see what the ruling for this hole turns out to be.

Hole 10 doglegs slightly to the right, away from the clubhouse and around the left edge of the practice range. It’s tight and if you draw the ball like me, it’s not an easy hole to master.

Leave the driver or even three wood in the bag and play for position. The 11th hole brings you back up to the clubhouse with the desert landscape on the right and left, though the landing area is quite forgiving. It might not be the longest hole on the course but if you miss the fairway don’t try any heroics, just settle for getting back in play.

You can relax a little until you make it to the 14th. A long par 5 with a tee shot over desert scrub and down the right edge for most of the length of the hole. Anything left is a cart path followed by housing but the fairway opens up further down,so it might be a hole where three wood for position could be the wise move.

The raised green runs off in every direction and a wicked greenside bunker is positioned to capture those shots that just don’t make it.

The 15th hole is a short par 3 but, like all the holes so far, pay close attention to the pin position. The 16th is a great-looking hole with plenty of room on the right with bunkers and a landscaped desert waiting once more for those shots tight down the left. The fairway drops down to the elevated green that is guarded by three deep bunkers. It will come as no surprise to find the green has plenty of run- offs and undulations.

The 17th has to be the ‘Signature’ hole. A short par 3 that just draws you in visually around the manicured desert landscape and

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bunkers. But it’s more straightforward than you might think. With a wedge or nine iron in your hand you can afford to go long and bring the ball back towards the hole using the open area at the rear as a back stop.

Coming to the last reminds me of the 18th at TPC Sawgrass. Anything left is a reload and right is in the country with scrub and palm trees. The fairway doglegs around the lake to the green that is positioned at the lower edge of a large slope in front of the clubhouse. If you can hit a fade you can play safe on this hole as you can shape the ball into the green. If you can’t, you will have to take on two very deep bunkers that sit within the slope to the centre and right edge of the green. This hole could be a card wrecker.

VERDICT THE course has been created with the Tour player in mind. It’s a true test of golf from start to finish. Depending on how they set the course up with tee boxes, flag positions and green speeds it’s not ideal for the high handicapper. For those who want to put their game to the test then there are 18 holes that will ask the questions. Gil Hanse has managed to present Dubai with another outstanding course with its own personality.

It’s a fair course for those who like a challenge. When Donald Trump paid his visit here back in 2014 he promised to provide a course, ‘like nobody had ever seen before in the Middle East.’ Well he’s certainly got one earth-shattering prediction correct. n

FEATURE

THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

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THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON Travelling the world, playing golf at the greatest courses, being idolised by fans and earning millions. The life of a tour golfer seems like a dream come true.

However, this is not the reality for the vast majority of them. For all but the small elite group at the top of the tree it’s a slog from week to week trying to make cuts to earn enough money to survive.

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FEATURE

THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

CHRIS HANSON IN ACTION IN HIS FIRST FULL SEASON ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR.

E

NDLESS travel costs, flights, cars, hotel bills, daily expenses and other operating costs – it all adds up to a hefty sum. And that’s without taking into account those players with families at home to pay for.

For those on the mini tours such as the EuroPro Tour, the Sunshine Tour or the Middle East’s MENA Tour, it can be a hand to mouth existence. The same can be said for the lives of most Challenge Tour players. Competition to get to the summit of the sport is fierce and for the lucky few who manage it, staying there can be even more tricky A friend of mine who knows all about both sides of the spectrum is European Tour professional Chris Hanson. I caught up with my fellow Yorkshireman at the tremendous European Tour Performance Institute in Dubai where he was fine-tuning his game ahead of the new season.

His off-season would have been much gloomier had he earned just €7,247 less in prizemoney in 2016 – that was the difference between sinking a four foot putt to make the cut – or not. The 31-year-old finished 108th in the Race to Dubai, with only the top 111 retaining their cards.

“It was a funny final month of the season,” said Hanson who played 10 years as a journeyman on the mini tours and the Challenge Tour before making the big step up to the European Tour last season. “I had most people saying I’d probably done enough to keep my card but then about 30% percent were

saying, ‘you probably need to make one cut’.

The last three events were interesting because I missed a couple of cuts but then went into the Portugal Masters not knowing if I had to make the cut or not to secure my fate. Thankfully, I played nicely and did the job, so that was a big relief.”

Hanson’s 65th place result in the Portugal Masters earned him €4,600 in prizemoney while at the Italian Open a few weeks earlier he finished tied 20th and claimed €31,680. If he’d finished one place lower, in tied 21st, just one shot back, he’d have lost his European Tour card. As it turned out, he left Vilamoura with a smile on his face. Sadly, the same can’t be said for some of his fellow professionals.

EVERY SHOT COUNTS

“You saw some guys in Portugal who messed up on the last hole to miss the cut and, incidentally, lose their card,” he said. “For me I’ve always had the attitude that every shot always counts throughout the season. This is especially the case when you’re doing well in an event and are at the top end, so the drop off in money for one shot can be a vast amount.

“To only make it by just over €7,000 is pretty close and proves my case. It’s brilliant that I’ve got another year to show my worth on the European Tour.”

One of the stars to experience a torrid finish in Portugal was Eddie Pepperell. The 25-yearold had played for four consecutive years on the European Tour, finishing in the top 50 on two occasions – in 2014 and 2015 – to earn

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YOU SAW SOME GUYS IN PORTUGAL WHO MESSED UP ON THE LAST HOLE AND MISSED THE CUT, AND INCIDENTALLY, LOSE THEIR CARD – chris hanson HANSON’S TALE OF TWO TOURS

Challenge Tour

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FEATURE THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

EDDIE PEPPERELL EXPERIENCED A GRUELLING SEASON IN THE RACE TO DUBAI. spots in the DP World Tour Championship. But he failed to make the coveted top 111 this year. The Englishman had a chance to win in Thailand in July but from then on he endured a rapid fall in the Race to Dubai, missing the next six cuts and entering the final event in Portugal in 110th place and on the brink of losing his card.

Pepperell shared the lead after shooting 64 on Day One but had a nightmare on Day Two as he bogeyed three of the last five holes to miss the cut by two. That meant he finished 113th on the Race to Dubai losing his elite level playing privileges. However, he wasn’t giving up his career in the top flight without a fight and went on to win his card back through Qualifying School at the first time of asking.

BOUNCEBACKABILITY

“The way Eddie Pepperell] bounced back in Q-School showed tremendous character,” said Hanson, who gained the final card at European Tour Qualifying School in 2015. “It’s a surreal experience in that event. You’re not really focused on winning because you’re not playing for prize money. You just want to qualify in the top 25. It’s something you don’t want to be involved in very often because it’s so tough.

Hats off to Pepperell and the boys who earned their Tour card the hard way.”

Paul Dunne is another professional who earned his full European Tour playing rights through the intense, six-round Q-School back in 2015, the same year he shot into the limelight as the hotly-tipped amateur who shared the lead in the final round of The Open.

Like Hanson, the Irishman found out lthat life on the European Tour can be tough.

“I struggled last year because I couldn’t really plan a schedule,” admitted the 24-yearold who was also in Dubai to utilise Jumeirah Golf Estates’ ETPI ahead of the new season.

“I was constantly waiting until Tuesday or Wednesday to see if I was playing so I couldn’t take any time off.” Dunne also came close to losing his Tour card. He was in 111th place on the Race to Dubai going into the Alfred

Dunhill Links Championship, his penultimate tournament of the season. However, he played out of his skin when the pressure was on to finish 25th and earn €41,171. It turned out to be a hugely well-timed result as he retained his card by a mere €14,716.

“I’m hoping my performance in the Alfred Dunhill will be a building block for my future,” added Dunne. “It’s good this year because I have a full category so I can play a full schedule and plan breaks and time to see my coach and focus on the tournaments I want to play. That will be a big help for me. I can only try to keep progressing each day but it’s difficult when your routine is up in the air, which is the case when you are a reserve for a lot of events.”

Such a sporadic schedule is the result of players gaining their cards through Q-School (category 17), while taking the Challenge Tour route by finishing in the top 15 of the Road to Oman (category 14) offers a few more European Tour starts.

“It’s difficult on the Challenge Tour because you are trying to survive on as little budget as possible,” said Hanson who played for four seasons on Europe’s second-tier tour and came within a whisker of a fifth season before clinching his European Tour card in 2015. “The experience definitely toughens you up. You have to rent cars with other guys, stay with friends or get deals on hotels, so to come on the European Tour and have the courtesy cars and luxurious hotels is unbelievable. Life is certainly made a lot easier for you.”

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS Hanson will treasure his inaugural season on the European Tour that he fought so hard for.

His highlights were being the overnight leader after three rounds in the Trophee Hassan II in trying to survivench and Italian Opens at various points. Having become used to being away from his loved ones for most of the season in his earlier days, he was delighted to have them for company last year.

“I was fortunate enough to have my family travelling with me last season, so for my two

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PAUL DUNNE WAS LEADING THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2015 GOING INTO THE FINAL DAY. young children to experience it all as well was brilliant. The hospitality goes above and beyond your expectations. There are things that you didn’t even know existed, so for them to be able to travel the world and see these places and be treated in this manner is incredible.”

Golfers like Dunne and especially Hanson have worked tirelessly to compete at the top of their profession so it’s cruel if it ends so quickly once they’ve had a taste of the good life.

Nonetheless, the margins are minute.

Keep that in mind when you next see someone missing an easy putt at a tournament and just missing the cut. It could be the difference between them losing their card or not. And that could be truly life-changing.

Solid starts to 2016/17 Alfred Dunhill Championship Chris Hanson: T11 Paul Dunne: 28

UBS Hong Kong 2017 Paul Dunne: 29 Chris Hanson: 116

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Jailbreak is a tremendous shift in power, and it’s only in Epic.

©2017 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway, the Chevron Device, Exo-Cage, Speed Step, Epic, Great Big Bertha and Jailbreak Technology are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company.

w

Put to the test

T

aylorMade pushed the boundaries of golf club engineering when they released the M1 which became one of the most popular drivers in golf.

You’ll see the likes of World No.1 Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and the longest player, Dustin Johnson, using the club – so if it’s good enough for the best, it could be phenomenal for you too.

Worldwide Golf headed down to eGolf Megastore to speak to their tech guru, Jason Ashley, about the product which he tested out on one of their indoor simulators.

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Gear test

Same Name, What is new?

JASON ASHLEY:

The major change is the amount of carbon fibre used in the head. There is actually 43% more carbon fibre in the head, which saves weight and allows the TM engineers to redistribute that weight to create a lower CG and allow for more adjustability.

In addition, the T-Track has increased slightly in length and has a heavier weight allowing for 64% more front-to-back CG movement.This helps golfers achieve their desired ball flight. The adjustability is impressive as the more forward you have the weight, the lower the spin and flight.

Whereas the further back you have the weight, the higher the flight so it will suit all types of players. The new T-Track gives more options to work with and has more potential influence on the ball flight.

The head appears slightly bigger at address than the previous model, which inspires a bit more confidence standing over the ball. The face seems to sit slightly open at address which is something I like. With more carbon fibre being used, the noise is different to the older model. It seemed louder but I was indoors so I might not have got the full effect of the acoustics.

Overall the ball speeds were good, with low spin which produced some good distance.

With the amount of adjustability and shaft options, its vital to get custom fit for this driver. So why don’t you bring your own driver to eGolf Megastore, Al Quoz (Unit 1, Mansoor Building, Street 26, Dubai) & Al Wasl (Shop 15&16, Al Wasl F.C, Oud Metha Road, Dubai) and we can test it up against the new M1.

You’ll definitely be impressed with the results.

SAME NAME, SO WHAT’S NEW?

Spec sheet Handicap Range LowHigh Left Handed Lofts 9.5°, 10.5° Right Handed Lofts 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, 12° Material Composite Head Volume 460 cc Club Length 45.5 inches Swing Weight D4

SAME LETTER, BETTER EVERYTHING The all-new M1 driver takes multi-material construction to the next level to deliver distance, forgiveness and complete personalization. Featuring a new -6layer carbon crown and additional carbon toe panel, the 2017 M1 driver has %43 more carbon than last year’s model. The additional focus on multi-material construction saves weight to enable lower CG for better launch conditions and allows for an expanded T-Track for improved adjustability.

Adjustability Loft, Face Angle, Weight

COMPLETE PERSONALIsATION: New T-Track System A redesigned T-Track system with more moveable weight and a longer back track allows for %64 more front-to-back CG movement than the original M1. Adjust the front track (15g) modify left-to-right trajectory and move the back track (12g) forward for lower ball flight and more distance, or adjust it farther back for higher ball flight and more forgiveness.

New Ultra-Lightweight Loft Sleeve °4 aluminum Loft Sleeve features 12 easily adjustable settings to dial in your loft and face angle without going to a golf shop.

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Gear test

X-Golf

AT EGOLF MEGASTORE Golf as you’ve never known

X

-Golf is the world’s most advanced indoor golf technology. The simulators utilise sophisticated hardware and are geared towards measuring as much raw data as possible versus the more common-place method of reverse engineering which often sees an over-reliance on assumptive software. If you head down to eGolf Megastore’s new premises at Al Wasl Sports Club you can test out your game on this phenomenal simulator which is the closest thing you can get to the real thing out on the course.

eGolf Megastore’s Custom-fitting guru, Jason Ashley, explains why this X-Golf technology is good for club fitting.

•

•

Marty Gromotka,

Managing Director of X-Golf Middle East: • WWG: How does the X-Golf simulator work?

Marty Gromotka: The simulator analyses what is happening at impact using sophisticated hardware and from there we are simulating the ball flight. The system delivers club and ball numbers that are measured and not just assumed or calculated back using algorithms. Showing the customer how we measure the data is critical as the modern golfer wants to know the numbers are accurate, consistent and most importantly verifiable through evidence.

WWG: How accurate is the simulator?

MG: Accuracy has always been the key objective in everything we develop & when you add this to the immersive visual environment & some super cool features such as the auto-tee system and bespoke booth structure, the result is a highly addictive experience, ideal for club-fitting,

•

practicing, teaching or playing some of the best courses in the world.

WWG: Why should you head down to eGolf Megastore to test out the simulator?

MG: The X-Golf NEX Simulator that we have down at eGolf delivers the ultimate indoor golf experience, it’s a machine that has narrowed the gap in realism between outdoor & indoor golf to its smallest margin. From a fitting perspective, you won’t find a better indor environment in the region.

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•

Accurate data is vital for fitting, and accuracy indoors is hardest to achieve. X-Golf provides likefor-like data outdoors to indoors When you make small changes to the club specifics, the tech picks up the changes. Very consistent reads.

Ability to perform on a driving range, but also on-course, “target orientated fitting”, whether a fairway or a green. Simulating the most realistic on-course experience, from which to fit.

It is such an important and unique way of fitting indoors, hence creating an excellent customer experience/ outcome.

User experience efficiency (speed with auto-ball feature, safety, awesome graphics, data display).

Head down to eGolf Megastore’s newest location at Al Wasl Sports Club on Oud Metha Road to test out the X-Golf simulator yourself Perhaps you can test out some new clubs or get your own set custom-fitted to help your game develop to the next level.

Callaway OS Hybrid We test the Over Sized hybrid to see how versitile it plays off the tee and deck or is it just too large to be effective at either role?

By Alex Gallemore

Spec sheet Handicap Range Mid / High Hand Availability Left, Right Left Handed Lofts 19°, 22°, 25° Right Handed Lofts 19°, 22°, 25°, 28°, 31° Material Steel Lie 58.5° Club Length 40.5 inches Swing Weight D1 Shaft Manufacturer Mitsubishi Fubuki AT Shaft Types Graphite Shaft Flex Light, Regular, Stiff Numbering and lofts 3H/19°, 4H/22°, 5H/25°, 6H/28°, 7H/31°

A

s various top coaches keep telling me, the best way for amateurs to reduce their handicap is to add more hybrids to the bag. Oh, and use putter grips on all their clubs. But apparently, that’s not in the rule book.

Playing off five, at the moment, I’ve found a way to get the ball round, mainly thanks to Pete Cowen sorting out my wedge game. Unfortunately, I tend to stay clear of my three and four iron in the bag and try to muscle a five iron instead.

Common sense says add a hybrid or two but I once tried the Olimar hybrid when it first came out in the early 2000s and my game went pieces, as I tended top most shots. So for the interest of science and out of sheer curiosity I’ve swapped my Callaway Apex four iron for a Callaway Steelhead XR 4H Hybrid.

Leave the TrackMan at home

I could have smashed a bucket or two into a net and just looked at the TrackMan number but you don’t get a true feel of how the club performs out of the fringe or even rarer in my case, the middle of the fairway.

The Faldo Course at Emirates Golf Club was an ideal testing ground as a long iron off the tee is

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sometimes the better play and one I’ve struggled to master. The first is a great example as I tend to block my three wood and a driver is too long. So, what better time to give the Callaway Steelhead XR 4H OS Hybrid a thrash.

When I first pulled the club out of the bag on the range I was surprised just how large the clubhead was compared to an Adams hybrid, for example. It leans more toward a hybrid wood than a conventional iron hybrid, which given the circumstances was a huge bonus as standing on the first tee at any course, bigger is always better.

Off the tee

I hit my opening tee shot a touch out of the neck but made a solid connection down the left centre of the fairway. The flight wasn’t penetrating and gave the impression of stalling in mid-flight due to what I thought was additional spin. To keep the test consistent I used the Titleist ProV1X, which probably is a little too soft for a club that is normally paired to work with a two-piece lowspinning distance ball, but it’s my ‘go-to’ ball.

I was a little further back than my three wood at 214 yards but I was bang on the target line and left with only an 8-iron in looking down the length of the green from the left edge of the fairway. My

Gear test

“I shot my lowest round at the Faldo with the XR 4H OS Hybrid in the bag as, for once, I engaged the golfing brain and dropped the bombers’ mindset that normally gets me into trouble.”

FACE FOR FORGIVENESS not looks!

The Face Cup design where the face wraps round the front of the club increases ball speed and the larger deeper head brings along the forgiveness.

3-wood is longer but brings the rough into play or even the desert scrub and I rarely make par as a result.

The next true test is the short par-4 fourth. To play safe I’ve usually stayed clear of the water and desert area on the right by going into the semirough long and left. Off the tee with the Callaway XR 4H OS Hybrid the extra yards and larger head over a long iron gave me the confidence to take on the right side of the fairway to leave a wedge in.

Off the fairway

It wasn’t until the par-5 tenth that I could really try the XR OS Hybrid off the deck and this is where I found the extra bulk in the head a little clumsy, as you struggle to apply pressure to the ball in the way you would with an iron or a compact hybrid.

Having said that, even with a sloppy connection it still went an impressive 220 yards, and again, it was bang on line.

What callaway have to say The XR OS Hybrids are designed to perfectly complement the XR OS Irons, and they’ll give players an extreme amount of forgiveness and great ball flight trajectories. We’ve combined our industry-leading, category-defining Face Cup for high ball speeds and maximum distance, more versatility, and a larger head shape to get the most forgiveness and great launch with more draw bias. It’s the perfect hybrid for golfers who are looking to elevate their game.

Overview

I found the club a little too large off the deck and the stock stiff shaft was a little light and not firm enough. It plays more like a mini-wood that gives you the confidence to just point and shoot.

It’s not worth trying to work the ball with the

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club as it only knows one direction - and that’s straight!

From a feel point of view, as you would imagine, the face is hot but it gives you just enough feedback to let you know where you made a connection. The shafts are a little light and the stiff plays more toward firm-to-regular.

Would I put it in the bag?

Even though this club isn’t marketed at the lower handicap players I would definitely add A slightly stronger lofted XR 3H OS Hybrid as a regular club.

Having done the test, you can’t beat a distance club that you can play safe off the tee and the fairways, safe in the knowledge that it’s going to go straight and to a consistent yardage. I shot my lowest round at the Faldo with the XR 4H OS Hybrid in the bag as, for once, I engaged the golfing brain and dropped the bombers’ mindset that normally gets me into trouble.

INSTRUCTION

SCORING

BASICS L

ET’S GET 2017 OFF TO A GREAT START BY CONSIDERING SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTALS WHEN CHIPPING CLOSE TO THE PIN WHICH WILL GREATLY IMPROVE YOUR SCORING ABILITY.

by STEPHEN DEANE

Head Professional, Emirates Golf Club

Individual Golf Schools with The Dubai Golf Academy at Emirates Golf Club Worldwide GOLF 70

1 3

As discussed in the previous article, the club shaft works with freedom and natural momentum when positioned in a vertical/more upright position. From here it naturally drops back to the ball without the need for excellent hand-eye coordination or manipulation. This is one of the key factors to tightening up your short game.

In terms of stance, keep it simple and upright.

I like to encourage a relatively narrow stance from close range. This helps maintain a vertical shaft angle and gives you plenty of room to let the club drop onto the back of the ball.

2

A nice reference point is to have both feet around a clubhead apart and the left foot around a clubhead back. Having the left foot back positions the weight forward and opens the hips slightly, creating more room and the promotion of a better contact during impact.

During the motion itself please let the clubhead naturally pass the hands as it drops down to collect the ball.

There’s absolutely no need from this great starting position to drive the hands forward in an attempt to gain a better contact. Let the club swing past the hands and enjoy the feeling of the club releasing as you make contact.

4 USE THESE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES AND ENJOY AN IMPROVEMENT IN YOUR SHORT GAME THIS YEAR. FOR A MORE DETAILED EXPLANATION PLEASE WATCH THE ATTACHED VIDEO OR GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ACADEMY TO BOOK YOUR NEXT LESSON.

• Take your game to the next level with half, one or two day golf schools • Intensive one-on-one programmes with a dedicated Golf Professional • Includes video analysis, shortgame and Par 3 course play • Prices from AED 1,800 To register, please call +971 4 417 9845 or email emiratesacademy@dubaigolf.com www.dubaigolf.com

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You’ll notice the butt end of your club will finish looking at your left hip if you release and maintain the club’s loft correctly.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf

YOUR SCORE CARD WILL LOOK JUST AS CLEAN.

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PING engineers designed the new iBlade iron for golfers who rely on the workability, precision and control to execute the most demanding shots in the game. Precision cast from 431 stainless steel, the compact head delivers the softest, purest feel ever in a PING iron. The thin face accelerates ball speeds for added distance, and tungsten weighting provides forgiveness when you need it.

Visit a PING Authorised Clubfitter today and get fit for technology that rewards your 100% commitment to every shot.

EVERY CLUB’S A SCORING CLUB.

Š2016 PING P.O. BOX 82000 PHOENIX, AZ 85071

INSTRUCTION

UNDERSTANDING

THE GRIP

BY PGA MASTER PROFESSIONAL PETE COWEN

I

OFTEN hear people talking about a ‘slicer’s grip’ and a ‘hooker’s grip.’ A ‘slicer’s grip’ is, basically, weak in the left hand and weak in the right hand.

So it’s very much ‘on top’ of the grip, which then leads to the hands and the club going left and the clubface being left open, slicing the ball.

But mainly, the movement of the club determines whether it’s going to slice or not. So you can still hook the ball with a ‘slicer’s grip’ if you get a different delivery position – and vice-versa with the ‘hookers grip.’

It is totally dependent on the path that you swing the clubface and the down-force involved.

However, with good mechanics you can draw the ball with a weak grip and you can fade the ball with a strong grip.

A weak grip can be described as follows: The left thumb is lined up down the middle of the

shaft with the right hand so far on top you can see it’s over to the left too much.

The ‘hooker’s grip’ is too much to the right.

People feel that the clubface is ‘wrapping’ with the path going to the right but the clubface is miles to the left so you end up with a hook on it.

But it all depends on the path of the club, which determines how much hook or slice spin is put on the ball.

If I have a really strong grip and move the path to the left and don’t alter the clubface I can hit a fade – and vice-versa.

I prefer to draw the ball with a weak grip, so I can turn the club down with the path going right and the clubface is stable.

If you look at the history of the game, a lot of the players with the strongest left hand grip are the best at fading the ball.

Focus on the path of the club and clubface and you can achieve this.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf

Neutral

Weak

Strong

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INSTRUCTION

NEVER GET TRAPPED IN THE

SAND TRAP AGAIN

F

OR the set up, take a wide stance and keep the ball position close to your left side. During the swing your weight should not shift right to left, it should always be in the same position as your set up. I prefer to have the weight a bit in favour to my left side, which is the front. I usually aim to have 60-40 pressure towards my left foot. Setting up in a wide stance is important to keep the balance. Your body position should look and feel like you are preparing to sit on a toilet seat to get a shallow angle into the ball.

EXECUTION

A very important point to keep in mind is that you should not decelerate through the ball, but accelerate through the ball into a full finish just to make sure you get spin on the ball. After all, the first objective when you are stuck in the bunker is to get out, so be confident with your swing. If you open your clubface, you’ll get some more height and have a slight out-to-in plane.

BERND RITTHAMMER European Tour Player

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf

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SEE

YOU

NEX

TY

EAR

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FEATURE

BERNARD DO WLING

MIDDLE EAST’S MARSHAL MAESTRO BOWS OUT

“W

HEN God brought this role to me, he couldn’t have put anything better into my pocket,” says Bernard Dowling – the proudest marshal you could ever meet. The 78-year-old is well-known in the UAE and will be sorely missed when he hangs up his paddle after next month’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic – which will be his 22nd successive year working at the tournament.

The Yorkshireman is an amiable character who has played a vital role in helping Middle East golf events run smoothly for more than two decades. This would never have been the case if he hadn’t been egged on by his children to apply for a position at the 1996 Desert Classic, the year Fred Couples lifted the famous ‘coffee pot’ trophy.

“My children suggested I should try and be a marshal for the tournament five days before it started,” Dowling recalls. “Next thing you know I was speaking to a gentleman from Emirates Golf Club. He said, ‘Can I help you?’ I responded, ‘I think it might be a long shot but I’d like to work as a marshal.

“He answered: ‘You must be psychic. Two people have just cried off from the job because they have to go to Hong Kong.’ I couldn’t believe it, ‘So there’s an opening? For how long? One day?’ The man replied, ‘One day! Would you like to come for all five?’ I thought, ‘am I dreaming this? So, I answered, ‘I’d love to.’

“Next thing you know, he’s telling me where to go for the seminar, to make myself known, and said ‘welcome aboard’. That’s how the journey began 21 years ago.”

The charismatic marshal has been associated with the UAE golf scene ever since. Aside from 21 Desert Classics, he has also worked as a marshal at seven Abu Dhabi HSBC Championships, one Omega Dubai Ladies Masters and all eight DP World Tour Championships. His friendliness, reliability and hard-working attitude have gained him an

BERNARD DOWLING HAS WORKED AS A VOLUNTEER MARSHAL ON THE FIRST TEE AT THE UAE’S BIGGEST GOLF EVENTS FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. HERE THE FAMILIAR FIGURE IS PICTURED ON THE FIRST TEE DURING HIS FINAL DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES IN NOVEMBER.

army of admirers along the way and led to one of his proudest moments in 2005.

“I’d been out with Sergio Garcia in the Desert Classic Pro-Am and it couldn’t have been a better day,” he recounts. “I came in past the Chief Marshal’s office and she told me to come and see her once I had finished my lunch. I immediately thought I was in trouble.

“I couldn’t work out how such a brilliant day could turn out this way. I went in after lunch and there was a sort-of ‘Commons Select Committee’ seated in a circle and just one seat free which was, I guessed, for me. Being a true Yorkshireman and calling a spade a spade, I said: ‘Before I sit down, please can you tell me what have I done wrong?’

First Tee Honours

“The Chief Marshal replied: ‘There’s nothing wrong whatsoever. We’ve actually been monitoring you in all the different categories, like your timing, appearance, actions, respectability etc because you know Elizabeth, our first tee marshal is leaving us this year?’

“This was something I was upset about because she had been an absolute gem to me and taught me everything. The Chief Marshal continued, ‘We’ve had a big talk for two hours and come to an unanimous agreement that we’d like to welcome you onto the first tee in the Dubai Desert Classic.’

“I thought, ‘I can’t believe this. It’s everybody’s absolute dream to do the first tee and this is my chance.’ I replied, ‘You haven’t got to ask me twice!’”

It wasn’t just the Emirates Golf Clubbased event where Bernie took control of the first tee alongside renowned Starter, Ivor Robson, and golf’s biggest stars. The proud Sheffield man also had the honour at the European Tour’s season-ending finale and was “absolutely over the moon” when he received an email enquiry saying: “After what we’ve seen and heard about you, Bernie, at the

Worldwide GOLF 78

Desert Classic, we would love you to marshal on the first tee in the inaugural DP World Tour Championship, too, in November 2009.”

“Now I’ve done all eight of the tournaments which I’m both proud of and feel blessed about. It’s a fantastic feeling, knowing you’ve been part of it since the start and I’ve got nothing but praise for everybody involved.”

Golf’s Biggest Names

The thrill of meeting some of golf’s biggest names is something that Bernie will never forget. He can’t wait to see Dustin Johnson for the first time at Abu Dhabi to add to his list of star encounters – most of whom he now classes as friends. “Around 2000, it was every golf fan’s dream to see Tiger Woods in action,” says Bernie.

“I was very fortunate to watch him and then two years later I got to chat to him in the clubhouse. Everybody was envious of that. But going back to 1997, the person who really got the better of my emotions was Seve Ballesteros. I thought he was absolutely awesome. What a wonderful character to meet who showed respect even to people like me!

He was such a lovely man. In the new era, Justin

Rose and Lee Westwood are two who I hold in the highest regard. Lee always asks how my family is when I see him and so does Rory McIlroy. I could go on forever but the majority of the present players know me by name so I feel so privileged and humble to be able to say that.”

When the Desert Classic returns on February 2nd, it will be his 13th time in his treasured first tee spot – and, unfortunately his last. It will be a sad moment, both for Bernie and all associated with the event.

“Everything has to come to an end at some point,” he says. “I have to remember how lucky I have been to be a part of all these phenomenal events.

“However, I want to finish at the top rather than suffer with age where I can’t perform my job properly. That’s just how I am.”

That’s a fitting testament to the character that Bernie Dowling is.

One of the true gems of the UAE golf tournament scene may soon be gone, but he’ll certainly never be forgotten.

I HAVE TO REMEMBER HOW LUCKY I HAVE BEEN TO BE A PART OF ALL THESE PHENOMENAL EVENTS. HOWEVER, I WANT TO FINISH AT THE TOP RATHER THAN SUFFER WITH AGE WHEREI CAN’T PERFORM MY JOB PROPERLY. THAT’S JUST HOW I AM.” VOLUNTEER MARSHALL BERNARD DOWLING

Worldwide GOLF 79

ON IVOR ROBSON “Ivor was the perfect man. I remember coming to the first DP World Tour Championship in 2009 and standing near the first tee and who was standing there – the great Ivor Robson. What a man. He made me feel at home right from the start.

After I told him my name he said, “Welcome aboard Bernie. I’m sure we can get on!” He is the perfect gentleman who I will always remember right until the day I die.”

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ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS P81 The 2016 Abu Dhabi Invitational saw America’s Bryson De Chambeau (far left) and the UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh (second from right) take the team title while De Chambeau also claimed victory in the individual event.

RYDER CUP ICON MCGINLEY LEADS ALL STAR PROS AGAINST CELEBS AT YAS LINKS

R

yder Cup legend Paul McGinley will lead a host of star names when the 2017 Abu Dhabi Invitational returns to the award-winning Yas Links on Yas Island from January 28-29, 2017.

The Irishman, who played in three consecutive victories for Europe and famously led the side to glory in 2014, will captain a Professional Golfers’ Team against a Celebrity Team in an exciting change of format for the Abu Dhabi Invitational event.

The Abu Dhabi Invitational has established itself as a world-class competition where pro golfers, the GCC’s leading amateurs, sporting celebrities, leading business executives and entrepreneurs come together to play tournament golf and raise funds for charity.

The 2017 edition will comprise an Amateur Championship on Saturday 28 January with invited sponsor and stakeholder guests, before the main Invitational tees off on Sunday 29 January. Both days are open to the public.

The Invitational will see a Professional Golfers’ team, captained by McGinley, play a Celebrity Team.

Each professional and each celebrity will be paired with a VIP guest and the teams will compete against each other in a Ryder Cup Fourball format.

The teams will be playing to raise money for the captains’ charities, with McGinley’s team playing for The McGinley Foundation.

The Celebrity Captain and their charity will be revealed in January 2017.

McGinley (pictured above) said: “I am honoured to be captaining the Golfers’ Team at this year’s Abu Dhabi Invitational.

“I have enjoyed playing Yas Links on many occasions and look forward to being there again for what promises to be another wonderful occasion. I hope we can raise a lot of money for charity over the weekend as well as having a huge amount of fun.”

His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), said: “We are thrilled Paul will be at Yas Links for the Abu Dhabi Invitational this year.

“He is a great character in the game and renowned for his unwavering commitment to charitable fundraising – an important feature

for our event. We look forward to announcing many more big-name competitors from the worlds of golf, sport, entertainment and business in the coming weeks.

“We’re back at Yas Links because it’s the best links course in the region and one of the best golf venues in the world,” added Al Awani.

“With its location on Yas Island, the region’s ultimate leisure destination, Yas Links truly deserves its world class status and, with support from our partners at Miral, it is a major part of Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s initiatives moving forward.”

The 2017 Abu Dhabi Invitational will also welcome a host of leading media from the world of television, print, digital, social and radio platforms. Interested media are urged to make contact with the event organisers as soon as possible.

Howie Roberts, General Manager of Yas Links, said he was delighted to see the Invitational return. “We are thrilled to host the Abu Dhabi Invitational for a fifth time,” he said.

“It is a chance to showcase this fantastic golf course, alongside Yas Island’s global entertainment and hospitality facilities, to an international and influential audience. The Abu Dhabi Invitational is always a wonderful event and we are proud to be associated with it.”

The Abu Dhabi Invitational is free to attend for spectators. Doors open at 7am on 28th January.

ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS P83 ▶

E M I R ATES GOLF C LUB PAVAN NIHALANI CLAIMS CLUBGHOUSE TROPHY AT EGC

Pavan Nihalani won the Clubhouse Trophy at the Emirates Golf Club with a score of 38 points, narrowly beating Lav Kataria in a playoff, while Luiz Bertuol secured overall third place, scoring 36 points.

Eric Koeman narrowly defeated David Waite to win the Division A title in a playoff after both had scored 35 points each.

There was a similar course of events in the Division B championship after Sachin Mahajan beat new member Russell Curtis on a countback after he carded a better back nine after both had finished with 35 points.

Bradley Mogire won the long drive contest by hitting the ball an impressive 275 yards from the 12th tee.

PETRE PEAKS FOR THE HERITAGE PAST Captain Maria Petre won this year’s Heritage Trophy after scoring a total of 75 points over two rounds played on the Faldo and Majlis courses.

Finishing two points behind was Lynne Dickenson while third place was shared by Fran Cole and Jane Vail, both on 71 points.

D UB A I CREEK GO LF CL UB FOUR OUT OF FOUR WINS WINS FOR YOUNSTERS IN GENERATION DAY THIS year’s Generations Day tournament – an event set up to settle the age-old battle of youth against experience – saw the youngsters take the spoils with a superb team total of -29, well clear of their elder counterparts.

The 2016 tournament was the fourth staging of the event and was also the fourth consecutive win for the younger team.

Michael McGinley and Jon Garabieta won the day’s best pair prize as they recorded a 9-underpar total of 62, one clear of Ed Fearn and Michael Major.

ASHOK SINDHU CLINCHES 2016 ORDER OF MERIT ASHOK Sindhu did just enough in the final OMA Emirates Medal of 2016 to hang on to the top spot in the year-long ranking and clinch the overall Order of Merit title. Taking the honours on the day was new junior member Hyeonji Kang with a 2-under-par 69 while Miki Mirza topped the pile in Division ‘A’ with a countback win over Suneel Aggarwal after both players signed for a 70.

Mohammed Al Musharrekh took the spoils in

Division ‘B’ as he also won on a countback after tying with Deepank Saini, while the current Men’s Amateur Open Champion Bayhaan Lakdawala fired a 2-over-par 73 to seal the best gross prize.

In the Senior Division, David Gowans came out on top with a level-par score of 71 while Lady Captain Vanessa North won the Ladies Division with a round of 70.

THREE PROGRESS TO LINKS GROUP GRAND FINAL LAST month’s edition of the Links Group Pairs competition saw three teams clinch their spot in the series Grand Final in May with C.S. and Lillian Lee leading the way with a score of 44 points. The top three teams qualified, meaning second-placed Sami Eldin and Dwight Yorke and the third-placed team of mother and daughter Glory Xavier and Hannah Alan will also have a shot at glory in May.

SCOTT CAMPBELL WINS DDF GOLF WORLD CUP SCOTT Campbell was crowned the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup Champion after compiling a twoday total of 84 Stableford points. Campbell carded 40 points on the opening day at The Address Montgomerie and followed that with 44 points at Dubai Creek to finish top of the pile, ahead of overnight leader Niall McLoughlin, thanks to a stronger final round.

McLoughlin missed out on the overall prize but did win

the Men’s Division while the ‘visiting’ winner was Dan Kongstead with a two-day tally of 80 points.

Naeme Maya won the Ladies Division for the second successive year with a tally of 67 points while Gunther Becker clinched the Super Senior Division with 64 points. Pictured above, Executive Vice Chairman and DDF CEO, Colm McLoughlin, presents the trophy to Scott Campbell.

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

THE ELS CLUB

MAHMOUD DOWNS MALIK IN MEMBER’S FINAL SAQIB Mahmood won Division ‘A’ of the recent Member’s Medal Final after firing a net 71 over the Earth Course to finish three strokes clear of Sikkoh Malik.

Ahmen Naim shot a 70 to come out

on top in Division ‘B’ while Alexandra Sparacino also shot a 70 to win the Ladies Division ahead of Ornella Parigi (Net 73) and Lynne Wylie (Net 78). The bet gross score on the day came from Simon Howells with a 76.

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SHARJAH GOLF AND SHOOTING CLUB

HARRADINE ECLIPSES THOMAS IN MEN’S OPEN MICHAEL Harradine fired an excellent two-day total of net 144 to win the Men’s Open by two strokes from promising youngster Rayhan Thomas. Harradine opened with a 70 to share the lead with Ahmad Skaik, two clear of Thomas with Christoger Rahm four strokes further back. On day two the scoring was much tougher and Harradine closed the door on Thomas with a 74 while Skaik dropped down into fourth place after carding an 82. Rahm finished in third place with a second round 77 and a 151 tally.

The net champion was Sidney De Souza, ahead of Christoph Hager in second place with Sinar Suraj in third.

AL NAIMI EARNS CENTRO WIN

ABREU AND WILLIAMS CROWNED ELS CLUB MASTERS CHRIS Abreu and Ali Williams were crowned the Men’s and Ladies Masters at the Els Club recently after they came out on top in their respective divisions.

Abreu shot a net 70 to win by three from Alaister Murray with Craig Gittus in third, while Paul Moir won the gross prize on the day with a 77.

DUO ON TOP IN MEMBER GUEST TERENCE Marques and Andrew Burmester won both competitions in the two-day Member Guest tournament sponsored by Audemars Piguet last month. The duo carded a net 69 to win the Day One event by one shot from Dave Morais and Neil Duncan and then on Day Two they combined to score 45 Stableford points for a three-point win over Michael and Emma Walker with Stefano Magarotto and Julien Leonard in third.

WALKER ON TOP

MICHAEL Walker clinched the recent Monthly Medal honours with a net 75 and a one-shot win over Paul

Hawkins with Charlie Topp third, while Yves Buchard won the gross spoils on the day with an 83.

ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB COOPER STARS IN DODGE CHALLENGER JUNIOR SERIES

NAMIR Al Naimi clinched the recent Centro Medal event at SGSC with a one-stroke win over Ramesh Wijeratne after signing for a 2-underpar, nine hole score of 34. The best gross score on the day went to Faizeen Bhyat.

SEAN Cooper posted the only under par score of the day in the Dodge Challenger Junior Series to win the event outright and move up to third place in the Order of Merit. The Under-11s winner was Joe Wright as he posted a score of 35 while in the Under-16s division Noe Krauser took the spoils with a 7-shot improvement since his last outing.

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ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS P85 ▶

GOLF DXB

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YAS LINKS ABU DHABI

LAURENCE SAMUEL EDGES CLEAR IN AUDI MEDAL LAURENCE Samuel won Category ‘A’ of the recent Audi Medal with a net 73 for a one-stroke win over Aart Lehmkuhl. Prachak Svastisinha carded a superb net 70 to top the pile in Category ‘B’ by nine strokes ahead of Ahmed Al Menhali while the best gross score on the day went to John Newston with his 78.

CHRIS ACKERS AND PATRICK HORNE ON TOP IN INVITATION CHRIS Ackers and Patrick Horne sealed won last month’s Members Invitation Day with an impressive 43 points, two clear of Takao Matsutani and Yoon Sangcho. Finishing third on a countback were Mattias Bjork and Trevor Bundus. James Hickman and Chris Bentley finished fourth.

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AL GHAZAL GOLF CLUB CHANTAL EL CHAIB WINS DFS LADIES OPEN

BEVAN CLAIMS NATIONAL DAY HONOURS

CHANTAL El Chaib won the 2016 DFS Ladies Open with a solid score of gross 80 in tough conditions, finishing two shots clear of Lizette Breytenbach.

BEVAN Conole put on a masterclass to win the National Day tournament last onth with a net score of 134 (66-68) to finish one clear of Peter McManus (67-68). Lady Captain Sandra Grenet kept her good form going by clinching the Ladies Division with a total of 133 (69+64).

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AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB ERIC AND WILMA BEAT THE BIRDS

GUINEE CLAIMS NATIONAL DAY OPEN DAVID Guniee came out on top in the fifth staging of the National Day Open at Al Hamra and Tower Links with a one-stroke win over Arjan Gupta after a two-day battle. Dewalde Lubbe was third overall while in the Net Division Tracey Scott posted a score of 143 to win by two from James Littlewood with Ahman Mustapha finishing third.

ERIC Engelbrecht and Wilma Fernandes finished clear of Callum and Tim Bird to win their respective prizes in the recent monthly medal.

Engelbrecht shot an 86 to finish two clear of Callum in the gross section while Fernandes’ net 71 was good enough for a one-shot win over Tim.

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WE NEED MORE GOLFERS!

by Tom Green

AS a UAE golfer it is very exciting to see the number of new golf developments that are happening in Dubai. The opening of Al Zorah Golf Club ended a six-year drought in UAE golf course design.

This is now being followed with a flurry of new golf courses in the pipeline, namely the Trump International Golf Club, Dubai Hills and the potential Al Qudra based on the Tiger Woods design.

With all of these new golf courses, naturally we are going to need more golfers to fill them and herein lies the problem.

The number of golfers in the UAE has remained unchanged for a number of years. The worldwide picture looks bleaker still after the number of US golfers dropped from a Woods-propelled peak of 30.6 million in 2003 to 24.1 million, with similar declines seen in other golfing nations such as Japan and the UK (Bloomberg).

In light of this, the sport must look for new ways of engaging people. A great example of this is the Emirates NBD Million Dirham Putt, which we have had the pleasure of being involved in this season. The event gives thousands of Dubai residents and tourists the opportunity to take

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part in a six-hole putting challenge which culminates in the finalists having a putt for one million dirhams at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

For me, the true beauty of this scheme is that two of the activations are in public places, at JBR and City Walk, meaning that our great game is put in front of new golfers – people who otherwise may not have been drawn to the sport.

Heading into 2017 one of Golf DXB’s goals is to build on the Learn Golf DXB programme, which has been a big hit so far. These sessions offer a perfect pathway into the game of golf for people new to the sport.

Our aim with this is two-fold in that we are striving to provide a programme that is progressive and affordable. The Learn Golf DXB programme allows you to learn golf in a relaxed group environment.

As you progress, the programme can be combined with our Par 3 Series and later, the Golf DXB Night Golf Series to get to grips with the full sized golf course.

MIKE CONYBEARE For more info or to book into this programme please contact Mike on: mike@golfdxb.com +971564644175

CONARES GOLF SOCIETY LEAGUE

Conares League

Played

Won

Lost

Tied

Points

6 4 4 4 6

4 2 2 2 1

2 1 1 2 5

0 1 1 0 0

12 7 7 6 3

KEGS 1 Indian Expats South African Golf Society Vikings GTI

BMW League White Rose Golf Society GODS ASEAN Sport 2 Business - 1 Gulf Rock SNTTA Travel League

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCES CAUSE PACK SEPARATION T

WO teams have taken advantage of a fast start to this year’s Conares Society League to put clear daylight between themselves and the chasing pack in their respective divisions.

In the Conares League the KEGS 1 team won both of their third round matches against GTI to move to 12 points, opening up a five point lead while the Naboodah SGB team are six points clear at the top of the SNTTA Travel League.

The Indian Expats and South African GS (SAGS) both find themselves in a share of second place behind KEGS 1 but will get the chance to close the gap, having each played a fixture each less than the group leaders. After the disappointing fixture for GTI they find themselves at the bottom of the group.

However, all is not lost as they have a rest week in January’s fixture list and if

Naboodah SGB Sport 2 Business -2 Happy Hookers KEGS - 2 DKN Law

Lost

Tied

Points

3 2 2 2 1

0 1 3 2 4

1 1 1 0 1

10 7 7 6 4

Played

Won

Lost

Tied

Points

6 4 3 6 4

5 3 2 2 0

1 1 2 4 4

0 0 0 0 0

15 9 6 6 0

▶

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DOHA GOLF CLUB

COTGRAVES AND SMITHS TEAM DEFEAT THE PROS

JIMMY Shanahan returned an outstanding nine-hole score of 24 points to top the pile in Division ‘A’ of the recent Social Day by two from Stuart Bell. Eric Smith finished third with a respectable haul of 17 points while in Division ‘B’ Johan Potgeiter collected 21 points to win by one from Harry Van Wyk with Ian Mines in third on 17.

Division ‘C’ was hugely competitive with Konstantin Varga emerging victorious on 22 points, one clear of Patrick Campbell with Mohammed Iqbal in third place.

Won

4 4 6 4 6

they can come back strong they will still have a good chance of qualification.

Club Captain Vivian Verma and Vice Captain Mukti Rai had a superb battle with their SAGS counterparts, Riaan Sallie and Seelan Moodely, and produced the first tie in the group. The Vikings are in fourth place, one point behind the Indian Expats and the SAGS and ahead of GTI by three points. Over in the BMW League the White Rose Golf Society are sitting pretty at the top with ten points, four clear of the GODS and ASEAN with Sport 2 Business 1 in fourth place and Gulf Rock propping up the rear on four points.

Meanwhile, after another emphatic victory from the Naboodah Golf Society against the KEGS 2 they find themselves six points clear of Sport 2 Business 2 in the SNTTA league. The Happy Hookers and KEGS 2 both sit on 6 points while DKN Law remain rooted to the bottom of the table after their rest week.

AEGSC

SHANAHAN’S SPECIAL SOCIAL SCORE

Played

TOMMY and Sharon Cotgrave teamed up with Eric and Davis Smith to shoot a superb net 51.4 and beat the professional team of Tom Buchanan, Shane Peacock, Enda McGuire and Fraser McLaughlan at their own event – the 2016 Professional’s Day tournament. A total of four teams managed to beat the pro’s score of gross 53 but the Cotgraves and Smiths led the way thanks to some remarkable play.

The team of Sakura Kawakami, Devlin Kidd, Damian Murphy and Wajahat Chaudhry compiled a net 52.3 to finish second on the table with third place going to Jeff Kidd, Leon Herselman, Neville Bakker and Charmaine Bakker on net 52.7. The fourth team to shoot lower than their professional counterparts were John Walters, Graeme Walters, Fredric Rouyer and Jeff Glasgow.

FOUR TEAMS BEAT THE PROS

SCHEEPERS WINS TO SEAL SPOT IN QATAR MASTERS PRO-AM Theodorus Arthur Scheepers shot a gross 73 (net 71) win the annual Tournament of Champions event and with it he earned a spot in the ProAm for the 2017 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. The event saw the top eight players from the Primepower Monthly Medal Order of Merit and the Mearme Monthly Mug Order of Merit face off in teams, with a player from

each side playing against each other and the lowest scorer on each team earning a spot in the Pro-Am for the European Tour’s event in Qatar.

Scheepers was the best performing in the Primepower side and on the Megarme section it was Nada Mir with a net 69.

THERE was some fine scoring as four teams out of 21 managed to beat the team of PGA Professionals at Doha DC - Jordan Massey, Sam Filipczak, Director of Golf Dave Moreland and General Manager Gary McGlinchey – in the annual Beat the Pro National Day. The hosts shot a gross 60, thanks largely to an impressive 28 on the back nine, but four teams compiled a better score with Sean Thomas, Ruan Jordaan, Frazer Cockburn and Michael Winter the best of the bunch with a 58.8.

ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS P87 EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION

EGF EQUIP NATIONAL FOUNDATION SQUAD Emirates Golf Federation equipped 11 young Nationals with Golphin for Kids golf clubs, the latest award-winning junior golf clubs to hit the market. The EGF has seen a great deal of growth from the players not only in interest but fundamental skills as well.

The 11 kids in the National Foundation Squad have gone through a year-and-a-half long process that started in Physical Education classes within the Dubai school system. Now these kids (plus more than 50 others) are receiving group and private lessons three to four times a week, powered

by Golf DXB at The Track Meydan Golf.

EGF National Foundation Squad power by Golf DXB with their new Golphin for Kids Golf Clubs

LOW SCORES IN EGF NATIONAL DAY MAHMOOD Skaik came out on top in the EGF’s National Day Medal at The Track Meydan Golf with a Stableford score of 38 points, two clear of Humaid Al Mazroua with Rashid Al Jarwan in third place a further two strokes back.

Taking the gross spoils on the day was Mohammed Al Hajeri with a 4-overpar 76 while in Division ‘A’ (Hcp 0-14) a score of 30 points was enough for Sultan Al Ali to take the top spot. In Division ‘B’ (Hcp 15+) Shawqi Sajwani compiled 34 points to win while Alia Al Emadi won the Junior Division on 39 points, one clear of Rashid Al Emadi with Reema Al Heloo third.

DESC REMAIN ON TOP OF THE INTER-SCHOOLS LEAGUE Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) came out on top in Round 2 of the Inter-Schools Golf League at The Track Meydan, Golf with 74 points, ahead of Jumeirah College (JC) in second place on 70 points, and Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) taking third place on 69 points.

A superb round of 34 (-2) saw Zubhair Firdaus of Greenfields Community School (GCS) take the Best Gross Score of the night, two shots ahead of Owen Clarke (JESS) on 36, with John Burki of Bradenton Preparatory Academy (BPA) just one shot behind on 37.

Reema Al Heloo of Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) won Best Individual Stableford Score with a superb score of 22pts beating Sam Mulane (DESC) on a countback who also shot 22pts. John Burki (BPA) came in third with 21pts.

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DOHA GOLF CLUB

MEYDAN GOLF’S HARRY CHAPPLE WINS THE UAE PGA DUBAI OPEN The Track Meydan Golf’s latest addition to the team has been a promising young talent named Harry Chapple and he underlined his potential last month with a superb victory at the UAE PGA Dubai Open held at The Address Montgomerie Dubai.

Seeking a placement to complete his PGA qualification, Chapple has joined from the UK and is committed to a oneyear Internship at the Track Meydan Golf Managed by Troon.

His goal is to enhance his knowledge and understanding of all the various dynamics to operate a golf facility this includes Retail, Operations and Agronomy which would provide him with

the requisites to a successful career in the Golf Industry.

Having joined the UAE PGA, as part of his PGA Qualification participation in Professional tournaments, and, aged just 23, he won his first professional win in just his second outing in a UAE PGA event, emerging with a 1-under-par score on the Championship course at TAMD. The highlight of the day was his first hole-in-one on the 8th hole, Chapple’s 17th hole in the round, where a steady 5-iron found the bottom of the cup to set up a memorable victory.

With his ethics around practice and improvement, he is a bright talent and a great addition to the sport in the region.

SAUJANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Nestled amongst 160 hectares of lush tropical gardens and just a stone’s throw from Kuala Kumpur – Malaysia’s vibrant capital

Worldwide GOLF 88

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MAXX ROYAL BELEK GOLF RESORT TURKEY

THE DUTCH THE NETHERLANDS

QUINTA DO LAGO PORTUGAL

DIAMOND COUNTRY CLUB AUSTRIA

BLACK MOUNTAIN GOLF CLUB & RESORT THAILAND

ESTONIAN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB ESTONIA

PGA CATALUNYA RESORT SPAIN

MOUNT JULIET ESTATE IRELAND

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

ALBATROSS GOLF RESORT CZECH REPUBLIC

LIGHTHOUSE GOLF & SPA RESORT BULGARIA

BOM SUCESSO PORTUGAL

SAUJANA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB MALAYSIA

TROIA RESORT PORTUGAL

LONDON GOLF CLUB UNITED KINGDOM

CONSTANCE BELLE MARE PLAGE MAURITIUS

TERRE BLANCHE HOTEL SPA GOLF RESORT***** FRANCE

Worldwide GOLF 89

MARCO SIMONE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB ITALY

KUNSÄNGEN GOLF CLUB SWEDEN

Destination Under Development ROSSINGTON HALL UNITED KINGDOM

The outstanding Hunter 486 Restaurant at The Arch London.

The Arch London

JUST when I thought that sheer luxury couldn’t get any more luxurious, The Arch London has delivered the ultimate in fine dining and the dream desires of wine lovers everywhere. The five-star hotel at 50 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, my favourite place to stay in the capital, recently introduced a new menu with an astonishing 24 wines and Champagnes by the glass.

It has long been one of my disappointments with some leading gourmet restaurants that the single wine drinker is something of a forgotten hindrance. If you’re in the fortunate position of being presented with a wine list which has two or three wines to choose from by the glass you can count yourself lucky. To have the honour of being offered 23 different excellent wines is exceptional to say the least.

Not that I sampled all 24 wines, although I did make a brave attempt. The head waiter was a mine of information and his advice was spot on. The Taittinger English Camel Valley, Brut, 2012, was excellent; the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Villa Maria Clifford Bay Reserve was perfect and the reds, Puro Malbec-Cabernet, Mendoza, 2014, AR was full and fruity and the Shannon Sanctuary Mount Bullet Merlot, Elgin Valley, left a lasting impression.

The Arch London: Prices start from £350 for a Deluxe Room and from £420 for a Suite.

The new menu in the Hunter 486 Restaurant was as imaginative as it was outstanding. The Dressed Dorset crab, apple and fennel, curry mayonnaise was very different from most dressed crab dishes but the flavour of the crab was not spoilt by the dressing, as is often the case. It was delicious. My wife chose equally wisely, and the Smoked Barbary Duck Breast with Celeriac and Braeburn Remoulade proved to be extremely tasty. She followed with the Hunter fish stew which was wonderful. I had the 28-day flat iron steak, one of the best steaks I’ve enjoyed anywhere in the world. Finally, we both shared an orange, pomegranate, mascarpone sorbet with sugared almonds. What a way to finish the perfect meal.

Although the Arch London is luxury personified, the happy, friendly, efficient and helpful staff create the homely, relaxed atmosphere. From the intimate reception area to the opulent, comfortable bedrooms and suites, to the peaceful lounge, everything was just right.

The Arch London is comprised of seven Grade II Listed Georgian Townhouses and two mews homes, ideally located in a quiet, secluded stretch of Great Cumberland Place, just five minutes’ walk from Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Street and Hyde Park. This stylish, unique boutique hotel certainly has everything for everyone.

MIKE GALLEMORE

The Arch London, 50 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, London W1H 7FD Reservations: 020 7724 4700 or www.thearchlondon.com

www.europeantourproperties.com

L

ocated just 15km outside the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur and nestled amongst 160 hectares of lush tropical gardens, the Saujana resort boasts two Championship golf courses and two world class hotels - The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur and The Club Saujana Resort, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World.

Founded in 1984, the Saujana Golf and Country Club is an established venue on the European Tour International Schedule and will host the 2017 Maybank Championship from February 9-12. The club offers two 18hole Championship courses, the Palm and Bunga Raya, where play is exciting for both beginners and professionals alike.

The Palm Course, carved out of a palm plantation and nick-named “The Cobra” for its testing and challenging layout, boasts a rugged terrain, with slopes dropping to steep ravines. Measuring 6,992 yards from the black tees, the daunting layout poses water hazards at seven holes and numerous

bunkers and dense clusters of palms lining the fairways punish the golfer for an errant shot.

The 7,034 yards Bunga Raya course (meaning Hibiscus in Malay, but nick-named “The Crocodile) is set in beautiful rolling landscape and offers wide expanses of water and undulating greenery that create a sense of freedom and space. But this deceptively “easy” course should not be underestimated.

A Golf School with a 250 metre driving range, putting greens and bunkers complete the golf offering, with other facilities including outdoor flood-lit tennis courts, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a fully equipped golf shop.

The hotels on offer are equally impressive and are conveniently located near the city of Kuala Lumpur and its vibrant attractions. Taking its name from an old Malay expression ‘sejauh di sana’, meaning “as far as the eye can see”, The Saujana Hotel is a 250-room retreat ideally suited to

both pleasure and business trips. For those seeking a smaller, boutique-style hotel, The Club Saujana is the ultimate 105-room urban retreat with a contemporary Asian-inspired design.

The resort also offers a luxurious spa, swimming pools, fitness centre, sauna and steam room. International and Malaysian cuisine is also on offer at several restaurants located at the hotels and golf club.

The city of Kuala Lumpur itself is a frenetic capital whose skyline - punctuated by minarets, Mogul-styled domes and towering skyscrapers - reflects its diversity. It offers visitors culture and history, amazing food, lush parks and glitzy shopping malls.

If you fancy a visit for the Maybank Championship, tickets are free for the first two days - www.maybankchampionship.com.my – with Masters’ champions Danny Willett and Charl Schwartzel in action alongside top Asian favourite Anirban Lahiri.

For further information about this fantastic resort, visit www.saujana.com.my

Worldwide GOLF 91

5

FIVE THINGS

THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME…

Tommy Fleetwood

AGE: 25 FROM: SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 2010 PROFESSIONAL TOUR WINS: 4

TO P O F T HE L I ST O F T HE PL AC ES T HAT I HAV E N E VER V I S I T E D B E FO R E WO UL D BE N E W YO R K . I HAV E N E V ER BEEN T HE R E AN D I WO UL D LOVE TO G O. CAPE TOW N I S PR O BA BLY S EC O N D O N T HE L I ST.

IF I WERE NOT A G OLF ER, I WOU LD GIV E ACTING A G O. I WOU LD ACTUA LLY LIKE TO WORK IN THE AT R E . I A M NOT A VE RY GOOD SING ER SO I’ D H AV E TO BE BEHIN D T H E SCENES.

I D O N OT K N OW WHY, B U T I AM PR E T T Y US E L ES S AT M O ST S PO RTS. I HAV E G OT A V E RY LOW L E VEL O F C O O R D I N AT I O N .

ONE OF MY D REA M S ( A ND M Y MOTHER’S) IS TO H AV E A D OG SA NCTUARY AT H OME . I WOULD H AV E A H UG E NUMBER O F R ESC U E DOG S. IT IS SOM E T H ING I’ D LOV E TO D O IN T H E FUTURE .

M Y FAVO U R I T E S UB J ECT AT S C HO O L WAS D R AM A . I ACT UA LLY G OT AN A* I N T HE G C S E AN D T HAT WAS W HE RE M Y ACT I N G CAR E E R E N D E D, UN FO RT U N AT E LY

Worldwide GOLF 92