Worldwide Golf September 2016

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

SEPTEMBER 2016, ISSUE 184

DAVID HOWELL

OLYMPIC GOLF WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

ROAD TO MONGOMO

UAE PROS SET FOR SHOWDOWN

Captain

Clarke EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH EUROPE’S RYDER CUP CAPTAIN AHEAD OF THE HAZELTINE SHOWDOWN

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THE ASTON VILLA BOSS TALKS GOLF

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POWERFUL DRIVES REQUIRE A POWERFUL

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SET UP FOR SUCCESS IN

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Worldwide Golf Columnist

OLYMPICS WERE OVERWHELMING

By Gary Player, Worldwide Golf Executive Editor since 1999

I

T was wonderful to be at the Olympic Games in Rio last month as Captain of the South African golf team, and what a roaring success it was.

Considering that Brazil is not a golfing country the crowds that flocked to the golf course were nothing short of sensational. It was so good to see that it received such a significant global TV rating that outshone many of golf’s biggest events this season in certain parts of the world.

Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar are three of golf’s real gentlemen and they certainly put on a magnificent display to earn Gold, Silver and Bronze. Justin and Henrik’s toe-to-toe battle in the final round created a fantastic dramatic finish that really got the galleries cheering. To see so many people watching them serve up a feast of golf of the highest quality was the best way of demonstrating why the sport should continue to be an Olympic event.

It blew me off my feet to see the performance of the women golfers and it was highly appropriate that Korea’s Inbee Park took the Gold medal for the cause of the country that now dominates ladies golf.

The ladies certainly played some phenomenal golf, including a course record 62 by Russian Maria Verchonova.

Gil Hanse had designed a super course and it’s a great legacy for Brazilian golf should be that it will now become a public course that will benefit Brazilians who want to learn and play the game, and particularly the youngsters.

I won the Brazilian Open in 1972 and 1974 and got to know people in Brazil. But I wasn’t expecting to receive such an overwhelming welcome from so many people for an 80 years old just walking around

hugged me, took pictures and had me signing autographs. It was a great experience to see so many enthusiastic golf fans. It also came as a pleasant surprise to see that so many of the galleries were youngsters who knew very little about golf but just wanted to be part of it.

It was a fascinating week for me all round. It was good to meet people from the various golf federations around the world and competitors in the other sports. The opening ceremony was magnificent and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire fortnight. It was also interesting to stay in the Olympic Village with all the different athletes. It was an overwhelming experience.

I wonder how all the players who stayed away from the Olympics feel now, following such an astonishing success, and wished they had been there. They’ll certainly be queuing up to represent their countries in Japan in 2020. Just imagine what the crowds will be like in a country where golf is very popular.

How about 21 year old Si Woo Kim, from Korea, who cruised to a 5-stroke victory at the Wyndham Championship, shooting 21 under par. It’s a tournament I won many years ago and I know that’s a tough event to win. He’s the youngest winner on the US PGA Tour so far this year. It’s a sure sign that the Korean men are beginning to catch up the

the course. So many spectators recognised me and

women in making their mark on world golf. n

September 2016

CONTENTS 20 14

28

Cover feature: Darren Clarke

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With the Ryder Cup just a few weeks away, Worldwide Golf catches up with European Captain Darren Clarke as he finalises his plans for guiding Europe to a fourth successive victory at Hazeltine National.

PLUS: Meet the European Team and the eight qualifiers from the USA team on Page 27.

The Starter – Ryder Cup Special

It’s been two years since a ball was struck in anger at the Ryder Cup and this year’s event at Hazeltine National should be well worth the wait. We take a look at the course which will host the action and look back to the last time the United States hosted the event – the Miracle of Medinah.

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James Williams –JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort

The JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort’s Director of Golf discusses the recent course improvements and gives his verdict on Ryder Cup bound Brand Ambassador Rafa Cabrera Bello.

European Tour Destination

Following WWG’s series on European Tour Properties and Destinations this month’s focus is on the stunning Estonian Golf & Country Club in Northern Europe.

David Howell Column

A share of third place at the Czech Masters represents Howell’s best finish of 2016 so far.

He gives his thoughts on the Olympics and looks ahead to the Ryder Cup.

Pete Cowen Column

Having been present at every Ryder Cup for the past decade, PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen gives his throughts ahead of this year’s instalment.

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Tour News

As the Race to Dubai and the Road to Oman approach their climax we take a look at all the latest goings on as players jostle for position.

PLUS: Interview with Jumeirah Golf Estates Managing Director Julian Small about the preparations for this year’s DP World Tour Championship.

INSTRUCTION

64

Calling all UAE professional golfers!

Master your moves on the dancefloor and bring your scores down with Paul Hubner, PGA Teaching Professional at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

Golf returns to the Olympics

SET UP FOR SUCCESS

We report from all the action down in Rio as golf makes its long-awaited return to the Olympic Games.

Stephen Deane, Head Professional at Emirates Golf Club, shows us how important the correct set-up is to execute consistently great bunker shots.

GEAR

59 73

TaylorMade M2: Judgment Day

Arabian Golf

All the latest news from the leading golf clubs in the Middle East.

Learn how to use the ground to produce your longest drives yet with Joe Marshall, Golf Academy Professional at Al Badia Golf Club.

THE ART OF PUTTING

Local pros are invited to sign up for th fantastic DSA Architects ‘Road to Mongomo’ Qualifier.

The TaylorMade M2 fairway metals is tested by two local amateurs and Joe Marshall, Teaching Professional at Al Badia Golf Club.

LONG DRIVES NEED A POWERFUL BASE

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STYLE

Football coach and former Italian international Roberto Di Matteo talks us through his love of the links and Eddie Pepperell reveals his Favourite Five golf courses worldwide.

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Editor’s Letter

By Alex Gallemore

?

Why big names are pulling out of hardware sector

T

his year we’ve had four first time Major winners and the first Olympic Champion in 127 years and we’re waiting to see if Europe can pull off another David and Goliath miracle at Hazeltine at the end of the month.

It’s definitely been one of the most memorable golfing seasons for a long time but there are two other bigger stories that haven’t played out in full.

The first being Nike’s decision to withdraw from the hardware industry and adidas’s decision to sell TaylorMade. I’ve heard many reasons for Nike’s decision to cut back and focus on footwear, apparel and ball sales. Some analysts have put it down to a drop of nearly 6 million golfers in America in the past 7 years – that’s close to 20% of the largest single golf market.

Others argue that Nike has failed to rebound from Tiger Wood’s disappearance and their inability to find his replacement. This is certainly the case. Nike has always done well with the Michael Jordan business model.

Take an athlete like Jordan, who is head and shoulders above his nearest rival and they can develop a status that sells like nothing else.

Nike, understandably, thought that Rory McIlroy would pick up where Woods left off and continue his Major haul while Tiger’s dried up.

Nike started to make inroads into the golf hardware sector but their progress was presumably much slower than their business model had bargained for.

The other factor that has been highlighted this season is that so many guys on both Tours are so good that almost anyone could win in any given week. The new Big 3 or Big 4 have become

the Big 10 or more, and that list will only increase.

So to market a golfer in the same fashion as Tiger, just can’t happen at the moment. Quite simply, that player doesn’t exist.

Henrik Stenson showed the golfing world that we’ve moved on from the Tiger Show. His final round at Royal Troon was probably the best round of golf I’ve ever witnessed and that includes the days when Tiger was in his prime.

Adidas, wanting to split TaylorMade from their portfolio, highlights the other issue – which is hardware-manufacturing costs. The TaylorMade M1 and M2 driver has been the number one driver on Tour and has sold well across the world. The costs in producing clubs has dramatically increased, due to new materials, lengthy manufacturing procedures, research and development and player incentives.

It’s hardly surprising to see that the two leading sports footwear and apparel companies have both decided at the same time to focus their business on the sectors that return the most profit to their shareholders. One M1 driver retails at close to $500 and I’m told by the wholesalers that the margins aren’t great, so you would imagine that the manufacturing costs run into hundreds of dollars. Compare that to what it must cost to produce and ship a golf shirt and the accountants will have a very solid case.

It’s early days to see how things will work out with the players and whether we will see the likes of Rory going back to Titleist but wearing Nike, or which investment company takes over the development of TaylorMade. There have been rumours of Under Armour buying TaylorMade but maybe their accountants are happy to be in the position their rivals would like to be.

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ISSUE No.184 SEPTEMBER, 2016.

Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd. 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, Joanna Eardley Photography 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 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.

The Course

Hazeltine National GC Host of the 2016 Ryder Cup

H

AZELTINE NATIONAL is one of the most prestigious golf properties in the United States. The superb 18-hole course spans rolling hills, mature woods and has vistas over tree-lined lakes and vast prairies to provide a golfing paradise in the Northern state of Minnesota.

Recognised as a prodigious and fair test, by the end of this year Hazeltine will be one of only two golf clubs in America to have hosted every premier championship offered by the USGA and PGA of America – including The Men's and Women's US Open, the US Amateur, the US PGA Championship and The Ryder Cup. The venue has seen some historic moments in the game of golf. Back in 1970 it hosted its first US Open when Tony Jacklin became the first British winner of the event by a mammoth seven-stroke margin.

Sandra Spuzich and Hollis Stacy were crowned US Women’s Open Champion at the venue in 1996 and 1977 respectively but there was a long wait before Major Championship golf returned for the US Open in 1991.

It was here that Payne Stewart won the second of his three Majors with an 18-hole play-off win over former champion Scott Simpson.

More than a decade later American Rich Beem hit the headlines with a remarkable one-stroke win over Tiger Woods at the US PGA Championship.

Then, in 2009, Y.E. Yang re-wrote the history books by becoming the first player to overhaul Woods with the American holding the 54 hole lead in a Major.

This year, the 24 leading players from both sides of the Atlantic go head-to-head in what promises to be another special week in the history of Hazeltine National. n

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STARTER TOUR EVENT DRAWS A FRIGHTENING THREE-BALL THE US Web.com Tour, the main satellite Tour to the US PGA Tour, threw up an interesting three-ball on the News Sentinel Open last month as Jhared Hack, Adam Schenk and Ryan Yip were drawn together in the final round. Hack. Shank. Yip. Three terms that will send shivers down the spine of golfers anywhere - from touring professionals to the amateur weekend warrior.

The trio all began the final round seven strokes off the lead and performing best out of the three-ball was American Shenk, who shot a 65 to finish in sixth place, without a shank in sight. A score of 26-under saw American J.J Spaun win the event.

JUTANUGARN MAJOR WIN AT WOBURN

MAJOR WINNERS CLOSE WITH CLASS

CURTIS ON A LUCKY STREAK

If there’s one thing to take away from this year’s clutch of first-time Major winners, it’s that they all brought out their Sunday best to close it out. Collectively they combined for 21 birdies and only three bogeys during their respective final rounds. Danny Willett fired five birdies in a bogey-free 67 at the Masters; Dustin Johnson holed three birdies and two bogeys (one of which was added in a post-round penalty) in his 69 at the US Open; Henrik Stenson was on fire with 10 birdies and two bogeys in his record-equalling 63 at The Open and Jimmy Walker scored a rocksteady 67 at the US PGA Championship with three birdies and no bogeys.

CURTIS Luck clinched the US Amateur title thanks to a remarkable eight-hole run that saw him defeat Brad Dalke 6&4 in the 36-hole final at Oakland Hills.

The Australian was all-square with Dalke after the morning 's18 holes and lost the first hole of the afternoon session.

However, Luck made eagle on the 20th to pull all-square which then began a succession of eight consecutive wins. Luck was 7-up with nine to play.

American Dalke won two holes but couldn’t continue to pull back the deficit, conceding defeat after a missed par putt on the 32nd hole.

Luck joins Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013) and Gunn Yang (2014) as recent international winners of the coveted title and becomes only the third Australian to win, following Nick Flanagan (2003) and Walter Travis (1900, 1901 and 1903).

JEAGER SHOOTS 58 AND ROMPS TO VICTORY Germany’s Stephan Jaeger had a week to remember in winning the Elli Mae Classic on the US Web.com Tour after opening with a record-breaking 58 and cruising to a seven-stroke triumph. Jaeger broke the 18-hole, 36-hole, 54-hole and 72-hole US Web.com Tour scoring records as he signed for a 30-under-par (250) winning tally at TPC Stonbrae.

Q U O T E S "I said to the caddies, 'I'll keep the tab open for six hours. After that, you're on your own'." – Ernie Els after making a hole-in-one in the third round of the Travelers Championship

Ariya Jutanugarn became Thailand’s first golfing Major champion with a superb three-stroke win over Mirim Lee at the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Woburn.

“My mother cried at the end,” said Jutanugarn.

“She said ‘thank you’, and that made my day. For me it was hard today. I felt a little bit nervous at times. I think this victory is really important for me and Thai golf. I hope I can inspire some players in Thailand.”

O F

T H E

"You don't wake up on Sunday morning with an 8:41am tee time thinking that anything exciting is going to happen. It's kind of a reminder that no matter how bad you feel with your swing, you're never that far away, or no matter how good you feel, you're probably not that far away from playing poorly." – Jim Furyk assesses his historic round of 58 on the US PGA Tour

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M O N T H 'I got my first hole-in-one, and to do that at the Olympics, it doesn't get any better than that. It kind of puts the cherry on top." – Lydia Ko left the Rio Olympics with more than just a Silver medal.

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RYDER CUP 2012

United States team collapse under the pressure

W

HEN you sit down to watch this year’s Ryder Cup in Minnesota, you may be struck with a slight feeling of déjà vu.

Comparisons with the last time the event was played in the United States are inevitable: Another Mid-West venue with Major Championship history – check.

The same American Captain – check. Four picks for the hosts – check. USA favourites (on paper) again – check.

Four years ago at Medinah CC on the outskirts of Chicago, Davis Love III had assembled a side that many thought was too strong for their European counterparts, and the first two days went as predicted after the hosts opened up a commanding 10-5 lead.

However, the European green shoots of recovery were planted by Ian Poulter as dusk approached on Saturday evening as he rallied with five successive birdies to earn a point in the final fourball match and give Europe a glimmer of hope heading into the singles, trailing by four points.

The rest, as they say, is history as Europe came from behind in the most unlikely fashion on the Sunday to win a second successive Ryder Cup.

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Spin Back

September 2012

The pain of defeat: Jim Furyk (inset) reacts to a missed putt on the 16th and (main picture) sinks to his knees after losing his match to Sergio Garcia on the 18th four years ago amid Europe's historic comeback.

Furyk's record in nine Ryder Cups is 10-20-4.

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FEATURE

DARREN CLARKE

Exclusive with

CAPTAIN CLARKE W

ITH The Ryder Cup looming large on the horizon, Captain Darren Clarke is all set to lead his team to glory at Hazeltine National later this month, determined to continue Europe’s current winning streak.

Clarke, who becomes the first Ulsterman to captain the Ryder Cup team, was not involved with the 2014-winning side at Gleneagles but was an Assistant to José Maria Olazábal at the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ victory in 2012. He also has valuable playing experience of winning on American soil back in 2004 at Oakland Hills.

However, Clarke knows only too well that his own stats and records matter for very little when it comes down to making key decisions for the matches over three days of competition.

His wide experience and knowhow will stand him in good stead when faced with a tough, strong United States side captained by his good friend Davis Love III. “I’m great friends with Davis,” says Clarke. “We have a lot in common and we’ve spent a lot of time together over the past 18 months in the build-up to the Ryder Cup. It’s been a lot of fun. There’s so much respect

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FEATURE

DARREN CLARKE

between us and that will endure when we get down to business at Hazeltine.

“Our European side are away from home and we’re a young team so, naturally, the Americans will be favourites. But we’ll be putting pressure on ourselves to come home with the Cup. Certainly, there’ll be no lack of pressure.

“Davis has gone to great lengths to try and find a winning formula for his team – I wouldn’t expect anything less. But when we get to Hazeltine it’s going to be 12 guys against 12 guys in match play – and anything can happen.”

Premier Team Competition Indeed, anything can and does happen in golf’s premier team competition that has grown into one of the most popular sporting events on the planet.

But does Clarke have the answer to why Europe have been so successful since 1999, losing only once, in the southern state of Kentucky at Valhalla, to Paul Azinger’s side in 2008?

“Over the years the Europeans may have had the run of the greens,” says Clarke. “They’ve made a lot of big putts at the right time. But nowadays the gap in quality of the players is so small that if somebody knocks in a 20-footer at a crucial moment it can make a huge difference.

"Davis is doing everything he possibly can to get that 20-footer good fortune going in on his side and I’m obviously trying to do the same coming

“Davis has gone to great lengths to try and find a winning formula for his team - I wouldn’t expect anything less. But when we get to Hazeltine it’s going to be 12 guys against 12 guys in match play - and anything can happen.”

from the European point of view. I'm absolutely delighted with the make up of the team. The players who qualified offer not only a fantastic blend of youth and experience but also, already, some exciting partnership possibilities.

"In the experienced corner we have the two men who have lit up the world of golf in recent weeks – Open Champion Henrik Stenson and Olympic Champion Justin Rose – joined by Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy who, aside from being two of the most dynamic Ryder Cup performers of recent years, are also winners this year in their own right: Sergio in the US and Rory in Europe.

“In the rookies’ corner, it's very rare to begin any such list with the reigning Masters Champion but we are fortunate to be doing just that with Danny Willett, while Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matt Fitzpatrick, Andy Sullivan and Chris Wood bring a mixture of consistency and success that any Ryder Cup captain is looking for over the course of a qualification campaign.

“The way the team was shaping up through qualification I did need to bring experience with my picks and both Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer are former World No.1s while Thomas Pieters has the potential to be a great player in the game.

“In Lee I’ve got one of the most experienced Ryder Cup players of the

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BELOW: Darren Clarke gets his first taste of action as a member of the backroom staff as assistant to Colin Montgomerie at Celtic Manor Resort in 2010.

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FEATURE

DARREN CLARKE

modern era – it will be his tenth Ryder Cup. He’s been playing well this year and is solid week in, week out. Martin is another Ryder Cup stalwart. He’s had six top tens this year and no-one can forget his putt at Medinah four years ago. I have a massive amount of trust and belief in him.

“I played with Thomas Pieters at the Made in Denmark tournament – and he knew why. As Captain I've played a lot with players who were in the running to make the team and he impressed me.

"He shot an opening round 62 and it was one of the finest 62s I’ve ever seen. He then finished the tournament in style and to win with three birdies on the final three holes was impressive. I’m proud to have someone as talented as Thomas in the team – he has the talent to go to the top of the game.

“There is a downside – and it was such a hard decision to leave out Russell Knox. It was one of the toughest phone calls I’ve ever had to make.“

Epic Encounters Clarke is clearly enjoying his captaincy and can look back on many epic encounters with the American team. He made his debut in 1997 at Valderrama in Spain, partnering Colin Montgomerie to defeat Fred Couples and Love in the fourballs, before losing narrowly to Phil Mickelson in the singles.

Clarke then contributed two points at each of the next two Ryder Cups, at Brookline in 1999 and at The Belfry in 2002, and delivered three-and-a-half points in Europe’s record 18½-9½ victory at Oakland Hills Country Club in 2004.

Yet Clarke’s most memorable, and emotional, Ryder Cup performance came two years later when he inspired Europe to victory by the same recordequaling margin in front of the passionate Irish

Above: Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood assess the situation during the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club. galleries at The K Club, just six weeks after his first wife, Heather, passed away.

Clarke won all three of his matches in Co. Kildare, joining forces with Lee Westwood to defeat Mickelson and Chris DiMarco, and then Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk in the fourballs, before beating Zach Johnson 3 and 2 in the singles.

His two victories alongside Westwood mean the duo are joint second in the all-time list of most successful Ryder Cup partnerships, with six points from their eight matches together. Overall, Clarke

Rivalry and Friendship for almost two decades Clarke and Love were drawn to face each other in the Singles at Oakland Hills in 2004.

Throughout the tie Clarke never held the lead and was down from hole 5 onwards before producing birdies on holes 16 and 17, going all-square. They then halved the 18th to halve their match. Earlier in 2004 the pair had met in the semi-final of the WGC-Match Play, with Love prevailing on the 21st hole after a superb battle.

has contributed a total of 11½ points in the blue of Europe.

“The Ryder Cup has meant a lot to me for so long and, obviously, it’s an integral part of my golfing career,” says Clarke. “To be given this opportunity to captain Europe is very, very special. This game has been very good to me, although I’ve had my ups and I’ve had my downs. The Ryder Cup has been a huge part of my life.

Ups and Downs “I’ve been fortunate enough to play in the Ryder Cup both at home and away and they become different events. When you’re on home soil the supporters are vociferously partisan. That’s what you expect. They get behind the home team and that’s all part and parcel of the pull of the Ryder Cup, particularly in recent years. The noise just gets louder and louder.

“It creates a great atmosphere. Most of our team, and indeed the players who triumphed at Gleneagles, live and play in America. The players may be a little bit more used to the fanatical fans in the United States but that deafening sound can make a big difference.”

CLARKE’S CAREER TIMELINE 1993

Wins first European Tour title with a two-stroke victory at the Alfred Dunhill Open.

1997 Finishes runner-up at The Open Championship and makes his Ryder Cup debut at Valderrama helping Europe to victory.

2000 Becomes the first European to win a WGC event, beating Tiger Woods 4&3 to claim the WGCMatch Play Championship.

2003 Joins Woods as the then only players to win multiple WGC titles at the WGCBridgestone Invitational.

2004 Helps Europe to an historic 18 ½ - 9 ½ thrashing of the USA in his fourth Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills.

“I ‘ve been fortunate enough to play in the Ryder Cup both home and away and they become different events. When you’re on home soil the supporters are vociferously partisan.

That’s what you expect.

They get behind the home team and that’s all part and parcel of the pull of the Ryder Cup, particularly in recent years. The noise just gets louder and louder.

Above: Clarke and José Maria Olazábal watch from afar as Ian Poulter lines up a putt on day two of the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah.

Clarke and teammates Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjǿrn prepare to fly back to the UK after winning the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama in Spain.

Clarke is pictured with Captain Sam Torrance and playing partner Lee Westwood during the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry.

Clarke’s captaincy means that he hasn’t played as much golf as he’d liked this season but he made the cut in both the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and finished in a share of 30th at The Open at Royal Troon.

“The team set-up and the captain’s role at the Ryder Cup are very different. As a player, when you’re not playing as well as you’d like, staying positive is not something I could always be

2006 Scores 3 out of 3 ponts in an emotionally charged victory over the USA in the Ryder Cup shortly after wife, Heather, passed away.

accused of being able to do. When it comes to the team, you’re part of something much bigger. You have to do everything in your power to help the group. I’ll certainly take that into my captaincy.

“I’m fortunate to be Ryder Cup Captain and that’s much more important than my own golf right now. It’s more important that I’ve been able to put together such a great mixture of experience and personalities with my Captain’s Assistants.

Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie, Ian Poulter and

2008 Wins twice for his first titles since 3 but narrowly misses out on Sir ick Faldo s Ryder Cup team.

2011 Wins the Iberdrola Open in Mallorca. Two months later he wins The Open for his first Ma or title.

Sam Torrance have all been Ryder Cup winners on American soil and Thomas Bjørn was a ViceCaptain alongside myself at the victory at Medinah in 2012.

"They’re all good friends. More importantly for the Ryder Cup, they’re guys I trust completely and I value their opinions. As a group, I’m confident that we are going to help the players perform as well as they possibly can and, hopefully, we can bring the trophy back with us.” n

2012 Awarded an OBE for services to golf and later is assistant captain at Medinah.

2015 amed Ryder Cup Captain for the 4 th staging of the matches.

RAS AL KHAIMAH RISES TO THE CHALLENGE The European Challenge Tour, where it all began for golfing greats like Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, is about to get a new star.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority is proud to host the emirate’s first ever PGA Tournament.

26th – 29th October, 2016 Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE For more information, please contact events@raktda.com www.raktda.com

RYDER CUP TEAMS

DUSTIN JOHNSON Past Appearances: 2 Form: The biggest-of-big-hitters won his maiden Major at the US Open and then won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitatioanal. Imperiously long hitter and an imporved short game.

RORY MCILROY Past Appearances: 3 Form: One win at the Irish Open papers over the cracks of a less than successful campaign by his high standards. Clarke will be hoping McIlroy turns it on for the team.

DANNY WILLETT Rookie Form: Was at his brilliant, assured best to break through at The Masters. Recent performances have dipped since then but he has the strength of mind to dig deep when it matters.

JORDAN SPIETH Past Appearances: 1 Form: Two wins this year but no Major titles, Spieth will want to remember 2016 for more than just his Masters collapse – the Ryder Cup is his chance.

HENRIK STENSON Past Appearances: 3 Form: A fantastic Major breakthrough at The Open and silver medalist at the Olympics. Can he keep it rolling or will he suffer from burn out after such a solid stretch over the Summer?

PHIL MICKELSON Past Appearances: 10 Form: Yet to win since the 2013 Open Championship, ‘Lefty’ has made three runner-up finishes this year, most notably at Royal Troon behind Henrik Stenson. A Ryder Cup fixture since 1995.

CHRIS WOOD Rookie Form: Victory at Wentworth – his third on the European Tour – is a career highlight. Missed The Open through injury and no top tens since June will concern Clarke.

SERGIO GARCIA Past Appearances: 7 Form: A win in Texas in May – his first since 2014 – all-but secured his spot. Top fives at the US Open and The Open highlight his abilities to compete at the highest level.

PATRICK REED Past Appearances: 1 Form: A real steady performer with just four missed cuts this year and rarely outside the top 25 when he does make the cut. Two runner-up finishes and seven further top tens before winning The Barclays.

RAFA CABRERA-BELLO Rookie Form: Consistency has been the key for Rafa. Two runner-up finishes on the Desert Swing set him up nicely and he added a third place finish at the WGC-Match Play.

JIMMY WALKER Past Appearances: 1 Form: Struggled for much of 2016 but suddenly turned it on to win his first Major at the US PGA Championship. Walker’s debut Ryder Cup performance two years ago was one of few USA highlights.

JUSTIN ROSE Past Appearances: 3 Form: Olympic gold last month was his first win this year. The 2013 US Open winner as had a solid season with five top tens on the US PGA Tour.

ANDY SULLIVAN Rookie Form: Only missed four cuts all year. Runner-up at the Dubai Desert Classic and back-to-back top tens at the French and Scottish Opens were enough to seal his spot in the side.

BROOKS KOEPKA Rookie Form: A top-ten machine on the US PGA Tour this year, Koepka made a great run from late May through to August with his worst finish a share of 13th at the US Open in six starts.

MATT FITZPATRICK Rookie Form: Victory at last year’s British Masters put him in the team and he held his spot ever since. Secured a second win in Sweden in June but recent form has been a worry.

BRANDT SNEDEKER Past Appearances: 1 Form: Snedeker collected his eighth PGA Tour title in January but after a top ten at The Masters he hit a quiet spell. Recent top fives in Canada and North Carolina put him back in the team.

LEE WESTWOOD Past Appearances: 9 Form: Solid. Fairways and greens are Westwood’s game and with that he makes an excellent foursomes partner. Runner-up at The Masters did his wildcard chances no harm.

ZACH JOHNSON Past Appearances: 4 Form: Last year’s Open Champion has been relatively quiet this year – 52nd on the FedExCup in late August – with only five top tens including a T10 at the US Open.

Member of the past three Ryder Cup teams.

MARTIN KAYMER Past Appearances: 3 Form: Kaymer has had a decent season with five top tens on the European Tour. Sank the pressure-putt to seal the Micracle of Medinah and was victorious at Celtic Manor and Gleneagles.

THOMAS PIETERS Rookie Form: The big-hitting Belgian has been in great touch recently, finishing runner-up in the Czech Republic and then winning the Made in Denmark in impressive fashion.

United States will complete their roster with three picks on September 12 and a final pick on September 25 upon completion of the Tour Championship.

Worldwide GOLF 27

FEATURE

JAMES WILLIAMS JA JEBEL ALI GOLF RESOR T

Life’s a beach at ja golf resort ONE THE UAE GOLF SCENE’S TRUE ELDER STATESMEN, JAMES WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT THE JA JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT, DISCUSSES THE ENDURING SUCCESS OF DUBAI’S ONLY TRUE RESORT COURSE DURING HIS 18 YEARS AT THE HELM, THE RECENT RENOVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE, AND HIS THOUGHTS ON BRAND AMBASSADOR RAFA CABRERA BELLO’S SUCCESS.

Worldwide GOLF 28

Worldwide GOLF 29

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FEATURE

JAMES WILLIAMS JA JEBEL ALI GOLF RESOR T

How does the course play?

Narrow fairways – you don’t need to drive the ball long but it needs to go straight. Very small greens – not easy targets to hit.

J

ames Williams knows a thing or two about golf in Dubai. The Englishman came to the region in 1987 to take up his position as the first Head Professional of the Middle East’s first grass course, Emirates Golf Club.

After ten great years at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic venue he moved to Jebel Ali to open the region’s first true Resort course. He’s witnessed first-hand the explosion in the UAE golf scene as a multitude of new world-class courses have sprung up over the last two decades and all the while, in his role as Director of Golf, he’s ensured that the par-36 nine-hole Peter Harradine-designed beachside track at the JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort continues to set itself apart by offering something different to every other course out there.

The club received a huge feather in its cap earlier this year when former Desert Classic winner Rafa Cabrera Bello, a regular at the course who has just competed in the Rio Olympics and has qualified for Europe’s Ryder Cup team for the first time, became a JA Resorts and Hotels Brand Ambassador.

The course has been closed for refurbishment over the summer and Worldwide Golf caught up with Williams to find out what players can expect when it reopens later this month and what he thinks of Rafa’s latest achievements.

versa! The golf side of things fits in so well with all the different facilities we have here in the hotel. There is a big local market as well, as golf has become huge here in the region with big European Tour events and lots of championship courses. Ours is a lovely little resort course that caters to both regular and occasional golfers who obviously also enjoy the championship courses – but ours is very pretty, not too long and at a more-affordable price if you’re playing regularly and we always strive to offer true heartfelt hospitality.

WE HAVE A GREAT FORMULA BUT WE A R E A LW A YS T RY I N G TO I M P R OV E I T. W E H A V E G OT T H E B E A C H , SW I M M I N G P O O L S , LOT S O F SPORTING ACTIVITIES A N D LOV E LY RESTAURANTS. H O P E F U L LY W E H A V E A V E RY B R I G H T FUTURE. JAMES WILLIAMS

Worldwide Golf: When did Jebel Ali first open from a resort and from a golf perspective, and what was its main agenda? Was the idea to target the local market or an international market?

James Williams: The hotel opened well over 30 years ago, before golf really came to the Middle East.

We added golf in 1998 because we saw the need for a golf course with a hotel, alongside a beach, which offered a more family-oriented experience. The golf course has nine holes and although we would love to have 18 holes, I think that having nine holes is good for the tourists. The wife has the option to use the spa facilities at the hotel whilst the husband plays a round for a couple of hours – or vice

WWG: Championship courses have been built all over the UAE at a rapid rate for the past two decades, how has JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort maintained its popularity?

Is the facility going to change or will you stick to your successful formula?

JW: I think we must move with the times but it’s a wonderful resort hotel that facilitates for every sport and has lots of things for the family to do. I firmly believe, that it can only get better.

Dubai is growing much faster towards Jebel Ali with the new airport situated ten minutes away

Worldwide GOLF 31

from here and with the EXPO 2020 coming up, so it’s an exciting time for us. We have a great formula but we are always trying to improve it.

We have got the beach, swimming pools, lots of sporting activities and lovely restaurants.

Hopefully we have a very bright future.

WWG: There’s been some work going on at the course over the summer, tell us about that?

JW: Yes, it has been a hectic, long, hard-working summer! Golf is an all-year-round sport in the UAE but of course it quietens down during the hotter months. This quieter period provided us with a window of opportunity to close down the course and upgrade certain areas that really did require some immediate care and attention.

Although serving us well, our old irrigation system was showing signs of wear and tear so we installed the latest Hi Tec Toro system. This work is now nearing completion in readiness for our re-opening on September 8, and, after a settling down period, we can look forward to more efficient coverage of the grassed areas and better quality fairways, roughs and greens whilst using less water (not only a scarce commodity but also an expensive one!).

We have also replaced our original Bermuda grass greens with Pure Dynasty Paspalum which, again, once established and matured, will provide us with surfaces of the highest quality and I am confident they will be very well received by both our local and International guests.

Although our intention was not to change Golf Course Architect Peter Harradine’s lovely original design, we have introduced a few greens changes and I’m eager to listen to the reaction to them from our guests. I think everyone will be very pleasantly surprised!

WWG: You started sponsoring Rafa Cabrera Bello earlier this year – how did that come about?

JW: We met the very affable Richard Rayment, who is Rafa’s, manager a few years back at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters when he was accompanying Amy Boulden, an exciting

Rafael Cabrera-Bello JA Resorts & Hotels Brand Ambassador

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FEATURE

JAMES WILLIAMS JA JEBEL ALI GOLF RESOR T

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? TIGER WOODS HIT HIS FIRST EVER GOLF SHOT IN THE MIDDLE EAST AT JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT IN 2001. HERE A CROUCHING JAMES WILLIAMS WATCHES HIM IN ACTION.

Hardest Hole on the course?

Stuart Fee (Head Pro at Jebel Ali) thinks: Hole No.4 It’s the longest par four and always seems to play into the wind that can cause any player difficulty. It’s 435 yards but the conditions often make it play longer than that.

There’s plenty of water surrounding the green, which can ruin any player’s round. young lady golf professional he also manages.

We saw benefits for JA Resorts & Hotels in sponsoring Amy, especially due to the fact that as a company we have been linked with the professional side of golf for many years.

JA Resorts & Hotels has been the Official Hotel and Caterer for many years of both the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters and of course the world famous Omega Dubai Desert Classic since 1989. Having had success from the sponsorship of Amy we therefore felt that with Rafa being so talented and showing great signs of realising his obvious potential it would be of great benefit for us to have representation on men’s professional tours.

WWG: What has he been like to work with as an Ambassador?

JW: Rafa, as anyone interested in professional golf will tell you, has been a revelation over the past 18 months. There is hardly a tournament where he isn’t in contention and he has quickly climbed the world rankings to reach the upper echelons of the game, recently culminating in his automatic selection to represent Europe in the place Ryder Cup for the first time having just returned from the Rio Olympics where he represented Spain. So we are absolutely delighted for Rafa and his manager Richard for what he has achieved in the game. It could not have been better for us as one of his sponsors.

Rafa is a sponsor’s dream and I can say that having been involved in the game for 40 years.

He’s a great player and a good looking guy with a swing to die for but, very importantly, he’s a real gentleman. He’s so nice and easy to work with – a normal down to earth chap,

always smiling and very dedicated with time for everyone. We see him a lot at JA Golf Resort, he often plays on the course and he always has time for everyone. We are delighted and privileged to have him representing JA Resorts & Hotels and we wish him every success at the Ryder Cup in the USA in September.

WWG: Although it is a nine-hole course, Jebel Ali is a tough test for any level of golfer. You’ve had some spectacular players participating in the Dubai Desert Classic curtain-raiser, the Jebel Ali Challenge Match, such as Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood. Did they enjoy the course and did it prove to be more of a test than they anticipated?

JW: I think people tend to get the impression that a nine-hole course is all par 3s and that they can be torn apart. It is a beautiful golf course, it is fun and it is affordable to play on, but it is challenging as it has narrow fairways. I like to say that it’s a typical course manager’s course. We have been fortunate being a sponsor of the Dubai Desert Classic over the years, which allowed us to host the Challenge Match, which is a charity event prior to the Desert Classic. We have had some greats playing here. You mentioned some in the question but it was unbelievable seeing stars like: Tiger Woods, Mark O’Meara, Ernie Els and Seve Ballesteros competing here over the years and I can assure you that they found the golf course to be quite a tricky track – not length-wise, but keeping the ball in play with small greens. It is a good test from the back tees. The middle tees are ideal for mid-high handicappers so everybody seems to love it.

Worldwide GOLF 33

Rafa Cabrera Bello:

JA Resorts & Hotels Brand Ambassador WWG: You’re sponsored by JA Resorts & Hotels, what do you think of the course and hotels they have in Dubai?

Rafa: I’m very proud to be associated with such a wonderful company in JA Resorts & Hotels and the people and friends I have made within the company over many years.

I have established these friendships over many years of participating in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic – with friends such as David Thomson the CEO of JA Resorts & Hotels and James Williams to name just a few.

WWG: What do you think of the course and of the JA hotels in the region?

Rafa: I really love playing and practicing at the JA Golf Resort –it is a wonderful nine-hole resort course which I regularly enjoy playing with my friends. James Williams and his staff are terrific! The management and staff are so friendly and welcoming – it really feels like coming home. I have wonderful memories in winning the Challenge Matches with Lee Westwood prior the Dubai Desert Classic. I have stayed many times at the beautiful JA Palm Tree Court at the Jebel Ali Resort and now reside in Dubai at the JA Oasis Beach Tower which is amazing. I hope to find time this year to visit the JA Manafaru Resort in the Maldives as I have heard so many wonderful reports of this island paradise.

WWG: Which is your favourite hole on the course?

Rafa: My favourite hole is the picturesque eighth. It is a challenging par 3 played from an elevated tee to a green guarded by an expansive lake on the left side and bunkers on the right side of the green. The hole has a beautiful view back towards the original iconic JA Hotel.

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TOUR NEWS

SMALL THINKING BIG AT

JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES A

fter 19 successful years as Chief Executive of the famous Wentworth Club in the UK, Julian Small made the move to Dubai last September to take up a new challenge as Managing Director, Club Operations at Jumeirah Golf Estates, home to the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship. As he approaches his one-year anniversary in the UAE the affable Englishman gives Worldwide Golf his reflections on the job so far and outlines his vision for the future of the prestigious development.

Worldwide Golf: One year into the job, give us your thoughts on how it’s gone so far and how the challenge compares to your previous position at Wentworth?

Julian Small: I find Dubai a vibrant and exciting city and am really enjoying being part of the team at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Wentworth

Club was over 90 years old and the real estate surrounding it was fully developed.

Jumeirah Golf Estates is far younger and is still developing and growing, with families moving on to the estate. There is a real sense of community developing which offers our residents an unmatched lifestyle.

WWG: What does your job involve and what is the most rewarding aspect of it?

JS: There is significant potential here and in my role, I am constantly looking at new opportunities to grow the business by strengthening and broadening the range of services and facilities we offer.

I’m fortunate to have joined a strong team who are fully committed to advancing and improving the club with a focus on quality both of the product and the customer service.

I’ve always believed that long term success is based on consistent delivery which can

Worldwide GOLF |35|

only be achieved through a clear vision, good leadership, training and great teamwork. It is really rewarding to see how things continue to improve and over the coming months we will be introducing more facilities so as to offer greater choice to our customers.

WWG: As the countdown to November’s DP World Tour Championship begins in earnest, how does your role alter and what does it involve, leading up to and during the event?

JS: The DP World Tour Championship has an impact on us all year round. Having been involved in organising over 45 professional golf tournaments in my career, I know it is essential that the necessary planning takes place in advance so that when you start the physical build up and during the tournament week all the involved parties are aware of their responsibility. Effective communication and attention to detail is the key to delivering

2016 DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP NOVEMBER 17-20

Julian Small, Managing Director, Club Operations (left), Abdulla bin Damithan, DP World (centre) and Nick Tarratt (right), Director European Tour International Dubai Office, are pictured in the Jumeirah Golf Estates Hospitality Chalet during last year's DP World Tour Championship.

quality and having hosted the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates for seven years, there’s a great deal of expertise here which provides a strong foundation.

Every year, it’s important to improve and try new ideas so as to keep things fresh and vibrant especially for the growing number of spectators, many of them families, who are experiencing visiting a golf tournament for the first time. Therefore it is important that we are offering a broad range of entertainment and things like our “Kids Zone “ make sure young people have a great time.

The actual tournament week is very exciting, and different to any other week in the year, it is like a village with a circus in town. I spend very little time in my office and am constantly moving around making sure I am supporting the team to ensure the event is a great success.

WWG: What is the value to Jumeirah Golf Estates of hosting a prestigious golf event such as DP World Tour Championship?

JS: Prestigious golf events such as the DP World Tour Championship are always held at venues that offer the highest quality standards and Jumeirah Golf Estates has developed its profile on a global basis as a result of its official partnership with the European Tour and as a host venue of the DP World Tour Championship.

The tournament has a global TV reach of 423 million households and over 65,000 UAE residents and international spectators attended the 2015 championship

European Tour stars Henrik Stenson(l) and Justin Rose (r) celebrate with their silver and gold Olympic medals. The pair will be star attractions at this year's DP World Tour Championship while 28 out of the 60 Olympic entries have competed in editions of the season-ending finale.

This creates a strong platform for us to promote and highlight the unique benefits of living at Jumeirah Golf Estates and positions us as the premier Golf, Leisure and Real Estate community in Dubai.

WWG: The tournament is growing in stature year on year and the players seem to love coming here – what is it that sets the DP World Tour Championship apart?

JS: As the final tournament in the Race to Dubai, this season-ending event has a unique atmosphere. To qualify for the tournament all the players have had a successful year.

They really enjoy visiting Dubai (many of them

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Worldwide GOLF |36|

with their families) because of the fantastic facilities and service offered. The players enjoy playing the Earth course which is in excellent condition and the practice facilities here are exceptional. The feedback I received from the players last year was very positive and our challenge is to continue to improve so that each year the tournament gets stronger.

WWG: On a similar theme, Jumeirah Golf Estates is European Tour Destination – what sets it apart as a ‘destination’?

JS: Here at Jumeirah Golf Estates, we have two world-class golf courses in the Earth and the Fire alongside a fantastic Clubhouse but

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TOUR NEWS "It’s our vision to be the number one residential leisure destination. We want to offer a complete range of world class amenities and services in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way. It will always evolve because our communities requirements continue to change and as it grows new facilities and services will be introduced."

– jULIAN smALL one of our stand-out features is our teaching academy, the European Tour Performance Institute, which is one of only two in the world offering an unrivalled, comprehensive service.

You could be a person being introduced to golf for the first time through to a European Tour Professional.

Our talented team are achieving great success with developing young talent in the region as well as introducing the game of golf to men and women who have never played.

Who knows, but one of the young people learning to play golf at our academy may one day be playing here in the DP World Tour Championship.

To be a European Tour Destination, you must have a broad array of facilities offering a high quality of customer/member service standards.

European Tour Properties have a growing portfolio of great venues around the world and our members at Jumeirah Golf Estates are able to access all these facilities on a preferential basis.

WWG: As someone who lives on the Jumeirah Golf Estates development – what are your own personal highlights of living there including your favourite facilities?

JS: This is the first time I’ve lived in Dubai, I find our location is excellent as it is very quick to visit anywhere in the city – from the Marina, to Jumeirah, to Downtown. When you live on Jumeirah Golf Estates, it has a very natural, green, quiet and tranquil atmosphere which is a real contrast to other areas of the City. The quality of my villa is excellent and there’s a real sense of community in my neighborhood where I have made a number of friends. In my

An aerial view of the spectacular Jumeirah Golf Estates development.

free time, I play golf and tennis and use the gymnasium in our Country Club as well as dining in the restaurant. It is fantastic to have all these facilities on your doorstep.

WWG: It’s a great accolade that this year’s tournament will feature the gold and silver medalist from the summer Olympics in Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson – give us your thoughts on that and how significant the Olympics are in helping raise the profile of golf worldwide?

JS: I’m sure that by including both men’s and ladies golf in the Olympics, there will be a significant growth in awareness of the game, and having Justin and Henrik here in November is fantastic for the tournament.

Golf is a global game appealing to men and women of any age and a great game for the family to play together. It’s a very social game and it is important that we encourage more and more people to participate.

Inevitably, lessons will have been learnt in Rio de Janeiro and I’m sure that golf will be even stronger in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

WWG: What is your vision for the future at

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS:

Jumeirah Golf Estates and what is in the immediate pipeline?

JS: It’s our vision to be the number one residential leisure destination. We want to offer a complete range of world class amenities and services in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way. It will always evolve because our communities' requirements continue to change and as it grows new facilities and services will be introduced.

Later this year, we will be opening a Sports Bar and a new Banqueting facility alongside further improvements to our golf courses including floodlighting all of our practice facilities. We will also be enhancing other aspects of the Clubhouse and other amenities within the development. This is another phase of improving and broadening the quality and range of facility and services we offer and there is more in the pipeline.

It is very exciting to be part of such a passionate and committed team here. I believe there is a really positive momentum at Jumeirah Golf Estates, with the community growing and it is a fantastic place to live and work.

Your help is needed at the European Tour's grand finale. More than 300 volunteers will take on marshalling, on-course scoring and TV duties during the DP World Tour Championship and Chief Marshal Jenni Hoskins is happy to hear from anyone who is interested in joining the team for the four-day tournament. To learn Worldwide GOLF |37| more about becoming a volunteer, please email Jengolfdxb@hotmail.com.

MORE THAN A GOLF CLUB Tel.: 024459600 / Email: office@adcitygolf.ae / www.adcitygolf.com

STONE CREDITS NBO GOLF CLASSIC GRAND FINAL AS HIS SPRINGBOARD TO SUCCESS

C

OMING into last season’s NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in Muscat, Oman, South Africa’s Brandon Stone was in 19th place in the Road to Oman Rankings and in need of a top drawer performance in order move into the hallowed top 15 in order to secure promotion to the European Tour for the 2016 season. He did just that, shooting a pair of 68s over the final two rounds to finish in sixth place at 10 under par. He’s gone on to show just how life-changing the Road to Oman’s Grand Final at Almouj Golf can be with a stunning debut season on the European Tour which has seen him claim his first title on home soil at the SA Open, compete in his first Majors at The Open and the US PGA Championship and represent his country at the Rio Olympic Games. Here, Brandon looks back on the tournament that kick-started it all…

“

“

The NBO Golf Classic Grand final was a turning point for my career in 2015. Coming into the event I was in 19th place in the Road to Oman Rankings and looking like I might not make the top 15 in order to automatically secure a European Tour card for the 2016 season.

Looking back on the event, I remember feeling that something special would happen the minute I landed in Muscat. The tournament was first class – from the quality of the Greg Norman-designed course, the facilities around the club, the practice areas, and the quality of field. Everything was top class. One of the reasons we play this game and choose a career as a professional golfer is for weeks like that.

I got a feeling it was going to be a big week in my career and luckily I played quite well. I had a good finish, especially in the final two rounds on the Friday and Saturday, and crept inside the Top 15 to secure my European Tour card.

From there, my career has been on an upward curve, beginning with my win in my home tournament, the SA Open. The tension I felt on the last nine holes in Oman, with everything on the line, helped me massively to cross the line for that win, just a couple of tournaments later.

It’s amazing to think how far I’ve come in such a short space of time. If someone had said at the start of the year that I’d be teeing up in my first Major at The Open and then playing in the US PGA Championship and the Olympics, I would’ve told them they were crazy.

But here I am, and I’ve earned my place. The National Bank of Oman can look back on the tournament, and their support of the Challenge Tour, and be really proud of the fact that they have had a hand in shaping the futures of so many aspiring golfers and their families.

Support like this must be heralded and respected and I’m delighted to have a feeling of contributing to the event by taking the opportunity it gave me and pushing on this season to the next level.

The Challenge Tour and NBO relationship is crucial to the development of the game not just in Oman and the Middle East but also globally and this is a fact to be really proud of.

Brandon Stone reads a putt with the help of his caddie during last year’s NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.

RIGHT: Brandon Stone proudly sits with the trophy after winning this year’s SA Open on the European Tour FAR RIGHT: Stone and Jaco Van Zyl are pictured with South African Team Captain Gary Player ahead of their participation in the Olympic Games in Rio last month.

For more information about the 2016 NBO Golf Classic Grand Final please visit: www.nbogolf.com Worldwide GOLF 39

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Road to Oman: Movers and Shakers Romain Langasque takes the lead on the Road to Oman THE 2016 Road to Oman is taking shape with fewer than ten tournaments remaining for players to make a charge up the ranking.

Olympian Ryan Fox returned from Rio and finished runner-up at the Rolex Trophy to earn 18,500 points and move into second place on the Road to Oman behind Langasque. It’s been a whirlwind month for the 29-year-old from New Zealand. He clinched the Tayto Northern Ireland Open in partnership with Ulster Bank for his first Challenge Tour win of the year before finishing a credible 39th at the Rio Olympics. He then jetted straight to Geneva to compete in the Rolex Trophy.

Frenchman Romain Langasque leads the way on the Road to Oman and looks certain to be plying his trade on the top tier of European Golf next season. The former Amateur Champion has been in steady form all season with three runner-up finishes among six top tens. He earned 13,000 Road to Oman points for a share of second place at the Vierumaki Finnish Challenge and followed that with fourth place at the Rolex Trophy which netted him 12,000 points.

South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli produced a timely victory at the Rolex Trophy to shoot from 13th to 3rd on the Road to Oman and book his place in the seasonending NBO Golf Classic Grand Final ar Almouj Golf. The top 15 players on the final ranking after the event in Muscat will earn promotion to the European Tour for the 2017 season. Frittelli has given himself a great platform to build on as the campaign nears its conclusion.

“This win will get me right up there in the Road to Oman Rankings. If I can do well in the final swing of the season I should hopefully be able to cement my place in the top 15,” said Frittelli.

ENGLAND’S Jordan L. Smith has relinquished his lead at the top of the Road to Oman standings but is still well placed in fourth position and with plenty of prize money left to play for. Smith endured a lean spell in late July with a missed cut and a disqualification, but a share of ninth place at the Rolex Trophy earned him €6,000 and solidifies his spot in the upper reaches of the ranking.

Joël Stalter performed heroics to come from five shots behind and clinch his first European Challenge Tour title at the Swedish Challenge hosted by Robert Karlsson securing 32,000 points in the process. Stalter began the week in 26th place on the Road to Oman but his victory vaulted him inside the top ten.

Worldwide GOLF 41

Sam Walker gave himself every chance of making the top 15 on the ranking with a two-stroke victory at the Vierumaki Finnish Challenge. The win moved the Englishman up inside the top 25 on the Road to Oman.

Tour News

WORLD ROUNDUPS Date: July 28 - 31 Event: King’s Cup presented by PTT Group Venue: Phoenix Gold Golf Club, Pattaya, Thailand Winner’s Cheque: €122,047

Date: July 21 - 27 Event: RBC Canadian Open Venue: Glen Abbey GC, Oakville, Ontario, Canada Winner’s Cheque: $1,062,000

CHAN SEALS VICTORY IN PATTAYA

VEGAS ON TOP IN CANADA Jhonattan Vegas rallied to win the Canadian Open for his second US PGA Tour title, with birdies on the final three holes for a one-stroke victory. The 29-year-old Venezuelan began the day five shots behind leader Brandt Snedeker, four behind US Open champion Dustin Johnson and Canadian amateur Jared du Toit but came out on top after a spectacular Sunday.

“It’s a great feeling. Last week, I had a six-shot lead going into the weekend and lost by three. I was five back starting today and won by one. You’ve just got to keep your head down and play hard.”

Pos. Name 1 Jhonatton Vegas T2 Jon Rahm T2 Dustin Johnson

Country VEN ESP USA

-12 -11 -11

Chan Shih-Chang secured his maiden European Tour title with a finalround 67 at the King’s Cup in Thailand. Chan, from Taiwan, was the of the overnight leader and extended his advantage to finish two strokes clear on 12 under for the tournament. The 30-year-old began on day one by shooting one over but took control with a faultless 63 on Saturday and never looked like loosening his grasp. Chan’s compatriot Lin Wen-tang shot a final round 66 to finish second.

“It was a close battle all the way until the 16th when I knew I had a chance. Words cannot describe how I felt when I sank that last putt.”

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

Pos. Name

73 69 70 64 67 71 72 67 66 71 71 69

276 277 277

1 2 3

Date: July 28 - 31 Event: US PGA Championship Venue: Baltusrol GC, Springfield, NJ Winner’s Cheque: €1,627,295

Chan Shih-chang Lin Wen-tang Danthai Boonma

Country TPE TPE THA

-12 -10 -9

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

71 67 63 67 69 66 69 66 68 68 71 64

268 270 271

Date: August 04 -07 Event: Travelers Championship Venue: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, CT Winner’s Cheque: $1,188,000

KNOX WINS ON HISTORIC DAY

WALKER GOES WIRE TO WIRE Jimmy Walker won his first Major with a one-shot victory at the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol. The American closed with a bogey-free threeunder-par 67 to hold off World No.1 Jason Day (67) and win on 14 under.

Daniel Summerhays (66) was third on 10 under, while Open champion Henrik Stenson carded a 71 to finish joint seventh on eight under.

Russell Knox won the Travelers Championship after Jim Furyk became the first player in US PGA Tour history to shoot a round of 58. Knox, 31, closed with a two-under 68 to beat Jerry Kelly by a stroke. Daniel Berger led going into the final round but carded a four-over-par 74 to finish tied for fifth with Furyk, Robert Garrigus and Tyrone van Aswegen. Furyk carded 10 birdies and an eagle in his bogey-free round of 12 under par to finish on 11 under.

“Just to be in contention and be in there and have a chance and then to finish it off is just so gratifying, it really is. It feels sweet. It’s amazing.”

“Everybody dreams of making a putt on the last hole to win a tournament. I just kept telling myself, this is your chance to make a putt to have a great celebration and hear the roars. I’m glad it went in.”

Pos. Name 1 2 3

Country

Jimmy Walker USA Jason Day AUS Daniel Summerhays USA

-14 -13 -10

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

Pos. Name

65 66 68 67 68 75 67 67 70 67 67 66

266 267 270

1 Russell Knox 2 Jerry Kelly T3 Justin Thomas

Worldwide GOLF 43

Country SCO USA USA

-14 -13 -12

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

67 67 64 68 64 70 69 64 68 69 69 62

266 267 268

Tour News

WORLD ROUNDUPS Date: Aug 11-14 Event: John Deere Classic Venue: TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois Winner’s Cheque: $864,000

Date: August 04 - 07 Event: Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play Venue: Archerfield, East Lothian, Scotland Winner’s Cheque: €171,000

WALL ENDS LENGTHY DROUGHT Anthony Wall ended a wait of 16 years and 204 days for his second Tour title by defeating the favourite Alex Noren in the final of the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play. The windy conditions, which saw gusts reaching 40 miles per hour, made life difficult for the players but it was Wall’s excellent short game that helped earn him a one-hole victory against Scottish Open champion Alex Noren.

“Sixteen years is a long time. That's a career for most golfers so it feels incredible. I am so proud to still be doing my job.”

Pos. Name 1 2 3

Anthony Wall Alex Noren James Morrison

RYAN HEALTHY AND WANTING MOORE

RYAN Moore believes he is finally over the ankle trouble that has plagued him for five years after he clinched his fifth career title on the US PGA Tour with a two-stroke win over Ben Martin at the John Deere Classic. Leading by one entering the final round, Moore shot 67 to secure the win, his first since the 2015 CIMB Classic.

“ It wasn’t a constant pain, but a nagging ankle pain. It’s a huge victory for me to just feel good. I want to keep getting better. I can accomplish great things in this game.”

Pos. Name

Country

1 Ryan Moore 2 Ben Martin T3 Whee Kim

ENG SWE ENG

Country

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

-22 -20 -17

65 65 65 67 66 68 62 68 69 67 64 67

262 264 267

Date: August 18 - 21 Event: D+D REAL Czech Masters Venue: Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic Winner’s Cheque: €166,660

Date: August 18 - 21 Event: Wyndham Championship Venue: Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina Winner’s Cheque: $1,008,000

PETERSON ENDS PIETERS DEFENCE

KIM PREVAILS TO WIN FIRST TITLE

American Paul Peterson clinched his maiden European Tour title at the expense of defending champion Thomas Pieters at the D+D REAL Czech Masters. Peterson began the final round two behind due to a third round 64 and shot a final round 67 to defeat Pieters by a single stroke.

“This is the best feeling in the world. My team and I have put in so much hard work and long hours by everybody and I’m just so happy.”

Pos. Name 1 2 3

Paul Peterson Thomas Pieters David Howell

Country USA BEL ENG

-15 -14 -11

Si Woo Kim cruised to his maiden victory on the US PGA Tour by fivestrokes over Luke Donald at the Wyndham Championship. The 21 year old Korean shot second and third rounds of 60-64 to take a huge lead and closed out with a 67 to become the youngest winner on the US PGA Tour in 2016. Donald’s runner-up finish was his first top-ten since April.

“I felt so confident so I didn’t have any fear of attacking the pin. My dad is my biggest inspiration. He is my teacher and travels with me. It is because of him I play golf.”

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

Pos. Name

72 70 64 67 67 67 70 70 70 68 71 68

273 274 277

1 2 3

Country

Si Woo Kim KOR Luke Donald ENG Hideki Matsuyama JPN

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-21 -16 -15

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

68 60 64 67 65 68 64 67 66 64 68 67

259 264 265

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

DSA ARCHITECTS ‘ROAD TO MONGOMO’

QUALIFIER Presented by Worldwide Golf Date: Thursday September 22, 2016 Venue: Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai Time: 1pm shotgun Prize fund: AED 8,000 Entry fee: AED 195 (includes F&B)

CALLING ALL UAE PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS! Here’s your chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Equatorial Guinea to compete in the 2016 3e Actuaries Open taking place at the Presidential Golf Course in Mongomo December 8-11, 2016, for a prize fund of US$150,000.

The top five finishers from the UAE qualifier will be flown to Equatorial Guinea in December and put up in the five star Grand Hotel Djibloho for the tournament week.

The qualifier will also feature a prize fund of AED 8,000.

To register your interest for the road to Mongomo UAE qualifier presented by Worldwide Golf, taking place at Al Badia Golf on September 22 please contact: luke.plumb@ihg.com or editor@worldwidegolfme.com Tel: +971 (0)4 601 0101 (Al Badia GC) / Tel: +971 (0) 4 340 3785 (Worldwide Golf) Entry fee is AED 195. All entrants must be registered professionals.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

PRESIDENT OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (CENTRE) AND THE FIRST LADY POSE WITH THE PLAYERS AND STAFF AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AT LAST YEAR'S 3E ACTUARIES OPEN IN MONGOMO

LUKE JOY IN ACTION IN MONGOMO LAST YEAR WHERE HE FINISHED IN FOURTH PLACE

UAE PROS SET FOR DSA ARCHITECTS

‘ROAD TO MONGOMO’ QUALIFIER PRESENTED BY WORLDWIDE GOLF E xcitement is building among the professional golfing community in the UAE as the newly coined DSA Architects ‘Road to Mongomo’ Qualifier Presented by Worldwide Golf approaches.

The event, which is open to any professional golfer, whether they are based in the region or not, is taking place at the stunning Al Badia Golf Club in Dubai, formerly home to the European Challenge Tour’s season-ending Grand Final, on Thursday September 22.

With five all-expenses paid places up for grabs for the top finishers to fly to Equatorial Guinea in December to compete in the US$150,000 ‘3e Actuaries Open’, the tournament was already one of the most eagerly anticipated on the golfing calendar, but in signing up the prestigious DSA Architects as a title sponsor, the event has received a further boost.

As well as the five spots in the 3e Actuaries Open, which takes place December 8-11, the DSA Architects ‘Road to Mongomo’ Qualifier Presented by Worldwide Golf, which has been officially sanctioned by the Emirates Golf Federation, will feature an AED 8,000 prize fund while the AED 195 entry fee will also include F&B after the round.

“DSA Architects are delighted to be supporting Worldwide Golf and Al Badia Golf Club in the ‘Road to Mongomo’ Qualifier,” said DSA Architects Managing Director Steve Kelshaw. “It’s going to be a fantastic

tournament featuring the best pros from the region and beyond. We wish all participants the best of luck.”

Abu Dhabi-based MENA Tour and Asian Tour player Luke Joy blazed the trail for his fellow UAE pros when he accepted an invite to play in the 2015 3e Actuaries Open, where he finished fourth, and he’s delighted that more of the region’s golfers are being given the chance to follow in his footsteps through the DSA Architects ‘Road to Mongomo’ Qualifier Presented by Worldwide Golf.

“The 3e Actuaries Open was a fantastic event to attend in 2015 and I know it will be even bigger and better for 2016,” said Joy. “I'm really looking forward to playing the course again as it’s a great layout and will be great to see some other professionals joining me from the UAE.” 3e Actuaries Open tournament host, Olawale Opayinka, who will be attending the Qualifier along with a TV crew from Equatorial Guinea, added: “As we continue to tirelessly grow the professional game here in Equatorial Guinea and our region of Africa, we are thrilled that this year we will be joined by more professional golfers from the UAE like Luke Joy in December.

Our hearts remain wide open to welcome all to Mongomo and we believe it will be a very rewarding experience for those who make it.”

Luke Plumb, Golf Operations Manager, Al Badia Golf Club said: "We are very excited to be the host venue for the DSA Architects 'Road to Mongomo' Qualifier. This event is new

Worldwide GOLF |47|

to the region and it offers golf professionals a fantastic opportunity to qualify for the 3e Actuaries Open in Equatorial Guinea and the top five qualifiers from Al Badia will have the opportunity to play for a great prize fund. We hope this event will be a success with our partners Worldwide Golf and DSA Architects and will continue in the future."

The five qualifiers will be flown to Equatorial Guinea on December 5, where they will stay in the luxurious five-star Grand Hotel Djibloho for the tournament week, flying back to Dubai on December 12.

The DSA Architects ‘Road to Mongomo’ Qualifier Presented by Worldwide Golf will commence with a 1.00pm shotgun start at Al Badia Golf Club on Thursday September 22, 2016.

All professional golfers are eligible to register and places will be awarded on a first come first served basis.

TO REGISTER PLEASE CONTACT

Luke Plumb

Golf Operations Manager, Al Badia Golf Club, Tel: +971 (0)56 792 0383; Email: Luke.Plumb@ihg.com FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: editor@worldwidegolfme.com

www.europeantourproperties.com

Estonian Golf & Country Club

E

STONIAN Golf & Country Club, just a 20-minute drive from the beautiful, historic capital of Tallinn, comprises the stunning 18-hole Championship Sea Course and the 9-hole links-style Stone Course, both nestled within an ancient archaeological site in a rural coastal environment beside the Baltic Sea. The par-72 Sea Course, which stretches over 7,000 yards, has been carved from the unspoiled forests that reach out to the beach and run along the Jägala River and is laid out over parkland, heathland and links. Its length and complexity presents a real challenge for golfers of all levels. Although the river and the Baltic Sea don’t come directly into play, water features on the course, particularly on the par-four 13th hole, where the fairway borders the full length of the hole.

The Sea Course is regularly included in Golf World’s Top 100 European courses and has played host to a number of important tournaments, including the European qualifier for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in 2009 and 2011, the 2014 European Ladies Amateur Championship and more recently the 30th edition of the European Amateur Championship. The 9-hole Stone Course lies on a limestone plain between junipers and restored stone walls, and is a protected National Heritage site where each hole has a story to tell. The course is open to the winds and has a links feeling.

The award-winning Clubhouse is perched on a limestone cliff overlooking the courses and the Gulf of Finland and offers a Pro-shop, locker rooms with saunas, terrace, meeting rooms, an archaeology museum and golf library and the famed Fahle Golf Restaurant. The Jõelähtme Golf Centre includes a practice area, covered driving range, chipping area, and bunkers and putting greens. Professionals are available for lessons and club fitting.

Guests can rent modern, Scandinavian-style villas set amid the forests surrounding the Sea Course and for home buyers and investors there is an array of architecturally unique residences and building plots available.

When not on the links, there are opportunities to explore the majestic city of Tallinn, with its mesmerising, medieval Old Town, which is an approved UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tallinn has much to offer culturally with quaint cobblestone streets, buildings dating as far back as the 11th century and plenty of activities for the adventurous visitor. www.egcc.ee

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Destinations

Courses

LE GOLF NATIONAL FRANCE

GOLF CLUB ST.LEON-ROT GERMANY

LINNA GOLF FINLAND

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

KUNSÄNGEN GOLF CLUB SWEDEN

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

Destination Under Development ROSSINGTON HALL UNITED KINGDOM

MARCO SIMONE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB ITALY

EUROPEAN TOUR PROPERTIES is a network of world class venues that all boast the hallmark of tournament quality courses and offer extensive off-course facilities guaranteed to provide a memorable golfing experience for members and visitors alike.

Many of them are close to famous cities and all offer a wealth of golf, leisure and accommodation choices.

For those seeking the ultimate golfing lifestyle, elegant and secluded realestate opportunities are also available.

Spanning four major geographical regions, our member venues benefit from year-long support in brand, sales, marketing and operational areas, all targeted at enabling them to sell more green fees, memberships, real estate and hotel rooms.

TEN-TIMES major champion, Annika Sorenstam, who amassed an unprecedented 89 tournament victories in her illustrious 15-year career, is designing a new course to complement the venue’s existing Sea course, rated among Europe’s Top 100 Courses.

Construction of the new course is part of a major development to create a family leisure resort and spa, including a 150-room hotel, overlooking the Gulf of Finland. Annika is working closely with European Golf Design (EGD), the golf course design company of the European Tour, and IMG, with groundwork scheduled to start this year.

Sörenstam commented: “This is a naturally beautiful landscape, reminiscent of where I grew up, and it’s a privilege to be asked to design a golf course here.

"My approach to course design is to capture the natural character of the landscape, blending golf holes into the surrounding environment. My goal is to create a versatile course that can be enjoyed by players of any skill level.

Worldwide GOLF 49

OLYMPIC GOLF WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

By David Howell, European Tour Professional

E

VERY once in a while we get to witness it. The best players in the world playing for pride, for the team badge, for the honour – and not the cash. All played out in front of a crowd that is happily partisan, loud and enthusiastic, creating an atmosphere unlike any other week of the year and all in a joyous atmosphere full of hope.

Once upon a time this was the domain of only one event, the Ryder Cup. Nothing will ever surpass the biennial event for excitement, we know that, but the Olympics, looked to me like

it’s got legs, real legs, plus a future that promises to be so bright.

Paddy Harrington said this within earshot of my good self a few years ago: “Within 20 years the Olympic Gold Medal could well be ranked right alongside the four Majors.” With a chance to win it only once every four years, why wouldn’t the Olympic Gold Medal become the one everyone wants to win? Supply and demand says it should be big, but all of that was seriously in question only a few weeks ago.

We heard it all from many of the world’s top players, as the list of reasons not to play was growing by the week. The Zika virus became a

consideration. Well, fair enough, if this was a genuine worry, and who is smart enough to know if it is or isn’t a genuine reason not to go.

Scheduling – really? I don’t think so. I couldn’t buy this one. This was an absolutely terrible reason, I’m afraid. One extra week over a four year period, I’m not having that reasoning, I’m sorry.

Then there were the ‘golf shouldn’t be in the Olympics brigade’ to contend with. Another standard reason not to play, it would seem. Oh how they must be questioning their wisdom now. To be honest, I didn’t watch too much of the Olympics, it has to be said. Three kids put paid to that, unfortunately, but I did watch the last nine holes of the Olympic golf and had the privilege of seeing two of the game’s greatest in a captivating match play-style shoot-out.

Great Looking Course When I flicked on the Olympic channel I was peeking through my fingers worried that I would see empty stands, players who couldn’t win appearing to be utterly disinterested and, worst of all, someone leading the field who nobody had ever heard of.

Harsh, maybe, but imagine an unknown winning the 100 meters in a slow time, beating Usain Bolt into fourth place. It doesn’t happen in athletics – the fastest man wins. But golf isn’t like that, as we all know. Such things can and do happen.

So what did I witness instead? A great looking course covered in bronzed crowds, many of whom were wearing their national colours, following two of the world’s best players going head to head with the same intensity of two guys battling to win The Open.

We know this from experience of watching Henrik Stenson, victorious in his battle with Phil Mickelson at Royal Troon. This time Henrik was

LEFT: Sweden’s Henrik Stenson congratulates Justin Rose after the Englishman wins Olympic Gold by two strokes.

RIGHT: Fans surround the first tee during the final round of the Women’s Olympic Golf tournament as eventual bronze medallist, China’s Shanshan Feng, tees off on the opening hole.

Worldwide GOLF 50

Worldwide Golf Columnist

the perfect foil for Justin Rose, one of Britain’s finest, bagging the first golfing Gold Medal since 1904.

So many great stories played out in Rio, but undoubtedly the men’s golf event can stand proudly on its own two feet. It produced a great spectacle, a thrilling climax, which isn’t always the case. Thankfully, this overwhelming success was down to two of the nicest, proudest players in the game. We can say that in all sincerity.

The intensity was clear for all to see. It turns out that the Olympics does matter, and it will matter long into the future. We know what the four Majors mean to golf, to its finest participants and all who follow the game. But it’s not the players who get to decide what’s important. Ultimately it’s the fans’ views that really matter.

Global Reach The watching world decides what’s big and what’s not. Money isn’t the deciding factor. Global reach does, however, go a long way towards deciding it. It’s fair to say that over time the reach of the Olympics has been bigger than anything else of its kind. Even Justin Rose’s little boy can tell that the Olympics matter what clearer voice do the avoiders need to hear?

In four years’ time the Olympics are being held in golf-crazy Japan. You can bet your bottom dollar that everyone will turn up for that one. It could just be down to the heroics of Rose and Stenson, the last day rally of Matt Kuchar, the excitable tweeting from Sergio Garcia (so happy to be a part of team Spain), and all the supporting cast.

Without these guys, and the girls, of course, who provided the perfect spectacle with Inbee Park, fittingly taking Gold for Korea, shouting from the

rooftops about how great the Olympic experience was then who knows, golf may well have been a short-lived Olympic sport once again.

Thankfully, they did shout, and they played great golf, with their hearts on display. When it mattered most, they produced some of the finest golf for all to see.

Perfect Pitch Let’s not forget that birdie at the last from Rose. He delivered the most perfect of pitches you will ever see, played at the crucial moment. Sure, Justin didn’t dream of winning Olympic Gold as a kid, well not at golf anyway, although when I think of it, he probably did think about how cool it would be to be Olympic Champion at something.

Luckily, he chose to follow golf as his life’s work.

Back then, Olympic Gold was not an option – until now. In 2016 when, after years of hard work and tireless campaigning, the golfing authorities got us back into the Olympics, to grow the game that we enjoy, to showcase golf to the rest of the world.

Fortunately, just enough of our top players did buy into the Olympic dream. Now, for four years, Justin Rose, after adding to Great Britain’s recordbreaking 67-medal haul, is Olympic Champion.

Tell someone in Nairobi that you are Masters Champion and see what response you get. Tell them you are Olympic Champion and I bet they will be impressed.

That’s the point guys, that’s the point… n

Worldwide GOLF 51

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Worldwide Golf Colum*ist

EUROPE TO WIN RYDER CUP AT HAZELTINE

By Pete Cowen, PGA Master Professional

M

any people have been saying to me that Russell Knox should have made Darren Clarke’s Ryder Cup team but what people forget is that team spirit is an essential elemenj WdZ :Whh[d ademi j^_i X[jj[h j^Wd ceij$ Knox only needed five points to make the team yet he chose to play in the States instead of heading over to Denmark with the other wildcard contenders.

He’s more a US PGA Tour player and isn’t really known on the European Tour by the lads.

Thomas Pieters’ selection came as no surprise for two reasons. First, he’s been playing well all season and could easily have won in Abu Dhabi at the start of the year and the manner in which he played in Denmark while paired with Clarke just highlighted he can turn it on, not just with his game but mentally as well.

I first saw Thomas when he was 13 at a Belgium training camp and he immediately caught my eye. I’ve seen hundred of kids who can hit a ball, but I see very few who can play the game. Thomas could always hit it and his college coach Mike Small did a great job of turning him into a player.

only taken a few hours and Lee is back in the groove and got his distance and spin control dialled in.

Lee is instrumental for Darren’s team, as he’s not only got all that experience from nine previous Ryder Cups, but he knows many of the lads and will know exactly what to say to them when the time is right.

Just look how he gelled with Danny Willett at The Masters this year in the final round, it just looked like they were having fun … as they were. That’s what the European Ryder Cup success has been built on over the years. Danny has got over The Masters fever and is back working harder than ever on the range. He’s a grafter and it won’t be long before he wins again.

Rookies not like the old days

It also helps that Thomas is built like an athlete and trains like one. With a great physique, his long levers enable him to hit it hard and take courses apart through his length. But working with him you get to know

The US PGA Tour has created a Task Force to see just what Europe’s winning formula has been but we all know it’s that locker room atmosphere. I’ve been there for the past 10 occasions and it’s the essential ingredient for the winning team. Europe has mastered it over the years, thanks to the likes of Seve and Olazábal, which Darren has factored in.

Whether the Americans can emulate this formula we will have to wait and see.

We know Hazeltine will be set up for the American players, long and open, but even though they aren’t defending, the pressure

his character and this is one area where you see his relentless work ethic and a Henrik Stenson-like sense of humour. This why his choice was a perfect fit for Darren’s team.

I’m on the range right now at Crans-surSierre for the Omega European Masters and the feedback from the other players in the team is just want Darren would want to hear.

Mike Walker and I are working with six of the players selected in the Ryder Cup team. In fact, there are only two I’ve never worked with.

One of our players who has battled back through injury is Chris Wood and it was great to hear from Mike that’s he’s been hitting it great with no issues. So hopefully, he will be firing on all cylinders come Hazeltine. I’ve been spending some time with Lee Westwood, working on his wedge play, which just didn’t seem to be quiet right at the Czech Masters. It’s

will be on Davis Love III and his team. Darren’s got six rookies and he’s got to ‘blood’ the next wave of players to secure the future for Europe, so in many ways he has nothing to lose. Davis Love’s team, on the other hand, dominates in terms of world ranking points and firepower but Europe’s rookies aren’t like the rookies of old.

Willett won The Masters, Wood won the BMW PGA Championship, Cabrera-Bello finished third in the WGC- Match Play in the States, Sullivan has won twice this year and experienced playing States side, Fitzpatrick just doesn’t suffer from stage fright and has won when the pressure is on, and Pieters, as we know, is bang on form.

This is why I believe that Europe and their fighting spirit will hold on to the Ryder Cup by one point. n

Sense of humour

Worldwide GOLF 53

Worldwide GOLF 54

“

JUSTIN ROSE overcame a titanic battle with Henrik Stenson to win the Gold medal for Great Britain on Golf’s longawaited return to the Olympic Games in Rio last month.

Stenson, who was coming off the back of a first Major title at The Open at Royal Troon and a top-5 finish at the US PGA Championship, pushed Rose all the way to the line, but the Brit hung on and birdied the par-5 closing hole to seal an outstanding two-stroke win.

American Matt Kuchar – who only made the United States team by the skin of his teeth – shot a blistering 63 to surge up the leaderboard and clinch the bronze medal.

“I made a big deal of this all year,” beamed Rose. “It won’t sit well with the guys who didn’t turn up because they will have seen how good it was and they’re competitors at heart, that’s why they’re great golfers.

“You’ll no doubt see them all in Tokyo in 2020. Until then, though, they’re going to have to put up with me having bragging rights.

“When you win a Major the rights don’t last very long, just until the next one comes along, but little old me with my gold medal is going to be reminding them for four years, and I’m going to have a lot of fun on the range.”

Stenson was in superb touch but

suffered a back spasm on the 13th hole which needed treatment and he struggled during the closing holes.

“You can’t say it’s purely down to that,” he lamented, “but I don’t think it was a helping thing, if I can put it that way.”

Meanwhile, Kuchar, who moved into the top-15 in the world to make the team by finishing tied for third at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational a few weeks earlier, was delighted with the whole Olympic experience.

“I’ve never been so happy with a third-place finish in my life,” said Kuchar, who benefitted from Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson being no-shows to take his place in the field.

Henrik Stenson would have won a gold medal if there was a team format (combined scores from the Athletes from each nation), because he and David Lingmerth led Sweden to the top score of 20 under, tied with the United States (who had four Athletes).

Worldwide GOLF 55

“

ROSE SET FOR FOUR-YEAR GOLDEN GLOAT

When you win a Major the bragging rights don't last very long, just until the next one comes along, but little old me with my gold medal is going to be reminding them for four years.

Worldwide GOLF 56

GOLD MEDAL A WALK IN THE PARK FOR INBEE FORMER World No.1 Inbee Park strutted to a superb five-stroke win in the Ladies Olympic Golf tournament to clinch the gold medal for Korea, with current World No.1, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, taking silver and China’s Shanshan Feng sealing bronze.

Park had posted just two top-10 finishes this season and hadn’t played an event on any of the main Ladies Tours in more than two months because of a thumb injury. She did play an event on the Korean LPGA Tour two weeks before Rio and missed the cut, but all that was forgotten as she posted rounds of 66-66-70-66 for a 16-under-par total. Ko’s third round 65 moved her to within touching distance of Park but the Korean didn’t open the door to the chasing pack.

Park made the turn six strokes clear and birdied two of the last three holes to cruise home and add Olympic gold to her seven Major titles.

“It feels truly unreal,” said Park. “I am just so happy to be standing on the highest spot on the podium. I have won many tournaments but I have never felt anything like this before.”

American Stacy Lewis, who missed out on a possible play-off for bronze by a matter of inches on the final green, said: “If you watch Inbee or Lydia, play golf, you’re not going to be wowed. You’re not going to be amazed. But if you watch them over a period of time,

you are going to be amazed.”

Bronze medal winner Feng said her result will give a massive boost to golf in her homeland. “If anyone wins a medal from China, it’s going to change everything about golf in our country,” said Feng after her third round score put her in contention.

After receiving her medal she said: “People in China who don’t play golf are going to see us play and realise see how great the Chinese players are. I made sure that I brought my A-game to Rio and I smiled all the time, whether I missed a putt or made a putt. I thought, ‘Oh, people back in China are watching me, so I need to make sure that I look nice.”

Olympic Golf Chief delighted with golf’s impact International Golf Federation president Peter Dawson has praised the impact golf has had upon its return to the Olympic Games after six different nations won the six medals on offer in the Men’s and Ladies tournaments.

“Our performance here in Rio is going to help us enormously. It’s done a marvelous job and so many of The IOC members suddenly realise what a great game golf is and what a show we’ve put on,” said Dawson. However, it wasn’t all plain

Worldwide GOLF 57

sailing as some of the top players showed a certain amount of indifference to the format of 72-hole individual strokeplay.

“That’s a difficult subject, really, because The International Olympic Committee wanted the Olympic champions to be champions in a mainstream sport – not in some format that the sport otherwise never uses,” Dawson added.

“But what you might see is some changes in the format going forward. We will be looking at that.”

GEAR

Matthew Board (left), Joe Marshall (centre) and David Storey (right) test out Taylormade’s popular M2 fairway woods..

M

ANY GOLFERS SEE THEIR EXISTING FAIRWAY WOOD AS ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE CLUBS IN THE BAG, SO IT MAKES REPLACING IT A TOUGH DECISION .

HOWEVER, TAYLORMADE’S M2 RANGE IS FINDING ITS WAY INTO AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PLAYERS’ BAGS WITH ITS GREAT LOOKS AND STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY WHICH CREATES A STRIKE THAT IS TRUE, STRAIGHT AND LONG –JUST WHAT EVERY GOLFER WANTS! WORLDWIDE GOLF HEADED DOWN TO AL BADIA GOLF CLUB BY INTERCONTINENTAL TO ASSESS AND COMPARE THE M2 18° 5-WOOD, 15° 3-WOOD AND THE HIGHLOFTED 16.5° 3-WOOD. AL BADIA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL, JOE MARSHALL, WAS ON HAND TO KINDLY HELP DAVID STOREY AND MATTHEW BOARD – TWO LOCAL AMATEURS IN DUBAI – TEST THE PRODUCTS IN THE INDOOR STUDIO, AND DELIVER THEIR TAYLORMADE M2 JUDGEMENT.

Worldwide GOLF 59

GEAR

Matthew Board in full swing.

MATTHEW BOARD HANDICAP: 12 MEMBER AT: JGE

JOE: What do you want out of a fairway wood?

MATTHEW : An alternative from off the tee that can produce good distance but is more controlled than my current wood that can go here, there and everywhere.

JOE MARSHALL: You can see a big variation in the flight of the golf ball with these three fairway woods. There’s also a huge change in the dispersion rate of the shots. The most consistent by far is the higher-lofted 3-wood.

How did this high-launching version of the 3-wood feel to hit, Matt?

MATTHEW: It felt perfect when stood over the ball which certainly affected my shots. The weight of the head and many other elements suited my swing pattern to a tee. I think I was trying to push the 5-wood too much so the results weren’t great with that and the 15° didn’t give me the same consistency that I had with the higher lofted version, which was impeccable.

JOE: Matt’s clubhead speed in excess of 107 is achieving impressive ball speed for a mid-handicapper. One of the key factors that TaylorMade have introduced with the M2 is the Speed Pocket which reduces the spin and generates an improved amount of ball speed. You can see that Matt’s spin rate is quite low for a fairway wood. This is why he was achieving some fantastic distances with this club and could use it as a replacement driver. Why do you think the 3-wood performed better than the 5-wood when in your hands, Matt?

MATTHEW: I just didn’t quite get the feel for the 5-wood for some reason. I think after hitting both 3-woods, it was hard to get the best out of the 5-wood. The 15° 3-wood was harder to keep in the same direction on a constant

BALL FLIGHT

YELLOW = 5-WOOD WHITE = HIGH-LOFTED 16.5° 3-WOOD BLUE = 15° 3-WOOD

15° 3-WOOD

CLUB HEAD SPEED 107.2 MPH

PEAK CARRY BALL SPEED SPIN RATE HEIGHT 150.1 MPH 2421 RPM 22 yards 240 yards

TOTAL DISTANCE 270 yard

HIGH-LOFTED 16.5° 3-WOOD

106.9 MPH

155.1 MPH 2666 RPM 30 yards 258 yards

282 yards

5-WOOD

94.4 MPH

132.2 MPH 2506 RPM 30 yards 210 yards

234 yards

M2 HEAD

basis, whereas the high-lofted version produced a beautiful ball flight and made me feel particularly confident at set-up position.

Also, it sounded and felt incredible when I hit it. It was almost like the ball exploded off the face of the M2! I was struggling to get the most out of the 15° version and have as much control as I would desire.

JOE: We often see improved confidence in a mid-high handicapped player when they look down at more loft at address. This often helps them produce a better swing, just like you proved in the test Matt.

JOE: How does the M2 compare to the fairway wood that’s currently in your bag, Matt?

MATTHEW: The fairway wood I use at the moment is about six years old so the technology in

Worldwide GOLF 60

the M2 is fantastic and that is proven in the statistics from this test. I wasn’t losing any wayward shots into the trees as I usually do in a round when using these TaylorMade clubs, so that’s a significant improvement for me.

JOE: That is because the Speed Pocket enlarges the sweet spot on the M2 so that helps with forgiveness if you hit the ball off-centre.

JOE: Which type of M2 did you prefer out of the three Matt?

MATTHEW: The 16.5° 3-wood. It helped me produce some fantastic distances that were kept under control due to the low amount of spin. This was extremely satisfying for a midhandicapper like me. I was very impressed with the M2 range.

The M2 doesn’t only perform well, it looks incredible too.

PRODUCT SPECS Dave Storey crunching some shots in Al Badia’s indoor studio.

HEAD

LOFT

LIE

VOLUME

LENGTH

SWING WEIGHT

3

15°

60°

156cc

42.25”

D3

3HL 5

16.5° 18°

60° 60.5°

156cc 142cc

42.25” 42.25”

D3 D3

DAVID STOREY HANDICAP: SCRATCH MEMBER AT: JGE

JOE: What do you desire from a fairway wood?

DAVID: Something I can hit from the par-5 fairways to land soft on the greens from around 250 yards. That’s an ideal 3-wood for me because there’s not a lot of wind in the Middle East so the loft isn’t as crucial as it is in breezy conditions. Accuracy is the number one priority.

JOE: You can see a greater dispersion with Dave’s 3-wood but once we added a bit of loft, the club became tighter. You can notice much more control with the ball flight from the higher lofted clubs. It appears, though, that the 5-wood is a little bit too high for a player of Dave’s quality.

He wasn’t achieving the desired carry and was falling a long way way shorter than the 16.5, even though loft was only increased by 1.5.

The M2 has a light carbon composite crown that allows the weight to sit very low in the clubhead. This is helping Dave achieve that high flight he desires, and with the Speed Pocket we are able to combine this with distance.

What is really interesting with the stats are that the clubhead speed and ball speed are less with the 16.5° but we are achieving more distance on average than the 15°.

He is carrying the ball up to 230 plus yards and hitting it a consistent height. With the 15° 3-wood we see much more variation with the peak height. The HL 3-wood seems a much more consistent golf club for Dave to attack those par-5s from the fairway.

BALL FLIGHT

YELLOW = 5-WOOD WHITE = HIGH-LOFTED 16.5° 3-WOOD BLUE = 15° 3-WOOD

M2 HEAD

CLUB HEAD SPEED 103.2 MPH

15° 3-WOOD HIGH-LOFTED 16.5° 3-WOOD 99.6 MPH 5-WOOD 100.3 MPH

SPIN RATE

144.4 MPH

PEAK CARRY HEIGHT 3071 RPM 23 yards 222 yards

TOTAL DISTANCE 249 yards

139.4 MPH

2845 RPM 27 yards 223 yards

246 yards

140.4 MPH 3500 RPM 36 yards 217 yards

232 yards

BALL SPEED

JOE: How does the M2 compare to the fairway wood that’s currently in your bag?

DAVID: It’s very unusual to use a wood that is 15° or higher and still get the ball 260 yards, which proves that the technology in the 3-wood is extraordinary.

The M2 got great trajectory, a low amount of spin and good distance, too, that are three characteristics that my current four-year-old TaylorMade 3-wood doesn’t produce.

The M2 looks great with a face that isn’t too shallow with excellent depth and then it gives you a feeling of supreme control when you swing. I could always feel where the clubhead

Worldwide GOLF 61

was during my swing, which is a huge factor for a low-handicapped player. That’s why I am keen on adding this club to my bag.

JOE: Which type of M2 did you prefer out of the three, David?

DAVID: With me seeking a fairway wood for par-5s, the higher lofted 3-wood ticked all the boxes.

However, if I were looking for a fairway wood from off the tee, the 15° version would have been far more suitable because of the extra distance it would provide and with it teed up, I wouldn’t need to see the loft. n

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GEAR

PROGOLF IQ B

By RICHARD FELLNER ack in April I shared my thoughts on the ProGolf IQ mental training programme.

I’ve found this programme to be one of the most beneficial game-changing “tools” I’ve ever tested.

To recap, The Pro Golf IQ programme consists of a series of audio sessions that you simply download and listen to via your favourite electronic device. You listen to one session three times a week via headphones, in the comfort of your home. The system (which uses a unique process called Interhemispheric Synchronic Mediation (ISM) plus several other key techniques) teaches you how to get both the left AND right sides of your brain working together, while also helping you create ‘quiet time’ in your mind; which is critical to playing like a pro.

I also mentioned supplementary modules that are also available for the programme and this month, I’ll share my thoughts on three modules: Driving IQ, Pitching IQ and Putting IQ. First up was Driving IQ. This module helps you develop a solid visual plan for not just finding the fairway, but for getting your ball to land exactly where you want it. It teaches you how to examine the hole from the tee, rate the potential hazards that are in play (and subsequently shun them from your mind), and then visualise a positive ball flight. It also helps you relax, and develop a solid warm-up prior to your round; getting

Driving Pitching and Putting Modules

your mind “into the game” prior to the first tee. It effectively boosts your confidence from the tee, and can make a massive difference to your long game.

Next was Pitching IQ. Pitching and chipping are among the most troublesome areas for many golfers. Whether it’s from 100m out, just around the greens, or from a greenside bunker, many golfers are simply satisfied to “just get out of trouble” or “just get it on the green”. Pitching IQ helps you change that attitude to maximise every shot.

It helps you remove any fear of the obstacles, empowering you to “swing to win” and pitch with confidence.

Finally, as the old saying goes, you “Drive for Show, Putt for Dough”. The Putting IQ module helps you to eliminate the stress from putting by giving you an established process to identify your preferred putting line and speed, and then firmly fix it into your mind. The exercise comprises the visualisation of an imaginary “track” between your ball and the hole; the depth and shape of the track depends on the speed/line of the putt. By intensely visualising your putt prior to the stroke, you eliminate uncertainty and improve confidence. Putting IQ takes a bit more practice to master than the other modules, but it can certainly give the most benefit.

So how did I go with these? Well, I had the opportunity to put all three modules into

practice recently during a highly-intense competition at my local club.

Gone were the usual first-tee “butterflies”; instead, I had a relaxed and calm attitude, and proceeded to stripe my drives down the middle, while my pitching and putting were out of this world.

With Stableford scores of 3-4-3-3 on my first four holes, I felt unbeatable. Throughout the round, I felt the benefits of the complete ProGolf IQ suite of products. And though my team only managed a runner-up finish (pipped at the post by a single shot!) I certainly felt like I had won.

I wholeheartedly recommend that if you are looking to boost your mental game when on the course (and enjoy a “balanced brain” approach that professional golfers employ) then give the ProGolf IQ and supplementary modules a serious look.

Note: Worldwide Golf readers get a discount on the regular $219 RRP. Just go to the special website link to get the ProGolfIQ programme for just $97: www.progolfiq.com/worldwidegolf

ProGolfIQ - Tried, Tested, and... It Works Pro Golf IQ is a powerful mind-coaching program providing concentration, focus and confidence on EVERY shot.

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“I can honestly say that this program is making a difference to my game” Richard Fellner - Noted Golfing Writer

A powerful supplementary session which turboboosts everything learned from the main program

Provides you with a positive mind-set to accurately target and get closer to the pin

Reinforces the relaxation techniques to ensure tee shots land in the perfect position on the fairway

Focuses on using your new mind skills to eliminate distractions and sink more putts

Plus! - these 4 supplementary lessons will take your game to the next level.

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Save 60% Limited time

INSTRUCTION

LONG DRIVES NEED A

POWERFUL

BASE W

e see many swing idiosyncrasies among the world’s longest drivers. But there is certainly one component they all possess - a strong, stable and active trail leg during the backswing.

The stabilising and activation of your trail side will help you in many ways, one being able to hit it further.

It is important to learn how to use the ground in the trail side during the backswing to store up that power before we start swinging down. This a very simple, yet hugely effective drill which will help you create the result that you are looking for.

Worldwide GOLF 64

JOE MARSHALL

Golf Academy Professional School of Golf Al Badia Golf Club by InterContinental

School of

golf AL BADIA GOLF CLUB BY INTERCONTINENTAL DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY

• Take your standard driver setup and then withdraw your lead foot away so it sits behind your trail leg with the toe of the lead foot lightly touching the ground.

• Focus on feeling well balanced and stable in your trail foot before starting the swing.

• You should already feel an increase in pressure throughout the trail side and your glute muscle (yes that is your butt) becoming active. The red circle highlights where the glute muscle is on your trail side and the yellow arrow indicates the direction you should feel the pressure created by your body weight.

1 2

• Slowly move through your takeaway and feel how you have to work hard to keep the trail foot stable and the pressure going in the same direction (yellow arrow).

• If you are able to maintain this you will sense your glute muscle beginning to work much harder.

3

AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AT THE DRILL GO AHEAD AND TRY TO CREATE THE SAME SENSATION FROM A STANDARD SET-UP AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF POWER AVAILABLE IN THAT DRIVE.

• Very slowly, and with as much control as possible, take the backswing as close to the top as you can whilst trying to keep the pressure in the trail foot to increase the workload in the glute.

• Your backswing is now in a very stable and powerful position.

• Relax and bring the club slowly to the bottom and restart the drill.

ADD YARDAGE TO YOUR DRIVES BY WATCHING JOE’S DRILL. WorldwideGolf

Worldwide GOLF 65

INSTRUCTION

The Art Of

PUTTING

T

he true masters of the game are successful because they hole more putts than their opponents. It’s as simple as that. Therefore, it’s time to learn the art of putting. Firstly, I recommend the specification (not type) of putter to suit your needs.

You don’t need to go into great detail but ensuring the putter length is suitable for your height is a solid start. Add the correct loft and lie and you have a comprehensive fit.

MARK YOUR DIARY

SEPT 8

Saadiyat Sundowner Finale

FROM SEPT 12

Future Falcons & Ladies Coaching Program

PAUL HUBNER

PGA Teaching Professional, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

SEPT 17

Beat The Pros

YOU will notice here that I have a substantial forward pelvic tilt. I often see amateurs standing too close to the ball and therefore too upright, causing an imbalance to their putting stroke. I don’t prescribe to the notion that the putter should be swung on a straight line back and through the ball. The putter has a lie angle and therefore is manufactured to swing freely on an arc. So don’t get caught up on the ‘straight line syndrome’ as it will result in a stroke manipulated by the hands with less flow.

MY elbows are now forced to the sides of my abdominals which, with the shaft of the putter, form a clean letter Y. Notice that my eyes are slightly inside the ball, not directly over the golf ball. Once again the correct distance from the ball can help you achieve this.

Typically, the face of a modern putter will have an average loft of three degrees so don’t get too fixed on the idea of stroking up on the ball, as you will run the risk of excessive wrist action and poor contact.

Arguably the most important note here, however, is that my hands are tension free. You should be applying pressure similar to what you would use to squeeze toothpaste from its tube.

The stroke itself should be relatively compact with a fast tempo.

Keep your head rock steady and accelerate through the ball until you hear the sound of the ball dropping into the cup.

MOST amateurs will struggle to get the ball closer than 20ft from the hole with their approach shot. With this in mind, becoming skilled at ‘lag’ putting is helpful to avoid several three-putts on the greens.

All you need on the practice green is a handful of tee pegs which should be fixed around the hole in a semi-circle.

Take seven big steps away from the hole and you should find yourself approximately 20ft away from it.

Place one tee down at this point using as a marker/starting point. Now stroke five balls towards the hole at a time, counting how many you leave inside your semi-circle.

Repeat the drill a further three times giving you a total of 20 putts – sufficient for the average number that you will hit from that range on the golf course.

This is a simple exercise but crucially offers measurable progress if applied consistently within your practice time.

KRUNCH ‘Saadiyat’s Family Brunch’ CHOOSE a sloping putt from approximately 15ft. Place a teepeg as a marker/starting point and another two the width of your putter head at the apex of the slope.

Using five balls, and with the same repetitions as before, aim to roll each ball through the gateway of tee-pegs at the perfect pace.

This will require patience as combining the line with the speed to make the putt is challenging. If you include this in your practice routine then the numbers should speak for themselves.

OCT 1

Saadiyat Ryder Cup

OCT 7

KRUNCH ‘Saadiyat’s Family Brunch’

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf

HOPE THESE DRILLS AND ADVICE WILL HELP REDUCE YOUR SCORES NEXT TIME YOU’RE OUT ON THE COURSE.

ENTRIES TO: mwaters@sbgolfclub.ae

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INSTRUCTION

SETUP FOR

SUCCESS!

by STEPHEN DEANE

Head Professional, Emirates Golf Club

T

he most important aspect of playing consistently great bunker shots is the process of developing the correct set-up with your body, hands and club before execution. I know it sounds a lot but if you learn to adopt the following information along with watching the supporting video you’ll be guaranteed better results.

WATCH THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf

SWING AND SLICE AFTER DARK ON THE FALDO COURSE AT EMIRATES GOLF CLUB Worldwide GOLF 70

You’ll notice, once in position, your toe line is slightly open or running slightly left of target.

This is because the left foot is flared open 60 degrees. Once the club is in motion this will produce an ever so slightly out-to-in path, which will aid the shot execution.

You’ll also see I’ve drawn a shaft line which sits behind the ball position line and runs at 90 degrees to my toe line.

This shaft position is vital to prevent any negative forward shaft lean, which ultimately takes loft off the clubface and causes it to dig during impact.

You’ll notice the clubface is also minimally open to aid the club’s bounce/ability to glide through the sand.

1. Build a Station: WHEN practicing, draw lines in the sand to guarantee good starting positions.

During this phase, place your feet parallel to the target line with your left toe flared open around 60 degrees. From here, point your left knee towards your left toe and feel yourself sitting down into the stand.

It’s important to maintain this feeling of staying down throughout the swing.

Position the ball forward in your stance, in line with your left heel. This makes it easy to enter the sand one inch behind the ball during impact.

2 BUTTERFLY GRIP: This specialist bunker grip used by Master Professional Peter Cowen and his players will allow you to set the wrist much easier during the backswing and ensure you maintain the club’s loft and bounce which is essential for trajectory and distance control.

STRONG LEFT HAND

WEAK RIGHT HAND

3. Release the Club: Let the clubhead release past the hands during the impact phase. This will ensure that you use the bounce/back edge of the club correctly and maintain the club’s loft that will square itself to your target line post-impact.

Lots of information to take onboard this month but try and digest the content and put it into practice. For some additional help please visit The Dubai Golf Academy at Emirates Golf Club, call +971 4 417 9845 or email emiratesacademy@dubaigolf.com

Tee off after 8pm for 9 holes on the floodlit Faldo course and enjoy a tasty pizza before or after your round for just AED 265! *valid until 30th September 2016 For bookings, call +971 4 417 9800 or email ereservations@dubaigolf.com

Worldwide GOLF 71

ARABIAN GOLF News from the leading clubs in the region

AL BADIA GOLF CLUB

ARABIAN GOLF 73

HOSPITALITY ON THE 18TH The DP World Tour Championship hosts the top 60 golfers on The European Tour in the final tournament of the 2016 Race to Dubai. Book now for the best view on Earth.

For tickets call +971 (0) 50 457 4160 or email HOSPITALITY@DPWTC.COM

Overlooking the 18th green of the magnificent Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the exclusive Hospitality Pavilion offers an unrivalled setting to watch the action unfold.

Guests enjoy first-class catering in a relaxed environment in the comfort of the Pavilion or outside on the shaded viewing terrace.

Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Tea is available as well as a ‘Grab & Go’ option to take refreshments onto the course.

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ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS ▶

E M I RATES GOLF CL UB

NIELSEN EDGES PAST SHARMA TO CLAIM OMA MEDAL

MICHAEL Nielsen shot a superb score of net 67 to win the Dubai Golf OMA Medal by one stroke ahead of Vivek Sharma in Division ‘A’ with Patrick Morrow in third place after a round of 70.

Manu Mehrotra took the honours in Division ‘B’ with a one-under-par net 71 while Kim Wookwan

took second place outright after defeating Patrick Mulligan on a countback. The best gross on the day went to Bradley Mogire with a 74 while the Ladies prizes on the day went to Glory Xavier (Division winner – net 74) and Kavita Sehmi (gross 77).

BHATIA WINS BARCLAYS EMIRATES SUMMER OPEN ARKESH Bhatia scored a level par 72 on the Majlis course to win the Barclays Emirates Summer Open by three shots. Kabir Nanda was runner-up after winning a countback over Arjun Gupta while Dalip Tripathi came out on top in Divison ‘A’ after a countback win over Mikhael Pinto with both players signing for scores of net 71. In Division ‘B’ George Riding fired a superb 67 to win by four from Mark Baxter.

D U B AI CREEK GOLF CL UB CHOPRA TAKES ROUTE 66 TO VICTORY BINDIYA Chopra shot a fantastic gross 66 to win the Ladies title in the recent OMA Emirates Medal with the Ladies Net Division going o Joy Lirio with a 69. In the Men’s section Vishal Tikku sealed the win in Division ‘A’ with a countback win over David Thompson

after both players finished tied at the top with rounds of 70. In Division ‘B’ Ashok Kumar shot a 4-under 67 to win ahead of Tauseef Kahn while the Gross and Senior prizes on the day went to Bilal Belaid (79) and Davis Gowans (73) respectively.

RAZDAN SNATCHES SUMMER SERIES ROUND TWO RAJINDER Razdan scored a total of 36 points to win in the second round of the Barclays Dubai Golf Summer Series ahead of two players on 35 points. A countback was needed to separate second and third place and emerging victorious to finish runner-up outright was Flemming

Dalgaard with Michael McGill relegated to third place.

The gross event was won by Matthew Baxter after he defeated Max Burrow on a countback while the two Nearest the Pin winners were David Gowans and Matthew Baxter.

JU M E I R A H G O LF E S TAT E S WHITE IN SUMMER OPEN TRIUMPH

MICHAEL White won the 2016 Summer Open after a countback win over Gareth Bacon with third place going to Peter Bauer. White is pictured with Brendan O’Leary of Pro Sports.

ARABIAN GOLF 75

ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS ▶

ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB

WEARS-TAYLOR WINS TROON ASSOCIATES’ CUP STEFAN WearsTaylor of Al Zorah GC won the second leg of the UAE Troon Associates Cup with a countback win over Dinesh Gunasekara or Saadiyat Beach and home player Adam Burwood. The trio all finished on 39 points but it was

Wears-Taylor who finished strongly to take the title. In the team format Saadiyat Beach took the lead on 205 points, three clear of Arabian Ranches with Al Zorah in third.

Wears-Taylor rounded off a successful day by winning the Longest Drive prize.

ADELE CLAIMS LADIES DIVISON TITLE ADELE McKelvey scored 36 points to claim a two-point victory in the Ladies’ Division in the Individual Stableford Event recently while Matthew Derrick won the Men’s Division with a back nine on countback after finishing level with Kevin Barret on 38 points.

BIRCH EDGES OUT LANE AARON Birch returned a gross one under par 71 to win the recent Rivoli Monthly Medal by one stroke from Peter Lane. In Division ‘A’ Eddie Ramage posted a 70 and won a countback over Denver Farrell to take the honours. The Division

‘B’ title went to Martin Verity with a 70, one clear of Phil Draper while Adele McKelvey topped the Ladies Division with a gross 74. The Ladies Net Division was won by Emma Rooms with a net 70 to finish clear of Denise Alcock.

▶

YAS LINKS ABU DHABI

▶ LANGAN STARS IN AUDI MEDAL MIKE Langan fired a solid net 76 to win Category ‘A’ (0-12 hcp) in the recent Audi Medal, one clear of Dale Matthews while a net 73 saw Hans Fraikin win Category ‘B’ (13+ hcp) by two strokes from Erica Broadhead. The gross winner on the day was Aart Lehmkuhl with an excellent 71.

LEHMKUHL BAGS ETIHAD OPEN VICTORY AART Lehmkuhl sealed the plaudits in Division ‘A’ (0-14 hcp) in the Etihad Open with a haul of 41 Stableford points, four clear of second placed Alan Whatling with Irju Choi in third on 35.

Yong Wook won in Division ‘B’ (15+ hcp) with 42 points, well clear of James Hodgetts who scored 36 points. Ying Hoong Fun finished third on 34 points.

In a more recent edition of the Etihad Open Sang Bae Lee took the honours in Division ‘A’ (hcp 0-14) with a countback win over Roman Hawczak. Both players scored 38 points but it was Lee’s better back nine score of 21 that saw him clinch the deal. In Division ‘B’ (15+ hcp) Soo Beng Heng compiled an impressive score of 41 to win ahead of Laurence Samuel.

▶

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB

▶

ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB

FREE JUNIOR WEEK BACK IN ACTION

RANKIN CAPTURES TROON SUMMER SERIES MAIN PRIZE

THE Free Junior Golf Week is back at ADCGC and classes will be open every day from Sunday 11th to Saturday 17th of September. The classes are completely free for all juniors aged between the ages of four and 16 and all equipment and drinking water will be provided as well as complimentary branded caps. Meanwhile the floodlight renovation was completed just in time to beat the summer heat, allowing players to play night golf until 11pm every night. There are 17 new poles placed around the middle holes of the golf course and all existing poles are now retrofitted with more powerful and efficient bulbs.

IAN Rankin won the the Troon Executive Card Summer Series, which was played in a ¾ handicap index Stableford format, with a fantastic score of 41 points and also collected the maximum 25 points towards the Troon Executive Card Summer Series Order of Merit. William Porier finished second while Ryan Barrack claimed third place.

Steven Brown and John Olberholzer picked up the Longest Drive and Nearest To the Pin respectively.

JAMORA CRUISES TO VICTORY RUBEN Jamora won the recent event in the Grand Millennium Mondays Series after carding a superb total of 40 Stableford points.

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REGION’S BIGGEST GOLFING GET-TOGETHER RETURNS IN DECEMBER T

he Middle East Golf Awards (MEGAs), the most anticipated event of the year for the region’s golf industry, will be held this year on December 15 at the One & Only Royal Mirage.

Now in its fourth year and established as the premier networking evening of the industry, the MEGAs will have a wider geographical reach this year.

Following the request by several North African golf courses to be considered for the awards, Sport360° has decided to include North African countries into the scope of the 2016 MEGAs. Nick Tarratt, Director – European Tour’s Dubai Office, is eagerly looking forward to the return of the annual event.

Tarratt said: “The MEGAs is perhaps the best example of the golf industry in the

region coming together “For any industry to develop in a cohesive manner, the sharing of qualitative information, best practices as well as advanced collaborative planning, on both a domestic and international front, is a must and an event like MEGAs ensures this and helps fast-track the industry.

“The golf industry is being shown the way by Sport360° for bringing us all together for this networking opportunity. The European Tour is excited to support this golf industry initiative in an important region for us.”

The gala dinner is once again expected to attract a full-house attendance. Over 300 movers and shakers from the region’s golfing industry are expected to participate.

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Best Live Experience of a Professional Event Best Golf Course above 500AED Best Golf Course under 500AED Best Overall Club Experience Best Golfing Product of the Year Teaching pro of the Year (RETURNING CATEGORY FROM 2014) Best Golf Academy Amateur Tournament of the Year Youth Development Initiative of the Year Collaboration of the Year (NEW CATEGORY) Summer Marketing Promotion of the Year (NEW CATEGORY) Corporate Tournament of the Year Digital Platform of the Year (NEW CATEGORY) GM/Club Manager of the Year (RETURNING CATEGORY FROM 2014) Golf Director of the Year (RETURNING CATEGORY FROM 2014) Golf Maintenance Team of the Year Serviceman of the Year (NEW CATEGORY) F&B Team of the Year

SUBMISSIONS WILL BE OPEN FROM THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER AND THE ENTRY FORMS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM www.sport360.com/mega.

ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS SHARJAH GOLF AND SHOOTING CLUB

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BISHARAT GOLF CLUB

PRODIGY MAHMOUD WINS JORDAN JUNIOR OPEN RAMZI Mahmoud emerged victorious from a pack of the most promising young players in Jordan to win the Jordan Junior Open with a gross score of 39 through nine holes. In the Under-9 category Musa Shanaa shot 25 through five holes to win while four-year-old Salem Alabdallatt, the youngest player in the field, won the Five-andUnder category with a score of 50 through five holes.

MUKTI MARCHES TO SENIOR TITLE MUTKI Rai was crowned the SGSC Senior Summer Open winner with an impressive haul of 39 points.

The incoming club Vice Captain, who hails from Nepal, had been in great form and he returned nines of 18 and 21 for his tally, scoring points on every hole. Shaheen Butt finished second, one

point behind, with third place going to Chandra Shekaren who won a countback over Jalal Al Abbasi and Charles Blincow. The Gross Division was won by Namir Al Naimi with a score of 29 while incoming Captain Vivian Verma clinched the Super Seniors Title on 34 points.

WILLIAMS SHINES TO WIN CENTRO

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THE ROYAL GOLF CLUB

TAKE ROYAL GOLF CLUB SURVEY FOR MEMBERSHIP CHANCE THE Royal Golf Club has launched a 50-question online survey to collect data from existing and potential members and guests. The survey has been devised to gather information from residents on their likes and dislikes and to determine what events and promotions they would like to see at the club.

The online survey may be accessed on the club’s Facebook page and all individuals completing and submitting it will be entered into a prize draw on 31st October for a chance to win an annual Club membership for 2017.

BRIAN Williams clinched the overall title in the recent Centro Sharjah

by Rotana Midweek Medal supported by Mekar while winning Division ‘A’ with a score of 34 was Jaydeep Sarkar ahead of Nick Chittenden. In Division ‘B’ a score of 37 was enough for Addil Khan to win ahead of Fatih Bazkurt.

Runner up Mike Robson (left), champion Clive Piper (with his trophy) and gross winner Sinar Suraj (right).

PIPER PIPS THE FIELD

CLIVE Piper clinched the August edition of the Orient Travel – Malaysia Truly Asia Monthly Stableford with a score of 36, one clear of Mike Robson. The gross winner on the day was talented youngster Sinar Suraj.

RAMESH BATTLES HEAT FOR MIDWEEK SUCCESS

TONY IN BANGING FORM

RAMESH Wijeratne claimed his first ninehole Bogey title by storming through the field and winning with a three-shot margin.

TONY Bang clinched the recent Midweek 9 hole Stableford with a 16 point haul, one clear of Neil Wijeratne.

MUKTI JOINS ANDERSON FOR TITLE TRIUMPH FUTURE Club Captain Mukti Rai and regular playing partner John Anderson joined forces to comprehensively win last month’s edition of the BMW Members & Guest Social event. The pair played in the early shotgun and returned unsurpassed nine hole scores of 30 (played in Texas Scramle format) and 31 (Betterball format)

for a record-equaling total of 61.

Finishing in second place with a hugely respectable score of 64 was Mark Vowles and Richard Simple while there were on-course prizes for current Captain Willy Nielson and his playing partner Gary Langhorne and Scratch Team player and Director of Golf Martin Duff.

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New EGF Membership

Raise Your Game!

AED 400

Couples Rate AED 700 * Valid for only NEW EGF Direct Memberships *

EGF App

Congratulations to the 2015-2016 EGF Order of Merit winners

EGF Website

EGF Benefits

www.egfgolf.com info@egfgolf.com

• USGA handicap • Discounted Green Fees • Golfers Insurance • Membership Benefits Program • Ability to play and win club events

ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION

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SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB

USA TAKES GOLD AT THE SAADIYAT OLYMPICS 2016

IT wasn’t only in Brazil that the Olympics took place this summer. Saddiyat Beach GC also hosted their own version with fun individual competitions as well as the main team event. USA’s team of as Chris Rossmeissel, Kevin Purdum, Roy Payne and Kyle Smith were crowned champions with net 57. Sri Lanka and Great Britain were the other two podium finishers.

UAE YOUNGSTERS GAIN EXPERIENCE IN TAIWAN FOUR UAE National Junior golfers competed in the 2016 Asian Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Junior Championship at Sunrise Golf & Country Club in Taiwan. Two teams of one girl and one boy competed in a 72-hole mixed gender team competition. Representing the UAE was Reema Al Heloo and Mohammed Al Hajeri for team one and Tara Al Marzooqi and Mohammed Abdulla Saeed for team two.

Over the 3-day (72-holes) team competition, the UAE Teams gained a great deal of experience and finished in 32nd and 35th place respectively.

“The UAE is thankful to have received an invite to participate in this championship,” said Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi, EGF Secretary General & UAE National Team Manager. “With the course playing off the tips on most holes, the distance was a true test for the UAE players. The results from this event are not important. The most important part is the experience gained. We need our young players to start experiencing championships like this. The more our boys and girls play with the best players in Asia, the more exposure the kids receive from top-level golf.”

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THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI

NICE WIN FOR RAY RICE

QUEITCH AND O’KANE ON A ROLL

CHRIS May won the Monty Summer Series with a three-point win over Sandeep Singh after scoring 43 points.

Third place went to Darren Schofield while the on-course prizes were won

by Simon Ford and Suzanne Wallace (Men’s and Ladies Nearest the Pin) and Samuel Llenas and O.K Young Cho (Men’s and Ladies Longest Drive).

RUPPRECHT Queitch clinched the All Day Roll event over the summer with a score of 74 points. All players selected a competitor from The Open Championship and added their thirdround score to their score. Queitch selected eventual champion Henrik Stenson to ease to victory while Paul Dunphy and Johan Llenas took second and third place respectively.

Joe O’Kane sealed the honours in the Roll Up held the following day with a total of 40 ahead of Peter Samuel and Shahram Rezapour who finished second and third respectively.

DOHA GOLF CLUB

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RAY Rice clinched the honours in Week 10 of the Southern Sun Saadiyat Sundowner Series while Kyle Smith hung on to lead the Order of Merit across weeks 6 through 10. Paul Spinks, Chris Bentley and Lina Tyson won the on-course prizes and all the winners are pictured with Paul Simmons (far right) of Southern Sun.

MAY CLINCHES MONTY SUMMER SERIRES

CLARK IN HIS PRIME STEPHEN Clark shot an impressive net 68 to seal the title in Division ‘A’ of the recent Primepower Medal, five strokes ahead of Club Captain Steven Ford.

In Division ‘B’ Garry Looker fired a 67 for a twostroke win over Michael Francis Zeglin while in Division ‘C’ Martin Mackie Campbell sealed a twostroke win over Guenther Lebitschnig with a net 72.

Julia Hope shot a net 72 to win the Ladies Division by two shots from Brenda Hill.

ROVOLLIER ON TOP BLANCA Rivollier sealed the deal in Week 11 of the Southern Sun Saadiyat Sundowner Series while the winners of the on-course prizes were: Karyn Shephard; Kyle Smith and Mark Slater.

The series will finish on week 15, early in September, where the overall Order of Merit winner will be crowned.

BASSNET CLINCHES THE MUG

ALAN Bassnet scored 38 points to take the honours in Division ‘A’ of last month’s Monthly Mug, two strokes clear of Theodorus Scheepers. Bassnet, who plays off 9, was playing steadily but suffered a double bogey on his 15th hole. However, he bounced back with a birdie on the 16th which propelled him to victory. Robin Lusong topped Division ‘B’ while in Division ‘C’ Hendrick Joubert was the victor. The Ladies Division was won by Teresa Gow with a score of 30 points.

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ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS

GET YOUR COMPETITIVE JUICES FLOWING WITH LIFESTYLE EVENTS

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s the new golf season kicks into gear and people return from their holidays, the region’s golf courses are set to fill up once more and over the next couple of months Dubai-based Lifestyle events are providing multiple opportunities for UAE golfers to savour some competitive action with a series of great events.

GOLF GOURMET

AUTISM GOLF CHALLENGE 2016 [FINAL ROUND] 22nd September 2016: Arabian Ranches Golf Club What could be better than playing golf while raising money for a vital charity?

Now in its second year the Autism Golf Challenge is a series of amateur golf events in the Middle East that raise awareness and funds for Autism. The success of the 2015 led to the addition of two more events and there’s now one in Abu Dhabi and two in Dubai. These events make up the 2016 Autism

Golf Challenge in the Middle East. The winning pair from each event will then go on to the Grand Finale hosted by the Els for Autism Family in Las Vegas Nevada. The first two tournaments took place in April and Abu Dhabi Golf Club and The Els Club but there’s still time to book your spot at the third and final event taking place at Arabian Ranches next month.

Website: www.elsforautism.golfgenius.com

13th October 2016: Arabian Ranches Golf Club Dubai has become one of the most talked about golf destinations on the planet with some of the best golf courses and the finest restaurants in the world so the upcoming Golf Gourmet event at Arabian Ranches aims to combine both! Featuring food stations by a variety of independent restaurants, several bars, spa activations and of course a golf tournament, Golf Gourmet is an event food lovers will not want to miss.

IG JUNIOR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 24th September 2016 Qualifying Round: Arabian Ranches Tournament Dates: 14th November - 16th November 2016 The International Golf Junior Championship is set to become the leading junior golf tournament in the Middle East attracting to players from across the GCC and also Europe. With amazing scholarships up for grabs as well as the exemptions to the 2017 Wee Wonders Golf Championship held at St. Andrew, Scotland, expect to see the next generation of talented golfers, from the GCC region, local and expat preform at their very best.

Website: www.igjuniors.golfgenius.com

THINK PINK AWARENESS GOLF DAY 28th October 2016 - Arabian Ranches Golf Club Now in its second year, the Think Pink Ladies Awareness Golf Day is an event for all ages, skill levels and genders in the UAE and aims to raises awareness, provide a support structure, vital information and funds to support the breast cancer research and its on-going support locally. With its aim to provide quality of life for those who with breast cancer.

Website: www.thinkpinkgolf.golfgenius.com

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ARABIAN GOLF LOCAL NEWS

LUXURY CARTS ARABIA WINS PRESTIGIOUS DUBAI GOLF CONTRACT

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-Z-GO golf cart distributor Luxury Carts Arabia has capped a hugely successful first year of trading in the UAE by winning a renewal of their prestigious Dubai Golf contract which will see the company continue to supply vehicles to Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and Almouj Golf in Muscat, Oman.

The deal will see Luxury Carts Arabia add state of the art turf maintenance machinery, including the E-Z-GO RXV, to the existing fleets at all three renowned courses, while supporting Dubai Golf with an ongoing highquality after sales service headed up by Morne Barnard, Regional Sales, RJ & Product Support Manager.

“It has been a fantastic first year for us, and we’re delighted at securing the Dubai Golf contract,” said Charlie Simpson, Regional Sales Manager of Luxury Carts Arabia. “We are the new distributor but come with over 17 years’ experience within the region. We have also won two big residential development projects this year and the owner of Luxury Carts Arabia, Abu Bakr Balubaid, is delighted with the first year’s progress into the market and looks forward to many more successful years ahead.”

Michael R. Parkhurst, Vice President, Golf for Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc, which designs and manufactures E-Z-GO vehicles, said: “E-ZGO is honored to continue its partnership with

Dubai Golf. Their commitment to delivering a world-class experience for their customers is evident once you take the first step onto one of their facilities. I’m excited that our E-Z-GO RXV golf car will be part of the excellent golf experience for which Dubai Golf is renowned.”

Scott Forrest, Jacobsen’s International Business Development Manager commented on the company’s success in Dubai, saying: “Jacobsen is delighted to have been successful in retaining the contract with Dubai Golf. They own three prestigious golf courses in the area which we have had the privilege of supplying Jacobsen equipment to over the years. We appreciate Dubai Golf’s continued support and look forward to building upon our strong relationship with them moving forwards.”

Mark Price, CEO TKV GPS, whose systems are installed in the E-Z-GO carts, said: “Dubai Golf, who are at the forefront of golf development with their state-of-the-art facilities, lead the region in innovation and need a state of the art GPS solution for their courses. We at TKV could not be more thrilled to be selected along with E-Z-GO, our global partner, to be that solution for the Dubai Golf organization.”

Christopher May, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Golf said: “We are delighted to be taking delivery of our new E-Z-GO golf cart fleet shortly, which will be enjoyed by all

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our members and guests, enhancing the experience of playing our three world class golf courses. The partnership with E-Z-GO and Jacobsen is an important element in maintaining the high standards of service delivered at our clubs.”

Craig Haladine, Director of Golf Course Maintenance at Dubai Golf added: “Our partnership with E-Z-GO and Jacobsen goes back many years for a reason. As companies we share common ground on many values, one of them being customer focus. Quality and reliability is important to us. E-Z-GO and Jacobsen provide this in abundance.

“Providing our members and guests with the best possible playing conditions year on year is essential. Having the right equipment for this to happen goes without question.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LUXURY CARTS ARABIA PLEASE VISIT: WWW.LUXURYCARTSARABIA.COM

FEATURE

ABU DHABI CIT Y GOLF CLUB

A BU DHABI CIT Y GOLF C L U B C O A C H E S D AV E TAY L O R ( L E F T) AN D STEVE JOHNS ARE PICTURED AT T H E A C A D E M Y W I T H S O M E O F T H E K I D S F R O M TH E CL UB’S T HRIVING J U N IO R P R O G R A MME .

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ABU DHABI CITY

GOLF CLUB NURTURING GOLF’S NEXT GENERATION I n golf, as in life, the future lies in the hands of the younger generation. Attracting and developing new players is key to ensuring the sport continues to flourish long after the current crop of top professionals and weekend hackers have walked their final fairway.

It’s a burning topic at the highest level right now, with European Tour Chief Executive, Keith Pelley, recently discussing plans to embrace new formats, such as six-hole tournaments, in an effort to capture the imagination of youth in the same way that the Twenty20 format has proved so successful for cricket.

And a golf club in the UAE’s capital has similar intentions. A key part of Abu Dhabi City Golf Club’s mission statement is to “focus on the development of the next generation of golfers with a well-recognised Junior Golf Programme,” and they are achieving this goal in exemplary fashion with a dedicated and passionate team who are providing an environment that allows children to have fun whilst getting to grips with the game.

Along the way, they also learn some valuable life lessons that will serve them well away from the course.

The Junior Academy is at the forefront of the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club operation, providing an

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exciting proposition for the future of golf in the region.

“As well as offering affordable golf lessons, a huge part of Abu Dhabi’s Golf Club focus is to open golf to the next generation of golfers,” says Rhian Lobo, General Manager of ADCGC. “We had over 300 children actively participating last season which proves the popularity of the Academy.”

The floodlit golf club, which was awarded best course under 500AED at last year’s Middle East Golf Awards, has the first ever two-tiered driving range in the

“As well as offering affordable golf lessons, a huge part of Abu Dhabi’s Golf Club focus is to open golf to the next generation of golfers.”

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH As the world’s greatest golfers take to the Earth course for the final tournament of the 2016 Race to Dubai, there’ll be plenty of action off course too. Join us in the Championship Village for loads of family fun, including games, competitions and live shows by trick shot artist David Edwards.

Register for FREE FAST TRACK ENTRY TICKETS at DPWorldTourChampionship.com

FEATURE

ABU DHABI CIT Y GOLF CLUB

UAE, an indoor swing studio and an expert team of qualified golf professionals who are impressively committed to their remit of nurturing new talent in the UAE. Steve Johns, Head PGA Professional, explains why youth development is so pivotal at ADCGC. “The Junior Golf Academy is such a fundamental part of what we do,” he says.

“This is its 14th season coming up now and it has been one of the most successful in the UAE. I came out with Rhian about 10 years ago and even back then we had 250 students, which was fantastic. We coached over 300 children last year, 180 of those were in our school on a weekly basis for 32 weeks of the season. We coach expats and we have many local students. One of our local students is now in the national squad and we are extremely proud of this achievement.”

It’s not only the coaching which helps the children progress in the sport. They also get the chance to compete in proper junior tournaments on a regular basis, sponsored by a local member called Ahmed Abood who runs ‘Fast Rent A Cars’.

“Mr Abood invests a lot of time as well as money to sponsor the junior tournaments,” says Lobo. “All the uniforms that the kids are wearing are sponsored by him as well so it is a very proud association for us to have. He is very encouraged of the fact that we have several local Emiratis participants.”

It’s rare for a club to close its course for members during the day, such is the popularity of golf in the Middle East, but that’s just what happens at ADCGC once a month throughout the season in a move that gives the juniors uninhibited access in order to aid their development. “A real important thing is being able to get the children out there on

the golf course,” adds Johns. “So we close our course entirely for eight weekly events so these kids can go and play and it is a fantastic experience for them. We certainly feel that this helps our coaching team as well because we find out the things that they need to work on to aid their development.”

Fellow PGA Professional at ADCGC, Dave Taylor, who works closely with the kids at the Academy, describes how the eight-week Junior Programme works and why kids keep coming back for more. “We are very proud of our junior school and we take great passion in trying to introduce as many kids to the game as we can,” admits Taylor. “We take them through the different aspects of the game in the eight-week programme. Therefore, we work on their drivers, irons, chipping and putting. In the events, we set the course into three different tracks – two hole, three hole and eight hole – so that it is challenging for different age groups and different abilities.

We try to coach as many players as possible on the course and hopefully that will encourage them to keep coming back every week with a smile on their faces. It is fantastic to see them develop as golfers and also witness the new players finding their love for the game. We also encourage good etiquette, good sportsmanship and all these things that will hopefully help them not just in golf, but outside of golf as well.”

So get your kids into the swing of things this season by sending them down to Abu Dhabi City Golf Club’s Junior Academy.

For inquiries about the Junior Programme or to sign up for the upcoming season, please contact Abu Dhabi City Golf Academy at academy@adcitygolf.ae.

FR E E J U N I O R W EEK – GET INVOLVED!

AB U D H AB I G O LF C LU B ’ S G EN ER AL M AN AG ER R H I AN LO B O

HEAD PGA PROFESSIONAL STEVE J O H N S

SEPT E M B E R 1 1 - 1 7 TH : AB U D H AB I C I T Y G O L F C L U B A RE P ROV I DI NG A L L T HE E QUI P ME NT F OR CHI L DRE N T O T RY GOL F F O R THE FIRST T I M E O R T O I M P R O V E T H E I R S K I L L S I F T H E Y A R E ALREADY REGULAR PLAYERS.

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STYLE&TRAVEL

STAR SPOTTING – ROBERTO DI MATTEO 92 ‘FAVOURITE FIVE’: EDDIE PEPPERELL 96

PITCHING UP WITH ITALIAN FOOTBALL LEGEND

ROBERTO DI MATTEO WWG meets UEFA Champions League-winning coach Roberto Di Matteo to find out his strengths and weaknesses out on the course and who out of his former Chelsea teammates he looks up to as inspiration out on the links.

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DI MATTEO: A MAESTRO ON THE GREENS

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oberto Di Matteo is an icon at Chelsea FC for his achievements both on and off the pitch. The Italian famously scored in 42 seconds against Middleborough to help the Blues win the FA Cup at Wembley in 1997. At the time, this goal was the quickest in history.

He stayed with the London side for six years but that wasn’t the conclusion of his fairytale affiliation. In 2011, Di Matteo returned to Stamford Bridge as Assistant to Andres Villas-Boas but was then appointed as the first team manager for the following year.

It didn’t take the 46-year-old long to make an impact from the sideline. He guided Chelsea to their maiden UEFA Champions League title after

Worldwide Golf: You clearly enjoy playing golf, but what is your current handicap?

Roberto Di Matteo: I’m not very good. My handicap is 13 but I’m not a very talented golfer.

WWG: When did your interest in playing golf begin?

RDM: I started to develop an interest in golf after retiring from playing football when I was about 32 years old.

This is when I was properly introduced to the game.

WWG: Are there any former or current footballers who you play golf with. Which guys are the best?

RDM: Actually, most of my ex-colleagues who I regularly play with are quality golfers.

defeating Bayern Munich at their own Allianz Arena via a penalty shootout in 2012.

Di Matteo left Chelsea the following season and managed Schalke in Germany in 2014/2015.

He has recently returned to English football at Championship club, Aston Villa.

Aside from football, Di Matteo has plenty of hobbies and one of them is golf. He was a late starter and only really pursued his passion when retiring from playing football due to recurring injury problems. He is an honest sportsman and realises he has many flaws in his game but that doesn’t prevent the retired midfielder from trying to get one up on all his former teammates and rivals out on the course.

The likes of Gianfranco Zola, Andriy Shevchenko and Carlo Cudicini are all extremely good golfers and are much better than me. I certainly need to practice a bit more if I want to rise to their standard and be able to give them a game.

WWG: What would you say is the strongest part of your game if you had to pick?

RDM: I would probably say my putting. It’s probably the easiest part of golf in my opinion.

WWG: What needs working on the most?

RDM: I’m sad to say my driving isn’t very good. I need to improve my tee shots because I find it challenging using a driver.

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ABOVE: Roberto Di Matteo curses another wayward drive.

BELOW: Di Matteo is mobbed after scoring the winning goal in the 2000 FA Cup Final against Aston Villa – the team he currently manages.

S TA R S POT T I N G

I’M SAD TO SAY MY DRIVING ISN’T VERY GOOD. I NEED TO IMPROVE MY TEE SHOTS BECAUSE I FIND IT CHALLENGING USING A DRIVER.

ROBERTO’S DREAM FOUR BALL

Angelina Jolie

Barack Obama

Di Matteo guides Chelsea to their first ever Champions League title.

Gary Player

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I LANCASTER LONDON LANCASTER LONDON, LANCASTER TERRACE, LONDON W2 2TY

RESERVATIONS: 020 7551 6000 OR VISIT WWW.LANCASTERLONDON.COM WEEKDAY RATES START FROM £179 PER ROOM PER NIGHT, WHILST WEEKEND RATES START FROM £159.

T’S not surprising that visitors are making a bee-line to the Lancaster London in increasing numbers. The hotel has something to suit everyone, including its own honey bees who reside on the roof overlooking Hyde Park, which provides them with all the ingredients they could wish for.

Although the stylish Lancaster London is an imposing landmark hotel with an abundance of facilities, it’s the helpful, knowledgeable and engaging staff who create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. From the Reception on the ground floor to the Lounge Bar on the first floor and its two awardwinning Restaurants, the staff go out of their way to make guests feel at home. For such a large, iconic hotel it is unusually friendly.

The recent £11.5 million refurbishment of the kitchens and conference rooms have provided the scope to cater for the London Lancaster to host any size of event from intimate family get-togethers, to small business meetings to large corporate conventions and functions for up to 3,000 people.

Geographically, the Lancaster London is in an ideal location. The shops of Bond Street and Oxford Street are only a short walk away, Hyde Park is literally on the doorstep, West End theatres, museums, the financial district and tourist attractions are all within easy reach, and the Lancaster Gate underground station is just round the corner. Its 416 elegant guestrooms on 18

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floors offer luxurious comprehensively equipped accommodation and spectacular views over the park and the City of London. For the ultimate in luxurious living, the Hyde Park Suite, the Radnor Suite, the Connaught Suite, the Fountain Suite and the Presidential Suite are all beautifully designed with stunning views. The five Embassy Suites provide lavish comfort with two-to-three connecting bedrooms, walk-in dressing rooms, sophisticated lounges and bathrooms with separate shower facilities.

The twelve Luxury Royal Suites and the Superior and Deluxe rooms offer king-size or twin beds, stylish seating areas, and plush bathrooms. All rooms are fully equipped with modern facilities such as airconditioning, satellite television, mini bars, en-suite bathrooms and power showers.

The Lancaster London has a place in its heart for the humble honey bee and was the first hotel in London to cultivate beehives on its roof in 2009. The hotel also organises and hosts the annual “London Honey Show” in October to provide education on urban beekeeping.

The Lounge Bar is the ideal place for coffee and cocktails. The hotel’s Executive Chef Ben Purton has created a fun yet traditional Afternoon Tea priced at £30, with nostalgic candy-inspired sweet treats such as white chocolate truffle and raspberry lollypops with popping candy.

T RAV E L LO N D O N

ISLAND GRILL REVIEW

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n our previous visit to the Lancaster London we sampled the delights of the excellent and truly authentic Thia restaurant, Nipa Thai, one of the best Thai restaurants in London. This time we chose the famed Island Grill, a contemporary split-level restaurant with its own private entrance opposite Hyde Park. The menu is modern European with a wide variety of dishes. My wife and I both chose the smoked salmon for starters, which was delicious. My wife opted for the pork chop for her main course and declared it was the among the most tasty pork chops she had eaten anywhere in the world.

I had the lamb cutlets, which were the best I can remember for a long time, cooked to perfection. The vegetables were lightly cooked to retain their full flavour. The honey and blueberry panna cotta was simply out of this world.

The sophisticated restaurant has been awarded the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s top Three Star rating, thanks to Head Chef Adam Woolven’s tireless efforts to create an eco-friendly yet luxurious dining experience. His passion for the finest ingredients and cosmopolitan dishes is evident from the fantastic fare on offer.

The Island Grill’s breakfast menu features dishes such as Eggs Benedict, with ham and a poached egg on a toasted muffin, accompanied by a homemade hollandaise sauce; Golden fried brioche with fruit salad and maple syrup; and Porridge with berry compote, banana and honey, which, naturally is produced by the Lancaster London’s own colony of bees.

The fully stocked bar, run by the friendly and efficient staff, features an impressive list of cocktails and wines from both the New and Old World.

The Island Grill’s sleek design was conceived by Stiff + Trevillion, the talent behind Wagamama and Fakhreldine. With a white limestone exterior and large glass entrance doors, the Island Grill creates a striking visual impact on arrival. The 90 cover restaurant has vast floor-to-ceiling windows running along the two outside walls, allowing light to flood into the restaurant space.

In the evenings, the back-lit ceiling panels create a warm ambiance. The openplan kitchen design allows diners to view the chefs at work, adding another dimension to their gastronomic experience.

Island Grill is open from 7.00am–10.30pm. From 12.0 noon until 7.00pm, the restaurant offers a Prix Fixed lunch and early evening menu, priced at £9.50 for two courses and £12.50 for three courses.

Island Grill, Lancaster Terrace, London W2 2TY Reservations on 020 7551 6070 or visit www.islandrestaurant.co.uk

Worldwide GOLF 95

TO P 5 CO U R S E S

‘FAVOURITE FIVE’ with Eddie Pepperell

5

Whistling Straits (USA)

I played the US PGA Championship there last year.

It’s a really fun course and visually probably the most stunning course I’ve ever played.

3

1

St Andrews (Scotland)

There are three brilliant holes (1, 17 and 18).

That’s’ why it is just my third best. .

4

AGE: 25 FROM: OXFORDSHIRE, UK TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 2011 PROFESSIONAL TOUR WINS: 1

Kingsbarns Golf Links (Scotland)

I feel Kingsbarns is the UK equivalent of Whistling Straits in many ways. It’s less decadent but is just as appealing with it being next to the coast. There are some fantastic holes.

2

Merion Golf Club (USA)

It’s quite a small golf course and it’s tight. When I played there it was soft and the greens were incredibly difficult.

The amount of history surrounding the place, especially involving the great Ben Hogan, makes the venue very special.

Royal County Down (Northern Ireland)

It’s an amazing links course that’s got everything you need. From standing on top of the 9th fairway, to looking out at the sea, to the challenge it offers every player, makes this course exceptional. If you play on a nice day it will be enjoyable but if the conditions are tough, as we have experienced a few times at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, it will be a long and difficult few hours out there.

Worldwide GOLF 96

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