Worldwide Golf June 2011 Middle East Number One Golf Magazine

MIDDLE EAST’S No.1 GOLF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 127, JUNE 2011

Official Media Partner Middle East

SEVE BALLESTEROS’

MAGICAL MEMORIES

World Number 1 Luke Donald wins the BMW Championship and takes the top honour

1957 – 2011

TOP TIPS

PUTT LIKE THE PROS

ARABIAN GOLF

News and round-ups from the region’s golf clubs WWG COLUMNISTS

GARY PLAYER

SOUTH KOREAN GOLF IS FLOURISHING

GREG NORMAN

SEVE – THE MOST CHARISMATIC PLAYER OF ALL TIME

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ISBN 978-9948-15-427-3

ROSS FISHER

SEVE WAS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL

9 789948 154273

EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS l DIVOTS l LOCKER ROOM l WORLD ROUND-UPS Official Publication of The Emirates Golf Federation & The Arab Golf Federation

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GARY PLAYER INTRODUCTION Gary Player and Seve Ballesteros walk together during a practice round prior to the 2002 Masters at Augusta National.

SEVE WAS LIKE A SON TO ME T

HE world of golf is paying tribute to the memory of Seve. He was a legend of the game who managed to combine a remarkable natural talent with a totally focussed determination to win.

He showed the same fighting spirit in his battle against cancer that struck on October 5, 2008, up until his untimely death last month when he finally lost the battle.

We were great friends. I loved Seve for his personality, his character, his wonderful ability, his passion for the game and, simply, for the man he was. He had a good heart and he loved life. He was a special man and I loved him like a son.

He became the youngest player in Spanish golf to play a professional tournament when he made his debut on The European Tour in the 1974 Spanish Open at the age of 16 years, 11 months and 12 days but I first encountered Seve at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1976.

By then I had already won The British Open three times but I was enthralled by the golf the 19-yearold Seve was producing. He was hitting the ball all over the place with no inhibitions whatsoever and getting out of trouble with some amazing shots.

He was fun to play with and fun to watch. He played his own game. His course management didn’t matter to him because he had the belief that

wherever he hit the ball he could get up and down.

Seve led The 1976 Open for the first three days and grabbed the attention of the golfing world with his exciting shot-making. He was three shots clear at the turn but was quickly overtaken by American Johnny Miller and despite Seve’s birdie-birdie-eaglebirdie finish (5-under in four successive holes) he had to settle for a share of second place with Jack Nicklaus, six shots behind the Californian Miller.

What a way to announce your presence on the world stage. Seve had everything. He was handsome, he had such fantastic flair and a smile that would light up any occasion.

Endearing characteristics Three years later Seve returned to the Lancashire coast to win The Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes by three shots from reigning Open Champion Jack Nicklaus, and Ben Crenshaw. Seve won The Open again in 1984 at St Andrews and for a third time in 1988, once more at Royal Lytham.

He added two more Majors with his two emphatic victories in The Masters.

He became the first European to earn a Green Jacket in 1980 and won again in 1983. When I won my third Masters Tournament in 1978 I played with Seve in the final round. I came back from seven

“IT’S A GREAT LOSS FOR ME PERSONALLY AND FOR GOLF OVERALL TO LOSE SUCH A CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY AS SEVE. WE WERE CLOSE FRIENDS AND WE WOULD GET TOGETHER WHENEVER POSSIBLE. EVERYONE IN THE GAME OWES A GREAT DEBT TO SEVE AND TO LOSE HIM AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 54 IS A TERRIBLE BLOW FOR US ALL.”

shots behind to win by one shot and Seve was as happy as I was when that last putt went in. Being happy about another player’s achievements was one of Seve’s many endearing characteristics. You knew it was genuine. Seve told me I’d shown him to have that self-belief and how to win The Masters – two years later he won it in style.

Many people will remember Seve for his performances in The Ryder Cup and his almost invincible partnership with his friend and fellow countryman José Maria Olazábal. Seve can be credited with being the major influence that transformed The Ryder Cup for Europe in the early 1980s. He represented Europe eight times, making his debut in 1979 at The Greenbrier, Virginia.

His record of 20 points from 37 matches is amazing and Seve and Jose Maria’s 11 wins and two halves from their 15 matches has never been equalled. Captaining Europe to victory in The 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama in Spain I know meant a lot to him. He had an abiding love for his country and all things Spanish.

Sadly, Seve had a short career but what a dynamic career it was. He came onto the world scene at exactly the right time for European golf. The European Tour owes a great deal to Seve. He did so much to bring the game of golf to a wider audience and he bridged the gap between golfers and nongolfers who were captivated by the spectacular golf he produced.

He had to give up the game he loved prematurely due to an arthritic spine but I often wonder what Seve would have achieved had he been able to continue playing.

At the age of 54 I was still winning Senior Tour Majors on both sides of the Atlantic – what a wonderful thing it would have been to watch Seve thrilling the galleries as a Champions Tour golfer.

Thankfully, we are left with some magical memories of some of golf’s most marvellous moments. ■ www.wwgolf.biz

1

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CONTENTS

20

32

Regulars

Features

GARY PLAYER INTRODUCTION

15

ROSS FISHER COLUMN

40

GREG NORMAN COLUMN

43

DIVOTS NEWS ITEMS

47

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKING

48

GARY PLAYER COLUMN

50

RACE TO DUBAI

51

EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS

52

WORLD ROUND-UPS

61

Official Media Partner Middle East

MIDDLE EAST’S No.1 GOLF MAGAZINE

ISSUE 127, JUNE 2011

1

MAGICAL MEMORIES

World Number 1 Luke Donald wins the BMW Championship and takes the top honour

1957 – 2011

TOP TIPS

PUTT LIKE THE PROS

ARABIAN GOLF

News and round-ups from the region’s golf clubs

WOMEN’S GOLF MIDDLE EAST

GARY PLAYER

SOUTH KOREAN GOLF IS FLOURISHING

PLUS

ABU DHABI DOUBLE 5

PLAY SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB AND YAS LINKS GOLF CLUB, WITH A NIGHT’S STAY AT THE RADISSON BLU HOTEL, ABU DHABI FOR JUST AED 999

GREG NORMAN

63

TUTORIAL: PUTTING POWER

67

ARABIAN GOLF

92

LOCKER ROOM

95

GROOM ROOM

96

IN THE BAG: CLUB PRO

ISSUE No. 127, JUNE, 2011 Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd, 54 Alderley Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, England, SK9 1NY mike@wspglobal.com alex@wspglobal.com Tel: +44 01625 535081 Fax: +44 01625 537487 Editor-in-Chief: Mike Gallemore Executive Editor: Gary Player

BROCKET HALL GOLF CLUB: The magnificent Hertfordshire Golf and Residential Country Estate is the UK Qualifier for the Emirates Airline Invitational 2012.

7 AL NABOODAH GOLF SERIES and THE EMIRATES

AIRLINE INVITATIONAL: Al Naboodah Group winner; Mansour Khodjasteh’s Carpetland successful auction bid.

10 BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: Luke Donald wins The European Tour’s flagship event and reverses the world ranking with Lee Westwood to become World No.1.

SEVE BALLESTEROS’

WWG COLUMNISTS

4

FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO WWW.WWGOLF.BIZ

SEVE – THE MOST CHARISMATIC PLAYER OF ALL TIME

ISBN 978-9948-15-427-3

ROSS FISHER

SEVE WAS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL

9 789948 154273

EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS l DIVOTS l LOCKER ROOM l WORLD ROUND-UPS Official Publication of The Emirates Golf Federation & The Arab Golf Federation

FRONT COVER: Seve Ballesteros

17 ABU DHABI DOUBLE 5: Yas Links and Saadiyat Beach with Radisson Blu host their popular 2-day event.

20 SEVE BALLESTEROS TRIBUTE: 8 pages on the golf world’s memories of the passing of a true legend who started the revolution of The European Tour.

33 THE VOLVO WORLD MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP:

Ian Poulter beats Luke Donald in fine style at Finca Cortesin .

35 SHOTSAVER: Worldwide Golf readers have an opportunity to win a Shotsaver S430 GPS golf range finder.

37 HANS OLBERTZ: Golf is a game played for fun says the man who runs the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

45 SOMA BAY: One of Egypt’s most outstanding golf resorts plays host to two prestigious amateur events.

Editor: Alex Gallemore Publisher: Mike Gallemore Senior Editor: Richard Bevan Editorial Assistants: Todd Staszko, James Reeves, Tabitha Florence Design Manager: Joanna Eardley Technical Manager: Mark Collinge Editorial Panel: Gary Player, Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Richard Bevan, Todd Staszko

Published in Dubai by: Prografix, PO Box 24677, Dubai, UAE (Tel) +9714 340 3785 Advertising & Marketing: David Burke davidb@wspdubai.com (009715) 05519363 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.

Printed by: Raidy, Dubai

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

BPA Worldwide Audited Average Monthly Qualified Circulation 15,401 (July-Dec 2010)

BROCKET HALL TO STAGE INVITATIONAL QUALIFIER

E

NGLAND’S beautiful Brocket Hall Golf Club has been selected as the UK qualifying venue for the 2012 Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah with a qualifying event set to take place on August 22nd this year.

The Invitational has grown into one of the most eagerly anticipated to Pro-Ams in golf with the world’s best players turning out year after year to support the charity event which has forged a reputation for providing the perfect blend of fun and competition.

It’s also the hottest ticket in town for amateur golfers This year’s event saw the likes of then World No.1 Lee Westwood and reigning US Open champion Graeme McDowell take to the immaculate Yas Links course in Abu Dhabi with their amateur playing partners as Retief Goosen was crowned individual champion and cricket legend Michael Vaughan along with partner Ross Bain claimed the team prize.

One lucky amateur will get the chance to compete with the professionals through a series of Worldwide Golf Golden Ticket qualifying events culminating in a Grand Final in the UAE where the leading adult and junior golfers will win a Golden Ticket for the 4

www.wwgolf.biz

2012 Invitational. The winner of the UK qualifying event at Brocket Hall will be flown out to the Middle East to play in the Grand Final later this year, all expenses paid, for a chance to secure a place in The Invitational.

Stunning surroundings Considered by many to be one of the premier golf and residential estates in England, Brocket Hall Golf Club sits in 543 acres of magnificent parkland in Hertfordshire, just 22 miles from central London. With its unique heritage and five star amenities, bestowed by an illustrious stately home and Michelin-starred restaurant, the Club is an ideal venue for visiting golfers or company golf days.

The estate also offers a suite of residential packages with guests staying in one of the 12 luxurious bedrooms located in the charming Melbourne Lodge.

Boasting two championship golf courses, aptly named after the Prime Ministers who once resided on the Brocket Hall estate, a beautifully positioned clubhouse on the banks of the Broadwater and the Palmerston Golf Academy, Brocket Hall Golf Club affords a premier golfing experience for all handicaps.

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

LUKE IS A WORLD FORCE

The more scenic of Brocket Hall’s two courses, the par 72 Melbourne course, was opened in June 1992 and is the handiwork of design duo and former Ryder Cup golfers Peter Alliss and Clive Clark. Both Alliss and Clark have spent many years excelling in various areas of the golf industry, and their encyclopaedic knowledge of the game shines through as soon as you set foot on the first tee of this beautiful golf course. Providing a most enjoyable challenge in stunning surroundings, this course crosses the River Lea several times to finish in front of the Hall with a charming ferry ride across the lake to the 18th green.

The contrasting and slightly longer par 73 parkland Palmerston course was created by the famed designer Donald Steel, and might well be the finest course the revered English architect has ever created. Certainly Steel himself regards it as something rather special and is delighted that it is often cited as a perfect example of how a top quality golf course can be created with minimum intrusion to the site.

from renowned Golfing Professionals, the Academy, together with

Mike GallemoreBrocket talks to Club, onepromises of the UAE’s most Hall Golf a complete solution to improve your golf. well-known amateur golfers, Dubai Creek Golf & Increasingly popular, Brocket Hall Golf Club offers a variety Yacht Club Captain, Joseph Andrade, about his of membership packages. From a 5-day or a 7-day individual, love affair with corporate golf and howorit membership, theall mostbegan. recent, the Preview

Challenging 7,080 Yards A challenge indeed, at 7,080 yards, as it ambles its way through Brocket Hall’s ancient woodland, rare Hornbeam, Scots and Corsican Pine and 300 year old Oak trees create some of the most spectacular hazards ever likely to be encountered on a golf course.

For beginner golfers, or for those who wish to sharpen their skills, Brocket Hall also hosts the Palmerston Golf Academy – unparalleled practice facilities within the UK. Compromising of a 300 yard long driving range - complete with Titleist NXT tour balls, short game zone with two pitching / chipping greens and a large putting green, the Academy also boasts a spectacular six-hole par 3 course, an indoor V1 Video Analysis studio, Titleist SureFit club fitting, Vokey wedges and Scotty Cameron putters and a Flightscope Launch Monitor. All coupled with expert tuition

Membership - which gives every golfer the opportunity to experience Brocket Hall without a long term commitment - the categories on offer collectively strive to meet the needs of all individuals.

UK Qualifier Details The UK qualifier for the 2012 Emirates Airline Invitational Hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah will take place at Brocket Hall Golf Club on Monday August 22nd.

For more information about the event or to register interest in playing please contact Rick Bevan: rick@wspglobal.com or call + 44 1625 53 50 81 For information about The Invitational please visit: www.theinvitational.com For more information regarding Brocket Hall please visit: www.brocket-hall.co.uk

www.wwgolf.biz www.wwgolf.biz

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THE AL NABOODAH GOLF SERIES THE Al Naboodah Golf Series, now in its fourth full season, included seven rounds at golf courses throughout the UAE for members and guests to compete in a fun environment.

The format for each event was the best two scores from four Stableford for all golfers, plus individual Stableford for all registered EGF handicap golfers.

During the seven round series the players were looking for their best four rounds to compete for the overall Order of Merit title which was won by Paul Barbone (pictured receiving the Order of Merit trophy with Andy Karacinski and Manab Kundu of the Al Naboodah Construction Group) with a total of 137 points, beating Sekhar Reddy by three points and in third place was Glen Hockly on 132.

The main beneficiary for the series was the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs as the entry fees from all players during the series amounted to a fantastic AED60,000. With each event being sponsored by one of the main companies within the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, the players paid an entry fee/donation of AED200. Al Noor Chairman, Khalid Al Halyan played in the final event at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and was presented with the cheque by Al Naboodah Construction Group Chairman, Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah.

Chairman of the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs, Khalid Al Halyan said: “On behalf of the Children and staff of Al Noor Training Centre, I would like to say a very big thank you to Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah for his continued support to our cause.

“It is with the generosity of people such as Al Naboodah that we are able to continue working for the cause of people with Special Needs. It has been a great experience for me, participating in this wonderful Charity Golf Tournament organised by the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group. I would also like to thank each and every one who has made this tournament a great success.”

Round 1

Winner at Yas Links

Paul Barbone

36 pts

Round 2

Winner at Al Badia

Kuttan Malattiri

37 pts

Round 3

Winner at Jumeriah Golf Estates

Steve Higson

33 pts

Round 4

Winner at Saadiyat Beach

Kevin Perrins

34 pts

Round 5

Winner at Els Club Dubai

Glen Hockly

39 pts

Round 6

Winner at Emirates Club

Sekhar Reddy

37 pts

Round 7

Winner at Dubai Creek

Peter Mayne

32 pts

Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah shakes hands with Chairman, Khalid Al Halyan, as he presents a cheque for AED60,000 to the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs.

MANSOUR FLYING HIGH AFTER SUCCESSFUL BID Mansour Khodjasteh is presented with the invitation to play in the Emirates Airline Invitational 2012 having made the successful auction bid at the Carpetland Finals Gala Dinner at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on May 24th.

The winning bid was AED48,000 ($13,000) and the amount will be split evenly between the Friends of Cancer Patients

charity and the various charities supported by the Emirates Airline Invitational 2012.

“Over the last few years we have auctioned very few invitations to play in the Invitational, however the fantastic amount pledged by Mansour Khodjasteh is testament to the quality of our unparalleled and prestigious event,” commented Tournament Director James Bowring.

Paul Barbone, the overall winner of the Al Naboodah Golf Series Order of Merit, is pictured with Andy Karacinski and Manab Kundu of the Al Naboodah Construction Group.

James Bowring with Hani M. Al Zubaidi, Secretary – Board of Directors, Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE, with some of the youngsters at the cheque presentation ceremony.

James Bowring hands over the cheque for AED235,000 donated by the 2011 Emirates Airline Invitational to Dr. Houiya Kazim of the Well Woman Clinic, Dubai, who represents the charity, Brest Friends.

Emirates Airline Invitational Tournament Director, James Bowring with Mansour Khodjasteh and son Shahriah at the Carpetland Finals Gala Dinner. www.wwgolf.biz

7

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

DONALD DELIVERS THE OLD 1-2 IT was a once-in-a-lifetime ending to a wonderful week of golf. World No.1 Lee Westwood facing World No.2 Luke Donald in a sudden-death playoff at Wentworth. Not only was the BMW PGA Championship at stake but to the victor went the spoils of top spot in world golf – and that was Mr. Consistency Donald.

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11

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BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP FAR LEFT: Luke Donald holds the trophy with his wife Diane and daughter Elle after winning the BMW PGA Championship and becoming the World Number 1 for the first time.

LEFT: Luke Donald birdies the first playoff hole against Lee Westwood to secure victory.

BOTTOM LEFT: All four Major trophies were on display at Wentworth as each one is held by a European Tour member.

LEFT: Lee Westwood had to take a penalty drop on the first extra play-off hole, after his pitch shot took a cruel bounce and spun into the brook that guards the 18th green.

A

trip back down the revamped 18th was required after both players had finished on 6-under 278 in a gripping climax to the tournament. Donald hit his third shot to within six feet while Westwood followed with his approach. It landed safely on the green but the cheers of the huge galleries slowly turned to groans as his ball gathered momentum, spinning down towards the water and finally dropping into the drink.

That settled it. The roles had been reversed.

In the space of one stroke Donald had become the new World No.1, relegating his fellow Englishman to No.2.

Despite Westwood’s misfortune he conceded that he’d had his opportunities and failed to take them. “I could have birdied the last two holes in regulation but I didn’t take my chances,” said Lee. “That’s the reason I finished second – not because I lost the play-off. I suppose it should have played out the way it did with a shoot-out between me and Luke.”

Donald admitted that coming second at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain and the Heritage Tournament in South Carolina in a play-off recently, that when the runner-up was called at the prize-giving at Wentworth he almost stepped forward instead of Westwood. “I’ve been the runner-up a few times in my career,” said Donald, “and a few times this year but to come through to win in these circumstances and in one of the biggest tournaments in the world, going head-to-head with Lee is pretty special.

“It doesn’t get any better than this – I’m not sure if there will ever be a case where No.1 and No.2 in the world will be playing off for

the tournament and also for the No.1 ranking in the world. History has been made here at Wentworth and I’m glad to be part of it.”

Donald raced into an early lead after the opening round with a sensational 7-under 64 which helped him steer two clear of Sweden’s Johan Edfors and young Italian Matteo Manassero. However, a second round of 1-over 71 saw him fall back to 6-under and in a share of the lead with Manassero and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros who had signed for rounds of 69 and 67 while Edfors dropped back with a 75.

World No.1 Donald and Manassero then both scored 71s to sit on 5-under-par with 18 holes to play, two clear of Westwood who had gradually climbed up to 2-under after back-to-back 69s following an opening 72 while Quiros fell out of contention with a 76.

Westwood showed he wouldn’t give up the World No.1 spot without a fight as he went one in front with a front nine of 2-under 33 and was two clear after a birdie at the 15th following a magnificent approach to within three feet.

However, Westwood then gave a shot back on the 16th and Donald, who was in the group behind, drew level after knocking it stiff at the same hole. Both players had birdie putts on 18 to win but both failed to take advantage – Westwood missing from six feet to get to 7-under and Donald missing from 30 feet – so a play-off was needed to separate them.

Ernie-Els’ redesigned 18th, with water zigzagging down the left of the green, makes it an almost impossible gamble for even the biggest-hitters to take on in two, so the pair left

themselves wedges into the green after layingup. Donald piled on the pressure by knocking his approach close. Westwood followed up but he put too much spin on the ball and it spun back and dropped into the stream guarding the green as his hopes of a 22nd European Tour title ended in a watery grave.

The 33-year-old Donald then signed off in style, sinking his birdie putt before joyously throwing his ball into the galleries. “Yesterday I felt like Seve would have been proud of me,” said Donald, who had joined his fellow Europeans in honouring Ballesteros by wearing the Spaniard’s famous navy blue and white colours during the second round. “Some of the positions I was in, I’ve seen footage of Seve, and he got in many similar positions, as well.”

Simon Dyson signed for a 69 to finish two shots back and create the first all-English onetwo-three in The European Tour’s flagship event since 1974 while Marcus Fraser, Shane Lowry and Raphaël Jacquelin all finished on 2-under to share fourth place. Matteo Manassero endured a difficult final round and had to settle for a 75 to finish on 1-under and in a share of seventh place with six others, including three-time PGA Champion Colin Montgomerie who posted his first top-10 finish in nearly three years.

It was a red-letter day for The European Tour and a record-breaking week. With seven of the top 10 players in the world competing – all European Tour players – and 11 of the 12 victorious European Ryder Cup Team (Padraig Harrington was injured), crowd figures were at record levels for each of the four days. A fitting showpiece for Europe’s current dominance on the world stage. ■ www.wwgolf.biz

13

International Membership at Brocket Hall

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Our International Members will enjoy not only full access to our renowned golf club, but also benefit from preferential rates at Brocket Hall's Michelin Starred restaurant Auberge du Lac, special concessions on the use of Brocket Hall itself - a popular conference and private party venue - and visitor privileges to over 250 illustrious private members clubs worldwide.

Located only 45 minutes from Central London and conveniently placed for all international airports and with its own helipad, Brocket Hall is a haven for keen golfers, and offers exceptional amenities, hospitality and accommodation.

£960 Joining Fee & £950 Annual Subscriptions

WWGCOLUMNIST

Seve was my hero

I

’D like to join my fellow columnists by paying tribute to the legend that was Seve Ballesteros.

He was a hero of mine when I was growing up. He was Mr. Ryder Cup and had one of the greatest short games of all time. He didn’t hit it great off the tee but he was so strong mentally and so confident in his short game that he could hit it in some horrendous places and still know that he could get out of trouble.

He was someone every European golfer of my generation looked up to. I remember watching his ‘Seve Ballesteros – The Short Game’ video many times and trying to perfect his techniques. He was a big inspiration to me, that’s for sure, and he’ll be sorely missed.

Wentworth Member I grew up near Wentworth and was a Member there from 1994 so I was just too late for his period of dominance in the 1980s and early 90s when he won the World Match Play Championship five times. But I watched him on television and then when I joined the Club it was special playing on a course every day that he pretty much owned during his heyday. I especially remember 1991 when he won the Match Play and the PGA Championship in the same season – that was some feat!

I was extremely proud to go on to win the World Match Play Championship myself two years ago in the inaugural event at Finca Cortesin in Spain.

Emotional occasion Obviously, it was slightly different as it wasn’t around Wentworth but to win a tournament that Seve won five times, Gary Player won five times and Ernie Els has won seven times, was very special and something that I’ll remember for a very long time.

It was an emotional occasion playing in the Olé Seve Pro-Am event that took place at Wentworth on the Monday of the week prior to last month’s BMW PGA Championship. It was a really good day and it was nice

for me and the guys who I played with to win the Pro-Am – that made it pretty special. It was a nice little tribute to Seve.

It was great to see so many people turn out to pay tribute to him and to help raise money for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation. Everybody gave generously at the charity auction that followed the event and we raised £618,168, which was fantastic.

It was also a really nice touch that so many of us players wore navy blue on the Friday at Wentworth in honour of Seve. It was quite a simple thing to do but visually, I think it made quite a big impact.

I never got the chance to play with Seve or to meet him personally but I spoke with him on the phone and always found him engaging and entertaining. I was also part of the European Ryder Cup Team at Celtic

Manor last year when he rang us up to talk to the whole Team before the event. It was huge that he did that for us considering he wasn’t in the best shape at the time. It was incredibly inspirational and gave all the players a real lift ahead of a tournament in which he had produced so many great moments over the years.

Seve was a true one-off and I don’t think we’ll see another one like him.

All of us players on The European Tour owe him a huge debt of gratitude for the purses we now play for.

Seve did more than any other player to popularise the game of golf in Europe. ■

IN THE KNOW WITH ROSS FISHER ROSS FISHER STAGED A REMARKABLE COMEBACK IN HIS FINAL GROUP STAGE MATCH AGAINST RYAN MOORE IN DEFENCE OF HIS VOLVO WORLD MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE, WINNING THE LAST FOUR HOLES FOR A 1UP VICTORY TO GET THROUGH TO THE LAST 16 WHERE HE WAS NARROWLY BEATEN BY MASTERS CHAMPION CHARL SCHWARTZEL.

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15

Abu Dhabi

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DOUBLE

JULY 28TH - SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB ACCOMMODATION – RADISSON BLU HOTEL, YAS ISLAND 29TH - YAS LINKS GOLF CLUB DIVISIONAL PRIZES The Abu Dhabi Double events have grown into some of the most talked about amateur tournaments in the region and Worldwide Golf readers now have the chance to play in the next instalment taking place July 28th and 29th.

Abu Dhabi Double 5 will see competitors battle it out on two of the UAE’s newest worldclass courses as Saadiyat Beach and Yas Links once more provide the venues for two unforgettable days of golf and fun.

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Inset Pictures:

Yas Links Golf Club

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Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

Abu Dhabi Double 4: All the winners pictured with their prizes at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club after the final round.

GREAT SCOTT DOES THE DOUBLE THE eagerly awaited Abu Dhabi Double 4 event took place over Thursday 13th and Friday 14th, May on the immaculate Yas Links and Saadiyat Beach Club courses with Ian Scott emerging victorious after two outstanding performances with an overall score of 66 Stableford points.

Day One saw a day of drama on Kyle Phillips’ stunning Yas Links layout with the scoring close across the board. When the dust settled a countback was needed to separate the leading two players as Alan Main and Ian Scott both finished on 33 points. Scott was eventually awarded a Hertz voucher as Day One Winner courtesy of his better back nine.

With the likes of Stephen Wilson on 31, Robert Darrah on 29 and Askary Khimjee on 28 points, it was all still to play for as the competitors descended on the beautiful Gary Player designed course at Saadiyat Beach Club on Day Two.

Inset Pictures:

Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Yas Island

Consistency The contest was again a tight affair but Scott showed remarkable consistency to repeat his opening day score of 33 points to secure the title by three points from Stephen Wilson, while Robert Darrah finished third on 58.

Scott was awarded a complimentary stay in one of the Radisson Blu’s delightful suites as well as another Hertz voucher for his victory.

Wilson also received a Hertz voucher along with a complementary stay in a Radisson Blu standard room while Darrah was awarded a voucher to use in one of the hotel’s fantastic restaurants.

The overall gross winner for the two days was Alan Main, who received a Hertz voucher as well as a prize for winning Nearest the Pin on the eighth hole on Day One. Steve Wilson won Longest Drive for Day One for his tee shot on the 12th at Yas Links while special prizes were also awarded to Scott for Nearest the Pin on the 17th at Saadiyat Beach and to Ian Wilkinson for Longest Drive on the ninth.

32

www.wwgolf.biz

SEVE BALLESTEROS (1957-2011)

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN WORLDWIDE GOLF pays tribute to Severiano Ballesteros Sota, universally known as just, ‘Seve,’ a true legend of the game, whose legacy to European and World Golf will live forever. As an Official Publisher to The European Tour, we worked in close contact with Seve’s company, Amen Corner, and his brothers, Baldomero and Ivan, in publishing the Official Tournament Programmes for the Seve Trophy from 2000 - 2005. It was a privilege to meet with Seve and a joy to watch him conjure up all his magical shots in beating his opposing Captain, Colin Montgomerie, in the final day singles at the inaugural event at Sunningdale Golf Club to earn the vital point that gave Seve’s Continental Europe Team a remarkable 13½-12½ victory.

www.wwgolf.biz

21

WHEN Seve Ballesteros died last month after finally losing his courageous battle against cancer, golf not only lost one of the greatest players ever to grace the game but a unique personality who was responsible, above all others, for transforming The European Tour into the multi-national, thriving, global enterprise it is today.

The fact that the Spaniard has been universally known as simply, ‘Seve,’ since he first stepped onto the worldwide stage speaks volumes for the respect and regard his worldwide audience had for the charismatic sporting icon.

We were fortunate to work with Seve’s Amen Corner and see the great man in action in the Seve Trophy. Despite struggling with his back he managed to repeat his victory in the 2000 singles over opposing Captain Colin Montgomerie in the rain-hit Seve Trophy at Druids Glen in Ireland, where he also turned back the clock to join forces with his former Ryder Cup partner José Maria Olazábal to beat Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley in the Fourballs. Two points from two matches was a remarkable feat, even by Seve’s standards.

Seve Captained the Continental Europe Team at Sunningdale in 2000, in Valencia in 2003 and at Killenard in Ireland in 2007. Olazabal Captained the Team in 2005 at Billingham, Tees Valley, in Seve’s absence. The Continental Europe team’s only win was in the inaugural event

ABOVE: Captain Courageous Seve pictured with the Ryder Cup at Valderrama, Spain, in 1997.

Right: Captain Tony Jacklin (fifth from left) holds the Ryder Cup along with the jubilant European Team with Seve pictured far right after their emphatic 16½-11½ victory over the USA at The Belfry in 1985.

at Sunningdale in 2000 but the Seve Trophy provided valuable Ryder Cup-style practice that has proved invaluable in recent years.

Seve won 87 titles, including five Majors, during a sensational career. He won The Open Championship in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to wear the Green Jacket when he won The Masters at Augusta in 1980 before securing his second victory in the event three years later.

He was one of the greatest match play golfers of all time. He lit up The Ryder Cup on

countless occasions, playing in the tournament eight times and racking up 20 points before Captaining Europe to an emotional victory on home soil at Valderrama in 1997.

He also won a phenomenal five World Match Play Championships at Wentworth between 1981 and 1991. Seve’s short game was a joy to watch. It seemed he could get out of whatever trouble he had landed in, using his uncanny natural touch, feel and tenacity. When Seve smiled, the whole world smiled with him. His infectious enthusiasm for the game won him

SEVE BALLESTEROS

SEVE BACK ON THE BEACH AT PADRENA: He learned the game while playing on the beaches near his home, at the time when he was supposed to be in school, mainly using a 3-iron given to him by his older brother Manuel when he was eight years old.

LEFT: Seve with his wife Carmen and son Baldomero pictured at Wentworth with the magnificent trophy after winning the Volvo PGA Championship in 1991 in a sudden-death play-off against Colin Montgomerie.

LEFT: Seve gets down on his knees as he puts on a spellbinding clinic for the spectators at the European Open at Walton Heath in Surrey in 1988.

SEVE AT A DINNER FOR THE 1990 DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC (Seve - pictured third from left). Two years later he returned to the Emirates Golf Club to win the Classic in a sudden-death play-off against Ireland’s Ronan Rafferty.

an army of fans all around the world. From his modest upbringing in Pedrena where he learned to play golf by hitting pebbles with a cut down 3-iron on his local beach, he went on to inspire millions to switch on to the game of golf and his achievements brought him fame and riches he could only have dreamed of.

Seve was a sportsman who transcended nationalities. His popularity helped The European Tour attract huge sponsorships, paving the way to the multi-million pound purses today’s privileged players compete for in

ever more far-flung destinations. There are calls for The Tour logo to be changed to the iconic image of Seve on the final green at St Andrews after his 1984 Open triumph. It would be a tribute befitting such a true legend of the game.

Seve was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 and battled bravely, undergoing four operations and a draining treatment of chemotherapy. Despite his illness, Seve still made time for his beloved European Tour and the emotional speech he gave via telephone to The European Team prior to The Ryder Cup at

Celtic Manor last year provided the inspiration for a famous14 ½ -13 ½ victory over the USA. His condition worsened at the beginning of May and eventually came the news that the golfing world was dreading. Seve had passed away at 2.10am local time on Saturday, May 7th, at his family home in Pedrena where one of golf’s most remarkable stories had begun back in 1957. Tributes from his from his friends, colleagues and fellow players – so many of them inspired to take up the game by him – began flooding in as soon as the news broke. www.wwgolf.biz

4 33 23

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SEVE BALLESTEROS European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady: “This is such a very sad day for all who love golf.

Seve’s unique legacy must be the inspiration he has given so many to watch, support, and play golf, and finally to fight a cruel illness with equal flair, passion, and fierce determination. We have all been so blessed to live in his era. He was the inspiration behind The European Tour.”

José María Olazábal: My first memory of Seve goes back to 1983 or ’84. I was an amateur, and he called me to ask me to play in a charity event. It was a big surprise and I was very excited. It’s hard to chose one of the many moments that I lived with him, but surely the most cherished are those Ryder Cup moments, particular the 1997 edition. What impressed me most in Seve was his strength, his fighting spirit and the passion he put into everything he did. I saw him for the last time the Saturday after the Masters. He was not well, but his head was clear. We talked about many things… so many common memories, and particularly about The Ryder Cup. The best tribute we can pay to Seve is to go on playing for him, although no tribute will ever do justice to everything he did for golf and to everything he gave us.”

Miguel Ángel Jiménez: “I first met Seve when I was around 15. He came to play our 1979 Spanish Open at Torrequebrada. I worked there as a caddie, and he was on the top of the world. People were crazy about him. I also remember when I won the Belgian Open in 1992. I didn’t speak a word of English so he interpreted for me. He said: ‘You are the winner, you are the boss, say whatever you feel like saying.’

“He was outstanding for his determination and his passion in everything he did. He never gave up, he always found a way out, and this was reflected in his personality.

“I have lived so many moments with him that it’s hard to choose one. I would maybe highlight the 1997 Ryder Cup, where I was his assistant. It was a truly special week. I loved to watch him fulfil one of his dreams and enjoy it so much. Seve’s passion for The Ryder Cup was unique”.

Colin Montgomerie: “He fought so bravely throughout this awful illness and time and time again he showed such bravery and miraculous recovery skills as he did throughout his career. He has left us with so many wonderful lasting memories and his contributions to European golf are unquantifiable. I send my deepest sympathies to his family.”

Lee Westwood: “You always knew when Seve walked into a room even if you had your back to him. He oozed charisma and brought a whole new meaning to aura.

Seve gave his everything for golf and what the game and The European Tour particularly owes him is immense.

We would not be playing in the places and for the prizemoney we are today without him having graced the world’s fairways. He was that iconic a figure.”

Ernie Els “Seve was such an iconic figure and the flag bearer for European golf over many years. He opened up so many doors for Europe’s players by winning all over the world and particularly in America. The European Tour would not be what it is today without him.

“Seve was an absolute hero of mine and I modelled so much of my game on him. I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play with him many times and the most memorable was our battle in the World Match Play Championship of 1994 at Wentworth.

“It was an unforgettable day and I feel honoured that I was able to share centre stage with him. Seve was a very proud man in golf and in life in general.

“He never backed down from a challenge. The world of golf has lost one of its greatest heroes.”

www.wwgolf.biz

25

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SEVE BALLESTEROS Jack Nicklaus: Golf has lost a great champion and a great friend. We have also lost a great entertainer and ambassador for our sport. I have always had wonderful respect for Seve’s ability – how he played the game, and the flare he brought to the sport while achieving the success he did. It was his creativity, his imagination, and his desire to compete that made him so popular not only in Europe but among American galleries, too.

“He was a great entertainer. No matter the golf that particular day, you always knew you were going to be entertained. Seve’s enthusiasm was just unmatched by anybody I think who ever played the game.

Phil Mickelson: “He’s certainly had an impact on the game, but to me the greatest thing about Seve is his flair and his charisma. Because of the way he played the game of golf, you were drawn to him. You wanted to go watch him play. He kind of had so many shots that it was fun to watch him play.”

Arnold Palmer: Seve was a great guy and an outstanding competitor. I considered him to be a good friend of mine. His dynamic talent was evident from the time he first arrived on the scene and I always invited him to play in my tournament at Bay Hill. What he brought to the game, especially in Europe, is well-documented. He was probably the main man, the greatest contributor to the European golf scene and to The Ryder Cup when they brought all of Europe into the matches. He will be sorely missed throughout the world of golf.

Formula One driver Fernando Alonso: “Seve was a man who discovered the sport for his country, and someone who would always remain as one of the greatest names in Spanish sport.”

Tiger Woods: “I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Seve Ballesteros. I always enjoyed spending time with him at the Champions Dinner each year at the Masters. Seve was one of the most talented and exciting golfers ever to play the game.

“His creativity and inventiveness on the golf course may never be surpassed. His death came much too soon.”

Tennis World No.1 Rafael Nadal: “I think that he was one of the best golf players in history. He was one of the best athletes that this country has ever had.

He was a pioneer. He was one of the first big athletes that we have had in Spain. I think that he has always had great spirit to overcome the problems he faced.

Seve’s former caddie Billy Foster: “There are not many players I’ve worked for in my time who have had that aura about them. Being with Seve was a special time for me. I was around 25 years old. I’d caddied for maybe 10 years, and I got the ultimate dream chance of working for an absolute superstar.” www.wwgolf.biz

27

A

B

C

F

I

J

LASTING MEMORIES

K

A José Maria Olazábal uses Seve’s shoulders to follow his ball at the 1991 Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island, where the USA won 14½-13½.

B Seve’s uses his magical touch to find a way out of the rough during his match against Ernie Els in the 1994 World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.

C Seve’s iconic victory pose that signalled his triumph in the 1984 Open Championship at St. Andrews, when he finished two shots clear of Tom Watson and Bernhard Langer.

SEVE BALLESTEROS D

E

G

H

L

M

D ALL SMILES: Seve holds The Ryder Cup at the victory celebration of Europe’s historic 15-13 victory at Muirfield Village, Columbus, Ohio, in 1987.

E THUMBS UP for Seve at the 1998 Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth.

F Seve with his son Baldomero at the 2006 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

G Seve in reflective mood pictured at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie when he announced his retirement from the game.

H PAST MASTERS WINNERS: Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer and Seve Ballesteros.

I Seve demonstrates his bunker skills as he plays out of a sand trap during the 1986 Masters.

J Seve in action off the tee in the 1998 Volvo PGA Championship.

K Seve shows the Old Claret Jug to the galleries at St. Andrews after winning the second of his three Open Championships.

L Seve holds the huge trophy aloft after winning the 1992 Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.

M Seve, non-playing Captain of the Continental Europe Team at the 2007 Seve Trophy at The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort in Ireland, turned out to play in the Pro-Am. www.wwgolf.biz

29

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POULTS THE MATCH PLAY MASTER

I

AN Poulter showed once again that he has developed into one of the finest match play golfers of his generation when he beat Luke Donald 2&1 in the final of the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain to deny his fellow Englishman and Ryder Cup teammate the chance to become World No.1.

“I thought it would be pretty special to win this,” said Poulter, who moved from 22nd to 15th in the World Ranking after collecting a cheque for €800,000 for his 11th European Tour title and his first since the UBS Hong Kong Open last November. “I finally started holing some putts.

I’ve been frustrated for a few months and you have to hole putts to win.

“It’s a nice boost. Questions have been asked of me over the last five months.”

Knockout Stages

Poulter, who has been one of Europe’s star performers at each of the last two Ryder Cups, displayed great fighting qualities and tenacity throughout the knockout stages of the competition to despatch World No.1 Lee Westwood (1up), Francesco Molinari (2up) and Nicolas Colsaerts (19th hole) to set up a mouth watering all-England Final clash – the first since the event began at Wentworth in 1964.

It was a match up that truly captured the imagination. Donald – the current WGCAccenture Match Play Champion against Poulter, the 2010 champion. Donald the unerringly consistent and considered master of course management against Poulter, the daring and aggressive ultimate head-to-head man.

Donald had thrashed Martin Kaymer, whom he also beat in the final of the Accenture and who too had the chance to move to World No.1

“It means a lot for me to win this trophy, which Seve’s name has been on five times.

It’s just lovely to put my name in amongst tournaments that Seve has won.” in Spain, 5&3 in his semi-final match. “He played like a machine a little bit,” Kaymer said after the defeat. “It was unbelievable – he hits the fairways, all the greens and he makes the putts “It was like a PlayStation. I thought ‘there’s maybe a little bit of a chance’, but I just didn’t see it.

“He never really opens the door for you and it felt a little bit impossible. He really deserves to become the No.1.”

Prior to beating Kaymer Donald, who finished joint top scorer with Poulter at the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, had edged to victory at the 19th hole against Johan Edfors before beating Masters champion Charl Schwartzel 2up in his knockout stage matches.

Early Stages

The early stages of the competition saw a series of Champions League style round robin group matches, with the top two players in each group of three progressing to the knockout stages. Poulter only just squeezed through with two halves from his matches against Francesco Molinari and Paul Lawrie, after the Italian beat the Scot 3&2 in the final game. Donald’s path to the last 16 was much smoother as he beat American Ryan Moore 4&3 before seeing off defending champion Ross Fisher 3&1.

As predicted, the final was a closely fought

affair with both players taking the lead during the early exchanges. But Poulter, who went down to the last hole in every match except the final, took control when he levelled with a mammoth 40-foot putt for birdie at the par 3 12th before moving into the lead two holes later after pitching his approach to within three feet to set up another birdie. The 34-year-old struck the decisive blow on the 16th to give his son, also called Luke, the perfect seventh birthday present when his namesake failed to make birdie at the next hole.

“Happy birthday Luke,” said Poulter, who lost his lucky ball marker when he fell down an embankment while taking a shot on the eighth.

Donald was disappointed not to complete a prestigious match play double after his win in Arizona in February.

“It was disappointing – I ran out of steam a bit and didn’t take the opportunities I had,” he said after collecting a runners-up cheque for €420,000.

With Poulter’s victory came a poignant tribute to Seve Ballesteros, who won the World Match Play five times and whose courageous, creative play inspired the Englishman and most of his generation to take up the game of golf.

“It means a lot for me to win this trophy, which Seve’s name has been on five times,” said Poulter. “It’s just lovely to put my name in amongst tournaments that Seve has won.” ■ www.wwgolf.biz

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Hans Olbertz Business in Golf

ALL FOR FUN Mike Gallemore talks to Hans Olbertz, General Manager and the man who runs the world-renowned Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, pictured giving the thumbs up on the 18th tee with Darren Clarke at Yaas Links Golf during the 2011 Emirates Airline Invitational.

www.wwgolf.biz

37

I

F it’s 18 holes of fun-filled golf you’re after you could do a lot worse than taking on Hans Olbertz. He’s played with many of the game’s greats and graced many of the finest golf courses on the planet in his globe-trotting life as a leading hotelier and self-confessed golf nut.

The General Manager of Emirates Palace is a true gentleman of the game and one of the most likeable and down-to-earth characters you could wish to meet.

He’s also got an infectious sense of humour and an abiding ability to have fun, whatever the circumstances.

As GM of the Emirates Palace operated by Kempinski Hotels Hans has hosted numerous golf tournament dinners and sporting occasions at the magnificent Emirates Palace, including: The Gala Dinner for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship for the past six years; the Saadiyat Beach Classic hosted by Gary Player for the past two years; the 2011 Laureus Sport Award; the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and the Abu Dhabi Arts Festival.

“Apart from hosting the events we have also been a sponsor of the golf tournaments,” says Hans. “It’s exciting for us to be associated with these prestigious world-class golf events.

“The Tour players and their families stay with us throughout the golf tournaments and the various dinners have raised millions of dirhams for charity, which makes our involvement even more rewarding.”

Although Hans has had the honour of playing with the likes of his fellow countrymen Martin Kaymer and Bernhard Langer, Gary Player, Ian Poulter, Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Sam Torrance, Fred Couples and Miguel Angel Jiménez, his favourite annual outing is playing with 24 of his friends in a Ryder-Cup style fun event.

“It’s great fun from start to finish,” says Hans.

Hans Olbertz pictured with Gary and Vivienne Player at the Emirates Palace Hotel Gala Dinner for the Gary Player Classic played at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi.

“All the Tour players and their families stay with us throughout the golf tournaments and the various dinners have raised millions of dirhams for charity, which makes our involvement even more rewarding.” – Hans Olbertz “For me it’s what golf is all about. We usually assemble in France from all parts around the world. It’s good company and good camaraderie and the whole event is played in a wonderful atmosphere. I also enjoy playing with my wife, Gaby – that’s always a lot of fun.

“The Emirates Airline Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah, in January at Yas Links was played in the same sort of style where enjoyment is the main factor.

Hans’ travels as an hotelier has taken him from Germany to the UK, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Cairo, Jordan, Greece, Austria, Korea and back to Abu Dhabi.

“I’ve had a love affair with golf that goes back many years,” says Hans. “I’ve played golf all over the world, from the ‘browns’ of the

sand course in Jordan to the lush greens of Turnberry in Scotland. “The great thing about playing on sand courses is that you can tell people that you can drive the ball 400 yards – without adding that when the sand is solid the ball can bounce forever.”

Infectious Humour

As befitting a personality with an infectious sense of humour he has had countless comical moments on the golf course. “I don’t know if it’s me or the people I play with but humorous happenings seem to follow me,” he says. “I once encountered a Korean gentleman stranded up a tree just off the fairway, presumably trying to play his ball.

“I recall playing a four ball in Korea where the

caddies marked the scores for all the players who would gladly concede gimmes from all over the green – four or five to six yards were considered close enough. I’ve never scored so well since.

“Maybe one of the funniest things I ever saw was one of my playing partners running after his golf cart, complete with two golf bags and clubs on the back, as it careered down a hill towards the lake – after he’d forgotten to put the brake on. He caught up with it just as it hit the water and he ended up standing in the lake as the cart slowly submerged.

“I also remember a friend losing his balance as he played a shot from the bank of a lake and falling sideways into the water. As he emerged I said: ‘Shall I laugh now?’” Besides

HANS OLBERTZ LEFT: Rory McIlroy shakes hands with Hans Olbertz as Rory’s fellow Tour players, Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy and Sweden’s Robert Karlsson look on during the Dinner at the Emirates Palace Hotel.

BELOW LEFT: Hans Olbertz displays his style on the putting green at the Gary Player Classic at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

“Collectively we are not doing the right things to improve the situation.

We have to take the bull by the horns and pool our resources. The airlines, the hotels, and the golf courses have got to get together to give golfers what they want at a price they can afford.” – Hans Olbertz the fun of playing golf Hans believes that the game is not only a great leveller but it also provides a valuable insight into the personality of your playing partners. You can see the true character of people when you play golf with them,” he says. It’s often amusing to see their reaction to playing a poor shot or getting a bad bounce. Sometimes it’s quite scary to see how they deal with it. Some are serious, others can be light-hearted. It’s interesting to watch their behaviour.

“I’ve had so much fun playing in pro-ams but two particular rounds stand out. Playing with Darren Clarke in the Emirates Airline Invitational at Yas Links earlier this year was hilarious. He never stopped joking from the first tee to the 18th hole.

With Miguel Angel Jiménez I had a cigar on the front nine and another for the back nine and he’s got to be the most relaxed, chilledout player on the Tour. He’ll talk to you about anything. It’s like playing with a life-long friend.

But I suppose I really prefer to play on with people I know I can take money off,” he joked.

Hans believes that while golf is still growing in the region there is still much to be done to encourage golfers to play in the Middle East.

“I believe that certain investors who help create exclusive golf courses over here, are getting the wrong advice,” he says. “Golf is becoming too expensive for many people in the area and the number of golf tourists is not sufficient to fill the golf courses.

‘Competition’

“Collectively we are not doing the right things to improve the situation. We have to take the bull by the horns and pool our resources. The airlines, the hotels, and the golf courses have got to get together to give golfers what they want at a price they can afford.

“Desert golf courses by definition are expensive to run due to the water costs but the Middle East has to look at what their

competition is doing. From Europe it’s a sixand-a-half hour flight, whereas destinations like Turkey, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal are only a couple of hours away and the cost of a golf holiday package is considerably less.

“The only means of getting the price down for the golf tourist is for all of us to get together and produce golf packages that work. For UAE locals I think a pay-and-play course is a must.

There are too many keen golfers out there who simply can’t afford to play any more.

“We’re blessed with so many magnificent golf courses in the UAE – the National at ADGC, Yas Links, Saadiyat Beach, the Els Club, Emirates to name just a few – and we need to make sure that they are successful.”

Hans Olbertz has the experience and the knowledge to know that all things are achievable but adds, “We should never lose sight of the fact that at the end of the day golf is only a game – and it should always be fun.” ■ www.wwgolf.biz

39

WWGCOLUMNIST

Seve – the Most Charismatic Player of All Time

A

S South Africa’s 2010 Players Champion, Tim Clark, chose to honour Seve Ballesteros by flying the Spanish flag at TPC Sawgrass, we were all thinking about the Great Matador of Golf.

Not only about what he taught us about our beloved game and, more importantly, about life. Through my Column in Worldwide Golf I’d like to reflect on some of my personal memories of Seve, both on and off the golf course.

Seve had more passion for the game than anybody I have ever witnessed or experienced. He had an incredible competitive spirit and an extreme will to win. This desire to win at all costs, no matter how he played on any given day (good or bad), was like the 15th club in his arsenal. You could never count him out.

Everyday Golfer When you played against Seve, not only did you compete against his masterful skills and unique erratic style of play, but you had to accept that he would command the gallery as well. People wanted to watch Seve because they could, in fact, relate to his unpredictable approach. Plus they were drawn to his ever-present charisma and flare. Some of the shots that came off Seve’s club, despite being one of the best players in the world, were indicative of an everyday golfer. These shots would remind people of themselves to some degree, but they’d be left envying Seve’s ability to turn a double bogey (or worse) into a birdie or par. He was pure genius when it came to scoring.

As our career paths paralleled each other, our relationship went through several phases over the years. In the beginning, we were the young, brash, up and coming players, determined to succeed in the world of professional golf. We became close friends during this stage. We were finding our way on the Tours of the world. When he came to Florida to play he would 40

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‘I REMEMBER HOW FANTASTIC HE WAS WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN AT THE TIME. JUST LIKE THE GALLERIES THAT FOLLOWED HIM ON THE GOLF COURSES AROUND THE WORLD, THEY, TOO, WERE CAPTIVATED BY HIS PERSONALITY AND CHARM.’ occasionally stay with my family at our home. I remember how fantastic he was with my young children at the time. Just like the galleries that followed him on the golf courses around the world, they, too, were captivated by his personality and charm.

I remember learning so much from him about the short game and about visualisation in the practice rounds we used to play together. In fact, Seve taught me more about the short game than any coach I ever had in my entire career! I can still vividly recall some of our conversations where I would ask

him specifically about the short game.

Seve would explain how he saw a shot, how the shot should feel and how the shot should be executed.

He was always willing to provide me with information, assistance and/or demonstrations whenever I asked. He had no problem sharing his expertise with his friends and competitors and you could tell that he really enjoyed teaching others about his mastery of the short game.

Seve approached the game with such great imagination, touch and manipulative skill I can say HIS were undoubtedly the best pair of hands,

BEST OF FRIENDS AND BEST OF RIVALS ABOVE: Seve Ballesteros at the 1986 Dunhill Cup, with Greg Norman in the background. The pair would go on to dominate the World Ranking for the next three years, with the top spot changing hands between them 10 times.

RIGHT: Seve delights the crowds with his short game brilliance, as he plays out of the rough near the eighth hole, during The Open Championship at Turnberry in 1986.

BELOW: The Spanish flag flies at half-mast to commemorate the passing of Seve Ballesteros prior to the start of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

FANTASTIC FINISH FROM OGILVY

‘SO IN 2016, WHEN THE FIRST BALL IS HIT IN THE QUEST FOR THAT GOLD MEDAL IN BRAZIL, WE SHOULD ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THAT IT WAS SEVE, WHO, WITH HIS ENDLESS PASSION FOR GOLF, MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE GAME WE ALL LOVE, TO BE INCLUDED ONCE AGAIN IN THE GREATEST SPORTING EVENT IN THE WORLD.’ EVER, in the game of golf – so there was a lot to learn if you listened!

Unfortunately, as we made our mark on the golf Tours around the world, and we became two of the top players of our era, it became harder to maintain our close personal friendship because the competition level and the stakes were so high. So in the prime of our career, our friendship evolved into one of competitive admiration and mutual respect.

Throughout my professional career as a golfer there were only two or three players that I could put in a category by themselves – players who I both loved and hated to compete against at the same time. Seve Ballesteros was definitely one of those players. When you played against him, it was like playing against a wizard who toyed with your mind and messed with your concentration.

His unpredictability and intense presence, good looks, and crowd adoration could be an intimidating experience to say the least! If you lost, you truly felt as though you had been defeated by a master of the game – and one who always remained a

gentleman. If you won, it was because he forced you to elevate your game.

It was HE who made YOU a tougher competitor.

Not only did he force you to raise your game, he was a champion in elevating the game of golf in general.

He was the only player of my era I can ever remember talking to back in the ‘80s, about getting golf back into the Olympics and taking the initiative to do so.

Olympic Hero He encouraged me to join him in his endeavour to promote the global game of golf and to validate its rightful place in the Olympics. At the time, he happened to be friends with a fellow Spaniard called Juan Antonio Samaranch who was the President of the International Olympic Committee.

Seve personally made sure that Juan understood the importance of golf returning to the Olympics. So in 2016, when the first ball is hit in the quest for that gold medal in Brazil, we should all take a moment to remember that it was Seve, who, with his endless passion for golf, made it possible for

the game we all love, to be included once again in the greatest sporting event in the world.

In the twilight of our careers, Seve and I were able to re-acquaint ourselves on a more personal level, similarly to when we started. At this point in our lives we were able to appreciate what we both did for each other throughout our careers. In typical Seve fashion, he was always extremely positive on the outcome of a very bleak situation. So it is no surprise that as he approached his own challenging fate, Seve remained Seve. I remember our very last phone conversation, where his charisma and character continued to shine in spite of his awful predicament. In life as in golf, he was ever extremely optimistic!

I will miss a good friend and a fierce competitor who taught me so much.

The game of golf will miss one of the last true masters of shot-making who was surely the most charismatic player of all time. His home country, Spain, has lost one of its greatest ambassadors. My heart goes out to his family and friends at this very sad time.

Seve will be missed by ALL of us. ■ www.wwgolf.biz

41

DIVOTS

NEWS SNIPPETS FROM AROUND THE GOLFING GLOBE

RULES EXPLAINED by Stuart McMurdo, Golf Operations Manager at Jebel Ali GR & Spa

PENALTY COSTS SIMPSON IN ZURICH CLASSIC...

For the second time in Webb Simpson’s fledgling career he has been penalised under Rule 18- 2b. This revolves around the situation when the ball moves on the putting green after the player has addressed it. Unfortunately for Webb the infringement on the 15th green of the final round of the Zurich Classic in New Orleans cost him a bogey and he slipped back into a play-off with Bubba Watson, which Bubba eventually won.

Webb bemoaned the rule and thinks that if the wind moves a ball in any circumstance then the player should not be penalised. He has a point although l strongly think the rule should stay as there is no actual evidence to categorically say it was the wind and not the action of Webb grounding his putter which caused the ball to move a quarter of an inch. He is naïve in not realising the situation on quick crusty greens with gusty winds that the ball could move.

All good players know that in

these situations you hover your putter instead of grounding it thus eradicating the chance of a penalty. Just ask anybody who plays links golf...

I feel for Webb but l do not think he should be calling for rule changes for something that has been around for hundreds of years.

INJURY CONCERNS CONTINUE FOR WOODS AMERICAN Kevin Na took 16 strokes to complete a par-4 hole during TIGER Woods pulled out of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass after the opening nine holes with a re-injuring his left knew and Achilles tendon.

“The knee acted up, then the Achilles followed after that then the calf started cramping up,” said Woods, who was 6-over after making three bogeys and a triple. “I’m having a hard time just walking.”

Woods sustained his injuries during the third round of The Masters, where he suffered a Grade 1 mild medial collateral ligament sprain to his knee and a mild strain to his Achilles tendon after hitting from the pine needles on the 17th hole.

SALTMAN MISSES THE CUT ON RETURN SCOTLAND’S Elliot Saltman shot rounds of 72 and 80 as he missed the halfway cut at the Open de España as he returned after serving a three-month ban from The European Tour.

The 28-year-old was banned for a serious breach of the rules relating to the marking of his ball at a Challenge Tour event in Russia last September. He did not appeal the suspension – the first on Tour since 1992 – but reiterated his innocence upon his return. “I wish to emphasise again that I do not cheat, have never cheated and do not believe I have done anything wrong,” he said. “It has been a terrible few months.”

A week later Saltman finished 30th at the Iberdrola Open. .

DRINKS ON CLARKE AFTER WIN IN MALLORCA EUROPEAN Tour stalwart Darren Clarke supplied the drinks for an entire plane full of passengers as he returned to Belfast from Mallorca on budget airline Easyjet after winning the Iberdrola Open – going against his usual option of taking a private jet.

“Coming back home on Sunday night from Mallorca the option of taking a private flight back home was negated by the fact that there was a 9.30pm Easyjet flight direct to Belfast,” he wrote on his blog. “This was a virginal experience for me flying with this notorious airline – thankfully Shane Lowry was on board along with a few of the caddies so we had a bit of fun and a couple of celebratory drinks – we all got involved and I treated all the passengers on board to a drink!”

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STATMASTER

ROUND OF THE MONTH

With his victory at the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain Ian Poulter becomes the first player to win both hat title and the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, which he won in 2010.

Sergio Garcia showed he was back to his best in the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass with a stunning 7-under-65.

He went out in 2-under 34 before going on a run of birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie from the 14th to come home in just 31 blows.

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43

Red Sea - Egypt

Red Sea Open Amateur Championship July 5 - July 7, 2011 The Soma Bay Stableford Tournament July 8 & 9, 2011

S O M A B AY R E S O R T E G Y P T

SOMA BAY TO HOST TWO TOP EVENTS

E

GYPT’S beautiful and exclusive Soma Bay Resort, which is situated on the shimmering Red Sea coast, is gearing up for two of the most hotly anticipated tournaments on the amateur circuit.

The Red Sea Open Amateur Championship and the Soma Bay Stableford Tournament will be conducted under the auspices of the Egyptian Golf Federation (EGF) on the immaculate Cascades Championship Course at Soma Bay, a layout designed by nine-time Major champion Gary Player and consistently recognised as one of the top 10 golf courses outside of Europe.

The two events will be held during the first week of July 2011 and this year the organisational structure of the tournaments has been modified to be classified into two groups. The first is the Red Sea Open Amateur Championship. Based on gross stroke play, the event is available for participants with handicaps of six or better for men and of 14 or better for ladies. The men’s event will take place over three days of play from July 5 to July 7 inclusive, whilst the women will play over two days on July 6 and 7. In addition a Men’s Seniors Gross Strokeplay Championship is scheduled over two days to coincide with the Ladies event.

To qualify participants need to be 50 years old or more.

In last year’s thrilling tournament, which had a truly international flavour, Anton Bergstrom from Sweden was crowned the Men’s Champion, while Abdulla Sultan from Bahrain took the Seniors title and Hide Nishihira from Japan claimed the Ladies crown.

Also scheduled is the Soma Bay Stableford Tournament immediately following the Open Amateur Championship. The format of the Soma

Bay Stableford Tournament will be Net Stableford scoring and will be open for Men, Seniors (over 50), Super Seniors (over 60) and Ladies, with no handicap limit.

A special offer for this event has been arranged with La Residence des Cascades Hotel, which is located directly on the golf course, covering participants as well their families, companions and spectators.

In addition to a great golfing opportunity, these two events offer participants and their companions the opportunity to enjoy the many facilities available at Soma Bay, including diving, surfing, some of the best natural sand beaches on the Red Sea and the largest Spa and Thalasso Center in the region. ■

For more information please contact “Ghada” at Soma Bay Tel: +202 2735-7510, +202 2736-9500 Email: ghada@somabay.com

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O F F I C I A L

W O R L D

G O L F

R A N K I N G

AS OF MONDAY MAY 31, 2011

AROUND THE WORLD ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR & US PGA TOUR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Luke Donald Lee Westwood Martin Kaymer Phil Mickelson Graeme McDowell Rory McIlroy Matt Kuchar Steve Stricker Paul Casey Charl Schwartzel Bubba Watson Ian Poulter Tiger Woods Dustin Johnson Nick Watney K.J. Choi Jim Furyk Hunter Mahan Jason Day Francesco Molinari Ernie Els Adam Scott Robert Karlsson Alvaro Quiros Martin Laird Miguel A Jimenez David Toms Retief Goosen Justin Rose Matteo Manassero Geoff Ogilvy Tim Clark Edoardo Molinari Zach Johnson Louis Oosthuizen Kim Kyung-Tae Robert Allenby Anders Hansen Ben Crane Y.E. Yang Jonathan Byrd Ryan Moore Bill Haas Bo Van Pelt Rickie Fowler Rory Sabbatini Brandt Snedeker Ryan Palmer Peter Hanson Padraig Harrington

Eng Eng Deu USA Nir Nir USA USA Eng Saf USA Eng USA USA USA Kor USA USA Aus Ita Saf Aus Swe Esp Sco Esp USA Saf Eng Ita Aus Saf Ita USA Saf Kor Aus Dnk USA Kor USA USA USA USA USA Saf USA USA Swe Irl

Pts. Avg

Tot. Pts

Events

9.14 8.74 7.41 6.18 5.62 5.42 5.15 5.15 5.12 5.10 4.98 4.87 4.86 4.86 4.74 4.45 4.38 4.19 4.14 4.10 4.08 4.07 4.05 3.85 3.84 3.71 3.63 3.61 3.51 3.36 3.31 3.27 3.24 3.20 3.20 3.17 3.06 2.86 2.83 2.83 2.82 2.82 2.79 2.74 2.71 2.69 2.67 2.66 2.65 2.63

484.20 410.81 370.30 278.13 309.24 281.76 267.93 211.06 230.42 285.38 233.84 258.26 194.27 237.93 246.43 236.00 210.48 221.87 186.24 221.22 228.70 199.56 178.09 207.70 211.44 207.84 181.60 202.14 189.30 134.56 162.35 147.01 181.50 163.43 172.61 177.70 171.41 148.71 141.67 158.49 140.99 140.81 153.32 153.21 140.91 150.82 149.25 146.27 132.71 147.33

53 47 50 45 55 52 52 41 45 56 47 53 40 49 52 53 48 53 45 54 56 49 44 54 55 56 50 56 54 40 49 45 56 51 54 56 56 52 50 56 50 50 55 56 52 56 56 55 50 56

Pts. Gained 274.72 136.56 144.60 116.22 73.46 87.49 105.82 69.39 68.38 170.10 133.91 86.36 42.80 92.15 147.29 144.51 39.60 91.73 102.30 55.06 26.28 70.69 44.04 122.01 116.44 74.85 131.56 42.48 71.58 68.76 47.50 28.13 34.71 48.00 38.09 46.33 43.87 81.47 36.88 70.09 104.98 52.39 73.40 49.33 46.14 107.82 98.85 63.69 43.70 26.42

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Ryo Ishikawa Ross Fisher Aaron Baddeley Gary Woodland J.B. Holmes Lucas Glover Anthony Kim Charley Hoffman Mark Wilson Stephen Marino Yuta Ikeda Vijay Singh Kevin Na Jeff Overton Jason Dufner Brendan Jones Thomas Bjorn Hiroyuki Fujita Stewart Cink Simon Dyson Scott Verplank Camilo Villegas Webb Simpson Sergio Garcia Thomas Aiken Raphael Jacquelin David Horsey Ricky Barnes Stephen Gallacher Angel Cabrera Stuart Appleby Sean O’Hair Nicolas Colsaerts Thongchai Jaidee Richard Green Seung-yul Noh Darren Clarke Tetsuji Hiratsuka Jhonattan Vegas Rhys Davies Spencer Levin Toru Taniguchi Heath Slocum Keegan Bradley Gregory Bourdy John Senden Brian Davis Tommy Gainey Robert Garrigus Marc Leishman

Jpn Eng Aus USA USA USA USA USA USA USA Jpn Fji USA USA USA Aus Dnk Jpn USA Eng USA Col USA Esp Saf Fra Eng USA Sco Arg Aus USA Bel Tha Aus Kor Nir Jpn Ven Wal USA Jpn USA USA Fra Aus Eng USA USA Aus

Pts. Avg

Tot. Pts

Events

2.62 2.59 2.58 2.57 2.50 2.44 2.38 2.35 2.35 2.35 2.31 2.30 2.28 2.24 2.23 2.21 2.13 2.12 2.11 2.11 2.09 2.07 2.01 1.93 1.93 1.90 1.87 1.81 1.81 1.77 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.70 1.68 1.67 1.66 1.66 1.66 1.65 1.64 1.63 1.62 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.57

146.92 129.53 139.33 102.76 122.57 116.97 114.17 124.76 131.52 126.80 129.45 115.05 125.15 118.47 118.19 92.72 100.29 118.74 103.29 117.89 85.57 111.97 112.65 94.61 105.97 106.44 95.22 97.78 79.46 74.25 98.79 91.48 91.36 98.23 80.65 85.84 88.41 94.24 90.11 92.83 92.83 77.85 92.31 73.79 87.89 90.57 89.80 89.67 78.34 88.11

56 50 54 40 49 48 48 53 56 54 56 50 55 53 53 42 47 56 49 56 41 54 56 49 55 56 51 54 44 42 56 52 52 56 46 49 52 56 54 56 56 47 56 45 54 56 56 56 49 56

Pts. Gained 35.56 30.67 121.42 98.34 61.31 67.97 23.96 40.11 116.84 87.00 21.96 74.04 63.37 31.50 74.02 28.87 59.95 19.01 35.50 45.30 36.02 11.82 84.88 46.24 64.67 53.24 42.33 39.77 31.04 25.62 25.39 14.43 62.38 26.29 7.82 20.63 38.56 14.40 65.13 23.84 65.83 9.14 9.27 57.94 38.23 33.97 24.90 61.55 42.42 39.27

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WWGCOLUMNIST

GARY PLAYER IS A TRUE LEGEND OF THE GAME. THE SOUTH AFRICAN IS ONE OF ONLY FIVE PLAYERS TO HAVE WON A CAREER GRAND SLAM OF ALL FOUR MAJORS. HE HAS WON A TOTAL OF NINE MAJORS AND NINE SENIOR MAJORS, AMONG 167 TOUR EVENTS WORLDWIDE.

SOUTH KOREAN GOLF IS FLOURISHING

W

HAT a wonderful time this is for South African and South Korean golf. The victory of K.J. Choi in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass struck another important blow for Asian golf, following his fellow countryman, Y.E.Yang’s triumph in the 2009 US PGA Championship.

A week later Korea’s Charlie Wi came close to winning his first tournament on the US PGA Tour since joining in 2005 when he finished runner-up to David Toms in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Charlie, who has won nine international titles, was just one shot behind Toms but it was still his best result on the PGA Tour.

Many people refer to The Players Championship as golf’s ‘Fifth Major’ but although The Players is a fantastic event it can’t be regarded as a Major in any shape or form. Traditionally, there are four Majors and I for one hope it stays that way.

Pledges $200,000 In today’s modern world there are people who would happily have 10 Majors but all that would achieve would be to undermine the four existing Majors and the Grand Slam, which have a special place in the game.

Long may it continue to remain the same.

K.J. is a very nice man and a wonderful ambassador for Korean and Asian golf. He’s now won eight times on the US PGA Tour and he’s always a contender wherever he plays. He’s a quiet man with an icecool temperament and at Sawgrass he needed all of his composure to defeat David Toms on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.

After his victory K.J. received a text message from South Korea’s President, Myung Bak Lee, to congratulate him.

That’s a measure of how much K.J.’s win means to South Korea and Asia.

K.J. pledged $200,000 of his Players Championship winnings to

tornado relief through his K.J. Choi Foundation, having made previous donations through his charity to the Japanese tsunami fund and the Haiti earthquake disaster. In his victory

speech at Sawgrass he said that although, “Winning The Players was a defining moment in my life, there are those who are going through their low point – I want the victims of the tornadoes to know that their misfortunes will not be ignored.”

I’ve said many times that one of the greatest advantages of the game of golf is the good that it can do for charities worldwide through golf tournaments, pro-ams, dinners, auctions and donations such as K.J.’s admirable gesture at Sawgrass.

The other amazing aspect of South

ABOVE: K.J. Choi celebrates making a par-saving putt at the 17th at Sawgrass to defeat David Toms on the first play-off hole during The Players Championship to secure victory and $1,710,000 in prize money.

ABOVE: David Toms shakes hands with Charlie Wi on the 18th green after winning the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club.

LEFT: Darren Clarke receives the trophy from Celia Jaume of Iberdrola after victory in the Iberdrola Open at Pula Golf Club, Mallorca, Spain.

Korean golf is the success of their lady Tour players. Currently they have four players in the top 10 of the Rolex World Ranking, 36 in the top 100 and 141 in the top 500. Those are remarkable statistics.

Although South Africa’s men didn’t shine in The Players Championship the 22-year-old Ashleigh Simon from Johannesburg won her second Ladies European Tour event, at the Portuguese Open last month, scoring 66, 67, 67 to beat France’s Gwladys Nocera by one shot.

Ashleigh came from behind with eight birdies and three bogeys in her final round, played in windy conditions at CampoReal Resort near Lisbon.

of his wife through cancer. He’s devoted his time to his two boys and he’d been on holiday with Tyrone and Connor the week before he won the Iberdrola Open in Mallorca, Spain.

It was his 13th win on The European Tour and his first since his victory in the 2008 KLM Open. His win was celebrated throughout the golf world and Darren, in typical style, led his own celebrations on his flight back to Belfast from Mallorca.

Instead of returning by private jet he flew by budget airline, Easyjet, with fellow Tour player, Shane Lowry, and some of the caddies and bought every passenger on the plane a drink to toast his success.

■ I was so pleased to see Darren Clarke winning again after a three-year drought on The European Tour. He’s one of the nicest men in the game and he’s done so well to overcome the tragedy of the loss

■ It was very sad to see Tiger Woods pull out of The Players Championship through injury after only nine holes.

Although he hasn’t won a tournament since 2009 and is steadily slipping down

the Official World Golf Ranking – currently in 12th place – I still believe he can come back. When you’ve got the talent and determination Tiger’s got, he can get his game back just as quickly as he lost it.

He’s got to get his mindset together and sort out his backswing but he’s come back from injury before and he’s still got it in him to win more Majors.

■ I’VE spoken about the legacy of Seve Ballesteros in my Introduction at the front of Worldwide Golf but I’d like to add that Seve was a sportsman who transcended the game of golf. He had that special charisma and possessed such remarkable skills that brought people into the game.

We can find outstanding personalities in each generation of the game – Ben Hogan; Jack Nicklaus; Tiger Woods. Seve ranks alongside these icons of our game. www.wwgolf.biz

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RACE TO DUBAI

As of May 31, 2011

THE EUROPEAN TOUR R ACE TO DUBAI R ANKING Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Name Luke DONALD Charl SCHWARTZEL Martin KAYMER Lee WESTWOOD Anders HANSEN Alvaro QUIROS Miguel Angel JIMÉNEZ Ian POULTER Rory McILROY Thomas AIKEN Nicolas COLSAERTS Francesco MOLINARI Paul CASEY Matteo MANASSERO Raphaël JACQUELIN Simon DYSON David HORSEY Thomas BJÖRN Retief GOOSEN Y. E YANG. Louis OOSTHUIZEN Ernie ELS Graeme McDOWELL Rafael CABRERA-BELLO S.S.P CHOWRASIA Johan EDFORS Paul LAWRIE Pablo MARTIN Ryan MOORE Ross FISHER Peter HANSON Pablo LARRAZÁBAL Grégory BOURDY Edoardo MOLINARI Grégory HAVRET Søren KJELDSEN Shane LOWRY James KINGSTON DAVIES Darren CLARKE Robert KARLSSON Alexander NOREN Jamie DONALDSON Chris WOOD Marcus FRASER Felipe AGUILAR Robert COLES Scott JAMIESON Justin ROSE David LYNN

Country

Tournaments Played

Prize Money

Rank

ENG RSA GER ENG DEN ESP ESP ENG NIR RSA BEL ITA ENG ITA FRA ENG ENG DEN RSA KOR RSA RSA NIR ESP IND SWE SCO ESP USA ENG SWE ESP FRA ITA FRA DEN IRL RSA WAL NIR SWE SWE WAL ENG AUS CHI ENG SCO ENG ENG

5 11 9 9 10 11 12 9 8 12 11 7 8 7 11 12 11 7 9 7 11 6 6 14 10 11 10 13 4 8 8 13 12 7 12 11 8 11 12 10 5 12 10 12 5 12 12 11 4 10

€2,581,495 €1,699,833 €1,312,144 €1,212,238 €893,471 €828,074 €757,896 €752,032 €717,357 €715,015 €661,310 €568,628 €551,277 €546,294 €481,629 €472,665 €456,708 €454,696 €431,654 €392,628 €386,992 €378,611 €377,403 €376,284 €370,593 €349,804 €337,846 €332,433 €328,393 €323,252 €317,071 €307,207 €301,910 €300,556 €300,221 €295,150 €292,431 €291,222 €288,217 €285,680 €284,234 €278,024 €275,586 €271,469 €264,528 €251,090 €244,119 €238,333 €235,528 €233,950

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Name

Country

Jean-Baptiste GONNET Michael HOEY Jaco VAN ZYL Anthony WALL Peter WHITEFORD Peter LAWRIE Stephen GALLACHER Robert-Jan DERKSEN Seung-yul NOH Gareth MAYBIN Robert ROCK Angel CABRERA Jamie ELSON Ricardo GONZALEZ David HOWELL Mark FOSTER Alvaro VELASCO Oscar FLOREN Danny LEE Bradley DREDGE Richard FINCH Tano GOYA Shiv KAPUR José Manuel LARA Brett RUMFORD Danny WILLETT Christian NILSSON Markus BRIER Richie RAMSAY Kenneth FERRIE Jbe KRUGER George COETZEE Padraig HARRINGTON Thongchai JAIDEE Joost LUITEN Jeev Milkha SINGH Søren HANSEN Colin MONTGOMERIE Scott STRANGE Carlos DEL MORAL Romain WATTEL Thomas LEVET Sergio GARCIA Phillip PRICE Thorbjorn OLESEN James MORRISON Graeme STORM Robert DINWIDDIE Robert ALLENBY Martin WIEGELE

FRA NIR RSA ENG SCO IRL SCO NED KOR NIR ENG ARG ENG ARG ENG ENG ESP SWE NZL WAL ENG ARG IND ESP AUS ENG SWE AUT SCO ENG RSA RSA IRL THA NED IND DEN SCO AUS ESP FRA FRA ESP WAL DEN ENG ENG ENG AUS AUT

Tournaments Played 10 13 10 12 14 10 10 12 11 12 15 1 9 8 10 11 12 10 8 10 13 12 12 12 10 12 10 11 11 14 9 10 6 9 11 13 12 8 9 12 13 10 5 12 13 12 13 12 3 14

Prize Money €227,812 €223,997 €219,513 €215,236 €212,008 €211,877 €206,540 €204,688 €201,878 €199,880 €196,701 €188,287 €178,663 €178,269 €175,811 €175,631 €174,221 €165,514 €163,864 €162,914 €161,869 €160,842 €157,092 €155,941 €155,721 €153,844 €149,220 €148,450 €146,669 €140,416 €139,930 €138,291 €137,609 €137,558 €137,533 €136,775 €135,810 €134,722 €129,059 €127,535 €125,258 €124,067 €123,395 €121,508 €120,850 €120,601 €116,370 €111,938 €111,464 €110,750

E X P L A N AT I O N O F T H E E U R O P E A N T O U R R A C E T O D U B A I 2 0 1 1 The Race to Dubai on The 2011 European Tour International Schedule will feature 50 tournaments in 29 destinations, including new events in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Malaysia and Sicily, culminating in the Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The curtain came down on The 2010 Race to Dubai with Sweden’s Robert Karlsson finishing the year in style by winning the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World while Martin Kaymer secured The Harry Vardon Trophy by finishing European Number One ahead of Ryder Cup colleague Graeme McDowell. The third edition of The Race to Dubai will again conclude with the Dubai World Championship and will again carry a prize fun of $7,500,000 while The Race to Dubai Bonus Pool remains at $7,500,000 to be divided between the leading 15 players at the conclusion of the season.

THE RACE TO DUBAI BONUS POOL BREAKDOWN 1 US$ 1,500,000 2 US$ 1,125,000 3 US$ 750,000 4 US$ 600,000 5 US$ 525,000

6 US$ 450,000 7 US$ 412,500 8 US$ 375,000 9 US$ 337,500 10 US$ 300,000

11 US$ 262,500 12 US$ 243,750 13 US$ 225,000 14 US$ 206,250 15 US$ 187,500

NEWS

EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS

EUROPEAN TOUR’S HISTORIC YEAR CELEBRATED IN STYLE THE European Tour celebrated the most successful year in its history when the great and the good of European golf gathered at London’s Sofitel Heathrow Hotel for the Players’ Awards Dinner.

The illustrious occasion saw US Open Champion Graeme McDowell, Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, US PGA Champion Martin Kaymer and Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel

honoured for their Major-winning achievements, while The 2010 European Ryder Cup team was also celebrated.

McDowell picked up his Shot of the Year trophy for the unforgettable putt which secured the Ryder Cup for Europe on the 16th green at Celtic Manor. Schwartzel was awarded Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour for his Masters triumph, while young Italian hotshot

Matteo Manassero received the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award. The main event of the evening saw World No.1 Lee Westwood present 2010 Race to Dubai winner Kaymer the Players’ Player of the Year award. The occasion was tinged with sadness as José Maria Olazábal paid tribute to his great friend and record-breaking Ryder Cup team-mate, Seve Ballesteros, prior to the screening of a moving video celebrating his life.

OLÉ SEVE! PROVES ROARING SUCCESS

A CHARITY pro-am held the Monday of the BMW Championship week at Wentworth proved a huge success as the golfing world game together to raise £618,168 for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation.

The Olé Seve! Invitational event, co-hosted by European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady and Wentworth Club Chairman Richard Caring, saw 24 leading pros, including five Major champions, join their amateur teams to celebrate Seve Ballesteros’ life. Worldwide Golf columnist and local boy Ross Fisher’s team of Galib Virani, Francois Joseph Fury and Steven Ho won the pro-am with a score of 18-under-par before an auction saw the gathered guests and players give generously.

“The Seve Ballesteros Foundation is Seve’s biggest legacy,” said Seve’s nephew Ivan Ballesteros. “He fought all the way and lost the battle 16 days ago, but he started the Foundation for research so that people can win these battles.”

DAVIS SECURES OPEN SPOT…BUT GARCIA DOESN’T! ENGLISHMAN Brian Davis shot 6-under 64 at a rainsoaked Gleneagles Club in Plano, Texas, to win The Open Championship qualifier while Sergio Garcia had to drop out due to an infected fingernail.

Heavy rain meant the event was cut from 36 to 18 holes and Davis clinched his spot for the second Major of the season, winning the event by one stroke from American Chad Campbell, who also secured a place.

Joining them were Australia’s Nathan Green and Americans Davis Love III, Spencer Levin, Chris Tidland and Bob Estes, who all shot 66, while the final qualifying spot went to Jerry Kelly (67) who won a

play-off with Justin Hicks. Garcia had to attempt to qualify after dropping out of the World’s top 50 but had to withdraw when an infected fingernail made gripping a club too painful. He misses The Open Championship for the first time since 1998.

“It’s a setback, but I’m happy with the direction my game is headed and I’ll be looking to make up for it during the rest of the season,” said Garcia. “I always look forward to The Open Championship, and to have to withdraw is a huge disappointment.

“Having a problem with your finger is obviously a big issue for a golfer.”

www.wwgolf.biz

51

Tournament: Volvo China Open

21 – 24 April, 2011

Venue: Luxehills International Country Club, Chengdu, China

WINNER: NICOLAS COLSAERTS CHEQUE: €350,946

COLSAERTS COASTS TO MAIDEN VICTORY NICOLAS Colsaerts eased to his first victory on The European Tour with a four-shot win over Danny Lee, Pablo Martin, Soren Kjeldsen and Peter Lawrie at the Volvo China Open.

Just over 10 years since turning professional the big-hitting Belgian closed with a sublime 6-under 66 for a 24-under-par total. With the win there also came a place in the prestigious Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain.

“I’m enjoying every second of it,” he said after becoming only the second Belgian to win on Tour – the other being Phillipe Touissant in 1974. “I’m dizzy – my head is going all over the place. I’ve been waiting for this for a very long time and I think I did it in the best of manners so I’m really delighted.

“I guess a lot of kids are going to look up to this victory. I actually know the last guy, Phillipe Touissant, pretty well and I’m sure that he is very happy for me too.

“A lot of people were expecting big things of me and for me to win tournaments a long time before.

“I lost my card, I got on Tour pretty young and I didn’t know how to handle myself. The lowest point was 2008 and I had to get my life back together.

“I was doing basically ever wrong thing you could possibly think of.

One day I woke up though – I went to Australia for four months and it changed me forever.

“It’s been a hell of a journey looking back, from when I was 18 and got on Tour. I didn’t really have any idea of the level and how high you had to raise your game to play on Tour. I never lost faith of getting to where I am and I’m glad I did it this way.”

Spaniard Martin posed the only threat to Colsaerts as he closed with a 9-under 63 but it wasn’t to be as the Belgian produced a display of unerring accuracy to take home the winner’s cheque for €350,946.

Sweden’s Christian Nilsson took sixth place outright on 19-under-par with Welshman Jamie Donaldson, France’s Gregory Havret and England’s Danny Willett sharing seventh on 18-under.

IN THE BAG Driver: Fairway Woods: Irons (3-pw): Putter: Ball:

Callaway RAZR Hawk Tour Driver (9.5 degree) Titleist 910F 3-wood Callaway X-Prototype Odyssey Black Series i #1 Titleist Pro V1x

WINNING SCORE: 24-UNDER-PAR – 264 (65,67,66,66) RUNNER-UP: SØREN KJELDSEN, PETER LAWRIE, DANNY LEE, PABLO MARTIN – 268

FACT FILE

In addition to collecting the biggest cheque of his career (€350,946), Nicolas Colsaerts also earned an exemption on The European Tour until the end of the 2013 season.

21 – 24 April, 2011

Tournament: The Heritage Venue: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

WINNER: BRANDT SNEDEKER CHEQUE: $1,026,000

SNEDEKER DOWNS DONALD AT HARBOUR TOWN BRANDT Snedeker sealed his second US PGA Tour title after defeating Luke Donald at the third extra hole of a sudden-death play-off at The Heritage in South Carolina.

The American had played exceptionally well over the Harbour Town Golf Links, posting a superb 7-under-par 64 for a 12-under total but then had an anxious wait to see if his clubhouse total was good enough to force a play-off.

Donald, who was playing in the last pair, was on 12-under as he played the 17th and made a par before firing his approach shot to the 18th into the greenside bunker. However, he held his nerve and splashed out to just 18 inches and tapped in to force extra holes.

The pair then both nailed their approaches to the 18th to within 12 feet and Donald sank his birdie putt before Snedeker followed him in. They went back to the 17th and Snedeker found the green while Donald came up short

in the sand. Again he played a superb bunker shot and after Snedeker’s two putt par the duo went back to the 18th. This time Donald’s short game let him down as he found a plugged lie in the bunker short of the green and could only blast out to just off the edge of the green, 15 feet away. With Snedeker in for par Donald needed to chip-in to take it to a fourth play-off hole but his effort had too much pace and hit the back of the cup and stayed out.

“To win this time, after all the hard work I put in the last three or four years, trying to improve, trying to get better,” said Snedeker.

“I feel like my game is finally there. It’s a storybook ending really, to be playing Luke in a play-off, to even have a chance to win was exciting to me.”

Tommy ‘two gloves’ Gainey finished outright third on 11-under after a 3-under 68 while Tim Herron and Rickey Barnes shared fourth place.

WORLDROUND-UPS Tournament: Ballantine’s Championship

April 28 – May 1, 2011

Venue: Blackstone Golf Club, Icheon, Seoul, Korea Republic

WESTWOOD OVERHAULS JIMENEZ IN KOREA ENGLISHMAN Lee Westwood underlined his status as the World’s No.1 player with a superb victory at the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea, one week after regaining the top spot on the Official World Golf Ranking with victory at the Indonesian Masters.

Westwood closed with an excellent 67 to charge up the leaderboard and finish one stroke clear of his Ryder Cup colleague Miguel Angel Jiménez on 12under-par for his 21st European Tour title and his first since the 2009 season.

“It feels great,” said Westwood. “I must admit it was nerve-wracking sitting there watching people play. I don’t obviously wish ill on (Jiménez) but over those last three holes I wasn’t cheering for him to make a birdie.

“I’m delighted. Professional golf is all about winning and it’s great to do it back-to-back two weeks in a row. It was nice to come back from last week and get it all together.”

After inclement weather cut short the third round Westwood began Sunday with six holes still to play and promptly bogeyed his first of the day. But he bounced back with birdies on 14 and 17 to sign for a 69, just three shots behind Jimenez and Sweden’s Alexander Noren.

Noren never gained any momentum and three bogeys down the closing stretch saw him sign for a 74 and an 8-under-par total.

Jiménez made his mistakes early as two bogeys in his opening four holes pegged him back. He pulled his round together and needed birdie on the last to force a play-off– a feat he had managed earlier in the day after a raindelayed third round. But his attempt from 15 feet stayed above ground and he had to settle for second place.

“That’s the game,” said Jiménez, who found bunkers on holes 14, 15 and 18 as he chased Westwood’s lead. “I made four rounds under par for 11-under, and that’s not good enough.”

Westwood added: “It’s a difficult course because it goes around the hills and it’s difficult to pick the wind up; it swirls a lot.

“It was very tough and to go around without making a bogey, five birdies and 13 pars was a special round of golf.”

South Korean Park Sang-hyun ended his week in sensational fashion, firing an eagle on the par-5 18th to climb into third place on 10 under while his 69 was matched by American Dustin Johnson who finished one shot further adrift.

IN THE BAG Driver: Fairway Wood: Fairway Wood: Irons (3-PW): Wedges: Putter: Ball:

WINNER: LEE WESTWOOD CHEQUE: €367,500

Ping G10 (9 degree; Aldila NV VooDoo XNVS shaft) Ping i15 3-wood (15.5°) Ping Rapture V2 5-wood (18.5°) Ping i10 Ping Tour-W (54 and 58 degree) Ping Redwood Anser Titleist Pro V1x

WINNING SCORE: 12-UNDER-PAR – 276 (72,68,69,67) RUNNER-UP: MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ – 277

FACT FILE

With his victory at the Ballantine’s Championship, Lee Westwood has now won European Tour events in 12 different destinations. They are Sweden, Spain, Germany, England, Scotland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Portugal, Dubai and Korea. He was won in 19 different countries in his career.

Tournament: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

April 28 – May 1, 2011

Venue: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana, USA

WINNER: BUBBA WATSON CHEQUE: $1,116,000

WATSON SINKS SIMPSON IN PLAY-OFF BUBBA Watson strode to victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans after overcoming a three-stroke deficit over the final eight holes and then defeating Webb Simpson in suddendeath to collect his second win of the season and his third overall on the US PGA Tour.

“My wife, my caddie and my trainer would say my attitude’s in the right spot,” Watson said. “This week, I won (by) not getting down on bad shots, just staying focused on what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Watson, who won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January, matched Simpson with a 3-under 69 to finish at 15under- par but both players birdied the 18th on the first extra hole, with Watson making a 12-foot putt to force the second play-off hole.

Playing the same hole again, Watson then smashed a 329-yard drive that narrowly stayed

out of the water and landed in a fairway bunker before crushing a 7-iron 210 yards to the green on the 568-yard par-5.

Simpson’s second shot landed in a bunker short of the green and he blasted out to 12 feet, but after Simpson narrowly missed his birdie putt, Watson made a three footer for birdie for the victory.

Simpson was left to rue what might have been as he was penalised one stroke when his ball moved on the 15th green as he was addressing it – less than a foot from the hole.

“I better limit my comments on that rule, because I think it’s such a bad rule,” said Simpson. “When the wind or other natural things affect the golf ball, the player shouldn’t be penalised. ... It was just unfortunate, but Bubba deserves a win, and I’m pretty happy for him.” www.wwgolf.biz

53

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WORLDROUND-UPS Tournament: Open de España

May 5 – 8, 2011

Venue: Real Club de Golf El Prat, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain

AIKEN DEDICATES HIS WIN TO SEVE SOUTH African Thomas Aiken picked up his first European Tour title with a twostroke victory over Anders Hansen at the Open de España and dedicated his victory to Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros.

“It’s been a sad week with Seve passing away,” he said after signing for a 10-underpar total. “I definitely want to dedicate this win to him with it being his home Open and what he gave to his home fans and to golf.

“He was everything to the game of golf and I am happy to have won for him – any of us would have won for him. I remember Seve, how he enjoyed life and how he enjoyed the game. He has been an inspiration for me and has kept me working hard.”

Aiken was returning to action after a seven-week break and closed with a fine 70 to pip Hansen to the title on his 104th start on The European Tour and take home a cheque for €333,330.

“My first European Tour win has not been an easy week, very emotional – I don’t think it’s quite hit home yet,” he smiled after becoming the fifth South African to win on Tour this season.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a long, long time and I’ve been knocking on the door. I’m ecstatic.”

Aiken began the final round with a two-shot lead and moved four clear with early birdies on holes 2 and 6. He rolled in another birdie putt on the par-3 11th and after dropping a shot on the 13th he bounced back on the next hole.

He was pegged back again after a three-putt on the 15th to see his lead cut to three but he closed with two pars on 17 and 18 to take the title.

Hansen, who was playing alongside Aiken, never got going but did manage to birdie the final hole to push Scotland’s Scott Jamieson and Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal into joint third. “I played pretty good but he played solid and he got too far ahead,” said the Dane. “He made the crucial putts and I didn’t. I gave it a run, but he played great and got the putts at the right time, that makes a huge difference.

“It was hard work for him up there, but he did well. He’s been so close so many times and he deserves it. I am as happy as you can be in a second place.

Welshman Phillip Price and France’s Gregory Havret both dropped a shot on the final hole to fall into a tie for fifth alongside Scot Paul Lawrie, England’s Simon Dyson and David Horsey and Havret’s compatriot Romain Wattel.

IN THE BAG Driver: Fairway Wood: Irons (2): Irons (3-PW): Wedges: Putter: Ball:

WINNER: THOMAS AIKEN CHEQUE: €333,330

Titleist 910D3 (8.5°) Nike SQ 3-wood (13°) Callaway X-Forged Nike VR Nike VR (54°) and Cleveland 588 (60°) Yes! Natalie Titleist Pro V1x

WINNING SCORE: 10-UNDER-PAR – 278 (68,68,72,70) RUNNER-UP: ANDERS HANSON 280

FACT FILE

With his win at the Open de España, Thomas Aiken became the 11th player to win their maiden title at the tournament, following in the footsteps of the likes of Padraig Harrington (1996) and Peter Hanson (2005).

Tournament: Wells Fargo Championship

May 5 – 8, 2011

Venue: Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

WINNER: LUCAS GLOVER CHEQUE: $1,152,000

GLOVER CLIPS BYRD’S WINGS AT QUAIL HOLLOW LUCAS Glover closed out his first victory since the 2009 US Open at Bethpage Black with a play-off victory over close friend Jonathan Byrd at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

The pair, who played junior golf together and then went to the same University, both signed for 15-under-par totals around the testing layout and it was Byrd who cracked first on the first play-off hole – the 18th – after failing to get up and down from a tight lie from off the green.

“I’m elated,” said Glover, who closed with a 69 in regulation. “Any time you win, you’re pleased. It means you beat everybody. You did what you set out to do on Thursday morning when the bell rang. Against this field and on this golf course and in a tournament of this magnitude, I’m thrilled.”

On the return trip down the last Glover ripped his tee shot down the centre of the fairway while Byrd found a fairway bunker .

He played out but only found a hazard just short of the stream guarding the green.

Glover found the green with his approach and with Byrd not able to ground his club he thinned his shot 30 feet passed the hole. Byrd then missed his par putt giving Glover two putts for victory.

“I’m a little disappointed just because you’re here to win,” said Byrd who shot 72 in the final round and made a crucial birdie on the last to make the play-off. “You love to compete, especially when you get in a play-off. You birdie the last, you feel like, ‘Hey, this is just going to work out.’ If I couldn’t win, I couldn’t pick anybody else I’d want to win other than Lucas, so I’m very happy for him.” www.wwgolf.biz

55

May 12 – 15, 2011

Tournament: The Players Championship Venue: TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA

CHOI WINS AS TOMS LETS IT SLIP SOUTH KOREA’S KJ Choi became the first Asian to win golf’s unofficial ‘fifth Major’ when he defeated David Toms in a play-off for victory in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

The pair shot matching final rounds of 2-under-par 70 on the Stadium Course at the US PGA Tour’s headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida to share the lead on 13-under 275 before Toms missed a three and a half foot par putt on the signature 17th Island Hole to hand victory to Choi. It was the only putt from inside five feet he’d missed all week, but it proved the most costly.

“I just wasn’t there on the putt,” said Toms, who was searching for his first win in five years. “I was probably thinking ahead and thinking about the next hole, and I just got up there and missed it.”

Choi was delighted to be back on the winning trail after a three-year hiatus since his last US PGA Tour victory at the 2008 Sony Open in Hawaii.

“The swing that I have right now doesn’t really break down under pressure situations,” he said. “I was able

to hit it precise and aggressive today and I was able to keep my rhythm together.

“When I started my day today, one thing that I said to myself, that I told myself; that what I needed to do was not to get swept away by the cheers of the crowd, not to get swept away by the pressure, by how the other players were doing.”

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell led the tournament by one stoke heading into the final round but took a leaf out of his Ryder Cup playing partner Rory McIlroy’s book when he collapsed with a final round 79 to finish 5-under and in a share of 33rd place.

“To be honest I felt I ran out of steam a little bit,” said McDowell, who is set to defend his US Open crown at Congressional later this month. “After bogeys on six and seven I felt the energy sucked right out of me. I went flat and everything I tried to do went a little wrong.”

American Paul Goydos finished third on 11-under, with fellow countryman Nick Watney and England’s Luke Donald another shot behind.

IN THE BAG Driver: Fairway Woods: Hybrid: Irons (3-pw): Wedges: Putter: Ball:

WINNER: KJ CHOI CHEQUE: € $1,710,000

TaylorMade R11 Ping i15 3-wood TaylorMade Rescue TP FCT Miura CB-501 Miura Classic Odyssey TriHot 2 Titleist Pro V1

WINNING SCORE: 13-UNDER-PAR 275 (70, 68, 67, 70) RUNNER-UP: DAVID TOMS-(275 DEFEATED IN PLAY-OFF)

FACT FILE

K.J Choi’s victory moved him from 31st to sixth in the FedExCup rankings.

The Stadium Course’s par-5 16th was the easiest hole during the final round with a scoring average of 4.378. There were six eagles, 40 birdies, 23 pars and four bogeys.

Tournament: Iberdrola Open

May 12 – 15, 2011

Venue: Pula Golf Club, Son Servera, Mallorca, Spain

WINNER: DARREN CLARKE CHEQUE: €166,660

CLARKE ENDS DROUGHT WITH GUTSY WIN DARREN Clarke claimed his first European Tour title since the 2008 KLM Open with a three-stroke victory over Chris Wood and David Lynn at the Iberdrola Open.

The Northern Irishman shot rounds of 6570-70-69 for a 6-under total of 274 that was good enough for his 13th European Tour title.

Wood looked to be heading for his inaugural Tour victory and was four shots clear of Clarke and Shane Lowry heading into the final round but the Englishman stumbled with a closing 76 in tough conditions. Clarke, meanwhile rattled off three birdies with his only blemish of the day coming when he found the water on the par-4 11th, resulting in a double bogey.

“It feels pretty good. I got so down after my weekend in Morocco where I played poorly,” said Clarke who had finished 7-over par in 77th place at the Trophee Hassan at the beginning of April before taking a break

in the Caribbean. ‘I went on holiday to the Bahamas with the kids and then worked on a few things. I had a really good time, felt very relaxed and worked on my game. Sometimes you need to step back and look at things from a different perspective and that’s what I did in the Bahamas.”

Wood admitted to feeling the strain during the final round, pinpointing an unlucky bogey on the 12th as the moment is round began to unravel.

“Obviously (I’m) disappointed and gutted,” said Wood. “It was an extremely tough day on the course and it was a bit of a grind all the way round. I felt like I was doing alright and getting into my range and I hit a fantastic shot out the bunker on the 12th hole, a foot less and it was six feet away. But it’s just carried on and gone up the tier and took three putts, it was almost an impossible putt and from there on I’ve struggled.”

WORLDROUND-UPS Tournament: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

May 16 –May 22, 2011

Venue: Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas

COMEBACK KING TOMS IN DREAMLAND DAVID Toms ended his long wait to get back to winning ways on the US PGA Tour with a one-stroke victory over Charlie Wi at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Hogan’s Alley.

Toms’ last victory came at the 2006 Sony Open in Hawaii and after losing out to K.J. Choi the previous week in a play-off for The Players Championship, he may have been wondering when his chance was going to come again.

After opening with two blistering rounds of 8-under 62, to equal the PGA Tour scoring record for the first 36 holes of a tournament, only to watch a seven-stroke lead evaporate in the third round, the American had good cause to think that 2011 was not going to be his year.

But after a third round 74 left him one behind Korean Wi, Toms dug deep with two birdies and a sensational eagle on the 11th – with just one bogey on the 17th – for a final round 67 and a 15-under winning total of 265.

WINNER: DAVID TOMS CHEQUE: $1,116,000

“I’m not dreaming, am I? This is actually happening, right?,” said Toms.

“Wow, I didn’t know if this day would ever come again.”

The 2005 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship winner pinpointed the wedge shot he holed from 83 yards for eagle on the par-5 11th to regain the lead, as the key moment in his round.

“It’s one of the most perfect shots I’ve ever hit,” he said.

Wi’s closing 69 meant his wait for a first PGA Tour victory continued as he registered his fourth runner-up finish.

“It’s great to finish second on the PGA Tour anytime, but it’s a little bittersweet,” he said.

“I had a three-shot lead after the first two holes and thought I had a pretty good handle on myself, in control. ... I certainly didn’t give it to him. He definitely earned it.”

Bo Van Pelt finished third on 10under while Zach Johnson was one shot behind in fourth.

IN THE BAG Driver: Fairway Wood: Hybrids: Irons (4-PW): Wedges: Putter: Ball:

Cleveland Launcher DST Cleveland Launcher DST 3-wood Cleveland Launch (18 and 20.5 degree) Cleveland CG7 Tour (Project X 6.0 shafts) Cleveland CG16 (54 and 60 degree) Never Compromise Dinero Tycoon Titleist Pro V1

WINNING SCORE: 15-UNDER-PAR 265 (62, 62, 74, 67) RUNNER-UP: CHARLIE WI (266)

FACT FILE

David Toms’ victory in Texas took his PGA Tour win count to 13.

In winning at Colonial one week after losing a play-off at The Players Championship Toms became the first player to win the week after a play-off loss since Phil Mickelson lost the 2000 HP Byron Nelson Championship the week before winning at Colonial the next week.

19 May-22 May, 2011

Tournament: Madeira Islands Open Venue: Porto Santo GolfeMadeira, Portugal

WINNER: MICHAEL HOEY CHEQUE: € 116,660

JOY FOR THE BELFAST BOY BELFAST born Michael Hoey won the second European Tour title of his career with a two-stroke victory over Chris Gane and Jamie Elson at the Madeira Islands Open.

Hoey, who last won at the Estoril Open de Portugal in 2009, started the final round tied for the lead with Elson but put in a dogged display to grind out the win with a 1-under-par closing round of 71 and a 10-under 278 total.

The Northern Irishman parred the first seven holes before making his first birdie of the day at the eighth. His only bogey of the final round came at the short 13th but he quickly bounced back with a birdie at the next

hole. Elson endured an up and down day, with birdies on holes 3, 8 and 14 undone by bogeys on holes 2, 5, 7 and 14 as he closed with a 1-over 73.

“It was just very, very tough,” said Hoey, who earned €116,660 and moved up 60 places in The Race to Dubai to 54th. “I had to dig really deep, especially after I hit one in the rocks on 13. I thought ‘that’s it now, I’ve thrown this thing away completely’.

“Yet somehow I managed to make a good swing on the third shot, and holed the putt for bogey, which was huge. It was kind of an ugly win.”

Fredrico Columbo, Jose-Filipe Lima and Lloyd Saltman shared fourth place on 6-under. www.wwgolf.biz

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Women's Golf Middle East

Sandy Meyer’s

PROFESSIONAL TIP PUTTING BASICS TO IMPROVE YOUR STROKE MANY, IF NOT ALL, LADIES HAVE VARYING TECHNIQUES WHEN IT COMES TO POSTURE AND SETTING UP TO THE GOLF BALL AT ADDRESS WHILE PUTTING. IF YOUR SETUP WORKS FOR YOU AND HELPS YOU EXECUTE A PERFECT STROKE CONSISTENTLY AND REPEATEDLY THEN DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING, BUT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT SURE HERE ARE SOME BASIC FUNDAMENTALS TO KEEP A NOTE OF: Ball Position: Place the ball approximately two inches left of the lowest point of your putting pendulum. This should allow the putter to strike the ball on an ever-so-slight upward arc.

Posture: Don’t get hunched over or alternatively don’t stand up too straight! Stand up tall, then from your waist slightly tilt forwards so that your arms are hanging straight down and away from the body. Flex your knees slightly to give you stability.

Head Position: Following on from the posture your eyes should be directly over the aim line (this is the line extending behind the ball), and its okay to set your eyes slightly behind the ball.

Body Lines: Your feet, knees, hips, forearms and shoulders should all be on line and parallel to the ball-to-target line. When the body flow-lines are set in such a way the putter will naturally swing straight down the aim line.

HOUSTON AND WEBER TAKE THE PRIZES THE fast-improving Heather Houston and Ludilla Weber took the prizes at the recent nine hole events at Jebel Ali and Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club recently.

Houston scored 16 points, thanks largely to chipping in on the eighth for a gross birdie and a five point haul on that hole.

Finishing second was Marjolein Moogevan with 14 points.

Taking the honours in Sharjah was Weber as she defeated Houston by one stroke thanks to her tally of 14 points while at the event at The Els Club four players finished on 12 points and, after a countback, Weber won her second title of the month with Houston second again.

The WGME Beginner nine-hole events will continue throughout the summer months of July and August in the evenings.

ANDERSON DOWNS BARRETT THE fourth and final round of the Dermaglow Par-3 Series took place at Arabian Ranches last month and the event saw a tight finish with Ashley Anderson and Amanda Barrett fighting it out for first place.

Both players scored 23 points and the countback was decided over the last six holes and with Anderson’s stronger finish of 17 points to Barrett’s 12 she took home the top prize. Barrett had to settle for second place with Lilian Rijcken third one point further back. The top eight players on the Order of Merit have been invited to play in a nine-hole final at Arabian Ranches and they will team up with two PGA Professionals – Colin Cunningham and Sandy Meyer. The overall winner will receive a free annual membership to Women’s Golf Middle East.

The top eight players and qualifiers were as follows: First: Second: Third: Fourth:

Amanda Barrett Louise Doyle Monina Gudaca Denise Alcock

230 185 180 155

Fifth: Sixth: Seventh: Eighth:

Arathi Appaiah Ashley Anderson Tracey Karai Marike Schultz

145 140 130 95

WHICH NEW IRON FITS YOUR GAME� Are you looking for maximum forgiveness or do you like to work the ball? The large, perimeter weighted G15 provides higherlaunching, longer carrying shots and the accuracy to hit more greens. The i15 is a mid-sized head that offers workability with cavity-back forgiveness. It’s engineered as a progressive set to deliver forgiveness in the long irons and more control in the mid- and short-irons.

Find the right fit for your game at an authorized PING Fitting location or visit ping.com. ©PING 2009

TUTORIAL

BY DANNYJAKUBOWSKI

DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB

Brought to you by

One of the most fascinating myths in golf is the perception that Tour Professionals hit the ball so much better, which is why they score better.

Whilst this is partially true, consider this: The average Tour Pro hits about 27-29 putts during a round of golf. The average golfer hits about 34-38 a round. That’s a big difference. It’s no secret that better putting is the key to lower scores, but how exactly can we improve? Better and more specific geometry is the key. Here are some Dos and Don’ts to aid your putting geometry and have you putting like a Tour Pro.

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TUTORIAL P U T T

L I K E

T H E

P R O S

DOS 4

DOs: GET YOUR EYES OVER THE BALL Aiming sports tend to have one characteristic in common and that is the position of your eyes. These sports require your eyes to be in line with the object and the target. Without this it would make aiming incredibly difficult. In golf it is a little more complicated but your eyes should be roughly on top of the ball to be on the line of the putt.

4 4 4

DOs: USE AND ALIGNMENT GUIDE As you can see from the picture, using a line on a golf ball is one of the most influential guides in putting geometry. It will allow you to quantify where you want to aim more efficiently and check the alignment of your putter face at impact. By being specific in your aim you can learn more about your putting stroke (and your green reading skills) than ever before.

Did you know that more than 90 per cent of the world’s golfing population can’t aim straight from 10 feet? That’s a big reason why we miss putts! Golf professionals never hit a putt without being very specific about their aim and it is not uncommon to see them using this practice.

TRY THIS: Take a golf ball and hold it on the bridge of your nose between your eyes. Take your putting stance (with a ball) and drop the ball from the bridge. If the dropped ball hits the stationary ball then your eyes are in the right spot!

Brought to you by

DANNY JAKUBOWSKI DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION, ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB

DON’TS!

DON’T: FORGET YOUR SHOULDERS

Unlike the full swing, your legs and feet have very little responsibility in the putting stroke. In fact, if they do then you are in trouble! Many golfers check the alignment of their feet but not the most important body part – your shoulders.

That’s a big mistake.

DON’T: BE AFRAID TO EXPERIMENT The putting grip is taught purely as preference and there are many ways to get the same result. Consider the top 100 golfers in the world. Do they all putt the same? The answer is No, and they mainly experiment with their grip.

See these two putting grips. What is common? Both thumbs are on the grip and the palms are facing each other. That’s the key to a stable stroke. Don’t be afraid to experiment as long as your hands are neutral to one another, like the pictures above and below.

4

TIP: If you suffer from bad shoulder alignment then consider switching to a cross handed grip (pictured bellow). This changes the alignment of the shoulders and might help them get into a more square position.

4 Notice that my shoulders in this picture are pointing to the left. This is going to make a decent putting stroke challenging and your chances of hitting your ball in the intended direction will be slim. Make sure that you check your shoulder alignment regularly and forget about your feet. This tip will help you make a more polished putting stroke and enable you to hit your aiming points with greater accuracy.

www.wwgolf.biz

65

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ARABIAN GOLF JUNE 2011 WORLDWIDE GOLF CLUBS DUBAI Emirates Golf Federation Emirates Golf Club Al Badia Golf Club Arabian Ranches Golf Club Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club Jumeirah Golf Estates The Address Montgomerie Dubai Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa

ABU DHABI Abu Dhabi Golf Club Abu Dhabi Golf & Equestrian Club Yas Links Golf Club Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

SAUDI ARABIA Dirab Golf & Country Club Riyadh Golf Courses

BAHRAIN The Royal Golf Club

OMAN Muscat Hills Golf & County Club

QATAR Doha Golf Club

ERIC HAARTZUIKER WINS THE 2011 PGA JUNIOR SERIES GRAND FINAL ERIC Haartzuiker of Arabian Ranches defeated Dubai Creek’s Dhruv Nair on a countback to win the Grand Final of the Al Naboodah UAE PGA Junior Series for 2011 at Al Hamra Golf Club.

Both players were locked in a tie after coming home with 39 Stableford points but it was Haartzuiker’s tally over the final 6 holes which earned him the top spot at Nair’s expense.

The under-12s winner on the day with a score of 42 was Rayhan Thomas while Kim Chiang won the Girl’s Division with a tally of 47.

Thomas’s victory saw him take the overall Order of Merit prize as he racked up 530 points over the series. Aryaan Chordia secured second

AL NABOODAH UAE PGA JUNIOR SERIES GRAND FINAL RESULTS

Al Hamra Golf Club

2011 GRAND FINAL WINNERS Grand Final Winner ERIK HAARTZUIKER: Score 39 (+3) Won on a countback over the last 6 Holes.

Grand Final Runner-Up DHRUV NAIR: Score 39 (+3) Division Under 12s Winner RAYHAN THOMAS: Score 42 (+6) Girls Division Champion KIM CHIANG: Score 47 (+11)

International Pairs

Special Prizes Nearest the Pin - Hole 4: ARYAAN KUMAR Nearest the Pin - Hole 7: MIKHAIL ROGER PINTO

AL AIN Al Ain Equestrian and Shooting Club

RAS AL KHAIMAH

place with 470 while Chiang took home the honours in the Girls series with a 342.5 points total.

2011 JUNIOR SERIES OVERALL WINNERS: 11th March, Arabian Ranches – Rayhan Thomas: (Score 26 -1) 18th March, Yas Links – Arkesh Bhatia (Score 29+2)

8th April, Emirates GC – Mikhail Roger Pinto (Score 26 -1) 15th April, Dubai Creek G&YC – Jai Bhalla (Score 24 -3) 2011 AL NABOODAH UAE PGA JUNIOR SERIES Order of Merit Champions: Overall Series Champion RAYHAN THOMAS – Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club: 530 Points OVERALL SERIES RUNNER-UP ARYAAN CHORDIA – Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club: 470 Points Overall Series Girls Champion KIM CHIANG – Arabian Ranches GC: 342.50 Points

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WWG LOCAL FOCUS

EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION

MIRZA SUPERBLY DEFENDS HIS EGF ORDER OF MERIT TITLE MIKI MIRZA staved off a determined challenge from Michael Harradine to win the Emirates Golf Federation’s Order of Merit title and become the first golfer to successfully defend his crown.

The talented Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club prodigy, who plays off an impressive plus two handicap, posted a strong third-place finish with a gross 36-hole total of 146 in the season-ending Montgomerie Dubai Open to take his tally to 225.5 points, beating a charging Harradine to second place by just seven points.

Harradine, who plays at Emirate Golf Club, did fare better than Mirza at the Montgomerie Open, racking in a creditable second on a gross 143, but it was not enough to prevent Mirza from walking away with the honours.

Intense Battle The Order of Merit race, which teed off with the Shaikh Rashid Trophy, featured 12 events and points were awarded to top players on the basis of their performances in each tournament.

This season’s race produced an intense battle for the title and it went down to the last event to decide the winner. Harradine had seized the early initiative by winning the prestigious Shaikh Rashid Trophy, but Mirza came back with a string of steady performances to change the script.

Impressive victories at Al Ain and Yas Links highlighted Mirza’s season, and the 29-year-old Canadian is now looking forward to the forthcoming MENA Golf Tour to showcase his skills. “It feels great to

win the Order of Merit title again, but it wasn’t easy this time around,” he said. “Players like Michael kept up the pressure and I needed to be at the top of my game.

“I have already signed up for the MENA Tour which will provide a great opportunity to further develop our golfing skills.”

UAE national golfers also made their presence felt with Abdulla Al Musharrekh (fourth) and Khalid Yousuf (sixth) finishing among the top ten and the fact that UAE nationals are up there with the best speaks volumes for the rising standard of their game.

Emirates Golf Federation thanked the players and the UAE clubs for their contributions in making the Order of Merit events a great success.

“Without their enthusiastic response, it wouldn’t have been possible to run the Order of Merit so effectively,” said Saeed Albudoor, General Manager of the EGF.

‘Consistent’ “I would like congratulate Miki and Michael, in particular, for their consistent performances during the season. We are also delighted to see UAE nationals make their mark during the season. If you look at their performances, it shows that, on their day, they can win any tournament on the domestic circuit.

“This year’s Order of Merit table also shows there is no lack of talent in the UAE and that augurs well for the game. We, at the Emirates Golf Federation, will keep working towards creating more playing opportunities for golfers, both national and expatriates. “

EGF ORDER OF MERIT TOP-10 1. Miki Mirza (DCGYC)

225.5

2. Michael Harradine (EGC)

218.5

3. Joel Neale (EGC)

155

4. Abdulla Al Musharrekh (EGF) 148 5. Paul King (DCGYC)

117

6. Khalid Yousuf (EGC)

114.5

7. Daniel Hendry (EGC)

110

8.

95

Alex Charawani (AGGC)

9. Khalid Attieh (ARGC)

86

10. Brett Armstrong (ABGC)

85

BIN MARGHOUB WINS SEASON-ENDING UAE NATIONALS MONTHLY MEDAL

Winner Jamal Bin Marghoub and trophy with Adel Zarouni, Secretary General of the Emirates Golf Federation and David Gray (DCGYC).

JAMAL bin Marghoub produced a consistent tee-to-green performance to win the season-ending UAE Nationals Monthly Medal at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club with a 35 point tally, one clear of Musa Al Janahi and three ahead of third placed Mohammed Al Banna.

Abdullah Al Musharrekh highlighted his credentials as one of the leading Emirati players when he signed off with an impressive 75 to win the Best Gross prize.

Ali Ahmed and Adel Zarouni, who is also the Secretary General of the Emirates Golf Federation, walked away with the Division ‘A’ and Division ‘B’ titles respectively with an identical 32 points.

The tournament was the last of a series of events organised by the Emirates Golf Federation this season to create healthy playing opportunities for Emirati golfers. “Once again we had a strong field which also included a number of EGF board members and that amply reflected on the growing popularity of the monthly medal series,” said Saeed Albudoor, General Manager of the Emirates Golf Federation.

“From the next season, we plan to have more tournaments for UAE nationals in different emirates to hone their competitive edge. We have one of the best facilities for golf in our country and it would be great to play every course during the season.”

OMAR AND REEMA WIN EGC PAR-3 LEAGUE TITLES KHALIFA Omar saw off a determined challenge from his closest rivals to win the final event of the UAE Nationals Par-3 League in warm and windy conditions at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Inspired by the presence of some of the leading UAE golfers, Omar played steady golf to post his second successive win in Division ‘A’ of the league which was organised by the Emirates Golf Federation as part of its National Junior Programme to introduce young UAE nationals to golf.

Ahmed Skaik, who won the Nearest the Pin prize on hole 9, finished a creditable second in the event which exposed youngsters to a healthy competition.

The Division ‘B’ turned out to be a family affair with Reema Al Heloo beating her younger brother Obaid on a countback. The event once again received a tremendous response with as many as 23 youngsters, accompanied by their parents and friends, lining up to take part.

Adding to the festive atmosphere was the presence of senior players Abdulla and Ahmed Musharrekh and Khalid Yousuf, who not only watched the proceedings but also conducted on-the-spot clinics to provide valuable golfing tips to the participants.

“It’s nice to see the growing enthusiasm for the game among the

children, and I’m sure with time, they will learn the basics of the game,” said Abdulla. “The par-3 league is a great initiative by the Emirates Golf Federation and we have to keep the momentum going by creating more such healthy competitions.”

Saeed Albudoor, General Manager of the Emirates Golf

Federation, thanked the players and their parents for supporting the league, saying: “The intention behind organising the league was to promote and develop the game at grassroots level. Creating a strong pool of junior players is paramount to producing the future generation of champions.”

Winners of the UAE Nationals Par-3 League with UAE National Team members, Khalid Yousuf, Ahmed Al Musharrekh and Abdulla Al Musharrekh.

www.wwgolf.biz

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Player Profiles 9 EMIRATES GOLF FEDERATION

9 Holes with Fathi

Q: How long have you been playing golf for?

A: About one year Q: Who is your favourite golfer?

A: Lee Westwood

Q: If you could play with any group of golfers who would it be?

A: My Father and my brother

Fathi Skaik

Q: Favourite golf course?

A: The Montgomerie Q: Favourite movie?

A: I like them all - I don’t have a favourite Q: What do you like to do away from the golf course?

A: Play Soccer Q: If you could have a car now what would it be?

A: Lamborghini AGE: 13 FROM: Dubai GOLF CLUB: Al Badia Golf Club PROGRAMME: Golf Foundation Programme

Q: If you could have a super power what would it be?

A: Strength Q: Most enjoyable subject at school?

A: English

9

9 Holes with Alawy

Alawy Al-Husseiny

Q: How long have you been playing golf for?

A: Four years Q: Who is your favourite golfer?

A: Tiger woods Q: If you could play with any group of golfers who would it be?

A: My dad, Craig Waddell (my coach) and Tiger Woods Q: Favourite golf course?

A: St. Andrews, Scotland Q: Favourite movie?

A: Avatar Q: What do you like to do away from the golf course?

A: Football and wrestling Q: If you could have a car now what would it be?

A: A Lamborghini

AGE: 9 FROM: Abu Dhabi GOLF CLUB: The Abu Dhabi City Golf Club Alawy is a part of the YMG Programme coached by Craig Waddell, head academy Professional at The City Golf Club.

Q: If you could have a super power what would it be?

A: Invisibility!

Q: Most enjoyable subject at school?

A: P.E.

Khaled Mohamed

AGE: 13 FROM: Dubai GOLF CLUB: Al Badia Golf Club Khaled is a part of the YMG Program coached by Craig Waddell, Head Academy Professional at The City Golf Club.

9

Q: How long have you been playing golf for?

A: Three years Q: Who is your favourite golfer?

A: Tiger woods

Q: If you could play with any group of golfers who would it be?

A: Miranda, Leo (both friends from my golf class) and Achmed (friend from school) Q: Favourite golf course?

A: Abu Dhabi City Golf Club

Q: Favourite movie?

A: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Q: What do you like to do away from the golf course?

A: Playing the piano Q: If you could have a car now what would it be?

A: A Ferrari Q: If you could have a super power what would it be?

A: The power of instantly freezing people!

Q: Most enjoyable subject at school?

A: Science

Ahmad Skaik

AGE: 16 FROM: Dubai GOLF CLUB: Al Badia Golf Club PROGRAMME: Golf Foundation Programme

9

Q: How long have you been playing golf for?

A: One year Q: Who is your favourite golfer?

A: Lee Westwood

Q: If you could play with any group of golfers who would it be?

A: My father and my brother Q: Favourite golf course?

A: Al Badia – my home course!

Q: Favourite movie?

A: Never Back Down

Q: What do you like to do away from the golf course?

A: Play Soccer and stay with family and friends Q: If you could have a car now what would it be?

A: A Dodge Viper Q: If you could have a super power what would it be?

A: Super strength!

Q: Most enjoyable subject at school?

A: Physical Education

Jude Al Quasaibi

AGE: 9 FROM: Abu Dhabi GOLF CLUB: The Abu Dhabi City Golf Club Jude is a part of the YMG Program coached by Craig Waddell, Head Academy Professional at The City Golf Club.

9

Q: How long have you been playing golf for?

A: Between three and four years Q: Who is your favourite golfer?

A:Tiger woods Q: If you could play with any group of golfers who would it be?

A: Lil Wayne, Eminem, Tinie Tempah and Usher Q: Favourite golf course?

A: Abu Dhabi City Golf Club Q: Favourite movie?

A: Vampires Suck.

Q: What do you like to do away from the golf course?

A: All kinds of sports including basketball and football, I also love listening to music Q: If you could have a car now what would it be?

A: A Ferrari Q: If you could have a super power what would it be?

A: The ability to do everything!

Q: Most enjoyable subject at school?

A: Business studies. www.wwgolf.biz

71

ARABIAN GOLF

EMIRATES GOLF CLUB SIMON DUNN PRODUCES BIG FINISH TO BEAT NEALE

PRIZEWINNERS: Simon Dunn, fourth from the left, proudly holds the glass trophy after winning the Black Tee Challenge sponsored by Jumeirah, with runner-up, Joel Neale, pictured to Simon’s left.

SOWERBY AND RAGHAVAN TRIUMPH IN HANKOOK GREENSOMES

SIMON Dunn, carded a 1-under-par 71 to come from behind and clinch the Black Tee Challenge sponsored

by Jumeirah at the expense of defending champion Joel Neale.

Neale led by three going into the final round but Dunn, the 2003 and 2008 winner who has been playing on the Asian Tour in recent seasons, fought back and produced a sumptuous display to overhaul Neale who finished runnerup, two strokes back.

Looking for a hat-trick of victories Neale had dropped back and needed an eagle on the final hole to force a playoff but could only manage a par.

Craig Forest signed for rounds of 73 and 76 for a 4-over par 149 total for third place while two shots further back was Philip Waine after consistent rounds of 77 and 75.

GLYN Sowerby and Shashi Raghavan triumphed in the Hankook Greensomes Championship with a 36-hole tally of 13-under-par 131.

Representing Dubai Golf, the pair from Emirates and Dubai Creek Golf Club respectively, followed their opening round of 66.5 over the Faldo course with an even better 64.5 over the famous Majlis course. The duo produced some superb golf to triumph by four shots from their closest rivals in a 200-strong field.

Arshad Waheed and Madhav Nair, representing Dubai Creek Golf Club, produced the bestof-the-day 62 over the Majlis to better their first round score by nine shots and secure the runners-up spot on 9-under-

par 135. Also on that mark but missing out on the countback was the team of Patrick Morrow and Kevin Underwood with two rounds of 67.5. Lionel Smith and Kavita Sehmi combined perfectly to record a 135.5 tally and a fourth place finish.

The gross category was keenly contested with Chris and Rosemary Turlik posting a 153 total to clinch victory from Amarjeet Radia and Rohit Gupta (154).

The tournament, which also featured a Gala Dinner on the Friday night and a trick shot show on the clubhouse terrace, saw the Hankook Greensomes Championship celebrate its 12th year and it proved once more to be a major event on the UAE golfing calendar.

HENDRY AND TUFAIL KEEP THEIR JUNIOR OPEN CROWNS DANIEL Hendry and Sana Tufail successfully defended their titles in the Emirates Junior Open over the Faldo course as they posted respective gross scores of 74 and 75 to win the boys’ and girls’ titles.

Hendry (EGC) struggled on his outward nine, dropping three shots but came home in one under to post a 2-over 74 while Tufail (ADGC) continued her run of form and followed her runner-up finish in the Ladies Amateur Open with top prize in the junior version.

At only 14 years of age she

has the opportunity to win this prestigious title on three more occasions – a potential run of five in a row while Hendry was playing in his last Junior Open to make it back-to-back titles.

Ellesha Dunn competed in her first Open tournament and produced an equal best of the day net 69 to clinch the best net score in the girls category.

Also on 69 was Arkesh Bathia who took first prize in Boys Division ‘B’ (handicap 15-28) while Danyaal Waheed posted a 74 to clinch Division ‘A’ (handicap 0-14).

LOCATION: Emirates Hills, Interchange 5 Sheikh Zayed Road, opposite the Hard Rock Café.

CONTACT: (04) 380 2222 egc@dubaigolf.com Book online tee times at www.dubaigolf.com

INFO: Majlis Course – 1988 Faldo Course – 1996, re-designed in 2006 Courses: Majlis – 18 holes, Par 72, 7,211 yards, Championship course.

Faldo Course – 18 holes, Par 72, 7,433 yards.

DESIGNERS: Majlis Course – Karl Litten Faldo course – Sir Nick Faldo

THEA TAKES HONOURS IN HUGE TURN OUT FOR CAPTAIN’S DAY

Lady Captain Jenny Ayres hits her traditional drive-in at her Captain’s Day 181 yards straight down the middle of the fairway with the Saltire flying and Scots music playing in the background.

JENNY Ayres’ Captain’s Day saw a huge turnout of 116 players competing in a Stableford format over a modified Majlis course, which was shortened to a par 65 to cater for the impressive field size – and to make sure lunch was served on time.

It was Thea Hendrickx who took the honours in the Silver Division (handicap 0-23) with a 50 point haul. Two shots adrift was Mego Han in the runner-up spot with Janine Craig a further two shots back in third.

Some unbelievable scores were recorded in the Bronze Division (handicap 24-42) with Brigitte Tindborg signing for a best-ofthe-day 60 point tally to win by eight from Carol Ann Wood with Margaret Breen third with 49.

The day started with Captain Jenny’s traditional drive-in and in front of 116 of her fellow members and with Scottish music playing in the background she held her nerve by smashing her drive 181 yards straight down the middle of the fairway.

Also in the prizes were Sita Mahabier, Rosemary Turlik, Jane Jones and Thea Hendrickx for their performances on the Nearest the Pin holes while Rekha Bandopadhyay recorded 46 points to take the prize for ‘Best Past Captain’ and Jane Jones clinched the best guest score of the day with a 40-point tally.

DUBAI CREEK CLINCH THE CAPTAINS JUNIOR PAR-3 LEAGUE

LINDAY KEEPS HER AMATEUR OPEN TITLE BIRTHDAY girl Lindsay Brown, representing Al Ain Equestrian Shooting & Golf Club, fired a superb level par 72 over the Majlis course to successfully defend her Amateur Open crown.

Going into the final round there were three contenders as Jo Schoeman carded a 4-over par 77 over the Faldo to take a 2-shot lead over Brown, four shots ahead of Sana Tufail. Schoeman began nervously and dropped shots over the opening nine of the second round and it soon became a two horse race between Tufail and Brown.

Tufail was 1-under gross for her round standing on the 16th tee and stood at 7-over-par for the championship, level alongside Brown but it was the short par-4 17th that proved to be the turning point. Brown managed to chip in for an

eagle two, taking her to 5-over and with Tufail three putting for the first time in her round a three shot cushion opened up for Brown as they headed down the famous 18th fairway.

Both players bogeyed the last and Brown signed for rounds of 79 and 72 for a 151, 6-over par total, three clear of Tufail in second place.

Schoeman finished third, following her victory in the Emirates Club Championship with rounds of 77 and 80.

The overall net champion was Monina Gudaca from the Emirates Golf Federation with sub par rounds of 68 and 71 for a 6-under par tally, while Anastasia Bakal won Best Net for Day One following her 73, with Judy Kong’s 72 which was good enough for Best Net over the Majlis course in the final round.

DUBAI Creek triumphed in the Captains Junior Par-3 League with a fine performance in the final fixture at Emirates Golf Club. The under-12 team represented by Sai Ganesh (36 points), Anoushka Bhargava (37 points), Josh Bethell (38 points), Tiger Shankar (39 points) and Sam D’Souza (37 points) played superbly well to record a combined score of 148 with the best four scores counting.

In second place was the quintet from the The Address Montgomerie Dubaia dmirably led by Matthew Laven who recorded a ‘best of the day’ 32 gross. He was well supported by Harry Sheedy (37 points), Ollie Sheedy (41 points), Ashton Smith (44 points) and Carter Bland to post a tally of 154. Emirates Golf Club finished third while Nearest the Pin prizes went to Anoushka Bhargava on hole 4 and Oliver Sheedy on hole 8.

The overall league finished the same way with Dubai Creek claiming top spot on 403, the Montgomerie in second on 440 and Emirates Golf Club third on 485. The concept of the leagues was established two years ago whereby juniors yet to establish a handicap compete and represent their golf clubs over the par-3 courses within Dubai. The current Captains of the Montgomerie, Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf Club have continued the tradition this year with Richard Smith, Doug Dowie and Joseph Andrade taking the baton from last year’s Captains.

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DUBAI CREEK GOLF & YACHT CLUB AL HAKIM AND FREYBURGER CARPETLAND 2010/2011 CHAMPIONS

MIKE ESTAFANOUS CAPTURES MAIDEN WIN MIKE Estafanous earned his maiden win in the Dubai Creek BMW Monthly Medal last month.

His superb gross 82 off his 15 handicap gave him a net 67 for the overall title and the honours in Division ‘B’. Finishing runner-up in Division ‘B’ was Sudhir Vora with a net 73.

In the men’s Division ‘A’ Rakesh Shah returned to form to card a gross 73, net 69, and claim the spoils ahead of Patrick Morrow by one stroke.

The junior division witnessed Serifa D’Souza win by virtue of her better back nine with a solid net 71.

Pictured above: Overall winner Mike Estafanous receiving the BMW trophy from DCGYC Club Captain Joseph Andrade.

ABDUL Aziz Al Hakim and Sabine Freyburger were crowned overall champions for the 2010/2011 Carpetland Monthly Open Series last month as the pair carded a solid net 74 and net 78 in the pairs combined strokeplay format to total a net 152 in hot and humid conditions.

Their better back nine of combined net 83 was good enough to take the crystal from Ashok Kumar and Suresh Shewakramani who also totaled a net 152 (73, 79) but their back nine net 86 saw them come up just short.

Shashi Raghavan and Madhav Nair took third place, one shot back with a net 153 (75, 78).

Shahriar Khodjasteh, Group Marketing Director for Aqili Furnishings, said: “It was a fantastic finish to the series and thanks must go to all the support from the players who play each and every month and make it such an enjoyable day to be a part of.

“With Friends of Cancer Patients firmly now on board it’s great to raise money for such a worthwhile cause and our charity auction this evening raised over AED 135,000 which is only

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JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

the beginning towards raising much more in the years to come.

“I’d like to thank Dubai Creek for their continued support and we look forward to announcing shortly the next series, once the details have been finalised.”

Mike Estafanous and Sean Dolphin won the regular May Carpetland Monthly Open that was played alongside the finals. The duo carded a superb betterball score of 67 to win by a single shot from Ashok Sindu and Amit Chabra.

Satnam Kaur won Nearest the Pin

CONTACT: Tel: +971 4 390 3333 Fax: +971 4 367 9584 www.jumeirahgolfestates.com/golf/

LOCATION: Off Emirates Road (direction Sharjah), after the Green Community roundabout, exit on the right side.

Shahriar Khodjasteh, Group Marketing Director for Aqili Furnishings, presents the trophy to the overall Carpetland Monthly Open Champions for 2010/2011, Sabine Freyburger and Aziz Al Hakim. on hole 5 with a wonderful iron shot to within just a feet. James Kachel won the Longest Drive for the day on the 12th hole.

The overall champions and the top three winning pairs in the regular May monthly open have secured the first three places in the sixth consecutive grand finals to be announced shortly.

INFO: The first two of four courses – Fire and Earth – opened for play on December 1st 2009. Greg Norman designed both courses with Earth playing host to The European Tour’s final tournament on The Race to Dubai – The Dubai World Championship.

BRIAN McCARTHY STORMS TO CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

MIKI MIRZA BREAKS THE COURSE RECORD A BRILLIANT course record score of 1-over 73 gave Miki Mirza (DCGYC) victory in the inaugural Dubai World Championship Ultimate Golf Challenge and earned him a much sought-after place in the Dubai World Championship Pro-Am to be played on Tuesday 6th December 2011.

Mirza played the same 7, 675 yard par-72 setup that will host 60 of the world’s top players in The European Tour’s final event of The Race to Dubai and his round consisted of nines of 36 and 37. Birdies on holes 4, 11 and 15 and a solitary bogey on hole 3 saw the plus-two handicapper stand on the 16th tee at 2-under. However a bogey, par, double bogey finish took the shine of his round but it still

gave him a four-stroke win over Craig Forrest (EGF). Geoff Hunter, JGE General Manager, said: “We hope all competitors enjoyed the experience of playing from the Championship tees. It does put into perspective with this course set-up how good Lee Westwood’s outstanding round of 64 in the 2009 Dubai World Championship really was.

“Congratulations go to Miki Mirza – we have witnessed something a bit special with his 73 – it will surely take some beating. We thank BMW AGMC for their continued support of our activities at Jumeirah Golf Estates and to our friends at The European Tour for donating the Pro-Am place for the Dubai World Championship.”

BRIAN McCarthy shot a second round 1- over 73 on the Fire course for a two round total of 150 to win the 2011 Jumeirah Golf Estates Club Championship sponsored by BMW AGMC. The 36 hole strokeplay format was played over the Earth course and the Fire course and from his scratch handicap McCarthy shot a first round 77 to lie in third place, three shots behind first round leader Chris Wilmot (4) and a shot behind Stuart Cameron (2).

However, McCarthy scored a front nine of 1-over 37 to a 38 from playing partner Wilmot on the second day and then an impressive string of nine pars saw him tie with Wilmot who shot 2-over on the inward half.

McCarthy proceeded to maintain his momentum by claiming a play-off victory on the 18th hole leaving Wilmot to settle for the net title. Other scores of note in the second round saw a gross 74 from Bilbo Perrot to take runner-up in the gross division and Johan Andersson whose 79 gross second round was a 12 shot improvement on his first round, to win the best gross on day two.

LOCATION: Deira, opposite Deira City Centre.

CONTACT: Tel : + 9714 295 6000 dcgyc@dubaigolf.com Book online tee times at www.dubaigolf.com

INDIAN GOLF SOCIETY CROWNED DUBAI CREEK INTER-SOCIETY CHAMPIONS

Aija Karklina, left, Marketing Manager for ecco Middle East, pictured alongside the winning Indian Golf Society team.

THE Indian Golf Society (IGS) were crowned Dubai Creek Inter-Society Golf Champions for 2011 sponsored by ecco last month with a six-point win over the Jebel Ali Golfers Society (JAGS) thanks to a superb total of 123 in the pair’s betterball Stableford competition.

The winning IGS team consisted of Anan Lakhiani, Sashi Raghavan, Farad Lakdawala, Naresh Handa, Karup Devanad, Suneel Aggarwal, Alok Pant and Dubai Creek Club Captain, Joseph Andrade. Taking third place with 113 points was the Emirates Golf Society while the Nearest the Pin prizes on holes 5 and 14 were respectively won by

INFO: First Open 1993, redesigned in 2005.

Course: 18 holes, Par 71, 6,857 yards, Championship course.

Original Designer: Karl Litten.

Redesign: European Golf Design in association with Thomas Björn.

Anand Lakhiani from the IGS and Ibrahim Baggash from FIGME. “Congratulations to the Indian Golf Society for repeating their 2009 victory.

It was a well deserved win this year with three great pair’s scores of 45, 41 and 37 points,” said David Gray, Golf Services Manager at Dubai Creek.

“It was great to see eleven societies and a total of 88 golfers taking part.

Thanks to all the society organisers for their support and thanks to Nimal Perera and Aija Karklina from ecco for their continued support of the event for the third year and contributing the superb prizes.”

IBC TAKE LEAD IN AMBASSADORS CUP Round One of the Ambassadors Cup held at Dubai Creek in collaboration with Dubai Chamber of Commerce is a huge success DUBAI Golf and the Australian Business Council, Dubai, in collaboration with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and in association with wasl staged a hugely successful first round of the inaugural Ambassadors Cup, ‘Inter-Business Council’ team golf event at the Dubai Creek.

After Round One the Indian Business Council (pictured celebrating below) have taken an early lead. Seven of Dubai’s business councils entered a team and the best 10 individual Stableford scores counted towards the overall team score.

The windy conditions provided a real test for all the golfers taking part but the Indian Business Council team of Ashok Galgotia, Juggie Brar, Ashok Kumar, Ashok Sindu, Vikram Motwani, Anan Lakhiani, Janish Kuranna, Anish Bhatia, Gurjit Greywal, Ashok Odhrani, Mukesh Khochhar, Surrender Kandhari, Rajiv Balmia, Dwaipayan Nath, Sudhaker Murthy and Capil Celly claimed round one with a points total of 314 from their

best ten Stableford scores. The Indian team also triumphed in the Stableford challenge on holes 9 and 10 sponsored by Dubai Chamber with 54 points.

The Irish Business Council finished just behind the leaders and were only four points off the pace while in third place, Dubai Chamber carded 295 points ahead of the British Business Council in fourth place with 286 points.

The South African Business Council finished fifth with 275 points, the German Business Council with 271 points were sixth, just a point ahead of the Australian Business Council who finished in seventh place with 270 points.

The second round will take place at Emirates Golf Club’s award-winning ‘Majlis Course’ on October 27th, 2011. The team with the best aggregate team Stableford score over the two rounds will be named champions and receive the Crystal Gallery-sponsored trophy in what promises to be an exciting finish to the event.

Pictured from left to right: David Stevenson from Prosports International presents the Titlesit Order of Merit Winners with their golf bags – Patrick Morrow, Joy Lirio, Diya Chopra and Alok Pant, alongside DCGYC Club Captain, Joseph Andrade.

MORROW, LIRIO, CHOPRA AND PANT SEAL OoM TITLES FOR the second year at Dubai Creek the Titleist Order of Merit was run in conjunction with the monthly medals and the winners of their respective divisions were Patrick Morrow, Joy Lirio, Diya Chopra and Alok Pant.

The top three players in each respective division received points each month from October to May and the result went right down to the wire.

In the Men’s Division ‘A’ Morrow triumphed with a total of eight points, staying in the top three for a total of four months and he finished three points clear of secondplaced Adhip Shankar, Miki Mirza and David Gowans.

The gross prize was tied on six points with Mirza and Charlie Stephenson deadlocked – the prize will be decided by a play-off at a later date.

Division ‘B’ saw Pant claim the win after a hot threemonth start with a total of seven points, while Robert Platt was unable to catch up, finishing alone in second place with six points.

The ladies division saw Lirio whitewash the field with a massive 16 points, thanks to top three finishes in every medal that she played. Chopra managed to finished third in the final event to win a single OoM point and claim the top spot in her division at the expense of Serifa D’Souza.

David Gray, Golf Services Manager commented: “Thanks again to Titleist and Prosports International for supporting the Order of Merit for the second year running and especially to all our Members who played each month. It was great to see it go right down to the wire for four of the divisions – congratulations to the winners.” www.wwgolf.biz www.wwgolf.biz

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THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI IN perfect weather and great course conditions scores were always going to be low in the April edition of the Rivoli Members Competition and, predictable, it was tight at the top as three separate card countbacks were required to the determine winners, with some pairings losing out by fractions of a shot.

In Division ‘B’ Kerry and Tony Fitzpatrick couldn’t believe they were beaten on the last six holes by Jonathan Perry and Sean Phillip Jones who shot a net 62.75, but they were, in turn, beaten by only 0.25 shots by Nitin Puri and Frederick Schauman who took first place.

In Division ‘A’, Kate and Richard Done were pushed into second place on a back nine countback by Paul Pitman and Chris Pinabad on a score of 61.5 while in the Gross Division Alex Andarakis and Stephen Steyn combined to score a 66 which gave them a onestroke victory over Mike Welch and Blane Galant.

LOCATION: Just off the 5th Interchange of Sheik Zayed Road towards Emirates Hills. Follow signs for Emirates Hills and then follow signs for The Address Montgomerie, Dubai.

CONTACT: Tel: +9714 390 5600 Fax: +9714 360 8981

COURSE: 18 hole Championship; 7,308 yard par 75 from the Black Pearl tees; 6,753 yard par 72 from the Sapphire tees; 6,172 yard par 69 from the Emerald tees; 5,401 yard par 71 from the Ruby tee 9-hole Academy Course.

INFO: Opened October 2002

DESIGNER: Colin Montgomerie

COUNTLESS COUNTBACKS IN RIVOLI SCRAMBLE

Rivoli Members Competition Winners, left to right: Mike Welch, Sean Phillip-Jones, Rohit Reddy, Jonathan Perry, Richard Done, Kate Done, Chris Pinabad, Paul Pitman, Blane Galant, Stephen Steyn and Alex Andarakis.

RAJINDER RAZDAN TAMES THE WIND TO TAKE THE BMW HIGH winds during the April BMW Stableford played a major factor in the results, with scoring consistently on the tough holes being the key to success and it was Rajinder Razdan who coped best in the conditions to secure the spoils in Division ‘A’ with 42 points, three clear of David Russell.

Russell took home second place by virtue of a countback win over Graham Henderson while Division ‘B’ was won by Masoud Sobati on 44 points with new member, Tej Ghuldu, taking second place on a countback over Maneesh Dungerwal.

Joo Hyung Yang won the Ladies Division ‘A’ with 41 points and Ananya Sharma took the honour in Division ‘B’ with 45 points – the best score of the day.

ECCO Medal Prizewinners: Sam Constance, Richard Smith, Sam Argui, Debbie Murray, Barnaby Crompton and Komal Sharma.

RICHARD SMITH AND DEBBIE MURRAY WIN IN HIGH QUALITY ECCO MEDAL RICHARD Smith took the spoils in the Men’s Gross Division at the Ecco Medal thanks to an excellent 78 in tough, windy conditions. Smith beat three players by just one shot to take the honours and it was Sam Constance who was awarded second place outright after a card countback.

In the Net Divisions Barnaby Crompton and Daniel Darroch went home with the titles in Divisions ‘A’ and ‘B’ respectively after they both shot net 68s, while in the Ladies Division Debbie Murray secured the Overall Best Gross prize with an 82 and Sam Argui scored a 90 to win the Gross Division ‘A’.

Julie Yoon shot an amazing 64 to win the Net title with Natalya Sobotovych coming second on a countback with a 65.

Meanwhile, Alex Westwood struck the perfect shot on the tough 6th hole – his final hole in the shotgun format. Playing from the sapphire tees, into the breeze and with the pin cut tight to the water, he managed to coax the ball into the hole for a splendid ace for which the packed Bunkers Bar was only too glad to help him celebrate afterwards!

BMW Stableford prizewinners: Masoud Sobati, Rajinder Razdan, Lise Slane, Kate Done, Ananya Sharma and new memeber Tej Ghuldu.

LOCATION: Emirates Road (311) in the heart of Arabian Ranches.

CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 366 3000 Tel : +971 4 366 3355

ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB

INFO: Arabian Ranches Golf Club opened

KENAGHAN AND SOUTER TAKE OPENING SIAN EVENTS QUALIFIER MARK Kenaghan and Ian Souter were crowned champions in the first qualifier of the SIAN Events Golf Series, to become the first team to qualify for the Final which will be held in December this year.

The series consists of three qualifying rounds with the top 10 teams from each qualifier going through to compete in the Final and on a perfect day for golf the pair of Kenaghan and Souter managed to post a brilliant score of 75 combined Stableford points to claim the title by one point ahead of David Alexander and Seamus Clune with Kevin Barrett and Shane Simon McDonald, Chairman of SIAN Events, and the winning team of the Callaghan taking third place after a countback. qualifier, Mark Kenaghan and Ian Souter, with their prizes.

SWAN AND McKELVEY BECOME CLUB CHAMPIONS WITH four-time defending champion John Mills absent, the 2011 Club Championship was wide open and it was Gary Swan who emerged from Mills’ considerable shadow to take home the men’s title, while Adele McKelvey triumphed in the ladies section.

A field of 124 players competed for honours in the two-day event and Xavier Farrington headed into the final 18 holes with a three stroke lead over Tony Dougherty.

However, by the 12th hole of the final round his lead had disappeared and a four-way battle for supremacy between Farrington, Swan, Dougherty and Iain Lachlan ensued down the stretch. The Championship once again delivered a nail-biting finish with all four men still in with a chance of victory as the final hole approached.

The leader through 35 holes was eventual Seniors Champion Iain Lachlan, who approached the final green with a one shot advantage but

its doors in February, 2004 and was built as a true 18 holes, par 72 desert-style grass course, a signature course designed by Ian Baker-Finch in association with Nicklaus Design.

COURSE: Championship Course 7691-yard par 72.

TONY STROUD AND KAREN EVANS CROWNED ECCO CHAMPIONS TONY Stroud and Karen Evans were crowned the ecco Open Champions in their respective Stableford Divisions after two excellent displays.

Stroud (9) scored an impressive six gross pars and two gross birdies as he signed for a 38-point Stableford haul to win by two points from Omer Khan with Alex Blom having to settle for third place, level with Khan on points, but having lost out on a countback.

The Men’s ‘B’ division crown was taken

by Tony Stockley as he defeated Jerome Schockman with a better back nine tally after both players finished level on 41 points.

In the Ladies Division Karen Evans returned a well-balanced card of 38 points to win by one point from Margaret Margetts.

“Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to everyone for competing – it’s fantastic to see almost 100 golfers taking part in this event supported by ecco,” said Club Captain Andy Burrow.

Men’s Champion, Gary Swan, Seniors Champion Iain Lachlan, Ladies Champion Adele McKelvey and Junior Champion Oliver Coulter. walked away with a triple bogey seven for a final score of 154, leaving the fate of the title in the hands of Swan, Farrington and Dougherty who were playing in the final group.

After Lachlan’s unfortunate finish Swan had a one shot lead on the final hole and nailed his approach shot to 20 feet and then secured his first Championship with a cool two putt.

In the Ladies Division roles were reversed from the 2010 Championship

as defending champion Adrienne Fullerton was unable to hold on to her title. McKelvey was tied for the lead with Fullerton going down the final fairway and managed to secure her fifth Championship when she tapped in for a par against Fullerton’s double bogey.

Oliver Coulter (12) won the Junior Championship with a superb gross 77 while Aryaan Kumar won the Junior Net Title with a 73.

Picture: ecco Championship winners Tony Stockley and Karen Evans.

BOLAND AND McKELVEY TAKE THE MAY MEDAL PETER Boland returned a gross one over par 73 to win the May Rivoli Monthly Medal supported by Speed Cleaning & ecco.

Boland, a single figure handicapper, was steady from tee to green and posted six birdies with a double bogey on the 14th hole being the only blemish of his round. “I feel great winning my first Medal at ARGC,” said Boland after his impressive round. “It has been a goal of mine ever since joining the club and is not easily achieved when competing against a high quality field every month.”

The Division ‘A’ Net title belonged to Paul Clark with a 71 which was good enough to edge out Paul Smith by one shot, while in Division ‘B’ the title was won by Mark Evans with the same score and margin of victory over David Alexander.

In the Ladies Division, Fortuna Dougherty hit good form to win the Net title after posting a Net 69 while Adele McKelvey won the Ladies Gross title with a fantastic 79. www.wwgolf.biz

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BENSON AND HEYNS CLAIM THE LAST BERTH THE last Qualifying event in the 2010-11 Tech Access International Pairs UAE Series Presented by Cadillac was held at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club and it was Larry Benson and Andre Heyns who claimed the last available berth in the inaugural National Final with a superb performance.

The course was in perfect condition and Benson and Heyns took full advantage firing two gross eagles on the 16th and 18th to storm to a Stableford point total of 47 and win by two points from the fatherdaughter combination of William and Lindsay Brown and three other teams.

Lindsay, who recently clinched the Emirates Golf Federation Ladies Order of Merit title for 2010-11, combined brilliantly with her father and had they progressed to the National Final they would have the distinction of being the lowest handicappers in the field, however it wasn’t to be a as their challenge fell just short. With four teams finishing on 45 points, a countback was required to determine the podium

Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club Tech Access International Pairs UAE winners, Larry Benson and Andre Heyns pictured with Club Captain Nick Peacock. places and it was the Browns who took second place while Dave Mitchell and Lyndel Christensen took third.

Nearest-the-Pin prizes were awarded to William Brown and Robert Anderson for their superb shots on holes 7 and 17 respectively.

NARROW VICTORY FOR SINGH AND HANDA

Dubai Creek Tech Access International Pairs UAE Qualifier winners, KJ Singh (l) and Naresh Handa (r) are pictured with Club Captain, Joseph Andrade.

COMPETITION was fierce as members of the famous Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club vied for a place in the inaugural Tech Access International Pairs National Final and finishing top of the pile were KJ Singh and Naresh Handa thanks to their 40-point haul.

Finishing just one point behind in second place was the much-fancied duo of Patrick Morrow and Adam Sweeney who did hold the clubhouse lead until Handa and Singh pipped them at the post. A net eagle

by Handa on this pair’s penultimate hole ultimately proved the difference as they earned the coveted spot in the National Final which is to be played on the Dubai Creek course.

There were Nearest-the-Pin prizes on holes 5 and 14 were won by Paul King and David Gowans respectively.

BLINCOW AND PERRINS EASE TO VICTORY CHARLES Blincow and Kevin Perrins secured a comfortable victory in the 14th Qualfier for the 2010-11 Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa after an excellent score of 40 Stableford points.

Typically breezy conditions ensured that scoring was never going to be too high and 38 points set the target for some time until late finishers Blincow and Perrins came in with their total. Playing the 9-hole course twice, the winners were steady throughout as they recorded eight net birdies to offset four net bogeys for a comfortable win and a berth in the Final, to be played at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Second place was secured by Grant McNair and Michael Johnson after they defeated Riette Cuciurean and Katy Woodman on a card countback with both teams on 38 points.

There were Nearest-the-Pin prizes on the short holes 2 and 8 which were clinched by Robbie Greenfield and Brad Vercoe respectively.

Emirates Golf Federation Tech Access International Pairs UAE winners, Charles Blincow and Kevin Perrins are pictured with James Williams, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa Director of Golf.

LOCATION: Dubai Festival City, Al Badia, Dubai

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COURSE: Par 72 Championship Course with four teeing options.

CONTACT: el: +971 (0) 4 601 0101 Fax: +971 (0) 4 601 0102, Email: albadiagolf@ichdfc.ae

AL BADIA GOLF CLUB ALAN LINDSAY WINS THE AL FUTTAIM GOLF DAY ALAN Lindsay received the stunning trophy after winning the Al Futtaim Golf Day last month with a superb Stableford haul of 39 points. Finishing two points back in second place was Dennis Appleby, while Jordan Davies finished third on 36 points.

■ Nearest the Pin on hole 7 was won by James McGowen while the same prize on the 12th was won by Neil Parkins who hit his shot to just four feet.

■ Longest Drive down the 13th was won by Phil Evans while Blair Bexon whacked the Straightest Drive down the opening fairway.

The impressive field line up before taking to their golf carts in the Al Futtaim Golf Day.

BRETT ARMSTRONG WINS BACK-TOBACK CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

GROVES IN THE GROOVE A GOOD number of Al Badia Golf Club members celebrated the spirit of the US Masters by taking part in the Individual Stableford competition during which a player’s scores are paired with a pro’s score during the third round at Augusta.

The event saw Mike Groves take home the top prize as he scored 43 points – 40 points of his own and three from his pro, Scotland’s US-based Martin Laird, who shot a 3-under 69 for three points.

Division ‘A’ went down to a countback between Kieran O’Connor who was paired with Bill Hass and Chet Riley who drew Tiger Woods. Kieran and Bill Hass were the eventual Division ‘A’ winners with Kieran having a great back nine of 23 points. Both Kieran and Chet’s Masters picks could only shoot 74 (2-over) on the third round at Augusta, costing the pair 2 valuable points.

Division ‘B’ was also decided on a countback between Christian Koch and Ryo Ishikawa and Robert David and Matt Kuchar and it was Koch who prevailed thanks to his score of 37, one clear of David and Kuchar’s 36.

The Nearest the Pin prize went to Chet Riley on hole 7 while Kieran O’Connor, with a monster of a drive down the tenth fairway, earned himself the Longest Drive in the competition.

Pictured above: Mike Groves receives his prize from Academy Professional, Joanne Bates.

BRETT Armstrong successfully defended his 2010 Club Championship title after two solid rounds of gross 80 gave him a 160 total and a two-stroke victory over Mark Rix. Armstrong got off to a rocky start as he required a provisional ball on the first after a wayward opening drive and when he got to the fourth tee he was 3-over. However, he regrouped down the closing stretch and a fine birdie on the tenth virtually secured him the championship.

Although Rix signed for a second round 79 – the lowest round of the tournament – it wasn’t enough as he had to settle for second place on 162. Kieth Nann finished third, eight shots further back. Ladies Champion Anna Vanson, who shot

a 90 on the opening day, managed to hold on to her considerable lead for the final round as she finished with a 193, 17 shots clear of Sharon Moore.

In the Men’s Net championship Kieran O’Connor took the honours with a 154 total, one shot clear of Mike Groves and Mike Fitzpatrick who had to be separated by a countback and it was Groves who was awarded second place outright.

Golf Operations Manager Tim Neil congratulated all the competitors for playing the Tournament in such high spirits and camaraderie and looked forward to many such events and welcoming many more Al Badia Golf Club members into the winner enclosure.

Pictured left to right: Golf Operations Manager Tim Neil, Men’s champion Brett Armstrong and Academy Professional, Joanne Bates.

LOCATION: Situated on Yas Island, Yas Links Abu Dhabi features an 18-hole course, a 9-hole academy course, golf academy and floodlit practice facilities which

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YAS LINKS ABU DHABI

are all set against dramatic views of the Arabian Gulf.

CONTACT: Tel: +9712 810 7777 www.yaslinks.com

YAS LINKS JOINS FORCES WITH IMG PRESTIGE

YAS LINKS has teamed up with IMG, the global sports, entertainment and media company, to support the launch of its new IMG Prestige service, a reciprocal programme that features a network of premier golf properties and partners from around the world.

The reciprocal member programme offers a variety of benefits and privileges at some of the world’s finest golf courses, which entitles Yas Links’ full members, as well as full members at each participating club, to enjoy ‘preferred access’ status. This includes special rates, discounts, benefits and privileges offered by their counterparts and selected IMG Prestige partners.

Neil Coulson, Director of Operations at IMG Golf Course Services, explained: “Working with some of the leading golf clubs around the world on a daily basis has placed IMG in a unique and privileged position. This has allowed us to create IMG Prestige, an exclusive service for participating members and its global network of premier golf clubs. “Each of the participating clubs offers a truly world-class golf experience,� explains Coulson. “Yas Links is definitely worthy of inclusion and will be a great addition to the programme.� Commenting on

joining IMG Prestige, Chris White, General Manager of Aldar Properties (Golf Division), developers of Yas Links, said: “Those invited to participate in IMG’s new service represent some of the leading clubs in their region and, in some cases, the world. For Yas Links to be included among these is a true privilege and testament to the great legacy course designer Kyle Phillips has created here at Yas Links.�

Prestigious Accolades For Yas Links, being a part of IMG Prestige is the icing on the cake after a hugely successful first year that has seen the club receive numerous prestigious accolades.

These include ‘Best course in the Middle East’

by Golf Course Architecture and ‘Best Golf Course’ by Middle East Golfer magazine plus high-level rankings by Golf Magazine USA in its ‘Top 10 New International Golf Courses of 2010’ and inclusion in Golf International’s ‘finest things in golf’ listing.

Coulson added: “We have concentrated on launching IMG Prestige with a selection of some of the finest golf clubs from Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. We are looking to expand on this and already have a number of clubs from Europe that are interested in taking part in the programme.�

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LINDSAY BROWN BEATS SANA TUFAIL TO WIN COMPETITIVE LADIES OPEN LINDSAY Brown secured the second Yas Links Ladies Open, eventually winning by one stroke from 14-yearold Sana Tufail after an exciting 36 hole battle.

Brown shot a superb 71 to take a one-stroke lead into the final day from Tufail, who opened up with 18 pars for a 72. After 27 holes both players found themselves at -1 for the tournament but as they teed off on the 17th Brown had taken a one-stroke lead. Both players hit the green but surprisingly both three-putted to see Brown take her lead down the closing hole.

Strong Field Brown’s tee shot found the fairway bunker, whilst Tufail had a lucky break, stopping inches short of the water hazard and the thick rough. Both players laid up for their next shot leaving them mid irons into the green for their approach. Tufail found the green but was some 40 feet away while Brown pulled her shot into a greenside bunker. After splashing out to ten feet Tufail knocked her putt eight feet past. Brown missed her putt leaving Tufail with an eight-footer to take it to extra holes. It wasn’t to be as she missed her putt leaving Brown a tap-in for her one-stroke win.

Tom Rourke Golf Operations Manager said: “It was fantastic to see such a strong field at our second Ladies Open. The event has grown from last year, and will continue to grow strongly over the coming years.�

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John Thompson is presented with his prize by Club Professional Steve Morgan.

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www.wwgolf.biz

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ARABIAN GOLF

SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB

LOCATION: Saadiayat Beach Golf club is situated on Saadiyat Island, 700m off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The Gary Player designed course is a 317 acre par-72 beach/links style Championship course featuring three lakes

and 67 bunkers and offers stunning views across the Gulf.

CONTACT: T: +971 2 557 8000 F: +971 2 557 8001 E: info@sbgolfclub.ae W: http://www.sbgolfclub.ae

DAVIDSON AND MIFLORD SHOW COOL HEADS AT LADIES IMPROVER MORE than 20 Ladies signed up for the most recent event in the SBGC Ladies Improver Series and the pairing of Marcia Davidson and Carolina Milford kept their cool to score a 35.2 total to finish five clear of Fiona Nottingham and Janet Cartwright with Lisa Del Favero and Vini Blank taking third.

The Longest Drive prize was awarded to Cartwright for her outstanding tee shot on ‘Prelude’, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s first hole.

The ABGC Ladies Improver Series is designed for ladies to work towards getting an EGF handicap and an relaxed environment helps them make the transition to the golf course while still gaining valuable on-course competition experience.

IAN WINS SAADIYAT FROM MARIA IAN Miller recorded 36 Stableford points to pip the charging Maria Brown to the title by the narrowest of margins in round three of the Saadiyat Series recently while in the on-course competitions Ian Horbury won Nearest the Pin and Lisa Del Favero struck the Longest Drive.

In the overall Order of Merit Standings, Ian Miller leads the way on 21 points with a three-way tie for second place between Maria Brown, Nadeem Masud and Jay Heidbrink on 15 points.

Second placed Maria Brown in action.

SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB JOINS AUDUBON COOPERATIVE SANCTUARY PROGRAMME SAADIYAT Beach Golf Club golf course has received certification in Environmental Planning from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programme for Golf Courses (ACSP) – an international programme administered by Audubon International designed to help landowners preserve and enhance the environmental quality of their property.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programme for Golf Courses provides an advisory service to help existing golf courses develop effective conservation and wildlife enhancement programmes. This worldwide effort is coordinated by Audubon International and is sponsored in part by the United States Golf Association. “The open

space of a golf course is utilised not only by golfers, but is habitat for a variety of wildlife species,” explained Jim Sluiter, Staff Ecologist for Audubon International. “We welcome Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s commitment to the environment and to managing the golf course with wildlife in mind.”

By joining and participating in the ACSP, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club will be involved in projects that enhance habitat for wildlife and preserve natural resources for the benefit of the local community. These projects may include: placing nesting boxes for cavitynesting birds such as bluebirds and swallows, utilising integrated pest management techniques, conserving water, and maintaining food and cover for wildlife.

SAADIYAT BEACH DEVELOPING GOLF IN THE COMMUNITY SAADIYAT Beach Golf Club continues to develop golf skills of students of the Future Care Centre, in Abu Dhabi, as UAE PGA professionals Nicole Tilley and Paul Wilson work with the students to build balance, hand-eye coordination in addition to their golf skills.

“It’s great to see so many participants enjoying the great game of golf. It’s really fun to watch Paul and Nicole build upon the students’ existing skills,” said Paul Booth, PGA Director of Golf, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

The coaching team at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club put together a series of activities utilising the Titleist Performance Institute’s (TPI) Junior Golf programme as well as the “Try-Golf” equipment.

The Junior TPI programme focuses on developing fundamental movement and ports skills, combining these to develop physical and golf ability. This weekly initiative with the Future Care Centre lasted through the month of May and will start again when school returns in September, and is part of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s drive to grow the game among juniors, Natinals and the local community. www.wwgolf.biz

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LOCATION: Situated just 20 minutes drive from Bahrain’s capital, Manama, the Royal Golf Club boasts the country’s only 18hole grass golf course which

ARABIAN GOLF

ROYAL GOLF CLUB BAHRAIN

forms the stunning centrepiece of Riffa Views, a residential lifestyle community.

CONTACT: Tel: +973 17 750777

REINHOLD AND TABEA LUTZ TAKE THE ROYAL GOLF CLUB MIXED OPEN

REINHOLD Lutz and his 17-year-old daughter Tabea stormed up the leaderboard on the final day to clinch the honours at the Royal Golf Club Mixed Open.

A truly stunning greensomes score of net 59.6 on the final day, added to their impressive net 70.6 on the first day saw them run out clear winners by two shots over the husband and wife pairing of Serge and Megan El Adm who finished in second place with a two-day total of 132.8. Robert and Anne Timmers made up the top three, finishing on 134.6 net.

The annual 36-hole tournament was staged over two days on the Royal Golf Club’s Montgomerie Championship Course and this year’s competition hosted competitors from far afield, including golfers from Qatar, Dubai and Saudi Arabia as well as the neighbouring Awali Golf Club.

Pictured left: 2011 Mixed Open Champions Reinhold and Tabea Lutz.

GROUP CLASSES AND MEMBERSHIP NOW AVAILABLE AT THE ROYAL COUNTRY CLUB THE grand opening of the Royal Country Club took place last month with a week-long festival of complimentary fitness activities for adults and children alike.

The facilities of the Royal Country Club are worldclass, uniting elegance with functionality. Outside, guests can enjoy a beautifully designed chilled swimming pool with relaxing seating and dining areas, an award-winning multi-purpose court as well as delightfully landscaped gardens incorporating a play park for children.

Indoors, separate ladies and gents gyms boast the latest Technogym Cardio and resistance range, plus the Kinesis One trainer, offering comprehensive resistance training possibilities. This training can be coupled with TRX training as a personal training option or as a group exercise class for the total body experience.

The club also sports a purposebuilt sprung floor multi-exercise room offering a variety of exercise

classes throughout the day and evening for both members and non-members. The fitness centre overlooks the desert and boasts great views of the landscaped gardens and swimming pool below.

Group classes in Zumba, Swiss Ball, Bosu, TRX, taekwondo and aqua aerobics are available now to members and visitors alike with prices starting at just BD4 per class for non members.

After a work-out or a game on the multi-purpose court, members can relax and unwind in

the aromatic steam room or the pine-wood sauna. The dark oak locker room creates an ambience of opulence with luxurious carpeted floors and a thoughtfully arranged vanity area, with fitted hairdryers and well-lit mirrors.

The Royal Country Club caters for the discerning executive and busy family alike; a place to relax, revive and rejuvenate.

Membership options include individual, couple and family memberships and prices start at just BD450, BD525 and BD600 per year respectively.

MADDEN BROADBENT CROWNED ROYAL GOLF CLUB ETIQUETTE CHAMPION

June Sporting Events at the Royal Golf Club Date

Event

Time

Open to

24th June

TaylorMade Summer Open

7.30am shotgun

All

Every Saturday

Wee Monty Family Day – only BD15 per adult, kids play free!

10.0am to noon

All

Every Monday

Ecco Monday Stableford

1.00pm shotgun

All

NHSC Monday Madness Night Golf Series – BD20 for 9 holes

6.30pm shotgun

All

8.30am shotgun

All ladies

Every Wed & Sun Ladies competition

Madden Broadbent (right) receives his “Etiquette Champion” golf bag from Club Captain Ed Daly.

THE Royal Golf Club launched a new initiative for 2011 by introducing a quarterly award for the member who portrays the best standard of etiquette on the golf course.

The quarter one winner was member Madden Broadbent, who was presented with a golf bag embroidered with the words “Etiquette Champion” as a reward for his efforts. The R&A rule book states that: ‘the overriding principle is that consideration should be shown to others on the course at all times.’

Royal Golf Club Captain Ed Daly said: “The maintenance team at the Royal Golf Club do a fantastic job of keeping the course in great condition all year round and I’d love to see the members and regular visitors giving them more of a helping hand every time they play by doing the small things such as filling divots and repairing pitch marks. It’s the golfers who benefit if we help to keep the course pristine. Madden has done a fantastic job of this throughout the first quarter – I’ve played with him a few times and he continually displays superb etiquette during his rounds and often advises other members if they are not doing so.”

LOCATION:

ARABIAN GOLF

MUSCAT HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club is located near Muscat International Airport and Oman Air’s main office. Within minutes from major shopping areas, first class restaurants, hospitals, international schools and Muscat’s main Central Business District.

CONTACT:

Club: +968 245 100 65 Fax: +968 245 10277 Email: ray@muscatgolf.com Web: www.muscathills.com

MUSCAT HILLS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT KPMG GOLF BUSINESS FORUM IN DUBAI RAY STOPFORTH, Muscat Hills’ Director of Golf, attended the KPMG Golf Business forum in Dubai where the profile of Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club was raised in the debate on ‘What’s next for golf in the GCC.’.

The seventh edition of the KPMG Golf Business forum took place at the Park Hyatt Dubai Creek Resort, hosted by Dubai Golf. “The event was a tremendous forum for me to meet key industry personnel, be enlightened on current golf business trends and to network with the main administrators and suppliers of the industry,” said Ray. During the debate Braemar Golf’s Operations Director Michael Braidwood made direct reference to Muscat Hills and its importance in developing golf not only in Oman, but also in the region as a whole. The Forum was heralded as a huge success and has established itself as a vital conference where

the golf world gathers to meet and discuss future developments. The Forum attracted more than 250 delegates from 45 countries and featured discussion panels on topics such as “Achieving success in a global environment through proper leadership”, “Future trends” and “What’s next for golf in the GCC?” The opening address was made by George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour on the success of European Tour Events in the Middle East over the past 22 years. His address covered the impact the events have made on general tourism numbers and on the growth of the game and facilities around the region.

Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club was also a contributor to the latest KPMG benchmark survey providing vital data to the overview of golf in the GCC report. This report gives an interesting insight into the golf market of the GCC and details some of the healthy business trends that are evolving here.

JOHN COCKAYNE JOINS MUSCAT HILLS GCC AS MARKETING DIRECTOR JOHN COCKAYNE has joined Muscat Hills G&CC to deliver highend strategic marketing and communications services and seek sponsorship opportunities for a major professional event for the Sultanate. Braemar Golf Developments of St Andrews have introduced John, a highly qualified golf professional with more than 30 years experience in the industry, on a secondment basis to utilise his extensive ability in the key areas of marketing and sales, plus the event requirements that have been identified as the immediate ‘needs’ at Muscat Hills.

“We are delighted that John has joined our team for one year

to aid in our marketing processes,” said HH Rawy Al Said, CEO of Muscat Golf Course Project, owners of MHG&CC. “Our team has achieved so much in developing the course and improving the operation, it is now time for us to actively promote the club and the game of golf,” he added.

Commenting on his appointment John said: “I am delighted to be in Oman on this Braemar Golf assignment. Muscat Hills G&CC has great potential and I am keen for this potential to be fully realised. I am also excited about the opportunity of creating interest in a professional event for the Sultanate of Oman.”

PLAY WITH THE PROS A BIG HIT WITH THE MEMBERS THE recently formed ‘Play with the Pros’ weekly matches have been a big hit with the Muscat Hills Members. Each week two of the three PGA Pros at Muscat Hills take on a pair of Members in a betterball match play format. Director of Golf Ray Stopforth, Head Professional Alex Day and Golf Operations Manager David White have paired up in these matches to enable them to get to know the Members better and to help build on the excellent atmosphere that has been generated so far this year.

“I put these regular matches in place back in March and it has been really popular with our Members – it’s an ideal opportunity to talk to them about the course improvements that we are doing and to answer any questions about the club that they may have,” said Ray. After a great start for the Pros which saw them win the first three matches the Members have bounced back and the current standing of the Pros versus the Members is: Members four wins; Pros three wins, with one halved match. The series concludes with a “Champions” event for any pair who successfully beat the Pros.

WORLDWIDE GOLF TAKES TO THE HILLS

Director of Golf Ray Stopforth, Members Peter Bell and Mike Bulliman and Head Professional Alex Day.

RAY STOPFORTH shakes hands with Worldwide Golf and WSP Global Publisher, Mike Gallemore, when he visited Muscat Hills G&CC last month.

“I was hugely impressed with Ray and his team and the Muscat Hills course,” said Mike. “This is an exciting time for golf in Oman, and Muscat Hills is making great strides in encouraging youngsters and potential golfers of all ages to take up the game. The work that

is being put in on the course is beginning to pay dividends and the overall condition of the course was excellent. Winding its way through the series of wadis makes it a stunning course which is very playable.

“Situated only 10 minutes from Oman’s International Airport it is in the ideal position to look after local golfers and the inbound tourist and international and local corporate markets.” www.wwgolf.biz

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ARABIAN GOLF

DIRAB GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

LOCATION: Nestled in the picturesque Dirab Valley below the Tuwaiq escarpment, just 30 minutes drive from the diplomatic quarters of Riyadh, take the Makkah national road and turn left to Dirab.

The golf course is situated just off the Dirab Road.

CONTACT: Tel: +966 1 498 0017/8 Email: dirabgolf@yahoo.com

INFO: Opened in 1991, Dirab GC is the only grassed Championship golf course in Saudi Arabia with 9 of the 18 holes floodlit for night golf.

COURSE: 7,420 yards par 72 Championship Course with driving range and practice facilities.

All the winners pictured at the Zahid Tractor Golf Championship.

HARIRI WINS 2011 ZAHID TRACTOR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

Omar Hariri is pictured with Ali Belharith, the Saudi National Team Coach, and Naseer Uddin Siddiqui, Dirab Golf & Country Club Committee Champion.

SAUDI golfer Omar Hariri made his case for possible inclusion to the National Team by winning the First Division (0-9) title in the 2011 Zahid Tractor Golf Championship.

Playing off a handicap of 9, Hariri secured 44 Stableford Points to win by three from Rak Gi Lee with Ali Balharith and Kamran Khan finishing third and fourth respectively with hauls of 38 and 36 points. Chris Ledwidge was the Second Division

(10-18) winner on 42 points after he secured a countback win over Lance Jones while Nadeem Mirza and Talal Sarieddine took third and fourth place respectively after another countback with both players locked on 39.

Andy Ritchie (27) returned 41 points to take first place in the Third Division (19-28) while Fujita Toshihito and Jerry Doncarrolis came in second and third after a countback on 38.

GOOD SCORES AND FUN AT THE ASEAN MISSIONS TOURNAMENT THE ASEAN Riyadh Sports and Social Committee hosted their 2011 ASEAN Missions Men’s Golf Tournament and Ladies Putting Tournament recently and walking away with the best net prize was Khin Zaw Win of Myanmar with a 68 with Mursidi Setia of Brunei second one shot further back. Filipino Ebrahim Zailon took third place in the Net category but did take home the Best Gross prize with an 81.

Thailand’s team of Pranee Jullamon, Acurotai Limprasert, Linlada Pararaman and Pranon Chanmara won the Ladies Putting Tournament with the Brunei team of Radhiah Abdul Latif, Aisah Badaruddin, H.J.H. Hasnan, Hamizah Mursidi and Hazirah Mursidi in second place and Myanmar’s team of M.M.E Thwe Myinth, Aye Aye Zaw, Thandar and Marlar Aung in third place.

Winners in the recent Faisaliah Hotel Laidies Cup, including Diane Daudin-Clavaud and Flore Bouzann, Dirab Golf & Country Club Ladies Captain.

PAROMITA MUKHERJEE DOUBLES UP WITH FAISALIAH HOTEL LADIES GOLF CUP WIN

All the winners at the recent ASEAN Missions Men’s Golf Tournament.

IN a repeat performance of her triumph in 2010, Paromita Mukherjee captained the ‘Cordoba Oasis’ compound to victory in the second Faisaliah Hotel Ladies Golf Cup recently.

Playing in a different team than last year, Mukherjee shot a net 55 from her handicap of 16 to win by five strokes from the STC team with the DQ team three strokes further back on 63.

For the second time, but with a different team, Paromita Mukherjee won in the return bout for the Inter Compound Four

Ball Texas Scramble tournament at Dirab Golf & Country Club. Mukherjee was assisted by Inge Gueltling – who also won Longest Drive on the 18th - and Martine Himmesoete and Kazuko Nagaya.

May Natcha Biswas captained the second placed STC Team, together with Madele Burger – who also won Closest to the Pin – Aelis Sarieddine and Fauzia Shamin.

The DQ team was an all-Korean affair as Miki Park led June Hee Kim, Myungoak Hwangbo and Choi Kim to a podium finish.

LOCATION: Close to West Bay Lagoon, 8km north of central Doha.

ARABIAN GOLF

DOHA GOLF CLUB

CONTACT: +974 4496 0777 info@dohagolfclub.com

INFO: 18-hole 7,374-yard par-72 Championship course accompanied by a floodlit 9-hole Academy Course with spectacular views of the West Bay Lagoon.

Designed by Peter Harradine.

MUFFLEH DEFENDS HIS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN THE annual Men’s and Club Championships took place last month with the field exclusively limited to single figure handicappers. The competitors played off the Championship tees and the final round’s pin positions were the same as the Sunday of the 2011 Commercialbank Qatar Masters.

After a tense opening day, two junior members, Ali Saleh Misbah and the defending Champion Ali Muffleh were well ahead of the pack and after the opening nine of the second day the pair were tied on 8-over-par and in a two-horse race for the title.

Misbah birdied the testing par-4 12th hole to sneak ahead by one after both players had parred 10 and 11. However, the next hole, the 202 yard par-3 13th, saw a two shot swing as Muffleh birdied while Misbah bogeyed to fall one shot behind.

Muffleh then gave his shot back on the 14th to fall back level again and both players went on to bogey the 15th hole – the hardest on the course – to remain level.

The next hole – the driveable par-4 – proved crucial as Muffleh found the green with his tee shot while Misbah finished short in some rough. Muffleh made his advantage count as he two-putted for birdie while Misbah couldn’t get up-and-down.

On 17 Misbah again missed the green and he wound up with bogey giving Muffleh a healthy two-stroke cushion as they went down the last and he sealed the victory with a steady par with Misbah having to settle for a bogey.

Muffleh signed for an 8-over-total to win by three from Misbah who finished on 11-over while third place went to Ghanim Al Kuwari who came home in 13-over-par.

Chris Myers (l) presents winner Ali Muffleh (r) with the trophy.

ASA HEIDEN CROWNED LADIES CHAMPION ASA Heiden posted scores of 80 and 86 to win the 2011 Ladies Club Championship last month with her 166 total earning her a 17-shot victory over Anne Marie Mathiesen who had rounds of 91 and 92.

Brenda Hill was third thanks to her 184 total while in the Net category Elizabeth Mouveaux scored a superb level-par 144 to win by five strokes from Chom Rum Sariowan with Uzma Mir third on 152.

Standing (L to R) Manoj Megchiani, Kunal Bhatia, Paul Comeau, Elizabeth Mauvaux, Clark White, Dhanraj Kunhiveettil, Gary White, Sanjay Jain and Keith Senior – Sitting (L to R) Albert Dalton, Valerie Dalton, Jamal Nasir, Tasnim Kazi and P.K. Mathew.

QATAR GOLF LOVERS CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN STYLE AMID a great fanfare the Qatar Golf Lovers celebrated their 10th anniversary with a golf tournament and a gala dinner as 100 golfers participated in glorious sunshine and it was Albert Dalton who played flawless golf to win Division ‘A’ ahead of Kieth Senior and Paul Comeau, who finished second and third place respectively. Division ‘B’ was taken by Elizabeth

Mauvaux as she finished clear of Dhanraj Kunhiveetil in second place with Gary White third.

Fazal Kazi won the special prize for Best Gross, while in the on-course competitions Paul Comeau won Longest Putt, Clark White won Closest to the Pin and Valerie Dalton out-drove everyone to win the Longest Drive award.

SUPERB SCORES IN VOLUNTEER SPECIAL

GOOD SCORES IN BASF SCRAMBLE A NET 61 saw the team of Richard Bolton, Edwin Schultz, Pieter Fourie and William Hadlow (pictured below) take the honours in the fifth BASF sponsored scramble on Doha’s Championship Course.

Following closely in second place with a 62 were Jim Anderson, Johan Van Vuuren, Shaun White and Vincent Mulholland while taking third place, one shot further back, was the team of Jeff Hollingsworth, Michael Izzy, Alan Crozier and Phil Wright.

A FOUR-man Texas Scramble was held recently for all those who volunteered at The European Tour’s Commercialbank Qatar Masters in February and the event was enjoyed by a field of 176 who revelled in the glorious weather. Coming out on top with a spectacular net 57 was the team of Rob Eagar, Bob East, Kris Taylor and Liz Taylor. www.wwgolf.biz

89

LOCATION: Al Ain PO Box 1471 United Arab Emirates

ARABIAN GOLF

AL AIN EQUESTRIAN, SHOOTING & GOLF CLUB

CONTACT: Tel : +971 3 7026400 Fax: +971 3 7683331 golf@palmsportsresort.com

INFO: The Championship Golf Course offers a picturesque and challenging experience for all golfers. The professionally designed par 71 course measures 6612 yards from the black tees and 6129 from the blue tees.

HISTORY MADE AT ARABIAN RANCHES SATURDAY May 7th 2011 is a date that many of the junior members at AESGC will remember well into their adult lives. A lively team of 14 youngsters hopped on a bus across the desert to Arabian Ranches to compete in a fourball match play championship and although they lost 6-1 they enjoyed a fantastic experience.

Ten of the 14 were playing a different course for the first time and the average age was twoand-a-half years younger than the opposition but despite that, two of the matches came down to short putts on the final green.

A combination of home advantage and experience proved the deciding factor in the overall result but the atmosphere throughout the

matches were incredible. Once again, the pairing of brother and sister Saoirse and Ronan Larkin proved a winning combination as they triumphed on foreign soil and the Mulvey brothers, Chris and Sam, plus the pairing of Isabelle Quintino and Harsha Guru Prasad took their opponents to the

final hole, before losing 1-down. Dane Sandford and Aoife Larkin found it just too much to come back after a player from Arabian Ranches got a hole in one and the Whittaker brothers found the course hard going and were playing against two much older opponents but fought hard to the last hole.

LOCATION: Located on Al Maather Street in the centre of Riyadh, the Palms Golf Club at Intercontinental Riyadh is open for play from 6.0am until 10.0pm.

THE PALMS GOLF CLUB RIYADH

CONTACT: Tel: +966-1-4655000 Fax: +966-1-4657833 COURSE: Info: 9-hole, fully grassed and floodlit course. Golf Professionals are available for coaching.

DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR RIYADH GOLFERS

Riyadh’s Royal Wedding Open celebrations, pictured from left to right: Rafi, Judit, Lee, Chris Innes-Hopkins and Prince Faisal Bin Mohammed Al Saud.

BANYAN VILLAGE RESORT & GOLF

RIYADH Golf Courses organised two tournaments for passionate golfers on consecutive weekends, the highlight of which was the Royal Wedding Open which took place contemporaneously with the Royal event in London.

The Stableford format attracted 110 participants from various nations and it was Yoon Sang Lee, Counsellor of Construction, Transport and Maritime Affairs at the Korean Embassy in Riyadh, who won with an excellent haul of 46 points. C.Y. Kim took second place ahead of Chris Kurek after a countback separated their scores of 45 while Mohammed Taha Guinmla won the Nearest the Pin prize.

A week earlier the April Monthly Medal took place and Saudi National Omer Hariri carded a gross 74 to take the overall winner’s prize.

Pyong Woo Lee topped Division ‘A’ with a net 68 while in Division ‘B’ Jay Japos scored a net 69 to take the honours. Richard Here’s 40 point haul saw him top Division ‘C’ which was played in a Stableford format.

LOCATION:

Banyan Village, Resort & Golf, Hua Hin, Thailand 68/34 Mooban Hua Na, Tambol Nong Gae, Hua Hin, Prachuabkirikhan 77110.

CONTACT:

Club: +66 (32) 616 200 reservations@banyanthailand.com Resort: +66 (32) 538 888 booking@banyanthailand.com

S’MOR SPA & VILLAGE TAKE SCRAMBLE BANYAN Golf Club recently hosted the Inter Hotel Golf Scramble 2011 for the region’s hotel management and staff with the team from S’mor Spa & Village (pictured left) taking the spoils with a score of net 65.

The event, which was played in perfect conditions, proved popular with nine of the area’s leading hotels represented, while the Texas Scramble format of play ensured that every player contributed to the overall score, with each team member having to make a minimum of four drives.

The S’mor Spa & Village team put in a stellar performance to clinch first place by one stroke from the Banyan Resort & Golf team while the Chiva Som matched Banyan’s net 66 but lost out on a card countback. Banyan Golf Club General Manager, Stacey Walton commented: “It’s important for the hotel team members to have experienced the facilities and course here at Banyan Golf Club. Hopefully today, they have gained a better understanding of our golf course and, more importantly, I hope they had a lot of fun. Congratulations to the winning team.”

AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB

LOCATION: Just off E 11, 12 miles south of Ras Al Khaimah

course is complimented by a large open lagoon with four inter-connected lagoons.

CONTACT: Tel: +971 7 244 7474 Fax: +971 7 244 7423

COURSE: 7,267 yard, par 72 18 hole course with additional par-3 Academy Course.

INFO: Built along the Arabian Gulf, the

DESIGNER: Peter Harradine

ARABIAN GOLF

THIRD TIME LUCKY

McGUIRE, ENGLEBRECHT CLUB CHAMPS THE 2011 Club Championships were held over 36 holes recently and emerging victorious in the men’s and ladies’ sections were Craig McGuire and Rita Engelbrecht with two splendid performances.

A fine first round 73 laid the foundations for Craig which put him ten shots clear after the opening 18 holes and he held on to shoot a second round 77 for a 150 total and a 23-stroke win over second placed

Steve Rayment (173) who, in turn, defeated Paul Tipping (175) by two strokes. Ahmed Al Mashgari took the Net honours with a 143 total, eight shots cleared of his nearest challenger Steve Dunnage. Shaqui Sajwani came in third on 152.

Ladies favourite Engelbrecht enhanced her reputation with a super score of 176 to win from Cindy Rials while Liecl Ward took the Net title with a 148, two clear of Rabab Al Haj.

THE annual interclub match between Al Hamra and Tower Links, now in its third year, saw Al Hamra members facing a stern battle to avoid losing three in a row to their friends down the road.

The first leg held at Tower Links threw up some brilliant battles and at the close of play it was team Al Hamra who were left celebrating a narrow lead of one point as the teams finished with Al Hamra on 5½ points and Tower Links on 4½ points.

Al Hamra knew Tower Links would not give up the trophy easily, though with home advantage this was the best opportunity to date. Fortunately for Al Hamra, Tower Links could not quite overturn Al Hamra’s lead as the matches finished five points each, giving Al Hamra a one-point winning margin and the bragging rights for next year.

The event was once again played in a wonderful spirit with both teams enjoying the beautiful conditions at both courses, along with the post game hospitality.

RICHARDSONS ROMP TO RAK MIXED AMATEUR OPEN THE fifth annual RAK Mixed Open took centre stage last month as some of the best men and women golfers in the region battled it out for the title – and coming out on top with a Stableford score of 44 points were Mike and Kathy Richardson.

Their superb front nine of 23 was accompanied by a inward 21 and their total gave them a two-point win ahead of the field. Second place went to Sergy and Serifa D’Souza who carded a great score of 42 points while finishing third was Gary Langthorne and Wendy Ayling who scored 40. “Al Hamra Golf Club is exceptionally proud to hold yet another successful Mixed Open and very grateful to have Banyan Tree on board to sponsor and support the event,” said Andrew Pilfold, Al Hamra’s Director of Golf. “Congratulations must go to Mike and Kathy Richardson for producing such an excellent round of golf on such a splendid day. I would also like to thank everybody who took part for making the event such as success.”

FOURTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION APRIL 16th marked Al Hamra Golf Club’s fourth anniversary and to mark the occasion Members took on the teaching professionals in a fourball Texas Scramble event.

The Al Hamra Pro’s team of Andrew Pilfold, Ross McArthur, Simon Mees and Blair Smith laid down the challenge for any team to beat them and fortunately for them their score of 61.4 remained unbeaten.

The winning amateur team of Hermes Frare, George Ward, Steve Dunnage and Craig McGuire finished with a net score of 62.3 following the deduction of their 4.7 handicap to take the honours while in second place, only 0.8 further back on 63.1, was the team of Steve Rayment, David

Thomas and Eric and Rita Engelbrecht following their gross total of 67. A cake cutting ceremony followed the game as the club celebrated their four year milestone.

KATHY TAKES THE AL HAMRA TROPHY NEW member Kathy Richardson scored a soaring 38 points to win her first major accolade since joining Al Hamra by emerging victorious in the prestigious Al Hamra Trophy.

Kathy’s haul was three points better than Steve Rayment and Dave Martin who had to undergo a card play-off to settle the podium places and it was Rayment who came in second thanks to his better last six hole score. Other prizes on offer were won by Cindy Rials for her better front nine while the best back nine was shot by George Ward. www.wwgolf.biz www.wwgolf.biz

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LOCKER ROOM

ECCO BIOM GOLF THE revolutionary Biom Golf shoe from ECCO is based around the belief that the foot should be allowed to move as naturally as possible, the way nature intended. Created from decades of ECCO research into the human foot, the first natural motion golf shoe showcases a patented design that takes advantage of the foot’s system for absorbing impact while bringing players closer to the ground for unmatched feel and traction. The shoe differs from other golf shoes insofar as it has an ultra-low profile construction and is extremely light. Due to its extreme light weight, BIOM GOLF provides the wearer an exceptionally stable swing platform, while its supple construction frees the foot for superb followthrough. www.ecco.com

IAN POULTER DESIGN LIMITED EDITION BELT BRING a bit of rock n roll to the golf course with this Limited Edition IJP Design belt. The luxurious belt comes with a detachable crest enamel buckle and features stylish printed lining.

Now available at Golf House Montgomerie, Arabian ranches, Dubai mall and Mall of Emirates.

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EVERYTHING YOU WOULD WANT IN YOUR LOCKER... AND MORE! CLUBS

BALLS

CLOTHING

BAGS

COOL STUFF

SENHEISSER 680 HUBLOT KINGPMX POWER SPORTS HEADPHONE RED DEVIL

NIKE DEPARTURE RUCK SACK

FANS of Manchester United F.C. will love this third special edition of the famous Hublot King Power watch, the King Power Red Devil. It’s packed with new technical details such as a new chronograph movement with two centre chrono hands for clearer readability.

The dial is transparent, meaning you can see the internal mechanisms of the watch. In a nod to Old Trafford’s more than 100-year-old turf the watch indexes come in a natural grassgreen colour, obtained using real blades of grass from Old Trafford, picked and preserved especially by the club’s groundsmen for the making of this limited series. The limited edition watch is produced in 500 numbered pieces for the micro-blasted black ceramic version and in 250 pieces for the King Gold 18K version.

Every watch is accompanied by a certificate guaranteeing its authenticity, signed personally

by Sir Alex Ferguson. www.hublot.com

THE Nike Departure Ruck Sack is perfect for the travelling golfer. Made with durable woven denier linen, it has 12 different pockets, including: an organisational pocket with it’s own moulded PDA holder, a magazine sleeve, a fleece lined valuables pocket, separate padded laptop pocket, discrete valuables pocket and laptop cord pocket. www.nike.com

2011 TITLEIST BALL MARKER GOLF ADJUSTABLE CAPS LOOK the part on the course with this stylish range of hats from Titleist. Each cap features an adjustable strap to fit all sizes and a structured crown profile for that fitted look. There are eight bold colours to choose from with contrasting underpeak, eyelets and buttons.

The famous Titleist logo is raised with a contrasting shadow while each hat comes with a free Titleist ball marker which fits magnetically onto the peak of the cap. www.titleist.com

www.wwgolf.biz

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GROOM ROOM

AFTER A LONG DAY ON THE COURSE, IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO TAKE TIME OUT TO FRESHEN UP

DHC DEEP CLEANSING OIL This water-soluble Deep Cleansing Oil contains a rich blend of skin-loving vitamin E and hydrating olive oil. It helps unclog pores by clearing impurities and make-up, leaving your face a fresh, clean grime-free zone. It also includes olive oil and vitamin E to fight free radicals.

DERMALOGICA ULTRACALMING MIST This soothing, hydrating mist from Dermalogica quickly relieves sensitivity while helping to calm redness, stinging and aggravated skin. It contains an exclusive UltraCalming Complex made with oat and botanical actives that work below the surface to help minimise discomfort, burning and itching.

GIELLY GREEN BOUTIQUE COLLECTION HAND AND BODY WASH The Gielly Green Boutique Collection is a combination of pure natural ingredients selected geographically for the unique health benefits they provide your hair and scalp. Gielly Green Hand and Body Wash will cleanse skin leaving it refreshed and moisturised.

VERSACE L’HOMME EDT OLE HENRIKSEN HERBAL DAY CRÈME The lovely, light textured day crème contains important anti-oxidant vitamins plus chamomile and grape seed oil to leave your skin feeling purified, renewed and uplifted.

Versace’s classic L’Homme fragrance is a captivating bouquet which contrasts sensual woody and spicy notes with a fresh cocktail of Mediterranean citrus fruits. Technical jargon: Top notes – lemon, petit grain, basil, pimento. Heart notes – cinnamon, cedar, patchouli, sandalwood, rose. Base notes – oakmoss, leather, labdanum, tonka, vanilla.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER WORLDWIDEGOLF www.wwgolf.biz

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DRIVER - FAIRWAY - HYBRID - IRONS - WEDGES - PUTTER

IN THE

JOANNE BATES

BAG

PGA PROFESSIONAL AL BADIA GOLF CLUB

Q: When did you first start playing golf?

A: I had my first golf lesson at the age of 13 at Ely City Golf Club in Cambridgeshire.

After that first lesson I spent most of my time practising and playing there for the next four years. It was a great golf club, everyone was very encouraging, especially as there were no other girls who played golf there. My first handicap was 35.

Q: How long have you been in Dubai for?

A: I have been in Dubai now for a year and a half and it has flown by. It’s an amazing place, everyone at Al Badia Golf Club Intercontinental has been very supportive. The facilities we have at the club for teaching are amazing and it’s great to see so many ladies coming along to have lessons and so many ladies taking up golf.

Q: What was your first set of clubs?

A: My first set of golf clubs were a very attractive set of Lady Tour Editions. They were actually custom fit for me and I loved them. I used these for quite a few years.

It’s amazing to see how much equipment technology has come on since then and changed the game of golf. If someone is really keen on their golf then I highly recommend investing in custom fit equipment.

Q: Who would be your dream fourball?

A: Well, Tiger Woods would definitely be one of them, it would be awesome to play a round with him. Another would be Lee Westwood as I’m a big fan of his and I think he’d be good fun. The third would be Nelson Mandela, but with all his life experiences I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on my game because I would be asking loads of questions!

Q: Who is your golfing hero and why?

A: There are many golfers who I love watching and love reading about their philosophies but I would have to share this honour between my first golf instructor Dave Dicker and another coach Mickey Walker. Dave was a great coach and really encouraged me and made me feel at ease in the lessons. As a coach myself I ensure all my students feel at ease in my company and in an environment where they are keen to learn. Once I had made my mind up that my career would be in golf I visited Mickey for some lessons and to get an insight into the world of teaching and being a PGA Instructor.

Q: If you were the head of the R&A, what rule would you change?

A: Rules can cause a headache for everyone from time to time because they can be quite complicated. I can’t think of a rule I would change as such, I would just want a clearer explanation of water hazards so that club golfers can easily recognise the procedure concerning the red and yellow stakes. This is the rule that I get asked about the most.

Driver: Fairway wood: Hybrid: Hybrid: Irons (4-SW): Putter: 96

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Taylor Made Superfast 10.5° Reg Mens Flex Taylor Made Superfast 3 wood reg Mens shaft Taylor Made Rescue 3 wood men’s reg shaft Taylor Made Rescue 5 wood men’s reg shaft R9 irons graphite M shaft ½ inch shorter 2° flatter Taylor Made Monaco Rossa 32inch

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Come in today for an unforgettable experience and see why Dubai has voted us Best Steak House again!

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| www.ruthschris.ae

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