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Sport
SWINGING INTO ACTION WITH TOM ROURKE AT THE ELS CLUB Renowned as one of the finest golfing destinations in the Middle East, the unique experience of The Els Club is one that creates everlasting memories and should be on every golfer’s must-play list. Impressive, but there’s also a lot more going on at The Els Club, which has made it incredibly popular with families and those who don’t know their birdies from their eagles. To gain more insight, Education UAE spoke to General Manager Tom Rourke, who discussed everything from his beginnings in golf and how he juggles family and work-life through to the ever-expanding facilities at The Els Club, his dream of playing Tiger Woods, and one of his other big passions, Newcastle United. EDUAE: What is your background in golf? Tom Rourke: I started playing golf at the age of 13 and my first handicap was 14 at the age of 14. I completed my work experience placement at my local golf course in Birmingham and realised how much I enjoyed being around golf and working in the hospitality industry. I joined The Belfry at the age of 18, turned professional and completed the PGA qualification before leaving Birmingham in 2005 to work in the Middle East. I thoroughly enjoy working in the golf industry and feel very fortunate to have worked in golf all of my life. EDUAE: When did you join The Els Club? Tom: I joined The Els Club in July 2020. I always appreciated The Els Club, the incredible playing conditions, the spectacular clubhouse, and its reputation as one of the very best golf courses in the UAE. It was designed by the legendary
Ernie Els and is one of the International Flagship properties for Troon Golf International. After meeting with the owner and senior management our vision for The Els Club aligned and it was an immediate yes from me to join the very talented team at The Els Club and Dubai Sports City. EDUAE: Is it important for a club like The Els Club to be more than ‘just’ a golf club? Tom: We at The Els Club prioritise members and we must continue to keep our members at the top of the agenda to enhance the club for their enjoyment and benefit. We are seeing members spending more time at the golf club playing golf, having meetings, and socialising than ever before. We continue to develop the offering with this in mind, giving multiple options for dining, meetings, relaxation and entertainment. We are also at the centre of the Victory Heights residential
community and are embracing and engaging with family-friendly initiatives to make the club accessible for all. EDUAE: With so much happening at The Els Club over the past few months, what are the latest updates? Tom: We’ve been developing The Els Club as a destination with some fantastic additions, which include padel courts, new artificial surfaces and shading at our practice facilities, new golf carts, a Wellputt Studio at our CH3 Academy, spa facilities, ladies salon, barbers shop, and Country Club facilities, incorporating a resort swimming pool, restaurant, gym and studio. We are working closely with fitness professionals VITA, developing personal training sessions, group exercise classes, boot camps and transformations that have been very successful and well-received.
