Welcome to all Lady Professionals who are going to be at our Club during the first week of December for the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters which is the final event of the season for them - a week when we will be treated to watching a host of top players on the Majlis course. Welcome to each and every one of you - enjoy the course and the wonderful hospitality and welcome at Emirates Golf Club.
As I am writing this I am on my way back from Dublin having been for the weekend to watch the Ireland v New Zealand rugby match. With fewer than 30 seconds remaining of the match, Ireland were ahead 22-17 and seemingly on course to walk into the history books with their first win over the
very quickly. The Mixed Christmas Scramble takes place on 20th December - book early for this also and don’t forget the Christmas attire. It’s sure to be a fun day and one that will get everyone into the festive spirit.
Season’s Greetings to everyone!
Jacqui Barry
Congratulations to Dubai on winning the bid to host Expo 2020 beating opponents Brazil, Russia and Turkey.
Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said after the win,
“We renew our promise to astonish the world in 2020. Dubai Expo2020 will breathe new life into the ancient role of the Middle East as a melting pot for cultures and creativity,”
He promised that the Dubai expo would “undoubtedly stand out as the best edition in the history of the event in terms of preparation and presentation”.
Emirates Golf Club Senior Management
Christopher May Chief Executive Officer cmay@dubaigolf.com
Chef Max Grenard Culinary Director mgrenard@dubaigolf.com
Barney Coleman Director of Golf bcoleman@dubaigolf.com
Ganesh Mangathil In House Publishing Manager gmangathil@dubaigolf.com
Andrew Matthews PGA, Membership Services Manager
Andrew Whitelaw General Manager awhitelaw@dubaigolf.com
Craig Haldane Director - Golf Course Maintenance chaldane@dubaigolf.com
Adele Cowgill Head of Sales and Marketing acowgill@dubaigolf.com
Keith Wilkes Retail Manager kwilkes@dubaigolf.com
Stephen Deane Head Academy Professional sdeane@dubaigolf.com
Andy Meech Head of Sport and Leisure ameech@dubaigolf.com
Steen Simon Food and Beverage Manager ssimon@dubaigolf.com
Follow Emirates Golf Club on Facebook for the latest news, views and special offers. We already have over 10,293 likes. Follow us on Twitter@emiratesgc
Dear Members,
The Omega Dubai Ladies’ Masters is upon us once again and we look forward to another fantastic week with an exciting line up of international stars, including world number two Stacy Lewis and defending champion Shanshan Feng. The event once again starts on a Wednesday and finishes on Saturday to ensure larger crowds and a great atmosphere for the final day. The Majlis course is in tremendous condition with the greens running hard and fast and the rough beginning demand accuracy off the tee ensuring we once again get a great champion at the end of the week.
We are fortunate this year to have the Faldo course open for play during the week of the event
Well, notwithstanding the recent storms, the weather has certainly improved over the past few weeks and that is helping to fill up the fairways. Our Club competitions are very well subscribed and everyone appears to be getting into the swing of the new season. That’s great to see, even though a busy course inevitably leads to some delay in the pace of play. There is one point concerning which I would like to ask for everyone’s assistance; on these busy days, please exit the green of the hole just played as soon as you have finished. This will help to ease the collective blood pressure of those waiting to play their approach shots! Cards can be marked on the next tee, and to save some time, please don’t leave your clubs at a point where you have to walk back down the fairway to retrieve them! Thank you.
allowing golfing access to our members for the entire week of the tournament. The Faldo course has been overseeded this winter to enhance the look and playability of the course and we hope that you continue to enjoy the changes we have made to the course.
There will be lots happening in the coming weeks with a packed calendar of events both golfing and social and I hope you are able to make use of the club.
Bookings for the festive period are now open and filling up fast so please remember to reserve your space in advance at one of our themed events. We have special celebrations in all of our restaurants including family brunches in M’s, gourmet dinners in Le Classique and a Christmas day with a difference in Spike
Bar. In addition if you want to celebrate at home but don’t want to do the cooking then our popular turkey takeaway service returns for the 2013 festive season.
New Year’s Eve is set to be another fantastic evening with a host of exciting events taking place throughout the Club including Oscars Night in Le Classique, a New Year’s Eve dinner in M’s and a Hollywood Bollywood themed evening in Spike Bar!
I look forward to welcoming you to Emirates Golf Club during December.
Andrew Whitelaw CCM General Manager
I mentioned last month that I was discovering more of what goes into making this the renowned Club that it is and some of those details are surprising. I went to visit the accommodation in Al Quoz where the Junior staff live, and it is quite a facility. There are nearly 900 people housed there, including some in married quarters and the facilities for dining, recreation, and sports are comprehensive. The site houses staff from Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, and Dubai Sports
City in addition to EGC. Living off-site of course necessitates extra time for travel and buses start running to and fro at 4.30am (3.30 in the summer!) and thus breakfast is served for them from 2.45am onwards – and you thought you had to get up early to book a tee time…………… At EGC full breakfast catering is available from 6.00am onwards and staff are serving at the various outlets throughout the day. Indeed, staff in Le Classique do not depart until after the last diner chooses to leave and this can sometimes be after the new dawn has broken!
We have over 20 different nationalities working at our Club, with the youngest aged 18 years, and the oldest, a splendid 60. All 325 of them work hard to make our time at the Club as enjoyable as they can, and I for one, very much appreciate the job that each of them does. In this respect, I would again ask for your contribution of gifts towards the raffle for our Junior Staff fund. Lanie Amora in Membership Services is the lady to contact and your generosity will be very much appreciated.
Congratulations to all those members who have managed to win prizes in our various competitions over the past month; there has been some very good play indeed on the fairways. Competition for The Hickory Putter
is also keen with the leading score presently a net 59 – wow!! I would also like to record the victory by our Scratch League Team, captained by Johnny Aldridge, in their recent match against Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club. They managed to record a 3:1 victory on the Faldo course – well done team!! We really do have an excellent Scratch League crew; EGC came second in the League last year, so let’s hope they can go one step better than that this year.
On the subject of winners, it was great to see Henrik Stenson’s victory in the Race to Dubai. Henrik is a familiar face to many at our Club, having been based here in Dubai for a number of years. Given that he was in a serious slump until this year, it just goes to show what hard work can accomplish –time for me to go and book some lessons!
Finally, we have the Omega Dubai Ladies’ Masters coming up very soon so it will be an opportunity to watch some real experts. Club Management has also decided to leave the Faldo course open for play at the same time so you won’t have to forgo your own game either!
Dick Purchase Club Captain 2013 – 2014
Dick Purchase (captain), Suresh Shewakramani and Manoj Kapur with Rod Bogg (On Course Golf)
Winter has finally come to Dubai and we are now beginning to enjoy walking the Majilis which is in preparation for the Dubai Ladies’ Masters from the 1st – 7th December. This should be a marvellous event showcasing the best of the ladies professional golf circuit and I hope to see many of you there.
Our own Ladies’ Section has had a full and busy month with a Medal, Stableford and the Heritage Trophy, a two-week event with a round on the Faldo and one on the Majlis. Congratulations go to Cathrine Clark who was victorious overall scoring an amazing 80 Stableford points with runner-up Ashley Anderson and Mimi Hosking hot on her heels. Thanks to all the regulars who turn out week after week in our various competitions.
November has seemed somewhat quiet after Pink October and I am
delighted to announce that we raised an amazing AED 67,630 in aid of Breast Cancer Arabia. Thank you to everyone who got involved in this.
The year seems to be speeding to an end and I am looking forward to our Christmas events in the Ladies’ Section – we have the Ladies’ Christmas Scramble on Monday 9th December with all the wonderful Christmas outfits that day followed by the traditional Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 11th December in Le Classique. There is also a Staff/Member Scramble in December and as someone who has played in these before I would urge you to get involved – it is a chance to play and get to know some of the staff who look after our golf out there on the course and I know the staff really enjoy these events.
I have spoken to many new members who seem unaware that we have a special raffle at
this time of year with all of the funds raised going to the Junior Staff at the Club. A letter has gone out about this but I would ask all of you to remember just how much of a contribution the staff make to us in our everyday activities at the Club, from the minute we arrive to the minute we leave, and to donate to this worthy cause. This raffle is drawn at the Christmas Mixed Scramble on 20th December.
I would like to wish everyonestaff and members – Season’s Greetings and a ‘Guid New Year 2014’ For those who are travelling to see families, I wish you a safe journey and ‘haste ye back’ . If you are staying here and perhaps welcoming family, as I am, then have a wonderful time. See you out there on the courses.
Barbara Head
Lady Captain 2013 - 2014
STABLEFORD
HERITAGE TROPHY
CLASH OF THE TITANS
Clash of the Titans, a bi-annual competition between Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club took place last month when fifteen Members and five Golf Pros from either side contested this prestigious trophy.
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club claimed victory with a total of 381 points in comparison to Emirates Golf Club’s 367. George Horan, Club Captain of the Creek, accepted the trophy from Dick Purchase.
Mark Irwin claimed Nearest the Pin on hole 2 while David Formas took the Nearest the Pin award on hole 11.
Within the tournament eleven members from the two clubs who had clinched a Mashreq Medal Championship in Association with BMW and Harvey Nichols Dubai, competed in an individual stableford competition. Dalip Tripathi recorded a fantastic score of 34 Stableford points and, as a result, he was invited to join the BMW Pro-Am team at the DP World Tour Championship on Tuesday 12th November.
EGC Club Captain Dick Purchase handing the trophy to Creek Club Captain George Horan.
DIWALI SHAMBLE
Friday 1st November 2013
The Midcom Diwali Scramble attracted a superb turnout of 128 players on the Majlis course with the quartet of Charlie Stricklin, Mathys, Sanchia and Quinton Oberholster combining well to win with a score of 58.5. Following their support of Moshe Kohl’s Captain’s Day last season, Midcom continued their affinity with Emirates Golf Club by coming on board as the main sponsor of the Diwali Scramble.
The team of Husam Al Sayed, Saad Ahmed, Ahmed Mashgari and Ahmed Menhali clinched runners-up place with a 59.4 total. One shot further back in third place was the team of Rakish Misra, Manoj Kapur, Madhu and Archie Sharma.
The nearest the pin prizes were also well supported with Dhamani Jewels kindly donating a pearl necklace for the most accurate shot by a lady golfer on the fourth hole. Maura Duggan was delighted to go home with such a fantastic prize. Prime Tankers sponsored the prize on the 7th hole with a voucher for M’s restaurant that was won by Robert Curtis. Qamar Rasheed won a prize on hole 11, kindly sponsored by Sanjeev Gheewala. Mukesh Kochar and Richi Rich Foods sponsored the 15th hole which was won by Mathys Oberholster.
The 128 golfing members and additional guests were
WINNERS
Mathys Oberholster
Sanchia Oberholster
NEAREST THE PIN
HOLE # 4 (LADIES): Maura Duggan
HOLE # 7 (GENTS): Robert Curtis
HOLE # 11 (FOR ALL): Qamar Rasheed
HOLE # 15 (FOR ALL): Mathys Oberholster
Born in Dublin Ireland; learned the game in Forest Little GC Dublin; favourite hole is normally the 19th but on course it’s the 18th hole!
EGC SCRATCH MATCHPLAY TEAM 2013-2014
EGC has a squad of 19 low handicap players, captained by Johnny Aldridge; the team will compete in six matches throughout the season as per the schedule below:
• HOME Sharjah Golf 16th November 1pm - 1.30pm (Won 3 and 1)
• AWAY Jumeirah Golf Estates on the 29th November Tee Times 8.40 – 9.10 Course – Fire
• AWAY Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club 30th November 1pm shotgun
• AWAY Sharjah Golf 18th January 7.40am - 8.10am
• HOME Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club21st March 1pm - 1.30pm FALDO
• TBA HOME FALDO against Jumeirah Golf Estates
The semi-finals will be made up of the four league winners, and will be played at neutral venues (which will be agreed once the participants are known), with the final again being on a cumulative home and away basis.
Eight players are selected from the squad for each match and the format is betterball matchplay, with all players playing off scratch. One point is awarded for a win and half a point for a halved match.
The team would like to thank Ewan Cameron and Johnny Aldridge for the team uniform. What a success! They certainly look like the top players from a top club like EGC and they truly appreciate what Ewan and Johnny have done! Below is an introduction to the players from our scratch team who have shared a few snippets of information about themselves…. where they were born, where they learned the game and their favourite hole on the Majlis.
Johnny will be sharing a write-up after each match with the all results… Good luck to our team!
Vice Captain, EGC Scratch Team. Born Dumfriesshire, Scotland; early starter on the Scottish links, (Southerness GC); favourite hole -15th.
Born in Aligarh, India, learned to play golf in Dubai at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club; favourite hole – 8th.
Born in Delhi, India. I began to play golf two years ago in Dubai at Emirates Golf Club; favourite hole – 8th.
I think I would probably go
Johnny Aldridge Captain, EGC Scratch Team. Born in Colorado USA; learned the game at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club; favourite hole -14th.
Paul Byrne
Pontus Fredriksson
Born in Stockholm Sweden; tried to learn the game at Saltsjobadens GK favourite hole – 8th.
Inaan Budhiraja
Ian Scott Born in learnedSunderland; to play golf at Seaham Golf Club County Durham; favourite hole - 7th.
Marcus Wallman
Born in Adelaide, South Australia; learned the game at Royal Adelaide Golf Club; favourite hole – 17th.
Tony Azoulay
Born in Manchester UK; learned to play golf in Dubai at Nad Al Sheba Club. favourite hole – 2nd.
Humayun Shahryar
Born Switzerland; the Golf
Chris Turlik, Born in Kampala, Uganda; learned the game at Emirates Golf Club; favourite hole – 6th.
Ewan Cameron
Tim Evans Born in Beirut, Lebanon; learned to play golf at Mentmore Park in UK; favourite holeany hole I birdie.
Rohit Gupta Born in India; learned the game at Nad Al Sheba; favourite hole -18th; huge risk and reward… a real game changer.
Paul Donovan Born in Hastings, England. Learned the game at Rookery Park, Lowestoft; favourite hole - 8th.
Ross Hopwood
Born in Birmingham England . Learned to play when I was 12 in UK; favourite hole -13th… and just the entire back 9.
Edward Hesson Born in Philadelphia learned to play golf oiled browns, astro-turf and sand at Abu Dhabi Golf Club; favourite hole -13th as well as all 5s and the 2nd and 17th which I can drive
Michael Harradine Born in Sharjah, UAE. Learned to play golf here with my father; Favourite hole, hmmm.... don’t really have one. If I have to choose
with the 7th.
Born in Lausanne, Switzerland; learned the game at Lausanne Golf Club; favourite hole – 8th.
Born in Alabama USA; learned the game in Bombay (Mumbai), India, favourite hole – 5th.
Our first match against Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club
On a blustery Saturday afternoon, the EGC Men’s Scratch Team was ready for the Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club as they rolled in to play the Faldo. We were eager to test our skills against Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club for the first time this season. With the EGC Team arriving just before noon at Faldo course, the team marvelled at the spectacular conditions and course quality so a big THANK YOU to Craig Haldane and his crew!
After a pep talk and handing out our new uniform, the EGC scratch team felt well equipped both physically and strategically to face their first opponents.
In the first match, Pontus Fredriksson and Kouroche Achtari led the team off and came home with a 4 & 2 victory which included an eagle on the 10th hole (Pontus was -5 under for a while!).
Rohit Gupta & Ed Hesson teed off second, and due to a great performance that ended the match 2 & 1. Teammate Rohit commented that Eddie Hesson played like a rock star!
Third to play was Michael Harradine & Ross Hopwood 4 & 3, who played well, but had to deal with the other team trying to play mind games, rattling tees in their pockets, dropping balls on the green when our player was about to puttgoodway to keep focused guys!
Vice-Captain Ewan Cameron with partner, Charlie Stricklin fought hard but lost on the 18th against their star group; though it was a tough loss for the Ewan and Charlie, it was a well-fought battle to the end, and it could have gone either way.
Emirates Golf Club Scratch Team secured three victories and won their first match. Well done boys! The goal is to build off this strong win in order to attain new heights. I would like to thank all for their support so far this season. We are grateful for everything you do!
I think most members know or recognise Craig Haldane, Director of Golf Course Maintenance, but many are perhaps not so familiar with two senior members of his team, Luke and Peter.
Luke is 28 years old and hails from Adelaide, Australia. He’s been working in the turf industry since the age of 15 and has been fortunate enough to have worked in Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Sweden and now the Middle East.
Luke has been involved in various golf course construction projects for architects such as Jack Nicklaus and Thompson Perrett and Lobb. In 2005 he received a scholarship to work and study in the US as an intern as part of the Ohio State Universities Global Turfgrass Management Programme where he was fortunate enough to spend 18 months on the crews at Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh and Sea Island Resort in Georgia. He has also worked on maintenance crews at Royal Adelaide Golf Club in South Australia and The Kinloch Club in New Zealand. With a passion for sport that extends beyond the golf course, he really enjoys being involved in the sports industry. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my first two and a half years at Emirates Golf Club and I look forward to progressing my career with Dubai Golf.”
Meet Peter Stewart
Born and brought up in St. Andrews, Scotland, Peter has been involved in the turf industry for fourteen years. He worked on the Old Course for five years and was involved in two British Opens, a British Amateur Open as well as five Dunhill Cup European tour events. Peter was then selected by the St. Andrews Links Trust to go and work at Royal Melbourne in Australia for eighteen months, during which time he was part of the Heineken Classic and Australian Open tournament preparations. From there Peter went to work in America for eighteen months on the Ohio State programme and during this time, he was involved at prestigious venues in the south such as TPC Sawgrass and the Players Championship as well as Augusta National and the Masters. Peter then looked after technical advice, sales and marketing for SubAir the subsurface aeration system invented at Augusta National by Superintendent Marsh Benson. In this role Peter was responsible for Europe and Asia and worked on many interesting golf course and stadium projects.
During his career Peter has been awarded the Toro Student of the Year award as well as the R & A Scholarship award. He is fortunate enough to be invited back to help with the set up of the Masters every year at Augusta and will be returning to do so again in April representing Dubai Golf and Emirates Golf Club.
Johnny Aldridge
Charlie Stricklin
Meet Luke Partridge
Mark Donovan Born in Hastings, England; learned to play golf on Tiger Woods PGA Tour | Golf Video Game; favourite hole - 4th.
JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
9th November 2013
BOYS’ CHAMPION
Inaan Budhiraja GROSS 70
GIRLS’ CHAMPION
Kavita Sehmi GROSS 84
RUNNER-UP
Aaron Smith GROSS 79
THIRD
Matthew Lauren GROSS 80
BEST GROSS SUPER JUNIOR CATEGORY
Suvansh Arora GROSS 94
BEST NET BOYS’ DIVISION
Karam Sehmi NET 70
BEST NET GIRLS DIVISION
Alison Muirhead NET 82
Khanna scores 26 in the first Dubai Golf Junior Series Event of2013-14
Dubai Golf hosted the first Junior Tournament Series event of the season on Thursday 31st October at Emirates Golf Club’s 9-hole Academy Course, which was made up of a strong field of 40 budding Junior golfers.
The event is the first of an eighttournament series and is part of an initiative by the Dubai Golf Academy Professionals to encourage Junior golfers to move from the driving range to the golf course. Between the two Dubai Golf Academies at Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek and Yacht Club, over 500 Juniors participate in regular weekly lessons as part of the Dubai Golf Junior Development Programme sponsored by Jumeirah and Wild Wadi Waterpark.
Mark Bruce, Golf Professional commented, “Although many of the Juniors do take the opportunity to play on the Par 3 course whenever possible, it was great to watch them showcase their skills in a competitive environment and allow our newer participants to truly see and feel what they have been working towards during their weekly lessons and practice.”
Juniors in each of the five programme levels competed against one another and each level was highly contested.
Winners received vouchers for Wild Wadi Waterpark in addition to valuable Order of Merit points.
The weather and course conditions were perfect, which added to some fantastic scoring and a great start to the Dubai Golf Junior Series.
This first event was a huge success and the Juniors are already looking forward to the second event that takes place on November 29th at Dubai Creek.
Long term development v The quick fix Every golfer is unique and individual, with differing abilities, physicality, lifestyle, mindset and goals. Each golfer is also different in how they learn, not only in how they take on board information (visual, kinaesthetic, auditory) but also preferences in their approach, what they wish to achieve and ultimately, their end goals. Of course it can be a natural instinct for every golfer to want to improve as quickly as possible; this is completely understandable and there is nothing wrong with wanting to attain this. It does raise the question, ‘can I improve instantly with a quick fix, or do I opt for a longer term plan of development?’
Both options will give the golfer a solution; however, the key differences lie in how long the solutions will last for?
A quick fix is generally a tweak within some aspect of the set up or swing that will potentially create a cure for the next round or competition, or maybe a little longer! If this is what is wanted, then again, there is absolutely no problem in this, providing it comes with the understanding that it may be temporary. Quite often a quick fix is offering a compensation for something else that is happening in the swing, a bit like putting a small sticky plaster on a gushing wound! There is no denying that there are times when a small tweak is all that is needed to provide some relief and improvement within your game, even if it simply provides a lift in confidence and enjoyment. However if you are finding that under pressure, the same problem shot consistently gets you into trouble, the quick fix option may not be the best solution.
On the flip side, long term development can sometimes seem slightly less appealing and comes with the misconception that the swing must be completely broken down
and remodelled with months of frustration, painstaking hours on the range and taking a huge step backwards before going forwards. This doesn’t have to be the case. The first key is to gain an understanding of your own swing. What is the root cause that is at the heart of my problem shot? Your coach will be instrumental in this and where possible, try not to be swayed by the well-meaning advice of your playing partners! With this understanding you start to become much more self reliant, gain faith in what you are working on, less frustrated and ultimately less tempted to try various other methods (repetitive experimentation in the long run, drags improvement out further). So the term, ‘long term development’, doesn’t have to mean long term, as in the time it takes to improve; yes it may require a little more time than the quick fix, but it simply means initially, gaining an understanding of your swing and its correlation with the ball flight, what the key root cause is and how to develop that with the most effective practice plan possible. It is worth noting that effective practice plays an integral role in speedy development, based around quality not necessarily quantity. Part of the process may also involve a more holistic approach, assessing fitness, mindset and any areas in need of change to help support development. Ultimately ‘long term’ simply means an approach that will provide consistent results further down the line and certainly assist greatly when under pressure.
As mentioned previously, all golfers are unique, individual and want different things from their game and their methods of progress. With this in mind, both options are widely available. There is not necessarily a right or wrong but the key lies in understanding and acknowledging how they operate and what they can offer to your game. With this knowledge comes free will and the choice of personal preference!
The Ladies’ Section raised the amazing sum of over 67,000 AED for Breast Cancer Arabia at the EGC Pink Ball Day on 28th October 2013. Many thanks to sponsors and to all those who bought raffle tickets in support of this charity!
The last few months have been very eventful at Fit Lab with many of the classes back in full swing now that the nice weather has finally arrived.
Parveez Mohammed is a new TRX instructor at EGC who is excellent and has a wide range of experience teaching TRX which is a full body workout challenging all the muscles in the body and with different ranges of motion. Next month please look out for a TRX class that will be specifically aimed at improving your golf game.
The Elite Tennis Academy has been going from strength to strength with lessons that cater for all standards. They have recently introduced group sessions from the age of four and it is fantastic to see how well the children respond to Luis, the Academy Director.
We recently held a tennis tournament which resulted in a fantastic turnout as you can see from the photos below. Please watch out for the Christmas tournament that is to be held on December 16th 8am-10.30am, followed by a chill-out at the swimming pool and lunch. The Ladies’ tennis mornings are still ongoing on Mondays and Thursdays 8am-10am and all standards are welcome.
A special mention must go to Jonathan Soares who has been with Dubai Golf for 20 years. He started out at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club as a Recreation Assistant and has progressed to Head Tennis Professional for the Elite Tennis Academy. It is a credit to Jonathan that he has had such an impact on the Tennis Academy and he will be sorely missed by everyone here.
We wish you and your family all the best Jonathan in your new venture.
On the Squash front, Adam Pursglove, our resident Professional, is doing a fantastic job of organising the leagues with up to 50 people participating at all levels.
The social evening on Mondays 6pm-8pm is very successful and great for all standards. Why not give it a try, then go onto quiz night and indulge in the buffet after your workout?
With the year nearly coming to an end the Fit Lab team is already working on 2014 so please look out for the Fit Lab Running Series next year - more information will be coming out soon.
Healthy Regards
Andy
Meech
Head of Sport & Leisure
PINK TENNIS TOURNAMENT
by Philippa Stumbles
On Monday 28th October, Emirates Golf Club hosted a tennis tournament in aid of Breast Cancer. Sixteen enthusiastic tennis players, all donning pink, enjoyed a wonderful morning of tennis and recreation followed by a lunch in the Spike Bar. An impressive 1480.00 AED was raised for the Safe and Sound Breast Cancer Charity from a percentage of the entrance fee as well as donations from the players and other tennis members Thanks to Emirates Golf Club management as well as Elite Tennis for the winners’ prizes.
Any new or keen players are most welcome to join the ladies’ tennis group on the courts from 8:00–10:00 am on Monday and Thursday mornings. Interest is already gathering for the Christmas Tournament being held on 16th December. All players are welcome – see below for more information.
Aquatix Swim Training is a registered Swim School with experience in teaching and coaching swimming in Dubai. We presently operate at Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club
Our Instructors are primarily AUSTSWIM trained, which is the accredited Australian programme for swimming.
Aqua Babies Splash
Coral
This is the first beginner parent and child class for 3-18 month olds.
Anemone
This class is for babies from 18 months to 2 ½ years.
Aquatots Splash
Frogs
These are new swimmers to the Aquatix Swimming programme over 2 ½ years old, or those swimmers who still need more time and practice at using cueing to go under the water.
Tadpoles
These are our confident swimmers aged from 2 to 3 years of age who are experienced at putting their faces in the water and have progressed through our younger levels.
Beginners’ Splash
Platypus - new swimmers 3 to 4 plus years of age
Beaver – 3 to 4 plus years of age
Private adult lessons and stroke corrections are also offered at both Clubs.
Mums and babies’ classes are run daily at Emirates Golf Club on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday mornings. An assessment of all swimmers over the age of 3 years will be made to ensure they are placed in the correct group based on their ability.
For booking and enquiries please email your child’s name and date of birth to: kati@aquatix.me or natasha@aquatix.me
Festive Tennis Tournament at Emirates Golf Club
Register now for our special Festive Tennis Tournament at Emirates Golf Club.
Date 16th December
Time 8am - 10.30am
Format Round robin knockout
Dress Code Wear something festive!
Cost AED 40 for members AED 60 for non members
Prizes will be available for winners. All participants receive access to the swimming pool and are welcome to enjoy a Christmas Lunch at M’s for AED 150 from 12 noon after the tournament.
Please contact Jonathon Soares on 050 346 0451 to register.
Lynda Kirby wins SensAsia for a Year!
On November 19th we presented Lynda Kirby with our ‘SensAsia for a Year’ prize after she purchased a raffle ticket during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We presented Lynda with gift vouchers for a series of treatments and a basket full of SensAsia Signature products. Lynda an avid fan of SensAsia, said, “I really can’t believe my luck! I haven’t been able to stop smiling all day!” Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and enjoyed our ‘Twist of Pink’ treatment. All monies raised will go to helping women to fight breast cancer.
Christmas Gift Vouchers
When it comes to gifts we know it can still be difficult and with so much choice it can be overwhelming, especially when choosing something for teachers, colleagues or those little rays of sunshine that make your life a bit easier everyday. Maybe they like their tootsies tickled or their pressure points pressed? Who knows? Well, let us introduce SensAsia’s Spa-aahh La Carte! - a fantastic little menu of 15-minute spa favourites such as ‘Tension-Taming Head Massage’ or our ‘Sole Revival Foot Massage’ which your gift-getter can customise their way. Buy the spa time and let them design their own SensAsia Urban Spa experience and at 65 AED per treatment it is a perfect gift for thanking those tired teachers or worn-down colleagues!! We even have a special teacher’s tag for our gift vouchers which is perfect for letting them know you appreciate them taking care of your rugrats!! (195AED minimum spend).
Parveez Mohamed
Parveez is a TRX Programme Developer and Fitness Director for Advantage Sports with over 15 years in the Health & Fitness industry as a group fitness trainer, personal trainer and Club Operations Manager. Parveez takes TRX Suspension Training to a new level, introducing the functional and fun elements of training that deliver safe and effective changes to your body. He has worked with individuals whose goals are weight loss, rehab, sports performance or general fitness. Parveez moved to Dubai eight years ago as part of the pre-opening team for Emaar’s leisure brand, Hayya Health Clubs where he worked for two clubs as Leisure Operations Manager, master trainer, Director for demo team and brand ambassador for Hayya. As a fitness expert he has written for Good Taste and Men’s Health magazines on health tips and fitness knowledge.
The difference beTween sTaTic and dynamic sTreTching
by Donna Masing, Sports Massage Specialist.
If you have ever played any level of club sport, it’s likely you have received some conflicting information about stretching.
Ballistic, static, dynamic, proprioceptive neuromuscular…..what? It all sounds so complicated!
Here’s how to simplify it. If you are about to hit a round on the Faldo, you need to warm up your muscles to prepare them for the activity. As it’s golf you’re playing, you’ll need to specifically address the muscles surrounding your pelvis, thighs, middle back and your shoulders.
of injury, so this is why it’s important not to do sport ‘from cold’. In fact, according to one golf-specific study performed at the Bloomsberg University of Pennsylvania, you are nine times less likely to injure yourself if you warm up.
Warm muscles also pull oxygen from the blood more effectively and are better at using muscle fuel that’s been stashed elsewhere.
the buffet at Spikes. Hold it right there! You haven’t cooled down or returned your muscle fibres to their correct length. When we exercise, blood flushes our muscles, allowing us to take them into further ranges of motion than before. But if you don’t follow a cool-down regime, the muscle fibres can form haphazard patterns – also known as muscle knots. We need to guide the fibres to the right direction and length by doing static stretching.
Studies performed by the University of Nevada in 2008 show that static stretching before an event can decrease muscle strength by up to a whopping 30%. For the intellectuals reading this, that’s called a neuromuscular inhibitory response.
Try this; stand in your tee off position (minus the driver!) and place your hands in front of you, palms facing the ground. Turn to one side, raising your arm as you do so, and follow with the head, so you continue looking at your hand. Relax the knees but keep your feet planted, so the movement is coming from your thoracic (middle) spine. Reaching really far is not the objective, so do not strain yourself. Lower the arm to meet the other, and repeat the action on the opposite side. Do this action a few times, until you feel yourself loosen up and start to naturally move further around.
This is a great dynamic way to bring blood flow to the back muscles and to a lesser extent, to the shoulders. A nicely warmedup muscle is going to be able to withstand greater force before reaching the point
Around two-thirds of golfers seldom or never bother to warm up. Consider this, a 2004 study showed that golfers who did dynamic warm up exercises increased their club head speed and were projected to have dropped their handicaps by seven strokes over seven weeks.
A good dynamic warm up should only take about 5 to 10 minutes, 5 minutes prior to the start of your event or tee off. These exercises are most effective when they are sports specific. There’s not much point in a golfer using a sprinter’s warm up routine.
So you finished the Faldo and you are making a beeline to
So remember this, before activity you need to bring blood, oxygen and fuel to your muscles for more power, stamina and reduced risk of injury. After activity you need to prevent stiffness and muscle
An important tip: when static stretching ,move so that you feel a pull on the muscle, but not pain. Static stretches really need to be held for a minimum of 30 seconds and performed multiple times.
Happy golfing!
To book a sports massage with Donna, contact Bespoke Wellness on info@bespoke-wellness.com or call 055 372 4670
Fitness Activity Schedule December 2013
Social Events – Dates For Your Diary
9th Christmas Tree Lighting, Spike Bar Terrace 7pm - 10pm Club Night & Choir 16th Festive Club Night Ball Spike Bar 8pm - 2am 20th & 21st Festive Family Brunch M’s 12pm - 3pm
On In December Golf Events
Ask The Rules Wizard
During the final round of the DP World Tour Championship I was called to a ruling on the 14th hole of the Earth course. Raphael Jacquelin had gone for the green in two on the long par 5. His ball had missed the green to the right plugging in the top of a bunker. He asked me what his options were under the unplayable ball rule.
I informed him he has 3 options:
1) Go back to where he last played, 250 yards plus down the fairway
2) Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped (but must stay within the bunker)
3) Drop a ball within 2 club lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not hearer the hole (and must stay within the bunker)
Raphael chose option 2 and cleverly dropped the ball on the down slope so that his ball didn’t plug. This was using the rules to his advantage and as the ball didn’t role more than 2 club lengths from where it pitched it was in play..
National Bank of Oman Classic at Almouj, Oman Kakko claims card with Classic Oman victory
Rooke Kakko, from Finland, sealed his card for the 2014 European Tour season as he claimed his first title as a Professional with a nerveless performance and a twoshot win in the inaugural National Bank of Oman Golf Classic.
In searing hot conditions at the majestic Almouj Golf, The Wave, Muscat, Oman, the 31-year old produced a final round worthy of the occasion in the penultimate event of the European Challenge Tour season. The victory, courtesy of a three under par final round 69, elevated the Orlando-based player from 17th to sixth in the rankings, guaranteeing him one of the 15 cards available for the European Tour at the conclusion of the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club the following week.
While Kakko began with two birdies to extend his one-shot overnight lead to three before moving four clear at one point, it was no walk in the park for the man whose only previous victory on the Challenge Tour came as an amateur and on home soil back in 2004.
Dane Lucas Bjerregaard made an almighty push for the title midway through the day when he carded three consecutive birdies from the tenth hole to get within one of Kakko.
A bogey for Bjerregaard at the 13th and a birdie for Kakko at the 14th meant the gap was back to three and, while the Dane picked up one more shot at the par five 16th to ensure a nervy finish, Kakko pierced the middle of the fairway with his drive down the 18th before finishing with a solid par to clinch the title on 14 under.
“Today I felt like this was my moment, when I was going to grab hold of it, so it feels amazing,” said Kakko, who let out an almighty roar when he holed the final putt. “What an accomplishment. I’m just so proud of how I handled myself
shots and good putts.
“After I hit that tee shot at 18 I figured that had to be pretty much it. I saw that Bjerregaard made par on the last so the drive was the big one, not the putt. I haven’t won as a Professional and that’s why we’re here every week. We want to win these tournaments and I’ve had a couple of chances.
It’s unbelievable to have a European Tour card secured. When you set yourself a goal for top 15 and then accomplish that, it’s such a fulfilling feeling.
I don’t have words for it. I’m so happy, just delighted. I get to go home now to my family after the Grand Final and I don’t have to go to Qualifying School, so that’s such a big plus. I think I get to play the World Cup with Mikko Korhonen too so that’s going to be a nice Christmas present.”
Bjerregaard, meanwhile, was disappointed to have missed out having come close, but having needed a huge result this week just to secure a place in the season-ending Grand Final, he was delighted to have achieved that goal by moving from 57th in the rankings to 35th.
UAEPGA EVENT
Emirates Golf Club Professional
Alistair Brown continued his solid start to the 2013/14 UAEPGA season by claiming his first ever UAEPGA title in a tense, sudden death play-off over Anthony Buchanan (Tower Links) and fellow Emirates Golf Club Professional Jonathon Craddock All three players posted impressive one-over par rounds of 73 on the immaculately presented layout at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
In the play-off Alistair held his nerve on the tough 4th hole a to score a solid par 4 to his opponents’ bogey 5s to claim the win.
A small consolation for Buchanan after finishing 2nd in all three events so far this season, is that he is now top of the Order of Merit ahead of Alistair Brown and the absent Callum Nicoll.
Another Emirates Golf Club Professional Andy Matthews, who played well in his first
event back after shoulder surgery, shared
Alistair was delighted with his performance but also his overall experience at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club: “This was my first time playing the course at Saadiyat and I can honestly say this was one of my best experiences on a golf course. The service standards, views and golf course are among the best in the world.”
Having moved to Dubai at the age of 15, Tom enjoyed a successful amateur career reducing his handicap from 16 to +2 in four years under the guidance of Mark Gregson-Walters. Tom then spent three years at the University of Birmingham achieving a 2.1 in the Applied Golf Management Studies BSc (Hons) degree programme. During his time in Birmingham, Tom developed an interest in golf specific fitness and focused on this area for his final year dissertation working with leading 3D analysts Mark Bull and Matt Bridge, exploring the effectiveness of Ramsey McMaster’s golf specific fitness training techniques upon the performance of elite amateur and professional golfers.
Tom has previously worked at two highly prestigious golf clubs, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, the home of amateur golf and the site for many historic British Opens and secondly, at Castiglion Del Bosco Golf Club, Tuscany, a highly exclusive private members’ club providing a high-end service in coaching, golf operations and retail.
Tom is delighted to be back in the region where he learned the game and hopes to pass on his expertise, helping his students to achieve their golfing potential at The Academy at Emirates Golf Club.
Introducing the Emirates Cup
The Emirates Cup is a brand new members event where you get the opportunity to challenge the staff from Dubai Golf.
Matches will be played over 18 holes on the Majlis or Faldo course and will be a pairs format, where two members will take on two members of Dubai Golf staff. All matches will contribute to the overall team score to determine who claims overall victory in the series!
Event dates for November and December are provided below:
DECEmbER
monday 9th 12.55pm Faldo course
Thursday 12th 8.05am majlis course
monday 16th 12.50pm majlis course
Thursday 19th 8am majlis course
monday 23rd 1pm majlis course
monday 30th 1pm majlis course
To register your place please contact Andrew Matthews, Membership Services Manager on amatthews@dubaigolf.com.
www.dubaigolf.com
TOP PICKS FROM THE TOURS
Henrik Stenson
Last month Henrik Stenson became the first player to win the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour in the same year after winning the World Tour Championship by six shots in Dubai. His final round of 64 included six birdies, finishing with an eagle for a bogey-free 64 and a 25-under-par total, a new tournament record. It really was a stunning display of golf shots which was awesome to watch!
“It has been an incredible summer for me, the [autumn] in America was great and now this,” said Stenson, who was second in the Open and third in the US PGA Championship before his FedEx Cup triumph.
Stenson also had the added satisfaction of winning $100 from Ian Poulter who finished behind him on the money list, with Poulter also having to act as his waiter for the evening.
Jarod
Lyle
Jarrod Lyle, a 32-year-old professional golfer from Australia, tearfully teed it up in the first round of the Australian Masters at Royal Melbourne last month which marked his return to competitive golf after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia - the second time he has beaten that form of cancer in his lifetime. Lyle had set himself the goal of surviving the Royal Melbourne course long enough to make the weekend in his first professional tournament since overcoming leukaemia for a second time.
‘’I’ve done it,’’ he said after his second round, with a mixture of relief and excitement. ‘’To me, it feels like I’ve won the tournament. I felt like I had a two-shot lead on that last hole and all I wanted to do was just dribble it in so I didn’t screw it up and miss the cut. I couldn’t be happier right now.’’
Festive Season at Emirates Golf Club
Seasonal Dining at Emirates Golf Club
1st – 30th December
Turkey To Go
Season’s Greetings
With the festive season fast approaching, Emirates Golf Club are proud to announce an exciting range of packages and events that are sure to brighten up this special time of year for you, your family and your friends.
Whether you wish to enjoy an intimate Christmas gathering, welcome in the New Year in style or if you just need a helping hand in the kitchen, we guarantee an unforgettable festive experience at Emirates Golf Club.
For further information or to make a reservation, please contact +971 4 417 9999 or email emiratesdining@dubaigolf.com
Christmas Tree Lighting, Club Night and Choir
to 3pm
to 10.30pm
If you don’t fancy doing the cooking over the festive season, we would be delighted to assist you with your Christmas lunch or dinner at home. Contact our food and beverage team to place your order and we will do all the hard work for you!
Takeaway service includes - Butterball Turkey - Forcemeat and chestnut stuffing - Chipolatas and bacon rolls (contains pork) - Brussels sprouts and parsley carrots - Roast parsnips and fondant potatoes
- Gravy and cranberry sauce
AED 95 per person
- Foie Gras de Canard en Terrine (traditional duck liver terrine marinated with Sauterne wine) with fig chutney
AED 160 per 200g is for turkey
Festive Family Brunch in M’s
M’s restaurant 20th and 21st December
With Christmas just around the corner, M’s restaurant is hosting a weekend of festive fun on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st December from 12 noon until 3pm. Along with a delicious brunch buffet, enjoy a host of festive entertainment for all the family to enjoy, including face painting, a bouncy castle and PlayStation corner. An afternoon guaranteed to get everyone into the festive spirit!
Food only
Member AED 140
Member’s Guest AED 155
Guest AED 175
Children (4 – 12 years old) AED 75 inclusive of soft beverages
Children under 4 dine for free
Food and selected beverages
Member AED 260 (wines and spirits) AED 360 (sparkling)
Member’s Guest AED 275 (wines and spirits) AED 375 (sparkling)
Guest AED 295 (wines and spirits) AED 395 (sparkling)
Reservations required
Dress code: Smart casual
Spike Bar 9th December
On Monday 9th December, the Dubai City Sound Choir will entertain guests with a selection of festive favourites from 7pm to 10pm on the Spike Bar Terrace. An evening that gets bigger and bigger every year, this is the official start of the festive season at Emirates Golf Club!
Come and join us to enjoy festive music and our delicious seasonal buffet.
Price Food only With selected beverages
Member AED 135 AED 275
Member’s Guest AED 145 AED 285
Guest AED 155 AED 295
Reservations recommended, a la carte menu is also available
Dress code: Smart casual
Festive Club Night Ball
Spike Bar 16th December
Join us on Monday 16th December from 8pm to 2am for an exciting evening of festive entertainment in Spike Bar, including a delicious Christmas buffet. Our quiz master Phil Richardson will put your festive knowledge to the test with a special quiz and our live DJ will be providing entertainment until 2am.
Reservations required, a la carte menu is also available
Dress code: Smart casual
Le 21stClassiqueDecember
Visit Le Classique on Saturday 21st December between 12 noon and 3pm for a fine afternoon filled with great food and drinks with friends and family. Indulge in an endless supplies of starters and desserts from the buffet alongside unlimited main courses from our special a la carte menu, all served to a perfection in Le Classique’s warm ambience from inside or alfresco on the stunning terrace.
Price
Member AED 295
Food and wine pairings
Member’s Guest AED 325 Guest AED 360
Make it more special and enjoy unlimited bubbly for an additional AED 140 per person.
Children under 4 dine for free Foodandselectedbeverages
Member
Member’s Guest
Guest
AED260(winesandspirits)
AED360(sparkling)
AED275(winesandspirits)
AED375(sparkling)
AED295(winesandspirits)
AED395(sparkling)
Reservationsrequired Dress code: smart casual
Christmas Day Brunch
M’s 25threstaurantDecember
Food only
Christmas Eve Club Night
Le Classique 24th December
Get
M’s restaurant will host a family Christmas Day Brunch on Wednesday 25th December, where a host of much-loved seasonal delicacies will be on offer at our extensive buffet, served from 12 noon until 3pm. For our younger guests we have a host of children’s entertainment includes Santa Claus corner with gifts, face painting, a bouncy castle and PlayStation corner.
Member AED 165
Member’s Guest AED 185 Guest AED 205 Children (4 – 12 years old) AED 75 inclusive of soft beverages
Children under 4 dine for free
Food and selected beverages
Member AED 260 (wines and spirits) AED 360 (sparkling)
Member’s Guest AED 275 (wines and spirits) AED 375 (sparkling)
Guest AED 295 (wines and spirits) AED 395 (sparkling)
Reservations required
Dress code: Smart casual
Christmas Day BBQ at Spike Bar
Spike Bar 25th December
Spike Bar has conjured a special Christmas celebration with a difference on 25th December allowing you to enjoy an afternoon on the Spike Bar terrace with a delicious BBQ.
Our BBQ features a selection of meats and seafood alongside starters and desserts from the buffet.
Price Food only With selected beverages
Member AED 175 AED 275
Member’s Guest AED 195 AED 295
Reservations required
Dress code: Smart casual
Boxing Day Lunch
Spike Bar
26th December
Continue the seasonal spirit and let us serve you and your guests with a traditional Boxing Day lunch in Spike Bar on Thursday 26th December. The delicious buffet will be served between 12 noon and 4pm.
Price Food only With selected beverages
Member AED 115 AED 265
Member’s Guest AED 125 AED 275
Guest AED 135 AED 285
Reservations required
Dress code: Smart casual
Seasons Greetings
Christmas Day Lunch
Le Classique 25th December
On Wednesday 25th December, celebrate Christmas at Le Classique with our special festive gourmet four course menu. Between 12 noon and 3pm, enjoy a four course set menu with a glass of bubbly on arrival as you relax with family and friends in the magnificent surrounds of Le Classique.
Santa Claus will be making a special visit and younger guests can enjoy our dedicated kids area with face painting and a bouncy castle.
Four course menu
Member AED 295
Member’s Guest AED 315
Guest AED 360
Reservations required
Dress code: Smart casual
For further information or to make a reservation, please contact +971 4 417 9999 or email dubaigolf.comemiratesdining@dubaigolf.com
The Andy Matthews Hall of Fame
Andy Matthews with golf legend, Peter Alliss
Ganesh with former Champion
Gonsalvez Reservations
Andy Matthews with Manchester United footballer, Robin Van Persie
Tom and Jacqui Barry with Brandan Grace at the DP World Championship
Congratulations to the team of Stathis Stathis, Haris Michaelides and Nick Evangelopoulos who finished second in the Rolex Pro-Am at the DP World Championship last month
Henrik Stenson’s supporters’ group
Photo courtesy of Gerry O’Leary
Andy Matthews with ex-England football team Manager, Fabio Capello
Golf Experience Manager, Mohammed Al Shaibani with the Red Arrows
During the month of November, Dubai Golf were presented with the award for the Golf Tourism Supplier of the Year at the prestigious International Association of Golf Tour Operator (IAGTO) Awards held in Spain. Congratulations to Pansy Gonsalvez and the Central Reservations Team on this fantastic achievement!
(In-House Publishing)
former UAE National Champion Ismail Sharif on National Day
Dubai Duty Free World Cup Golf Tournament on The Faldo: L-R: Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman Dubai Duty Free, Professional, Des Smyth, Sinead El Sibai, Vice PresidentMarketing, Dubai Duty Free
Tiger Woods achieved another first in his career while in the Turkish city of Istanbul recently by becoming the first golfer to hit balls from east to west off the Bosphorus Bridge. In front of international and local media, Woods struck several shots from the iconic structure that connects Asia and Europe.
The 1,510-metre, gravity-anchored suspension bridge is located between the Asian shore of Beylerbeyi and European neighbourhood of Ortaköy
Hole-in-One
Selma Kehoe
Par 3 13th November 2013
Glynis Hendry Abu Dhabi National
Alliss
Ashok Ahuja 15th November 2013 Hole No. 11: Majlis
If you don’t fancy doing the cooking over the festive season, we would be delighted to assist you with your Christmas lunch or dinner at home. Contact our food and beverage team to place your order and we will do all the hard work for you!
Takeaway service includes
- Butterball Turkey
- Forcemeat and chestnut stuffing
- Chipolatas and bacon rolls (contains pork)
- Brussels sprouts and parsley carrots
- Roast parsnips and fondant potatoes
- Gravy and cranberry sauce
AED 95 per person
- Foie Gras de Canard en Terrine (traditional duck liver terrine marinated with Sauterne wine) with fig chutney
AED 160 per 200g
For more information or to make a booking, please contact +971 4 417 9999 or email emiratesdining@dubaigolf.com
