Jose Coceres Champion 2000 Thomas Bjorn Champion 2001
Henrik Stenson Champion 2007 Rory McIlroy Champion 2009
Miguel Ángel Jiménez Champion 2010
Alvaro Quiros Champion 2011 Rafael Cabrera-Bello Champion 2012
Stephen Gallacher Champion 2013
Mark O’MearaChampion 2004
Robert-Jan Derksen Champion 2003
Wayne Westner Champion 1993
Ernie Els Champion 1994, 2002 and 2005
Tiger Woods Champion 2006 and 2008
Happy New Year everyone!
I’m sure we are all in the same boat with good intentions of keeping our New Year’s resolutions, which we all know, last about a week! However, here at Emirates Golf Club, we have every type of facility and instruction to help us achieve our goals. If it’s a fitness regime you’re after, head over to Fit Lab where there are many personal trainers and group fitness instructors ready to guide you through a specific programme, whether it is a one-on-one training programme, or a class, there really is something for everyone. After the hard workout in the gym the luxury of SensAsia Spa awaits for a much needed massage and some relaxation. Don’t forget that EGC members receive a 20% discount on treatments.
Staying over in the recreational area of the Club, there are tennis and squash mix-ins and tournaments, swimming lessons as well as the very popular Padeltennis, which seems to be gaining more and more participants by the week.
On the golf side of things, there are many Pros at hand to help you with your game, whether it’s a little ‘checkup’ or a major overhaul. Our facilities are second to none and so are our Pros. I finally succumbed and headed over to the Academy for a much needed lesson (or six) last month. I usually put off having lessons for as long as I can but I took the plunge - somehow or other my name must have flagged up somewhere on the teaching list because GM Andrew Whitelaw threatened to come over to take a photo..that’s how long it has been since I have been to the Academy. Well, I can honestly say, I thoroughly enjoyed it and there was an immediate improvement; it has even got me enthusiastic about practising (and those of you who know me, know all too well that I don’t enjoy taking lessons!). Well, another thing I noticed while I was there was that the Academy is exceptionally busy, not only with people taking lessons, but with so many enthusiastic juniors practising and playing the par 3. What a fantastic job our Pros do there and it’s a credit to them that there are around 300 juniors taking part in programmes, besides the many individual members’ lessons they do. So, don’t hesitate to get in touch with them if you need that little tweak!
The Ladies Masters seems such a long time ago, given that we have had the festive season since. What a fantastic final day’s play though with Stacy Lewis from USA and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum battling it out to the very last hole resulting in Phatlum winning with a birdie on the 18th.
Next on the calendar is the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the end of January, which will be the 25th staging of this event; this promises to be a fantastic week with a special one-day event (prior to the main tournament) that will feature almost all past winners of the Desert Classic with the late Seve Ballesteros being represented by his son Javier. I, for one, am really looking forward to this one! We will have the pleasure of watching some of the world’s top golfers with the likes of Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson and Rory McIroy, so this is definitely one not to be missed. There are sure to be many past members making a special trip to Dubai for this event too including Rai and Joan Legnar, Mike and Francie Gerbich, Gerry and Therese Feerick and Cameron Bellman so some good times ahead!
Following on from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic we will be able to settle back into an uninterrupted run of golf and social events plus a clear view of the 9th and 18th holes from the Clubhouse without a hospitality chalet in sight!
On that note, enjoy this milestone event and good luck to all members playing in the Pro-Am.
Jacqui Barry
Emirates Golf Club Senior Management
Christopher May Chief Executive Officer cmay@dubaigolf.com
Craig Haldane Director - Golf Course Maintenance chaldane@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
Andy Meech Head of Sport and Leisure ameech@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
Chef Max Grenard Culinary Director mgrenard@dubaigolf.com
Martin Drugan Food and Beverage Manager mdrugan@dubaigolf.com
Follow Emirates Golf Club on Facebook for the latest news, views and special offers. We already have over 10,900 likes. Follow us on Twitter@emiratesgc
Haridas
So, by the time you read this, the festive season will have come and gone and I hope each of you had a splendid time.
Now, I have to tell you that the role of Captain can never be described as onerous, but some duties are definitely less onerous than others……..
Barbara, our Lady Captain, kindly invited me to attend the Ladies’ Christmas lunch as Santa Claus, which involved being dressed as Father Christmas and dispensing gifts to those lucky enough to have their names drawn from a hat. However, apart from uttering the famous “Ho Ho Ho” I was required to have a photo taken with each winner perched on Santa’s knee. As I said, some duties are definitely less onerous than others! Thank you Barbara.
I am writing this on 18th December on a flight returning to Dubai and I am very much looking forward to the Christmas Scramble and Junior Staff Fund raffle that follows the golf on that day. I am delighted to report that due to your generosity, we will be able to give each Junior Staff member a pleasant surprise as a Christmas bonus. A sincere thank-you from both Barbara and myself to each of you who contributed prizes or cash, and/or bought raffle tickets.
COMPETITION RESULTS
The staff do an outstanding job for us, sometimes in very difficult circumstances and it is great that so many of you have recognised this and contributed to the fund.
The competitions are being keenly contested I see, with some very good scoring being recorded. Well done to all those who have met with success. The season-long Men’s Eclectic competition, ‘The Hickory Putter’, is also generating some low scores with Ishu Rupani in the lead with a score of 59! Well done Ishu and I look forward to seeing a further reduction from you, and indeed, some serious challengers coming to the fore.
On the subject of competitions, it is good to be able to record that our Scratch League Team under the Captaincy of Johnny Aldridge continues to do well. There was one disappointing result – against the Creek! – but there were two recent victories to more than compensate. Keep it going gentlemen!
The Ladies Masters was another feast of good golf, with both some exhilarating and heartbreaking moments. Professional standards are so high these days on all the Tours.
We shall of course soon be welcoming the men back for the 25th staging of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. It seems astonishing
that we are about to see this outstanding event reach its quarter century and gID (golf in Dubai) are celebrating the occasion in style by inviting all past winners to take part. So far many have accepted and Seve’s son, Javier, will represent his sorely missed father - a very nice touch by gID I think. Well done Mo Juma Buamain.
Following his excellent publication covering the 25-year history of Emirates Golf Club, Rod Bogg has accepted a commission to write a companion book devoted to the first 25 years of the Dubai Desert Classic. I am confident that it will be equally as good.
Well, I guess that covers what I want to say for another month; it is amazing how quickly time passes and our editor Jacqui is sending me a reminder that I need to pen my next column. Thank you Jacqui for the hard work you put in behind the scenes; it would be a far poorer Club without your contribution. In closing I would like to wish each of you, and your loved ones, a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous 2014 and here’s to a significant handicap reduction for us all. Happy golfing !!
Dick Purchase Club Captain 2013 – 2014
Order of Merit and Mashreq Cup
Earlier this year Mashreq Bank became title sponsor of the Monthly Medal competition series at both Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
With this being a landmark year for the clubs with EGC and DCGYC celebrating their 25th and 20th anniversaries respectively, the Monthly Medals were transformed into a championship series named ‘The Mashreq Medal Championship in Association with BMW and Harvey Nichols Dubai’.
Each club has hosted ten Monthly Medals during the year, plus one Joint Medal each (whereby members from the respective clubs are invited to play). The Medal Championship has been organised as a league that has given the opportunity for 72 members (36 top placed members in each Club’s league) to play in a Grand Final. BMW, a long-standing supporter of the Monthly Medals at both clubs have provided a support sponsorship role within the new Medal Championship to add value including a Hole-in-One prize. Harvey Nichols Dubai have sponsored the prizes at each event in the form of store vouchers.
The Mashreq Cup
- Running alongside the Medal Championship (leagues) at each club has been ‘The Mashreq Cup’.
- The Cup is made up of four events at each club which are considered to be the four Majors and there is a Cup Champion at each club for which there is a separate prize.
ORDER OF MERIT WInnER (244 members took part) Jignesh Sangani
CUP WInnER
What a busy month December has been and what an amazing conclusion to the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters with Pornanong Phatlum and Stacy Lewis setting off on the final 18th hole neck and neck. It was a reminder to all of us would-be golfers that one stroke is all it takes!
The following day, the EGC elves were hard at work in the upstairs reception putting up our wonderful Christmas tree and all the other festive decorations around the Club. It really is a wonderful sight especially at night reflected in the glass atrium. This was the signal for a whole host of festive activities.
We had our Ladies’ Christmas Scramble with over 100 ladies playing and lunching on Monday 9th December followed swiftly
LADIES’ COMPETITION RESULTS
by our official Christmas lunch in Le Classique with almost 100 ladies again on Wednesday 11th December. The traditional lunch was much appreciated by the ladies and Le Classique was in fine festive form. The Junior Staff Raffle kicked off with a small raffle that day and Santa (thanks to Captain Dick Purchase) visited to hand out the goodies to the lucky winners. I would also like to thank Mohammed who helped us out on the day by taking photographs of the event as well as Bryan and Mark, our golf Pros who help us on a weekly basis with our prize-presentations.
A last Faldo medal on the 16th, the Staff/Members’ scramble on the afternoon of the 17th, Maureen Platt’s (outgoing Lady Captain at Dubai Creek) Christmassy Captain’s Day on the 18th and finally the Mixed
Christmas Scramble on the 20th have all come and gone. What a week of golf and great food! This culminated with the draw for the Junior Staff Raffle at the Mixed Scramble dinner on the terrace. Thanks to everyone who participated in this and I am happy to say that we have raised over 50,000 AED this year for this fund.
I am sure that you are all now looking forward to the chance at the end of January to witness some more outstanding golf on the Majlis during the 25th Omega Dubai Desert Classic. All that remains is for me to wish you a Happy New Year 2014 wherever you are.
Barbara Head Lady Captain 2013 - 2014
Ladies Christmas Scramble
Monday, 9th December 2013
WINNERS Jenny Ayres, Rosemary Turlik Cathrine Clark, Gillian Black 60.9
Runners-up Jane Jones, Judy Ashcroft
Mimi Hosking, Movanna Sadek 61.7
Third Lynne Dickinson, Martha Wong
Most Golf
Naema Maya, Najla Bartette 61.9
Chris Purchase, Lorraine Main
Caroline Granger, Steva Fornazaric 74.7
Best Dressed Barbara Head, Glynis Hendry
SPECIAL EvEnTS
Carolyn Thompson, Stephanie Wilson
NEAREST THE PIN HOLE 2 Sita Mahabier
LONGEST DRIVE HOLE 3 Sita Mahabier
STRAIGHTEST DRIVE HOLE 10 Sandra Broedelet
NEAREST THE PIN HOLE 12 Cathrine Clark
Best Dressed
Cathrine Clark
Sandra Broedelet
Monday 16th December 2013
Sponsored by
MIXED COMPETITION RESULTS
Members & Staff Scramble
Tuesday 17th December 2013
Vaughn Reed, Leojay
THIRD Per-Olof Nilsson, Susanne Mortensen Jega, Tracey 60
SPECIAL EvEnTS FOR MEMBERS
NEAREST THE PIN HOLE # 8 Robert S.
LONGEST DRIVE HOLE # 16 Mieke Slotboom
SPECIAL EvEnTS FOR STAFF
NEAREST THE PIN HOLE # 2 Fernando P.
(Sponsored by Mrs. Martha Wong)
NEAREST THE PIN HOLE # 12 Arshad
(Sponsored by Mrs. Martha Wong)
NEAREST THE PIN HOLE # 17 Reynold D.
(Sponsored by Mrs. Martha Wong)
LONGEST DRIVE HOLE # 5 Jega
(Sponsored by Mrs. Martha Wong)
Rosemary Turlik
Carolyn Thompson
Sue Hopwood
Lynne Whitelaw
Sandra Chia Prize draw winner
Friday 20th December 2013
Christmas Scramble
WINNERS Kish Bandopadhyay, Rekha Badopadhyay
Vipen Sethi, Rena Sethi
RUNNERS UP Maura Duggan, Frank Duggan Paul Byrne, Saeed Fahim
THIRD
nEAREST THE PIn
Micky Brigg, Steve McConnachie
Jamieson, Yana Jamieson
HOLE # 8 (LADIES) Soumaya Salem
HOLE # 17 (LADIES) Jenny Ayres
HOLE # 2 (GENTS) Dave Formas
HOLE # 12 (GENTS) Ian McDonald
LOnGEST DRIvE
HOLE # 16 (LADIES) Cathrine Clark
HOLE # 5 (GENTS) Ross Barry
Nitin with Captains
Jenny Ayres
David Formas
Ian McDonald
Cathrine Clarke
Ross Barry
MEET Kouroche Achtari
Where are you from?
I was born on 29th September 1969 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Lausanne until I completed my Economics studies at the University of Lausanne. After graduating I worked in Singapore for about two years before completing a Masters Degree at London Business School. I am also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
What brought you to Dubai?
I came to Dubai for the opportunities that a fast emerging market like the Middle East, and especially Dubai, has to offer. My Iranian background was a cultural attraction too.
What field of work are you in now?
I work as a private banker for LGT Group which is the largest privately held Private Banking and Asset Management group in Europe to be run entirely as a family business by the Princely House of Liechtenstein. More information under www.lgt. com
Do you have family here?
I’m married and am the proud father of three boys aged 13, 12 and 7 who unfortunately (or fortunately!) don’t seem to have the same passion for golf as I have.
When did you start playing golf?
I was a tennis player before touching a golf club in the summer of 1986. I got immediately addicted to this
game, love at first sight!! I was lucky enough to be part of the Swiss Team for about ten years and to play the World Championship (Eisenhower Trophy as it is now called) in 1990. Years have gone by, the passion is still here, but the family, work and a back that ain’t 20 years old any more don’t allow me to play the game as much as I would like to.
When did you join EGC?
I joined the club in 2007 when I moved to Dubai.
Current handicap and lowest handicap?
My handicap is 0 and has been around there for the last 20 years
What’s your favourite golf course to play and why?
Definitely the Majlis. The surroundings might not be as stunning as Yas GC or other courses in the region but I think it is the absolute best golf course as it offers a great variety of holes with a very smart sequence. It is also a fair course where you never get unduly penalised with a decent shot.
EMIRATES CUP
Most memorable moments since joining EGC?
Winning the Scratch League four times, playing with international players like Henrik Stenson and many good rounds with my friends here.
Why do you enjoy being a member at EGC?
EGC is a great Golf Club with two high standard golf courses. All the other facilities are very nice too. It would be close to perfect if booking a round was not such a challenge ;-)
GREENKEEPER’S CUTTINGS
Following a successful Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, the maintenance team continued to push forward for the four days following the event to finish off over-seeding the fairways, approaches and greens surrounds on the Majlis. The strike this year has been fantastic. As is common practice, patience is key when over-seeding particularly ensuring that you don’t mow too short too soon. The entire season depends on the successful grow-in of the Rye grass and to this end, we appreciate members’ patience and understanding whilst we keep mowing heights up for as long as we possibly can.
A ryegrass plant once germinated, and with the correct fertility programme in place, will mature over a 6–8 week period, then continue to improve and get stronger as the days progress. As short as three weeks after applying the seed, we will be back to our regular maintenance regime and through careful fertilisation, irrigation and pest management, we will be able to mature the plant into the season ahead. The
‘damping off’ caused by a number of different pathogens that kill or weaken seeds or seedlings before or after they germinate. It is most prevalent in wet and cool conditions. We take care with applications of a fungicide at a preventative rate, which helps us to ensure that this pathogen does not take out the entire crop, leaving us with a poorly grown in golf course. Other important factors that contribute to a successful over-seed is applying the right amount of water throughout the first two weeks in particular, managing a balanced nutritional programme, ensuring our equipment is in good working order and finally, managing traffic.
We have carefully roped off areas that we do not want trolleys to go. Believe it or not, around the greens in particular, when 200+ golfers come through in a day and follow the same path the plant simply has no chance and the wear and tear at this young stage is simply too much for it to handle. We appreciate that it’s a pain walking around, but you really are helping us out immensely by minimising any traffic in a specific area. Even by following a different route to where someone else has already gone, helps us ensure that the ‘footprint’ per square meter is minimised and we have every opportunity to ensure we grow a mature stand of turf for you to
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR RULES
Question – When marking the position of a ball, must the ball marker be placed behind the ball, or may it also be placed to the side of or in front of the ball?
Answer- There is no restriction. However, if a player positions his ball marker in front of the ball on the putting green and in the process does something to the green that improves the line of putt (e.g. presses down a raised tuft of grass), he is in breach of Rule 13-2 (improving lie or line of play in this instance).
Placing a ball marker in front of the ball is not recommended but it is not a breach of Rule 16-1a (touching line of putt) because this rule permits touching the line of putt in lifting a ball and if marking the position of the ball is part of the lifting process.
The Faldo roughs were over-seeded in early November. We kept carts going throughout the process, and you will notice that in places, the germination has been poor and around the greens and tees complexes where carts are not going, the germination and definition is really good indeed. The overall presentation of the course has been enhanced for the winter months and although
playing hard and firm, this year you will not experience balls running off and through the rough into the sandy waste areas. I encourage you to go out and enjoy the Faldo this season. The team has worked extremely hard ensuring good germination and therefore great playing conditions for you to enjoy.
Finally, my team and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you and your families a very Happy New Year!
Good golfing!
It is advisable to always place your ball marker behind your ball. Occasionally it might be appropriate to mark the ball on the side to avoid a fellow competitors line of play
Craig Haldane Director - Golf Course Maintenance
Christmas Lunch
C h r i s t m sa S c r a mb l e
Fitness Activity Schedule
Dear Members,
elcome back after the festive season. I’m sure you’re ready and raring to go again. The Fit Lab team is on hand to help you with any New Year’s resolutions you may have; we have many activities on offer so please look out for new classes on the timetable.
Fit Lab has added Robert Whelan to the team whose role will be Sport & Leisure Assistant and he will be assisting the team on improving the already great Fit Lab brand.
Rob is originally from Dublin, Ireland and has been in the leisure industry for eleven years now. He began his career at the Dublin Institute of Technology where he worked as a full-time Personal Trainer and supervisor for five years before expanding to bigger things with his career. After a full year of travelling, with great success in Australia, Rob decided to take his career one step further and move into the world of cruise ship work where he spent two years as a Fitness Director/Assistant Spa Manager on board ships, conducting health seminars and personal training. Rob has spent the last 14 months here in Dubai continuing to expand his career and pass on his vast knowledge to clients in the leisure industry.
Elite Tennis Academy of Dubai based at Emirates Golf Club has recruited Monika Schneider as the Academy’s Head Tennis Professional as of January 2014. Monika is a former world-ranked ITF player (in the top 20) with wins over a number of Grand Slam Champions and world number one players. She has played Wimbledon, the French Open, the US Open as well as the Australian Open whilst representing Poland at the Federations Cup. She is also a tennis commentator for Euro Sport.
In addition to the two ladies’ clinics, Elite Tennis Academy will run a social mix-in on Thursday evenings. Monthly tournaments will also be organised by the Academy for EGC members. For further information on Academy programmes please contact Academy Director Paulo Jose on 050-4678343.
The Ladies’ Christmas tennis tournament was an eventful day with many ladies taking part and having a great day. One of our goals, now that Monika has joined the team, is to have more events/tournaments so if you’re a keen tennis player please come along.
Andy Meech and his Fit Lab team look forward to welcoming all members to recreation for 2014.
Andy Meech Head of Sport & Leisure
hit. All members can enjoy complimentary Padeltennis on Thursdays. Make sure you book a court in advance by contacting info@realracquetacademy.com or 056 179 8324 and you will be able to enjoy the ‘ fastest growing sport in the world’.
Festive Tennis Tournament
On Monday 16th December, the EGC Ladies Tennis group had their second tournament of the season. This was a festive affair with all 18 participants turning out donning Santa hats or tinsel and there was even St Nick himself as well as the Snowman! A great morning of tennis was had by all, with Fiona Donaldson and Philippa Stumbles finishing as the tournament winners with Anne Pratt and Nishita Shah in runners- up spot. This was a great effort from EGC as three out of the four winners were members. Enormous thanks must go to Mehul from The House of Windsor Jewellers in the Gold and Diamond Park who donated the very generous prizes and turned out to present them too. Thanks also to Andy Meech for organising further prizes for meals and days out at the Club. The day culminated in a lovely Christmas meal with all the trimmings in M’s, where we all said our final thanks and farewells to Jonathan Soares who has been running the Ladies’ social mornings since its inception. Jonathan is returning to India to spend more time with his family and will be missed by all lady tennis players both past and present. We wish him all the best for his future.
Mama Mio Bootcamp Treatments at SensAsia Urban Spa
Is this what your New Year’s Resolutions look like? Yes, for me too. So we are into the New Year and we are already trying to adhere to our New Year resolutions! And number one is to look and feel amazing but does slimming down and tightening sound like so much effort? Our answer….not with our Bootcamps! And we are not talking the “get down and give me 100!” kind. Fancy a bum lift or a tummy tuck in an hour? Then SensAsia have got your skinny back with these cellulite-reducing, elasticity-improving, tush-tightening treatments!
Too good to be true? Not at all – even Jessica Alba and Kourtney Kardashian (aka Fab Abs and Plush Tush) are swearing by it. Using products from the new skin care range on the block, UK’s Mama Mio lends its famous Get Waisted, Shrink to Fit and Skin Tight products to help tighten, tone and smooth those stubborn areas!
Mama Mio Bootcamp for Tummy Tuck in 1 hour: AED 315
Mama Mio Bootcamp for Butts - A Butt Lift in 1 Hour: AED 515
And don’t forget – all Emirates Golf Club members receive 20% discount on treatments!
To make a booking, please call +971 4 417 9820
Social mornings resume on Monday 6th January under the guidance of a new coach. Please do come and join us.
Spotlight on Ira Gupta
Hello! I’m Ira. I’m five years old and right now I’m quite busy planning my next birthday party. It will be a chipping, putting and swimming party at my house followed by a pop star party. My Mom says its a little bit early to plan it but I think planning well in advance is really necessary!
Let me introduce myself a bit better. I’m an EGC member and I have my own membership card and number. It makes me so proud. You may know my brother Yash. He’s turning eight and has more than six golf medals. I’m trying to get my first. I started playing when I was four and
we were just three girls in the class with Bryan. I love bunker shots the most. I love raking the bunkers even more. No, wait. I love gardening the most. My Mom and Dad have taught me how to repair pitch marks and I think that’s the most fun thing in golf.
I’ve also been in golf class with Nicky and Jonathan. I know all the colours of the caps for the levels at the Junior Development Academy and I’ve got my eyes on the red cap. I started with the light yellow and I knew I wanted the bright pink one so I worked hard for it. No fun and games in the class, only
concentration. - and that my Mom did not have to tell me.
I think we are very lucky at our Club. I get to do swimming and Bollywood dancing and run around a lot. I play the par 3 with my brother and I sometimes come at sunrise to practice. That’s my favourite time of the day.
My favourite golfer is Rory Mcilroy (boy) and Stacy Lewis (girl). My parents’ friends ask me if I will be a golfer when I grow up. Actually I want to be a police woman, chef, fashion designer and pop star!
Pro’s Tip Of The Month For Juniors
by Mark Bruce
Speed is a very important aspect of a junior golfer’s learning as this will allow the player to create faster moving body parts and improve club head speed for greater power. Speed exercises will enable the player to rotate the body faster and drive the arms within the down swing through impact. Below are a few physical exercises to improve speed.
Shuttle runs - sprint training to run back and forth to each cone to improve faster body movements and reaction times.
Lunges with a twistusing a medicine ball lunging and rotating the body will improve core strength and increase controlled power.
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T
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Order Of Merit Results from the Dubai Golf Junior Series
DUBAI GOLF JUNIOR
We have the five different categories in the Dubai Golf Junior Series - White, Yellow, Blue, Purple and Black. This is the updated Order of Merit after event three which was hosted at the Creek on Friday 20th December 2013.
Throwing-
The next event is scheduled for January 16th 2014 which will be played on the Emirates Par 3 Academy course.
DUBAI GOLF JUNIOR PAR 3 SERIES
Meet The Staff
M’S RESTAURANT
Dear Friends,
SpONSOr Ship fOrM
The time has come to start training for the Standard Chartered 10K marathon, which is looming upon us again.
The remarkable response and enthusiasm we received last year was unbelievable and once again we would like to thank all those who participated and made it a memorable event for us.
NAME:
If you wish to participate, sponsorship shall be based on per KM basis. This is NOT a race and it does not matter how long you take or whether you walk or run. The idea is to have fun and try to finish the 10K.
10 kiLOMETrE TEAM chALLENgE friday 24 January NAME
All proceeds raised from this event will be channelled through the ‘Amar Forever Charity’ to buy school books for children living in the slum areas of Kenya and projects that we identify to better the life of a child. Complete details of this shall be forwarded to you in due course
Below you will find the link which will help you to register yourselves for the 10K event. While registering please indicate for team as ‘Amar Forever’ to enable us to participate in the corporate challenge.
After the registration is complete kindly reply back to g.chhaya@atlasgroupme.com confirming Tee-shirt size so that we can make the necessary arrangements. All participants are invited to the Radia residence for a well deserved brunch after the event.
30th January – 2nd February Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Majlis Course
Faldo
Faldo
Faldo
L to r: Chef Anup, Darzell, Jenny, Nitin (Senior Supervisor), Sarah, Jai (Captain), Godwin, Jona, Chef Abdul.
FROM
By Johnny Aldridge
Emirates Golf Club Scratch team defeated Jumeirah Golf Estates 3-1 at the par-72, 7,480-yard Fire course, thanks to wins by Rohit Gupta, Ed Hesson, Pontus Fredriksson, Charlie Stricklin, Paul Byrne and Johnny Aldridge.
Rohit Gupta and Ed Hesson concluded
Our Scratch team was defeated at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club 0-4. This was the first time ever that the team was defeated in such a manner. Obviously we came up short, and we were disappointed because we went there to win. I also think we can take away a lot of positives from that week….we are motivated for our rematch!
the event with perfect 2-0 records. They posted a 2-up win with Ed chipping in for an eagle on the last!
Pontus Fredriksson and Charlie Stricklin, won their match 2 & 1; Pontus mentioned that, “we need some birdies” then politely reeled off three in a row and made Charlie laugh, Well done!
Paul Byrne and Johnny Aldridge cruised to a 3 & 2 victory; Paul had the magic wand working as everything on the green should have been a gimme! Talk about showcasing putting skills!
Humayun Shahryar and Inaan Budhiraja lost 4 & 3 - there were some tight holes that could have gone either way.
Paul Byrne and Charlie Stricklin lost 7 & 5.
Rohit Gupta and Ed Hesson lost 5 & 4.
Johnny Aldridge and Paul Byrne lost 3 & 2.
Humayun Shahryar and Inaan Budhiraja lost 1 down.
We all played as hard as we could and there was nothing for anyone to be ashamed of. Nobody will ever have golf under his thumb. No round will ever be so good it could not have been better. With everyone’s disappointment felt, it reminds me that most of my learning and philosophy regarding golf was developed after great frustration! Perhaps this is why golf is the greatest of games?
Pornanong Phatlum conjured a piece of magic on the closing hole to win the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The 24-year-old from Chaiyaphum in Thailand drilled her approach shot with a 54 degree wedge over the lake guarding the green to within two feet of the cup and holed the birdie putt with little fluster, beating her nearest challenger Stacy Lewis by one shot and becoming the first Thai player to win the season-ending Ladies European Tour event in Dubai.
China’s Jing Yan rounded off a great day for Asian women’s golf when she closed with a 71 for a total of two-under 286 to take the leading amateur medal.
It was Phatlum who took centre-stage with a stunning charge coming down the stretch to edge past Lewis, who appeared to be on cruise control most of the day. The equation changed on the 17th when the Thai ace drew level with a birdie.
Both players stood on the 18th tee at 14-under, but Phatlum, who carded a closing 66, clinched the title with a birdie while Lewis had to settle for par after her approach from
the rough left her with a long birdie putt of around 40 feet.
“I am very excited. I just played my own game and stayed calm under pressure,” said Phatlum after the receiving the winner’s trophy from Raynald Aeschlimann, vice president, International Sales Director of Omega, in the presence of Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi and representatives of the sponsors.
“I have learned how to stay focused through meditation which I practice with my brother, who caddies for me,” said Phatlum, who received a cheque for euro 75,000 for her victory, her second on the Ladies European Tour after the 2012 Hero Women’s Indian Open.
“When I’m on the course I just play my game and I didn’t think about the win, or like, I don’t want to pressure myself.”
Lewis said: “I’m disappointed. The back nine that Pornanong played was pretty impressive. She hit golf shots when she needed to and made the putts and I didn’t. It’s been a really good year. It’s had it’s highs and lows. I’ve played some really consistent golf.”
Carlota Ciganda of Spain ended seven shots behind Lewis in solo third place, followed by Italian Diana Luna in fourth.
The defending champion Shanshan Feng, Laura Davies and Louise Larsson tied for fifth place.
Davies, who is also a golf in DUBAi ambassador, recorded her second best finish of the year after finishing fifth in Sweden, while Feng achieved her target of finishing in the top five.
Meanwhile, it was a fight to the finish in the race to win the 2013 Rookie of the Year Award on the Ladies European Tour, but 17-year-old Charley Hull prevailed finishing just above Holly Clyburn on the ISPS HANDA Order of Merit.
Hull finished in a tie for eighth at the seasonending Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, while Clyburn ended in joint 39th position.
The young English pair has one of the tightest rookie battles ever seen on the LET, finishing sixth and seventh on the ISPS HANDA Order of Merit with earnings of €135,994.36 and €116,100.83 respectively.
“It’s an honour to win it,” said Hull. “I think I’ve had tough competition in Holly, she’s a great player and you can see in the future, me and Holly battling it out, which I think is good. Means a lot and it’s been good fun. Solheim was great and all my second place finishes, so it was good to top it off with that.
The Inaugural Middle East Golf Awards (MEGAs)
Text courtesy of Joy Chakravarty, Sport 360
Mohammed Juma
Buamaim, CEO and vicechairman of ‘golf in DUBAi’, organisers and promoters of Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai Ladies Masters and the MENA Tour, was honoured for Outstanding Contribution to Golf.
The Dubai Desert Classic will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in six weeks, but as significant as the impact of that event has been on the UAE golfing scene, Buamaim is also known for his tireless efforts to promote golf among the UAE nationals and Arabs.
nick Tarratt, Director of the European Tour, Middle East, and Peter Harradine, EGC member and one of the region’s foremost golf course architects, were jointly named Golf Business Personality of the Year.
Nick (former Golf Secretary at EGC) has played a key role in managing sponsorship and other operational aspects of the DP World Tour Championship, the season-ending tournament of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.
He is also instrumental in getting the region’s first Challenge Tour event to Muscat earlier this year, and in getting the Challenge Tour Grand Finale moved to Dubai Festival City’s Al Badia Golf Club.
Just how important Peter Harradine’s contribution to the game in the region is, can be gauged by the fact that all four short-listed golf courses in the ‘Best Golf Course Under Dh400 Green Fee’ award were designed by him.
Even though he is well known as the designer of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Doha Golf Club – permanent host venues of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and Qatar Masters – he is a firm believer in making the game cheaper for players through building nine-hole courses.
TOP PICKS FROM THE TOURS
SERGIO GARCIA
Sergio Garcia shot a final-round 68 to beat Henrik Stenson by four strokes to win the Thailand Golf Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club last month. The 33-year-old Spaniard, who held the lead since the second round, played a solid final round to finish on 22-under 266 which was Garcia’s first win this year. “It was great, an amazing week,” said Garcia, “I’m very, very happy and I can’t wait to go back home to Switzerland and kind of sleep on it a little bit.
THOMAS BJORn
Mark GregsonWalter’s much acclaimed Kellogg’s Grass Roots programme, where he has reached out to 14 schools and initiated more than 200 children to the game, was named ‘Youth Initiative of the Year’.
Thomas Bjorn shot a superb final-round 65 as he coasted to victory by two strokes at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City last month. Bjorn began the day three shots behind leader Jamie Donaldson but four birdies and two back-nine eagles saw Thomas head to victory with a 20 under par total. “This is right up there with the best days of my career,” said Bjorn. “You never forget your first victory, and then my win against Tiger in Dubai when I went toe-to-toe with him for four days and came out top was special, but winning here in the way that I did against a field of this quality is up there. I knew I had to shoot something low and then see what Jamie was doing. It turned out that it was Sergio and every time I saw a leaderboard he was making birdies. I am very proud of the way I played today - it’s a very special day in my career.”
PORnAnOnG PHATLUM
Recent winner of the Omega Dubai Ladies’ Masters I have learned how to stay focused through meditation which I practice with my brother, who caddies for me,” said Phatlum, who received a cheque for Euro 75,000 for her victory. “I am very excited. I just played my own game and stayed calm under pressure.”
19th Hole SNIPPETS
Congratulations to Peter Cowen, on receiving a PGA Recognition Award for his services to golf. Here he is pictured during one of his regular coaching sessions with the professionals at Emirates Golf Club!
Anyone have any idea what Maura Duggan and Aisling Byrne are up to on the 14th hole of the Creek golf course?
Lovely surprise for Alex Turlik last week when his Junior Convenor from Kinross-Shire Cricket Club visited the Turlik family’s house (whilst he was on holiday) to present Alex with his trophy for winning the Inter-Cricket prize for 2013! Very impressive, especially since Alex had represented the Under 11s and he had only just turned 9!
Fiona Berry getting into the Christmas spirit by wearing these Santa glasses for the entire 18 holes she played!
Photo taken on a beautiful morning at EGC
UAE parachutists landing on the 18th fairway at the conclusion of the Dubai Ladies Masters
A gorgeous sunset over the Clubhouse!
View of the 18th hole during the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters
A group Omega
Mr and Mrs Claus
Junior Clinic at the Omega Dubai
The
Taxi anyone?
When I first saw this photo, I thought that someone had been dropped off by taxi at the 4th green on the Majlis. However, the person in the photo was actually giving directions to the taxi driver who somehow ended up driving down the sand track besides the 4th and 5th of the Majlis. Thanks to Viv Caley for the photo.
Congraulations to Jane Dyball, daughter of Chris and Steve, who got married in Australia recently
Congratulations to winners of the morning and afternoon Ladies Masters Pro-Ams, many of whom were EGC members. Congratulations to the Junior team who were runners-up for the second consecutive year!
Red Arrows practising over our Club
group of Juniors out supporting the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters
Ladies Masters
Dine at Dine at
Express Lunch
Short on time? Swing by M’s for our express lunch, with guaranteed service within 45 minutes to allow you to get on with your busy day! Make your selection from our special a la carte menu and enjoy two courses inclusive of soft drinks and water for AED 78 per person or three courses inclusive of one glass of house grape for AED 110 per person. And if you don’t receive your lunch within 45 minutes, the bill is on us!
The Express Lunch is served Monday to Thursday, 12 noon to 2.30pm.
Ladies Night
Introducing Ladies Night at M’s every Tuesday evening!
Take advantage of the cooler weather and relax on the terrace under the stars as our live DJ spins the tunes! Ladies arriving between 6pm and 11pm will enjoy two complimentary beverages as well as an additional 20% discount on all food and beverages ordered during the evening.
Pizza and Movie Night
Stop by M’s restaurant every Friday between 6.30pm and 10pm for our Pizza and Movie Night. Our delicious homemade pizzas are cooked in the M’s pizza oven, using the finest organic flour and oven fired for the perfect thin and crispy base! With a family friendly movie on the big screen, what better way to enjoy your Friday night!
Enjoy unlimited pizza for just AED 75 per adult and AED 35 per child (aged 5 - 12 years), children under five go free!
Weekend Family Brunch
Visit M’s every Friday and Saturday from 12 noon to 3pm for our family friendly International Brunch buffet. With a starter and dessert buffet, as well as a live carvery, make your own pizza station, bouncy castle, face painter and dedicated kids area, this is a great afternoon out for the whole family!
Visit us for brunch for AED 350 per person inclusive of sparkling beverages, AED 285 per person inclusive of selected house beverages, AED 125 per person inclusive of soft drinks and AED 45 per child (5 – 12 years old), children under five go free.
Quiz Night
Head down to Spike Bar and test your knowledge at our Quiz Night every Monday from 8pm, hosted by our resident quiz master Phil Richardson. As you tackle the quiz enjoy a sumptuous buffet for only AED 115 per person or AED 285 per person inclusive of unlimited selected beverages.
Rewind on Wednesdays
From February 2014, look out for the new Rewind on Wednesdays, taking you back to the 60s and 70s on the last Wednesday of every month. With a wide selection of food from that era, as well as a live DJ playing all the favourites, this is an evening not to be missed!
Seafood Market Night
Spike Bar is calling all seafood lovers to come down on Thursdays between 7pm and 10.30pm. Enjoy a selection of seafood prepared in your own preferred cooking style in addition to our salad buffet with accompaniments. A special performance by Acoustic Rain will entertain you throughout the evening to ensure that your Thursday evening is just the beginning of a happy weekend.
AED 30 per 100 gms (minimum of 300 gms)
Sunset BBQ
Relax with friends as you indulge in our BBQ on the terrace, every Friday from 7pm to 10.30pm.
Choose your favourites from a sumptuous selection of fresh seafood and succulent meat cooked to your liking, along with a range of delicious accompaniments for AED 125 per person or with unlimited selected beverages for AED 290 per person.
Live entertainment is available from our resident artist Party Pete.
Sports Night
Enjoy live sports and great food at Spike Bar every Saturday from 5pm. Chose any dish from our Saturday Sports menu and sit back and relax with two house beverages for AED 95.
With our flatscreen televisions and a large central screen Spike Bar will be showing the best of the live football, rugby, cricket and golf action!
For reservations, please call +971 4 417 9999 or email emiratesdining@dubaigolf.com www.dubaigolf.com
