Club Manager Update

CLUB MANAGER

Welcome to the 2022-2023 season!

I trust you have enjoyed some down time over the summer period and great to see the club becoming busier once more as members return to town in line with schools starting back from the end of August.

The major news, from 1st September, is we are delighted to announce that Dubai Golf will manage the world-standard golf, leisure and dining operations at Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, and Yas Acres Golf & Country Club, effective 1st September 2022 under our Viya Golf brand. Further information on this exciting development can be found later in the magazine. At your second home, 1st September also signals the new term for our club captaincy as we welcome Campbell Steedman and Marivi Arias as our captains for the 2022-2023 season. I know I am speaking on behalf of all members and EGC colleagues to wish them a very enjoyable year ahead! Campbell and Marivi will be admirably supported by our vice captains Frank Duggan and Fiona Berry. The golfing season officially starts with the Season Opener on Saturday 8th October. The Golf Tournament Calendar is now available also.

As always, the team have worked hard over the summer months on several projects with some still to be completed during September.

The re-grassing of the range with new target areas is almost complete. The main grassed tee has been levelled.

Grass changed to Bermuda Tiff Eagle as per Majlis greens

Surrounds on some greens were further levelled following the settling period of the new greens

Extended to offer more teeing options around the lake

New Pro tee (for the Dubai Desert Classic) has been extended following cart path deviation

Path introduced to the right of the green to help manage damage from cart traffic

Event lawn increased in size

Edges have been repaired

Removal of sandy waste across the hole and new tee boxes will be ready by end of September

Par 3 Course and Padel reception clubhouse will open for business once power supply from DEWA is established. This area will also include changing rooms and shower facilities.

Chef Nic has left EGC over the summer after 7 fabulous years, we wish Nic and his family all the best in Ras Al Khaimah as he takes the next step in his career. Nic along with F&B Manager Steen and Chef Max oversaw the revolution of our F&B outlets including Spike Bar, Jones and carine. We thank him for all his efforts and wish him well!

I am pleased to introduce to you our new Golf Experience Manager, Conor Friel. Conor joins us from Ireland and will be an integral part of the Golf Operations team moving forward. Please do ensure to introduce yourself to Conor when you see him around the club and welcome him to Emirates Golf Club.

Following the survey last year many members highlighted the frustration in the peak booking process whereby names needed to be entered prior to finding a tee time, this has been modified and will be launched shortly. Modification of a tee time once within the 3-day cancelation period will now also be allowed under specific conditions.

With the new season upon us we must continue to focus on and improve etiquette across the board. Last year 276 members received letters from myself regarding etiquette breaches. This is a high percentage of the membership. Please look after your course by repairing pitch marks, raking bunkers, filling divots, and driving carts as expected (NOT in sand areas or close to greens/tees). On this point the GPS challenges including GEO fencing (restricted areas) has been resolved with the provider. Thank you for your support as we try to improve this important part of the club experience.

The televisions on the Spike Terrace have been replaced both on the members terrace and far side, we hope these improve your experience of watching live sport in Spike Bar. Jones will also have the terrace area enhanced for the winter season. Plus, the new Event Pavilion will soon be operational.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the club for the new season.

Please see statement below regarding the 2022 event;

“The Dubai Moonlight Classic with the full support of the Ladies European Tour (LET) and its partners have made the decision to postpone the tournament which was originally scheduled for October 2022 to next year.

The Dubai Moonlight Classic is an innovative and historic golfing tournament, being the first women’s tournament to ever be played in the Middle East and the world’s first nighttime golf tournament.

To continue achieving the tournament’s goal of delivering successful events, which included the exemplary 2021 tournament and of inspiring the next generation of female golfing talent, the tournament will look to remodel the format and bring new and exciting experiences for its players, partners, and fans, while simultaneously broadening the international audience through new channels.

The Dubai Moonlight Classic is grateful for its partners and the Ladies European Tour for their ongoing support and looks forward to continuing to work together in the future.”

It is disappointing that we will not be welcoming the LET golfers back to the Faldo this October but look forward to a bigger and better event in 2023.

One positive for the memberships is that last October/November Dubai Golf hosted four major events in the space of 5 weeks. This season only the DP World Tour Championship will take place over the Earth course from 17th - 20th November. The Moonlight Classic on the Faldo plus the APAC at Dubai Creek and the AVIV Dubai Championship over Fire will not take place resulting in less course closures and increases tee time availability.