Worldwide Golf September 2022

T H E M I D D L E E A S T ’ S N O .1 G O L F M A G A Z I N E

EST

1999

Worldwide Golf

RYAN FOX

SEPTEMBER

2022

DOMINIC MORTON

KIWI EYES HARRY VARDON TROPHY

UAE TEEN AIMING FOR THE TOP

RORY G UNN ING

FEATURE

FOCUS

F OR

THE SA N DY 70S

LO O KIN G BAC K AT DUBA I CO UN T RY C LUB

DOU BL E

DEL IG HT

LUC K I E ST BA L L O N E A RT H

W I N A SPOT I N TH E D P WORLD TOUR CH AM PI ONSH I P PRO-AM

Worldwide Golf is the Official Media partner to the DP World Tour in the Middle East and the official magazine of the Emirates Golf Federation

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VOICE OF THE TOUR Tom Phillips,

Head of Middle East, DP World Tour Tom brings over two decades of experience within the golf industry to his role at the helm of the European Tour group’s substantial operations in the Middle East. Previously the Chief Executive Officer of both the esteemed Faldo Series and Hong Kong Golf Association as well as Director of Business Development for Mission Hills in China, Tom joined the DP World Tour in 2019 and has been at the forefront of an exciting period of innovation and change including the landmark title partnership with DP World in 2021.

T

here are fewer than 100 days to go until our 2022 season concludes at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, and the stage is set for another fascinating finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates later this year.

The top 50 players on the DP World Tour Rankings will head to the Earth course from November 17-20 for the 14th edition of the season-ending tournament, which will be our fifth and final Rolex Series event of 2022.

This year’s tournament, like many others on our schedule so far in 2022, will be the first since 2019 to be played without Covid-19 restrictions and that will only heighten the anticipation for what is always a highlight of the sporting calendar in Dubai.

As events around the world have returned to normal across the summer, it has been apparent how much spectators have been craving that big event experience. On the DP World Tour, we have seen a surge in demand to attend many of our tournaments, including this summer at the Horizon Irish Open, Genesis Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship, the latter selling out on the weekend for the first time.

For a number of years now, our events have offered attending spectators much to enjoy outside the ropes as well as world class action on the course.

In addition to free general admission, our Championship Village at the DP World Tour Championship offers a range of attractions and food and beverage options. Last year we also introduced our first Ladies Day, which will return this year alongside a dedicated Family Day for the first time.

We also recently announced the DP World Tour’s new eTour competition will conclude with a live grand finale at the DP World FLOW Pavilion at Expo City Dubai on November 16, the Wednesday of the DP World Tour Championship week.

That will take place a year after the same Pavilion hosted our historic joint announcement with DP World, celebrating the evolution of our long-term partnership with DP World becoming the title sponsor of the European Tour group’s main Tour.

As we approach the final quarter of our first season as the DP World Tour, there has already been so much to look back upon, including the ground-breaking first co-sanctioned event w ith the PGA TOUR at Genesis Scottish Open, and the fact that 50 of our DP World Tour members also played in both the Barracuda Championship and Barbasol Championship on the PGA TOUR in July.

The global nature of our Tour has once again been underlined by the fact that we have already had winners from 17 different

nationalities, including our first Polish winner, Adrian Meronk, who fittingly was one of four players to take part in the launch press conference for the DP World Tour at Expo last November, along with Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and South African Dean Burmester.

In June, we also had our first female winner on the DP World Tour, when Sweden’s Linn Grant triumphed in spectacular fashion on home soil at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed.

Later that month, Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick claimed his maiden Major with victory in the US Open at Brookline, the course where he also won the US Amateur Championship, joining Jack Nicklaus as the only player to achieve this notable double. Matt previously won the DP World Tour Championship in 2016 and 2020, and he will be hoping to become the first three-time winner of the season-ending event this November. He will also be hoping to win the DP World Tour Rankings for the first time, having finished runner up in 2020 and in the top five in each of the last three seasons.

It has also been another impressive year for another two-time DP World Tour Championship winner, Rory McIlroy, who finished inside the top ten in each of the four Major Championships in 2022 and currently leads the DP World Tour Rankings.

Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Norway’s Viktor Hovland, the winners of our first two Rolex Series events of 2022 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively, have retained their challenge at the top of the Rankings, while American Will Zalatoris, currently second in the Rankings, has also enjoyed an impressive campaign and we wish him well in his recovery from a back injury which recently ruled him out of the PGA TOUR’s season finale.

There is, of course, plenty still to play for between now and November 17, including the next Rolex Series event, the BMW PGA Championship, which will mark the start of the European Ryder Cup Team Qualification campaign, as well as another look at Marco Simone, the 2023 Ryder Cup course, for the DS Automobiles Italian Open.

The DP World Tour will also visit Spain and Portugal for a fourweek ‘Iberian Swing’ following the recent addition of the Mallorca Golf Open and the Portugal Masters to our schedule in October.

Prior to the DP World Tour Championship, we will then head to South Africa for the 40th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which itself returns to our schedule for the first time since 2019.

Big events are therefore very much back to be enjoyed, and this year’s DP World Tour Championship has the potential to be our biggest and best one yet.

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CONTENTS 16

STAT ATTACK

22

We pick out the weird and wonderful stats from an enthralling PGA Tour season, which ended with Rory McIlroy securing a third FedEx Cup.

END OF SEASON PREVIEW

With all roads leading to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the time is now to secure those vital DP World Tour Ranking points.

FEATURES 26 BILLY HORSCHEL Last year’s BMW PGA Championship winner looks ahead to defending his title at Wentworth.

28 RORY MCILROY The Northern Irishman is aiming for historic double after securing the FedEx Cup for a third time.

30 EWEN FERGUSON

26

38

36

42

46

50

We caught up with the Scotsman as he looks forward to a maiden outing at the DP World Tour Championship.

34 RYAN FOX The likeable Kiwi is after a slice of history - can he become the first New Zealander to lift the Harry Vardon Trophy?

38 THE SANDY 70S

Former resident David Burns recalls his time in the UAE in the 70s, which included ‘browns’ not greens, tyres for holes and “giant bloody lizards”!

44 DOMINIC MORTON

The Trump International Golf Club, Dubai Scratch Team player is quickly making a name for himself on the UAE golf scene with an impressive swing and an outgoing personality to boot.

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CONTENTS 48 Jenny Hennessy

The Chicks With Sticks Founder looks back at her travels, which includes meeting the likes of Rory McIlroy, Sam Burns and Jordan Spieth!

50

49 Pete Cowen

The Master PGA Professional tells us why Tiger’s and Rory’s new venture could be game-changing for golf.

Is the future of the game focussed on technology? Pete certainly seems to think so.

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BIG EASY BAR & GRILL

MYGOLF’S GRAND OPENING

The steaks are high at the Big Easy Bar & Grill but they deliver on all fronts with Head Chef Vishal Rane talking us through what the casual dining venue has to offer.

It’s official, MyGolf Dubai is officially open after the region’s largest indoor golf venue welcomed VIPs and local dignitaries to their star-studded grand opening.

INSTRUCTION

GEAR

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SWING EASY AT MYGOLF Theodore Seah, PGA Professional at MyGolf Dubai, explains why applying the correct swing mechanics is so important.

56

SIMPLIFY YOUR SET-UP

Jamie Coughlin, PGA Professional at Topgolf, Dubai, demonstrates three simple steps to improve your setup and climb those leaderboards.

58

PXG IRON BATTLE The latest GEN5 and XCOR2 sets are packed with similar tech but aimed at two different sectors of the market, but is the price gap worth it?

60

BUILDING THE BEST Edward Retief, Golf Superstore, Retail Manager, talks us through the custom fitting and build process the store has to offer. the ball with an iron and a driver.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Rory to do the double?

A

fter what seems to have been a never-ending summer of sizzling heat, there is light at the end of the tunnel with the mercury starting to lower this month as we transition into the blissful ‘winter’ right here in the Middle East.

Cheap summer memberships are coming to an end and those that have kept out of the sunshine will be dusting off their clubs in preparation for the new golf season across the Emirates.

While us amateurs get set to hit shanks once again, the professional game is coming to an end with the DP World Tour set for a barnstorming finish in Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates when the season-ending DP World Tour Championship rolls into town! It’s set to be one of the biggest and best yet with a staggering $10m prizefund up for grabs – the first DP World Tour event outside of the Majors and WGCs to boast an eight-figure prize fund. Here’s hoping all the big names continue their support of the DP World Tour and turn out for the event.

RORY CARRYING THE FLAG One man who is certain to be there is Rory McIlroy as he chases a historic double of becoming the first man since Henrik Stenson to win both the FedEx Cup and DP World Tour Rankings in the same season. Rory has become the defacto spokesperson for the PGA Tour in recent months and it’s great to see him continue that with the DP World Tour in the coming months after announcing a schedule which includes the BMW

PGA Championship, Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and a maiden outing at the Italian Open. Although the money helps, Rory has more than enough and I would say he is one of the few players who is not motivated by it - he cares more about his legacy in the game and trying to follow in Tiger’s footsteps.

Yes, he will never win the amount of Major Championships that Tiger has but the Northern Irishman is forging his own path as a natural leader who speaks out about things that are wrong in the world and the game. He’s a role model for all and the more he plays on the DP World Tour the better we are all off for it.

WRONG MAJOR FOR SMITH! In my Editor’s Letter from April this year I confidently stated that Cameron Smith would reign supreme at the Masters Tournament. He came ever so close, but a tee shot in the water at the 12th on the final day after clawing himself to just two shots back put paid to my prediction. A couple of months later he would go on to win The Open Championship…I knew he would win a Major this season, I just got the wrong one! The worst-kept secret was let out of the bag as I was writing this letter...Smith is off to LIV Golf. You can’t blame the Australian for heading over for $100m plus, but I’ll personally miss not watching that beautiful mullet week in, week out on the PGA Tour. All the best Cam!

Thomas W ragg

ISSUE No.249 SEPTEMBER 2022 • Published by: Worldwide Sporting Publications Ltd • Published in Dubai by: Prografix • PO Box 24677 • Dubai, UAE (Tel) +9714 340 3785 Editor-in-Chief: Alex Gallemore • Editor: Thomas Wragg (tom@wspdubai.com) Publisher: Mike Gallemore (mike@wspglobal.com) • General Manager Dubai: Richard Bevan (rick@wspglobal.com) Editors: • Production/Design Editor: Thameem Rayyan • Editorial Panel: Mike Gallemore, Alex Gallemore, Richard Bevan, Thomas Wragg • Photography: Getty Images • June 2009 SSN 1- 46805671 • Approval UAE National Media Council: Ref.816 30/5/2007 Trade Licence No. 1/104375/15280 • Worldwide Golf specifies that post-press changes may occur to any information given in this publication and takes no responsibility for goods or services advertised.

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COU PYONGYANG GOLF COURSE, NORTH KOREA S ituated on the banks of Taicheng Lake, 27 kilometres from the centre of North Korea’s capital you’ll find Pyongyang Golf Course – the only course in the country.

Who’d have thought North Korea had a golf course?

You’d be forgiven for thinking the course wasn’t open if you came across it as it’s left spookily empty for the bulk of the year, but the fairways and greens remain fairly well kept despite the lack of visitors.

Players looking to book a round can arrange in advance but will need to be accompanied by a tour guide at all times – that’s if they can find the place. One visiting player documented his experience online and told the tale that neither the tour

guide or driver knew where the course was. After driving around in circles, the visitor finally managed to get into the top-secret location after asking locals for directions.

It’s possible to hire equipment and gear, but don’t expect the latest FootJoy shoes or TaylorMade Stealth driver, think more along the lines of the Big Bertha II, Marcus irons (whatever they are?) and shoes that wouldn’t look out of place four decades ago.

If you do manage to find yourself ever visiting, you’d do well to beat the course record which is held by North Korea’s former leader, Kim Jong-Il. The Supreme Leader apparently played his one and only round of golf here in 1994, shooting 34 over 18 holes, including 11 holes-in-one!

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URSE

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PGA TOUR STATPACK

A

fter a dramatic final round at East Lake Golf Club, Rory McIlroy etched his name into the history books once again, winning the season-ending Tour Championship, despite starting the tournament six shots behind Scottie Scheffler, and with it a third FedEx Cup title – the first player to do so.

It was a thrilling end to an enthralling PGA Tour season, which saw some of the best names light up the game, including Scottie Scheffler’s rapid rise to World No.1, Cameron Smith lifting the Claret Jug and Tiger making an incredible comeback at the Masters Tournament. Here, we look back at some of the key stats over the course of the season.

3

Justin Rose and Maverick McNealy were the only two players to card three eagles in a round this season. Rose did so at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open while McNealy’s three came at the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson.

433

In his rookie season on the PGA Tour, Sahith Theegala topped the leaderboard for most birdies this season with an incredible 433 over 115 rounds. Peter Malnati finished second on 405.

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-34

Cameron Smith produced a new PGA 72-hole record low score of 34-under to clinch the Tournament of Champions and beat World No.1 Jon Rahm by a single shot.

7

Justin Thomas and Sam Burns share the 2022 season record for best come-frombehind on last day to win with both men winning from seven shots back.

Thomas did so at the PGA Championship while Burns managed the feat at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

PGA TOUR STATPACK

60

Sebastián Muñoz topped the leaderboard for the lowest opening round with a 60 at the RSM Classic. The Ecuadorian would match that feat again later in the season at the AT&T Byron Nelson.

8 460 12 Kim Joo-hyung won for the first time on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship despite starting the tournament with a quadruplebogey on his opening hole. Four players in the last 40 seasons – since hole-by-hole tracking began – made a quadruple bogey during a win on the PGA Tour.

None had opened the tournament with one.

Patrick Cantlay finished the season with 12 top ten finishes.

Scottie Scheffler finished in second with 11 top tens while Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Matt Fitzpatrick had 10 apiece.

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Scott Stallings hit the longest drive of the season after smashing one 460 yards down the 15th at TPC Scottsdale.

The American went on to make a four at the par 5.

44.96% Lucas Herbert led the way in one-putt percentage with 44.96% of his putts only requiring one stroke. In total, the Australian one putted 437 of his 972 holes across the season.

39.30%

Callum Tarren has a statistic that nobody wants. The Englishman finished in last place for ‘Rough Tendency’ with 39.30% of shots from the tee finding the thick stuff. Interestingly, Will Zalatoris finished just two places above Tarren with 37.25% of his shots ending in the rough.

74.75

%

Ryan Armour had the best percentage

of fairways hit throughout the season with an impressive 379 fairways hit from a possible 507.

Seung-Yul Noh was the worst of the bunch with only 292 hit from a possible 609 – 47.95%.

194.64mph Big-hitting Cameron Champ was top dog in fastest ball speed this season with his best coming in at 194.64mph!

His slowest measured speed across the season was 181.19mph.

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8

PGA TOUR STATPACK

-.651

Adam Schenk’s eight consecutive birdies at the Farmers Insurance Open was the best birdie streak of the season.

Will Zalatoris managed seven at The American Express.

To be the FedEx Cup champion for a third time, first player to ever do that something that not even Tiger Woods has done... it feels pretty good!”

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Viktor Hovland’s troubles around the green continued this season with the Norwegian losing an average .651 strokes. Two players were worse off in the form of Paul Barjon and Hudson Swafford who had an average of -.740 and -.747 in SG: Around the Green.

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Luckiest Ball on Earth

Win a spot in the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am with the Luckiest Ball on Earth series

T

he eagerly awaited Luckiest Ball on Earth series returns to golf clubs across the UAE this month, with amateurs across the country vying for a ‘money can’t buy’ opportunity to play alongside some of the game’s biggest names in the star-studded DP World Tour Championship, Dubai Pro-Am. First launched in 2011, the Luckiest Ball on Earth competition has proven a sure-fire hit with the UAE’s amateur golf scene, giving them the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa at the fifth and final Rolex Series event of the season at Jumeirah Golf Estates, which takes place between November 17-20.

Qualifying tournaments will be held at 19 golf clubs across the UAE from September 3 – October 22, with the leading players from each event booking their spot at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Fire course for the Grand Final on November 5.

Prizes this year include premium experience tickets for the DP World Tour Championship, tournament merchandise, Golf Superstore vouchers and the coveted top prize of a spot in the ProAm, which will go to the leading man, woman and junior from the Grand Final.

The annual competition is open to all golfers who hold an Official Club Handicap recognised by the EGF (maximum 28 for men and juniors and 36 for ladies).

“We are thrilled to offer this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to local golfers across the United Arab Emirates,” said Tom Phillips,

the DP World Tour’s Head of Middle East.

“We encourage golfers of all ages to get involved in this unique initiative that gives amateurs the chance to rub shoulders with their golfing idols at the seasonending DP World Tour Championship.

“We would also like to send our thanks to the 19 clubs involved and the Emirates Golf Federation who sanction this wonderful local golf initiative.”

After being crowned the leading man, woman, and junior at last year’s Luckiest Ball on Earth Grand Final, UAE golfers, Emanuele Galeppini, Teffy Bercero and Rory McGettigan were paired with this year’s Horizon Irish Open champion Adrian Meronk at the DP World Tour Championship Pro-Am. “I can’t put it into words, I really didn’t expect to win and it’s a truly wonderful opportunity to play with one of the best players in the world,” said a triumphant Bercero last year.

This year’s DP World Tour Championship will feature one of the most exclusive fields in world golf with the top 50 players on the DP World Tour Rankings taking part at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Collin Morikawa did the Dubai double last year, triumphing at the season-ending tournament while also becoming the first American to lift the Harry Vardon Trophy – given to the leading player on the DP World Tour Rankings in partnership with Rolex.

Golfers are urged to contact their local club for more details on how to enter the Luckiest Ball on Earth series.

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2022 LUCKIEST BALL ON EARTH QUALIFYING EVENTS – VENUE AND DATES: Date

Club

3-Sep

Arabian Ranches Golf Club

16-Sep

Al Dhanna Golf Club

18-Sep

Montgomerie Golf Club

18-Sep

Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club

24-Sep

Abu Dhabi City Golf Club

25-Sep

JA The Resort Golf Course

1-Oct

Yas Acres Golf and Country Club

1-Oct

Yas Abu Dhabi

1 or 2 Oct

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

2-Oct

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

8-Oct

Trump International Golf Club, Dubai

9-Oct

The Els Club

9-Oct

Jumeirah Golf Estates

15-Oct

Tower Links Golf Club

15-Oct

Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club

15-Oct

Al Hamra Golf Club

16-Oct

Dubai Hills Golf Club

22-Oct

Abu Dhabi Golf Club

22-Oct

Emirates Golf Club

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CHAMPIONSHIP

A

S THE GOLF CLUBS IN THE MIDDLE EAST RAMP UP THEIR PREPARATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING PLAYING SEASON, THE PROFESSIONAL GAME IS CLOSING IN ON THIS YEAR’S CLIMAX. THE LAST NINE MONTHS ON THE DP WORLD TOUR HAVE BEEN CAPTIVATING, WITH THE CIRCUIT NOW SET TO CAP OFF THEIR 50TH YEAR WITH SEVERAL HIGHLYANTICIPATED CONCLUDING EVENTS.

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By WILL KENT

ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE DP WORLD TOUR

T

his season has been like no other.

We’ve seen breakout European stars, unlikely champions and the first ever female winner. In the debut year of the Tour’s rebrand to embrace the term ‘World’ in their new look, it seems fitting to have crowned winners from five different continents in 2022. From South Africa to the USA, and New Zealand to China – champions have come from all over. It’s exactly this wide-reaching, global impact as to what makes the DP World Tour so unique. But who’s next?

As of September 1st, there are still over 55,000 DP World Tour Ranking points to play for this season. The current top 10, which is led by Rory McIlroy, is separated by less than 2000 points. With such a vast amount up for grabs, the action may seem like it is only just getting started.

Much like in the Middle East at the moment, where us amateurs are starting to think about the new season with club fittings and membership fees. These elite professionals are also targeting the desert, with tension set to intensify further as we build up to the final event of the year at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

There’s no doubt we’re set for an enticing end to the DP World Tour campaign.

Firstly though, the Tour still has plenty of other noteworthy stops which

Will Zalatoris is chasing top spot but could an injury hinder his chances?

will undeniably deliver more twists in what has already been a dramatic year.

With visits left to iconic courses such as Le Golf National, Valderrama and the Old Course again – there’s plenty of important tournaments to be played.

Most notably at the flagship event of the season – the BMW PGA Championship in September - where McIlroy will be making his return for the first time since 2019. It will surely mean more to him this year with the Northern Irishman currently at the top of the DP World Tour Rankings. He hasn’t won the Rankings since 2015, so a strong performance at Wentworth will help hugely in his pursuit of a fourth Harry Vardon Trophy. If McIlroy was to hold on to the top spot, he would further etch his name into DP World Tour

Rory McIlroy leads the way on the DP World Tour Rankings

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history by joining greats such as Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie in winning the Rankings four times. He remains the favourite to do just that.

The four-time Major champion won’t be without a fight though, with second-place Will Zalatoris so intent on mounting a serious challenge he’s recently announced his surprise appearance at the upcoming Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, although a recent injury could put a stop to this. If he is to play, there is 6,000 DP World Tour points up for grabs at the Gary Player CC, so it’s a worthwhile and logical move. Spotting the American this side of the pond is rarer than the safari sighting of a black rhino, so his welcomed South African debut will add even more tension to the razor-tight Rankings. The 26-year-old has earnt his position after a remarkable year in the Majors with three top-six finishes, and is clearly a player built for big tournaments. This could well be his moment if the injury doesn’t hinder him.

Following Wentworth, the circuit returns to next year’s Ryder Cup venue with Marco Simone GC again playing host to the illustrious Italian Open. A momentous tournament steeped in history with added importance this year as players attempt to prove themselves on a course which – if selected - could help define their career in next year’s Ryder Cup. Reigning champion Nicolai Højgaard romped to his second career victory at this year’s Ras al Khaimah Championship, and if he was to triumph again here, he could make a strong claim to be in Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup side for 2023. Performing well this week will be vitally important for all.

After Rome, the Tour dashes back to Paris a week later for the historic Open de France. An esteemed event which has been a mainstay on the circuit since 1972.

Having previously crowned big-name winners such as Ballesteros and Bernhard

The conclusion to the season features some of Europe’s most iconic courses

Langer, it is always a tournament not to be missed. It’s also hosted by Le Golf National, another previous Ryder Cup course, which inevitably adds extra excitement. As a European, it’s always nice to walk down memory lane of old Ryder Cup wins.

Then, the final trip up to Scotland of 2022 for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. We return to the scene of The 150th Open Championship to reminisce the year’s earlier action, while battling it out for a further 5,500 DP World Tour Ranking points. An attractively large bounty, and more than enough to play a deciding role in who takes home the Harry Vardon Trophy come the end of the year.

This is not one to be missed, especially with the influx of big-name celebrities and famous faces across the week.

Before the season’s finale which involves those trips to South Africa and Dubai, the DP World Tour hosts a month of crucial Mediterranean contests with four events in October. Starting in the Spanish capital, Madrid’s Club de Campo welcomes back the Open de España before transporting south for the Andalucía Masters and Mallorca Golf Open. Both Spanish events

so far this season have been won by homegrown talents, so it will be an enticing prospect to see if the nation’s best can continue their dominance on home soil. October ends at the Portugal Masters, with our own playing season in the Middle East in full flow by that point. Then, the Tour marches on to the much-anticipated trip to Sun City for ‘Africa’s Major’.

One thing for certain is that the Rankings will chop and change over the course of the next few months in unpredictable manner. McIlroy and Zalatoris lead a bunched up top 10 which includes Major winners and Rolex Series champions such as Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland and Thomas Pieters.

The last five DP World Tour champions all won a Rolex Series event during the season, so the latter two do have history on their side at the moment as they look to finish in top spot for the first time.

Outside of those highlighted leading contenders, the likes of Adrian Meronk and Ryan Fox also have a chance to create history. Keep your eyes on this pairing over the coming weeks. If either one can close out the season strongly, they are

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also in with a genuine chance. The New Zealander in particular has enjoyed an incredible season and is by far the surprise package of 2022. A win, three second-place finishes and a handful of other top 10s has put in him with a serious shot of becoming the first Kiwi to win the Rankings. What a fitting storyline that would be to cap off the 50th year.

It’s all built up to these crucial few months ahead where every shot will count from now on. McIlroy may not have won The Open this year, and Zalatoris may have become another ‘nearly man’ of the Majors, but both are still in prime position here to create precious golfing history. Meanwhile, the gruelling summer sun will continue to fade in the desert for another year, and there’s no doubt many of you are chomping at the bit to finally get back out there. From October onwards, we will be back to enjoying the finest of golfing weather possible, while watching the pros battle it out for the DP World Tour’s top prize. The 50th year has no doubt been a fascinating one, sucking our attention in from all areas of the globe, but the drama is far from finished yet. ■

‘WE PLAY THIS GAME TO BE

REMEMBERED’

BILLY HORSCHEL WILL JOIN EXALTED COMPANY IF HE CAN SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND THE BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT WENTWORTH THIS MONTH.

B

illy Horschel, ever passionate and increasingly out-spoken defender of tradition in the face of rebel forces, reiterated his primary measure of golf success as recently as July’s Scottish Open.

“This is what we play for. We want to compete against the best players and see where we stand with our game and what better place than to do it here at The Renaissance Club at the Scottish Open.”

The 35-year-old American doubled down on legacy over ludicrous sums argument just before the recent FedEx Cup playoffs when he spoke of his desperation to make Davis Love III’s Presidents Cup team for Quail Hollow later this month. Horschel has three times represented the red, white and blue in amateur team events but has never quite been able to nail automatic qualification or even a Captain’s Pick for a Presidents or Ryder Cup despite been so tantalisingly close in recent years.

“I think [this is] probably the best situation I’ve been in my entire career to make a team right now, so I’ve just got to go out there and play really solid golf and I think if I do that, then hopefully I can make my first team, which would be really cool,” he said.

“I think the guys know me very well, I’ve been out here for 13 years and I think Davis and Zach [Johnson, next year’s Ryder Cup Captain] and other assistant captains know the type of person I am, know my game very well, know what I can bring to a team and so now it’s just, it’s my job to play well enough so I can be picked or make the team automatically.”

With Love III confirming his line-up for

the September 22-25 matches against Trevor Immelman’s Internationals shortly after the PGA Tour Championship, Horschel’s fate will be known before he wings his way to England for the $8 million BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Whatever transpires, rest assured the Floridian will be motivated to enhance his legacy in the important, heritage events on this side of the Atlantic Ocean when he touches down. Indeed, he will tee it up on the West Course in the Rolex Series event with a chance to join exalted company if he can defend the DP World Tour’s flagship championship.

Only six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo, eight-time DP World Tour Order of Merit champion Colin Montgomerie and new European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald have successfully defended the BMW PGA Championship.

Interestingly, only the last of Faldo’s record four wins in 1989 came on the West Course at Wentworth, the consistent home of the what was originally the British ‘PGA Close Championship’ since 1984.

Montgomerie, meanwhile, owns the distinction of having won the Tour’s preeminent title three times in succession (1998, 1999 and 2000), joining the late, great professional turned commentator Peter Alliss as a three-time winner.

The Scot’s combined income from the hat-trick of wins - €998,480 – pales in significance to the €1,125,952 Horschel collected for his one stroke victory of Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Laurie Canter and Jamie Donaldson 12 months ago.

Horschel would join Tony Jacklin, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam, Anders Hansen

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and Donald as a two-time winner if he can conjure something similar to the 19-under par total that took him to victory last year.

“I think as golfers, junior golfers, growing up, we play this game to be remembered,” Horschel said.

“We play this game to say we’ve won on the PGA TOUR, we’ve won the same tournaments as Tiger Woods and same as Arnold Palmer, same thing over here on the DP World Tour, thinking about winning the BMW PGA and the national opens.

“My goal was to be considered hopefully one of the greatest players of my generation or one of the greatest players in the game and hopefully be remembered.”

By winning Jack Nicklaus’ event, the Memorial Tournament, in June, Horschel has already ensured 2022 is a productive year in terms of his long-term legacy. But he’s far from done, keen to add to a CV that includes seven PGA Tour titles including winning the 2014 FedEx Cup with victory in two of the playoff series events.

“It’s been a really good year,” Horschel told PGA Tour.com.

“I repeat myself a lot but sometimes all the hard work and practice we put in, we don’t get results out of it, so it’s nice for this year, we start to see more results, what my team and I have done over the last couple of years, the changes we have made to try and be more consistent, try and win the bigger events, it’s been nice to finally see.

“It’s been a solid year.”

That, in an otherwise tumultuous year for the game, is all Horschel could hope for. Other than repeating as BMW PGA Championship winner that is. ■

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

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“

I look forward to competing again at the BMW PGA

Championship.”

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BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Rory McIlroy

a g n i k e Se

STAR

RORY MCILROY IS SET TO CHASE A SECOND

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN FIRST WENTWORTH START SINCE 2019.

R

ory McIlroy knows his place in golf’s global pecking order. He happily admitted as much at a recent players’ meeting headlined by Tiger Woods, a seminal moment for the game convened in the fight for the sport’s heritage.

“I think it’s pretty apparent that whenever we all get in the room there’s an alpha in there, and it’s not me,” the 33-year-old Northern Irishman said.

Barring a late and completely unexpected entry from Woods, McIlroy is assured of being the chief attraction on the West Course for this month’s BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club.

McIlroy is teeing it up in the DP World Tour’s flagship event for the first time since 2019 and enjoys an enviable record in the event, winning by a stroke from Shane Lowry in 2014 after finishing runner-up to Francesco Molinari by two shots in 2018. There was also a top-five back in 2009 when Paul Casey triumphed but McIlroy, rather curiously, has never won a Rolex Series gold star.

He will be determined to right that wrong at Wentworth in what

is the fourth of this year’s five elevated Rolex Series events. He’ll arrived buoyed by a third FedEx Cup title alongside runner-up and third place finishes at the Masters at Augusta National and 150th Open Championship at St Andrews. He’s also clearly motivated by a a slightly longer term ambition, the hope of being crowned DP World Tour champion for a fourth time at the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 20.

“I look forward to competing again at the BMW PGA Championship,” said McIlroy. “It’s an event I always love playing – the West Course has been good to me in the past, and the fans are incredibly supportive,” said McIlroy.

“I’ve had a consistent year so far and having a chance to win again at the iconic Wentworth would help my season long campaign.”

McIlroy, who counts two Dubai Desert Classic triumphs, a pair of DP World Tour Championship victories and four Major titles among his 14 wins on the DP World Tour, will be making his third appearance of the DP World Tour season (outside of the Majors).

Interestingly, his two previous starts came in the UAE and in Rolex Series

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events; McIlroy finished third at the Dubai Desert Classic after claiming a share of 12th at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship earlier in January.

McIlroy finished three shots adrift of Scottie Scheffler at Augusta National in his now annual and microscopically analysed pursuit of golf’s career Grand Slam but it wasn’t half as frustrating as watching Cameron Smith putt the lights out to claim the Claret Jug. He admits to needing “three or four days” to get over the Old Course anguish but knows his game is in good shape despite the near miss at St Andrews and the immediate hangover when he missed the cut in his next start, the FedEx St. Jude Championship last month.

“I shot 18 under par around St. Andrews for four days, and it wasn’t quite good enough to get the job done. If I keep playing the way I’ve been playing in the bigger tournaments, the law of averages would suggest that I’m going to get myself a trophy at some point.”

Don’t be surprised if that “point” arrives at Wentworth with McIIroy’s name inscribed on the BMW PGA Championship trophy – one of golf’s most sought after prizes - once more. Even golf’s alpha male, Woods, would surely applaud that. ■

D

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EWEN FERGUSON

DUBAI EWEN FERGUSON

ination

By WILL KENT

S

cottish prodigy Ewen Ferguson has emerged as a potential future star of European golf after a super season so far, with his eyes now locked on further glory in the desert. The 26-year-old has risen from the depths of last year’s Challenge Tour to claim two DP World Tour titles since March in resounding style and has booked his debut at the prized 2022 DP World Tour Championship in November.

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Two victories this season have propelled Ferguson up the DP World Tour Rankings

A

fter threatening to win at the Magical Kenya Open, Ferguson finally claimed his maiden victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters three weeks later. In doing so, he became the first British player to win in the ‘DP World Tour’ era. Five months on, he set a course record at Galgorm Castle on his way to winning the ISPS Handa World Invitational in wire-to-wire fashion. The Scotsman started the year outside the top 300 players in the world, but is now closing in on the top 100 with plenty of ranking points up for grabs over the course of next few months. It’s been the perfect progression, and he already has his eyes on the season’s final DP World Tour event.

“I’m really looking forward to going to Dubai as I love it there,” Ferguson told Worldwide Golf. “It’s pretty cool to be playing against some of the top 20 in the world who will be there. It’s a no cut event, a big purse and always something I’ve wanted to do. I think I’ll fly my family out to be there with me for the week and just try to make it memorable, hopefully by performing to a high level.”

The 2015 Walker Cup player will need to bring his finest form again as Jumeirah Golf Estate’s Earth course is expected to welcome some of the world’s elite. The likes of Rory McIlroy and Will Zalatoris, injury permitting, are set to descend on Dubai in November to

“I’m really looking forward to going to Dubai as I love it there.” battle it out for the DP World Tour’s top prize in a high-calibre 50-man field.

However, despite the glamour and big names, Ferguson remains confident.

Now a proven winner, he’s starting to feel comfortable contending and believes he knows how to succeed at Jumeirah Golf Estates. “I’ve played on the Earth course before which is a very difficult course,” he explained. “But I feel like if I’m driving it

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well there and have a hot putter then I can definitely contend. It’s important to play from the fairway there. If you can do that and can rely on a good putter, that’s what gets you into contention in the desert.”

Ferguson did exactly that when he went three under for his last three holes in Qatar to win. In doing so, he became the first Scotsman to triumph in the Middle East since Stephen Gallacher at the 2014 Dubai Desert Classic. However, the 26-year-old revealed to Worldwide Golf that performing in the Middle East is something he’s always been comfortable with. “I’ve played a lot of golf in Dubai as well which helps,” he said. “I’ve been out there since my teenage years with the Scottish national team. I go there a lot, and like to practice at the Els Club. They kindly let me practice for free and I sometimes have the place to myself to do what I want, which is nice.”

Along with Ferguson’s dominant win in Northern Ireland came the achievement of becoming the first Scottish player for a decade to win twice in the same DP World Tour season. A rare feat with Paul Lawrie the last to do so back in 2012. This year he also became the fourth Scottish first-time winner since 2020. Between 2015 and 2019, there were only two of the kind. The likes of Robert MacIntyre, Grant Forrest and Calum Hill have all claimed their first titles, with Ferguson now adding a second to his name. It got us thinking, why is

EWEN FERGUSON

Ferguson played the Golf in Dubai Championship in 2020 but is yet to feature at the DP World Tour Championship

Scottish golf seeing a mini resurgence?

“I think we’re always going to have random times where we play great as a nation,” he says. “Then there will also be times when things simply don’t go as well for us Scots. What I would say is our amateur scene is great, with all of us playing in the same team with one another in the past. We were all quite close as friends and also in performing at a high level in amateur tournaments, so we were doing that then and then we see each other doing it now. Everyone keeps thinking, ‘if he can do it, I can do it’.

“I also play with Robert MacIntyre on my weeks off, at Archerfield or somewhere at home, so I am really close to my fellow countrymen. It’s good competition. We text all the time and they are really happy for me this year.”

Ferguson is on the verge of making even more history in 2022. He’s set himself a busy schedule for the rest of the year which includes playing six events in a row, with plenty of opportunities to secure some more crucial DP World Tour Ranking points. Having recently rocketed into the top 20 of the season-long Rankings, the Scotsman has time on his side and could now mount a surprise challenge for the Harry Vardon Trophy with over 40,000 points still up for grabs. The current leaders - McIlroy and Zalatoris - are only expected make a handful of starts before the season’s finale and while Ferguson is still admittedly big underdog, he does have a chance. If he was to win another tournament, he would become the first Scot since Colin Montgomerie in 1999 to

“It’s all about putting yourself in position and I’ve done that a few times this year now.” triumph three times in one calendar year.

“I’m a bit of a golf nut myself so I know all of the Scottish golf history and all of that kinda stuff,” Ferguson responded when asked about breaking records. “It’s always in the back of my mind about how nice it would be to go out and match some of them before me, or even get as many wins as some of them. There have been some cracking golfers from Scotland in the past as well. I also know some of them now which is quite nice and they put their arm round me which is really kind.”

As we enter the final stages of the 50th DP World Tour season, we look forward to ending the calendar year with some of golf’s most iconic events still left on the schedule. The remainder of the season is set to host nationals opens in countries like France and Italy, before a voyage

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south to Sun City for ‘Africa’s Major’ at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Several more winners will be crowned over the coming months all over the globe, and Ferguson’s aiming to get in the mix again to turn a great year into an incredible one.

“I’m not going to say I’m going to win again this year, but I think I’ll get myself into contention again,” he said. “If I manage to hold my nerve and play to the ability I know I’m capable of, then I could get over the line. It’s all about putting yourself in position and I’ve done that a few times this year now. It’s nice to finally start feeling comfortable in those situations, and maybe I’ll be able to get over the line again this year. If not, I know in future seasons I’ll be there or there abouts a few more times in my career, and if it falls my way then fantastic.” ■

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R

Y

A

N

F

O

X

By WILL KENT

RYAN FOX IS HAVING THE SEASON OF HIS LIFE. A DP WORLD TOUR WIN IN THE DESERT, THREE SECONDPLACE FINISHES AND A HANDFUL OF OTHER STRONG PERFORMANCES HAS PROPELLED THE BIG-HITTING 35-YEAR-OLD COMFORTABLY INTO THE TOP 10 OF THE DP WORLD TOUR RANKINGS. HE NOW HAS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE HARRY VARDON TROPHY FOR THE FIRST TIME – SOMETHING WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE BY A PLAYER FROM NEW ZEALAND.

Fox secured the Ras Al Khaimah Classic earlier this season

“T

here have been so few Kiwis succeed in the world of golf over the years,” Fox told Worldwide Golf. “Michael Campbell is one that springs to mind. He’s someone I grew up admiring. He played a lot over here on the DP World Tour, also having won the U.S. Open in 2005 and contended in Open Championships. I definitely lean on the successes of the Kiwis before me like that, and I can’t shy away from the fact there’s a lot on the line this year for me now. If I can play well over the next few weeks and put myself in an even better position in the Rankings coming up to the DP World Tour Championship, that would be ideal.”

This year the Tour has celebrated its 50th anniversary, with viewers often reminded on TV broadcasts of its steep history.

From Collin Morikawa becoming the first American to win the Harry Vardon Trophy last year, to all of Seve Ballesteros’ 50 wins – history is made every single week.

However, it’s impossible to reminisce all of the previous 49 seasons without taking a moment to ponder where it all began in 1972. Back then, the prize money was tiny in comparison to now and the season was spread out over just six months between April and October. Still, it was an international 24-event schedule which saw New Zealander Bob Charles triumph twice.

No player won more than him that season.

“Bob is a bit earlier than my time, but he is still not as well known in New Zealand as he should be considering all of his successes,” Fox added. “But the great thing about coming from a small country now is that you get a lot of people behind you in that respect. There are a lot of golf fans in New Zealand and I have been getting a lot

Bob Charles narrowly missed out on the very first Harry Vardon Trophy

of messages of support which is fantastic when you’re a long way from home.”

Back in 1972 when Charles competed, the Order of Merit – now the DP World Tour Rankings – was a points-based system which incorporated stroke average as well as prize money to determine the winner. Unfortunately for the lefthanded New Zealander, who did actually earn more prize money than any other member that year, it wasn’t enough.

Instead, it was England’s Peter Oosterhuis who took the number one spot.

Since that inaugural season, the DP World Tour has birthed a further seven winners from New Zealand who have claimed 27 titles in total between them. However, the nation’s chances of winning the seasonlong Rankings, which concludes in Dubai, have historically been sparse. Campbell challenged in 2005, but Colin Montgomerie

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pipped him to the top spot with the former having to settle for second place. The DP World Tour has been enriched with glorious repetition over its five-decade existence – Bernhard Langer’s quintuplet of German Open wins comes to mind – but it is still yet to feature recurring Kiwi success. It seems more fitting than ever that now, exactly 50 years on from Charles’ mega-money haul, a fellow New Zealander could be on the cusp of finishing atop of the Rankings and taking home the Harry Vardon Trophy at long last.

“I’m in a great position,” Fox said. “It’s also really nice to know so early on in the season that I’m a lock to get into the DP World Tour Championship. That’s what you play for at the start of the year. I’m looking forward to getting back on the Earth course, it feels like it’s a course that suits me. I’ll try not to treat the event any differently to any other week, but it will no doubt be a big week.”

It will be Fox’s first appearance at Jumeirah Golf Estates since 2018. Despite qualifying in 2020, the 35-year-old was battling the strict travel and quarantine system that his home nation still had in place. “I couldn’t play the event in 2020 because my daughter was due that week, and New Zealand was a pretty tough country to get back into at that point,” Fox explained. “I’ve found it really tough the last couple of years having a young family wondering when I’d see them, if I’d see them. If I left the country I was always left wondering whether I could get back in. That weighed on my mind and when you’re thinking about that on the course, it’s hard to play well. All of that is gone this year thankfully.”

Also dangling in the distance now is the carrot of a first Masters invite,

RYAN FOX

If the team was getting picked just before the 150th Open, I probably would have had a better chance than what I do now. There are some guys on the PGA Tour who have been playing really well lately. I reckon I’ve still got a good chance of a pick, but certainly not a lock for the event.”

with Fox rocketing into the top 50 of the World Ranking courtesy of his fine form on DP World Tour. The Kiwi needs to remain in position by the year’s end to secure his Augusta debut in 2023, something he’s targeted since being young professional back in his homeland.

“The Masters is the one Major appearance I’m missing and the one I grew up watching the most,” Fox added.

“It was the best timing TV-wise in New Zealand. Since spending time in Europe, The Open has definitely gone up in stature for me, but that was always a tough event to watch for us as it was on in the middle of the night. You had to pull an all-nighter to even watch any of it, but the Masters

was always early morning. It’s been one I’ve wanted to play in and this year I’ve got the best chance of doing it. It’s also one of those things where if I focus on it too much, it will become too hard to achieve. I just want to go out and play as well as I can and let the results take care of themselves.”

The list of potential accomplishments for Fox this season doesn’t stop there. The two-time DP World Tour winner is also on the verge of receiving a Captains Pick from Trevor Immelman for the International Presidents Cup side. Like the Masters, an appearance at this event would be a first for his career and another dream ticked off. “I’d love to get a pick,” Fox insisted. “If the team was getting picked just before

Ryan Fox came close to another title at the Dutch Open

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The 150th Open, I probably would have had a better chance than what I do now.

There are some guys on the PGA Tour who have been playing really well lately. I reckon I’ve still got a good chance of a pick, but certainly not a lock for the event.”

Fox’s rampant Ras al Khaimah Classic victory back in February kickstarted the superb run of results which has led to this position. Winning by four that week, he set the tone for rest of his campaign. The 35-year-old nearly added to his tally at the Dutch Open, but a double-bogey on the 72nd hole led to a play-off and an eventual defeat to Victor Perez. The Frenchman seemed to hole putts from what looked like the other side of the world during those last few holes. But other top ten finishes for Fox in Germany, Spain, Ireland, England and Belgium have help further propel him into the limelight on all fronts. Perhaps this is the game’s way of rewarding him for the logistical nightmare he endured during the pandemic. Being a New Zealander battling on a European-based circuit while his young family remained at home cannot have been easy. It’s a credit to his mental perseverance that he is where he is, now on the verge of creating history.

Fox has undoubtedly been the surprise package of the year so far, and finds himself deep in uncharted territory within the DP World Tour Rankings. At the time of writing, he’s sixth. His best finish came in 2018 when he was 22nd. He’s proved repeatedly this season he deserves all of his rewards, but now may be the time to lean on the successes from his fellow compatriots for one more instance. The Harry Vardon Trophy is finally within reach for a New Zealander, once again. ■

70s

A membership fee that only costs 500AED, ‘browns’ instead of greens and “bloody great lizards running all over the place” – it seems a world away from the well-kept greens and manicured fairways we are spoilt with across the UAE in this day and age.

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By THOMAS WRAGG

The Sandy

GOLF IN THE MIDDLE EAST

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GOLF IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Sand, sand and more sand! Oh and one tiny peice of astroturf.

B

ut it isn’t a world away, in fact it was just 50 years ago right here in Dubai at the famed Dubai Country Club, which opened in 1971 after Duabi’s leaders granted six expatriates and prominent local businessman Khalifa bin Juma Al Naboodah land in Ras Al Khor to build the club.

To find out more about the history of the club and the UAE itself, we caught up with David Burns, who was first introduced to the UAE in 1967 when he was on his way to join a military unit in Singapore. The aircraft he was flying on lost an engine en route and they ended up landing in Sharjah, where he spent a week with the Solomon Scouts. After leaving the army in the 70s, he moved to Abu Dhabi to join Spinneys before working across the GCC for next 35 years.

“I think the first thing that struck you was the heat as soon as you got off the aircraft,” Burns said. “It was like walking into an oven, something that we’d never experienced before. It was phenomenal –it was all encompassing in terms of, it was everywhere. Everything you touched was hot. In those days, the only public places you could go to that were air conditioned were the banks and all the banks had a very large security guards with rifles!

So, you had to try and get into the bank to cool off. I can remember getting in by dodging the security guards!”

After its opening in 1971, Dubai Country Club proved a major attraction to the growing expatriate population in the UAE after the discovery of oil in the country. Throughout the summer months

“The Country Club in particular, you had quite clear fairways that had been sort of raked and brushed, and then dunes and just sand and scrub for the rough areas. And what we would call greens were actually browns, and the putting surface was just sand mixed with crude oil.”

it would normally be a male-only affair with wives and partners who didn’t work returning home to Europe for four months to escape the intense heat.

The club offered them a sanctuary for social contact plus spending time at the bar without any pressing need to return home! By the end of the first year, the club’s membership trebled and continued growing with weekly tournaments on a Friday well attended.

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“Everybody, and I mean in those days everybody, there were no grass coursse, so everybody played on sand,” says Burns.

“The Country Club in particular, you had quite clear fairways that had been sort of raked and brushed, and then dunes and just sand and scrub for the rough areas.

And what we would call greens were actually browns, and the putting surface was just sand mixed with crude oil.

“On a Friday, the club would employ the green-keeping staff and after everybody had been round or when somebody had finished putting, they would go on the green or on the brown with a big brush, and cut out the previous markings from the balls.

“Before you reached the brown, if you landed on the fairway, you would place a nine-inch square of astroturf down to play your ball. You would always carry this around with you and placed it behind the ball, then you were allowed to pick up the ball and put it anywhere on the astroturf. All of the tee boxes had astroturf as the surface from which you could drive from. Usually, when you hit your ball, you’d hit the mat first! The good players could play quite well off the mats, but us hackers, sometimes the mat went further than the ball!

“And if you played in the rough, in a lot of cases you hit stone. So, you never used good clubs to play there, because your clubs got battered very quickly. The same rules applied. There were people that would go back to the club after a game and analyse every stroke and every shot, something I could never do. You played a normal game of golf, but you played it on sand.”

With membership continuing to grow, funds were generated to build nine extra holes, but the small clubhouse became a problem with the growing numbers. The club’s golfers soon solved this issue by installing a separate golf clubhouse using a redundant prefabricated staff accommodation unit donated by a construction company – the ‘temporary’ building continued in use for 35 years from the early 80s.

But there was one problem that couldn’t be solved – giant lizards on the course!

“It was hot during the summer; it would get up to 50 degrees,” said Burns.

“I played golf on many occasions in temperatures of more than 50 and that gets difficult out in the middle of a desert, which it was back then.

“Because you were out there with sand all around, there used to be iguanas living on the course. You could walk down the fairway and there’d be bloody great lizards running all over the place – it was a sight to behold!”

By the 1980s things had changed in Dubai with more and more expatriates coming to live in the Emirate. With new housing complexes in self-contained communities that featured swimming pools, tennis courts and squash courts along with hotels offering sports complexes, the Dubai Country Club was no longer the place to be. Add in the opening of the desert oasis that was Emirates Golf Club – the Middle East’s first grass course – and membership began to decline.

“Do you know why they built Emirates Golf Club where they did?” David asks me. “The Emirates Global Aluminum factory that is further up the road were pumping about a million gallons a day of fresh water into the sea, because they had nothing else to do with it. And one of Sheikh Mohammed’s

Dubai Country Club closed for good in 2007

advisors had done some geology work, and beneath the land where Emirates Golf Club is, is a natural aquifer. And an aquifer is like cracks in the rock that store water.

“So, the idea was they would pump this fresh water from Dubai, and pump it directly into the ground underneath the area where the golf course now is. And then all they would have to do is drill some boreholes and pump it up and irrigate the land, which worked. It was fabulous, and it was the first major green golf course in the Middle East. The club remains the premier golf club in the region without a doubt.”

With the rise of Emirates Golf Club and Dubai’s growing ambition, Dubai Country Club closed down for good in 2007 to make way for the spectacular Meydan Racecourse.

“When they announced that Meydan Racecourse would be built on the site it was a sad moment,” says Burns. “There was talk about finding the club another

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place, and they were offered land quite far away from town but the committee didn’t want to move that far out.”

“Some members weren’t happy that the club was going to be shut down but it was just part of the evolution of Dubai. It is what it is. We had some great times there.

It was one of those places, if you wanted to play rugby, you played rugby, if you wanted to play golf, you played golf on the sand.

“Back in the early days we could never have envisaged what Dubai has become today. Nobody had the vision that the rulers of the UAE had – not once did we look around and say ‘in 20 years’ time, there are going to be multistory buildings everywhere’, because we didn’t have that vision, it wasn’t ours, we didn’t own it, we weren’t invested in it.

“There was no value for us in dreaming those sorts of things. I take my hat off to the UAE, what they’ve done there is nothing short of incredible.”

GOLF IN THE MIDDLE EAST

David on his role in the development of Doha Golf Club “It came about when the Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was devolping Qatar.

He had big plans for the west bay, north of west bank, and wanted to build a load of hotels and a golf course. There was a sand course at one side, there still is, but they pushed for a grass course.

“The President of the Qatar Golf Federation had contacted Peter Harradine to design the course, so he came and surveyed the land and then the order was given to Qatar National Hotels Company to build the course.

“I flew out and joined the company on the day they celebrated the three-month anniversary of breaking ground on the new course. The Chairman at the time asked me if I know much about golf, I told him that I played and he basically gave me the keys to the kingdom and told me to make sure the course was built to budget.

“So, I had to make sure that Harradine didn’t go over budget, I spent two years with him and his side-kick and we had some stand-up fights, but it all went well in the end!

“I think I was the first non-star member to play every single hole as they became available, and when the course was finally finished, we had a board meeting, and one of the board members said ‘well, what do you want to do now, Mr. Harradine?’

And he said ‘I’d like to keep the course closed for a year, to allow all of the plants and trees and the grass to grow.

‘And if we do that, the course will be

David on one of his trips around Doha Golf Club

good for 25 years. If you let people play on it at the moment, it’ll cost you a fortune maintaining it.’ They agreed and gave the golf course to me to take care of.

“It was brilliant, because I was known as ‘Mr. Golf’ and I could play golf on my own 18hole golf course any day I wanted. Seriously, it was like that, and nobody bothered me.

“Every VIP who came to Qatar, who

played golf, I would get a call from the foreign office asking if I could organise a golf event? I’d obviously say yes and we would take them round.

“I can remember playing golf with Boris Becker and his wife before he got divorced. The president of Lebanon, the chairman of Nippon Industries, I mean it was just incredible.”

David on Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club “Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club was a joy to behold. If you could imagine, you had a tee box and the golf course was in the dunes, so it changed daily with the wind. The boys in the morning would go out, and they would find a flag, a whole flag and they would put a tyre around it. So the tyre was on the surface and you would chip into the tyre, and that was like putting out! The course had no browns, it was literally a tyre.

“It was funny, a really wonderful and weird experience. But there were no fairways, there were a couple that a few people had sort of taken a bulldozer to, but there was nothing that you would call a fairway and they got covered with sand anyway. So, you played in the dunes off the sand, you could play them with a piece of green grass or your astroturf.

“And then just when you got somewhere

Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club did get browns eventually!

near to the to the flag you chipped in.

Sometimes the flags would be buried completely, the dunes would just blow over.

So, you would put another tyre down, and

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sometimes the sand dunes would expose tyres that had been there for years. So, the course was different every time you played it. That was cute and very cool.”

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DOMINIC MORTON

Time to

Shine

By WILL KENT

ver recent years, Dubai has propelled promising young talent onto big things within the world of golf.

Dubai-based teenagers Toby Bishop and Josh Hill have reaped the rewards of the first-rate facilities available in the Middle East, and their development has now opened the pathway of college golf in America. While the pair continue their pursuit of professional Tour golf on the other side of the globe, even more young talent has emerged in the UAE, such as 16-yearold Dominic Morton.

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Dominic and his coach Ian Clark bounce off each other during our shoot

T

he English teenager has a fascinating story. Upon moving to Dubai less than four years ago, he was an 18 handicapper. Since his move to the Middle East, he now plays off plus two.

During his rapid handicap descent, he also suffered a ghastly elbow injury from a bike accident which nearly meant he would never swing a club again. Now, a Scratch Team player at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai, Morton is also chasing the dream of American golf. He spoke to us at Worldwide Golf about his journey.

Worldwide Golf: How did you get into playing golf?

Dominic Morton: I’ve been in Dubai for four years now. I grew up playing golf, football, athletics, and swimming. Then, all of the competitions started to clash so I chose golf as it was the one I was most passionate about. I grew up playing it and I just fell in love with the game.

WWG: Did you think you could have ever seriously pursued one of those other sports instead of golf?

DM: Yeah, I was always a good footballer.

I was really good at swimming. I did cross country for a long time, but I just fell in love with golf.

I’ve been in Dubai for four years now. I think when I came to Dubai I was off 18, and Dubai has taken me all the way down to plus two. It’s been a big change.”

WWG: Do you think being in Dubai and playing these great courses has helped your game?

DM: 100 percent. I’ve been in Dubai for four years now. I think when I came to Dubai I was off 18, and Dubai has taken me all the way down to plus two. It’s been a big change.

WWG: What made the difference to dropping the handicap that quickly?

DM: The facilities around here are the best and obviously the people. You just get to know a lot of better golfers. Learning off other people has helped me to get better.

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WWG: What tournaments have you won in Dubai?

DM: I won the Summer Open recently at Trump International. I’m in the Scratch Team for Trump. We’ve won that two years in a row. Last season wasn’t really my season though, I had big injury on my elbow so I was out for seven months. I wasn’t really up for last season, but hopefully this season that can be changed.

WWG: Was that from a bike accident?

DM: Yeah, I had a bike accident where my elbow split in half. I was just messing about with my friends.

DOMINIC MORTON WWG: After the accident, did you think you might never play again?

DM: Yeah, when the doctors took my parents out the room to tell them what actually had happened, I was like ‘ah yeah, I’m not playing again, no way’. Then, I got told there could be surgery for it and it was the biggest relief I ever had in my life.

Every day. 18 holes, practice, short game.

Everything I can get in. Four to five hours a day.

Obviously in the summer heat now it’s not that fun, but you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta to do. ”

WWG: What about your future plans - is moving to America the goal?

DM: I’ve wanted to go to the States ever since I was a kid. Seeing other Dubai golfers like Josh Hill and Toby Bishop go recently it’s made me want to go even more. It’s the lifestyle and seems like the best place for golf, personally.

WWG: How about your recent summer competing in England, what was that like?

DM: I played amateur events at Hillside and Royal Birkdale. Four rounds of golf in two days - it was really tough. I’ve never walked that far in my life. I’m used to the buggies in Dubai! It was a big struggle. First time ever doing it though, so it was a great experience.

I think I was 30th out of around 70 players where I was against the top people in the UK, so it was really good experience.

WWG: Where do you prefer playing - Dubai or England?

DM: Honestly, if I was to grow up playing golf at Royal Birkdale I don’t think I would have enjoyed the game as much. The weather is just really unpredictable in the UK. It does what it wants and you can’t play golf as much as you can in Dubai, so it’s Dubai for me.

WWG: What’s the difference between playing in Dubai, in comparison to back home - the courses, the quality of players, the style of golf?

DM: Links golf and the golf here in Dubai is completely different. I think if you’re really good at Links golf you’ve got a really big potential. It’s a big difference between the two places. Things like rough, fairways are a lot of thinner. Playing at Trump, we have very wide fairways and wide greens. It’s a big change, and something I need to adjust to quickly.

WWG: How do you adjust?

DM: Me and my coach Ian worked on it a lot. Shot shaping, tidying my game up, closing stuff off. Visualising different types of shots and fairways.

Just trying to keep it more neutral.

WWG: What specifically are you and your coach, Ian Clark, working on at the moment?

DM: I’ve been coming too much from the inside recently, so I’m working on fixing that. I’ve been getting quite stuck in my swing so we’ve been trying to get me a fade feel with my irons. I got my new set of clubs recently so I’ve been trying to build a relationship with them. I usually hit a draw but I think it’s going to have to become a fade at this point as I’m getting too stuck in positions and I don’t like it.

WWG: What about when you were playing off an 18 handicap, were you a big slicer like a lot of us?

DM: Absolutely. A big slice, a big hook. I did everything but straight to be fair.

WWG: So, when did it all really start to ‘click’ for you?

DM: My first coach when I came to Trump International was a guy called Sven. I didn’t really have a coach in the UK, so to have someone to give you advice was helpful. He was the one to first settle out my swing, then Ian came into the equation and it’s got better ever since.

WWG: How much are you practicing?

DM: Every day. 18 holes, practice, short game. Everything I can get in. Four to five hours a day. Obviously in the summer heat now it’s not that fun, but you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta to do.

WWG: The next generation of Dubai players - who’s next to look out for like yourself?

DM: We’ve got a new Scratch Team in at Trump. There’s guy called Matthew De Haus from the Netherlands. Also, Jack White who is one of my good friends I believe he’s got good potential at the moment. Freddie Wassink, he’s Dutch as well. There are a lot of good players that I play with usually.

WWG: Do you try and replicate any professional swings? Tiger? Rory?

DM: I try and do my own thing, really. I

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look up to all of them as look where they are now and look where they’ve been.

I always watch the competitions on TV and try and learn off anyone I can to be fair. They’ve all got amazing swings, all doing really well earning a lot of money.

WWG: What are your eventual career goals and aspirations?

DM: It would be the dream to get right to the very top. That’s always been the dream. Even when I was playing other sports it’s always been the dream to be a professional golfer. Everyone has their ups and downs sometimes. You just have to conquer through it and carry on.

WWG: Outside of golf what do you like to get up to in your spare time?

DM: I like going to the gym. I do cardio a lot, I like to go running. Hanging out with mates, all the normal stuff most teens like to do.

WWG: And the gym - how important is it for you?

DM: I always liked a good physique. I have a good personal trainer right now, Alan Walters at Emirates Golf Club, so he’s been training me quite hard recently.

WWG: How much has your game improved with the fitter and stronger you’ve got?

DM: I’ve been hitting it a lot further.

Being able to control golf club a lot more considering my strength. It’s helping my game a lot more than I expected.

JENNY HENNESSY

Rubbing shoulders with the world’s best on my travels

I

t has been an action packed summer for golf across the globe in both the amateur and professional ranks. In early July we saw the JP McManus Pro-Am showcase the talents of some of the biggest names in golf. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler were among the starstudded golfers that travelled to Adare Manor in Ireland for this spectacle of golf.

This prestigious event attracted celebrities including Jamie Dornan, Niall Horan and Bill Murray, to name but a few. This two day charity event is a testament to JP McManus’ hard work, goodwill and charitable nature.

Both days were filled with excitement from beginning to end, it was just fantastic to see 40,000 people each day gaining such enjoyment from golf.

I landed into Shannon airport, Ireland on July 2, a few days before the JP McManus Pro-Am kicked off. Upon landing I received a message from my brother telling me that I had just missed meeting Adam Scott, he had played a round at my home club, Lahinch Golf Club that morning. Little did I know, an even more exciting welcome home was awaiting me in Lahinch. Word quickly spread around the seaside village that Scheffler, Jordan Speith and Sam Burns were going to be teeing off around lunchtime. I couldn’t believe my luck!

All three stars showcased their incredible talents on the challenging links, a day I will always remember and a super start to summer 2022 in Ireland.

Mid July I travelled to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA to attend a former grad school friend’s wedding. As I got out of the taxi on the college campus I noticed a large tour truck pulled up outside my hotel.

The truck had Natalie Gulbis and Jimmy Hanlin faces on it. I asked a lady what this was all about, she explained that they were here to film and review a round on the Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame for the Golf Channel. I ended up getting to meet Natalie on the college campus that day. She was as stylish as ever and full of charisma. Natalie was someone I used to look up to as a young girl playing golf, as she showcased golf in an incredibly glamorous, feminine and positive light.

Back to the British Isles, Cam Smith was crowned the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in mid-July. Winning this event at the ‘Home of Golf’ was a huge leap forward in the Aussie’s golfing career and without a doubt his biggest victory to date. Rory McIlroy put down a good fight but it simply wasn’t to be for my fellow Irishman. Rory’s 36 putts on the final day proved to be his downfall against the Aussie with the distinctive hairstyle and the silky smooth touch on the greens.

One week later and the attention to the ladies! The AIG Women’s Open Championship was held at Muirfield in early August for a

prize fund of over $7M. Ashleigh Buhai secured her first Major win when she defeated In Gee Chun on the 4th play-off hole.

This event again showed the world that women’s golf is as skilfull as the men’s game – where raw power is less a factor.

Interestingly Muirfield only accepted ladies as members for the first time in recent years. I guess they realise now what they were missing all along!

As the temperatures begin to cool, all roads

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now lead back to the Middle East! Over the next few months the region will host some major amateur and professional events, for both the men and the ladies. A new season of Chicks with Sticks commences in September, our group continues to gain new members, contributing greatly to the development of the game in the UAE. Jenny, Founder of Chicks with Sticks

PETE COWEN COLUMN

T

Are Woods and McIlroy the next Palmer and Nicklaus?

his has nothing to do with Major titles, the number of events won, or money earned but the influence on the public when it comes to taking the game in a new direction.

The game is certainly changing, and LIV Golf has certainly shaken things up, but the battle ground appears to be revolving around the Official World Golf Ranking. But it needs to remain independent of all the Tours and serve the job it was designed to do –rank the best players in the world. So, how can you then ignore any Tour in the world where several the highest ranked players are based?

The Majors and top events want the top 100 players in the world competing against each other but outside the PGA Championship this is very hard to pull off due to players schedules and time off.

Strength of field

Now the highest profile events are being gauged on the strength of the field and not the rankings, but how can you have the strongest events with some of the top players missing?

The only way the whole situation is going to get resolved to have the top 100 players teeing it up against each other is if the PGA TOUR, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour schedule things as one. So they are balancing the calendar year.

But you can’t just focus on the top 100 all the time as form is fickle. Players move up and down the rankings all the time and new players are bursting on to the scene out of nowhere. And how relevant is the Official World Golf Ranking in terms of attraction? Tiger Woods is without doubt the biggest crowd and audience pull in

the game and will be for many years to come.

He’s currently ranked 1,137th.

The ranking is just a benchmark in which the professional game can have a form of structure but this only relevant if all the Tours receive points. You can’t have 40 leading tour professionals playing against each other and not get points as then you don’t have the best players in the system. You just fall back to strength of field events and eventually the ranking system will become redundant.

History repeating?

The whole LIV Golf thing isn’t a new concept regarding a breakaway tour. You just must look at the game’s history. In the 1960s the PGA of America ran the professional game and then with the support of Garner Dickenson, Palmer and Nicklaus thought the players were not getting enough and they set up the PGA Tour.

The same thing happened with the European Tour. When I first started playing in 1970-71 you had to enter events individually and each country ran their own tournaments. This changed when a player, John Jacobs, united things and founded the European Tour.

So, all that is going on in the game right now is history repeating itself.

The one that needs changing instantly on any tour are Monday qualifiers. There is so much talent going unnoticed, especially in Europe, as they don’t have the opportunity to shine. I still think the DP World Tour should give spots to the leading US college players who might not get a card on the PGA Tour but have an alternative platform to build their game while adding to the quality of field. Just look at what happened to

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Brooks Koepka. He came over to play on the European Challenge Tour and used it to launch one of the best professional careers in the modern game which made him a key target for LIV Golf.

Golf is a circus

I don’t blame him for moving over to LIV Golf as I see the professional game as a series of circuses that come to town. But if three circuses are in town, which one will you go to watch? The one with the best performers! Right now, that is the battle that is going on but that happens in every sport. Why should golf be any different?

You have got to find a way to let the best players compete against each other, but the best will age or lose form and the new talent needs have a way in which they can rise through the ranks to take in the best. That is why there needs to be global league structure and the tours all need to get around the table to sort things out. As they also need to keep a close eye on simulator golf and how that could impact the game.

Last month a player qualified for the Omega Masters on the DP World Tour by winning a simulator event and the big news is the collaboration between Tiger and Rory to launch their stadium tour in 2024. Top Golf and simulator golf is the fastest growing sector of the game. Tiger and Rory could easily become the next Palmer and Nicklaus regarding forming a break away tour. It will not happen overnight but the pinnacle league in golf could be to earn a place on the Tiger / Rory Tour and not the PGA Tour or LIV Golf.

Golf is evolving and it needed to.

Big Easy BAR & GRILL

THE STEAKS ARE HIGH

R

enowned as one of the finest golfing destinations in the Middle East, the Els Club is widely known for its luscious fairways and extremely well-kept greens, but did you know it’s also home to some of the finest restaurants in the UAE, including the club’s signature steak joint, the Big Easy Bar & Grill Named after four-time Major champion Ernie Els, the Big Easy reflects the South African’s own eclectic tastes and his appreciation of the life enhancing benefits of wonderful food, great company and amazing beverages in a sociable, easy-going environment.

The casual dining venue in Dubai is one of only four across the globe, with the other three located in Durban, Malaysia and Miami - all four place the utmost importance on serving classic steakhouse food and top wines from the Ernie Els portfolio, all in a relaxed setting.

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W

e caught up with Head Chef Vishal Rane to find out what makes the Big Easy such a unique and flavoursome dining experience.

Worldwide Golf: What is Big Easy Bar & Grill?

Vishal Rane: The Big Easy is an unpretentious Grill and Winebar hailing from the stunning Western Cape region of South Africa, if one term could describe Big Easy, it would be the Afrikaans word of ‘Gesellig’ – sociable with friends, friendly, convivial, cordial. The Big Easy is simply a fun relaxed place to ‘hang out with the guys’, a place to take your loved ones for a glass of wine and an unpretentious meal any day of the week. The culinary experience is inspired by the cultural crossroads of South Africa’s fresh off the grill comfort food approach to dining, combined with traditional spices, herbs and ingredients from the melting pot of the world.

WWG: Why is it called Big Easy?

VR: Hailing from South Africa, Ernie Els, who has been one of the top professional golfers in the world for almost two decades now, Ernie is known as “The Big Easy”, reflecting Ernie’s manner; big in stature, gentle in character. The same spirit is the essence of any Big Easy restaurant – bold and prominent looking, full of flavour, but at the same time a very gentle and amicable spirit that make the venue incredibly approachable and an all-round fun everyday destination.

WWG: What is Big Easy famous for?

VR: As much as Big Easy is famous for serving the best cut of meats available in the market from across the globe, it is also popular for other house favourites such as unique South African inspired seafood and curry dishes. Our spicy lamb shank bunny chow is an absolute crowd pleaser amongst our regulars and members.

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WWG: What is a must try at Big Easy?

VR: It’s a meat lover’s paradise, you are spoilt for choice from that perspective, however my personal favourites as mentioned above are the bunny chow and venison dishes.

Mouthwatering!

WWG: What makes The Big Easy special at the Els club?

VR: The way things are these days you need a place to relax and unwind, the Big Easy is exactly this, a modern, quality driven fresh grill and wine bar, an outlet that represents what is important and rea; about life to us nowadays. The team prides itself on providing a comfortable and friendly experience whilst using the best of quality ingredients and are simply driven to ensuring you receive a genuine everyday fun experience every visit.

To reserve a table, please call +97144251000 or email the bigeasy@elsclubdubai.com

MyGolf Dubai

THE GRANDEST OF OPENINGS M

yGolf Dubai finally celebrated their long-awaited grand opening last month with a star-studded ceremony at the region’s largest indoor golf facility, which included attendance from several dignitaries and VIP’s, including H.E. Saeed Mohammed Hareb, SecretaryGeneral of Dubai Sports Council.

No expense was spared on the glitz and glamour of the evening with live music, premium F&B and taster golf sessions available for the many guests in attendance.

Those who hadn’t seen the venue since the soft opening in April were wowed with the premium indoor golf and entertainment facility that spans 14,000 square feet and recreates realistic, immersive experiences of nearly 190 golf courses from across the globe.

Now with its doors ‘officially’ open, Michael Zhao, Founder of MyGolf Dubai, is keen for every golfer in the region to experience everything the outstanding venue has to offer.

“I’m feeling on top of the world,” said Zhao. “All the guests that we have here tonight at the grand opening didn’t expect the venue to be this impressive at Dragon Mart. It’s such an engaging and compelling place that hasn’t been easy to put together but it has been worth all the hard work.

“Hopefully 90% of the golf community would have already heard about MyGolf

Dubai and now we’ve had our official grand opening, we want to bring them folks to our venue and give them a unique experience. We know there is so much we can offer the golf community so our focus is fully on letting them know more about the venue and to try it out themselves. If you’re reading this, get yourself down!”

The recreational facility can host over

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200 guests and mimics a premium golf club, including six private bays, two open bays, two VIP suites named after golf legends Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and one VVIP suite named after Tiger Woods. The suites feature a dedicated concierge making it the ideal place for social gatherings, occasions and celebrations.

“We are a client first concept; the whole

MyGolf Dubai

“I’m feeling on top of the world, All the guests that we have here tonight at the grand opening didn’t expect the venue to be this impressive at Dragon Mart. It’s such an engaging and compelling place that hasn’t been easy to put together but it has been worth all the hard work.”

approach to whatever they may want from their experience at MyGolf Dubai.”

The venue will also feature three training studios in a modern social-leisure platform with state-of-the-art proprietary equipment, to support experienced golfers to enhance their technique, while offering amateur golfers personalised attention to learn in a supportive setting.

Equipped with the latest technology that provides real-time shot statistics with 98% accuracy – including ball speed, angle of

launch, left or right deviation, and distance hit – the unique experience enables golfers to improve their swing or putting with every turn.

MyGolf Dubai will offer two packages, Pay & Play - where golfers can enjoy a wide-range of golf courses at their own preferred time and bay; and the Membership package that offers a variety of options for individuals and corporate groups. MyGolf Dubai will also house a Golf Academy where trainees have the chance to learn under the supervisions of world-renowned coaches.

Michael Zhao

CEO and founder of MyGolf Dubai team are dedicated to making our guests feel as welcome as possible,” added Zhao.

“I don’t care if they are managing F&B or on the front desk, if they see a guest having any sort of problem, they will be over there in a shot to assist. It’s the little details like that which matter. We want to understand every client’s need and offer a holistic

For more information visit: www.mygolfdubai.com info@mygolfdubai.com | +971523315885

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SWING EASY A common mistake I see amateurs make is that they try to hit the ball further, by hitting it harder.

But, actually, increasing distance is all about applying the correct swing mechanics. It’s all about rotation and weight transfer. If you get those right, you don’t actually have to hit the ball very hard to gain power and distance.

In this article I’m going to show you how to increase your clubhead speed and gain more distance by swinging it easy.

BY

THEODORE SEAH

PGA PROFESSIONAL, MY GOLF DUBAI.

N

O W

O

PE N

THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND THE HIPS ROTATE TOWARDS THE TARGET LINE.

PLAY. DINE. ENJOY. CONNECT.

EXP ER IENCE D U BA I’ S FI RST P REM I U M G O L F & ENTERTA INME N T LO U N G E

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INSTRUCTION

Rotation is led by the torso, pulling relaxed hands through the ball, creating a swing relying less on arm power.

Here we see the incorrect motion which creates a high left, low right shoulder motion and ending with an upward club path. The result of this will be fat or thinned shots.

This creates a level shoulder rotation, a squarer clubface angle and complete weight transfer.

The incorrect motion will also create an in to out swing with an open clubface at impact which will lead to a slice.

Book a lesson at My Golf Dubai, the UAE’s first luxury indoor golf and entertainment lounge, and we will assist with your every golfing need!

Visit mygolfdubai.com, call +971 43863535 or email: info@mygolfdubai.com

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Here at MyGolf we do things a little differently.

We’re not here to tell you what everyone else in the market is telling you.

We explain things in a way which will help you wrap your head around it easier and get your bringing you’re A Game as quickly as possible.

I’d love to see you at our brand-new facility in Dubai so please get in touch if you’d like to book a lesson.

LOOK OUT FOR THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf Worldwide.Golf

Simplify

YOUR SET-UP BY

JAMIE COUGHLIN

PGA PROFESSIONAL, TOPGOLF, DUBAI

golfprojamie

G

et back into the swing of things in time for the new season, with some simple set-up tips that will help you hit those high scores at Topgolf Dubai.

Many players want the perfect

swing but neglect how important set-up is and don’t realise its influence on shots. Follow my three simple steps to improve your set-up and climb those leaderboards!

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INSTRUCTION

1 2

GRIP There are a few different types of grip - but why confuse it? I recommend using a 10-finger grip (baseball style). The important things to note here is that, for a right-handed golfer, the left hand goes at the top of the club. The club then sits in the base of the fingers of the left hand and the left thumb points down to the clubhead.

Simply cover the left thumb with the right hand so that the hands are touching. For a left-handed golfer, just do the opposite.

3

STANCE & BALL POSITION

POSTURE The correct posture will help you consistently strike the ball better.

Tilt forwards from your hips and soften your knees. Reaching for the golf ball makes things difficult, but so does standing too close! The perfect distance is found when the arms hang straight down from the shoulders and the club is aligned with the ball. Now, you’re ready to take on those Topgolf targets!

For full swing golf shots, place your feet shoulder width apart, and make sure the ball is in line with the centre point between your two feet.

TOO WIDE

TOO SHORT

Here at Topgolf Dubai you’ll always find our PGA qualified professionals teaching you simple ideas to make golf shots more repeatable. Do the simple things right, stay consistent and take your golf game to a new level.

If you need a little more help getting game-ready, visit topgolfdubai.ae/academy or contact academy@topgolfdubai.ae to find out more about the lessons and classes we have on offer. Whether you’re serious about your game, or just looking for some great fun, our lessons cater to all needs, ages and abilities and we welcome anyone of any skill set.

RESERVE-A-BAY ONLINE AT

TOPGOLFDUBAI.AE Worldwide GOLF 57

LOOK OUT FOR THE VIDEO AT WorldwideGolf Worldwide.Golf

THE BEST

Building

BY EDWARD RETIEF, GOLF SUPERSTORE, RETAIL MANAGER

You may perceive custom fitting as a relatively new concept, however, there is evidence taken from Bobby Jones’ book, Golf Is My Game, which shows while on his Grand Slam campaign in 1930, the American star had his clubs specifically made for him in Stewart’s Forge in St. Andrews, Scotland. Professionals such as Jones would custom fit their clubs based on preference, feel and flight solely by the feedback given by the club in motion and by the flight of the ball.

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GEAR WHO NEEDS CUSTOM FITTING? It would be easy to say that all players can benefit from custom-fitted clubs, but It would be more realistic to say that various types of players would benefit from having their equipment tailored to individual requirements, preferences, and patterns to a greater or lesser degree, which will help with consistency and improve their golf game.

WHO BENEFITS FROM A CUSTOM FITTING? •

• •

•

A Player who purchased secondhand clubs where there the loft and lie have changed over time due to usage A Player who has certain physical characteristics, such as height or hand size A Player who has an ingrained swing or playing pattern, usually a fault, such as consistently slicing or hooking, low or high spin rate and low or high trajectory.

A low handicap or professional player who has a good idea of what they like, but who may benefit from some sound professional advice or perhaps some fine-tuning of current equipment

THE BUILD PROCESS Once the custom fitting has been completed, a Surefit form with your specification will be sent to our build workshop.

1. The build team pull the correct shaft to match the build specification. Depending on the brand of shaft, each club will have a specific length based on the dead weight of the club.

2. Roughing shaft tips and installing ferrule and cut to desired lengths as per the Surefit.

At this point we dry fit the head along with the grip and measure the swing weight of the club (this translates to how the weight of the club feels during the golf swing) 3. Assemble the shaft and clubhead using epoxy resin glue and glass shaft beads which helps to centre the shaft in the clubhead.

4. Verify swing weight and install grip to Surefit specifications. Grip size and tape will alter swing weight which has to be kept in mind when installing grips.

5. Grip installation - Double-sided tape and white spirits are used during this process ensuring the face of the club aligns to grip alignment markers.

6. With the clubs assembled, the lofts and lies are checked and adjusted to Surefit specifications and for the last time swing weight is verified.

7. Clubs are cleaned, wrapped, and boxed ready for delivery.

Golf Superstore offers custom fitting on the latest equipment with the quickest build/ turnaround time on Titleist and Vokey hardware from custom fitting to delivery.

Head down to Golf Superstore on Umm Suqeim Street or Mall of the Emirates to get your custom fitting and build.

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GEAR TEST

PXG IRON BATTLE

THE LATEST GEN5 AND XCOR2 SETS ARE PACKED WITH SIMILAR TECH BUT AIMED AT TWO DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE MARKET, BUT IS THE PRICE GAP WORTH IT?

BY ALEX GALLEMORE

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CHECKING THE LOFTS ON ALL YOUR CLUBS IS ESSENTIAL IN REGARDS TO GAPING YOUR YARDAGES. MY AVERAGES WITH THE PXG GEN5 ‘P’ AND XCOR 2 IRONS COULD NOT HIGHLIGHT THIS BETTER. THE GEN5 6 IRON WAS 14 YARDS LONGER THAN THE 5 IRON AND THE XCOR HAD 22 YARDS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ITS 5 AND 6 IRON.

GEN5 P 5 IRON

GEN5 P 6 IRON

XCOR 2 5 IRON

XCOR 2 6 IRON

CARRY 199 YARDS

CARRY 210 YARDS

CARRY 201 YARDS

CARRY 181 YARDS

TOTAL 211 YARDS

TOTAL 225 YARDS

TOTAL 212 YARDS

TOTAL 190 YARDS

For the past three months I’ve had two sets of PXG irons in play. The latest GEN5 ‘P’ and the XCOR2. Both have a similar profile, with a thick top line and offset, designed with performance and forgiveness in mind. The settings from the factory in Arizona were both the same with Steel-Fiber i95 shafts and one-degree stronger lofts.

Both irons share the latest light weightsaving XCOR 2 polymer core which PXG designed specifically for the GEN5 irons.

The mass has therefore been repositioned low and to the perimeter of the back of the clubhead increasing the MOI and forgiveness.

When paired with the ultra thin face and Speed Frame technology the increase is noticeable compared to previous irons GEN5 Test First off, the unique two tone look appealed to me, as they are different and that is something PXG do best. The ‘P’ head is a little bulky but builds confidence when you are over the ball. The tungsten weighting is very effective and not only makes the club very forgiving on off-centre strikes but the low centre of gravity makes these launch the ball higher than most irons, which is why I strengthened them by one degree in order to control the trajectory.

Pros Looks, forged feel quality, forgiveness and slight increase in ball speed

Cons The very strong lofts produces low spin rates, making it hard to hold fast greens.

Verdict Make sure you get fitted as gaping is a huge issue and don’t focus on total distance too much. We had a rogue 6 iron which has a loft of 18 degrees -the equivalent to a traditional 2 iron! The 5 iron was 25 degrees, similar to a traditional 3 iron loft. The 6 iron went just as far as the PXG 19 degree hybrid!

Getting fitted on the range not a simulator is essential so you can see how the ball rolls out. These are a great club but I wish I had not strengthened them by one degree and I should have got each club fitted accordingly.

XCOR2 Test At half the price of the GEN5 you would expect these to feel inferior. They look cheaper with the chrome sticker and the feedback through the hands makes them feel a little dead in comparison. But out on the course I scored better with the XCOR2 over the GEN5 P. They were just as forgiving but the lofts and higher spin rates provided more control with approach shots. The 6 iron measured 25 degrees and the five iron at 21 degrees. Still very strong lofts but the low centre of gravity meant they launched similar to a traditional loft iron but with reduced spin. However, the finish and forged feel of the GEN5 was superior.

Pros Price and performance Cons Looks and just one head shape.

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Verdict For a mid-handicapper that doesn’t have money to burn, these are worth considering.

Opt for the anti glare black finish if you are playing in the Middle East, plus you lose the shiny chrome decals on the back of the clubhead!

Conclusion I wish I’d opted for the T model in the GEN5 as I found the ‘P’ top line a little too thick and the offset too great. This meant there wasn’t much of a discrepancy between the XCOR2 when it came to the long-term test. It also highlighted the importance of getting the lofts checked on all your irons and how that affects your game on the course. Busting a 6 iron 230 yards might sound great over a beer with your friends but not so great when trying to hold a green with trouble through the back. Needless to say that I’ve gone back to my trusty PXG 0211 ST irons. They are not as forgiving or as long as the GEN5 P or XCOR2 but they suit my eye better and that’s half the battle when it comes to selecting irons. It’s not all about the numbers!

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ARABIAN GOLF ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB

EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB

Dhandsa on Red Hot form Sanjay Dhandsa was crowned champion of the Gross Division at the recently held Red Hot Open after shooting an impressive won with a score of 38 points. Dhandsa’s round included gross eagles on both the 13th and 17th holes. Mark Hughes claimed the overall title, also on a score of 38 points, which included a superb back nine of 20 points withgross birdies at the 17th and 18th.

New Captains announced Andrew Thomas and. Yolande Harrison have been given the honour of new Club Captains at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club. Thomas, hailing from England, has been a member for five years and plays off a handicap of 10 while Harrison, hailing from Ireland, has been a member for three years and plays off a handicap of 19. Michael Brogan and Wendy Pearce will be the new Vice Captains.

The club wanted to thank outgoing Captains Kenny Macaulay and Jacqueline Morrison for all their efforts last season.

Family Affair at Summer Open

A strong field from across the UAE staked their claim to be this year’s Gross Summer Open Champion and it was youngster Mousa Shana’ah who topped the highly competitive leaderboard at the end of the days with an impressive total of 34 Stableford points. In the Net Division it was a family affair as Mousa’s younger brother Hashem Shana’ah posted a brilliant score of 44 points.

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB

Members defeat staff The members of Trump International Golf Club, Dubai once again triumphed over the staff in the fourth edition of the annual Staff v Members match with an emphatic 9-2 victory to defend their title. Rumours have it the staff are already working hard to try and reclaim the trophy next year!

DP WORLD

DP World to reveal the five global beneficiaries of the ‘second life container’ campaign

N

ext month, DP World will be unveiling the five global beneficiaries of the ‘second life container campaign’, with the five recipients focused on three key areas of growth for the sport – disability golf, junior golf, and ladies’ golf – hoping to inspire and encourage more people to take up the sport.

Unveiled at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic in January, the DP World container has travelled around the globe collecting balls at various tour events.

The golf balls have been collected in numerous ways, with donations from DP World Tour players, fans, professional golf ball divers and children on golf ball hunts.

Not only is there the main 20-foot container, there are also mini containers at DP World Tour events to help collect balls at every stop of the season.

Following the conclusion of this year’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, DP World will use its expertise as a leader in global supply chain solutions to redistribute the golf balls to five

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grassroots organisations around the world.

Each organisation will receive a proportion of the tens-of-thousands of golf balls that are currently filling up the Second Life Container.

I N

T H E

B A G

W I T H

MICHAEL ZHAO CEO AND FOUND ER OF MYG OL F D U B AI

Favourite club in the bag and why?

Driver. They say drive for show, putt for dough, but you need to have show first for you to be in for the dough!

Favourite player and why?

Tiger Woods for his persistence, dedication to excellence and great sportsmanship.

Fantasy fourball?

Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Donald Trump.

Best Course in the UAE? MyGolf Dubai.

What’s in the bag?

Course you’d love to play but haven’t?

HONMA 5-STARS 60TH ANNIVERSARY SET.

St Andrews.

Favourite par 3 hole in the UAE 15th Majlis, Emirates Golf Club.

Item you never leave behind on your travels? (doesn’t have to be golf related) My laptop.

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