Worldwide Golf May 2013

LEARN TO PLAY THOSE VITAL CHIP SHOTS ISSUE 148

A GOLFING TRIP FOR 2 TO THE 2013 SCOTTISH OPEN

M AY 2 0 1 3

WIN TOP GEAR TOPGEAR E

» Win an Audi A8L with Dubai Duty Free

» Titleist 712U

HYBRIDS

Forged utility iron

TEST PILOTS The latest hybrids y are put

ADAM SCOTT MASTER YOUR SWING WITH

Pete Cowen dissects the swingg that won the Masters as Scott reveals how his defeated opponent pp Angel g Cabrera helped p him become the Wizard of Oz

under the spotlight by our readers National Bank of Oman Golf Classic

OMAN ON THEMAP European Tour praise for NBO Challenge Tour event

PLUS

GREG NORMAN’S ’ JOOY AT THEA E AUUSSSSIIEESS’ S’ AUGUSTA SUCCESS

Official Publication of The Emirates Golf Federation & The Arab Golf Federation

M I D D L E

E A S T ’ S

DP World Tour Championship

Official Offi fficcial Media Meddia Partner Partnner er Middle M Mi d lee East dd Eas astt

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M A G A Z I N E

NEWS FROM THE LEADING CLUBS GOLF RULES EXPLAINED MENA TOUR CHERYL LADD EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS THE STARTER

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THE STARTER

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ANYONE FOR CRAZY GOLF? C

ome on admit it, we all secretly love a game of crazy golf when we’re on holiday. But imagine playing the whacky game on a full size course! Pitching into a giant bowl of noodles, teeing off from inside a giant sleeve of golf balls, playing alongside a scaled down stone replica of the Great Wall of China…all this is set to become a reality when the 6,500 yard Fantasy Course opens at Mission Hills Haikou Resort on Hainan Island in China next year.

Among the other highlights will be a par three hole where you pitch into a volcano then await your fate as the ball comes out of one of four channels – the best one leading onto the green and the worst dropping you into a treacherous lava field! There’s also a par-5 weaving through towering Mayan ruins while another hole will see players challenged by artificial winds caused by giant fans.

The par-72 layout has been designed by Schmidt-Curley while three of the holes – ‘Great Wall’, ‘Noodle Bowl’, and ‘Riches to Ruins’ – have been created by winners of a worldwide fantasy golf design competition.

“As the leader of China’s golf boom and developer of 22 world-class courses, our properties have staged some of the biggest global events and hosted the game’s best players,” said Dr Ken Chu, Chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group. “The fantasy course will be a fun alternative for families, novices, and children on a holiday in sunny, warm, Haikou.

Designer Brian Curley said: “Unlike mini-golf on artificial golf, the fantasy course is played at full-scale with standard equipment on real turf. Other regulation courses frame holes with trees, bunkers and lakes; this course will incorporate many unique visuals while still requiring players to execute full shots and hole putts.”

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THE STARTER HOW ROSE W WILTED THEN BLOOMED...

You all know the sto story – Justin Rose shoots to global attention after finishing fourth while still an amateur at the 1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, turns pro the next day in a whirlwind of publicity and then promptly misses 21 cuts in a row. Not quite the start he’d imagined....as the Englishman recounts: “I think the perceived expectation I thought was on me at the time after The Open Championship, I always thought that people were probably caring more than they actually did about what I was shooting out on the golf course. So my perspective was just a bit off.

“I think I was thrown into it a little bit too soon. I was happy to turn pro at 17, but to sort of turn pro quietly, I was hoping to get a couple invites, work my way to Q-School at the end of the year, probably get a Challenge Tour card, spend a year on The Challenge Tour, etc, so I had a three-year plan.

“But all of a sudden after The Open Championship, I think the expectations are what I really, really struggled with. I think I probably went through a growth phase through that period of time, too, and it threw things off, and with the pressure and losing my golf swing a little bit, it was just hard work. But I put all my faith in hard work to be honest with you, as well, and I somehow credit perspective – if I missed the cut by five one week, missed by two the following week, I would kind of tell myself I was making progress and not just keep beating myself up further. So that’s how I sort of played my way out of it.”

Clubhouse Quickies Demons The devil was holding a meeting with th all the little demons.

He stood up and said, “Well you poor useless lot of sissies, there is too much good in the world. You aree all time wasters and you make me sick. k. You came to hell to help make man’s lifee a misery. aying silly Instead you’re wasting your time playing games. So what are you going to do about it?”

Well, just then a small devil, quite new to the job and very timid, sheepishly said, “O’ Lord of great darkness. I know I’m not as powerful as you but may I make a suggestion?

It seems to me if we could build them up and knock them down, the pain would be so great that we will soon gain control.”

Just as he said that a more experienced demon said, “You mean golf?” The devil himself interrupts saying, “Steady on old man, we don’t want to finish them off that quickly.”

Unlucky Sam

BUBBA’S NEW RIDE

Sadly not coming to a golf course near you, Bubba Watson’s golf-cart hovercraft has been making waves in the virtual world after going viral a matter of days after footage of him zooming over lakes to hit golf balls first surfaced.

“Golf carts have always been the same, they look the same, you’ve gotta stay 30 yards from the green, you gotta stay on the cart path when it’s raining,” says Bubba, “Forget that! Let’s have some fun, let’s drive through the water hazard, come off right by the green and putt your ball in the hole and then drive off again right though the lake – who doesn’t want to do that?”

Who indeed!

Dame Fortune was seldom kind to Sam . Although Sam had a real zest for life he was constantly beset by bad luck.

He loved poker but poker did not love Sam; he played the stock market with great anticipation but always seemed to be the one who bought high and sold low. His life seemed to be full of more downs than ups.

His greatest delight was his golf game. Not that Sam was a great golfer; in fact, he never managed to break 100, but the odd shot that somehow ended up in the general area he had in mind was enough to keep his hopes alive. Finally Sam became ill and passed away. But just before he died, he asked that his remains be cremated and his ashes be scattered just off the fairway on the ninth hole of his home course.

Accordingly, a gathering assembled to carry out Sam’s wishes. It was a bright sunny day and was going well.

Then, as the ashes were being strewn .... a gust of wind came up and ... blew Sam out of bounds.

STRANGEST GOLFING MEMORABILIA EVER?

In the golfing world you’ll find memorabilia hunters aplenty. A m signed golf ball from Tiger, a flag from Augusta national, one of Adam Scott’s used gloves…yes some golf fans just love to acquire a memento ento from their day out. But last month one fanatical fan bagged themselves perhaps the strangest keepsake in golfing history when they purchased the police car that was infamously used to race Rory McIlroy to Medinah Country Club when he almost missed his tee time at last year’s Ryder Cup. The Irishman mixed up his time zones and was in danger of being disqualified from the crucial final day singles matches before his knight in shining armour, State Trooper Pat Rollins, came to his rescue and got him to the course in lightening quick time, with just minutes to spare, in his 2005 Ford Crown Victoria.

The car went to up for auction on ebay last month, receiving 42 bids from 19 bidders with the final sale price reaching US$7,351.

THE STARTER TIANLANG AND THE YOUNG GUNS THE Masters saw 14-year-old Guan Tianlang make an explosive entrance onto the world stage by not only becoming the youngest player ever to play in the famous Major, but the youngest to actually make the cut.

Despite rather unfairly being docked a point for slow play during the second round the youngster displayed great poise and maturity to win the Silver Cup for the highest placed amateur (the only one to make the cut!) with rounds of 73-75-77-75 for a 12-over total.

It was a block-rocking performance which saw Guan follow in the footsteps of a long line of young guns who’ve announced their arrival in blistering style.

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Seve Ballesteros The late great Seve was the original Young Gun. He turned pro at 16 and, just like his Spanish compatriot Sergio Garcia did years later, Seve announced his arrival on the world scene in audacious style when in 1976, at 19 years old, he led The Open at Royal Birkdale going into the final round, eventually tying in second place with Jack Nicklaus behind Johnnie Miller.

Sergio Garcia

Danny Lee

Ryo Ishikawa

Who can forget how a fresh faced 19-year-old El Nino battled courageously against the World No.1 Tiger Woods at the US PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club, winning over an army of fans with his infectious smile and enthusiasm, eventually missing out on the win by just one stroke.

Lee usurped Tiger Woods as the youngest player to win the US Amateur in 2008 when he grabbed the title aged 18 years and one month, before becoming Amateur World No.1 shortly after. In 2009 he won the Johnnie Walker Classic aged 18 years and seven months to become the then youngest ever European Tour winner and only the second to win as an amateur.

The Japanese star became the then youngest winner of a pro event at 15 years, 8 months, when he claimed the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup on the Japan Golf Tour in May 2007. He also holds the record as the youngest player to reach both the top 100 and top 50 in the World Ranking.

Lydia Ko Michelle Wie

Matteo Manassero

The Hawaiian sent records tumbling almost every time she teed it up as a youngster. In 2000 she qualified for the Women’s US Amateur Public Links Championship when she was aged just 10 and two years later, at 12, became the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA event at the Takefuji Classic. In 2003 at 13 years old, she became the youngest to make the cut in an LPGA event at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. She turned professional before her 16th birthday amid a whirlwind of publicity.

The Italian became the youngest winner of the British Amateur in 2009 at the age of 16. The following April he beat Bobby Cole’s long standing record as the youngest player to make the cut at the Masters, aged 16 years, 11 months and 22 days – a record which stood until Tianlang’s achievement this year. Having spent 18 weeks as Amateur World No.1 he turned pro in May 2010 and five months later usurped Danny Lee as the youngest European Tour winner by claiming the Castello Masters Costa Azahar aged 17 years and 188 days.

Watch this space for this astoundingly talented young South Korean. Last year, when she was 14, she won an event on the ALPG Tour in Australia to beat Ishikawa as the youngest ever winner of a professional event. She went on to win the CN Canadian Women’s Open to become, at 15 years and four months old, the youngest winner of an LPGA event. She’s still an amateur (World No.1) but she’s not yet missed the cut in any pro event. Her website tagline is “Ready to take on the World” and the world better be ready because Ko will almost certainly keep her promise.

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A WINNER’S CHOICE

Best Course in Thailand 2012 WINNER Best Clubhouse in Asia Pacific 2012 1 st RUNNER UP

STAY AT BANYAN THE RESORT & PLAY AT BANYAN GOLF CLUB LOW SEASON SPECIAL: 1st May-31st July 2013 and 1st-31st October 2013 Banyan Stay & Play Package

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3 Days 2 nights in 2 bedroom Jacuzzi Pool Villa and one round of golf at Banyan Golf Club

THB 21,000

7 Days 6 nights in 2 bedroom Jacuzzi Pool Villa and three rounds of golf at Banyan Golf Club

THB 58,000

HUA HIN / CHA AM GOLF FESTIVAL SPECIAL: 1st August-30th September 2013 Banyan Stay & Play Package on Golf Festival

. 3 Days 2 nights in 2 bedroom Jacuzzi Pool Villa one round of golf at Banyan Golf Club . 7 Days 6 nights in 2 bedroom Jacuzzi Pool Villa and three rounds of golf at Banyan Golf Club

THB 20,000 THB 55,000

All packages are net price in Thai Baht, inclusive of 10% service charge, 7% VAT, breakfast for 2 persons, Thai Massage (60 min) at Bliss Spa for 2 persons, Western Set Dinner at Lemongrass Restaurant & Bar for 2 persons and caddy & golf cart for 2 persons on each golf round at Banyan Golf Club.

For more information or reservations please contact booking@banyanthailand.com

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WIN A TRIP FOR 2 TO THE ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT SCOTTISH OPEN in association with

2013 SCOTTISH OPEN GOLF TRIP COMPETITION

DATES: DEPART JULY 10 RETURN JULY 15

2 X EMIRATES AIRLINE TICKETS TO GLASGOW FROM NS ANY OF EMIRATES AIRLINE’S 100+ WORLDWIDE DESTINATIONS 5 X NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION 2 X ROUNDS OF GOLF 2 X SEASON PASSES TO THE 2013 SCOTTISH OPEN ENTRIES CLOSE ON JUNE 24th, 2013 All entrants must hold a valid passport and be over the age of 18. Accommodation based on two people sharing.

Transportation will be supplied from Glasgow to Inverness. The winners will be responsible for all additional costs.

For full terms and conditions email competitions@wwgolf.biz

TO ENTER 1. Like & Share this page at facebook/worldwide golf 2. Name the winner of the 2012 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open? or Email your answer along with contact details to: ScottishOpenComp@wwgolf.biz www.wwgolf.biz

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DIVOTS NEWS MEDINAH MIRACLE MEN REUNITED

INTERNATIONAL RECORD ROUNDS FOR ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB AND SAADIYAT BEACH IN FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR NEW figures released by Troon Golf revealed two of Abu Dhabi’s leading courses – Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club – experienced a record 76% growth in the number of International Tour Operator rounds booked in the first quarter of 2013 compared with 2012.

Growth has come predominantly from the European market with the UK and German markets (including Austria and Switzerland) leading the field, and France, Italy and Sweden making up the majority of the remaining bookings.

A near twofold increase in rounds played was experienced in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012. The figures for January - March also revealed that February was the busiest month of the quarter, up 80% on the same month in 2012. Broken down by club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club experienced an overall 57% increase in rounds whilst Saadiyat Beach Golf Club was up by as much as 99%.

Putter ban is a ‘cop out’ says Langer FORMER World No.1 Bernhard Langer believes that the proposed ban on anchored putters is a ‘cop out’.

Langer who uses one himself said: “I personally see no point in changing the rule, and I am not saying that because I use a long putter.

“My career is going to be done in 10 years’ time, or whatever, on the golfing side and I just can’t see whyy there is all this fuss about it. I don’t see a reason to change.

“This thing (the use of long putters) has been around d way too long. If it was an advantage or illegal, then they (golf’s rulemakers) should have made it illegal a long time ago. That’s a cop-out.”

Last November, the game’s governing bodies controversially proposed a ban on the anchored putting stroke, saying they wanted to outlaw the practice by 2016 in order to preserve the “skill and challenge” of putting.

Players and the golfing community were then given 90 days in which to discuss that proposal.

By the end of that period, The European Tour had expressed its support of the idea while both the U.S. PGA Tour and PGA of America voiced opposition,

with a final decision expected later this year. Adam Scott’s win at the Masters completed a ‘Grand Slam’ for anchored putters. Keegan Bradley was the first to win a Major with one at the 2011 US PGA Championship, Webb Simpson followed suit at last year’s US Open, and then Ernie Els triumphed with one at The Open Championship shortly shorttlyy after.

EUROPE’S Ryder Cup miracle men are to be reunited for the first time since their sensational comeback at Medinah last year when the 12 heroes line up at Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship.

World No.2 Rory McIlroy will head the field along with two-time defending champion Luke Donald, who is seeking to match Colin Montgomerie’s record of winning the title three times when the tournament takes place on May 23-26. Also in the field will be inspiration captain JoséMaria Olazábal.

“I am delighted that the British public will get the chance to see all of my Ryder Cup team in action at Wentworth in May,” said the Spaniard.

“Medinah was an unforgettable experience for everyone who was there, whether it was as a player, captain or spectator, and the BMW PGA Championship is the perfect setting for the players to be reunited to show what they can do as individuals as opposed to the team environment. It promises to be a great tournament.”

JIMENEZ RETURNS THE colourful character that is Miguel Angel Jiménez made a welcome return to The European Tour after breaking his leg in a skiing accident over the Christmas holidays.

The 49-year-old has had to watch from the sidelines since the start of the season but he returned to action to play in the Open de España for the 25th time in his career.

“My leg is improving daily,” said Jiménez, a 19time winner on The European Tour who fell 27 spots to 81st in the World Golf Ranking during his absence. “I work out every morning in the gym and I’m actually a little ahead of schedule on my rehab.

“I am not 100 per cent fit, but I wanted to test myself and to see how I felt. I’d have hated to miss the chance of playing at El Saler.”

Jiménez shot rounds of 76-74 in Spain and missed the cut by four strokes.

AUGUSTA DISPLAY FORCES ROSE TO ADDRESS PUTTING JUSTIN Rose has vowed to overcome the putting problems that hampered his Masters challenge last month.

The Englishman struggled on Augusta’s notoriously quick greens and took 36 putts in the in the second round for a 75 before switching putters for his closing 74 that left him 11 shots back from the winning score and 58th in the putting rankings out of the 61 players who made the cut.

“I think I’ve played well enough to win this week tee-to-green,” said Rose. “I thought it was as good as I could play. We all know that’s half the game. The other half is still eluding me right now, but I know where I need to work.

“There are lots of positives to look back on but also some glaring weaknesses, so I know where I need to focus my attention.” www.wwgolf.biz

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OFFICIAL 2013 RACE TO DUBAI THE 2013 RACE TO DUBAI RANKING  AS AT APRIL 29, 2013 Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Name

Nationality

Sergio GARCIA Angel CABRERA Richard STERNE Thorbjørn OLESEN Charl SCHWARTZEL Louis OOSTHUIZEN Graeme McDOWELL Scott JAMIESON Stephen GALLACHER Kiradech APHIBARNRAT Jamie DONALDSON Justin ROSE Ian POULTER Marcus FRASER Thomas AIKEN Chris WOOD Darren FICHARDT Brett RUMFORD Branden GRACE Marcel SIEM George COETZEE Alexander NOREN Felipe AGUILAR Lee WESTWOOD Thongchai JAIDEE Gonzalo FDEZ-CASTAÑO Tim CLARK Raphaël JACQUELIN Steve WEBSTER David HORSEY Ricardo SANTOS David HOWELL Padraig HARRINGTON Martin KAYMER Matteo MANASSERO Peter HANSON Peter WHITEFORD Ernie ELS Rafa CABRERA-BELLO Edoardo MOLINARI Maximilian KIEFFER Dawie VAN DER WALT Garth MULROY Pablo LARRAZÁBAL Nicolas COLSAERTS Grégory BOURDY Henrik STENSON Rory McILROY Gaganjeet BHULLAR Kristoffer BROBERG

ESP ARG RSA DEN RSA RSA NIR SCO SCO THA WAL ENG ENG AUS RSA ENG RSA AUS RSA GER RSA SWE CHI ENG THA ESP RSA FRA ENG ENG POR ENG IRL GER ITA SWE SCO RSA ESP ITA GER RSA RSA ESP BEL FRA SWE NIR IND SWE

No. of events

Prizemoney

Pos

6 1 7 7 6 7 3 10 8 3 6 5 3 7 9 6 9 7 9 7 8 7 9 4 8 7 4 8 10 10 9 11 6 5 9 5 12 6 10 9 10 1 9 11 4 11 6 4 4 11

€774,009 €662,627 €650,781 €647,124 €635,994 €590,806 €529,186 €525,497 €477,376 €475,617 €462,737 €437,977 €436,191 €416,083 €410,919 €409,664 €407,044 €403,900 €400,327 €396,936 €378,706 €368,600 €349,542 €343,929 €322,096 €321,815 €319,459 €315,607 €297,153 €286,576 €284,050 €283,663 €277,624 €273,689 €263,830 €263,578 €252,677 €252,485 €250,850 €250,179 €242,818 €237,750 €237,042 €235,641 €230,682 €229,970 €216,785 €201,558 €200,000 €197,979

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Name Mikko ILONEN Andy SULLIVAN Julien QUESNE Anders HANSEN Danny WILLETT Paul LAWRIE Victor DUBUISSON Tommy FLEETWOOD Francesco MOLINARI Luke DONALD Romain WATTEL Bernd WIESBERGER Shane LOWRY Wen-chong LIANG David DRYSDALE Peter LAWRIE Jbe KRUGER Jaco VAN ZYL Joost LUITEN Lorenzo GAGLI Magnus A CARLSSON Peter UIHLEIN Richie RAMSAY Carl PETTERSSON Marc WARREN Keith HORNE Jeev Milkha SINGH Lee SLATTERY Paul WARING Thomas BJÖRN Matthew BALDWIN Björn ÅKESSON Emiliano GRILLO David LYNN Paul CASEY Robert ROCK Craig LEE Mark FOSTER Justin WALTERS Seuk-hyun BAEK Eduardo DE LA RIVA Jorge CAMPILLO Adilson DA SILVA Morten Ørum MADSEN Gary LOCKERBIE S.S.P CHOWRASIA Ignacio GARRIDO Ricardo GONZALEZ Simon KHAN Anthony WALL

Nationality FIN ENG FRA DEN ENG SCO FRA ENG ITA ENG FRA AUT IRL CHN SCO IRL RSA RSA NED ITA SWE USA SCO SWE SCO RSA IND ENG ENG DEN ENG SWE ARG ENG ENG ENG SCO ENG RSA KOR ESP ESP BRA DEN ENG IND ESP ARG ENG ENG

No. of events

Prizemoney

7 11 10 6 6 7 7 11 7 4 9 8 5 4 12 11 11 7 8 12 8 6 6 3 10 10 8 10 8 7 13 8 11 3 6 9 9 9 9 3 7 13 7 7 9 8 11 8 5 3

€196,112 €195,216 €188,715 €186,827 €179,424 €179,096 €168,982 €168,945 €163,101 €160,276 €159,654 €158,551 €155,212 €154,373 €151,147 €146,345 €138,878 €138,842 €135,321 €133,754 €131,074 €130,230 €127,516 €126,237 €125,548 €123,415 €117,463 €116,706 €110,376 €110,128 €103,451 €102,392 €101,435 €101,056 €98,966 €96,069 €94,868 €90,274 €90,176 €88,304 €87,064 €86,710 €86,355 €85,568 €82,896 €81,140 €75,115 €72,651 €71,942 €70,888

E X P L A N AT I O N O F T H E E U R O P E A N T O U R R A C E T O D U B A I 2 0 1 3 The Race to Dubai is a season-long competition spanning a minimum of 45 tournaments in 24 countries and all five continents on The 2013 European Tour International Schedule. The Race to Dubai winner receives The Harry Vardon Trophy (first awarded in 1937), and a seven year European Tour Card exemption. The winner of The Race to Dubai will secure Category 1 Membership of The European Tour similar to the winners of The Open Championship, the US Open, the US PGA Championship and the Masters Tournament. The Bonus Pool will count as Official Money on the final Race to Dubai standings.

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RACE TO DUBAI NEWS

GARCIA OUT IN FRONT AS THE RACE HOTS UP

A

S The Race to Dubai hots up, with the season roughly one third of the way through, Sergio Garcia continues to set the pace as the players compete to secure a place in the top 60 for the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in November.

With 16 tournaments completed, including a captivating first Major of the season at last month’s Masters, the 33-year-old Spaniard leads the standings with €774, 010 from six events.

El Nino has been in terrific form so far this season, particularly in the big events. He opened his campaign with a tie for second at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters before taking a share of third place at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, and adding a top 10 finish at Augusta where he shared eighth place.

This year’s European Tour campaign will conclude with “The Final Series”, a four-event stretch beginning on 24 October at the BMW Masters in China followed by the WGC-HSBC Champions in China and the Turkish Open, before culminating at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai from 14-17 November where the top 60 ranked players on The Race to Dubai will cross swords.

THE FINAL SERIES The Final Series will add spice to this year’s Race to Dubai with combined prize money of US$30.5 million up for grabs, including $8 million at the DP World Tour Championship plus a further $3.75 million in the Bonus Pool shared between the top 10 players on The Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the Dubai Grand Finale.

In order to be eligible to tee it up in Dubai players must compete in at least two of the three Final Series events prior to the DP World Tour Championship.

Prize-money totals will be converted into points before the Final Series begins and players who compete in all three events leading up to the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai will receive a 20 per cent points bonus to improve their chances of winning The Race to Dubai or getting into the top

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SERGIO ON THE MARCH: The Spaniard has been in consistent form this season and even though he’s yet to get his hands on a title in 2013 he’s amassed valuable prize money on The Race to Dubai with strong perfomances in the big events.

10 for a share of the Bonus Pool. Angel Cabrera’s impressive second place finish at the Masters puts him in second place on The Race to Dubai with €662,628 from just that one event but it remains to be seen whether the Argentine will play enough events on The European Tour this season to be eligible for the season-ending climax at the Greg Norman-designed Earth course.

South Africans take up the third and fifth places on the table in the form of Richard Sterne (third) and Charl Schwartzel (fifth) while the impressive Dane, Thorbojrn Olesen, continues to stay with the

pace, after a tied third place at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and a tied sixth finish in his Masters debut, sees him currently in fourth place.

The top 60 players in The Race to Dubai standings following the Turkish Open will qualify for The Tour’s season-ending final. Last year, the then World No.1 Rory McIlroy crowned a phenomenal season, during which he won both The Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour Money List, by birdieing the last five holes of the Earth course to win the DP World Tour Championship.

“Last year’s DP World Tour Championship was

LEFT: Sergio Garcia tees off during this year’s Commercialbank Qatar Masters, where he tied second with George Coetzee.

BELOW: Sergio kept the momentum going at Doral and finished tied third at the WGC–Cadillac Championship.

LEFT: Richard Sterne collects the trophy after winning the Joburg Open, a result which saw him briefly take the lead in The Race to Dubai.

MIDDLE: Denmark’s Thørbjorn Olesen put in an impressive performance in his maiden Masters appearance to finish in a share of sixth place.

BELOW: Charl Schwartzel is enjoying another consistent season having added two top-four finishes to his victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

the most exciting in the history of the event,” said European Tour Director Middle East, Dubai Office, Nick Tarratt. “Not only did we enjoy a thrilling finish with Rory McIlroy taking both titles and Justin Rose setting a new Earth course record of 62 at Jumeirah Golf Estates, we also saw record attendance figures over the four days.

“Thanks to the much-valued ongoing support of title sponsor DP World and the tournament’s other key sponsors and suppliers, the DP World Tour Championship is now truly established as one of the premier sporting events in the Middle East and a key date on The European Tour International Schedule.”

Tarratt added: “The introduction of “The Final Series” will focus even more attention on The

Race to Dubai and the crowning of the overall champion at the DP World Tour Championship.

Once again, the Championship will be the only European Tour event in the Middle East offering free entry to the general public.”

Free tickets for the four-day tournament featuring the top 60 players on The European Tour can be obtained by registering online at the event website: www.dpwtc.com You can also follow the event for updates on: www.facebook.com/dpworldtourchampionship Twitter – www.twitter.com/dpwtc

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TOUR NEWS Date: Mar 28 - 31 Event: Trophee Hassan II Venue: Golf du Palais Royal, Agadir, Morocco Winner’s Cheque: €250,000

Date: Mar 28 - 31 Event: Shell Houston Open Venue: Redstone GC Tournament Course, Humble, Texas Winner’s Cheque: $1,116,000

STUNNING TURNAROUND FOR D.A. POINTS SIEM KEEPS HIS COOL TO HOLD OFF MIKKO MARCEL Siem eased to a wire-to-wire three-stroke victory over Mikko Ilonen and former champion David Horsey at the Trophee Hassan II in Agadir but narrowly missed out on a debut berth in the Masters. Siem started the final day four clear but Ilonen made a fast start with four birdies in an outward 32. However, Siem rolled up his sleeves and two birdies on the back nine coupled with a double bogey by Ilonen on the par-3 12th saw the German home comfortably.

A e n]jq `Yhhq Yf\ j]Yddq hjgm\ l`Yl A klYq]\ l`Yl [Yde& L`]j] oYk Y dgl g^ hj]kkmj] Eaccg `Y\ Y _j]Yl klYjl Zml A e `Yhhq l`Yl A [Ye] ZY[c fa[]dq& Pos. 1 T2 T2 4

Name Marcel Siem Mikko Ilonen David Horsey Pablo Larrazabal

Country GER FIN ENG ESP

To Par -17 -14 -14 -12

R1 64 69 68 72

R2 68 66 67 64

R3 69 70 70 69

R4 70 69 69 71

Total 271 274 274 276

Date: Apr 4 - 7 Event: Valero Texas Open Venue: TPC San Antonio, Texas Winner’s Cheque: $1,116,000

MARTIN LAIRD’S 63 KEEPS RORY AT BAY

A [Ye] `]j] lg KYf 9flgfag ima]ldq [gfÚ\]fl$ ]n]f l`gm_` eq j][gj\ l`ak q]Yj `Yk Z]]f hggj$ lg kYq l`] d]Ykl& Pos. Name

Country

To Par

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

1 2 3 3 3

SCO NIR USA USA USA

-9 -6 -11 -11 -11

70 72 68 69 71

274 276 277 277 277

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Country

To Par

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

1 2 2 4 4

USA SWE USA USA USA

-16 -15 -15 -14 -14

64 69 68 69 69

272 273 273 274 274

D.A. Points Henrik Stenson Billy Horschel Dustin Johnson Ben Crane

71 70 72 70 70

71 68 67 70 67

66 66 66 65 68

Date: Apr 18 - 21 Event: Open de España Venue: Parador de El Saler, Valencia, Spain Winner’s Cheque: €250,000

SCOTLAND’S Martin Laird finally got his reward for all his hard work on the range when he roared to a two-shot victory in the Valero Texas Open for his third PGA Tour title. Laird had his work cut out to hold off a resurgent Rory McIlory but he did so in style, birdying the last three holes to equal the course record with a bogey-free 9-under 63 and book a spot at the Masters in the process.

Martin Laird Rory McIlroy Billy Horschel Jim Furyk Charley Hoffman

D.A. Points turned his season around in spectacular style with a one-stroke victory at the Shell Houston Open over Henrik Stenson and Billy Horschel. Points had only made two cuts this season prior to the event and had failed to break 70 in his previous nine rounds on the PGA Tour. But after a long rain delay in the final round Points returned to the course to seal victory with four straight pars, including an 18-footer at the last, for a closing 6-under 66.

71 67 68 70 67

70 71 70 69 70

63 66 71 69 69

JACQUELIN TOPS IN 9HOLE PLAYOFF RAPHAEL Jacquelin finally downed Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer on the ninth hole of a sudden-death play-off to win his fourth European Tour title at the Open de España. The Frenchman tied Kieffer and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar on 5-under in regulation and on the trio’s third trip down the par-4 18th Aguilar was eliminated as Jacquelin and Kieffer made birdies. They made 5 consecutive pars each before a sublime approach from Jacquelin left him a five-footer for birdie to take the title.

L`Yl hdYq%g^^ dYkl]\ log `gmjk Yf\ oYk n]jq lajaf_& A [gmd\ fgl eYc] Yfq hmllk af l`] hdYq%g^^! Zml l`] dYkl gf] \jghh]\$ o`a[` e]Yfk Y dgl& EYpaeadaYf ak Y _j]Yl qgmf_ hdYq]j Yf\ `] oadd oaf Y dgl af l`] ^mlmj] A e kmj]& Pos. 1 T2 T2

Name Raphael Jacquelin Felipe Aguilar Maximilian Kieffer

Country FRA CHI GER

To Par -5 -5 -5

R1 73 68 75

R2 66 71 68

R3 73 74 69

R4 71 70 71

Total 283 283 283

Date: Apr 18 - 21 Event: RBC Heritage Venue: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina Winner’s Cheque: $1,044,000

Date: Date: Apr 25 - 28 Event: Zurich Classic of New Orleans Venue: TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana Winner’s Cheque: $1,188,000

HORSCHEL ON A ROLL IN NEW ORLEANS GMAC’S BACK ON THE WINNING TRACK! GRAEME McDowell showed once again that he’s one of the best wind players in the game and one of the finest at putting under pressure when he won the RBC Heritage at the first hole of a play-off against Webb Simpson. Winds reached 30mph on the final day at Harbour Town Golf Links but that didn’t stop McDowell coming from four shots off the lead with an impressive 69 to make the play-off before calmly two-putting from 15-feet to win with a par at the first extra hole. that Simpson couldn’t match.

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Graeme McDowell Webb Simpson Luke Donald Kevin Streelman

Country NIR USA ENG USA

To Par

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

-9 -9 -7 -7

71 69 69 66

275 275 277 277

67 71 68 70

68 65 71 69

69 71 69 72

BILLY Horschel maintained his hot recent form to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans by one shot over D.A. Points, thanks to a stunning closing round of 8-under-par 64. Horschel had finished second behind Points in Houston four weeks prior and showed his determination to win with six birdies in a row around the turn. However, he was made to wait to complete the victory after play was suspended due to storms shortly after he hit his tee shot on 18. After the hour-long delay he left himself a tough 26-footer for birdie but he duly stepped up and drained it to win his first PGA Tour title.

A n] hdYq]\ j]Yddq o]dd j][]fldq Zml$ A _m]kk$ al bmkl oYkf l eq lae]& Al oYk fa[] l`Yl lg\Yq oYk eq lae]& Pos. Name

Country

To Par

R1 R2 R3 R4

Total

1 2 3

USA USA USA

-20 -19 -17

67 71 66 64 66 68 70 65 72 67 65 67

268 269 271

Billy Horschel D.A. Points Kyle Stanley

Date: Apr 25 - 28 Event: Ballantine’s Championship Venue: Blackstone GC, Icheon, South Korea Winner’s Cheque: €367,500

RUMFORD SWOOPS WITH PLAYOFF EAGLE AUSTRALIAN Brett Rumford defeated fellow Aussie Marcus Fraser and Scotland’s Peter Whiteford with a superb eagle on the first play-off hole to win the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea.

The trio tied on 11-under-par in regulation after Whiteford narrowly missed out on sealing the Championship on the 72nd hole when his makeable birdie putt stayed up. The play-off took place on the closing par-5 where there hadn’t been an eagle on the hole all day. But Rumford put paid to that after a sensational approach shot to within six feet – a shot worthy of winning any championship – and then a solid putt for victory.

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Pos. Name 1 Brett Rumford T2 Marcus Fraser T2 Peter Whiteford 4 Romain Wattel

Country To Par R1 R2 R3 R4 Total AUS AUS SCO FRA

-11 -11 -11 -9

73 70 70 70

67 70 69 69

69 69 69 71

68 68 69 69

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GROWING GOLF IN

OMAN

Mike Gallemore reports on the vision of Mohammed Mahfoud Al Ardhi, Deputy Chairman of the National Bank of Oman, in putting the Sultanate on the world golf map through their 3-year sponsorship of the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic

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HE progress of golf in Oman has taken a giant step forward due to the National Bank of Oman and the vision and enthusiasm of its Deputy Chairman, Mohammed Mahfoudh Al Ardhi.

The introduction of the first professional golf tournament, the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic at Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat on Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27, has brought the attention of the golfing world to the Sultanate.

“We are totally committed to promoting golf and putting Oman on the world golfing stage and our three-year sponsorship of the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic is evidence of our intentions,” says Mohammed Mahfudh Al Ardhi, Deputy Chairman, National Bank of Oman.

“To have the stars of the future of world golf competing in our event is a huge coup for Oman and for the Bank. Through our sponsorship of this prestigious European Challenge Tour tournament the National Bank of Oman is putting golf in Oman onto the international golf circuit and taking a significant step forward in building future business in the Sultanate through global golf.

“We’ve witnessed the benefit international golf has brought to other countries in the Middle East in expanding its corporate business and it is our objective to utilise our event to boost the long term growth of the economy of Oman.

“The National Bank of Oman Golf Classic is the only Challenge Tour event in the Middle East and it will provide valuable experience for our junior golfers to see the Major winners of tomorrow in action at close quarters. The Classic also enables us to show the golf world that Oman has the wherewithal to stage international sporting events of this magnitude,” added the Bank’s Deputy Chairman.

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Mohammed Mahfoudh Al Ardhi, Deputy Chairman, National Bank of Oman.

Mohammed Mahfoudh Al Ardhi is continuing the pioneering dream of His Highness Kais Al-Said to make Muscat a true golfing destination. With the establishment last year of Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, the recent opening of Ghala Valley Golf Club as an 18-hole grass golf course and the thriving Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club, that dream is beginning to become a reality.

His Highness was an enthusiastic and accomplished golfer who loved to play England’s traditional courses at Wentworth, Sunningdale, Castle Coombe and Minchhampton and the famous links courses of Scotland. He regularly played in Pro-Ams in England with European Tour players Bill Longmuir and Pip Elson and it was his long-held ambition to have an internationally recognised 18-hole grass golf course in Oman.

His Highness was the driving force behind the creation of Muscat Hills. He contacted Paul Thomas of the Dave Thomas Design Company in 1998 and work began immediately in turning a site that was basically solid rock winding around wadi river beds into a

unique, distinctive and outstanding golf course. The work took six years to complete but Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club is now gaining international acclaim as a must-play golf course. It was also H.H. Kais Al-Said, as President of the Ghala Wentworth sand course, who relocated the course with the help of Bill Longmuir. Together, in the space of just a couple of weeks, they created what has now become Muscat’s third 18-hole grass course, the Ghala Valley Golf Club, which is gaining in reputation month on month.

The pioneering spirit of H.H. Kais Al-Said inspired the creation of Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, designed by golf legend and world renowned golf course architect Greg Norman. It was a masterstroke to invite one of golf’s most prominant and respected designers to create Almouj Golf and the quality of the course has brought enormous publicity globally to Oman since the official opening last September.

Norman says that, “The Wave is one of the best golf courses I’ve ever designed” and his opinion is being echoed around the world.

The success of Almouj Golf has already helped put the Sultanate on the world golfing map and in February this year the club hosted the 17th edition of the prestigious GCC Golf Championship, contested by the six GCC nations – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE. The National Bank of Oman added their support to the GCC Championship and in sponsoring the Sultanate’s first professional golf tournament, the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic, they have demonstrated their total commitment to establishing Oman as a golfer’s must-visit location.

The bank has taken an impressive step forward on the road to making the Sultanate a genuine international golf tourism destination.

NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN GOLF CLASSIC

Children from the Oman Golf Committee Programme wearing their Greg Norman hats pictured with Greg Norman and Almouj Golf’s James Wood (Head PGA professional), Marcus Casey (PGA Professional), and Chris Jones (PGA Professional) at the Official Opening of Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, last September.

“We are taking every opportunity to support golf in Oman through various government bodies, the Ministry of Sports and the Oman Golf Committee, and by raising awareness of the Sultanate’s offerings as a business, tourism and golf destination,” said Deputy Chairman Mohammed Mahfoudh Al Ardhi.

“Through the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic’s exposure and establishing Oman on the international sports map, we also aim to encourage local juniors to take up the game and compete on the world stage,” he added.

José Maria Zamora, Tournament Director of The European Tour commented after his recent visit to Oman: “We thank the National Bank of Oman and Deputy Chairman, Mohammed Mahfoudh Al Ardhi, for their three-year sponsorship of the Classic.

“We are pleased to bring the European Challenge Tour to Oman. Golf may be relatively new to the Sultanate but all the signs show that it is very much a thriving golf destination in the making and we are looking forward to the Classic being a resounding success in October and in the years to come.”

Different golfing experiences The establishment of the three golf courses, Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club and Ghala Valley Golf Club, gives golf tourists three completely different golfing experiences and with the remarkable, unique Arabian tourism attraction of Oman will be a considerable boost to Oman’s economy long-term.

The Middle East countries which have utilised the creation of international, championship-standard golf courses have reaped the rewards in terms of business interests and tourism. It is the case that international businessmen like to play golf at any given opportunity and it has long been said that

H.E. Dr. Al Rumhy presents the trophy to the individual winner of the GCC Championship, Qatar’s Ali Al Bishi, who, along with the second-placed golfer in the Championship, received an invitation to play in the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic.

Pictured above: Abdullah Al-Shidi, Deputy CEO of Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat; Greg Norman; H.H. Sayyid Taimur Bin As’ad Bin Tariq Al-Said and H.E. Sultan Bin Hamdoon Al Harthy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Wave, at the official opening of Almouj Golf. more business deals are made on the golf course than in the boardroom.

Dubai is a prime example. From the days when the only course in the Emirate was the sand course at Dubai Country Club, followed by the creation of the 18-hole grass course at the Emirates Golf Club in 1988, there are now 12 golf courses in Dubai and golf has become an integral part of the business community. In fact, the corporate golf events, held regularly in Dubai, take up the majority of available tee times and golf tourism is increasing steadily.

Having been a frequent visitor to Dubai since the mid-1980s I have witnessed at first hand the growth of golf in the Emirates and the benefits it has brought to the economy. I have visited Oman on a number of occasions in recent years and I believe that Oman has a lot more to offer in terms of being an authentic Arabic Sultanate with its own identity and culture which is much more appealing to international

tourists. When you add world-class golf to the package, Oman provides a unique attraction for visitors of all tastes.

The first Dubai Desert Classic on The European Tour was held in 1989 at the Emirates Golf Club which was the first step in Dubai’s successful golf story. The National Bank of Oman Golf Classic is the first giant step in the Sultanate’s golf and tourism success saga and I’m sure their lead will be taken

by Oman’s corporate sector, which will follow their example and make the same commitment to international business expansion through golf.

By their visionary sponsorship Mohammed Mahfoudh Al Arthi and the National Bank of Oman are demonstrating that Oman has the required infrastructure and determination to support such international sporting events, creating the necessary exposure to put Oman not only on the world golf map but also on the business and tourism map. Q www.wwgolf.biz

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Seven day advance tee time booking. A free golf lesson. Enrolment in selected members’ events throughout the summer. Member’s guest fees for your playing partners and complimentary use of a shared golf cart. And if you pay for your Summer Membership during May, you’ll enjoy special green fees right through to 31st May. Plus you’ll enjoy use of our practice facilities with unlimited range balls, 10% discount on food and beverages and on selected apparel in our well stocked retail shop.

Don’t miss out on this limited offer – make the most of this summer by emailing membership@jumeirahgolfestates.com, or call +971 4 375 9999 today.

NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN GOLF CLASSIC

Oman’s promising junior team member, Ahmed Al Balushi, in action during the GCC Championship at Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat, in February.

European Tour Praise National Bank of Oman Golf Classic

T

José Maria Zamora, Tournament Director of The European Tour

HE eagerly awaited, prestigious National Bank of Oman Golf Classic has received a resounding endorsement from José Maria Zamora, Tournament Director of The European Tour, on his recent visit to Oman and Almouj Golf The Wave, Muscat.

“The commitment of the National Bank of Oman to the Classic is superb,” says Zamora. “This is the Challenge Tour’s only tournament in the Middle East and we want to make it a really special event. We’ve got all the ingredients for a great Classic, an excellent three-year sponsorship, the players who will become the stars of the future, a magnificent golf course and warm, sunny weather.

“This will be one of the strongest fields of the year on the Challenge Tour with all our players pushing for top places in the event to get into the top 45 on the Tour and make it into the Grand Final from which the leading 15 players will gain their cards to play on The European Tour 2014 Schedule. The National Bank of Oman Golf Classic also includes a maximum of 10 invitations for local amateurs and has already invited the top two players in the recent GCC Golf Championship, played at The Wave.”

It was Zamora’s first visit to Oman and he was hugely impressed with the Sultanate and Amouj Golf, saying: “Greg Norman has created a fantastic golf course at The Wave and the practice facilities are ideal for our players.

The par-3 course also helps them hone their game.

“The National Bank of Oman Golf Classic on Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27, comes the week before the Challenge Tour’s season-ending Grand Final and the week after our event in China.

“We are indebted to the National Bank of Oman for their sponsorship in supporting the Classic,” adds Zamora.

“Hopefully, the success of the event may encourage other sponsors to enable the Tour to have back-to-back tournaments in the Middle East.”

The National Bank of Oman is committed to developing Golf in the Sultanate and in addition to their three-year sponsorship of the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic the bank also brought a significant boost to the GCC Golf Championships played at Almouj Golf The Wave Muscat in February.

“Putting Oman on the international golfing map is the priority at this stage and holding a professional international event of such reputation is a step towards bringing this to reality,” said Mohammed Mahfoud Al Ardhi, Deputy Chairman, National Bank of Oman. “Oman has developed a solid infrastructure to support such initiatives and we believe it is the role of the private sector to realise the vision of our nation,” he added.

Zamora concluded: “The Classic will be a boost to the rapidly growing number of Omanis who are taking up the game, to learn from watching the Challenge Tour players competing in the tournament.

“There is very little difference in the quality of golf between The European Tour and the Challenge Tour, which has produced many of the game’s leading players over the years, including Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Nicolas Colsaerts, and Major winners Trevor Immelman, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer and Michael Campbell to name but a few.

“In a few years’ time the spectators at The Wave will be watching The Ryder Cup and the Majors and saying that they saw those players in action up close in the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic.” Q www.wwgolf.biz

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GARY PLAYER While so many people were saying it was wrong to penalise Guan Tianlang he took it in his stride and accepted the decision like a real pro, like a 50 year old. A boy from any Western country would probably have been full of tears and have broken down – and it would, no doubt, have had an adverse affect on the rest of his round.

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HERE were so many memorable moments at the Masters but I’d like to congratulate Adam Scott on his victory and for becoming the first Australian to win a Green Jacket. I’d also like to congratulate Jason Day in coming third and Marc Leishman in finishing tied fourth with Tiger Woods. Three Australians in the first four in the Masters is quite an achievement.

Adam is a thoroughly likeable young man and a true gentleman and he deserves to win his first Major. I’m pleased that he’s got the monkey off his back after the disappointment of coming so close to winning The Open last year at Royal Lytham and St Annes and handing the title to Ernie Els. Adam has got a magnificent golf swing and his only shortcoming that has prevented him from winning a Major up to now has been his inconsistent putting. He played in three of The Presidents Cup Teams I captained and he was a pleasure to have in the side. He’s a very well behaved and respectful young man.

The only sad thing for me is that in winning the Masters he used a long putter. I don’t think that using a long-handled anchored putter means that by virtue of that, you will hole more, putts but it certainly takes the nerves out of the equation.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the Masters was the friendly camaraderie and respect between Cabrera and Scott that was first forged when they played on the International Team in The Presidents Cup in 2009.

Scott and Cabrera have become great friends and their manners at Augusta were exemplary.

It was the ideal way to show the many millions of television viewers watching around the world just how a Major championship should be played – in a competitive spirit with total commitment and yet with great friendship and consideration. The sight of Angel acknowledging a good shot by Adam by giving him the thumbs up on the final play-off hole and by walking off the final green with his arm around the young Masters Champion was wonderful to see.

Yet there was another heart-warming sight at Augusta. In all my 60 years as a professional the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen is a 14-yearold making the cut at the Masters. That really was astonishing. It was unfortunate that Guan Tianlang, was handed a one-shot penalty for slow play. Although he went on to finish in 58th place on a score of 300, I have to say that I was shocked by that penalty.

Had the young Chinese not made the cut due to his one-shot penalty, there would have been one of the biggest uproars in golf. It can’t be denied that he was slow but, then, so were a great many other players throughout the four days of the tournament but Guan was the only player to be penalised for slow play. Just look at The Ryder Cup last September at Medinah. Almost every player on both teams was guilty of slow play at some point but nobody was pulled up for it. I’m not blaming the Rules Of-

ficials, just as I don’t blame the Rules Officials for docking Tiger Woods two shots for dropping his ball in the wrong place. That’s what Rules Officials are there for. Every sport has to have rules and every competitor has to abide by them, whether they like it or not.

I thought the criticism that was heaped on Tiger by some of the media for not disqualifying himself was totally misplaced. The Rules Official made his ruling and Tiger accepted the two-shot penalty and got on with the job. I remember when I played cricket. If I was given out lbw or caught behind and the umpire’s finger was raised you walked – and with good grace. You didn’t argue about it. The problem that exists now, particularly with football, is that too many players don’t accept the authority of the officials. The referees in football have an impossible task and we don’t want this lack of respect for the officials creeping into our game.

I was impressed with the manner in which Guan Tianlang accepted his penalty. Like Tiger, he took his penalty like a man and continued without any hesitation. While so many people were saying it was wrong to penalise him he took it in his stride and accepted the decision like a real pro, like a 50 year old. A boy from any Western country would probably have been full of tears and have broken down – and it would, no doubt, have had an adverse affect on the rest of his round.

It just shows the discipline of the youngsters in the Asian countries compared to those in the West. There is far more discipline in Asian society than there is elsewhere in the world. The youngsters have far more respect for their parents and schoolchildren seem to accept authority without complaint.

I was impressed with Guanin every way. I thought he’d shoot about 85, 83. For a 14-year-old playing on one of the toughest courses in the world, in front of some of the biggest crowds in world golf, was phenomenal. I spoke to Tiger Woods at breakfast and Tiger said he had played five holes with him and he was 2-under-par after five.

I met Guan during our Gary Player Invitational when he joined us to ride a mechanical bull at our party. I told him not to eat Western-style food like bacon and sausages and stick to a healthy Chinese way of eating. I also told him how important it was for him to get the right sort of exercise.

We had a big American football player at the event and I introduced him to Guan and said, ‘One day soon you’re going to be playing against these 6ft 8in, 300 lbs giants and they’re going to be hitting the ball 430 yards so you’re going to have to be in perfect condition to compete against them.’ I gave him some good advice and I’m sure he got the message. I also told him he’s got to smile a bit more.

I’ve been saying for some time that Asia is going to be the dominant region in the game in the next few years and I understand that a 12-yearold qualified for the Volvo China Open so that tells you something about the strength of the game there. Q www.wwgolf.biz

29

GREG NORMAN Adam is a great player and I’m confident this victory will catapult him to win more Majors. He’s an incredible competitor. He’s not a guy who’s content to sit back and relax and rest on his laurels. He has an astonishing fire within him. A victory as momentous as this is going to give him tremendous confidence as he moves forward in his career. It won’t surprise me if he goes on to win more Major championships than any other Australian golfer in history.

I

WAS very proud of all three of the Aussies at the Masters. It gave me so much pride to look up at the leaderboard and see three Aussie flags on there, and I was on the edge of my seat all afternoon watching the Masters drama unfold.

I’m sure all of Australia feels the same way I do about Adam Scott’s victory and we congratulate him on becoming the first Australian to win the Masters. I’ve always been a huge believer in Adam and I’m so proud of him – along with the rest of Australia.

Adam is a great player and I’m confident this victory will catapult him to win more Majors. He’s an incredible competitor. He’s not a guy who’s content to sit back and relax and rest on his laurels. He has an astonishing fire within him. A victory as momentous as this is going to give him tremendous confidence as he moves forward in his career. It won’t surprise me if he goes on to win more Major championships than any other Australian golfer in history.

Having won big events like The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, the Tour Championship and the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational Adam’s Master’s win was a real roller-coaster. I have to admit I was a little anxious during the second play-off hole – hole 10 – after Angel Cabrera had narrowly missed his putt. I could see Adam’s caddie, Steve Williams, shaking his head and I knew Steve was overruling Adam on the read of his putt and rightfully so.

But let’s not forget about what Angel Cabrerra did. He didn’t back down. He played some fabulous golf and he certainly didn’t hand Adam the tournament. Adam had to go out there and win it and all credit to him for achieving it.

It’s amazing what the game of golf can do. When Adam’s ball came to a stop just off the green at 13 instead of rolling down the

30

www.wwgolf.biz

hill into the stream it reminded me of when Freddy Couples won the Masters in 1992 and his ball came to an unexpected halt on hole 12 when everyone was waiting for it to roll into the lake. It stayed dry just a few feet from the brink and just sat up there waiting to be hit.

Sky’s the limit for Adam That’s what makes golf such a fascinating game. I remember when I first met Adam back in Australia when I was giving him a lift on my plane to a golf tournament. He was about 15 years old, so I’ve known him for a long time. He was a very inquisitive kid – full of questions about a lot of things, other than golf, too. I always kept my eye on Adam, because he made such a good first impression on me.

He’s always carried himself with class.

He’s such a well balanced human being and that has served him well, although some people have questioned whether he had the fire and the burning ambition to compete at the highest level. Those doubters have now got their answer and l I think

he put that to rest at Augusta. He’s a fierce competitor and he is not a guy who’s ever going to settle for second best. The sky’s the limit for Adam. I’ve always believed in him and his ability and it was just a matter of time before he picked up that first Major.

I was really pulling for both Adam and Jason Day in 2011 as well as this year. And we shouldn’t forget Marc Leishman. Just to look at that leaderboard last month and see Adam, Jason and Marc occupying three of the four top spots was heartwarming to say the least. And I was happy that Adam got it done. It’s a lot different when you are the spectator to being the man in the arena and now I know how nervous you can actually feel when you’re pulling for somebody to do something special for themselves and for their country. As I said to Adam, “I was a wreck”. His reply was, “Now you know how I felt all those years ago”.

Every year, watching the Masters really just reinforces how special the tournament really is and I’m so glad that Australia now has a

Green Jacket – so at last, Aussies have won all four Majors.

I watched the final round on television at home in Florida with my son Gregory and my wife Kiki and they can both tell you I was on the edge of my seat all afternoon. I had to go and workout for 90 minutes during the middle of the final round I was so worked up.

I was really honoured and humbled hearing Adam’s comments after his win. There he was in his crowning moment thanking me for inspiring him and believing in him. I can honestly tell you I had a tear or two in my eyes. That’s the kind of guy Adam is. It was a special moment and he’s a great golfer and an even better person. We’ve spoken and traded several texts since and I’m looking forward to seeing him soon.

Adam’s Masters win could serve as a catalyst to him achieving even greater things. As I said before, he could easily win more Majors than any other Aussie and I would love to see him do it. He’s now third in the Official World Golf Ranking and if he continues his form of

the last two years he has a legitimate shot to become the number one player in the world.

But I know his focus is on winning Majors more than making it to No.1.

Adam has a good all round game but I’d have to say that his biggest strength is definitely the driver. People have said I was one of the greatest drivers in history, but I think Adam is a better driver of the golf ball than I ever was. When you look at the stats it proves my point. It was amazing to see the tee shots he hit under the utmost pressure over those last nine holes. He’s a Major champion because he put in the hard work on all facets of his game.

Since Adam’s Masters triumph I’ve been asked whether the heartbreak of missing out on winning last year’s Open Championship had a bearing on his win at Augusta. I’ve got to say that golf is a game where a minor fluctuation can create a major disaster – and that’s what we saw at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

I spoke with Adam after The Open and I

Far left: Adam Scott and Greg Norman at The Open Championship in Troon in 2004.

Above: Scott is congratulated by fellow countryman and final round playing partner Marc Leishman after sinking his birdie putt on the final hole of regulation play to take the clubhouse lead.

Inset picture: Jason Day got his final round at Augusta off to a flyer after he drained this bunker shot on the second hole for an eagle to go with his birdie on the first. 3-under after two holes!

told him he played better golf than anybody in the tournament for 68 holes, so take that as a positive. If you look at his results since then, you’ll see that only two Majors later he won the Masters and in the last three Majors he’s finished second, 11th, and first.

Based on those results, I think his experience at The Open certainly helped him take his game to the next level. Q www.wwgolf.biz

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PETE COWEN GMac has worked hard on his game and deserved his win. If you look at his stats he’s No.1 on the PGA Tour Scrambling statistics with a success rate of 72.46% in getting up and down when he’s missed a green in regulation. That’s the key skill you need when you’re under pressure in a tournament. Graeme has a sound short game and we all know he can putt under pressure.

I

T was great to see GMac back in the winner’s circle at the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head. He’s worked hard on his game and deserved his win. If you look at his stats he’s No.1 on the PGA Tour Scrambling statistics with a success rate of 72.46% in getting up and down when he’s missed a green in regulation.

That’s the key skill you need when you’re under pressure in a tournament. Graeme has a sound short game and we all know he can putt under pressure. Obviously the wind at Harbour Town Links played its part and having grown up in Portrush in Northern Ireland, he’s one of the best wind players around too.

Although he’s won the US Open, he called it his first “authentic” PGA Tour victory, which was amusing, but I know what he meant as it’s the first time he’s won in the US other than in a Major championship. He was delighted with the result and it was a great way for him to bounce back from the disappointment of missing the Masters the week before.

Augusta just doesn’t seem to suit him. He’s not the biggest hitter but you can’t say you need to be long around there because the little Chinese lad, Guan Tianlang, got it round in 73 in the first round. But it’s how you manage your game at Augusta that counts and some people see their way around that course so much easier than others. Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer for instance – even though they’re Senior players now, and don’t hit it as far as they once did, they know how to play the course and if you can see your way around it you can go out and actually enjoy playing and make a score. We’ve all experienced it – sometimes you turn up at a course and think: “I can see my way round here, I can see myself making a score here.” Other courses you might not feel comfortable on and fail to put a score together. But GMac did well at the Masters last year when he finished 12th so he is capable of getting round, it’s just not perhaps his favourite course.

Angel Cabrera is another player who just has the eye for Augusta. Look at his record round there – it’s fantastic, he always plays

very well. He was in the final group with Rory McIlroy the year Rory blew up in 2011, a lot of people forget that. He loves the place. Some people just get a buzz the moment they tee it up at Augusta. Angel played superbly this year and you couldn’t fault him in the play-off – he was just beaten by a moment of sheer class from Adam Scott.

If you make birdie down the 10th at Augusta in a play-off you deserve to win. It’s a tough hole and they both played it well, both played good approach shots. Angel almost holed his putt but in the end it was just a touch of class that won it, which is nice. That’s the way it should be and it was great for golf.

WE came so close to having victories for the Academy on both sides of the Atlantic the week GMac won but Marc Warren came up just short at the Spanish Open. He was comfortably out in front but bogeyed four of the last five holes to finish one stroke back from the play-off which was tough for him but his play during the tournament in general was excellent.

Tiger Woods Penalty Drop There was a lot of talk during the Masters that Tiger Woods should have been disqualified for his illegal drop incident on the 15th but they couldn’t disqualify him because it was actually the Rules Committee’s mistake.

On the face of it, yes, he should have been disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard , but the evidence went in the wrong order.

An ex-USGA Rules Official had rung in after seeing it on TV and asked the Committee to look at it before he’d actually finished playing.

They looked at it and said ‘No penalty.’ They let him sign his card without the two-shot penalty on it but because Tiger then told the press that he’d deliberately dropped the ball where he did, they had no option but to just give him the two-shot penalty. They knew it was their fault they hadn’t given it to him in the first place.

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EL H A R E R B A WC

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EMERALD CIT Y E H T H C A T RE T O C S ED EVAN CHARD B I R Y B

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Adam Scott

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HEN Adam Scott trudged off the course at Harding Park Golf Club in San Francisco three and a half years ago, a dejected man, having performed poorly in an International team that had been soundly beaten by the USA in the Presidents Cup, one man noticed how lost he was and made a point of lifting the Australian’s spirits by reminding him how good a player he was. That man was the then-reigning Masters champion Angel Cabrera and his kind gesture had a profound effect.

Scott’s career had nosedived from the highs of his early days, which saw him collect such big scalps as the 2004 Players Championship and the 2006 Tour Championship on the PGA Tour as well as two Qatar Masters titles (2002 and 2008) among a string of European Tour victories. His World Ranking had plummeted from a high of third after the 2008 US Open to 69th (it would eventually bottom out at 76). His game had deserted him and he couldn’t buy a putt. He’d missed more cuts than he’d made on the PGA Tour that year and had failed to stick around for the weekend in four of the last five Majors.

He was also gaining a reputation as a playboy, having purchased a $75 million Gulfstream Jet and been linked to a string of hot celebrity girlfriends, all of which was thought to be having an adverse effect on his results.

He was, in short, in freefall. The first person to come to his rescue was fellow Aussie, Greg Norman, who defied perceived logic by choosing Scott as a Captain’s pick for his International team at the bi-annual event against the USA. “It was kind of a gut-check time,” said Scott. “My game was in a bit of a rut, to be fair, and I wasn’t enjoying it. But Greg as the captain had a lot of faith in me, and belief that I could win a point for his team, and he gave me a pick, and I didn’t want to disappoint him.”

Cabrera’s swing coach Charlie Epps recalled how nobody wanted to be

A TRUE EMBRACE: Adam and Angel share a genuine moment of affection on the 10th green at Augusta.

BITTER BLOW: Adam Scott chats to Ernie Els after blowing a four-stroke lead with four holes to play, to hand the South African the Claret Jug at last year’s Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

paired with Scott in San Francisco, so bad was his recent run of form. Nobody except Cabrera.

“Nobody wanted to play with Adam,” said Epps. “Angel said, ‘I’ll play with him.’

“That was Greg’s decision (to pair the two), and it was a good one,” he continued. “Greg had faith in Adam.

It was the start of a great relationship [with Cabrera].”

In the event Scott did contribute a point for Norman’s team, but that was all from the five matches he played, including the one in which he partnered Cabrera as Jim Furyk and Anthony Kim beat them 2up. But he wasn’t alone in underperforming as the USA romped to a 19 ½ –14 ½ victory and in the

immediate aftermath of the defeat, despite his limited English, Cabrera, who had himself endured a rocky road to the top from the tough streets of Cordoba, put an arm around Scott’s shoulder and gave him some much needed words of comfort and support.

“He said, ‘You’re a great, great player,” revealed Scott. “It was something I didn’t forget and it was very nice of him.”

The experience of being back among the world’s best players, “There’s nowhere to hide in the Presidents Cup,” gave Scott a benchmark for the level he needed to return to while Cabrera’s words of encouragement proved the catalyst needed to get his game back on track. It wasn’t long before things began

Scott’s Yellow Brick Road 2002

2000

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2006

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to improve. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You know, I took the ball from there and ran with it,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a big boost for me, and then shortly after that, I was playing well again.â&#x20AC;?

Having ďŹ nished the season a careerlow 108th on the PGA Tour money list, Scott dusted himself down after the Presidents Cup to end the year in style with his ďŹ rst-ever victory on home soil at the Australian Open. The following year he was making cuts again on the PGA Tour and in May won his ďŹ rst title in the US in over two years at the Valero Texas Open. Crucially, his performances in the Majors also began to improve. He

missed only one Major cut in 2010 and bagged a top 20 at the Masters before his resurrection went into overdrive in 2011. Despite the improvement in his all-round game and subsequent results, Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Achilles heel was still his putting. Having parted company with Butch Harmon he was now working with brother-in-law Brad Malone and it was he who suggested trying a long handled putter in February 2011. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He thought it would do good things for my rhythm and short stroke,â&#x20AC;? said Scott. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The rhythm with the long putter is very nice, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something I was ďŹ ghting in

2009

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THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER: Enduring a tough time at the 2009 Presidents Cup (inset) and (main) reaching the Emerald City at last.

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my putting with the short putter.â&#x20AC;?

The results were almost instant as Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s form on the greens improved dramatically, something which was highlighted at Augusta that year when he had one hand on the Green Jacket before Charl Schwartzel put together a jaw dropping four-birdie ďŹ nish to leave Adam tied with compatriot Jason Day, two strokes back in second place. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me, personally, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only positives to take out of this,â&#x20AC;? Scott told the gathered press in the aftermath of the tournament. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I mean, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great week, far better than Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done here in the past. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very positive with where my gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at, where everythingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting to be in the mix at a Major â&#x20AC;&#x201C; something that I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been able to talk to you guys about much at all. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only positives for me to take.

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anything negative about it. And as far as the putting goes, you know, it was just so solid all week. I expect to make those putts. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how I feel out there and it feels like I was putting at my best.â&#x20AC;?

He had every right to feel so positive and it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long before Scott got the big title his form deserved when he claimed his maiden World Golf Championship win with a stunning four-stroke victory over Luke Donald and Ricky Fowler at the Bridgestone Invitational. It was the ďŹ rst time he had Steve Williams on the bag. A little over a year and a half later the Kiwi would give him the read for the putt that won him the Masters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The goal is to give myself a chance to win these big events,â&#x20AC;? said Scott after the win. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wanted to do my whole career, and for whatever reason I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t performed my best. But I really feel like Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a good plan in place to get myself ready for these events now.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working nicely.â&#x20AC;?

The good results in the Majors continued with top 10s at the 2011 PGA Championship and last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Masters, before he infamously blew a four-

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Adam Scott

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Adam Scott

stroke lead with four to play as Ernie Els snatched The Open Championship from under his nose at Royal Lytham and St Annes. It was a blow of epic proportions and it could have floored a lesser character but the pragmatic Aussie sucked it up and went out and took a share of 11th a few weeks later in the US PGA Championship before winning a “Gold Jacket” for another victory on home soil at the Talisker Masters.

“You’ve just got to get on with it,” said Scott. “I think that was the nice thing for me, after The Open, I was playing a few weeks later and was back out there and then the following week was another Major. There’s no time to sit and feel sorry for myself that I didn’t win The Open. I was trying my hardest to win the PGA. Not thinking about it wasn’t a big deal. But when I got in a position to win again, that was when it was, you know, as a player, you don’t want to make it a ‘thing.’

“So it wasn’t until the end of last year that I had a chance to win a tournament in Australia and I managed to do it. I think that was good because obviously you don’t want to make it a ‘thing’

that you struggle to close out a golf tournament and that’s never really been the case with me.”

There were still plenty of positives to take from what was an otherwise excellent performance at Royal Lytham and the signs were there that Scott had cracked the code of how to succeed in golf’s biggest events.

“I think the most important part is finding the things that you need to do in that the process, finding what works, and I think that was what I was searching for, for such a long time in my career,” he said. “That’s why I couldn’t produce good results in bigger events when I played well in regular Tour events or anywhere else around the world.”

He also needed the confidence to believe in his abilities again. Abilities that had seen him rack up some 15 worldwide titles in his early career but had begun to wane in that dark period leading up to the 2009 Presidents Cup where the custodian of that year’s Green Jacket reminded him how good he really was.

So how ironic that it was the gentlemanly Cabrera who was to

TOP: This for the Masters – the putt that changed Scott’s life forever.

ABOVE: This one’s for you Australia – Scott salutes his faithful fans after becoming the first Australian to slip into the Green Jacket.

miss out at Augusta last month to a super-confident, super-sharp Adam Scott in the most dramatic of play-offs as the 32-year-old fulfilled his destiny of becoming Major champion and Australia’s first Masters winner. As the rain fell in Georgia, doing nothing to take the heat out of the pressure cooker of the second extra hole, the thumbs up from Cabrera acknowledging his old friend’s wonderful approach shot eased the tension and spoke volumes about the affection and respect between the two. It was another admirable gesture from the older man.

“Angel is a great man,” Scott said. “To do that at that point is very nice. I think, with limited abilities to converse, you know, we would consider each other friends and have a lot of respect for each other.”

A few minutes later Scott had etched his name in the history books forever with a stunning birdie putt to match the one he’d produced in on the 72nd hole in regulation. The embrace the pair shared on the final green was a genuine one.

Cabrera knew what it took to win a Green Jacket, he’d won one himself, and he’d always known Scott could do it too. Q www.wwgolf.biz

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Swing

THE ACADEMY AT EMIRATES GOLF CLUB in Association with PETE COWEN

ADAM SCOTT 1

2

3

7

8

9

PETE COWEN

PGA MASTER PROFESSIONAL and coach to the stars, such as McDowell, Harrington, Kaymer, Stenson... if Pete doesn’t know it, it isn’t worth knowing!

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FOR years people have compared Adam’s swing with Tiger’s but as you will see from this sequence, Adam generates compression in a totally different way. Tiger loses height in his swing, as he uses his body mass to compress down into the ball. Adam maintains the height in the swing and compresses the ball using muscle force. Adam has suffered from knee injuries in the past and spends a lot of time in the gym to protect his body from the huge muscular forces he generates.

1. If you look at the position of Adam’s lower back and the tree directly to his left, you can see how consistent his position remains, which means there is no forward or backward body movement. This is why he’s such a consistent player from tee to green and maintains his body position from start to finish.

1. The posture is balanced and symmetrical.

2. Slight separation between the arms and club to create width, this you might like or not, but it’s not detrimental to the rest of the movement.

Pete Cowen assess the Adam Scott swing that won the Masters 4

5

6

10

11

12

3. He’s started to set the wrists against the body turn and started to create some torque in his upper body and this continues to build in frame 4.

5. His shoulders are starting to load and his body is still in position.

6. The muscles in the shoulders are fully loaded on top of a really sound base.

7. In the change in direction the body muscles are working to get in position on the way down. He’s pushing the muscles

down but still maintains height. This is where Adam and Tiger are completely different. As here, Tiger would be using the weight of his body to get the ground and exit through.

8. In the delivery position he’s on line but he’s not got the club either under, or behind him, in other words.

9. If you look how the shaft has just raised a little bit vertically but he’s got good symmetry in the forearms, where the right forearm is on top of the left and

not under. There’s a gap between the body but not between the forearms.

10. Both the shaft and the arms are moving left and there’s clearly no flip of the clubhead. This is very clear to see in 11 where the clubface is still symmetrical with the shoulders and the shaft line. He’s got a funky left wrist in this shot, which is a continuous force movement that might happen occasionally.

12. Very balanced, finished with the left foot planted. www.wwgolf.biz

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INSTRUCTION

Q Turn on your chips for more accuracy Q How to prevent hitting up on your chips Q Maximize your tee shot distance Q Techniques to master the wind

QUICK RULES TIPS By: Stuart McMurdo, Golf Operations Manager, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa

RULE 18-5 – BALL MOVED BY ANOTHER BALL ON THE PUTTING GREEN In The Valero Texas Open this year on the PGA Tour l noticed on two occasions where a ball at rest on the green was struck by a competitors ball by a shot from off the green which caused a substantial change in its position.

The most memorable was when Ryan Palmer’s ball struck Rory McIlroy’s.

At Jebel Ali l see this frequently where players tend not to mark their balls on the green and in many circumstances other balls end up moving them to new positions. The correct procedure is that the player whose ball was at rest and was moved is able to replace it as close as possible to its original spot, deemed by the player and his fellow competitors.

There are no penalties unless the player whose ball struck the stationary ball was on the green, then that player would receive a two-stroke penalty.

See the video link at: Facebook/WorldwideGolf and go to the video section.

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43

INSTRUCTION Stephen Deane Head Academy Professional EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

TURN ON YOUR CHIPS! Let the body move…

Believe it or not, it’s actually possible to be a little too focused when you hit a chip A lot of players get so fixated on the ball and on making clean contact that they don’t let their arms extend and the body rotate through impact.

If your arms collapse and your body stops turning, the bottom of your swing is going to be behind the ball. That’s how fat and bladed chip shots happen.

Learn Golf In A Week

with The Academy at Emirates Golf Club 44

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s much better to feel that extension and body rotation through the shot as shown left.

This will allow the bottom of your swing to move forward and produce both a solid contact and consequent distant control.

The club you choose for a chip depends on what kind of shot you have to hit. I like the idea of maximum ground time and minimum air time. For a close shot from just oďŹ&#x20AC; the putting surface, use a pitching wedge.

For a 30-yard shot with lots of green to work with, try a 7- or 8-iron.

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/KD@RD BNMS@BS NQ DL@HK DLHQ@SDR@B@CDLX CTA@HFNKE BNL VVV CTA@HFNKE BNL

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INSTRUCTION Martin Gallagher

Golf Professional the track, meydan golf

DON’T HIT UP ON YOUR CHIP SHOTS

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THE FAULT The most common error made by the average golfer when chipping is the tendency to try and hit up on the ball in order to get height, which creates a topped shot hit with the blade of the club. This typically occurs when the weight is placed on the right foot at address.

BY- Bryan Smyth, Golf Professional at Emirates Golf Club

THE FIX The solution is to address the club with the hands ahead of the ball and the weight leaning towards the target. The key is to maintain the weight firmly on the left side which creates a descending movement on the ball leaving the loft of the club to determine the ball flight and not the hands â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thus leading to a more consistent  shot.

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INSTRUCTION wayne johnson DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION P.G.A. jumeirah golf estates

MAXIMIZE DISTANCE WITH YOUR DRIVE

Athletic posture: – Make sure to set up with a good posture to allow the body to work in the correct sequence during the swing.

– Spine angle tilted slightly forward / knees comfortably flexed.

– Body in a ready position!

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The key to maximizing distance from the tee is to develop a sound posture combined with a wide swing arc and powerful lower body rotation in order to drive the ball further.

Here we look at several key fundamentals!

BY- Bryan Smyth, Golf Professional at Emirates Club Tour Championship Home of theGolf DP World

Turn shoulders behind the ball maintaining flex in the right knee to maximize power!

– Ball positioned opposite your shirt logo.

– Ball height half above and below the club face.

– Spine angle tilted slightly to the right to maximize launch angle and provide penetrating ball flight.

– Weight 70%–30% on the right side.

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INSTRUCTION BY- Bryan Smyth,Home Golf Professional at Emirates of the DP World Tour Championship wayne johnson DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION P.G.A. jumeirah golf estates

Balanced finish – body fully rotated facing the target!

Left shoulder turns fully behind the ball, arm swing finishes with the completion of the turn.

Minimal hip rotation with the backswing to store energy for the downswing transition.

”Wide swing arc combined with lower body rotation on the downswing maximizes power in the swing.”

To watch the video go to Facebook/WorldwideGolf and go to the video section.

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INSTRUCTION By: Ross MCARTHUR

PGA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL

AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB

MASTERING THE WIND The 18th hole at Al Hamra is a long par 5 with the Arabian Gulf running all the way up the right of the hole from tee to green. This hole always plays into the prevailing wind often making the tee shot a daunting task. Here are a few tips to help keep the ball flight down, under the wind to maximize distance in the conditions.

1 TEE THE BALL LOWER With a normal drive I like to see around a quarter to a third of the ball above the clubface on the tee peg, however, to promote a lower flight, tee the ball down lower so that the whole ball is within the face of the club.

2

CHANGE STANCE AND BALL POSITION A solid base is required when it is windy so widen the stance slightly. Just a little wider than the shoulders is a good position giving you better stability and balance.

Also move the ball back an inch or two in the stance. We usually look to hit the driver on the upswing, staying behind the ball at impact, however into the wind this will lose us distance. Positioning the ball further back will encourage us to stay more in line with the ball at impact, not behind it

3

SWING EASY The habit when playing into a strong wind is to hit the ball harder thinking you need more distance. This, however, has the opposite effect. The harder you hit the golf ball the more backspin you put on it thus sending it higher and higher into the air. So the natural instinct to hit harder into the wind actually loses us distance. Try to hit the ball at about 80% of your power this will reduce the spin rate on the ball keeping the flight down and most of all keeping you in control. The result should be a nice straight drive that has stayed under the wind.

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53

TOPGEAR

Golf House is the leading golf retailer in the Middle East

By: Alex Gallemore

Titleist

712 UTILITY IRON Delivering shot control for high speed golfers.

Most of us have embraced the hybrid and the flexibility they bring, or should I say comfort from those places we need a boost as the look of the three iron fills our hearts with fear!

The hybrid was developed as a game improvement club but the guys at Titleist have just launched the custom ďŹ t 712U for tour players and leading amateurs that need feel, control and workability. Not the same brief as our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rescueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; club or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;conďŹ denceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stick.

The Titleist 712U is a forged utility iron that provides high speed, traditional blade iron players with improved playability and shot control. Engineered with a deep centre of gravity (CG) position for a higher moment of

inertia (MOI), Titleist 712U delivers increased eased stability and playability versus a traditional onal ajectory long iron while providing enhanced trajectory and spin control versus a hybrid.

A result of extensive research and tourourplayer testing conducted by the Titleistt Golf Club R&D team, 712U features a wider camber sole design that promotes clean an turf interaction and is eďŹ&#x20AC;ective for a variety of attack angles, making the club more versatile when trying to hit high or low shots. 712U also uses a tapered-tip iron shaft for additional trajectory control.

First introduced on the PGA Tour late last year, 712U is already the most played utility iron model on the PGA Tour through the ďŹ rst

Colours: White/Black; White/Lime; White/Orange, Black/ Charcoal & White/Charcoal (cleated); White/White; White/Navy; Charcoal/ Black; White/Silver as well as a mesh version in Blue/ Grey (spikeless).

14 events of the 2013 season. 712U models can currently be found in the bags of tour pro pros like Adam Scott (2-iron), Tim Clark (4(4-iron) and GeoďŹ&#x20AC; Ogilvy (2-iron) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; players wh who prefer a utility iron over a hybrid as an alte alternative to traditional long irons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the look of hybrids, but the 71 712U (2-iron) looks great at address,â&#x20AC;? said Ogilvy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a bit stronger than a 2-iron, it goes farther than a 2-iron and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to hit.

It feels great, performs how I need it to, and I like having it in my bag.â&#x20AC;?

The 712U has a traditional proďŹ le with a rounded back design that is preferred in the address position over cavity back long irons with more oďŹ&#x20AC;set. www.wwgolf.biz

55

TEST PILOTS: HYBRIDS

Golf House is the leading golf retailer in the Middle East

HYBRIDS PUT TO THE TEST

56

David Minchin

Mick Martin

Handicap: 6

Handicap: 9

Hybrid currenly in the bag: TaylorMade Rescue

Hybrid currenly in the bag: Titleist 913H

Verdict: PING G25

Verdict: PING G25

The clubs weren’t identical in lofts and shafts but it was great to see what the ‘off the shelf ‘differences were. Straight away I was feeling confident with the Titleist and Ping G25. Both had a strong ball flight and were the most consistent even with off-centre strikes. The TaylorMade RBZ was consistent and long but the noise was just too much. By the end of the test the Callaway XHot was growing on me and with the right shaft and loft combination it could have been my first choice. But I gelled with the Ping G25 instantly and would probably add one to my bag, albeit with a slightly stiffer shaft.

It was great to test the clubs and hit them back-to-back. I rarely get the opportunity to test the different brands at the same time and it was an eye opener. I’m a big Titliest fan and actually have a 913H in my bag at the moment, so I thought this test was going to be very straightforward. But I was amazed by the reliability and distance of the Ping G25. No matter how bad the strike was, the flight was still strong and didn’t stray far from the target. The Titleist was my second choice as the feel of the face was still the best but surprisingly not the most constistent. The TayorMade RBZ was the loudest in more ways than one.

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Worldwide Golf would like to thank The Address Montgomerie Dubai for use of the facilities for the hybrid test.

www.themontgomerie.com

TECHNOLOGY

TITLEIST

913H

The Titleist 913H hybrid utility club is not really one club but a series of clubs designed to produce a certain ball flight. The head of the 913H is pretty similar on the outside to the previous 910H, with maybe a little bit taken off the toe of the club when you look from above.

Most of the changes are on the inside of the 117cc head – the centre of gravity moves forward as you go up the lofts to try and get the ideal launch and spin conditions to get the ball going forward, but also high enough to land properly on the green.

Certainly, when we put then 913H through its paces, the flight was very consistent and well suited to better players. The other change you will see at address is the shorter and smaller SureFit Tour hosel that enables the loft and lie of the club to be adjusted to suit your game. Titleist seem to have given this range of hybrids a lot of tho thought in terms of the lofts and set ups as you go from 17 to 27 degrees. If you play multiple hybrids then we feel fee that the various 913H lofts will complement each other very well.

+ + + + + TECHNOLOGY

TAYLORMADE

RBZ

The second generation TaylorMade RocketBallz Stage 2 Rescue hybrid club features a new high-strength RocketSteel construction, new Thick Thin crown design and upgraded head shape, graphics and aerodynamics.

The big improvement is the wider, deeper Speed Pocket that enables the face to flex at impact for more ball speed.

The RocketBallz Stage 2 Rescue’s new lower profile, shallow face and low CG (centre of gravity) combine to make the second generation RocketBallz easier to launch and even more playable.

These clubs are long but the shaft length is half an inch longer than the rest on test – and you could feel the difference. The club has great adjustability but the one thing that everyone commented on is; it’s just too loud!

The shallow face and thick crown have given the club and ear thumping sound effect. If TaylorMade could just tone the noise down it would have been right up there at towards the top of the test.

+ + + + + TECHNOLOGY

PING

G25

The Ping G25 hybrid breaks the mould of recent G hybrids. Gone are the driving iron looks. We accept that the previous style wasn’t much of a looker, but the G15 and G20 hybrids were excellent clubs that were easy to hit with a solid mid-to-high flight. The Ping G25 hybrid reverts to a more wood style head and looks spookily similar to the Ping Anser hybrid, which is not a bad thing.

Like the Anser, the G25 features a generous face that’s a little more square in shape to widen the hitting area in the heel and toe. Right across the face, the G25 is very forgiving and feels excellent.

The forgiveness is such that it’s quite hard to shape the ball left and right. The G25 just loves to go straight and the flight was a little lower than the G20 hybrid with a much stronger, more penetrating trajectory.

The Ping G25 hybrid was a joy to hit and whilst it is aimed at mid handicappers, the performance and flight would also suit everyone down to low single figure players too. A great club.

TECHNOLOGY

CALLAWAY

XHOT

+ + + + +

The Callaway X Hot hybrid has a familiar look to it, but it contains a lot of new technology. Foremost is the Speed Frame face that allows a hot steel face insert to be welded onto the face frame for faster ball speeds.

Certainly the face felt a little hotter at impact as the ball flew relatively high, but with quite a penetrating flight.

The ball speed was higher than previous models so Callaway have delivered here.

The X Hot utility is aimed at mid-to-high handicappers and the offset on the hosel is reasonably large which will help with the forgiveness. The start of the face did seem a long way from the hosel though and the gap took a bit of getting used to. At address the head looked very clean and there was no alignment aid which may concern some.

One of the other aspects to the increased speed is the weight of the X Hot utility. Callaway have added a nice light Project X Velocity shaft that is excellent quality and very stable without being too stiff or heavy.

+ + + + + TECHNOLOGY

PING

The Anser is a great alternative to the previous i20 hybrid and as it has a 5% larger head and 3% larger face. It was designed to feel more like a wood compared to the i20.

The Ping Anser hybrid doesn’t feature the adjustable hosel of the driver and fairway wood because the 0.5 degree increments don’t have a big enough effect in the hybrid size of head to make it worthwhile. Instead the internal and external weightings vary in each club to get the optimum trajectory. The Anser also sits a little squarer at address thanks to a more neutral set up and we think this is an improvement.

The only problem has been the launch of the G25! The issues that previously put players off the i20 have been altered and it’s arguably become a better option at a lower price point to the Anser.

ANSER + + + + + www.wwgolf.biz

57

Traveller WORLDWIDE GOLF

Mazagan Beach Resort – El Jadida, Casablanca, Morocco

PLAY IT AGAIN SAM! By: Richard Bevan

MOROCCO is a sleeping giant of a golfing destination with a multitude of world class courses and resorts springing up all over the country in recent years. The huge investment in facilities is paying dividends with the North African country hosting the Trophy Hassan II on The European Tour for the first time at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat in 2010 before moving to its current home, Golf du Palais Royal in Agadir in 2011. There’s a been an influx of talented Moroccan players playing on the MENA Tour and this year’s Tour began with two events in the country – at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam and Royal Golf D’Anfa-Mohammedia. Of particular interest is the area around Casablanca, where Emirates Airlines fly direct flights daily, making it an ideal holiday destination for Middle East golfers. I recently visited one of the shining new stars of the Moroccan golf scene, the majestic Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort.

58

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www.mazaganbeachresort.com

T

HE first impression driving up to this palatial property situated an hour south of Casablanca is ‘Wow’. The place is huge. Built on a 250 hectare stretch of undeveloped land, along a 7-kilometre of sandy beach, the 5-star resort, with its Moorish inspired hotel at its heart, sparkles among the arid landscape of El Jadida. Nothing has been left out of this self-contained luxurious haven created by Kerzner International, the company behind Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm. You could easily bring the family here for a fortnight and never be bored – in fact, the King of Saudi purportedly hired out the whole hotel for 40 days and 40 nights.

The resort features 500 rooms and suites, 67 villas, 11 bars and restaurants, three kids clubs, a huge games room, a cinema, tennis courts, go-kart track, football pitches, quad biking, equestrian centre, a huge spa and Hammam…. (deep breath)…a nightclub, a casino, a conference centre and much more besides.

But the star of the show is the Gary Player designed championship golf course. Player and Kerzner have previously worked together on the renowned Sun City development in South Africa and in Mazagan the magic formula seems to have worked again. The beautiful par-72 7,484 yard 18-hole layout spreads out along 3km of coastline amidst an area of stunning natural, rugged beauty which Player set out and succeeded in preserving with his design.

“I knew we were in for a treat when I walked the site before construction. The natural dunes and vegetation were just made for a links-style golf course with a spectacular series of ocean-front holes” said Player.

The day that we were due to take to the course began with an overcast and somewhat blustery morning, and looking out of the window from my sea view room at the wide fairways and cavernous dunes, framed by tangled sea grasses and thorn bushes, with the raging tide sweeping up the sandy beach, I almost forgot that I was in Morocco and not Scotland!

Prior to play I had a lesson with the Delta team at the impressive Academy facility, which, like the rest of the golf club, is run by Troon Golf, and the company’s assured stamp is evident throughout. I’m never sure if it’s a good idea to have someone point out my many faults and give me new swing thoughts prior to going out and playing but Delta, sprearheaded by former European Tour pro Olivier Edmund, has a slightly different way of doing things. Their approach focuses on teaching you to recognise what is natural and comfortable for your own swing, rather than trying to fit into a ‘one size fits all’ technique. With just a couple of simple tests the instructors had revealed the natural positioning of my weight during set up was further back in the feet than the perceived norm, and the grip on my right hand should be firmer too. Who knew?

I set off to the course 100% confident that with my newfound

‘bespoke’ set up I was going shoot the lights out. However, my optimism turned to despair shortly after teeing off on the par-4 first where an errant approach shot led to my first introduction to the infamous purple sea fig plant. Golfers familiar with Arizona’s ice plant will have a good idea of what to expect with this naughty little creation. It occurs naturally in the local area and Player was keen to use as much of it as possible on the course. To say it adds an ‘extra challenge’ is something of an understatement so be warned – keep the ball in play, and you’ll be happy, particularly with those wide, forgiving fairways. But stray off target and you’re in deep trouble. After finally hacking my way out of the rough, I got the ball on the green and after such an ordeal, what a treat it was to play on such perfect putting surfaces. Troon have done a wonderful job in creating and maintaining world-class greens to rival those they’ve developed at the likes of Kapalua in Hawaii or Turnberry in Scotland. The course uses salt-resistant paspalum grasses which, as well as making for sumptuous fairways, are perfect for creating tabletop greens which run relentlessly true.

Half an hour after beginning our round, the heavens opened and the rain, which had been threatening all day, came down in buckets. Now it really was like playing a Scottish links in all its gnarly glory.

When the wind gets up Mazagan can be a real tough proposition, even for half decent players, so I had no chance! The first few holes wind inland through the resort’s huge residential villas but it’s the ones leading back down to the Atlantic and particularly Nos 8, 9, 15, 16 and 18, which flank the shoreline, which really take the breath away. The views are simply stunning. Just as we were teeing up on the first of these magical holes, the eighth, the sun finally started to shine and the course took on a completely different look and feel. Now we were really having fun and by the time we’d completed the beautiful long closing hole, we wanted to go round again! After play I visited the huge spa, which has some 19 rooms offering just about every treatment you could imagine, including the signature Moroccan Hammam. I opted for a soothing massage to ease away the aches and pains of a most enjoyable day on the course.

Food lovers will not be disappointed by Mazagan – we ate at dinner at the Moroccan Moranja, and the seafood specialist Sel de Mer, with lunch on the sun-kissed terrace at Olives and breakfast at the bustling Market Place. The range and quality of food at each was outstanding. I also played the nearby Royal Golf El Jadida course which combines parkland with links holes. It’s much older than its illustrious neighbour and while a lick of paint here and there certainly wouldn’t go amiss, it’s still definitely worth a visit during a trip to the area.

But as for the spectacular course at the imperious Mazagan Beach Resort, I have a feeling that most people who visit this burgeoning tourist destination will follow Humphrey Bogart’s advice from the film that made Casablanca famous, to: ‘Play it again Sam!’ Q www.wwgolf.biz

59

HYDROTURF providing golf and landscape WITH 18 years valuablein experience in water management in the Middle East andFlowtronex having Hydroturf was created 1995, some 18 years ago to provide and service tackled all manner of water-related situations during that time, Hydroturf International has Pumps, TORO irrigation products, TORO turf machinery and Club Cars to most of the created the ideal opportunity to explain in detail the wide variety of services it can provide by countries Middle East. organisingina the seminar at the Radisson Blu in Riyadh, on Wednesday, May 15th.

Hydroturf was created in 1995 to provide and service Flowtronex Pumps, TORO irrigation products, TORO turf machinery Clubthroughout Cars throughout the Middle East. in Hydroturf now Hydroturf now services 60 golfand clubs the Gulf and Egypt addition to services 60products golf clubsto infootball the Gulf States Egypt in addition to supplying a wide variety of supplying fields, and sports grounds, landscaping contractors, SURGXFWV IRU IRRWEDOO Ă&#x20AC;HOGV VSRUWV JURXQGV ODQGVFDSLQJ FRQWUDFWRUV UHVLGHQWLDO FXVWRPHUV residential customers and municipalities. and municipalities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are pleased to be launching our water products into the Saudi Arabian market with

" the We May are now launching our water products into the Saudi Arabian market with 15th VHPLQDU DW WKH 5DGLVVRQ %OX LQ 5L\DGK Âľ VD\V +\GURWXUI¡V 0DQDJLQJ 3DUWQHU Colin Baxter. has already supplied Flowtronex and TORO irrigation the May 15thâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Hydroturf seminar at the Radisson Blu in Riyadh." pumps states Hydroturf's V\VWHPV WR 6DXGL FXVWRPHUV VXFK DV WKH 'LUDE *ROI &OXE QHDU 5L\DGK DQG (PDDU¡V .$(& managing partner Colin Baxter. th

in Jeddah. But the May 15 seminar will kick start a more comprehensive Hydroturf service to Saudi customers. " Hydroturf has already supplied Flowtronex pumps and TORO irrigation systems to ´$V H[SHUWV LQ WKH EXVLQHVV RI ZDWHU HIĂ&#x20AC;FLHQF\ DQG ZDWHU PDQDJHPHQW ZH DUH UHOLVKLQJ Saudi customers likeable thetoDirab golf near Riyadh, thetoEmaarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s KAEC Jeddah the chance of being explain thecourse many options available companies andin individuals LQ WKH .LQJGRP RI 6DXGL $UDELD Âľ DGGHG &ROLQ %D[WHU etc.

But the 15th May seminar will kick start a more comprehensive Hydroturf

Colin Baxter, MBA, FCMA

service to Saudi customers.

Managing Partner, HYDROTURF â&#x20AC;&#x153;A GOLF the summer "A golfCOURSE courseduring in summer months can consume more than two can consume over million million gallons of water per two day! The latest TORO products have the potential to gallons ofconsumption water perbyday!

The reduce water more than 20%, which provides a huge cost saving latest TORO products have the and also helps protect the environment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Similar savings can be achieved potential to reduce wateron TQPSUT mFMET QBSLT SFTJEFODFT oBOZXIFSF consumption grass is a feature. by more than i5IJT NFBOT UIBU XBUFS FGmDJFODZ JT UIF 20%, which provides a huge LFZ *U T OPU POMZ UIF DPTU PG XBUFS UIBU T JNQPSUBOU JU T IPX ZPV VTF JU cost saving and also helps i*U T BMTP WJUBM UP VOEFSTUBOE IPX UP VTF protect environment. clean water the with high salt-water and how to best combine methods of administering Similar savings can be JU CZ UIF VTF PG TQSJOLMFST NPCJMF JSSJHBUJPO equipment andon dripsports systems.fields, Where clean achieved water has to be used for plants and palms parks, salt water residences can be used foretc. grass.â&#x20AC;?

Come toof introducing what the specialists have say The seminarand on 15thlisten May is a way ourselves to potential customers suchto as golf courses, sports fields, consultants, municipalities etc toBlu, help them their27water consumption levels.throughout the Gulf States; AVAILABLE at the seminar at Radisson Riyadh, onsignificantly May 15th from reduce services golf course pumping stations DP WR SP D QXPEHU RI VSHFLDOLVWV LQ WKHLU YDULRXV Ă&#x20AC;HOGV ZLOO DOVR World renowned golf course architect Peter Harradine who has Joining TORO and Hydroturf at the seminar will be Dr. Riaz Ahmed discussing waterinwell drilling, Lonappan EH MRLQLQJ +\GURWXUI¡V 0DQDJLQJ 3DUWQHU &ROLQ %D[WHU LQFOXGLQJ 'U designed numerous Saudi golf courses the Middle EastShaju and worldwide; on pumping stations, Peter Harradine discussing golf course design and Mark Chapleski on golf course and sports 5LD] $KPHG 6DKL IURP 6DXGL $UDELD¡V Ă&#x20AC;UVW SULYDWH ZDWHU ZHOO GULOOLQJ 0DUN &KDSOHVNL RI 7URRQ *ROI WKH ZRUOG¡V ODUJHVW JROI FRXUVH company; Lonappan, from Hydroturf, who has installed and management company; Andreas Feichtinger from the TORO company. facilitiesShaju management " stated Baxter.

60

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water products in Saudi Arabia Peter Harradine,

Water Management Seminar for Golf, Landscaping & MunicipaliƟes Wed 15-May-2013 Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh 9am – 5pm

HARRADINE GOLF Renowned designer of golf courses throughout the World.

Mark Chapleski TROON GOLF The Worlds largest golf course management company

Are you in the Saudi grass golf course business ?

Are you in the Saudi grass sports Įeld business ?

Andreas FeichƟnger ,

Would you like to reduce your water consumpƟon whilst improving your turf quality ?

AƩending our Water Management Seminar on 15th May could be your Įrst step in achieving this .

The TORO Co. Global market leading supplier of irrigaƟon products.

Dr. Riaz Ahmed Sahi, Saudi Arabia’s Įrst commercial water well drilling company Established in 1958

Shaju Lonappan

Contact us at oĸce@hydroturĮnternaƟonal.com AƩendance by invitaƟon only.

HYDROTURF Installed, commissioned and services pumping staƟons on 27 golf courses in the Gulf plus other pump staƟons in parks, football Įelds, municipaliƟes etc.

Supported by :

Saudi Arabian Golf FederaƟon

FaciliƟes Management

Pumping Systems

IrrigaƟon Systems www.wwgolf.biz

61

13th May â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20th May 2013 Stella attracts more star players as Egyptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest golf event continues to drive forward This month sees the 4th year of the Stella Di Mare International Pro-Am, a star-studded event that attracts European Tour, Senior Tour DQG &KDOOHQJH 7RXU SOD\HUV 5HFRJQLVHG DV WKH SUHPLHUH JROĂ&#x20AC;QJ HYHQW LQ (J\SW WKH 6WHOOD GL 0DUH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 3UR $P QRW RQO\ boasts big names on the trophy, but also offers a prize-fund of over $40,000.

After the successes of the previous champions and competitors, the Stella di Mare International Pro-Am has become the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pre-Season Good Luck Charmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for many players, none quite as emphatically as Roger Chapman, who last year became a double Major champion shortly after playing in the event.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event includes a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Paul Broadhurst Short Game Clinicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; where the six-time European Tour winner and ex-Ryder Cup player will put his short game skills on show to entertain the amateur competitors and guests. A superb Gala Dinner, Prize Presentation and Âś$IWHU 3DUW\¡ ZLOO Ă&#x20AC;QLVK WKH ZHHN RII LQ VW\OH LQ WKLV IXQ Ă&#x20AC;OOHG WRXUQDPHQW

Clinton Norris (Golf & Hotel Sales Manager) and Chris Geraghty (Head Golf Professional) are driving the Stella success story. Away from the International Pro-Am, Norris is bringing tourism back to the Red Sea shores of Egypt. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We saw a large increase this season compared to last season DIWHU WKH $UDE 6SULQJ KLW XV Âľ KH VD\V ´,¡P FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQW QH[W VHDVRQ ZLOO EH RXU EXVLHVW LQ WHUPV RI WRXULVW URXQGV DQG WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 3UR $P RQO\ EDFNV our belief that our product here is equal to any in the region. We now offer three golf courses in our packages which is vital as the majority of travelling golfers choose destinations with more than one course. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky that developers in Egypt are continuing to build residential complexes with golf courses within them â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by 2015, Egypt will possess over 20 golf courses.â&#x20AC;? ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR EULQJLQJ WKH WRXULVW JROIHUV LQWR WKH FRXQWU\ WR Ă&#x20AC;OO WKH &KDPSLRQVKLS FRXUVHV *HUDJKW\ LV YHU\ DFWLYH LQ GHYHORSLQJ WKH JDPH DW grass roots level. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fundamental for us to increase the number of Egyptian Nationals playing golf,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The school children are the future of golf here so we must do our bit to get them hooked on the game.â&#x20AC;? As well as going into the schools, Chris is also taking golf to the beach. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every weekend we have hundreds of children at the beach,â&#x20AC;? he continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We offered free â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;try golfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sessions, trick shot shows and even hotel discounts as an incentive for them to come. We came to realise that if we wanted them to try golf, we had to go to them!â&#x20AC;?

Stella di Mare Hotels & Resorts boasts 5* hotel complexes in Ain Sokhna and Sharm el Sheikh as well as residential resorts on the Mediterranean Coast and Hurghada with more to follow.

Stella di Mare Golf & Country Club is located just over an hour away from the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital, Cairo and based on the banks of the Red Sea. Stella offers the perfect escape for a beach, sun, golf, spa and culture holiday with the famous Giza pyramids only a two-hour drive away.

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www.stelladimaregolf.com

LOCAL NEWS

ARABIANGOLF

May’s selection of local news 64 68 70 72 73 75 76 76 76 77 78 78

EMIRATES GOLF CLUB DUBAI CREEK GOLF & YACHT CLUB ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB ‘PIC ‘ GOLF SOCIETY LEAGUE, SHARJAH JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT & SPA THE TRACK, MEYDAN GOLF YAS LINKS GOLF CLUB AL AIN EQUESTRIAN SHOOTING & GOLF CLUB AL GHAZAL GOLF CLUB

79 79 81 81 82 83 83 83 84 85 86 87

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB AL BADIA GOLF CLUB AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB TOWER LINKS GOLF CLUB THE ROYAL GOLF CLUB, BAHRAIN GHALA VALLEY GOLF CLUB ALMOUJ GOLF THE WAVE, MUSCAT, OMAN MUSCAT HILLS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB DOHA GOLF CLUB DIRAB GOLF CLUB

ZANE SCOTLAND SIGNS UP WITH ‘GOLF IN DUBAI’ ENGLISHMAN Zane Scotland, the only ever multiple winner on the MENA Tour, has been appointed as a global brand ambassador of ‘golf in DUBAi’ as a result of his performances and popularity on the Tour.

The 30-year-old joins global stars such as Thomas Björn, Mark O’Meara, Jeev Milkha Singh, Laura Davies, Seung-Yul Noh and world famous coach Pete Cowen as representatives of ‘golf in Dubai’ and he’s delighted with the agreement.

“What ‘golf in DUBAi’ is doing for the overall development of golf, especially in the MENA region, is just awesome. It’s an honour to join their celebrated family of ambassadors,” said Scotland, who was born in Manchester and educated at The John Fisher School in Surrey. “golf in DUBAi is an old hand when it comes to promoting and organising world-class events like the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, and their experience is reflected on the MENA Golf Tour which has grown tremendously in popularity and stature in a short time.”

Scotland had a hugely successful amateur career which included becoming the youngest ever Englishman to qualify for The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999. He turned professional four years later but a series of niggling injuries undermined what promised to be a flourishing career.

He managed to secure his European Tour card in 2007 by finishing 96th on the Order of Merit but he suffered a wrist injury in 2008 which further affected his game. He took the MENA Tour route as a way of resurrecting his career and the decision paid dividends when he finished second on the Order of Merit last year. He is looking to go one

Zane Scotland is pictured with Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of ‘golf in DUBAi’. better this season after seizing the early initiative with an emphatic win at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open and a tied second at the Royal Golf D’Anfa Open, the opening two events on the 2013 schedule.

Welcoming Scotland to the ‘golf in DUBAi’ family, Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of golf in DUBAi, said: “Zane is a fine player whose on-course performance creates considerable excitement. Like everyone, we are really impressed by his outstanding golf talent, dedication and natural flair.

“Being young and successful, he could be the ideal role model for players on MENA Golf Tour which is basically aimed at providing emerging talent from the region, in particular, a platform to take their game to the next level.

“Zane is joining our team at an exciting time when we plan to further expand the MENA Golf Tour schedule by travelling to more countries in the region.”

SAEED & MOHAMMED AL NABOODAH GROUP MASTERS GOLF DAY A NEW tradition for the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group was celebrated on the opening day of the Masters tournament at Augusta National in Georgia, with the inaugural Al Naboodah Masters Golf Day at Dubai Creek.

A total of 84 invited guests from the Al Naboodah Construction Group, Al Naboodah Commercial Group and TransGulf Electro Mechanical played a best two-from-four Shamble Stableford event with one Senior Management hosting each team with three guests.

By the end of play it was the team of ‘Al Naboodah Construction 6’, led

by Mark Hunt with guests Barry Lewis, James Pollard and Nick Baker, who won with a score 95 points, one clear of the ‘Trans Gulf Electro Mechanical 5’ team of Parimal Karani with guests Graham Stanley, Hercu Viljoen and Brian McClure.

Finishing in third place with a 92-point haul was the ‘Trans Gulf Electro Mechanical 2’ team of Kuttan Malattiri, Anish Malattiri, Paul Sebial and Bernard Clemente.

As always with a Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group golf event, there was a charity beneficiary with money being raised by way of a prize draw and 100 per cent of the money raised (AED13,400) was donated to Red Crescent UAE.

The winning team is pictured with Al Naboodah Construction Group CEO, Gary Wells and Trans Gulf Electro Mechanical COO, Sekhar Reddy.

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EMIRATES GOLF CLUB www.dubaigolf.com

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25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED IN STYLE OVER THE MAJLIS A FIELD of over 150 members took to the Majlis to compete in a 5-man Scramble and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Emirates Golf Club.

The tournament seemed to inspire many teams to some stunning golf and coming out on top was the quintet of Connie Sayal, Shravan Khanna and Ashish, Chanchal and Nikhil Nanda as they signed for a gross 14-under-par 58 for a net score of 53.4 Taking second place with a net 56.6 from a gross 59 was the team of Dalip Tripathi, Rohit Amin, Jayshree Gupta, Rohit Gupta and Rashid Ali while in third was Maura and Frank Duggan, Paul Byrne, Saeed Fahim and Keith Prosser on 57.6.

The ‘Vice Captain’s Team’ of Dick Purchase, Barbara Head, Chris Purchase, Alan Main and Lorraine Main claimed fourth on 56.6 while in fifth place on 57.6 were Nishith Patel, Aaron Loats, Suresh Shewakramani, Tony Azoulay and Gurmukh Ghuldu.

The two Nearest the Pin prizes on offer were won by Juggie Brar and Veneet Mohan.

Club Captains Moshe Kohli and Glynic Hendry are pictured with the winning team.

Vice Captain Dick Purchase and Caetano Fernandes of Mashreq Gold are pictured with winner Abdulla Al Karam.

AL KARAM TRIUMPHS IN MASHREQ MEDAL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH FINE PERFORMANCE ABDULLA Al Karam recorded the best net score of the day in the third event of the ‘The Mashreq Medal Championship in Association with BMW’ after a fantastic net 5-under-par 67 saw him win both the overall prize and the Division ‘B’ title.

The 14-handicapper produced one of his best ever rounds over the Majlis to clinch his first Medal tournament at the club by a margin of three strokes.

Peter Pavy was runner-up to Al Karam in Division ‘B’ while in Division ‘C’ Nishith Patel topped the pile.

In Division ‘A’ Scratch League members Ross Hopwood and Paul Byrne figured strongly but it was Jignesh Sangani who won ahead of Byrne with Hopwood third. Hopwood did win the day’s gross prize thanks to his superb round of 70.

Hole 7 Top Tip

By David Adams , PGA Golf Professional Playing at only 186 yards from the back tee this is far from the longest of par 3 holes, however as it usually plays into the breeze the correct club selection is essential. Take one more club than you think and play for the heart of the green to leave you a good birdie opportunity.

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Champions Rayham Thomas and Jennifer Vincent are pictured with Lady Captain Glynis Hendry.

THOMAS AND VINCENT TRIUMPH IN THE EMIRATES JUNIOR OPEN DUBAI Creek member Rayhan Thomas took the Boy’s Junior Open crown last month with a fantastic level-par 72 while visiting player Jennifer Vincent won the Girls prize with an 86.

Vincent, who was visiting Dubai on holiday from Effingam Golf Club in the UK, recorded a stunning two on the ninth hole of the Faldo course on her way to victory.

Having never played the course before she was shocked to have won and she said afterwards that she is already looking forward to defending her title next year. Finishing second behind Vincent was Aashaka Desai from Dubai Creek with an 88 while the Boy’s runner-up was Parth Goel with a 77. In the net prizes Erik Hartzuiker won Division ‘A’ with a 72 while a 64 saw Adam Savage win Division ‘B’. The Girls net winner was Emily Siegel after she fired a 76.

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HARDY BERTUOL TRIUMPHS IN EMIRATES 25-HOLE OPEN LUIZ Bertuol combined superb golf with stamina to triumph in the first ever staging of a 25-hole open at Emirates Golf Club.

To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the club 132 competitors took on the challenge of the famous Majlis course and then seven holes of the back nine of the Faldo. The course measured a total yardage of 9,436 and a par of 100 and it

proved to be a stiff examination on a warm and humid afternoon.

Bertuol produced a 6-under-par round for a Stableford total of 56 points to win by one point from Zoff Khan with Vijay Devnani third on 54 points.

In the Ladies section Lisa Cadiz secured a one-point victory over Catherine Loos on 49 points while the overall gross winner on the day was Ray Downes with 55 points.

Carolyn Thompson receiving her winners prize from Academy Professional, Mark Bruce and Lady Captian, Glynis Hendry.

THOMPSON AND RICHARDSON WIN THE LADIES GREENSOMES CAROLYN Thompson and Jenny Richardson combined nicely to triumph in the Ladies Greensomes competition last month which was held over the Faldo course.

Their 2-under-par 38 Stableford point total included 11 pars, one of which was on the tough finishing hole. The duo of Caroline Jones and Naema Maya finished with the same total but lost out after a card countback. Finishing third with a tally of 35 was S.L Rim and Han Soon Shin.

KAPUR AND SETH STAR IN INDIAN INVITATIONAL SHARAT Seth and Manoj Kapur scored a magnificent 46 Stableford points over nine holes of the Faldo and nine of the Majlis to win the 21st edition of the Indian Invitational recently.

The duo were pushed all the way by Kutan Malattiri and Anish Malattiri who finished on the same score but lost a back-nine countback.

Nigel and Carolyn Thompson continued their superb form in mixed events with a 45-point tally to take third place overall.

Plenty of prizes were on offer and Group ‘A’, which was played over the front nines of the Majlis and Faldo, was dominated by Maggie Neil and Asgar Patel who combined brilliantly to card 45 points to clinch top prize

in that section. Charlie Stricklin and Sanjay Israni finished second on 43 with David Formas and Sandra Israni third on 41 points.

Group ‘B’, which was played over the two back nines, saw Anand Lakhiani and Nelly Amarnani triumph with 45 points, one clear of Jari Kolonen and Pentti Korjonen with Mathys and Sanchia Oberholster in third.

ARSHAD WINS ORIENT TRAVEL GOLF CHALLENGE WITH IMPRESSIVE TOTAL

Members of the winning team are pictured with Asim Arshad of Orient Travel.

ARSHAD Khan carded an impressive 40-point haul to win the Orient Travel Golf Challenge by two points from Bayer Khan over the Faldo course recently.

The team prize went to the group of Nanthavan Sukkhasantikul, Bayar Khan, Satnam Kaur and Abdul Moiz Khan as they combined well to score

82 points and win by two from Alex Andarakis, Shekar Reddy, Mohammed Darwish and Anil Kumar.

Reddy and Bayer Khan also won the Nearest the Pin prizes on holes 2 and 8 respectively while Soumaya Salem took both the Long Drive prize up for grabs on holes 5 and 16. www.wwgolf.biz

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KAPOOR CLINCHES CHAIRMAN’S CUP ANAND Kapoor signed for a 42-point Stableford haul over the Majlis to win the Chairman’s Cup, two points clear of Kevin Roy. Choon Park was one of three players to finish on 39 points and thanks to his excellent inward nine he picked up third place outright.

Division ‘A’ was won by scratch team player Paul Byrne after he secured a countback win over Stephen Jones with both players locked on 38 points while in Division ‘B’ there was another tie at the top with Nelly Amarnani defeating Anil Sobti in a countback to take the title.

Club Captain Moshe Kohli presents Anand Kapoor with the trophy.

VARRI AND AYRES MASTER THE HANKOOK GREENSOMES TREVOR Varri and Jenny Ayres produced some superb golf to win the Hankook Greensomes Championship last month as they followed a 69 over the Faldo with a 64.5 over the Majlis to win with a 10.5-under-par total of 133.5.

Taking second place were Choon Park and Han Soon Shin while Lorraine Main and Ian Scott took third place with Rena and Vipen Sethi in fourth.

The gross second was dominated by the Gupta family as Rohit Gupta partnered Vikram Tah and won the top prize with rounds of 73 and 77 for a 150 total with Jayshree Gupta and Raashid Ali second on 153 following rounds of 75 and 78.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the first hole in one in Hankook Greensomes history, achieved by Charlie Stricklin on the 11th hole of the Majlis.

Camel Trophy Champion Maura Duggan receives the trophy from Academy Professional Mark Bruce and Lady Captain Glynis Hendry.

DUGGAN DIGS IN FOR STELLAR WIN MAURA Duggan shot a fabulous 41 points around the Majlis course to win The Camel Trophy, one of the most prestigious titles on the Ladies calendar.

Taking the top spot in the Silver Division was Sanchia Oberholster with 40 points, one clear of Rosemary Turlik

while in the Bronze Division Ninu Smith took the title ahead of Sue Hopwood after a countback victory.

The Nearest the Pin prizes on holes 4 and 7 were won by Hiromi Ohashi and Carolyn Thompson respectively while Jenny Ayres won the Longest Drive prize.

GOOD SHOWING IN PAIRS STABLEFORD KISH Bandopadhyay and Arun Khehar combined perfectly to post 43 points and triumph in last month’s Pairs Betterball Stableford event sponsored by Nexus.

A field of 108 players took to the Majlis and Bandopadhyay and Khehar posted a superb round of 7-under gross for their Stableford total which secured them a one-point win over Gurmukh Ghuldu and Nishith Patel with Connie Sayal and Shravan Khanna taking third place with a haul of 41 points.

Also in the prizes were Chris Purchase and Ashish Nanda for their accuracy on the Nearest the Pin holes and Carolyn Thompson and Shravan Khanna for their Longest Drives. www.wwgolf.biz

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DUBAI CREEK GOLF AND YACHT CLUB www.dubaigolf.com

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LAKDAWALA GOES BACK TO BLACK THE annual Thomas Pink Dubai Creek Men’s Back to Black saw over 80 players battle it out for the prestigious title and coming out on top was the reigning Club Champion Bayhan Lakdawala who took the spoils with a superb score of 4-over-par 75.

As always for this event, and the only time it happens in the year, the course is set up from the very back tees – the black tees. This, along with tight pin positions and quick greens, would provide a tough challenge for the field and this year play was made even harder by gusty conditions.

After being presented his trophy Lakdawala said: “It is great to have won this prestigious event. I would like to say a big thank you the sponsors Thomas Pink along with all of the staff at the Creek for their efforts in making this event such a success. Also a thank you goes to my playing partners on the day, they made it a lot of fun.”

UAE National Team player Abdullah Al Musharrekh also put in a solid performance and finished runner-up with a 7-over-par 78 while Dubai Creek Vice Captain Tejan Fadlu-Deen beat fellow member Mark Williams into third place on a nine hole countback after the pair finished on 79.

Muhammad Afifi, Store Manager, Thomas Pink, Dubai Mall, winner Bayhan Lakdawala and Stephen Hubner, Head Golf Professional, Dubai Creek.

The Net Division was topped by Mandeep Vohra with a 68 with Janish Khurana taking second with a solid 70. One shot further back in third place was Mansour Khodjasteh.

Winner Rayhan Thomas is pictured with Head Pro Stephen Hubner and Golf Pro Craig Waddell after his victory.

THOMAS TAKES THE JUNIOR OPEN RAYHAN Thomas managed three birdies and just the one bogey as he won this year’s Junior Open with a 2-under-par score of 69, a magnificent seven strokes clear of the rest of the field.

Yas Links siblings Darren and Ronan Hall finished with solid scores of 76 and after a countback it was the younger of the two – Darren – who took second place outright thanks to his stronger finish.

After receiving his trophy Thomas commented: “I can’t thank my playing

partners enough for bearing with my occasional flashes of temper and also the golf club for such a lovely event in beautiful conditions. It was a great win against a strong field and I’m very happy.”

Junior Creek member Aashka Desai won the Girls’ title with a solid 85 while her fellow member Ashna Bhargava took the Net title with a 72.

The Boy’s Net Champion was EGF Member Frederick Wong as he scored a solid net 67, four clear of Matthew Laven.

SWORD TAKES IMPRESSIVE VICTORY EVELYN Sword was victorious at the recent Rotana Ladies Strokeplay thanks to a superb net 65 which sealed a three-shot victory over C.M Yuk. Finishing in third place, one shot back with a 69, was Creek regular Yuko Tsukiori. After play Dubai Creek Professional Craig Waddell presented Evelyn with the trophy and also her

winning prize of a spa trip to the ‘Zen Spa’ at Rayhaan Rotana.

“As a new member to the Creek, I have really enjoyed playing golf with the ladies and getting to know them better,” smiled Sword. “It has however taken me a while to get to grips with the course but with some practice and a little guidance from Craig, I’m delighted it all came together today!”

MAYA, LARM AND HOPWOOD TRIUMPH NAEMA Maya took the spoils in the Silver ‘A’ Division in the March Medal thanks to a net 70 from a gross 82 which also secured her the overall gross title. Taking the runner-up spot in the Net Division behind Maya was Nina Larm as she scored a 73 while topping the pile in the Silver ‘B’ Division was Nina Larm as she made 7 pars on her way to a best-of-the-day 66. The Bronze Division (hcp 24-42) was won by Sue Hopwood with a superb 67.

Pictured: Neama Maya receives her prize from Head academy professional Stephen Deane and Lady Captain Glynis Hendry.

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LOCAL NEWS CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 295 6000 E-mail: dcgyc@dubaigolf.com

DUBAI GOLF JUNIOR PROGRAMMES PROMOTE THE GAME AMONG UAE NATIONALS DUBAI Golf, which operates the award winning Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and Emirates Golf Club, is spearheading the growth of the sport among UAE nationals with its Junior Development Programmes alongside the Emirates Golf Federation.

The Junior Development Programmes are supporters of the UAE Junior team who won the recent GCC Championships held in Oman. A member of the winning team, Ahmed Al Budoor

was introduced to the game of golf and took lessons at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club Golf Academy.

Dubai Creek recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary and as part of the celebration it is bolstering its golf outreach with the aim of adding 100 UAE Nationals, both adults and children, to its coaching programmes.

“We want to encourage and nurture sport in the UAE and through The Academy at Dubai

Creek we aim to promote golf among the youth, which is greatly supported by the efforts of our team of experienced Golf Professionals as well as the Emirates Golf Federation,” said Mustafa Al Hashimi, General Manager of Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

Ahmed Al Budoor was awarded with membership at Dubai Creek following the team’s victory to help inspire existing and potential young golfers within the UAE. Left to right: Khalid Mubarak Al Shamsi (Secretary General, Emirates Golf Federation), Christopher May (Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Golf), Ahmed Al Budoor, Mustafa Al Hashimi (General Manager, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club) and Chris Vallender (UAE National team coach).

BISHOP WINS THE FIRST MASHREQ GOLD CUP IN ASSOCIATION WITH BMW THE opening edition of the Mashreq Gold Cup in association with BMW took place recently and coming out on top was Mark Bishop thanks to a superb net 66. The Mashreq Gold Cup consists of four events that will run throughout the season alongside the Mashreq Medal Championships, at both Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, and Emirates Golf Club.

The Mashreq Gold Cup will have its own Order of Merit standings, but points earned in Gold Cup events will also count towards the current Mashreq Medal Championship Order of Merit. This victory sees Bishop move to the top of the Order of Merit standings, overtaking Vanessa North who didn’t participate.

“It’s a great pleasure to win,” said Bishop. “I would like to say a big thank you to the sponsors along with the all of the staff at the Creek for all their hard work in making this great event so available to all us members. The course was fantastic once again, and the greens the better than ever, so another thank you to the golf course maintenance team for all of their hard work.”

Ishwar Jodha took the Men’s Division ‘A’ title with a fantastic 4-under-par net 67, five clear of Peter Stapleton and Mike Estafanous who took second and third place respectively after a countback.

Ramon Navea finished with a solid net 69 to take top spot in Men’s Division

Winner Mark Bishop is pictured with Stephen Hubner, Head Golf Professional, Dubai Creek and Club Captain George Horan.

‘B’, three ahead of Mitesh Desai while Nantivan Sukkhasantikul carded two birdies on the back nine to finish with a 1-under-par net 70 and take the Ladies Division title by five shots.

Current Men’s Amateur Open and Back to Black Open Champion Bayhan Lakdawala again showed some fine form as he carded five birdies in extremely tough conditions to take the best gross prize for a fantastic 2-under-par 69 while junior member Eshna Bhargava put in arguably the best performance of the day, as she made a superb net 63 to win the Junior Division by eight shots.

Hole 9 Top Tip

By Kenny Monaghan, PGA Golf Professional The 9th hole is a long, dog leg par 4 and a tee shot avoiding the bunkers to the right is essential. This will leave you with a long iron/hybrid approach into a narrow two-tiered green that is well protected on both sides with bunkers. Hitting the green in regulation does not guarantee an easy four due to the undulating green!

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ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB www.arabianranchesgolfclubdubai.com

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CAPTAINS DAY BRINGS OUT THE BEST IAN Stones put in a truly stellar performance to win the Men’s Division in this year’s Captain’s Day which was hosted by 2012/13 Club Captain Eddie Ramage.

With the course set up by Ramage to test the field Stones posted a superb total of 41 Stableford points in increasingly blustery conditions to win by two points from Peter Boland.

A total of 85 players teed it up and the secret to Stones’ success was to keep it simple. He began on the 15th hole and walked off less than impressed after taking a double bogey. From there on out he made sure he scored on every hole and carded nines of 21 and 20 to take the title.

Karen Evans topped the Ladies Division after she posted 35 points to win by one from playing partner Amanda Barrett.

Men’s Champion Ian Stones collects his prize from Club Captain Eddie Ramage and Lady Captain Anne Hainey.

The Winning pair Mark and Karen Evans are pictured alongside Sinead EL Sibai and Nick Bruwer from Dubai Duty Free.

EVANS DUO CROWNED DDF CHAMPIONS MARK and Karen Evans won the eighth annual Dubai Duty Free Greensomes Championship after combining for a gross 79 despite a rocky start.

The pair began on the par-4 fouth hole in the shotgun start and made three consecutive bogeys before steadying the ship to close out their front nine in 39 blows.

On a day with high winds and sand in the air scoring proved to be extremely tough and the pair navigated their inward nine well in 40 shots to seal victory in the Mixed Division by seven shots. The Mixed Net champions were Arlene Chicano and T.R Vijayan with a 73.

The Men’s Division was clinched by Bryan Banner and Edoardo Galeppini as they shot a superb gross

78 while the Men’s Net winners were Nigel Fenwick and Matthew Derrick with a 69. ““We had a wonderful event at the Arabian Ranches Golf Club and we take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the 8th Dubai Duty Free Greensomes,” said Colm McLoughlin, Dubai Duty Free Executive Director. “I look forward to seeing you all next year.”

GRAHAM AND CORGINI POWER TO VICTORY

Florence Corgini is pictured with Lady Captain Anne Hainey and La Veranda representative Rabih Adada.

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BILL Graham and Florence Corgini stormed to victory in their respective divisions in the inaugural La Veranda Outdoor Concepts & Designs Golf Day last month.

Graham took advantage of a perfect day for scoring as he compiled a magnificent total of 41 Stableford points

to win the Men’s Division by five points from Mark Evans who in turn took second place outright with a countback win over Saqib Mahmood. In the Ladies Division Corgini romped home with a 39 point tally thanks to nines of 17 and 22 for a comfortable three-point win over Sheila Alban.

LOCAL NEWS CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 366 3000 E-mail: info@arabianranchesgolf.ae

BURROW AND MCKELVEY CROWNED CLUB CHAMPIONS ADELE McKelvey wrapped up her sixth Ladies Club Championship title last month while Max Burrow successfully retained the Men’s Championship with some superb golf on display.

McKelvey was out to win back her title from 2012 winner Adrienne Fullerton and she laid out her intentions in the first round after opening with a 78. Fullerton was in contention but faded as the second day progressed and McKelvey sealed an eight-shot victory over her rival with an 80 for a 158 total.

Burrow found himself in a share of the lead with Dougie McLennan after day one and got off to a slow start on day two with two bogeys and a birdie in his opening four holes to drop behind. McLennan extended his lead to

two shots on hole 8 but then gave it back at the following hole meaning he was one clear of Burrow through the turn. Burrow the proceeded to bogey the 10th to reinstate McLennan’s two-shot advantage but on the 13th there was a two-shot swing with Burrow making birdie and McLennan making a bogey. With the momentum on his side Burrow played the closing five holes in 1-under-par and with McLennan stuttering with bogeys on holes 15, 16 and 17 Burrow sealed a four-stroke victory.

Valentin Teyssedre won the Junior Championship with a gross 74 while the Junior Net Title was won by Jordan Roberts with a 65. Steve Bennett was the winner of the Seniors Championship after he followed an opening 76 with an 80 for a 156 total.

Ladies Champion Adele McKelvey with Club Captains Eddie Ramage and Anne Hainey.

Max Burrow receives his trophy from Club Captains Eddie Ramage and Anne Hainey.

Steve Bennett receives his Seniors Championship trophy from Captains Eddie Ramage and Anne Hainey Club and Professional Malcolm Young.

Junior Champion Valentin Teyssedre celebrates his victory alongside Club Captains Eddie Ramage & Anne Hainey and Professional Malcolm Young

CUNNIFFE SEALS THE JUNIOR OPEN EOIN Cunniffe returned a superb gross level par 72 to win the 2013 Arabian Ranches Junior Open Golf Championship by two strokes from Rayhan Thomas.

Cunniffe, who plays off a handicap of 1, posted nines of 35 and 37 and made three birdies on holes 3, 8 and 13 on his way to victory. He was made to work hard for his 72 by the chasing Thomas, blustery conditions and some tricky pin positions. Taking third place with a 76 was Yoseph Dance.

The tournament attracted a field of 66 golfers from across the GCC with several players from Doha Golf Club making the trip to compete alongside the top Juniors in Dubai. In addition to the gross prizes there was a net prize in Division ‘A’ while Stableford was played in Division ‘B’ The Girl’s gross winner was Kavita Sehmi who matched Cunniffe’s score of 72 while the Girl’s Division ‘A’ champion was Eshna Bhargava who posted a stunning net 64 to win by three from Aashaka Desai.

Coming out on top in the Boy’s Division ‘A’ was Rohan Gupta after he downed James Sayer on a countback with the pair both in the clubhouse with a 72 while in Division ‘B’ Vincent Buehler took the spoils with a superb haul of 45 points.

Pictured left to right: Rishi Nair, Vincent Buehler, Eshna Bhargava, Aashaka Desai, Yoseph Dance, James Sayer, Eoin Cunniffe, Kavita Sehmi, Rayhan Thomas and Rohan Gupta. www.wwgolf.biz

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All the winners receive their trophies from Mohammed Taib of sponsors Malaysia Truly Asia and Club Captains Mel and Jacqui Stewart.

FISHER AND DUMOULIN DEFEND TOP TITLES IN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS IT WAS a familiar winner’s circle at this year’s Club Championships as Nathan Fisher and Claudette Dumoulin both successfully defended their titles after two days of exceptional play.

After day one in the Men’s division it was clear that the tournament would be a three-horse race between the three pre-tournament favourites – Fisher, Ricky Dominguez and Tim Collins.

Dominguez had set the early pace with a level-par 72 with Collins two back on 74 but the round of the day came from Fisher as he set a new amateur course record with his 69. The only other player to break 80 on a windy opening day was Hassan Yazdi.

On day two the leading trio went out together but things didn’t all go Fisher’s way as they had the previous day.

Colllins faltered around the turn but Dominguez hung on and after a

double-bogey on the penultimate hole by Fisher the pair were level on 2-over-par.

With the nerves jangling both players found the left rough off the tee and after their approach shots Fisher had the advantage as he was on the green with Dominguez in a greenside bunker. Dominguez splashed out to eight feet but Fisher piled on the pressure with his two-putt par from 40 feet.

Dominguez had a putt for par to force a play-off but it stayed high and confined him to second place on 3-over-par.

In the Ladies section Dumoulin continued her dominance after she built on her day one lead over Jacqui Stewart to win by three shots while in the Ladies Net competition it was Helana Cornish who topped the pile with rounds of 72 and 75 for a 147 total.

The Men’s Net winner was Mukti Rai with a 145 total after rounds of 72 and 73.

Winner Chang Shyh Perng with his prize.

PERNG IN HOT FORM

Moiz Khan (centre white shirt) is pictured alongside all the day’s winners and Citibank representative Mozghan Parham.

KHAN WINS THRILLING CITIBANK SHARJAH CUP ABDUL Moiz Khan won the third edition of the Citibank Sharjah Cup recently after a stunning play-off victory over Leon Gifford.

The pair were level on 67 Stableford points after two days of play and Khan kept his nerve in sudden-death to seal the victory.

The play-off, which took place on the 18th, began with Gifford finding the middle of the fairway off the tee 72

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and Khan finding the left hand rough.

From the rough Khan hit a brave 7-iron approach which looked to have found the top tier but didn’t quite have the legs and it trundled back down to the front of the green.

Both players received a shot on the hole which is stroke index 6 and with the pressure mounting Gifford pulled his approach into the drink. As a result Gifford failed to score and Stableford

points and Khan closed out to win his first Major title at SGSC in front of 40 spectators gathered around the green.

Gavin Reed took third place just a point behind the leaders while Chris Cornwall produced two fine gross scores of 34 and 29 to take the gross prize. Eighteen-year-old Serifa D’Souza won the ladies division with an untouchable 62 points.

CHANG Shyh Perng proved the hottest golfer in a very competitive tournament that saw over 30 golfers tee it up in search of last month’s ERL Stableford title.

Perng racked up an impressive 41 points with a very consistent back nine total of 21 which saw her win on a countback ahead of the fast-improving Helena Cornish.

Cornish was disappointed to miss out on the overall prize but did take solace in the fact that she won the Division ‘2’ title. The Division ‘1’ prize saw Salim Shaikh with a 36-point haul while the best gross score on the day went to John Gould as he won a countback ahead of Roy Holmes with both players locked on 30 points.

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PIC GOLF SOCIETY LEAGUE

The winning Dubai ExPutts team are pictured with the GSL trophy.

EXPUTTS 1 RETAIN THE TITLE AGAINST ALL ODDS THE Dubai ExPutts 1 team, led by Captain Phil Sharpe, won the fourth edition of the Professional Investment Consultants Golf Society League supported by BMW, SNTTA Travel and Worldwide Golf with stellar performances over the last four matches which undoubtedly warranted them retaining their title.

The team, which consisted of just six different players across the 16 matches played, stared an early exit in the face as early as the final round of league matches as they sat in third place with only the top two set to qualify for the knock out stages going into the final match.

However, they rolled up their sleeves and won back-to-back matches to set-up a quarter-final match with the Dubai Irish Golf Society. The ExPutts found themselves with their backs to the wall again, seven down with five to play in one match and four down with six to play in the other.

Miraculously they turned both matches around to win one and halve

the other to set up a semi-final against the Indian Expats Golf Society.

After a win and a loss each the two teams embarked on a sudden-death play-off which lasted an event-record seven holes before the ExPutts finally edged out their opponents.

The stage was set for a grand shootout between the ExPutts – who were on an undeniable roll – and the MasSin 1 Society who were captained

by Mohammed Firdaus.

The final was a closely fought tie with the ExPutts narrowly coming out on top 1up and 2&1 to successfully defend the title they won 12 months ago. At the presentation Vice Captain Mark Cunningham stood in for regular Captain Phil Sharpe who was best man at a wedding in the UK on the date of the fixture.

Cunningham heaped praise upon Sharpe and teammates Marc Edwards, Ian Larner and Richard Donaldson who had all showed tremendous resolve in the toughest of circumstances.

The Indian ExPatts took the third place overall after they won the third

The eight finalists and the third place play-off contestants flanked by GSL Captains & Sponsors before play begins. place match over the Rimausingha Golf Society with a sudden-death play-off while in the Captains and Sponsors Golf Day, which was held after the final, Sunny Ramadas (MasSin 2) scored 38 Stableford points, the gross equivalent of 72, to win the main individual prize. Mukti Rai (Nepalese Golf Society) and Trevor Jackson (KEGS 1) took second and third place respectively with 35 and 33 points.

Sharjah Golf & Shooting’s Club Director of Golf Martin Duff used the presentation as an opportunity to further thank the event patrons for their support and in particular thank the 24 Captains who, over the course of the season, put in a lot of effort to ensure their teams are represented by a full complement of players who

Sunny Ramadas collects his prize for winning the Captains & Sponsors day from Sai Ratten of SNTTA. played from fair handicaps.

The Golf Society League will run again from October and interested parties should contact Golf Business Development & Sales Executive Samjhana Lama on 06 5487777 or goflsales@golfandshootingshj.com as spaces are limited to just 24 teams with current teams taking priority.

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JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES www.jumeirahgolfestates.com

CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 375 999

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MUJARKECH SWOOPS FOR MEDAL VICTORY IN TESTING CONDITIONS HIGH winds and humid temperatures were some of the hurdles members were faced during last month’s Rivoli sponsored April Monthly Medal. Taking the honours in Division ‘B’ was Maiyan Mujarkech with a superb net 69 for a two-stroke win over Lars Nielson with Dean Stothard third o 72.

Aamer Zaidi took full advantage of his afternoon tee time as he fired a level-par 72 in calmer conditions to win Division ‘A’ by one from Jim Patla while Omer Iqbal Khan defied the testing conditions that met the early starters as he recorded a stunning 4-over-par gross 76 to win the gross prize.

In the Ladies Division Sun Le Rim kept up her good form with a net 72 to win by eight from Suad Ghalib.

SUN SHINES IN MARCH MEDAL SUN Le Rim won the Ladies Division with a card countback victory over Zuzana Pourova after both players had returned a creditable score of net 70 in tough conditions over the Fire Course.

Taking the honours in Division ‘A’ was Omer Iqbal Kham with a superb gross level-par 72 for a net 68 and a three-shot win over Nadeem Masud.

In the Gross Division, it was a game of two halves for winner Bilbo Perrot as he followed an outward 40 with a

TEAMWORK THE KEY TO VICTORY THE Earth course was presented in superb condition for last month’s Members and Guest event and coming out on top was the quartet of Adey El-Taweel, Mekki Abdulla, Yousif Abdulla and Mohammed Murad as they scored a superb combined net total of 131 to win.

A card countback was needed to separate second and third place and after a tense wait the team to clinch the silver medal position was Adam Sweeney, Tony Stafford, Dustin Goodman and John Morgan leaving Noorat Thongdee, Ian Storey, Yerbal

Galin and Margulan Siessembayer in third.

Morten Post won the Nearest the Pin prize on hole 6 while the Longest Drive and Straightest Drive challenges were won by Noorat Thongdee and Dustin Goodman respectively. With the tournament running alongside the Masters at Augusta there was a special ‘Masters Challenge’ on the par-3 17th where players attempted to skim their ball across the water and onto the green.

Only five players in the field managed to do it.

superb inward 33 to sign for an excellent 1-over-par 73.

Division ‘B’ was won by Brad Wylie by two strokes after he signed for a majestic net 63 to pip Dead Stothard to the title with Rolf Schilde taking third with a net 69.

BURKE AND WILLIAMSON EASE TO VICTORY WINDY conditions over the Earth course didn’t cause too much concern for the field in the March Members & Guest tournament and coming out on top with a stunning haul of 47 points was Alan Burke and his guest Mathew Williamson. The duo combined supremely well with halves of 23 and 24 to win by three from Ayaz Afridi and Nadir Mohammadi with Anne and Peter Bauer finishing on the same

score but in third place after losing the countback.

The Nearest the Pin prizes on holes 6 and 17 went to Nhoolat Thongdee and Simon Howells respectively while the Longest Drives were won by Andrew Hamson on hole 7 and Kari Stenman on hole 14.

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THE ADDRESS MONTGOMERIE DUBAI www.themontgomerie.com

CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 390 5600

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SHIN AND PALACA COMBINE WELL ALEX Palaca and Myoung Kyu Shin were crowned the 2013 Tradition Champions recently after two solid days of golf while Alan Salem and Blaine Gallent’s efforts were rewarded as they won Division ‘A’.

WOOLLER THE WINNER IN BMW STABLEFORD PHILLIP Wooller captured the Division ‘A’ title in last month’s BMW Stableford with an excellent score of 37 points while Mark Gillings secured the honours in Division ‘B’

with a 40-point haul. In the Ladies Division Frances Westwood and Veronique each won their respective divisions thanks to some excellent play.

JEBEL ALI GOLF RESORT & SPA www.meydangolf.com www.jebelali-international.com

CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 814 5555 E-mail: jagrs@jaihotels.com

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WAYNE WINS AS FIGME TURNS FIVE FILIPINO Golfers in the Middle East (FIGME) celebrated their fifth anniversary recently with a special Stableford tournament for their members and coming out on top with a haul of 38 points from his 21 handicap was Wayne Mark Elep.

In addition to the overall prize there were Divisional prizes and taking the spoils in the Platinum Division (hcp 0-13) was Usman Akbar after a countback victory over Rudy Laguna with both players locked on 33 points. Arnel Pabitu took third place with 29 points. The Gold Division (hcp 14-19) saw Jimmy Camero seal a one-point victory over Chris Burkill thanks to his total of 33 points while Burkill took second place outright after he defeated Roger Corpuz on a countback. In the Silver Division (hcp 20-28) the winner was decided by countback with S.G Nair pipping Pritam Mirchandani to the title courtesy of a better inward score while Clarence Fucum took third place.

THE TRACK, MEYDAN www.meydangolf.com www.meydangolf.com

CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 381 3733 E-mail: info@meydangolf.com

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USHAKOV CLINCHES THE MASTERS STABLEFORD NIKOLAI Ushakov won this year’s Masters Stableford competition after his score of 23 points was added to that of his Masters Tournament playing partner, Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen, to win with a 63 points total.

Players were drawn randomly with names from the competition in the final round at Augusta National and taking second place alongside his partner Bo Van Pelt was Curtis Hegge as they combined to score 61 points. Taking third place with a 59-point haul was Jose Mauel Silva Pelayo Jnr and Rickie Fowler. The Nearest the Pin winner on hole 6 was Ben Mulvaney while the Long Drive challenge was won by Paul Cooke on hole 9.

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ALHEMOUD CROWNED LADIES OPEN CHAMPION JULIA Alhemoud shot a solid gross 78 to win this year’s Ladies Open Championship by three shots from Kim Chiang.

The Net champion with a 73 was H.H Choi as she completed a two-stroke win over Sun Le Rim. Choi also took home the only Nearest the Pin prize of the day on hole 6 while Chiang took home the prize for hitting the Longest Drive down the ninth fairway.

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YasLinksGC

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Cadillac Medal winners with Club Captain Abdulla Al Marzooqi and Lady Captain Teresa Sheepwash.

HAWCZAK HANDLES THE STORM

Order of Merit winners Stephen Paul Burnell and William Royce are pictured with Steve Nash of Etihad Airways.

ROYCE ROLLS TO VICTORY IN ETIHAD OPEN WILLIAM Royce was crowned the overall Order of Merit winner in the Etihad Open Stableford series after he finished the campaign with an impressive haul of 386 points. Winning on the day in Division ‘A’ was Terry Rook as he scored 41 points with Royce in second place on 38 and Jim Baker third on 37.

In Division ‘B’ Sidon Tian took the spoils with a narrow countback win over Jacqueline Wood after both players had scored 37 points while Yvette Heywood scored 36 points for third place. The overall Order of Merit winner in Division ‘B’ was Stephen Paul Burnell as topped the pile with 297 points.

CAMPBELL PRODUCES THE GOODS LAST Month’s Member’s Ecco Challenge saw Elizabeth Campbell take the spoils after she pipped two players to the top spot after a card countback. Campbell, Mike Revell and Brain McClure all finish on the same score but it was Campbell’s

scoring over the back nine saw her take the title with Revell second and McClure third. In the Net category Anita Love took the honours ahead of John Thompson and Jacqueline Wood in second and third place respectively.

A SANDSTORM hit last month’s Cadillac Medal but Roman Hawczak coped admirably in the conditions to win with a superb gross 79.

Lora Al Marzooqi took the net honours with a cool 71, four strokes ahead of Sharon Hall who had to settle for second place. Not far behind in third with a 77 was Brain McClure.

Winner Emanual Ostojic (left) and third-placed Neil Heywood (right) are pictured with Yas Links PGA Pro Victoria Hassett.

OSTOJIC NO STRANGER TO WINNING EMANUEL Ostojic won the recent Men’s Tee Challenge with a score of 25 points but needed a countback to separate himself from second placed Alex Lapichino and third placed Neil Heywood. The format saw each player’s best 10 Stableford scores added together to form a total and in the end it was Ostojic’s strong finish over the last three holes that earned him the title.

AMERICA AND ASIA SEAL THE PHILLIPS CUP THE annual Phillips Cup, held in honour of Yas Links architect Kyle Phillips, was played recently with members divided up into two teams based on their nationality – American and Asia and the Rest of the World.

Reigning champions America and Asia were determined to keep a grip on the trophy and did so in solid fashion winning by two full points, 8½ – 6½. www.wwgolf.biz

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AL AIN EQUESTRIAN SHOOTING AND GOLF CLUB www.aesgc.com

CONTACT: Tel : +971 3 702 6400 E-mail: golf@aesgc.ae

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CUNNIFFE TAKES THE APRIL MEDAL

CUNNIFFE DOWNS HRINDA FOR FALDO SERIES MIDDLE EAST PLAY-OFF TRIUMPH EOIN Cunniffe won a sudden-death play-off with Jakub Hrinda to win the Faldo Series Middle East Championship at AESGC last month to earn his spot in the Grand Final.

With the pair locked on 142 after two rounds it was Cunniffe who prevailed on the first extra hole with a solid par four. Despite losing out to Cunniffe for the overall title,

Slovakian Hrinda did take home the Under-16s title to take his place in the Grand Final ahead of second-placed Rayhan Thomas.

The under 21s division was won by Zi Hao Su of China with a total of 150 with Ruairidh Mitchell finishing in second while the Girl’s Division was won by Laila Hrindova with a 147 total, three clear of Alison Muirhead.

AL GHAZAL GOLF CLUB www.alghazalgolf.com

EOIN Cunniffe warmed up for his Faldo Series Middle East win with a solid 73 in windy conditions to claim last month’s Monthly Medal.

His score was also good enough to win Division ‘A’ with James Doig taking second place in the division with a net 72 and Harry Van Wyk third on 74.

The best new score on the day came in Division ‘B’ where Alex Tinson topped the pile with a superb 67 to win by three from Anne McCarthy with Chris Sinden in third place with a net 71. Division ‘C’ was won by Mark Harrower with a net 72 with the husband and wife duo of Charmaine and Neville Bakker taking second and third respectively with scores of 73 and 74.

CONTACT: Tel : +971 2 575 5044 E-mail: golfclub@adhc.adac.ae

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SIEGEL AND BESTER CROWNED CLUB CHAMPIONS AFTER two days of sublime golf at Al Ghazal Daniel Siegel and Anina Bester were crowned the new Club Champions.

Siegel found himself with a one-shot lead over Vernon Whaanga heading into the final day and he wrapped up a comfortable six-stroke win after a fatal mistake by Whaange on the 17th.

Siegel signed for a second round 78 to follow his opening 81 and win 78

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Winners Daniel Siegel and Anina Bester are pictured with representatives of tournament sponsors Danat Hotels & Resorts and Club Captains Rupert Evans and Kate Davies. with a 159 total, clear of Whaanga on 165 with Mark Hayman in sixth on 166.

Bester won the Ladies division with a superb two-day total of 171, three

clear of Lizette Breytenbach with Angela Scurr third on 180. The Ladies Net prize went to Lady Captain Kate Davies as she compiled a 151 tally to win by four from Ming Brown with

Anette Rego third on 156. The Men’s Best net was clinched by Bob Malone with a 150 total, one shot clear of Ken Ritzal while a stroke further back in third place was Johan Friedmann.

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CROMBIE AND MUKHERJEE SAVOUR SUCCESS IN TOUGH CONDITIONS THE 13th staging of the HSBC Club Championship was beset by falling rain and heavy wind but that didn’t deter the full field and coming out on top, showing all his experience, was Alastair Crombie as he won his second Club Championship following victory in 2009.

Clinching the Ladies Club Championship crown was Paromita Mukherjee as she etched her name on the honours board for the first time.

Crombie posted two rounds of 79 and 75 to win by 10 strokes from defending champion Bilal Belaid while Mukherjee followed an 86 with an 89 to win by five from Lay Captain Muriel Gosselin.

The Men’s Division ‘A’ winner was Chris Rossmeisl while the Division ‘B’ champion was Inki Kim. The Ladies Net Winner was Debbie Betts and she was the only lady to break par with rounds of 71 and 72.

Hole 10. 582yd, par 5.

By Kim Boulden, Teaching Professional.

The 10th hole offers a great birdie chance if you find the fairway with your drive. The fairway bunkers need to be avoided if you are to go for the green in two while the only place to avoid missing the green is through the back as it slopes back to front, making chipping extremely difficult. The 10th is the easiest par-5 on the course and good play is often rewarded.

CONTACT: Tel : +971 2 557 8000 Email: info@sbgolfclub.ae

SAADIYAT BEACH GOLF CLUB www.sbgolfclub.ae

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SCHOOLS AND CLUBS LEAGUE FINAL A ROARING SUCCESS THE 2013 Abu Dhabi Schools and Clubs League (ADSCL) culminated at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club last month with over 50 junior golfers battling it out on Abu Dhabi’s stunning beachfront course.

The ADSCL is an initiative developed by Troon Golf Abu Dhabi in a bid to encourage more junior golfers to play competitively. The 2013 league, sponsored by Rosewood Abu Dhabi, teed off in November last year and has travelled through some of the UAE’s top clubs: Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club and Yas Links Abu Dhabi. It is the first-of-its-kind inter-club league to offer free tee-times to juniors.

First developed in 2011, the league is

spearheaded by Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s junior golf expert P-J Van Merch (pictured below right).

“Between Troon Golf Abu Dhabi and the other clubs, we realised that the number of juniors enrolled in coaching programmes stands at over 500, but surprisingly, the number of juniors competing on the course is only a fraction of this figure, so we started the league to encourage some healthy competition,” he said. “There are so many benefits that children gain from playing golf and the league promotes a culture of good sportsmanship, camaraderie and integrity. The kids get to enjoy playing golf with their friends at the best facilities in Abu Dhabi, and of course the delicious meals they indulge in after every event!

“We are also nurturing National junior golfers

enrolled in coaching to get them involved in playing competitively and get them ‘tournament ready.’ We will be sending out invitations to as many Arabic schools as possible to join our league as it continues to grow successfully.”

Luigi Romaniello, Managing Director, Rosewood Abu Dhabi comments: “For Rosewood Abu Dhabi, The Schools and Clubs League is a wonderful opportunity to connect with and give back to the local community. Golf is a sport that requires both strategic thinking and high levels of practice, and the League encourages juniors receiving lessons to take to the course and play golf in a competitive spirit. In addition to promoting a healthy lifestyle, this initiative cultivates the golf stars of tomorrow, which is very rewarding.”

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ABU DHABI CITY GOLF CLUB www.adcitygolf.com

@adcitygolf

CONTACT: Tel : +971 2 445 9600 Fax : +971 2 443 225

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SMITH AND SIEGLE SEAL THE PEUGEOT CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP IN STYLE ROBERT Smith and Emily Siegle were crowned the respective Men’s and Ladies Club Champions last month after they both posted two solid rounds in perfect conditions.

Smith took the Men’s title with a gross 150 total after he followed a gross 76 on day one with a 74 to seal the deal while Siegle shone on the opening day with an 84 and then posted a 98 for her winning total of 182. The Ladies Net champion was Carmen Hurdon with a

solid 152 while the Men’s Net winner was Tom Mason after he compiled rounds of 69 and 68 for a 137 total.

The men’s Division ‘A’ winner was Darren Hall after he compiled net rounds of 65 and 72 for a 135 total while the Division ‘B’ prize went to George McDonald with a 144 total after rounds of 73 and 71.

The Overall Stableford prize was clinched by Tim Langford after his total of 71 over the two days.

JUNIORS IMPRESS IN ROUND SEVEN A TOTAL of 45 youngsters teed it up in the seventh round of the Beach Rotana Junior League with players vying for a multitude of prizes.

In the eight-hole event Palash Chavan won the boys division with a score of 26 points while Chantal El Chaib won the girls’ with 17 points.

The three-hole competition saw Pallav Chavan take the spoils in the boys’ section by taking just 12 shots to complete the holes while Lara Al Chaib won the girls’ competition with 18 shots.

The two-hole competition saw Nicholas Otereoas take the prize after taking 15 shots to hole out.

AL BADIA GOLF CLUB www.albadiagolfclub.ae

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CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 601 0101

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Club Champion Steve Kelshaw is pictured with Club Captain, Tony Billingham and Golf Operations Manager, Tim Neil.

Club Captain Tony Billingham and Golf Operations Manager Tim Neil present the new Ladies Club Champion Michelle Hibert with her trophy.

FAST FINISHING KELSHAW DEFENDS HIS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN STEVE Kelshaw successfully defended his Club Championship crown after a superb back nine finish saw him win by five from John Allen.

Kelshaw’s two round total of 164 was good enough for successive victories in the prestigious event while Allen, who led at one point during the back nine before faltering, will have to wait

another year for a shot at etching his name on the honours board. Finishing third with a 170 total was Colin Cordery.

In the Ladies Championship it looked like defending champion Lynn Cimino would successfully retain the title after she shot an opening 94 to take a four-stroke lead. However, she

was overtaken by a magnificent second round 87 from newcomer Michelle Hibert who stepped in to take the title by a stunning 11 strokes ahead of Hee Sun Kim, with Cimino falling out of contention.

Hibert had shot an opening 99 to sit five behind and she stormed to victory thanks to her stunning final day. www.wwgolf.biz

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AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB www.alhamragolf.com

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CONTACT: Tel : +971 7 244 7474 E-mail: enquiries@alhamragolf.com

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LUBBE SEALS THE MEDAL IN STYLE DEWALD Lubbe clinched last month’s Medal with a quality gross 1-over-par 73 to win by a huge nine strokes.

Lubbe shot 37 over the front nine and then a level-par 36 on the inward nine to win with Paul Tipping finishing second with an

82. Zi Hoa Su completed the podium places in third with an 83.

The Net Division was won by Ma Li Min as she produced her best round ever – a gross 94 – to win with a net 70. Rita Engelbrecht took second place with a 72 with Sekhar Thodla third on 73.

HURDONS HIT THE HIGH NOTES GRAHAM and Carmen Hurdon won the seventh staging of the RAK Mixed Amateur Open with a mammoth seven-point victory after a sensational haul of 50 points.

The duo produced magical nines of 26 and 24 points in a round which included 10 net birdies and four net eagles. Three teams finished with a very commendable 43 points and needed a countback to settle the podium places. Taking second place outright were Gregg Harris and Annie Robin thanks to their back nine of 23 while finishing third were PJ and Annie Marriott which left Rick and Lori Handsel in fourth.

TIPPING THE TOMBSTONE KING PAUL Tipping survived the longest in the annual Tombstone Classic to win after finally laying his tombstone to rest on his 19th hole.

One of the highlights of the calendar, the Tombstone Classic sees competitors receive a number of shots to complete the course based on their handicap. Each player has their handicap added to the course par for their total of shots and once they run out of shots they lay their

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tombstone down at the point at which their ball comes to rest – the winner is the player who finishes the farthest way around the course when their shots run out.

Tipping played extremely well to complete 18 holes and go into an extra hole. Finishing close behind in second as Simon Williams hit his last shot just 5 inches shy of the 18th pin while in third – just three feet behind Williams – was Lori Hansdel.

SVENSSON SNEAKS VICTORY PAULA Svensson crept over the line to win a recent Stableford after she won a card countback with fellow lady member Rabab Al Haj. Both players carded a score of 35 points and after their back nine totals were compared it was

Svensson who took the spoils with a brilliant score of 21. One point back in third place was Bob Atkins who followed an opening nine haul of 16 with 18 on the inward nine to clinch the last place on the podium.

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CONTACT: Tel : +971 7 227 939 Email: membership@towerlinks.com

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PELLERINE POWERS HOME YUKI Pellerine shot a blistering score of 27 Stableford points win the PowerPlay Social last month. Pellerine’s victory wasn’t all plain sailing as she was pushed all the way by Anupma Kotwal and eventually had to rely on a countback to seal the title. Derek Fisher took third place with 25 points while taking home the wooden spoon with just 10 points was Miwa San. The Two Nearest the Pin winners on the day were Kotwal on hole 12 and Roger Floyd on the 16th.

REGAN ROLLS ON FOR NARROW WIN MARK Regan’s love affair with the inward nine at Tower Links continued recently as he claimed the title after shooting a solid 19 pts in the weekly social Stableford. Joe Wivou and Sean Quinn also scored 19 points but lost out to Regan on a countback. Taking second place outright was Wivou with Quinn relegated to third.

THE ROYAL GOLF CLUB www.theroyalgolfclub.com

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YOUNGSTERS DOMINATE FIRST BAHRAIN DUTY FREE MASTERS FOURTEEN year old Deanna Ngo is the proud owner of the Royal Golf Club’s green “Masters” jacket after he won the inaugural Bahrain Duty Free Members’ Masters Tournament.

Ngo’s impressive two round score of 55 points ensured she took the coveted green jacket (which looks like it might need taking in a bit!) with a two-point cushion over fellow junior IIya Goniker. The podium was completed by another junior as Fahad Al Hakam got the better of his

father on a countback after they both finished with 52 points. The two-day event opened up with a 9-hole par-3 competition over the Wee Monty course under the floodlights and was followed by a full 18-hole round on the Montgomerie Championship course the following morning. The best score on the Wee Monty came from Saud Al Sharif with 20 points while Ngo topped the scoring on the Championship layout with 37 points to add to the 18 she scored on the Wee Monty.

GHALA VALLEY GOLF CLUB www.ghalavalley.com

Bahrain Duty Free General Manager Garrett Coogan presents winner Deanna Ngo with her Green Jacket.

CONTACT: Tel : +968 98 83 1558 E-mail: leon@golfworldoman.com

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BAWA DEFENDS THE OMAN SENIORS SACHIN Bawa successfully defended his title in the ninth staging of the Oman Seniors Open in pleasant conditions at Ghala Valley Golf Club.

Bawa signed for a gross 80 to edge out Mohammed Al Mawaly by two strokes with H.E Mohammed Al Rumhy a close third with an 83.

This year’s Lady champion was Yvonne Welling with a classy net 68 which sealed a three-stroke victory over Jacky Franssen while in the ‘Super Seniors’ category Bernie Austwick clinched the trophy with a gross 84. In the Men’s net section Milan Chatterjee took the spoils with a 69, two clear of Hemat Pajankar with Herb Krause in third after a 73 while the Nearest the Pin prizes went to Arqam Al Busaidi on hole 2 and Jacky Franssen on the 16th.

The Chairman of the Oman Golf Committee of the Ministry of Sports Affairs, Mundhir Salim Al Barwani and His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil & Gas were the guests of honour in the prize giving ceremony which was ably led

by Ghala’s Captain Ali Al Bimani.

All the winners at the Oman Seniors Open are pictured with their trophies including His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil & Gas (centre). www.wwgolf.biz

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ALMOUJ GOLF www.almoujgolf.com

CONTACT: Tel : +968 2200 5990 E-mail: info@almoujgolf.com

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SIDDHANT SHRIVASTVA WINS THE INAUGURAL JUNIOR OPEN THE inaugural Junior Open at Almouj Golf took centre stage recently with juniors of all ages teeing it up in three separate divisions in a quest to etch their name in history.

Taking the spoils in Division ‘1’, where youngsters with a handicap competed over nine holes of the championship course, was Siddhant Shrivastva as he defeated Soham Mehta on a countback with both locked on 16 Stableford points.

Division ‘2’, which was played over holes 1, 6 and 9 of the Academy Course, was won by Theo Crenshaw with a score of 21, two clear of Simon Piel, with Haythem Al Zubair third with a 24.

The youngest golfers competed in Division ‘3’ which was played over two holes of the Academy Course in a shotgun start. One group played holes 2 and 3 and another played holes 4 and 5. Winning the first group was Nicolas Mansour with Reuben Lupton second while the second group was topped by Iman Aljahdamy with Maramm Al Mughairy in second place.

“Watching these youngsters play was a very rewarding experience,” said General Manager Simon Duffield. “The entire team at Almouj was in awe of

Siddhant Shrivastva, 2013 Junior Open Champion. their talent and sportsmanship. We would like to thank the parents for their continued support not only in Almouj Golf but in their children’s development as golfers. Judging by the level of passion and technical ability displayed, it’s safe to say that these players have a bright career ahead of them. Their talents will help place Oman on the map as a golfing destination for both junior and adult golfers.”

INAUGURAL DINERS OPEN AT ALMOUJ GOLF CONCLUDES WITH THREE WINNERS ALMOUJ Golf hosted its first Open under the sponsorship of Diners Club and there were some superb prizes on offer. The winner in each division received an invitation to play in the annual Diners Club Pro-Am in Abu Dhabi later this year while the runner-up in each division received hospitality passes to the 2014 Qatar Masters.

Due to some challenging conditions the format was changed from strokeplay to Stableford and with a score of 38 points Yvonne Van Buitenen topped the Ladies Division to book her ticket to Abu Dhabi with Shirley Prescott second and Catherine Shackleton third.

In the Men’s Division ‘A’ (hcp 0-16) Nasaruddin Mohamad won by a landslide with a 42-point haul and a five-point triumph over Aaron O’Hara. Visiting player Bharath Gopal, who is a member at Ghala Valley, was the only visitor to take a podium place as he finished third. In Division ‘B’ (hcp 17+) John Prescott took the spoils on 37 points but needed a countback to defeat Danny Renihan.

“Our first Open was a resounding success,” said General Manager Simon Duffield. “Everyone played extremely well and enjoyed the challenge of the Championship course as well as the offerings and hospitality within the Academy Clubhouse. We look forward to inviting golfers to next year’s Diners Club Open.”

Rizwan Qazi, Chief Operating Officer of Diners Club Oman, commented: “At Diners Club Oman we look for partners and events that aren’t just high profile, but which are a mainstay of Oman’s development as a world class destination. We pride ourselves on our growing, international and elite base, and the exclusive offers and world class service that membership brings. We are proud to work with such a pillar of leisure and sport in the Sultanate, whose value of delivering high quality is in line with that of Diners Club Oman.”

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GOOD SCORES IN INAUGURAL MEMBER GUEST EVENT

TSARONG TIES UP THE APRIL MEDAL TENZIN Tsarong won last month’s Chedi Medal thanks to a gross 81 but needed a card countback win over Kevin D’Amours to be certain of victory.

Both players signed for their gross totals but it was the 2013 Club Champion Tsarong who won the countback courtesy of his better back nine. The Men’s Net Division winner was John Prescott with a 67 while setting the pace in the Ladies Division was Yvonne Welling as she cruised to a four-stroke victory thanks to a gross 98 for a net 76.

THE first in a new series of Member Guest events, sponsored by Mercedes -Benz took place last month and taking the top spot with a score of 45 in the better ball Stableford format was the duo of new Almouj Golf member Lee Matthews and his guest Mike Helfrick.

Finishing second with a haul of 43 points were member Mohammed Fauzi Adnan and OGC Committee Member Al Arqam Al Busaidi while no fewer than five pairs finished one point back with 42 points.

Separating themselves from the rest and taking third place were member Yvonne Welling and her guest National Team Player Ali Hameed

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MUSCAT HILLS GOLF CLUB www.muscathillsgolf.com

MuscatHills

CONTACT: Tel : +968 245 14080 E-mail: bookings@muscatgolf.com

Muscat-Hills-Golf-Country-Club

AZAAN AL-RUMHY CROWNED MUSCAT OPEN CHAMPION OMANI’s star player Azaan Al-Rumhy won the Muscat Open for the fourth time after he fired a gross total of 151 over two days to win the 40th staging of the event by two ahead of Jeff Campbell.

Al-Rumhy was two shots clear after the opening day’s play and hung on to win ahead of Campbell who took second place outright in his first Muscat Open thanks to a superb birdie on the final hole. The battle for third place was between two former champions – Ed Edwards and Puli Sharma – and after they both finished with a gross 160 total it was Edwards who was handed the final place on the podium thanks to his better score on day two.

In the professional category, which was added for the first time this year, Trevor Marshall from Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, UAE, held off the challenge from last year’s Muscat Open Champion Jay Townsend. Marshall played two very solid rounds of golf and managed a score of level-par 144 while one of Oman’s rising stars, Hamood Salim Al-Harthy, won the junior category with a gross score of 178. The Net winner with a score of 142 was Mohamad Nasaruddin as he finished one clear of Fauzi Adnan with Vishal Dhawan third on 147.

IMPRESSIVE SCORES IN STS GOLF DAY THE popular STS golf competition, which was organised by Ras Al Hamra GC and hosted by Muscat Hills G&CC, witnessed some exceptional results including a record-breaking winning score of net 49.2 from the team of Jim McDougal, Chris Grumley, Lance Scott and Liam O’Donnell.

The format played was a fourperson team ‘Florida step aside scramble’ and close to 80 eager golfers participated.

The STS team of Basil Macki, Alan Tea, Ben McGowen and Paul Guinane also had a superb score of gross 74 for net 50.6 to take second place but because they were the sponsors they generously donated their prizes to the next best placed team.

Benefiting from this was the team of Anubarhav Shanker, Jayanta Borpujari, M.S. Atwal and Aman Atwal thanks to their net 51.4 from a gross 67.

Pictured from right: David Hon, Paul Sharples, Sumant Sunder and Alex Day.

PROS DEFEATED IN OPENING MATCH THE annual Play with the Pros series which sees any two of the PGA Professionals David White, Alex Day, David Hon and Ray Stopforth tee it up against two members for an intriguing 18-hole match play challenge, began recently with a shock defeat for the Pros.

The first match saw Day and Hon square up against members Sumant Sunder and Paul Sharples and somewhat surprisingly it was the amateurs who came out on top. Both Sunder and Sharples were in stellar form as they completed a 5&4 victory.

BATTERSBY AND KOJIMA MIX WELL GARY Battersby and Josephine Kojima sealed the second annual Radisson Blu, Muscat Mixed Open recently thanks to an impressive score of net 68. A total of 16 couples took to the fairways and finishing second were Bob and Sarah Whitelaw with Per and Elisabeth Sjostrang taking third place. The best gross score came from Kamal and Jameela Daud. www.wwgolf.biz

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DOHA GOLF CLUB www.dohagolfclub.com

CONTACT: Tel : +971 4 295 2277

Doha-Golf-Club

AL BISHI WINS THE DOHA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP ALI Al Bishi came out on top of a field of 320 players as he won Flight ‘A’ (hcp 0-9) of the Qatar Golf Association’s Doha Golf Championship with a remarkable score of 69.

Flight ‘B’ (hcp 10-18) was played in a Stableford format and finishing top of the pile was Shehyar Arshad with 43 points while in Flight ‘C’ (hcp 18+) a

score of 44 points helped Muhammed Effendi to the title. In the Ladies Flight ‘A’ it was junior Laila Hrinda who came out on top with a 41-point haul for a four-point win over Martina Scholten while in the Ladies Flight ‘B’ it was another junior – Nada Mir – who came out on top with a mammoth score of 51 to take the spoils.

Ian Lille, Director of Sales and Leslie Weddle, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, of The Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha are pictured with the winning team.

WHYTE AND SWAN WIN THE WENTWORTH CLASSIC

COUNTBACK WIN IN LADIES SCRAMBLE FIFTY lady members teed it up to compete in the recent Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha Ladies Scramble and coming out on top with a score of 67 was the foursome of Laudick, Chom Rum Sariowan, Joyce Krijn and Rosaleen Garvey.

The team of Eva Boeglin, Can Xian Ye, Marie Crook and Lesley Looker managed the same total but lost out on a countback while in third place on 69 was the team of Kathleen Goodwin, Sylvia White, Ki Sook Chung and Mary Jensen.

In the on-course prizes the Longest Drive was won by Susan Fryer while the Nearest the Pin champion was Chom Rum Sariowan.

PHIL Whyte and Stephen Swan won a four-ball around the famous West Course at Wentworth in England after their win at the inaugural Wentworth Classic last month.

The format of the event was a 2person scramble and Whyte and Swan came in with a superb 10-under-par net 62 to win by three strokes.

Taking the runner-up spot with a 65

were Charles Jones and Bill Townsend and their prize is hospitality tickets to The European Tour’s BMW Championship at Wentworth in May. The event was so popular that an afternoon shotgun also took place and finishing top of the pile was Chul Jin Hwang and Jin Jo Jang with a 63 while in second place was the husband and wife team of Darren and Fran Cole.

LOW SCORES IN THIRD ROUND OF THE XEROX CORPORATE GOLF CHALLENGE THE third round of the 2013 Xerox Coprorate Golf Challenge took place recently and taking the top spot was the pair of David Land and Karl Bishop with a superb net 65 . They will now proceed to the Grand Final which is set to take place in October at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai.

A total of 78 teams teed it up and finishing second – also with a score of 65 but losing out on a countback – was the team of Joseph Cordera and Beth San Josefrom Qatar Rail while third place went to Abdulrahman Al Bishi and Saleh Ali Al Kaabi from the Qatar Golf Association with a net 66.

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Xerox Qatar manager Ahmed al Afiesh is pictured with David Land and Karl Bishop.

DIRAB GOLF CLUB

CONTACT: Tel : +966 1 812 6671 E-mail: info@dirabgolf.com

www.dirabgolf.com

TIGHT AT THE TOP A RECORD field of 174 players teed it up over two days in a battle for honours in the 20th edition of the ABGR-AMEX tournament and coming out on top was Rob Smith’s team after they won a nervy card countback.

Smith and his team of Rana Irfan, March Carpenter and Bob Khalife combined superbly for a net score of 53 but it was matched by the team of Jeff Hunt, Ralf Schiffer, Bernard Jones and Allen McMahon. After a tense period of card comparison it was revealed that Smith’s team were the champions having scored a back nine of 6-under-par 30.

The foursome of David Foster, Jerry McCabe, Barry McCagig and Edward Razon finished third with a net 54 from a gross score of 66.

The men’s and ladies longest drive award went to Carl Berrojo and Sheila McIlroy respectively while the Nearest the Pin prizes went to Rick McCabe and Susan Tessier.

BUGGY TALK AROUND THE TURN It was Around The Turn recently when my buggy partner, Chris, was getting out of the buggy and I saw a patch of fresh blood on the back of his shirt. "I think you must have cut yourself in the bushes on the 9th while helping me find my ball," I said. I was a little surprised when Chris replied, "No, its probably the funny mole thing on my back, its been bleeding a little on and off for a few weeks," and with that he lifted up his shirt and said, "See what I mean?"

Sure enough there was a "funny looking mole" in the middle of his back oozing blood. However, to me it looked anything but "funny".

I am not one to sound alarm bells without good reason and certainly not to a previously unknown buggy partner in the middle of a round of golf, but the "scary looking thing" to me was very suspicious in appearance and behaviour (recent bleeding) and definitely needed attention immediately. "And yes, it can wait until you've finished your round," I answered to Chris's enquiring look at me when I said “immediately.”

Chris came to see one of my Dermatology colleagues the following day and it was later confirmed that he had developed a malignant melanoma. Luckily, it was caught early and its removal was the only treatment required.

Melanomas are the least common but most serious type of skin cancer. It is the one most likely to spread to other parts of the body and is the second most common cancer in the age group 15-34 years (Chris was 32 and used to be a farmer before coming to Dubai). In the UK, the incidence of new cases per year has doubled in the last 20 years. The cause is essentially UV light damage from the sun and sun beds. Children's skin is the most vulnerable to damage and sun exposure in childhood the most damaging.

Freckling in childhood, and frequent or severe sunburn in childhood, are important risk factors for the develop of melanomas as adults (the damage to the skin can occur many years before a cancer actually develops. Being fair-skinned and living near the equator are also important risk factors. Melanomas commonly appear on the legs in women and on the chest or back in men. See a doctor if you develop a lump or a patch on the skin which seems suspicious, or one which changes its shape, border, colour or size. If in doubt, don't leave it.

ARELLANO AND HUNT RULE THE OPEN ALEX Arellano went on a birdie-blitz as he wrapped up the Best Gross honours in this year’s Saudi Hollandi Bank Open with a cool 76 which comprised of two consistent nines of 38.

Arellano demonstrated his hot form with a two-putt birdie on the par-4 eighth after he drove the green and he also birdied the 14th after he stiffed an 80-yard wedge shot.

Three bogeys on each nine were the only blemishes in an otherwise tidy round for Arellano who said he was inspired by playing in the same group as DGCC Golf Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani.

Sharing centre stage with Arellano was David Hunt who won Best Net title on countback from Mark Davis after both players tied on 7-under 65 from identical gross scores of 84 from their handicaps of 19.

Davis had to settle for the title in Division ‘2’ (hcp 10-19) but was left to rue his botched opportunity as the

Top Tip: With the summer coming cover up, cream up (frequently, minimum SPF 20) and wear a broad hat and sunglasses. And dare I say - keep hydrated!

prize that Hunt received in addition to the trophy was a SR 5,000 cash voucher courtesy of sponsor Saudi Hollandi Bank.

Ebrahim Zailon took the spoils in Division ‘1’ (0-9) while in the Division ‘3’ Jerry Don Carolis finished strongly to win with a net 67. The Ladies Division winners were Liz Kennedy with a 71 and Kata Meagher with a 78.

By Dr. Andrew Devine

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www.mediclinic.ae www.wwgolf.biz

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STYLE

Q Former Charlieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Angel star Cheryl Ladd on being the Token Chick on the male dominated celebrity golf circuit.

Q Get Fresh after a tough day on the course with the latest smellies and delve into the Locker Room for cool stuff for the course, clubhouse and beyond.

Q The third-gen Audi A8 is a lean, mean executive machine with more than enough room for your clubs!

Q Lexi Thompson talks memorable moments and lucky charms.

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STAR GOLFER

Cheryl

LADD 90

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WWG STYLE CHERYL Ladd set male pulses around the world racing when she shot to fame playing blonde bombshell private eye Kris Monroe in smash hit TV show ‘Charlie’s Angels’. But while the Townsend Detective Agency solved Q\[ TI[\ KI[M UIVa UWWV[ IOW 4ILL PI[ SMX\ PMZ[MTN J][a QV I ^IZQM\a WN <> IVL ÅTU ZWTM[ IVL PI[ IXXMIZML in movies such as 1984’s ‘Purple Hearts’, 1992’s ‘Poison Ivy’, and more recently 2007’s ‘Walk Hard the Dewy Cox Story’ and last year’s ‘Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups’.

The 61-year-old has many strings to her bow. Before making it as an actor, she was a highly regarded singer, and continued to release records until the early 1980s. She’s also an author, and wrote a children’s JWWS QV !! JMNWZM XMVVQVO ¼[ <WSMV +PQKS" ) ?WUIV¼[ /]QLM <W /WTÅVO ?Q\P <PM *Wa[ <PM JWWS Q[ autobiographical but focuses on Ladd’s love of golf and her early experiences playing on the celebrity circuit where she was invariably the lone female. Along with husband Bryan, she also hosts an annual charity event, the Childhelp Celebrity Golf Invitational.

WWG: Your husband got you into golf – describe how that happened?

CL: He walked in the family room one day and said, “It’s a beautiful day, the kids are at camp, let’s play golf.” I looked at him like he was crazy. I said, “You don’t play golf,” he said, “I know, but I’m Scottish and I think I should – I think I might be good at it.” So being the good, obedient and adventurous wife that I am, I said, “OK, let’s go,” and I fell madly in love with it.

WWG: What appealed to you about golf when you first tried it?

CL: I was kind of a tomboy and an athlete when I was growing up and I liked sports. I thought, ‘Well, here’s one I haven’t tried, I might as well try it.’ And I hit a couple of good shots on the very first time. I hit a few terrible shots as well – I whiffed it a bunch of times but I made contact with the ball a few times and I fell in love.

WWG: When you first started out on the celebrity golf circuit you were pretty much the only female – how did you find that?

CL: I was surprised. When I first stared to play golf the only celebrity I knew that played was Dinah Shore and she loved it so much she had her own tournament. But then I was the only other one who played in any of these celebrity tournaments, which is why I wrote my book Token Chick: A Woman’s Guide to Golfing With the Boys. Because, I so often was. But I really had a blast, I had so much fun and they were so welcoming and so excited that a woman would play in these tournaments.

I wrote the book to describe my adventures and to encourage women to play. Golf has been a great gift in my life. I’ve enjoyed lots of wonderful times on the golf course, first with my husband and then in all of those celebrity tournaments I get to play!

WWG: What’s your most treasured golf possession?

CL: I have won some trophies that I am very proud of, but my most treasured possession is my Scotty Cameron putter. It has been very kind to me.

WWG: Your most cherished golf memory?

CL: Getting a hole-in-one...twice! The first time Jimmy Connors was present and then I got my second hole-in-one at a celebrity golf tournament at Riviera Country Club.

Good morning Angels: Cheryl won over an army of fans playing the delightful Kris Monroe in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

WWG: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on the golf course?

CL: I once played in a tournament on a military base in the Philippines. If your ball even remotely strayed off the fairway someone would steal it and later try to sell it back to you.

WWG: Who would make up your fantasy fourball?

CL: Bobby Jones, Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Katharine Hepburn.

Pictured above: Cheryl (circled) joins an all star cast that includes; (L-R front row) musician Alice Cooper, actress Heather Locklear, actor Haley Joel Osment, actor Michael Douglas, , musician Kenny G, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, actor Martin Sheen, actor Mark Wahlberg and golf pro Butch Harmon; (L-R rear) guest, actor Josh Duhamel, actor Kyle MacLachlan and actor Samuel L Jackson at the 9th Annual Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Trump National Golf Club.

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GET FRESH

VERSACE EROS: The new fragrance from Versace pays homage to Eros, the God of Love. An intense and alluring scent that has a very ‘moor-ish’ quality to it. Zesty and Oriental notes combine to create a very distinctive, attractive blend.

Technical jargon: Top notes – mint, lemon, apple. Heart notes – tonka bean, ambroxan, geranium flower. Base notes – vanilla, vetiver, oak moss, cedarwood.

BVLGARI MAN EXTREME: Is an elegant, deep, attractive and intense fragrance for men who favour an outdoor lifestyle.

Technical jargon: Top notes – pink grapefruit, bergamot, cactus. Heart notes – white freesia, cardamom, amber. Base notes – vetiver, benzoin, wood notes.

ESPA LIFT & FIRM INTENSIVE EYE SERUM

MONT BLANC LEGEND POUR FEMME Montblanc Legend Pour Femme is luxurious, elegant and very feminine. The fragrance is warm and sensual, perfect for the sophisticated lady around the clubhouse. Technical jargon: Top notes – neroli, bitter orange, pear. Heart notes – jasmine, lily of the valley, orange blossom.

Base notes – musk, vanilla, fine woods.

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A concentrated intensive eye serum to help firm, hydrate and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the delicate eye area. Micro Algae and Cyatheaceae Fern Tree work to lift, firm and stimulate fresh cell renewal, Golden Root instantly brightens and de-puffs, while Inca Inchi Oil deeply nourishes.

LOCKER ROOM Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 – Historic Masters Edition SO that’s it then, the Masters is done and dusted for another year after another dramatic conclusion to proceedings at Augusta. Admit it, most of you went straight down to your local club and pretended to recreate some of the most magical moments – Adam Scott’s winning putt on the second play-off hole, Angel Cabrera’s sensational approach into the 72nd hole in regulation…Well now you can do it every day from the comfort of your home with the Historic Masters Edition of the new Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 game. You can plot your way around one of the world’s most famous courses, and even experience the original 1934 ‘flipped’ layout, with a choice of players from the history of the game – from modern day stars like Tiger Woods to Augusta co-creator Bobby Jones (who never actually played in the Masters, but what the heck, it’s only a game!). You can also play a host of other championship courses, while there are new night golf and LPGA modes. What more needs to be said about the best golf game franchise on the planet! www.easports.com

Titleist Ribbon On Support breast cancer awareness with this Titleist ladies’ cap. Made from high quality cotton with a cancer awareness ribbon on the left side and another on the rear adjustable strap. www.titleist.com

Church’s Brogues

Bang and Olufsen Form 2 Headphones With these B&0 headphones you can crank up the volume without compromising sound quality or annoying the neighbours. Dynamic drive units offer true, well-defined sound, allowing you to shut out the world and submerge yourself in pure, listening pleasure. The lightweight Form 2 headphones are easily adjusted for maximum comfort. Listen to your favourite tunes at any time and any volume, while the semi-open configuration lets you stay in touch with the world around you. The dynamic drive units give you a true and well-defined soundstage, with a good bass, a focused middle and precise highs. www.bang-olufsen.com

If you want to look your best for the that prize-giving dinner after you’ve just secured the club championship (we can all dream) you’re going to want to step out of your golf shoes and into these ultra chic brogues from Church’s. Made from the finest leather with immaculate styling throughout, these shoes are incredibly versatile and look great with suit trousers or jeans. A must have for that quintessential English gent look. www.church-footwear.com www.wwgolf.biz

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WWG STYLE

AUDI

A8L

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DRIVING RANGE

ENGINE OPTIONS EngineType V6 cylinder petrol engine with direct fuel injection and mechanical charging module

8-cylinder petrol engine

Engine Size 2995 ccm

3993 ccm

Max .Output 213 (290)/4850-6500

213 (290)/4850-6500

Max. Torque 420/2500-4850

420/2500-4850

Top Speed 250 km/h

250 km/h

Acceleration 6.2 seconds

6.2 seconds

THE A8 is a very large saloon, but it handles like a smaller, more nimble, sport sedan thanks to its air suspension system, which features three modes: Comfort, Dynamic and Automatic. Dynamic not only firms up the suspension and steering feel but also makes the accelerator pedal a little more responsive. The new A8 is built on a version of the aluminium Audi Space Frame, which helps keep weight down yet enhances rigidity, for a smooth more refined ride and crisper handling response.

A8L models are about five inches longer than the standard-wheelbase A8, with most of that length going to rear seat legroom. The A8’s very spacious and luxurious cabin includes supple leather upholstery with trims and inlays that include wood veneers, aluminium and padded leather. The instrument panel design has an especially wide, flat centre console and the shift lever has been modeled after the throttle control on yachts.

On the outside, the A8 includes a full LED lamp system, including high and low headlight beams, parking lamps and cornering lamps.

Top driver-assistance technology options include adaptive cruise control (with a stop-and-go function), night vision assistant with pedestrian detection, Audi lane assist and Audi side assist. There’s also a new Audi braking guard system, which warns the driver of obstacles or hazards ahead and will sound a warning and prime the brakes. Automatic emergency braking will even deliver strong braking when it’s determined that a collision is unavoidable to help lessen its severity. Audi Pre Sense also helps reduce the severity of a crash by readying vehicle safety systems, adjusting seats to an ideal position, closing the sunroof and windows and stiffening the suspension.

Also included in the A8 is a Bang & Olufsen sound system, making 1400 watts and, as Audi puts it, “a theatre-like sound experience.” The navigation system also draws input from Google Maps and has an improved look.

To help manage all the onboard technology, Audi has installed a next-generation version of its Multi-Media Interface (MMI). A new MMI Touch function allows the drier to “write” out letters on a touch-pad for entering navigation destinations, enter numbers for radio functions, flip through music in the MP3 library, or use it as a pointer for map functions.

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WWG STYLE

Lexi Thompson Lexi Thompson shot to fame when, at 12 years old, she became the youngest player in history to qualify for the US Women’s Open. She grabbed headlines again when, at 16 years, seven months, and eight days, she won the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic to become the youngest ever LPGA winner before becoming the second youngest Ladies European Tour three months later with victory in the Dubai Ladies Masters.

WWG: What’s been the most memorable moment of your career so far?

LT: My first LPGA win at the Navistar LPGA Classic.

WWG: What’s your favourite part of your game that you like to practice?

LT: I love practicing every part of my game and always having contests with myself or my brothers.

WWG: What’s your favourite club in your bag?

LT: They’re all my favourite.

WWG: What’s your favourite sport to watch apart from golf?

LT: Ice Hockey.

WWG: What would we find in your bag besides golf clubs?

LT: Food, lucky charms, phone, iPad. WWG: What is your most hated interview question?

LT: Do I feel like I’m missing out on the “teenage life”?

WWG: If you could swap places with anyone for a day, who would it be?

LT: Cameron Diaz.

WWG: How do you like to stay in shape?

LT: Run, ride the stationary bike, and train with trainer.

WWG: Do you have any nicknames?

LT: Lexicon, Sexy Lexy, Lexi.

DID YOU Lexi’s two brothers are also golfers – Nicholas KNOW? Thompson (pictured right with Lexi) plays on the US PGA Tour and Curtis Thompson is a collegiate golfer at Louisiana State University.

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