How a Wall Street banker, still shy of 30, shook up the UAE’s golf scene along with his brother-in-law.
As love affairs go, Matthew Csillag’s with golf started early.
He picked up a club at two, started competing at five, and now, having not yet blown out the candles of his 30th birthday cake, he’s co-owner of Five Iron Golf Dubai with his brother-in-law David Zabinsky.
Together they’ve solved the Dubai golf scene’s heat-and-daylight issue by creating a year-round, 17-hours-a-day (19 at weekends) hub for golf and entertainment that – still only one year into life – has proved a smash hit with serious golfers, weekend warriors and those who are purely there for the craic.
“Five Iron started in New York to democratise golf and make it more accessible to all,” says Csillag as we catch up in Five Iron Dubai’s plush members’ lounge. “It was the first of its kind to combine golf with entertainment, food and beverage… You can get into golf – and you don’t even have to pick up a club to have fun here.”
Walk into venue located within The Westin Mina Seyahi in Dubai Marina and you’ll find the largest Five Iron on the planet: over 32,000 sq ft, 17 TrackMan simulators, outdoor terrace, mini golf, darts, pool, top of the range F1 driving sims – the lot.
“I remember walking through Herald Square on a Monday league night – 15 simulators full, bar packed – and thinking, ‘This guy has it figured out,’” says Matt of fellow American, Five Iron founder Jared Solomon. “When I visited Dubai, it was way too hot to play outside. There was a real need here.”
The dream became a reality when the flagship Dubai venue opened in September 2024. They launched strong, then listened and adapted. Having initially pitched annual memberships, they pivoted to a monthly model you can pause any time – perfect for a city where many people vanish for summers, school breaks or business travel.
“We’re over 400 members strong,” says Csillag. “For AED 899 a month, you can play every day for 90 minutes, get discounts on F&B and lessons, and pause if you’re away. We don’t want people to feel pressure to pay when they’re not here.”
And it isn’t just about memberships. The audience mix is broad – a key driver in the popularity and profitability of the Five Iron model.
“It’s honestly quite spread out,” he says. “Great golfers working on their TrackMan numbers. We have a ton of corporate events – a few hundred in a year. Our lesson programme is growing like crazy. And newcomers who are intimidated by going on-course and losing 20 balls – they can learn the game here. Then we have people who just come to watch sport, play some pool or darts, and have a good time!”
The success of Five Iron’s Dubai debut has attracted some hard-hitting investors keen for a taste of the action. A growth round was led by Powerhouse Capital, an investor in the company behind Netflix smash hit Full Swing and the guys also brought in NFL great Larry Fitzgerald Jr., PGA Tour winner Kurt Kitayama, LPGA star Alison Lee, and Lloyd Danzig, Managing Partner at Sharp Alpha. The funding has poured fuel on the fire of the two US entrepreneurs, leading to two new venues set for Q1 2026: one in the UAE’s capital and another at DAMAC Towers in Dubai’s Business Bay.
“Yas Bay in Abu Dhabi will be another mega facility – about 25,000 square feet,” says Csillag. “At least 12 simulators, a full food-and-beverage programme and a massive terrace – around 11,000 square feet – beer-garden style overlooking the waterfront.
“Business Bay is more lounge-style – about 6,500 square feet with five sims, full F&B – that sports-bar vibe serving residents and the Downtown crowd. It’s in a complex with over 3,000 units so we expect it to be another popular facility.”
And the best bit for existing members? The network works like…well…a network!
“The great thing about Five Iron is that when you’re a member, you’re a member of all Five Irons in the UAE,” he says. “If your home club is The Westin, you’ll still be able to use your daily sim time in Business Bay. If you’re in Abu Dhabi for the day, you can use it there. You’ll have a home club – but you can roam.”
I’m keen to learn how such an eminent list of investors for the new venues came to the table?
“It came about through our network in sports, media and venture,” says Csillag. “They love the UAE and they love golf. For now it’s really business – and if they’re in town, I’m sure they’ll come by and support.”
Getting from idea to doors-open wasn’t some Hollywood montage. It was good old-fashioned graft – and hiring well.
“Real estate here is limited and competitive so finding this perfect location at The Westin was huge,” he says. “Then team. Our COO, Andrew Bostock, took a blank shell to what you see now and he’s helping with all our future builds. Our GM, Craig, has a lot of F&B experience and just knows how to operate the place. And Zane Scotland leads golf – one of the best instructors in the region and a former DP World Tour player. The F&B and the golf side – they’re the two most critical elements of Five Iron.”
Five Iron is the ultimate business venture for Csillag, who has been a golf nut pretty much his entire life. He played on the Emory college golf team and it was while still a student that he gave early notice of his entrepreneurial spirit when he launched a start-up at university with an app to stop texting while driving.
Before Dubai he did his time on Wall Street – investment banking, private equity and private credit. The Wall Street habits haven’t left him either.
“We actively look at footfall and analyse all the numbers,” says Csillag. “Membership is critical – hearing members, improving the calendar and events, keeping them happy. And F&B – making sure people enjoy everything we offer and know the range of options.”
The ambitious brothers-in-law have delivered an impressive first 12 months for Five Iron in the UAE and they don’t plan to rest on their laurels after the two new venues open next year.
Did someone mention Ras Al Khaimah?
“We originally announced a six-location deal,” says Csillag. “We’ll have three locations after Q1, and the plan is two more in Q3–Q4 2026.
“There’s another emirate of interest where there may be a casino going in,” he adds with a wry smile, “and then other parts of Dubai that are untapped – Arabian Ranches, Motor City. Over the summer it was very hard to get a simulator most times, and we have 17 of them. So, we’re watching where demand outpaces supply – maybe putting in a smaller unit like we’re doing at Paramount.”
Not bad at all for a ‘not yet 30’ ex-Wall Street numbers man. Watch this space as something tells me Csillag and Zabinsky are far from done in their mission shake up the golf scene in the UAE and beyond.
