The big news on the Dubai golf scene at the moment revolves around the recently announced creation of Falcon Golf. An affiliate of Falcon and Associates, a strategic advisory company working on behalf of the Dubai leadership, it was set up in recognition of golf’s ever increasing importance to the emirate and aims to use the sport to “tell Dubai’s story on the world stage”, as well as work with existing bodies such as the Emirates Golf Federation to encourage and increase participation from the local market, especially among juniors.
Falcon Golf
At its helm is Chairman Peter Dawson, the former Chief Executive of the R&A, who will oversee what promises to be a game-changing period for golf in Dubai. The Scotsman believes that the Deloitte report which was released in 2015 and revealed that the economic impact of golf to Dubai was a staggering US$131 million highlighted the need for the infrastructure of the game to be looked at more closely in order to maximise its potential to benefit Dubai.
“The Dubai leadership were very keen to enhance Dubai’s position in the world through sport,” said Dawson in an exclusive interview with Worldwide Golf. “They recognise that golf is an important sport for the region and the Deloitte report highlighted just how big an element of Dubai’s sporting landscape golf is.
“The Leadership wanted to make sure that everything about golf in Dubai was as good as it could be and that we could use the sport to tell the Dubai story around the world.
“Falcon and Associates was asked to take a look at this – they approached me and I was very privileged to come and do what I can to help. I think the formation of Falcon Golf is a real indicator that we’re on the road to making sure that golf is really punching its weight for Dubai.”
Running the Desert Classic and Ladies Masters
The new division will also take over the running of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.
“The role of Falcon Golf is to make sure the professional events are being run as well as possible. We’ve got a wonderful asset in the Race to Dubai on the European Tour to help tell the Dubai story around the world week in week out as the season progresses. We think we can help the tourism effort by better coordination, and I hope we can assist the Emirates Golf Federation with local participation too in due course.
“So there’s lots to do but it’s very good that it’s been started.”
