The day has finally arrived when we finally say farewell to Al Badia Golf Club. The Robert Trent Jones II designed course first opened in 2005 and the award winning facility went on to host the European Challenge Tour Grand Final in 2013 and 2014 at the same time amassing a healthy membership. So why has it closed many have asked?
Al Badia Golf Club The Truth
Before the usual ‘Chinese’ whispers take hold and people start second-guessing about the cause, the truth behind the closure is quite simple. It would seem the decision to close is a purely a personal one by the owning Al Futtaim family. I understand the plan is to turn the 35 hectares of premier land next to the Dubai Creek into a giant garden for the family to use, with the clubhouse being converted into a private Majlis.
420 Members
It’s hugely important to highlight the fact that the club is not closing due to financial failure. On the contrary, the business was a thriving with 420 members and an average of 52,000 golf rounds per year. It also had the third-highest number of international rounds of any club in the region.
The team at Al Badia, led by Tim Neil, are world class, too, which was acknowledged when the club won a coveted ‘Gold Flag’ for customer service at this year’s annual ’59 Club Golf Service Awards – recognised by many as the ‘Oscars’ of the golf industry.
I’d like to send our best wishes from everyone at WSP and Worldwide Golf to the whole team at Al Badia. If there are any positives to this disappointing situation it is that many of the staff working in F&B roles will likely be absorbed into the hotel operations within the InterContinental Group while, with several new golf clubs set to open in the region over the next 12 months, it surely won’t be long before those working on the teaching and operations side are snapped up.
