Tom Green (Golf DXB): We need more golfers in UAE

As a UAE golfer it is very exciting to see the number of new golf developments that are happening in Dubai. The opening of Al Zorah Golf Club in December 2016 ended a six-year drought in UAE golf course design. This is now being followed with a flurry of new golf courses in the pipeline namely the Trump International Golf Club, Dubai Hills and the potential Al Qudra based Tiger Woods design.

 

With all of these new golf courses, naturally we are going to need more golfers to fill them and herein lies the problem. The number of golfers in the UAE has remained unchanged for a number of years. The worldwide picture looks bleaker still after the number of US golfers dropped from a Woods-propelled peak of 30.6 million in 2003 to 24.1 million, with similar declines seen in other golfing nations such as Japan and the UK (Bloomberg).

In light of this, the sport must look for new ways of engaging people. A great example of this is the Emirates NBD Million Dirham Putt, which we have had the pleasure of being involved in this season. The event gives thousands of Dubai residents and tourists the opportunity to take part in a six hole putting challenge which culminates in the finalists having a putt for one million dirhams at the Desert Classic. For me the true beauty of this scheme is that two of the activations are in public places, at JBR and City Walk, meaning that our great game is put in front of new golfers – people who otherwise may not have been drawn to the sport.

Heading into 2017 one of Golf DXB’s goals is to build on the Learn Golf DXB programme, which has been a big hit so far. These sessions offer a perfect pathway into the game of golf for people new to the sport. Our aim with this is two-fold in that we are striving to provide a programme that is progressive and affordable. The Learn Golf DXB programme allows you to learn golf in a relaxed group environment. As you progress, the programme can be combined with our Par 3 Series and later, the Golf DXB Night Golf Series to get to grips with the full sized golf course.

For more info or to book into this programme please contact: Mike on: [email protected] , +971564644175

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