MIDE 3-4 9/2/10 13:24 Page 36
knowledge middle east
ttglive.com
Golf
Swing by a Gulf
In barely 20 years, the Middle East has come in from the golfing wilderness to become
one of the sport’s top regions. Peter Ellegard highlights what the region has to offer
G
olf was first introduced to the Tour championship events early each year as destination which most enthusiastic golf
region in the 1880s, when the part of its Desert Swing. The Dubai Desert travellers were aware of. To mark its rise,
British opened courses in Egypt. Classic (which ended last Sunday) at Dubai’s seven years later it was voted Established
But it was the arrival of Dubai’s Majlis course follows the Abu Dhabi Golf Golf Destination of the Year.”
Emirates Golf Club (dubaigolf.com/egc) with Championship and the Qatar Masters. Maintaining courses to high standards in
its signature tented clubhouse in 1988 which The season-long competition to find the the desert is not cheap. “There are certainly
began the revolution. Its Majlis course was Tour’s top golfer, now called the Race to lower cost options offering winter-sun
the first all-grass championship golf course Dubai, culminates in the Dubai World within a similar flying time,” says Walton.
in the Middle East and is known as the Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estate’s “But the draw of spectacular golf in this
“Desert Miracle”. new Earth Course (jumeirahgolfestates.com) fast-evolving region has kept a steady flow of
Others soon followed, and courses have by Greg Norman, in November. golfers heading out to the Gulf states prima-
since blossomed in desert sands throughout Peter Walton is chief executive of the rily to indulge their favourite pastime.”
the Gulf, from UAE states Abu Dhabi, International Association of Golf Tour Key golf destinations include:
Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah to Bahrain, Operators. He says: “When Iagto’s operators
Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. Egypt, too, has recognised Dubai as the Emerging Golf DUBAI.
seen a huge golf boom in the past 12 years. Destination of the Year back in 2002, it was Dubai staged its first dedicated UK golf fam
The region now stages three European already on its way to becoming a golf trip in December, hosting seven operators.
Ian Scott, Dubai Department of Tourism
AIRLINE GOLF BAG POLICIES
and Commerce Marketing’s UK and Ireland
director, admits this was long overdue.
“Very rarely has a destination risen
■ British Airways introduced charges for golf clubs last autumn,
with only one bag carried free and a second bag checked in costing
to such golfing prominence so quickly,”
£40 per flight at the airport or £32 online. he says. “But Dubai with its year-round
sunshine, luxury service and world-class
■ Virgin Atlantic, Etihad and Emirates allow one golf bag with clubs plus
golf facilities has confirmed its position on
a pair of golf shoes, free on top of their normal luggage allowance.
the golfing world stage for amateurs and
■ Egyptair carries golf clubs free, but within the normal baggage allowance.
professionals alike.”
Scott says golf is “a significant cog in the
36 12.02.2010
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