Golf courses in the United Arab Emirates have clocked up over 50,000 rounds in a single month for the first time.
Only a month after KPMG’s Golf Travel Insights report revealed that the global golf tourism industry is holding firm – with bookings for golf breaks on the up – leisure firm Dubai Golf announces record breaking stats for golfers teeing up in the desert.
The number of rounds at the UAE’s premier clubs including; Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, The Montgomerie Dubai, Arabian Ranches, the Els Club Dubai, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Al Hamra Golf Club, Saadiyat, Yas Links, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa and Jumeirah Golf Estates was reported upon by independent auditors BDO Chartered Accountants & Advisors.
Golfers have been travelling to the UAE since 1988 when the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club opened.
The course was hailed as the “Desert Miracle” and was the first grass course to open in the region.
Since then a host of world class golf courses have been built in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Add to this the creation iconic architecture, first class hotels and attractions, including the 7-star Burj al Arab Hotel and the floating Palm peninsula in Dubai and you have one of the most talked about golf and tourism destinations on the planet.
Mustafa Al Hashimi, Club Manager at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, said; “It is a fantastic achievement for the golf courses in the United Arab Emirates to have hosted over 50,000 rounds for the first time.
The profile of the region as a true golfing destination is growing every year due to the premium opportunities for golfers that exist, together with the excellent climate for golf especially in the winter months.”
In total, 54,365 rounds were played in the United Arab Emirates during March.
Here’s how those rounds broke down
• 44% – member rounds
• 42% – local golfers paying green fees
• 14% – overseas visitors
The Majlis course at Emirates Golf had the most number of member rounds at around 3,300.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club welcomed the highest number of local players to the course, more than 3,400.
Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah had the highest number of overseas visitors and welcomed over 1,200 tourists to the course in March.
Play all day and night in Abu Dhabi
It’s no surprise that the UAE has stolen a march on some of its competitor golf destinations, since it wants golfers to be able to play all day and at night too.
In the past two years floodlights have been installed on the Faldo course at Emirates Golf Club and the championship course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club which means that visitors don’t have to stop swinging when the sun goes down.
Read all about night golf in Abu Dhabi here.
General Manager of Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Ken Kosak, said; “Night golf has proven to be particularly popular in the summer months when the weather is hotter and the evenings can be the best time to play 9 or 18 holes.”
Golf in the region has also been boosted by the hosting of major tournaments – generating worldwide television exposure – and attracting some of the biggest names in golf.
Top Tournaments and Big Names
As well as the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, the tournament calendar includes:
• Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course
• Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club
• DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – the season ending tournament of the European Tour -Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
“The Race to Dubai has contributed very positively to raising the profile of golf in the region.
Despite opening just over three years ago, we have been able to welcome some of the game’s great players to Jumeirah Golf Estates, allowing us to showcase the Earth course to golf enthusiasts from all over the world – and introduce the equally stunning Fire course,” said Geoff Hunter, General Manager, Jumeirah Golf Estates.
With the likes of Rory McIlroy promoting the region by wearing the Jumeirah Golf Estates brand on his caps, the awareness of the UAE, particularly Dubai, as a golf destination has rocketed in recent years.
Abu Dhabi is catching up fast to its wealthy high profile neighbor.
Yas Links in Abu Dhabi is one of the regions newest courses and now widely considered to be one of the best in the world. It was recently recognized by Golf Digest U.S.A as one of the top 25 of the ‘World’s Best Courses Outside of America.’
Christopher May, General Manager of Dubai Golf, said; “Despite being relatively new as a golfing destination in worldwide golfing terms, the United Arab Emirates really has established itself very quickly as a top class golfing destination.
The recent record of over 50,000 rounds in a month is due to the commitment and contribution that has been made by every course in the region to providing premium facilities and delivering consistently exceptional levels of service to all golfers that choose to play on our courses.”