When there are 27 holes of golf, I always try to make one set of the nine holes, an easier nine. Just to make sure it’s more suited for the “normal player”.

When I first designed the 27 holes of Abu Dhabi Golf Club back in 2000, the third nine wasn’t all that good to be called “championship”.

Overtime, it lost its character, and the new owner Khalfan Al Kaabi has decided to put some real estate around it. And obviously, golf sells real estate, as we all know.

So currently, it’s a completely flat site. There are no lakes anymore. There’s nothing. A bulldozer has gone in there and flattened everything. There are a few trees left, fortunately. But it’s a complete new redesign. New everything, new irrigation, literally new everything.

In a way it is a lot easier to design a golf course, where you have a completely flat area, but you have to be very creative because you have to put in hillocks and all that stuff to make it exciting.

And the great thing is, here in the Gulf, the conditions are ideal for grass and they’re ideal for good maintenance. I think that that’s what makes a difference really.

Plus, what works in our favour here, is the sand. Working with sand is great, and the weather is always good too.

We will start at a certain point and end at a certain point. So that’s already a given. Then we try to do as many different pars as possible because it’s not a very big site as it’s tree-lined and the real estate is encroaching quite a bit. So we are going to just try to make it as interesting as possible and not too difficult.

As the plans go, we’re going to do the BQ (bill of quantities) and the specs by the end of next week. And I think they want to start sometime in December to start the build.

With a bit of luck, and all depending on the weather, we should be able to play in autumn 2025!

Peter Harradine is the Principal and Senior Architect of “Harradine Golf”

Main image: Harry Grimshaw

The post The Executive Treatment: Abu Dhabi National’s “Garden Course” is getting a complete revamp by it’s original designer appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

It will be the perfect way to kick off the New Year’s action and a chance for Team Europe to test their match play skills ahead of the Ryder Cup, which will be hosted at Bethpage Black, Farmingdale, New York, later in the year (September 23-28).

Match play golf calls upon attributes of teamwork that the usual stroke play tournaments of the DP World Tour and PGA Tour in the US do not put to the test.

Crucially, however, while the Team Cup is viewed as a warm-up event for the Ryder Cup, there is one significant difference as every player is involved in each session, making it the ultimate team test.

This year’s match at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort will see Italy’s Franceso Molinari captain Continental Europe against a Justin Rose-led Great Britain & Ireland, with both men knowing all about the unique pressures of match play golf, which pairs up players for the first two days before the final-day singles against each other.

David Cannon

Molinari said: “European players have traditionally loved match play golf and we have seen fantastic displays of camaraderie between them in recent years.

“It’s all about pulling together and realising that you’re all competing as a single team with one aim – to beat the opposition. Successful match play teams have no room for egos and, even if you’re not involved at the time, you want to see your teammates succeed on the course.”

Match play pitches pair against pair and player against player (singles) in a way that stroke play golf does not – even if you’re having a really poor round, as long as you beat your rival(s), your point towards the team’s final tally is just as important as if you’re shooting in the low 60s.

At the Team Cup, teams will compete in match play across one session of fourballs on the Friday, two sessions of foursomes on the Saturday, and one session of singles on the Sunday, with every player taking part in all four of the sessions. Each match will be worth one point, with the team crossing the 12½ point mark being crowned winners.

Last time out, in the event formerly known as the Hero Cup, Molinari’s Continental Europe defeated Dubai resident’s Tommy Fleetwood by 14½ -10½.

Abu Dhabi Sports Council are returning as an Official Partner of the event, reaffirming their commitment to golf in the region in addition to their support of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, held at Yas Links on November 7-10.

Main Image: Getty Images

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Golf Digest Middle East managed to pin down Thomas Gracey from Abu Dhabi Golf Club, to find out how it was that golf got him from Belfast to Abu Dhabi, and how he has become the youngest Senior PGA Instructor in the Middle East, at just the tender age of 24.

Golf is going places with Gracey.

Firstly Thomas, how did you get into golf back home in Northern Ireland? It’s obviously a huge sport back there?

It was my grandfather that got me into golf. My parents had me when they were quite young, so my grandparents took me on the weekends to give them a little break. Every weekend, my Granda and I would do something on Saturday, whether it was fishing, biking, football, literally anything you could think of, and of course, golf!

I have very fond memories of practicing putting up and down the hall with my Granda when I was very young. He used to cut out different size circles; the smaller the circle, the more money it was worth if I could putt a ball and get it to land on it. Of course, it was only 50p or £1 at most, but that seemed like a lot when you were a kid!

When you’re that young, at three-years-of-age, you just do everything. But the older I got, the more and more I asked to play golf with my Granda. We became best friends, and through him, I fell in love with the game of golf. It turned out I was actually quite good at it, and it just snowballed from there really.

Eventually, my Granda got me junior membership at his golf club, Dunmurry Golf Club. The club had a very well-renowned junior section that produced some amazing amateur golfers that won some of the biggest amateur events in the country! Once I got into that environment, I thrived.

Our junior Fred Daly team at the time had seven players with handicaps that ranged from +3 to 1, and I loved it. Even looking back now, competing with and against juniors my age all over the country was amazing. We had the best times travelling, and we honestly treated it like our lives depended on it—it was our Ryder Cup! I spent every second of my free time practicing and playing I just wanted to get better and Dunmurry Golf Club literally became my home.

With your own golfing career, did you want to just work in golf in some shape?

At the start of my career as a young junior within the club, yes, I wanted to play golf for a living on tour. I think that every young golfer who is somewhat good at the game has that dream. But the older I got, the more I realized that even though I was pretty good, there were a lot more people out there that were VERY GOOD!

I did go through a phase within school during my A-levels when I won a few awards for Engineering, so through that, I started to see myself becoming an engineer or an architect. I was always very interested in building things growing up, but I went to do work experience with an interior architect company that did work for some big celebrities in London. But I sat in the office, everyone had headphones in, looking at a screen all day, and I just kept thinking to myself, “This is not for me.” I wanted to be outside with a golf club, so I decided to join the PGA and become a Golf Coach.

It was an easy choice in the end, as I have always been obsessed with the golf swing and why the ball moved the way it did and how we could get our bodies to move a certain way to produce a certain shot. I got very lucky as I entered the PGA with only a week left before the deadline to have a job in the golf industry, but my grandfather was friendly with a golf professional called Andrew Manson at Edenmore Golf Club, who happened to be looking for a new assistant. The rest is history.

We were the number one Mizuno performance centre and ranked top in sales in a lot of accounts from different brands! Andy was and still is a huge influence in my career. I learned so much from him; we became like best friends.

Work never felt like work with Andy. He never asked me to do anything he wouldn’t do himself, and we just got stuff done, whether it was a 15-hour shift on Captain’s Day or hauling in stock. The attitude was “let’s get it done” instead of complaining about it. I definitely bring these attitudes to my work now, and I don’t think I would be where I am today without Andy and the things he taught me.

Not only did he teach me a lot work ethic wise, but every night after work, Andy and I would hit balls in the Trackman Simulator. We would play holes and talk about the golf swing. Andy always had time for me in this way and was just as committed to helping people understand the golf swing and finding out as much as possible as I was.

Fitting clubs also became a huge passion of mine while working at Edenmore, so in my early golf career, I was heavily focused on gaining as many certifications in custom fitting as possible. But I think knowledge in golf, no matter what aspect, can be beneficial when it comes to coaching in some shape or form.

How did you come to leave Northern Ireland and end up in the UAE at Abu Dhabi Golf Club?

I have been here now three years, but I always say it’s like dog years out here!

It’s a funny story. It was my colleague Amy Condon that made me want to come out here! We were playing the Assistant Championships at Nuremore Golf Club, the hilliest golf course I’ve ever played! We played 36 holes a day for two days in lashing rain. It was horrendous, absolute torture! We were having food after the last day in the clubhouse, soaking wet, feeling miserable for ourselves, and Amy told me she got a job offer in Dubai.

Now initially, I was super happy for her, but at the same time, I don’t think my ego could hack it, haha! I thought, if Amy can do it, why not me?!

A day later, I got in touch with Jamie McConnell who at the time was at the Claude Harmon III at The Els Club Dubai, who then put me in contact with Kieren Pratt. Kieren was just made Director of Instruction at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and was trying to build a brand-new team. I had my interview and started within three weeks! It all worked out so perfectly timing-wise.

To be honest, it didn’t really click with me what club I was going to until I googled Abu Dhabi Golf Club and saw the massive Falcon as a clubhouse. I was a little in shock, as the club is very famous for hosting the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the DP World Tour. I had to double-check with Kieren that it was really the same club!

Fast forward to now, I am a completely different golf coach since being here than I was back home. The Middle East is different, and it can easily eat you up and spit you back out and send you home again very quickly. But I love it here and everything about it. I love my life here in Abu Dhabi. It’s a little more homely and slower pace than in Dubai.

The style of coaching at home I would say is slightly different than in Abu Dhabi. We do a lot of group coaching, and that’s something I was thrown into when I got here, considering at the time it was just Kieren, Nick Cork (Senior Teaching Professional), and myself. But luckily, I had two amazing golf coaches with very successful careers in the Middle East to learn from. Both Nick and Kieren learned from Danny Jakubowski, who’s track record in Abu Dhabi Speaks for itself. A lot of his standards in terms of how a golf lesson should be taken are still enforced today, and I think for that to be trickled down to me was very instrumental in my career growth.

It was a lot at the start, but Kieren took me under his wing and taught me a lot when it comes to standards within the golf club and what he would call the storytelling within a lesson—how the lesson should flow from start to finish. I was like a sponge, soaking up all the information I was getting in the first few months! Working with two amazing professionals at the start made me want to learn more and more, so I started to take more and more extra certifications to learn as much as I could.

I think also the fact that my focus is solely on golf coaching instead of having to be split between club fitting, the shop, and coaching helped a lot. I just wanted to give the best lesson possible. I kind of became Kieren’s right-hand man in a sense, and as a result, I was exposed to a lot very quickly. I think he saw a bit of himself in me to be honest.

I quickly became the highest revenue generator within the academy, an achievement I’m proud to say I have maintained for the past 3 years, consistently growing the revenue I have been able to bring in for the club each year.

You have to be so flexible in the UAE in terms of your coaching. We meet people from all over the world so you have to adapt to a variety of skill levels but not only that the langue barrier. So my coaching style definitely had to adapt to all of this and as a result has made me a far better and more rounded golf coach.

Would you say you have a passion in growing the junior side of the game? How has that developed at Abu Dhabi Golf Club?

Yes, absolutely. My love of junior coaching started before I joined the PGA, actually. I got my Level One in coaching very early and volunteered in a lot of schools and at my home club to help with junior development. I think it comes from the experiences I had with my grandfather, my coaches, the junior section and the environment within Dunmurry Golf Club growing up. Remembering how much joy golf brought me, I wanted to give that to as many juniors as possible.

The junior development at Abu Dhabi Golf Club is something I am very proud of being a part of. We have had great success over the past three years I have been here. I took over the Junior Program when I first arrived here and helped grow the juniors.

The hard work paid off as well as I was asked to run the National Junior Program at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, so I got the chance to write the programs and run the classes. And we successfully ran up to 14 classes a week for the local Emirati community!

When we were able to hire my long-time friend Amy Condon, I quickly passed on the junior program to her, but I still play a role in the running of the program in the background. With Amy and I running the juniors together, we developed a new curriculum and program with progression levels for juniors from complete beginners to others that compete in US Kids Golf Tournaments.

The new program, which was heavily based on challenges and games for enjoyment, was immensely popular. The introduction of scorecards for the juniors to track their progress added to the kids wanting to come more and more! We currently have over 80 juniors that attend class on a weekly basis with ages ranging from as young as four years old all the way to 16/17 years old.

You specialise a lot in men’s group classes as well. Was that your decision to develop and how is that progressing at the club?

Yes, recently I have put a lot of my focus on the Men’s Program. It was something I always wanted to run and develop after watching Kieren and Nick in that environment in the early days. The more advanced coaching in that environment was definitely something that intrigued me and matched my vision more of how I saw myself as a golf coach.

I wouldn’t say it was my decision directly. As mentioned before, I quickly became Kieren’s right-hand man, so I was brought in on a lot of men’s group lessons to help when the numbers in a class got big.

Over time, I chipped in more and more, and eventually, I started running my own classes, and they saw a lot of success. I think both Kieren and I saw how we ran the classes the same way: they should be very informative, and the information side had to be world-class, but there also needed to be a sense of fun and enjoyment.

Kieren eventually got a promotion to Director of Golf, and therefore it naturally fell to me to run the Men’s Program. Since I have been in charge of the program, it has seen a participation growth of 300%! I like to think my dedication to the program has a lot to do with that. I am constantly coming up with new promotions to entice more and more men to participate.

We have created a sense of community within the program; it’s a place where you can meet new people and learn golf. I love seeing all the men start to socialize, whether that be nights out, a few drinks after class, or organizing to play golf together.

Along with this, I was able to partner with a company called Bryson. Bryson has allowed us to offer so much more with the men’s development groups and, in fact, the groups in general. The participants now get so much more for their money in terms of content such as recap videos, practice plans, round statistics, and much, much more—but we can’t give away too many of our secret! Bryson has helped us see a revenue increase of 47% this season. Bryson, along with successful partnerships with other companies in the area that offer our members discounts, has definitely helped to achieve the extraordinary growth in numbers!

At just 24, you are the youngest Senior PGA Instructor in the whole of the UAE, you must have a huge sense of pride with that?

This is one achievement I am extremely proud of—not only becoming a Senior Instructor but also being the youngest Senior Instructor in the Middle East at 24, which just added to it tenfold. I think the sense of achievement and pride comes from knowing all the long days and hard work have paid off! Because as cliché as it sounds, it simply comes down to hard work.

As my career progressed from season to season, I found myself taking on more and more responsibilities within the golf academy. I think I was able to demonstrate an ability to handle increased responsibilities without compromising the quality of my work. That, along with my work ethic and motivation for self-development, especially when it comes to knowledge. I’d say my understanding of the running of the golf academy helped a lot also when it comes to planning and implementation within the team. By being able to see the bigger picture outside of just my own lesson diary and doing everything I could to bring business for the academy to the club all helped me in becoming a Senior Instructor. And of course, Kieren having a lot of faith and confidence in me, for which I am extremely grateful.

What are the main goals for you developing golf participation in Abu Dhabi? Would it be maybe making it more accessible? Informative? Social?

Everything! I think my goals and vision for golf here span massively, if I am honest. I don’t see why not. I mean, we have some of the best facilities in the world in terms of range size, Trackman range, and a Championship golf course! My goal is to create an environment for everyone within golf.

I want to provide options for everyone, whether that be on one end of the scale in the form of a group lesson with friends or an individual lesson where they want to learn but also have a chat and a bit of a laugh. Or even a place where they can come down, use the Trackman range, play some games with friends or kids catching monsters on Magic Pond, all while having some food and drinks. Maybe it’s something in between where they just want to come practice their golf a bit after work, take a few lessons, and go play a few holes. At the other end, for some players that are really focused on their game I want the club to also offer some of the best coaching in the world with a pristine grass range, chipping green, and putting green, all with the most advanced technology we can offer!

In saying that, we are very committed to accessibility, and that starts with us going into schools. We are quite lucky to have partnerships with multiple schools in the area where we offer after-school golf and even participate in the school’s sports days, which I think is an amazing way to introduce golf.

When the kids want to come to golf, the parents will follow. It’s all just a big cause-and-effect situation.

Images: Supplied

The post From Belfast to Abu Dhabi – the sky’s the limit for Thomas appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Along with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), nations of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, and Qatar had representing teams. Winning the Team Gold was UAE and winning the Individual Gold for the 2024 GCC Youth Games was Rayan Ahmed.

Bronze Medal – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (left), Silver Medal – Sultanate of Oman (right), Gold Medal – United Arab Emirates (top), with dignitaries.

Rayan Ahmed, Mohammed Skaik, Rashid Al Jassmy, and Thomas Nesbitt represented the UAE Team and won the Gold Medal. Rayan led the way for Team UAE with rounds of 70-71-73 for a championship total 214, two under par. Mohammad Skaik won the Individual Silver Medal with rounds of 81-77-72, 12 over par total. While rounding out the top three, and securing the clean sweep of the individual medals for the tournament, was Thomas Nesbitt with rounds of 78-78-74, 14 over par.

Winning the Team Silver Medal was the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won the Bronze medal for the games.

Following the event Vice Chairman, General Abdualla Alhashmi said, “It is always great to bring our brothers from the GCC together to compete. This is a sport that we all love and that we work collectively to try to develop within the region. Of course, we are proud of our team and these accomplishments but more importantly, we look forward to the future of the GCC Nations growing the game of golf. Lastly, I would like to thank our leadership at the United Arab Emirates Olympic Committee for organizing these Youth Games. These platforms will continue to push the next Olympians for the UAE.”

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, President of the National Olympic Committee, and President of the First Gulf Youth Games, the Higher Committee for the event chaired by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, the first GCC Youth Games UAE 2024 will host 3,500 male and female athletes, 36 individual and team sports through 41 sporting competitions during the period from April 16 to May 2.

The slogan for the games “Our Gulf is one . Our youth is promising” expresses the values of respect, equality, and fair play.

Images: Emirates Golf Federation

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Golf Sixes League is a development initiative which introduces young people to golf in a fun and inclusive environment, along with an added competitive element.

The Abu Dhabi-based GolfSixes League will see seven squads of 12 players, who rotate a team of six during each round, compete in a two-ball Texas scramble stroke play format across six holes. The best two scores of the three pairs will count toward the team score.

The League will take place on three dates from January to March, with team winners declared after each round and an overall champion decided at the Grand Final in April.

Encouraging and inclusive

The pilot season is a collaboration between The R&A and the Emirates Golf Federation, which will field a team in the League alongside those from Yas Links Golf Club, Yas Acres Golf Club, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and the Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club.

Neal Graham, Regional Development Manager – Middle East & India at The R&A, said, “GolfSixes League is a proven development initiative which encourages new golfers into the sport in a fun and competitive way. It allows young people to bring their newfound skills from the lesson tee onto the course in an encouraging and inclusive team environment.

“Golf in the Middle East continues to grow and we are aiming to sustain this momentum by adopting initiatives that have been successful in other regions around the world. We hope the introduction of GolfSixes League to Abu Dhabi will deliver similar results for golf participation in the state as we have seen in Great Britain and Ireland, Europe and Africa.”

General Abdulla Alhashmi, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation, said, “The Emirates Golf Federation is delighted to be working with The R&A on the GolfSixes League in Abu Dhabi. We believe golf is a healthy activity for children and we support initiatives that encourage early adoption and long-term playing of the sport. We would also like to recognize and thank the golf clubs in Abu Dhabi for embracing the GolfSixes League and we hope your teams enjoy competing.”

About GolfSixes in Abu Dhabi

The first round of the GolfSixes League took place on Saturday 27 January at Yas Links Golf Club on its Academy Course where the team from Abu Dhabi City Golf Club became the first winners.

The three teams in the first round of the GolfSixes League at Yas Links Golf Club – The R&A

Round two takes place on Tuesday 20 February at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club before Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club host the third round on Saturday 23 March.

The Grand Final will be played at Yas Acres Golf Club on Saturday 20 April where the first overall champions will be decided.

The GolfSixes League in Abu Dhabi is open to boys and girls of any age who are beginner golfers and do not hold a Handicap Index ^®.

The expansion of Golf Sixes League into Abu Dhabi builds on the successful implementation of GolfSixes League in Europe by The R&A, the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG), the Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT), DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour.

GolfSixes League has also seen successful adoption across Great Britain and Ireland where it is administered by the Golf Foundation, England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf.

The shorter GolfSixes format continued to expand and introduce even more children following a successful pilot season in continental Europe. There are now 20 nations delivering GolfSixes League and GolfSixes Mini League, a marked increase from ten nations in 2022. Over 7,800 players took part at 660 participating clubs/facilities in 2023. In total, 43% of players became junior members in GB&I whilst being part of Golf Sixes League.

GolfSixes League is a proven pathway with 88% of children who took part in Great Britain and Ireland last year indicating they would like to play more golf as a result of participating in the programme.

Image: The R&A

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Having come from a sporting family in Dublin, Ireland, Amy was influenced by her father to play every sport under the sun growing up. Her father was quite traditional in that sense. A successful career in primary school with Camogie, a national sport in Ireland, took Amy to represent her school St Pius at Croke Park, an 82,000 seater stadium. That was her biggest achievement as a youngster and has fueled her onto where she  is today.

Soon after she moved into secondary school at “Our Lady’s”, a well know Hockey school. Amy was a hockey player more than anything which was where she figured out that she had the hand-eye coordination from a fairly young age, just lacked the patience part.

On an off chance, her then principal at the time Grainne Friel, who was a member of South County Golf Club, organised the class to go up to the golf course after school for coaching with Ramie Burns and Cormac Hennessy every Friday evening.

It was then she become hooked. Transitioning from hitting tennis balls on the hockey pitch one Friday afternoon, Amy then became a member of South County Golf Club, and eventually Junior Girls Captain at the age of 14. 

Amy didn’t know then, that would be the start of her career in golf.

“In secondary school, when I was 15, we were told to go and do some work experience. It was then I decided to try and get a spot in Newlands Golf Club in the Professional Shop working under Head Professional Karl O’Donnell. I was also in the Darren Clarke School doing a ‘Transition Year’ (TY) golf program so it coincided with that.

“Karl ended up keeping me on and I did weekend work or ‘the grave yard’ shifts that no pros want to do!

“So back to when I was 18 doing my degree, as I initially wanted to be a Biology or PE Teacher, I was still working in Newlands from the age of 15. Karl then asked me how I was getting on in college and I was open and honest with him. I was unhappy and he said well why don’t we work together on your golf and get your handicap down.

“I was off 12 at the time and he said I can start the PGA and train under him.

“That’s when I decided to drop out of college, be the first at the golf course and then last to leave. My girl friends back home strongly disliked the fact I put my social life on hold because I didn’t go out and socialise much, I didn’t go travelling with them because I wanted to prove to myself and everyone that I wanted and could go down the PGA route.”

The hard work paid off for Amy, she was awarded golfer of the year at Newlands, and she won the Ladies Leinster Alliance while also shooting the ladies course record in Newlands back-to-back, so the results started to show.

Amy then decided to turn professional and moved over to Elm Park to work under Peter Morgan for three years which is where her passion for ladies and junior development really came to light. 

“When I was younger and playing golf in Newlands there was only three girls out of 30 boys who played regular. So when I was in Elm Park, one of my goals was to increase the girls junior section, so I increased girls group coaching and from that Elm Park had more girls apply for membership and take up the game.”

After making the jump over to the UAE, it was Kieran Pratt, the then Director of Golf, who persuaded Amy to move from Dubai after a year down to Abu Dhabi. A familiar face in Thomas Gracey from back home in Ireland was already at Abu Dhabi Golf Club (ADGC) so it made sense.

“Taking the job here at ADGC is possibly the best decision I’ve ever made. Abu Dhabi in general is beautiful. The golf club itself is just out of this world. We have our club house in the shape of a falcon! Where else in the world would you find that?”

“I just feel Abu Dhabi itself is more breathable. The pace of life is way more relaxed. You have time to breathe here and we’re like one big disfuntual family here at The Falcon Performance Institute!”

Being the only female PGA Professional in Abu Dhabi, Amy is able to take what she learnt back in Ireland and treat it is a type of ‘challenge’ to get more females involved in the game.

“It’s a great challenge, but it’s also something that I’ve always wanted to try and do. Being a female professional in such a male dominated industry is like, why not take on that challenge and try change it?

“There’s nothing stopping women taking up this sport. There’s nothing to say women can’t enojoy golf like men do. If anything, I want to showcase the game of golf and show that its fun and enjoyable and that’s why I joined the R&A’s Women In Golf Charter.

“I want to try and break those barriers and show that golf is fun, that women can play and that there’s no stigma attached to playing on the golf course.

“I recently created an event where I transformed our nine hole garden course into a par three and all the ladies went and played. It was in line with Pink October, so everyone dressed in pink, it wasn’t competitive and there was on the spot prizes for the best dressed, the most decorative golf ball etc. We called it the ‘The Ladies Fun Golf Event’. I organised a special rate, they all got golf carts, there was no course rules, super relaxed and fun.

“One of the ladies messaged me after and said ‘It was the best event! I felt more comfortable than expected and had a blast playing on the course for the first time. Looking forward to the next event on course’. It couldn’t of gone any better!”

Image supplied

As touched upon, the help Amy has received by taking up The R&A’s Women in Golf Charter Programme has been the support system she has needed to grow the game within the region. 

“There’s definitely more to offer now which is great and golf clubs are more aware and are willing to support female participation and involvement. Golf Ireland are doing their upmost back at home with training panels and supporting all golf clubs along with girls events and then The R&A here in the Middle East are massively supporting female and all professionals like me to try and spread the love and involvement of the game amongst women.

“I’ve always said I wanted to promote golf and involve more women so the programme couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

“It also comes down to my own experiences taking up golf and there being very few girls, so it’s always been something I’ve wanted to try and encourage amongst women and I feel with being in the position that I’m in and being the only female professional in the whole of Abu Dhabi, why not use that to my advantage and try and grow the game?”

A familiar female golf programme already picking up steam in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is ‘Chicks With Sticks’ (CWS). This is something Amy has also managed to take control of alongside the Ladies Development Programme at the club. In what is more ammunition into her growing plethora of Ladies golfing activities.

“I was given ‘Chick With Sticks’ to look after when I first arrived at ADGC. I work extremely close with Jen Hennessy who I got to know from back home in Ireland to try and involve more women my age but also all ages into the game.

“We currently have a great group of girls in CWS mainly from the beautiful Emerald Isle but also from the UK.

“For me personally it’s been so much fun getting to know the girls and I’ve made some really good friends through teaching the program. CWS is brilliant for the girls who have just moved out here as it helps everyone get to know one another while sharing, enjoying and learning a new skill over a five week period.

“I also was given the Ladies Development Program. The women are the absolute best and they’re brilliant craic to teach. It’s eight weeks long and it includes on course lessons also so again it ties in perfectly with the Women In Golf Charter as the ladies are acquainted with the golf course from lesson one.

“We currently have 30 plus ladies in the program. I had to start it from scratch this year, so to have 30 ladies who have an interest in golf and are itching for term two it’s so encouraging to see.

“They’re even talking about buying their own golf clubs and playing other courses in Abu Dhabi. Once the ladies enjoy and learn about golf that’s all I want. Seeing them finish their sessions and the smiles as they say thanks and go on about their evening its incredibly refreshing.

It’s non-stop for Amy, she still has goals and ambitions for developing golf participation in Abu Dhabi, and show ladies in the emirate that golf is accessible and it’s not what it used to be like decades ago.

“My main goals for developing golf and participation in Abu Dhabi is to showcase the game of golf and demonstrate that this game is not what it was 30 years ago. It’s nowhere near as strict as it was. It’s become more colloquial and with the environment here at ADGC its calm, its relaxed, it’s fun.

“Times are changing, and more women are realising that you can take this sport up as a social activity or you have the choice to go down the more serious route and here, we can accommodate for both. We cater for absolutely everyone. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, who you are, you’re accepted here and always will be and you will learn a new skill in a fun, comfortable and exciting environment. Why wouldn’t you want to take it up?!

“In line with the Women In Golf Charter we have also created an all girls golf session to have that option. I created this last year in our Junior Falcon Program and the girls loved it. The friendships that were created around learning and improving their game was just unfathomable. So, for this season we will continue with that. 

“I also want to do a monthly lady’s fun golf day. This was a massive success and the women thoroughly enjoyed it. Again, it will be fun, enjoyable and it will help break those barriers and stigmas on course. Whether you want to play it socially or competitively, we have the option have for both.”

Main image: Supplied

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“I didn’t know anything about the LIV Promotions until I got told the Monday after I won,” said the Kiwi, “and now I’m here and I’ve made it to the second day, which everything is on.”

Mountcastle is one of 29 players who finished inside the top 20 and ties to advance out of the 60 competitors playing the first round. Those 29 will be joined by 13 exempt players for a 42-man field for Saturday’s second round, with scores reset.

Round of the day so far goes to Kiwi's Kerry Mountcastle – eight under par round the National Course #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/c0fBDNchZ0

— Golf Digest ME (@GolfDigestME) December 8, 2023

The top 20 (with playoffs breaking ties) will move on to Sunday’s 36-hole day, with the top three finishers earning lucrative spots in the 2024 LIV Golf League.

His closest pursuer on the opening day was American Seungsu Han, who carded a six under 66.

Seven players finished at 5 under, including Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen, who claimed a hole-in-one at the par-3 15th with an eight iron.

“I felt like it was a little bit too much club,” Pulkkanen said, “but my caddie said it’s perfect, and I trusted him, and it went in. Thanks for him.”

The real drama was the cutline number at two under.

Of the 12 players who advanced on the number, seven needed birdies on the last hole, the par-5 18th: Settee Prakongvech, Zach Murray, Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Braden Thornberry, Luis Carrera, Bio Kim and Lucas Bjerregaard. Two others were at two under entering the 18th and bogeyed the hole – Guntaek Koh and Chris Stroud.

Three amateurs played Friday, and one advanced – Ireland’s Max Kennedy, who shot a bogey-free five under 67. LIV Golf Promotions is just the second professional tournament he’s competed in. His game plan for Saturday is simple.

“Just make birdies,” he said. “That’s all it takes.”

Irish Amateur Max Kennedy is safely through to round two after a bogey-free five under par

We followed him over his closing holes – the stones on him!

Plus his caddy is the ultimate hype man!@amateur_info #LIVGolf @livgolf_league @ADGolfClub pic.twitter.com/osr1NjhqZS

— Golf Digest ME (@GolfDigestME) December 8, 2023

PLAYERS ADVANCING TO ROUND TWO

Kerry Mountcastle, New Zealand (-8) – Recently won the Gippsland Super 6 on the PGA Tour of Australasia

Seungsu Han, USA (-6) – Won the Asian Tour’s Korean Open Golf Championship in June

Junghwan Lee, Korea (-5) – Has three runner-up finishes on the Korean Tour this season

Jinichiro Kozuma, Japan (-5) – Made three starts in the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series, finishing 29th in points

Taichi Kho, Hong Kong (-5) – Won the Asian Tour’s World City Championship in his native Hong Kong in March

Max Kennedy, Ireland (-5) – One of four amateurs in the field this week

Tapio Pulkkanen, Finland (-5) – Played this season on the DP World Tour

Poom Saksansin, Thailand (-5) – Won the Asian Tour’s Yeangder TPC in September

Sadom Kaewkanjana, Thailand (-5) – Played full-time on the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series

Jaco Ahlers, South Africa (-4) – Won the Asian Tour’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters in October

Jeongwoo Ham, Korea (-4) – Has one win and five other top-5 finishes in his last six starts on the Korean Tour

Steve Lewton, England (-4) – Finished 22nd on the International Series standings in 2023

Miguel Tabuena, Philippines (-4) – Won The DGC Open on the Asian Tour in March

Zach Bauchou, USA (-3) – Has two top-5s in his last eight Korn Ferry Tour starts

Kazuki Higa, Japan (-3) – Has 10 professional wins, six on the Japan Golf Tour

Phachara Khongwatmai, Thailand (-3) – Played full-time in the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series

Grégory Bourdy, France (-3) – Has 10 professional wins, four on the European Tour

Suteepat Prateeptienchai, Thailand (-2) – Won in his most recent start on the Asian Tour at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open

Settee Prakongvech, Thailand (-2) – Posted three victories in 23 starts in 2022

Zach Murray, Australia (-2) – Finished 38th in the 2023 International Series standings

Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Thailand (-2) – Won once and finished runner-up four times in 25 starts in 2022

Suradit Yongcharoenchai, Thailand (-2) – Finished 28th in the 2023 International Series standings

Kevin Yuan, Australia (-2) – Played the inaugural event last season at LIV Golf London Invitational

Braden Thornberry, USA (-2) – Won the 2017 NCAA Division I men’s golf championship while at University of Mississippi

Joel Stalter, France (-2) – Posted his lone DP World Tour win in 2020 in Austria

Luis Carrera, Mexico (-2) – Turned pro this summer after stellar career at University of Central Florida

Bio Kim, Korea (-2) – Has four wins in the last three seasons, including the LX Championship this year on the Korean Tour

Martin Trainer, France (-2) – Won in Puerto Rico on the PGA Tour in 2019

Lucas Bjerregaard, Denmark (-2) – Has six professional wins, including two on the DP World Tour 

13 PLAYERS JOIN FIELD FOR ROUND TWO

Thirteen players who received first-round byes due to their eligibility category will join Friday’s survivors for the second-round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Those 13 include five players who ranked 2nd – 8th in the final International Series standings: India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, Australia’s Wade Ormsby and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent.

Three players who were relegated out of the 2023 LIV Golf League will begin their attempt at returning to the league: Australian Jed Morgan and Americans Sihwan Kim and James Piot. In addition, reserve Laurie Canter will also start Saturday.

Amateur Sampson-Yuhne Zheng of China received an invite as the highest-ranking entrant in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Finland’s Kalle Samooja is eligible as a 2022 winner on the DP World Tour.

Two veteran players accepted invitations to play: 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner and PGA Tour winner Kevin Chappell, both from the U.S.

“Bypassing the first round is definitely an advantage,” Ormsby said. “It’s one less round you’ve got, one less hurdle to get over.”

“Instead of 80 players fighting for three cards in the first round, we will have less than 40 players fighting for the same number of cards,” Bhullar said. “The probability just gets better.”

The second round will start with a fresh leaderboard after scores are reset. The top 20 finishers on Saturday – playoffs will break ties if necessary – will advance to the final 36-hole finish on Sunday.

Image: LIV Golf

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So, he’s trying something new this week. Something different. Something he hopes will lead to an exciting new chapter of his competitive life.

The 2013 PGA Championship winner is arguably the most decorated player of the 73 competitors at this week’s LIV Golf Promotions event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. He’s the only player with a major win, and he also has Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup experience, along with the most PGA Tour wins of anyone (5).

Now he has a chance to join the 2024 LIV Golf League if he can finish in the top three after Sunday’s 36-hole final day. It would be a considerable career U-turn for Dufner, who has spent the last 18 years playing an American-based schedule. He’s certainly embracing the possibility; otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.

“For me, it would be a new experience, obviously,” the 46-year-old Dufner said Thursday on the eve of a first round that he doesn’t need to play, thanks to a tournament invite directly into Saturday’s second round.

“At this point, maybe something new, maybe something different might refresh me a little bit. … Looking forward to the week of qualifying and seeing where I stack up.”

The decision to play in the Promotions tournament, Dufner said, is mostly related to his category status on the PGA Tour. “I’d be in the past champion category,” he explained. “I think that’s going to be very limited starts with the way things have changed on the PGA Tour, and I just looked at it like maybe I could come over and play this tour. Maybe that would be an opportunity for me.

“I’m an independent contractor, so I’m always looking for opportunities to play. … If I could come over here and have a good week, that would open up some doors for something new and something different for me to be part of LIV Golf.”

Although Dufner has competed against many of the current LIV golfers, he said he doesn’t have close relationships with any of them. But he certainly is aware of the success of the league’s biggest names, including Brooks Koepka, who has won three of the 10 PGA Championships played since Dufner’s victory at Oak Hill.

“There are great players on this tour. I know that,” he said. “I’m familiar with these guys, and when I do see these guys, they always have good things to say about this tour.”

LIV Golf’s global schedule certainly is appealing to Dufner. The 2024 regular-season schedule was recently released; of the 12 tournaments announced, seven will be held in nations outside the United States – Mexico (Mayakoba) in February, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong in March, Australia (Adelaide) in April, Singapore in May, and Spain (Andalucía) and England in July.

Dufner’s appearances outside North America have been rare in recent years, although he did play the Saudi International in 2022. He’s even played at Abu Dhabi Golf Club before, in 2013 when he tied for ninth.

“When I was in my prime for that decade or so, I played a lot around the world and I enjoyed it,” he said. “I enjoyed going to different places. I enjoyed bringing the game of golf to places.

“I think in the States, we’re spoiled because every week is almost a new event in a different location that is in the United States. But people in Hong Kong or Australia or in Abu Dhabi don’t get to see the best players in the world on a week-to-week basis, so I always thought it was important when I was one of the best players in the world to kind of go and play globally. I think that is very interesting to me that this tour kind of plays that global schedule and hits all these different spots.”

Asked what kind of form he’s in, Dufner called it “reasonably well” since the U.S. Open in June. He tied for 19th recently in Napa, California, one of his top results in recent years. Once he committed to playing LIV Golf Promotions, he’s put in proper prep time.

“I feel like we see it in all professional sports – guys that struggle or aren’t playing great,” Dufner said. “Every week is a new opportunity. I think that’s the great thing about professional golf. Things can change pretty quickly.”

If Dufner finishes inside the top 3 this week, things will definitely change quickly for him as the next chapter begins.

Main Image: Turk Pettit, Jason Dufner and Jed Morgan (l-r). LIV Golf

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Beginning Friday, December 8, the three-day, four-round competition will feature more than 70 rising stars and accomplished pros including a Major Champion, Ryder Cup and Walker Cup standouts, former top-ranked amateurs and NCAA champions, and winners on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Open exemption criteria gave accomplished players from around the world the opportunity to enter LIV Golf Promotions, where the top three finishers will earn their place to be drafted onto one of the LIV Golf League teams for next season, which kicks off in Mexico, February 2-4, 2024, with LIV Golf Mayakoba.

“LIV Golf Promotions creates an open pathway for players to compete in the LIV Golf League, and the interest shown in the event’s inaugural year reinforces the significance of these new opportunities for the sport,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman. “There is exceptional talent from all corners of the globe and LIV Golf is establishing a platform for these current and rising stars of the game to build their careers in new, exciting ways. LIV Golf’s future is bright, and our anticipation grows to see which competitors will be part of this game-changing league in 2024.”

Nearly 60 players will tee off in round one on December 8, and those who finish in the top 20 and ties advance to Saturday’s second round, where scores will reset, and the field will be joined by a category of players who automatically qualified for day two of competition.

The top 20 players (after tiebreakers) following round two will advance to the final day of competition, where scores will reset once more for a 36-hole shootout.

At Sunday’s conclusion, the top three finishers will receive highly coveted spots in the LIV Golf League for 2024, where they will compete in each of the league’s 14 stops on the 2024 global schedule. In addition, players finishing fourth to 10th place will earn full exemption for all 2024 events on The International Series sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

With an average age of 31, including 38 players under the age of 30, the field is full of next-generation talent. Among the rising stars are the Irish duo of Max Kennedy and Ryan Griffin, both renowned for their Palmer Cup successes. The lineup for LIV Golf Promotions also includes 22-year-old Samson-Yunhe Zheng from China, the field’s highest-ranked amateur and the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship runner-up.

“I’m really excited to compete in Abu Dhabi for the chance to play on LIV Golf in 2024,” said Zheng.  “I’ve been following the league closely this year, and the opportunity to play team golf with some of the best players in the game is very special. LIV Golf provides a great environment for players to build their career whilst sharpening their game, and I’m excited to compete and make that dream a reality.”

The field also includes 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner, former Ryder Cup stars Victor Dubuisson of France and Jeff Overton of the U.S., and former PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Asian Tour winners such as Chris Stroud, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, and Alvaro Quiroz.

Additionally, former LIV Golf players Sihwan Kim, Chase Koepka, Jed Morgan, and James Piot, who were relegated at the end of the 2023 season, as well as reserve Laurie Canter, will be trying to reclaim their LIV Golf status at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in December. Morgan, who completed a full season with the all-Australian Rippers GC team made up of Cam Smith, Marc Leishman and Matt Jones, shared his anticipation ahead of LIV Golf Promotions.

“Playing alongside Cam, Leish and Jonesy this past year was an unbelievable experience, both personally and professionally,” said Morgan. “Helping the team win in Bedminster, playing in front of a home crowd in Adelaide and sharing those memories with the guys are highlights that are tough to beat. I couldn’t quite put together the consistent play I wanted to, but I learned a lot from the season and I know what I’m capable of. Obviously, the goal is to return to the Rippers, so I know what I’ve got to do in Abu Dhabi.”

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Runners-up were the duo of Julian Pope and Alexander Pietzsch one point back on 43 points.

While in third spot a went to Abu Dhabi Golf Club Men’s Captain Chris Rossmeisl and Men’s Vice Captains Charles Parks on 41 points.

The three leading teams qualify to play in the UAE National Finals of the International Pairs at Abu Dhabi Golf Club held over the National Course on Saturday 9th March, 2024.

Then the winners of the UAE National Finals will qualify for the International Pairs World Final to be held in November, 2024 at the Royal Obidos Spa & Golf Resort and Bom Sucsso Resort in Portugal, aiming to be crowned the International Pairs World Champions.

Image: UAE International Pairs

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