20 Jan 2007
Dubai: Dubai is fast emerging as the "International Winter Capital of Golf' with the world's leading professionals heading to the city to fine tune their skills in the cosy ambience of the greens when it's freezing cold back home.
The heady mix of year-round sun, excellent golfing facilities and luxury accommodations has contrived to make Dubai an ideal base for globe-trotting golfers in the run up to the start of a new season.
Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson, Johan Edfors and Andrew Marshall to name a few have already settled here because Dubai is the fastest growing city in the world.
And the latest to join the 'golf rush' to Dubai is Gwladys Nocera, the French sensation who finished second on the 2006 money list with euro 415,020 in earnings after playing in the Dubai Ladies Masters here in October.
Dubai is changing. The City of Gold is now often referred to as the City of Golf and is an interesting place. Interesting in the sense that it is expanding faster, taller, bigger than any other country on the planet and has become a juggernaut of tourism, finance and Information Age business.
Golf, once considered alien to Dubai's culture, has become very much part of the city varied landscape with big names in the field like Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Ian-Banker Finch and Vijay Singh have either developed their signatures courses or are busy developing them, thus adding a touch of their class to the growing portfolio of golfing facilities.
Henrik Stenson, who is also one of the golf in DUBAI ambassadors, has made Dubai his base because he liked the practice facilities and he liked the year-round sunny weather.
"And then Dubai is also good to travel from because we play lots of tournaments in Asia and Australia in the early part of the season. So, it's also less time to travel - and less time difference as well," said the Swede who even chose Dubai as the venue for his recent marriage.
Thomas Bjorn, one of the first golfers to make Dubai his home, echoed similar feelings.
"I remember Dubai when it was a quiet place; it was like a hidden jewel. Today, Dubai is a much publicised place, popular among the tourists for all the new developments that have enveloped the city. Indeed it's quite interesting the way Dubai has spread itself - wide and varied and over the years grown into a favourite tourist destination of most tourists of the world," said the winner of 2001 Dubai Desert Classic and a golf in DUBAI ambassador.
"For Dubai, it was all about creating something that was different; something that the world has not seen. And it has been successful in this venture.
"Look at the growing number of golf courses in this region - its simply amazing. Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Greg Norman, all big names in golf are making their golf courses here," he said.
Nocera, however, is bowled over by the warmth of friendly people.
"You can almost sense homely warmth once you are in Dubai and, above all, it's a very safe place for a woman. What more you can ask for," felt Nocera who lauded the efforts of golf in DUBAI (giD) in successfully promoting and organising the first Dubai Ladies Masters in October last year.
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
