One Door Closes, A New Golf Society Opens

It’s been a funny old week! Following the recent news from Dubai Racing Club, announcing the fantastic grand plans for the future of horse racing in Dubai, the much-rumoured closure of Nad Al Sheba Golf Club is now a reality.

What will this mean for the golf community you may ask?

As a golfer myself it is disappointing, but it has been exceptionally gratifying to see just how a golfing community can pull together in times of difficulty.

The game of golf has evolved greatly over the years, however the traditions of the game and the key social values that we have all learnt through golf have been maintained and this is what makes the game great.

Not only have I seen the local golfing community offer their support and encouragement to the many staff here at the club, but golfers of all cultural backgrounds have grouped together to forge a plan to develop the continuity of their social golfing habits.

Groups of friends that used to enjoy regular weekly games are formalising themselves into new golf societies. Existing societies at the club have already appointed themselves and their friends as tournament directors, social events managers, chairpersons of their societies – some with corporate structures that seem to rival the biggest of multinational corporations.

It’s great to see that through this period of change, people are not standing still. Golf is booming in Dubai and although we may be going through a temporary setback, one thing is for sure, golf will continue to be a key part of the Dubai brand and master plan for the sustainable future of the country.

Jules' Tip Of The Week

There is a lack of golf memberships currently available in Dubai. For those who face a short-term future of being a "pay and play" golfer, don’t despair – put a positive spin on events.

The UGA offer a fantastic "Handicap Scheme" membership that will enable you not only to get great discounts at all UAE golf clubs, but more importantly, they offer regular organised competitive golf across all UAE courses. Whereby in the past you may have played only one course, you now have a great opportunity to expand on your golfing experiences and develop your game as you vary the courses you play.

For more details on the UGA Handicap Scheme membership go to www.ugagolf.com.