You may have assumed from the headline that this article is about "pointing a finger" at all the slow golfers out there that continue to ruin our game week after week by their selfish and heartless actions. Well, you are partially right.

The problem of slow play is very real and considerably annoying for a great number of golfers. The issue is equally contentious for the management team of the golf clubs, as the course marshals through to the directors of golf are the ones who get to take the brunt of your moans and whingeing after all!

So what should the management do? In my time at Nad Al Sheba I was offered stacks of interesting advice such as:

I have to confess that my article this week is self-generated through my own personal pain and torment. Yes, that’s right – my golf game!

I don’t however feel embarrassed in the slightest by admitting in print to the "XPRESS Loyal" that this game drives me nuts at the best of times, after all it is arguably the most technically difficult game in the world.

I join a multitude of "industry golf professionals" that admit that they don’t play or practise often enough due to work commitments and feel hard done by when they play badly, three-putt or miss a green.

Yes – it’s that time for year again. The corporate golf machine is winding up for what is looking at being the busiest corporate golf calendar of the UAE’s golfing history.

Over my years here in Dubai I have had the good fortune and pleasure of playing in many fantastically organised and somewhat luxurious company golf days, where the client has treated their guests like royalty from the moment they’ve pulled up in the car park.

I have to say that the UAE companies that partake in this type of entertaining really know how to do it! Pro-am formats are becoming increasingly popular among the big players and what better way of entertaining your top customers than placing them in the capable hands of a PGA professional for the day?

Isn’t it funny how clubhouse chatter changes as certain key events appear on the horizon?

Now the new golf season has officially started and the winter rates all over the UAE have kicked in, eager eyes scour the club noticeboards for upcoming events.

The flavour of the month at Emirates Golf club by far (and not just from the ladies), is the upcoming Dubai Ladies Masters (DLM) which takes place on December 13–16. A bit premature? Not if you’re an Emirates member.