There have been numerous recent articles on the subject of junior golf, highlighting issues, opportunities and plans for developing the young golfing generation.

GolfEx (an international golf exhibition hosted annually in Dubai last month) based the majority of the exhibition on junior golf development and it certainly brought the focus home and attracted a number of international junior golf pioneers such as Duncan Weir, the Director of Development for the R&A.

Although the future of the UAE golf industry looks bright, the short-term development opportunities are limited due to the effects of demand outstripping supply, and juniors are unfortunately suffering the most.

Following my article which touched on the price sensitivities of playing golf in the UAE, more so in particular Dubai, I have been approached numerous times by friends and golfers and listened attentively as they have aired their comments on the matter.

It’s very interesting to hear the views of real golfers, and by real I mean "the customer".

The profile and needs of a golfer vary considerably and there are many different factors, which determine the wants and needs of golfers.

The rules of golf are a subject that I have hit on in some shape or form a number of times over the past year in Xpress. And since the inception of the game they have never ceased to provide the golfing masses – whether players or spectators – with contentious situations and heated banter at the 19th hole.

If I were to have an educated guess at the section of a typical amateur’s rulebook that had most dirty fingerprints, I would have to say "Water Hazards".

Let’s face it, me included, water hazards (especially in the UAE) are the most frequently visited parts of the golf course and often cause the most pain.

A topic close to the hearts of many at the moment is the price of golf. As annual membership renewals take place at most clubs, I have been frequently asked: what will happen to the price of golf in Dubai over the coming years?

In a city where inflation is affecting most inhabitants and where these days the words "dispensable income" are uttered as often as Tiger Woods loses a golf tournament, it’s hard to see a reverse of the upward trend in the near future.

As with any industry, price is dictated by supply and demand and currently the golf clubs have got the rule of the roost. With memberships full, casual weekend golf a thing of the past and even a three-hour midweek round a rare occurrence, a hefty price can be demanded by the clubs.