Happy birthday, you little miracle!

This week has witnessed a true milestone in the sporting history, culture and tradition of Dubai – the 20th anniversary of the "Desert Miracle" – the first grass golf course in the Middle East – "The Majlis Course" at Emirates Golf Club.

In a city and indeed a region where local sporting heritage such as dhow racing and camel racing have limited appeal among the large expatriate population, I feel it is essential that milestones such as these are recognised in the public eye and those involved are credited with a fabulous job well done.

For years to come the Majlis Course will be seen as a true marvel of engineering at a time when industry peers said that a golf course built on the indigenous soils of Dubai and having to endure the blistering summer heat and humidity "couldn’t be done!" Well, I guess they were wrong.

The world-renowned golf course architect Karl Litten commenced the design process of the golf course back in 1986 and saw his vision realised just two years later in 1988 when the 18 holes were first opened to the public.

The clubhouse, now a Dubai icon and instantly recognisable around the world of golf, was designed by local architects Peter Summersgil and Bryan Johnson, the latter is now part of a Dubai-based and internationally recognised firm of architects GAJ (Godwin Austin Johnson).

Little did they know that Emirates Golf Club would be so significantly representative of the great vision and foresight the Al Maktoum family were about to impart on the world over the course of the following 20 years.

Rod Bogg, Managing Director of Dubai Golf (the government’s golf management company) was responsible for the opening of the club in 1988.

He has since opened two other government facilities (Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and Nad Al Sheba Golf Club, both in 1993) as well as providing a significant supporting role to the development of golf in the UAE within the private sector.

Rod can be considered a true pioneer of golf in this region as can some other significant names such as the locally-based and truly illustrious Peter Harradine, responsible for designing the courses such as Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Al Hamra, Doha Golf Club and, most recently, Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club.

James Williams was the first PGA professional to reside on these shores and has since been actively involved in the development of the golf market, now more well known as the face and smile behind the golf experience at Jebel Ali.

It has truly been a memorable 20 years of golf and I feel exceptionally proud to have been involved in the latter part of the development process.