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Dubai: The UAE is today hailed as one of the world's finest golfing destinations. The golf courses in the UAE are a delight for lovers of the sport.
No one believed the UAE would ever figure on the international golf map but through sheer hard work the people here have transformed the desert into lush green golf courses. Dubai was nothing but a village which thrived on cottage industries such as pearl-fishing. Today it is known as the city of golf.
Golf made its first appearance at the Dubai Country Club. The club, situated on land donated by the late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, opened the first golf course in 1971 but the first men's golf championship was held only in 1977 at the 18-hole Al Awir sand course. Al Misbah, who played for the Bahrain Club was the first winner. Golfers from Kuwait, Muscat, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi took part in the tournament.
By 1978, this tournament had gained popularity and when Al Misbah won it for the second year in succession, Gulf News carried his picture on its front page.
Ladies too began to play golf and by 1980 the first ladies golf tournament was held. The popularity of the sport increased along with the country's economic development.
In 1988, Emirates Golf Club became the first all-grass championship golf course in the Gulf region. Within a month of the opening of the course, the first regional tournament was also staged known as the Pan Arab tournament. The course known as the Majlis course was designed by Florida-based course architect Karl Litten.
International recognition was just lurking around the corner and in 1989 the club staged the first European Tour event called the Dubai Desert Classic. Today it is one of the most popular events on the golf calendar with the world's best golfers competing.
Soon grass courses began to spring up at Nad Al Sheba, Dubai Creek, Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi. Even Al Ain created a par three course linked to one of the hotels.
News about the UAE's golf courses began to spread far and wide with stars like Mark O'Meara, Ian Woosnam, Colin Montgomerie, Greg Norman, Jose-Maria Olazabal and Steve Ballesteros regularly taking part. The glory of the Desert Classic reached it zenith when Tiger Woods came here to compete.
The UAE Golf Association was formed in 1996 and is today the governing body for amateur golf in the UAE. Soon it became affiliated to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Ladies Golf Union, Asian Pacific Golf Confederation, GCC Golf Committee and Arab Golf Federation. Coaching programmes to spread the game among nationals also began in full swing.
Esmail Sharif emerged as the country's top local player and became the ambassador for the sport in the UAE. He became so popular that advertising companies used him as a model. Their junior development programme ushered in many good talented players.
Golf gained popularity in Abu Dhabi too. The Abu Dhabi Golf Club is home to the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. This 18 hole, par 72 course stretches 7,334 yards and has seven lakes and 90 bunkers. It has also a floodlit driving range The Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa's nine hole, par 36 championship standard resort course is used as a curtain-raiser for the Desert Classic.
The sport spread even to Ras Al Khaimah. The Tower Links in Ras Al Khaimah, which was opened in 2004, has an 18 hole, par 72 course 7,200 yards long.
The first sight that catches the eyes of visitors to Dubai is the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. It is a par 71 course. The Montgomerie in Emirates Hills, designed by Colin Montgomerie, is also spectacular. To quench the increasing appetite of golf lovers, more golf course are being built such as The Dunes, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Saadiyat Beach Golf course on Saadiyat Island and the Tiger Woods in Dubai.
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