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In the recent past, golfing has reached a new high in the Gulf and Abu Dhabi has firmly placed itself as one of the leading golfing stops. If the mere confirmation of Tiger Woods' participation in the UAE Desert Classic in Dubai next year was enough to get the Emirates' golfing fans excited, the sight of veteran golfers - all stars of the past - battling for supremacy at the European Senior Tour at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club last month was a bonus for the ardent followers of the game.
Abu Dhabi was infected with golfing fever and, with its four clubs offering a variety to choose from, golfers in the capital are actually spoilt for choice.
Seniors Tour
The Seniors Tour, staged at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton, confirmed to the avid golf fans here that there is no age limit for playing champion golf. The Abu Dhabi Airport Golf Course, currently an 18-hole sand course, also offers the unique experience of the 'browns' while wooing transit passengers.
The classy 9-hole grass course at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian and Golf Club, in the heart of the city, is the course 'next door'. The Al Dhafra Golf Links, another unique club in its own way, is located in Ruwais, nearly 250km from the capital.
Almost all these clubs boast golfing academies which cater to the young and old alike who nurse ambitions of becoming professional golfers, as the sport has shed its image of being played only by the rich and famous.
At the middle are the amateurs and the vast number of 'corporate' golfers who have made the golf clubs in Abu Dhabi a regular meeting ground. And finally at the other end, the 50-plus golfer also has his day and night out, under floodlights.
With the 'watering-holes' and the '19th hole' providing their own attraction to the capital's citizens, the various golf clubs in Abu Dhabi are kept busy throughout the year.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton
Inaugurated only in February, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton is a luxurious golfing complex, situated near Umm Al Nar. It has been developed to satisfy the needs of both the beginner, hooked on space age teaching technology, "and a Tiger Woods in search of fresh challenge".
It takes exactly 10 minutes from the Abu Dhabi International Airport to reach the picturesque course, and less than 30 minutes from central Abu Dhabi.
There are two 18-hole grass courses at Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton, laid out over 162 hectares of undulating terrain, incorporating seven saltwater lakes and the championship standard, par 72, 7,204 yards National course and 6,498 yards, par 72, Garden Course.
The club played host to the final leg of the European Senior Tour offering the second richest prize money after the British Senior Tour event. Over 50 of the world's top over-50 players, including numerous former Ryder Cup players, were in the fray as the fans lapped up their skills and technique.
The Golf Club also recently opened a Golf Academy, which incorporates one of the most advanced golfing facilities available in the region. It is being managed by a highly qualified team of professionals. Giving an opportunity for everyone to learn or improve, the Academy offers training programmes and also coordinates smaller events and competitions within the club.
Unique academy
Chris White, Director of Golf, says, "It is our aim to establish a unique and comprehensive coaching academy, whereby our professionals assess the players' golfing level and tailor-made packages and programmes to further enhance their knowledge of the game of golf."
Individual attention is given to students and an accurate plan is drawn up depending on the specific needs of each student.
The Academy's programmes include Beginners Fast Track, Improver Golf Programme, Corporate Entertainment, Junior programmes, and programmes for women. With a strong undercurrent of fun, the Junior programmes help in developing children's natural ability and they can learn at their own pace. The programmes for women are tailor-made to meet their needs.
Abu Dhabi Airport Golf Club
One of the unique features of the Abu Dhabi Airport Golf Club (ADAGC) is the location of this lovely 18-hole golf course full of 'browns'. The ADAGC is perhaps the only golf course in the world which is situated barely 500 metres from the terminal building. This has been done with the transit passengers in mind.
Since its opening in 1997, the 18 hole par-71 sand course over 6,487 yards club plays host to many tournaments throughout the year for members, apart from catering to transit passengers.
The club is a hive of activity. The Abu Dhabi Airport Golf Academy offers lessons in the game for both beginners and amateurs. A health club, a pro shop which apart from golfing equipment and apparel also offers other goods at Duty Free prices, coupled with facilities for banqueting and conferences makes the club an ideal stop for both individual and corporate guests.
The 'browns' - the putting area in this exquisite sand course offers a truly unique experience for golfers who actually are surprised by the firmness of the area. The latest additions in the form of a grassed driving range along with practice chipping and putting areas on both sand and grass have ensured the traditional grass golfer does not feel left out.
Any transit passenger is provided a transit visa and given transport between the airport and club. All that the visiting golfing aficionado need do is rent the playing gear and then enjoy his favourite game before boarding his next flight.
With a 200-room hotel and an additional 9-hole grass course on the anvil, the Abu Dhabi Airport Golf Club provides the much-needed variety to the capital's golfing fraternity.
Abu Dhabi Golf and Equestrian Club
The Abu Dhabi Golf and Equestrian Club, ADGEC, situated in the heart of the city, is the emirate's only lush green, floodlit, 9-hole golf course. The par 70 course has a yardage of 5,982 yards, with its 8th hole of par 5 extending over 625 yards.
Tucked into the lush-green race course of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club with a beautiful lake running through the course, ADGEC boasts a club house, banquet room and a restaurant. Members can relax and have a good view of the racing action which is held between November and April during the season.
ADGEC organises Monthly Medal tournaments for members almost throughout the year, apart from quite a few other tournaments which attract a good crowd and participation.
ADGEC also has a Golf Academy with state-of-the-art, computer-aided training systems and a floodlit driving range.
Al Dhafra Golf Links
Situated roughly two and-a-half hours from Abu Dhabi on the Sila highway, is Ruwais, home to Al Dhafra Golf Links (ADGL). Opened in 1988, the course is indeed the best example of team effort as it was built by enthusiastic expatriates to satisfy their thirst for golf. With their team efforts paying off well, today ADGL is a beautifully tended sand course with panoramic views over the Gulf and Ruwais' oil refinery.
The nine-hole par 68, 5,429 yard course had its beginnings in a rubbish dump surrounded by waste land, which lay alongside the Al Dhafra Beach Hotel which opened in 1979. After the European Seniors Tour champio
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