Emirates World Golf

	The New Home Of Golf Welcome to the wonderful world of Emirates Golf. This is our 5th year of covering the Emirates and in those 5 years we have seen its establishment as one of the top venues in the world for golf and leisure. In fact so much so it has led us to the tad controversial strap line as ‘The New Home of Golf’.


	But let’s look at some of the facts: 1) Tiger Woods has chosen the UAE, and Dubai specifically, for his first-ever golf course design. He is too professional to deliver anything less than a golfing gem. 2) The Race to Dubai, the biggest tournament ever in Professional Golf, is being staged here in 2009. When you consider the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and Dubai Desert Classic’s roles on the European Tour, this gives the region a major foothold in professional golf. 3) The “European” Tour is establishing its international headquarters here. They may not want to admit it yet, but a re-brand is not that far away….Europe is no longer the home of the European Tour. It is its heritage. 4) Anyone who is anyone in golf design is here right now working on a project. Within 10 years, the UAE can expect to have broken into the Top 100 golf courses in the World with several entries, particularly as the developers are now realizing that the quality of the design is as important as the name behind it. 5) The most exciting new brand in global golf – Leisurecorp – is based here. Backed by the Dubai government, the acquisition of Turnberry to its leisure portfolio is the first of many similar deals. Many other funds in the Emirates and Middle East region harbour similar desires. 6) The quality of the golf proposition – combined with the hospitality and weather - is second to none. The region may still be a golfing teenager, but even if only 50% of the golf projects on the design boards are delivered in the next decade, the Emirates will have established itself as a major player on the world golf tourism map. This year’s Emirates Golf looks at both Abu Dhabi and Dubai at its core. Abu Dhabi is about to hit the international consciousness like never before in 2009. It is a mix of Washington meets Monte Carlo meets La Jolla. The nation’s Capital with a cultural heart, F1 will ensure its international recognition whilst it has a different feel to Dubai in terms of its coastal development. It’s the difference between Torrey Pines and Riviera in West Coast golf terms. Dubai is New York meets Las Vegas and LA to continue the analogy. It has attracted many international businesses to base their MENA regional offices here. It loves glitz and glamour. It also loves celebrity. The mix is intoxicating. This comprehensive look at the Emirates will guide you through all the latest happenings, must sees and must plays. A definite whilst you are here is to enter the Ultimate Golf Competition and download our Guide to Useful Emirates Contacts. Click here to enter the Ultimate Golf Competition Enjoy!