Woods contributed in making Dubai a golf destination

American golfer Tiger Woods majorly contributed in making Dubai a golf destination, according to Ismail Sharif, acting managing director at the Jumeirah Golf Estate, which is the venue for the DP World Tour Championship from Thursday.

"I don't want to be diplomatic," the seven-time UAE National Golf Champion  told Khaleej Times on Sunday when asked which was the best golf tournament since the first one - Dubai Desert Classic - in 1989.  He elaborated: "I would say years when Tiger (Woods) came to play here in Dubai were the best years for Dubai because of his name, Rory too has done a great job, he has also proved he can be number one, but positioning of Dubai Desert Classic was during Tiger's participation."

According to Ismail, Dubai became a known destination, especially in the US only after Woods came to play here. "A lot of Americans didn't know where's Dubai, now they know because of golf, because of the coverage of the golf, they followed Tiger and when he was in Dubai they wanted to know where's Dubai. This is the way he (Woods) helped us," he explained.

He strongly believes that tournaments like Race to Dubai, Desert Classic and Abu Dhabi Open will definitely help viewers to know about the countries that host such a tournament. "Once they hear about a tournament, they want to know more about it and they will Google to know where we are."

In the last 28 years of hosting international golf tournament, Ismail reckons, the golf organisers have tried to keep pace with the development pace of Dubai. "We are trying to catch up with the rapid development of Dubai and I think we are also moving ahead with the same speed and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai," he noted, hoping that the UAE golf fraternity could achieve what Sheikh Mohammed has planned for Dubai.

When asked if international golf had helped develop talent in the UAE? Ismail quipped: "Yes and No." Explaining further he said: "Yes, definitely we now have more kids playing golf but until we don't have a UAE national playing in such a tournament, we are not helping the cause."   He strongly advocates focusing on developing professional emirati golfers. "This needs help. The UAE golf federation is doing great job so far but federation alone cannot do everything," he feels.

Ismail, who has been involved in golf development for nearly two and a half decades in the UAE, is aware of difficulties in accommodating junior golfers at various golf clubs in the UAE. "Having involved in junior development programme here, I know how difficult it is for the clubs to accept junior golfers," he pointed out.

However, he has a suggestion that every club must have a UAE national team. "If they get six to eight players, it is easy for them and then there can be some kind of tournaments between the clubs."

He said that the federation can then choose the best players to represent the country. "This is one way we can expand golf in the UAE with every club taking some responsibility towards the national players." With Iamail part of the top management, the Jumeirah Golf Estate Club seems to have taken the lead with the club offering special membership package to the UAE nationals in conjunction with the UAE golf federation. "This is the way clubs need to look at it, we are helping them and allow them to come in."

Ismail also recommends giving wild card entries to emiratis as well as top Arab players. "Here at the Race to Dubai, it would be difficult with the top 60 players on European Tour competing but maybe we can accommodate local players in Desert Classic, like Abu Dhabi open did by letting emirati Ahmed Al Musharrekh participate along with the top international players," he said.

On giving Arab golfers more exposure, Ismail also thinks that Mena tour was veering off their initial goal.  "If Mena tour is focussed on Arab golfers then it would have been good but looks like they are focussing only to create another challenger tour," he said, adding that the Mena tour had started with the vision to support Arab golfers. "There are more Europeans competing on Mena tour than Arab golfers.

Source: Khaleej Times