Dubai Golf is Green

I have just picked up this snippet of news about Dubai Golf from the Times online;

The scarcity of water is impacting construction in markets all over the world, from Spain to Cyprus, but a byproduct of the construction boom in Dubai is creating new project options. Undrinkable water can be used to irrigate golf courses, which have been identified as the next big thing in Dubai. A report by the KPMG Golf Advisory Practice found that 42% of professionals in the industry believe that Dubai will offer the best opportunities for golf course development over the next five years.

Did any of you see that coming?

Sanctuary Falls with Greg Norman; The Arabian Golf Development Property Award Winner

The results are in, but did you see how you apply for these competitions? Whoever pulls together the file for the golf projects entry requirements for this competition deserves a medal too. There is a fee to enter but the organisers of the Arabian Property Awards believe that 'the award can prove invaluable as a promotional tool for your company. The banner, complete with sponsor's name, can be used in all your sales literature and public relations material.' And they never let on who has entered; only those who have been successful.This all seems a bit cosy but it just proves that the promise of a logo to add to your brochure, a photo of a smiling premiership footballer or the link to the name of an old pro is reassuring to the public and must be worth paying for, or else why do it?

Sanctuary Falls in Dubai's Jumierah Golf estates has won the overall prize, an the pro designer this time is of course,good old Greg Norman. They have got Tiger Woods on board in Dubai as well and having taken over the old order of merit, as the race to Dubai it feels like Dubai is cleaning up.But the Normans are also cleaning up because the resort also hosts the Chris Evert Tennis Centre. It is said that former world no.1 ace tennis star will work closely with designers? To do what exactly? Chose the grade of the cement?

Golfing holidays in Dubai are part of any self respecting premiership footballers year and the luxury resorts built around these courses are part of the property portfolios any well paid sports enthusiat. I was recently at an overseas property show where Michael Owen, Freddie Flintoff and Sam Torrence were all grinning at me from the same Dubai Property for Sale stall. No claims of taking part in the design of these great apartment towers though. Just the bank balance to buy.

The Tiger Woods, Dubai September 2009

Well if you are going to make use of the pro golfer designer name you have hired you may as well use it to the full. It is billed as 'A private Golf Community, the vision of its namesake' Hmmm. There is a very honest description of the input of the great visionary though; He talked about some of the things he liked most about other courses and the whole design team visited a few, but then they go on to say that Tiger has been very 'hands on'. Now, this could mean anything, but I am pretty sure thats about Tiger giving the nod to designs that are put in front of him. So does it work? If you are looking at golfing holidays are you more likely to book this.If you are buying an off plan villa within a golfing community, are you going to choose The Tiger Woods Dubai over another? Or will it come down to cost, cost of flights, facilities, potential rental income from holiday letting. Does the fact that Tiger Woods Inc. has had a hand in design and has been paid for his name mean quality is quarenteed. Or when you get there, will it be full of name droppers, with status anxiety? Its not going to make your handicap any lower you know.

Having said all that, the hotel, the palaces, the residences and the course would do for me thanks.