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?

Colin Montgomerie the Golf Course Designer and Ryder Cup Captain

I do feel a little scared about even a slight mocking tone when talking about Colin Montgomerie. Its a tone I cant help really on this subject and it is the tone which encouraged me to start the blog-I had been ranting about the likes of Lilly Allens dress colection for Top Shop and Kate Moss purfume collection! I thought I could accept Paul Newmans salad cream, and even Lloyd Grossmans pasta sauce; Pauls Ranch dressing royalties were for Charity and I had seen Lloyd cook a bit, or at least taste food before. But Golf Pros somehow having the skills of an architecht or builder while on the golf circuit seemed to me to be taking it too far. For goodness sake let the true designer or designers take the credit, Dont you get enough publicity and cash as it is?

As Colin Montgomerie has been given the captaincy for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in 2010, I thought I'd have a closer look at his Golf Course Design claims and record and try to take the view that the experience of playing golf on course all over the world could provide some insight into what makes a good course (in their opinion)Also, perhaps the designers do not want the credit for their work, and then that perhaps with a pile of clay, paint and accessories the golf pro could 'design' a golf course which could then be interpretted by the architect.

From his website it would seem that colins philosophy is to challenge the golfer of any level. Water features should potentially cost the points, and not just make the course attractive for the TV cameras, rough should be rough and bunkers should be hazardous.'Nature should not be tampered with unnecessarily'Well that fits in with my gripe about Spanich Hacienda Dubai course design.

The design team are introduced on the website which is honest and good. Designs include the Montgomerie at Celtic Manor, Wales and a Montgomerie Links In Vietnam. And just because he is the man to bring back the Ryder Cup I am going to congratualte him on his wonderful designs.

Design Your Own Golf Course in Argentina

Its all very well sitting here watching Satanta Golf classics, mucking about on the brown greens of Fajara golf club or looking at images of the Portugal or Dubai green, green courses. I have never claimed I could design a golf course, even though I question how much real input designer pros have in their courses, but now may be my chance to prove myself-if only the property just outside Buenos Aires had not included the Polo Club I would have given it a go.But I am just not that keen on horses and we are now officially in recession so perhaps you want to have a look?

Hailstorm Stops Play in the Desert

The first round of the European Golf Tour, the Abu Dhabi Championship was halted today due to a hail storm. I was listening to BBC Radio 5 Live this morning and the commentator had unpacked his skiing gear(packed for the follow on holiday after this job)to cover the days golf. On the course web site there is a "Weather Today In Abu Dhabi" which one might have sniggered at not so long ago.

The Abu Dhabi course itself is carved out of the desert and it is the most luxurious golf resort in the world. The radio said that a coffee bought during the storm cost £11. It must be just amazing!Then there is the outstretched falcon shaped clubhouse; yes someone has been paid for that idea and design, yet no ones has put their name to it? While I chortled at the falcon shaped clubhouse I do applaud the designers for at least using symbols related to the Gulf as its plans. Its good to see, and if you were to go their you would have something to talk about, and distinguish the visit from any other Gulf Golf Resort. The only distinguishing features there are the names of the golf pro designer courses.A bit like how you know where your room is at the Belfry. Am I in Tony Jacklin or Nick Faldo this time?

I have been browsing to find the weathermans explanation for this strange event, but with no luck. I found that last May Abu Dhabi and some parts of Dubai had unseasonal dark clouds and showers of rain following experiments by scientists in the gulf to create rainfall.Perhaps this was a more succesful test.

WARNING;What I did find in my meteorogical research on the BBC was the latest health risk to golfers; the sonic boom from the new, thin faced titanium drivers can cause permenant damage to hearing.Wear ear plugs or wrap some foam to them before use please.

Golf Premier Event; Fajara Golf Club, Palm Wine Tasting in The Gambia

Forget the Beaujolais run, or the Ryder cup. A trip to the Gambia's premier Golf Club at Fajara will give you stories to dine out on at any golf club event. Excuse the jumpy footage, but it is short and its worth a view and I reckon this footage will do more to sell Fajara Golf Club to the avid golfer than any pro name attached to the design of the course. The course itself is 'testing' but the caddys and club pros are excellent value. My 3 boys all had private lessons and much fun with their partners.

Its a bit like going to a dry slope before going skiing; if you can start stop and stay on your feet on the dry slope you will be doing slalem on your second day on the real snow. Likewise with golf at Fajara; There will be none of this frustration and smashing of expensive clubs against trees with my boys. Golf is great when you hit a ball well and it all comes together for you, but in between we will chat and laugh with Gambian friends and have a good time. Nothing too serious. We can all be who we want-"I'm Tiger Woods" " I'm not going to be Payne Stewart" etc How many people can say they learned how to play golf at West Africas premier Golf course.

After a pleasant morning on the course and before a drink in the club house (or dip in the pool for the boys) you go to the bottom of the course to where the palm wine collectors are. There you can sample the wine, have a go at climbing the palm to collect your own and have a running commentary as you go. I have edited out our go..its not as easy as it looks.

Sports Personality of the Year Product Placement Shocker

I knew it had been a good year for Ian Poulter anyway, then he was given a snappy script and a creative producer to do the slick summing up video slot for golf 2008 at the BBCs Sports Personality of the Year Show last night. I was shocked and stunned to see him standing in front of rails and racks of his own clothings line with his name just above his head. Shameless. He also made a show of screeching onto the golf course car park in some sports car, or other. I do hope he hasn't got a deal with the car firm as well. Normally I would say 'I would gladly pay my license fee twice over to keep the BBC independant.' Its just not like the BBC at all.

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.