1988
The Desert
Miracle
That was the name
given to Emirates
Golf Club, when
it became the
first championship
all-grass golf
course in the
golf region, way
back in 1988.
The
brainchild of
His Highness
General Sheikh
Mohamed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum,
the Club was
built as an
attraction to
the growing
corporate sector
and the then
burgeoning tourist
industry. Within
a month of opening
the most important
regional golf
tournament -
the Pan-Arab
- was taking
place on the
newly named
Majlis course.
Designed
by Florida-based
course architect
Karl Litten,
the original
18 holes were
built in and
around the dunes
of a beautiful
site on the
edge of the
city of Dubai,
donated by Sheikh
Mohamed, on
whose instructions,
the desert flora
was maintained,
as it is to
this day, in
its natural
state.
1989
The
club's international
recognition
was confirmed
in 1989 with
the Club's first
European Tour
event - the
Dubai Desert
Classic. Fourteen
years later
the tournament
reaches hundreds
of millions
of TV screens
around the world
every year,
and most of
the world's
top players,
including Tiger
Woods and Ernie
Els, have taken
part in what
is now one of
the European
PGA Tour's top
events.
1995
In
1995 the club
was voted the
Favourite of
the Year by
the players
of the European
Tour, and in
1996 the second
eighteen holes
- the Wadi Course
- were completed,
bringing Emirates
Golf Club to
its current
36-holes.
2003
Today,
Emirates Golf
Club maintains
its position
as the leading
golf club in
the region and
continues to
meet international
standards in
every aspect
of its operation.
As
the original
"desert
course"
in the Middle
East, the Majlis
remains in many
peoples' minds
a miracle -
The Desert Miracle.
Emirates
Golf Club has
managed to retain
the traditional
Arabic warmth
of welcome and
quality of service,
not just for
golfers, but
also for all
members and
visitors. And
the facilities
are not restricted
to golf. With
superb tennis
and squash courts,
an extensive
gymnasium, a
beautiful swimming
pool, spectacular
outlets and
shops, the Club
is a haven for
sports minded
people and casual
visitors alike.
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