Newbie from The Middle East

Hi all

I joined this very interesting forum after searching around for a Singapore Golf Forum in the office one bored day. And was I surprised! I posted a couple of questions and got 15 answers in 24 hours! Wow... you guys are quite on here.

A little bit about myself. I am based in the UAE now and am enjoying golf here. If any bros is traveling to the Middle East for pleasure or business, and needs help with nice golfing places, can pm me!

There are many pretty courses here and a couple new ones popping up by next year. My favourite is the Abu Dhabi Golf Course, home to one of the legs of the Race to Dubai.

One thing I find very useful in the courses here is the abundance of practise facilities. Unlike those we have in Singapore where ranges are mostly on astro turfs and bunkers, chipping/putting areas small and unconduicive (and only confined to certain clubs, must pay or play the course somemore), those here are the exact opposite.

Gives a great chance to spend 1 hour per session just practising chipping over bunkers to ten spots on the greens and another hour putting.

Best part is, after 4pm on weekdays, the whole practise facility is bascially yours!

Oh and they use Callaways as range balls!

Welcome and enjoy your stay. Maybe you can get to meet up with some of the great ppl on this forum; talk and play some golf and all sorts of other nonsense!

Wow, how long have you been there and will you be there permanently?

Yo bro, warm welcome. Hope you enjoy yr stay in UAE.

Look on the bright side, at least there you can have a lot of sand practice. When you are back, bunker is sure confirmed chip.

Khorkar wrote:

Yo bro, warm welcome. Hope you enjoy yr stay in UAE.

Look on the bright side, at least there you can have a lot of sand practice. When you are back, bunker is sure confirmed chip.

Hhaaa. Actually, the courses here more water than sandtraps. But it might be true, cos when i was back in Singapore 2 weeks ago at MBGC, i hit 2 out of 2 sand saves! And one of which my friend advised me to hit back. I thought about playing it safe, then see the lip of the bunker again, about 2m, then decided I might be able to splashed it out! hehe

Are golf clubs expensive in the M.East? I've always wondered about the golf industry over there.

PS. Welcome to the Golf Republic

Ssquirrel wrote:

Welcome and enjoy your stay. Maybe you can get to meet up with some of the great ppl on this forum; talk and play some golf and all sorts of other nonsense!

Yup. FIrst thing I probably be doing is to go to Big Fish. Dun know why but I have never heard of this place before prior to moving overseas. The irons they are carrying seems to be a big hit with the forum dudes here. So many using it. I am so curious to check out the "den"? hehe

jurongtiger wrote:

Ssquirrel wrote:

Welcome and enjoy your stay. Maybe you can get to meet up with some of the great ppl on this forum; talk and play some golf and all sorts of other nonsense!

Yup. FIrst thing I probably be doing is to go to Big Fish. Dun know why but I have never heard of this place before prior to moving overseas. The irons they are carrying seems to be a big hit with the forum dudes here. So many using it. I am so curious to check out the "den"? hehe

It's also known as the Scotty Cameron Shrine of Singapore. Well worth a visit

Technospaz wrote:

Are golf clubs expensive in the M.East? I've always wondered about the golf industry over there.

PS. Welcome to the Golf Republic

Golf clubs meaning the green fees or the club retail market or the club membership?

1) Green fees - Generally a little bit more expensive than MBGC (which in my opinion is super overpriced, and not the prettiest of courses, but yes, the proximity to city helps I guess). Summer deals are great.

You can play a round at Abu Dhabi GC for as little as 98 SGD with buggy (Buggy got air con one, automatic). In Dubai they have really beautiful golf courses, like Dubai Creek, 4 seasons, Sharjah Golf. BUt a little more expensive, weekends abt 250 SGD, but beautiful!

2) Except for a few golf outlets similar to our golfer's network. They are crazy abt Callaway. Cant find many TM's, Clevelands and the likes here.

Interestingly, the golf scene here is quite active, given the many expats that resides here and the fabulous weather (to me at least) all year round, they do not have a big market for retailers of used clubs. Most equipment and accessories I buy are confined to the pro shops... boring.

The weather I think is great for golf course in the summer (right abt now) its 43C (yes you are gonna shout NOO WAY) but the humidity is fairly low, like 50-60%, therefore I enjoy the 2pm tee off and the glorious sun but I dont sweat half as much here compared to when i am at MBGC. Very comfy.

Best part, it is sunny everyday and I havent seen rain since early January this year (6 months now since it rained) so everyday is a perfect golf day! No Umbrellas!

Also winters are refreshing for golf too, cos the cool dry winds (15C) and the super low humidity (20%) makes you feel like you are playing in the british open, and you get to be hiao and wear mufflers and fancy vests/windbreakers.

3) Club Membership
Hehe I dunno cos i dun have

Check them out:

www.adgolfclub.com
www.dubaigolf.com
www.golfandshootingshj.com

Technospaz wrote:

jurongtiger wrote:

Ssquirrel wrote:

Welcome and enjoy your stay. Maybe you can get to meet up with some of the great ppl on this forum; talk and play some golf and all sorts of other nonsense!

Yup. FIrst thing I probably be doing is to go to Big Fish. Dun know why but I have never heard of this place before prior to moving overseas. The irons they are carrying seems to be a big hit with the forum dudes here. So many using it. I am so curious to check out the "den"? hehe

It's also known as the Scotty Cameron Shrine of Singapore. Well worth a visit

Hhee, not a big fan of scotty. But will check it out still! Maybe bring my frens along!

jurongtiger wrote:

Technospaz wrote:

Are golf clubs expensive in the M.East? I've always wondered about the golf industry over there.

PS. Welcome to the Golf Republic

Golf clubs meaning the green fees or the club retail market or the club membership?

1) Green fees - Generally a little bit more expensive than MBGC (which in my opinion is super overpriced, and not the prettiest of courses, but yes, the proximity to city helps I guess). Summer deals are great.

You can play a round at Abu Dhabi GC for as little as 98 SGD with buggy (Buggy got air con one, automatic). In Dubai they have really beautiful golf courses, like Dubai Creek, 4 seasons, Sharjah Golf. BUt a little more expensive, weekends abt 250 SGD, but beautiful!

2) Except for a few golf outlets similar to our golfer's network. They are crazy abt Callaway. Cant find many TM's, Clevelands and the likes here.

Interestingly, the golf scene here is quite active, given the many expats that resides here and the fabulous weather (to me at least) all year round, they do not have a big market for retailers of used clubs. Most equipment and accessories I buy are confined to the pro shops... boring.

The weather I think is great for golf course in the summer (right abt now) its 43C (yes you are gonna shout NOO WAY) but the humidity is fairly low, like 50-60%, therefore I enjoy the 2pm tee off and the glorious sun but I dont sweat half as much here compared to when i am at MBGC. Very comfy.

Best part, it is sunny everyday and I havent seen rain since early January this year (6 months now since it rained) so everyday is a perfect golf day! No Umbrellas!

Also winters are refreshing for golf too, cos the cool dry winds (15C) and the super low humidity (20%) makes you feel like you are playing in the british open, and you get to be hiao and wear mufflers and fancy vests/windbreakers.

3) Club Membership
Hehe I dunno cos i dun have

Check them out:

www.adgolfclub.com
www.dubaigolf.com
www.golfandshootingshj.com

I was referring to golf gear but your reply is really comprehensive (and appreciated). I would like to play golf in the M. East one day. I think you're right about the weather - while it's hot, the low humidity makes it more tolerable. I think the courses are also quite pretty and it would certainly be a change from the usual courses which we are used to. If I'm in your vicinity, I'll let you know and we can schedule a game. IF you're back, give us a shout and I'm sure you can find kaki to play with

Technospaz wrote:

jurongtiger wrote:

Technospaz wrote:

Are golf clubs expensive in the M.East? I've always wondered about the golf industry over there.

PS. Welcome to the Golf Republic

Golf clubs meaning the green fees or the club retail market or the club membership?

1) Green fees - Generally a little bit more expensive than MBGC (which in my opinion is super overpriced, and not the prettiest of courses, but yes, the proximity to city helps I guess). Summer deals are great.

You can play a round at Abu Dhabi GC for as little as 98 SGD with buggy (Buggy got air con one, automatic). In Dubai they have really beautiful golf courses, like Dubai Creek, 4 seasons, Sharjah Golf. BUt a little more expensive, weekends abt 250 SGD, but beautiful!

2) Except for a few golf outlets similar to our golfer's network. They are crazy abt Callaway. Cant find many TM's, Clevelands and the likes here.

Interestingly, the golf scene here is quite active, given the many expats that resides here and the fabulous weather (to me at least) all year round, they do not have a big market for retailers of used clubs. Most equipment and accessories I buy are confined to the pro shops... boring.

The weather I think is great for golf course in the summer (right abt now) its 43C (yes you are gonna shout NOO WAY) but the humidity is fairly low, like 50-60%, therefore I enjoy the 2pm tee off and the glorious sun but I dont sweat half as much here compared to when i am at MBGC. Very comfy.

Best part, it is sunny everyday and I havent seen rain since early January this year (6 months now since it rained) so everyday is a perfect golf day! No Umbrellas!

Also winters are refreshing for golf too, cos the cool dry winds (15C) and the super low humidity (20%) makes you feel like you are playing in the british open, and you get to be hiao and wear mufflers and fancy vests/windbreakers.

3) Club Membership
Hehe I dunno cos i dun have

Check them out:

www.adgolfclub.com
www.dubaigolf.com
www.golfandshootingshj.com

I was referring to golf gear but your reply is really comprehensive (and appreciated). I would like to play golf in the M. East one day. I think you're right about the weather - while it's hot, the low humidity makes it more tolerable. I think the courses are also quite pretty and it would certainly be a change from the usual courses which we are used to. If I'm in your vicinity, I'll let you know and we can schedule a game. IF you're back, give us a shout and I'm sure you can find kaki to play with

Ah golf gear! hehe. Answered!

It is very refreshing to play away from humidity once a while. I will be going to the Sharjah Golf Club this weekend (the last URL). It is a nice and returfed 9 hole course. Some might go.. ahhh.. 9 holes not nice... but i like this course actually.

It is pretty long for a 9 hole course. Very nicely maintained fairways and a lot of water hazards before greens to make you think. (I cheong 2 times, 2 times die).

Best part I like abt this course

1) Summer deals now are incredible. 2 balls this weekend for 105 SGD total! Thats JB price!

2) The buggy comes with built in GPS! In yards or in meters, makes me feel more confident and assertive in club selection and the cheong/layup debate in my head.

Coincidentally, this course was the venue of the ASEAN Golf tournament (a golf network formed by ASEAN golfers in the Middle East I joined in my time here) last month and again next month.

I wanna share the pics with you guys! We had a lot of fun!

https://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii169/edianti_album/Asean%20summer%20open%20-%203%20july%2009/?albumview=slideshow