Published on August 7, 2018

Abu Dhabi Readies for Winter Golf Season with Major Events Unveiled


The 18th hole of the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club

Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Beach Golf Clubs recently announced a series of major golf events to be hosted at the world-renowned venues to continue driving their world-class golf destination.

The golf clubs, which are managed by the world’s leading golf management company, Troon, have become central figures in Abu Dhabi’s evolution into one of the most innovative and progressive cities in the world. These events offer golfers the opportunity to explore what Abu Dhabi has to offer, both on and off the course.

 The Abu Dhabi Golf Festival from 1-8 December 2018 will become one of the most popular weeks for European golfers taking a winter break in Abu Dhabi. The event has grown in stature and reputation over the last five years, as golfers spend a week competing against one another around Abu Dhabi’s Troon facilities, in addition to Yas Links for the Abu Dhabi Golf Festival Trophy. Visit www.abudhabi-golf-festival.com for further information.

The Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship, endorsed by WAGR, is a new event to the roster in 2018, created to inspire the world’s leading amateurs to attend and compete. A field of 100+ players will do battle over the back tees at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club with the opportunity for World Amateur Ranking Points. The event, which will be held from 8-15 December 2018, is supported locally too as a pathway for local players aspiring to reach the professional stage.

The Abu Dhabi Pro-Am 2019 is a 54-hole tournament played over three days at both Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Beach Golf Clubs. The Pro-Am is open to teams of four, including one professional, in a better ball format. Sanctioned by the PGA’s of Europe and the UAE PGA, the event provides the chance for professional groups coming to Abu Dhabi to interact and participate in a competitive event.  The event to be played from 2 – 7 February 2019 certainly promises to be a huge success. Additionally, there is a $30,000 prize fund!

Entries are now open here: https://www.pgae.com/event/troon-golf-abu-dhabi-pga-pro-am/2019-abu-dhabi-pro-am-presented-by-troon-golf/

Abu Dhabi Golf Club – 18th hole and Clubhouse

These two Troon managed venues are no strangers to big events. The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club has become somewhat of an emblem for golf in the Middle East. Together with its iconic Falcon Clubhouse, the venue has provided the perfect backdrop for many dramatic battles over the years in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA.

Likewise, the Gary Player-designed beachfront masterpiece, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, the first of its kind to be built in the Middle East, has become the popular host venue to one of the Ladies European Tour’s marquee events, the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open. Its sweeping fairways and stunning ocean views will present a thrilling challenge for anyone who competes there.

Commenting on the major events, Ed Edwards, General Manager at Abu Dhabi GC and Saadiyat Beach GC, said: “We are extremely excited about the direction that golf in Abu Dhabi is heading. These events will not only help raise the profile of Abu Dhabi as a golf destination and a tourist attraction but also provide a fantastic advert for what we have to offer here in Abu Dhabi.

“Golf in the region has been on an upward curve ever since the hosting of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 13 years ago. These major golf events will complement the European Tour events and attract more visitors to this superb golf destination.”