ABU DHABI // World-class golf courses could be developed in some of the most remote parts of the emirate to help boost tourism, it was revealed yesterday. A new alliance between the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) and Troon Golf, the world's largest golf course management company, will promote the emirate as a future top golfing destination. Improving the standard of golfing facilities across the emirate is a priority, with new golf developments likely to be built in Al Gharbia and near Al Ain.
They will complement other courses being developed by the TDIC elsewhere in the region. "Other facilities are on the drawing board and will be progressively announced as confirmation of major developments in Abu Dhabi's eastern and western regions are finalised," said Lee Tabler, the chief executive of TDIC. "Alongside the courses planned by other private sector developers, the TDIC network will ensure Abu Dhabi rises rapidly up the ranks of the world's fastest-growing international golfing destinations.
"We are currently designing a compelling golf development programme, which will add further credibility to the emirate's sports destination proposition." In June, Mr Tabler said the TDIC was dedicated to improving golfing facilities to attract more tourists. "Golf resorts have been shown to be integral to any long-term tourism strategy and TDIC is enhancing Abu Dhabi's golfing facilities with additional world-class courses."
A TDIC spokesman said talks on developing courses in "a number of destinations" around Al Ain and Al Gharbia were continuing. DJ Flanders, the general manager of the TDIC-Troon Golf alliance, was previously general manager of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club for 18 months. "Everything is conceptual at this stage, so they are still talking about the individual locations," he said. "If there is going to be a golf course, you can assume there will be a residential component or a resort component, too. The golf course would be one aspect of a bigger picture.
"TDIC is looking at Abu Dhabi emirate as a whole and looking at how they can increase tourism through the whole emirate, not just on the Corniche or on Saadiyat Island, for example," Mr Flanders said. "The average spend of a golfer is much higher than your average tourist, too. You have your green fees, hotel spend, retail spend and food and beverage spend. Focusing on the golfer as a tourist component is a very wise effort for TDIC to make."
Under the alliance, Troon Golf will oversee the TDIC's golfing assets, including the new course on Saadiyat Island being designed by Gary Player, the three-time Masters champion from South Africa. The company is also developing another golf course on Saadiyat Island. Troon Golf already manages the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, which is owned by TDIC, and where a Dh1.3 billion (US$353.9 million) golfing resort is being developed. The TDIC spokesman said suggestions that a luxury golf course was to be built on Sir Bani Yas Island, 250km from Abu Dhabi, where they were developing a major new resort, were "premature".
Bruce Glasco, managing director of the Europe, Middle East and Africa division of Troon Golf, said the work with the TDIC in Abu Dhabi would bring "international acclaim to the region's leisure and sport activities". @Email:rhughes@thenational.ae
