Ian Poulter has vengeance to extract, Martin Kaymer has a trophy to defend and two contrasting Irishmen are focused on an Irish win in the desert. Oh, and all four 2010 major winners will be there intent on making a solid start to in 2011. No one doubts that the Abu Dhabi Championship will bring together the best players in the world... and attract a record number of spectators than ever.
However on this side of the proverbial pond, when you ask your typical recreational golfer what he or she thinks about golf in Abu Dhabi, or Dubai for that matter, or you'll often get a look of
This is particularly true for those... of a certain age... who spent time the in the United Arab Emirates during the eighties, but haven't been back since. I spoke to such a couple at a party last night. These former expats remember a sparse desert landscape, sleepy fishing villages and small dusty cities. An occasional oasis of date palms and eucalyptus trees provided the only touches of green. They lived in a compound that they rarely ventured out of, and longed for their periodic trips home.
The suburbanites I spoke to last night had left the Middle East in 1986, and though they'd caught glimpses of the region's development in the media over the years, they were still amazed to find out that one of the biggest events on the PGA European Tour was taking place in Abu Dhabi, staged on a sublime championship course.
Events like the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship are meant to showcase the region as one of the world's leading golfing destinations and to display its international attractions to a worldwide audience and with Phil Mickelson starting his season there this year, it's a good guess that even the more... insular... Americans will be paying attention.
I just sent an email to the incredulous couple from last night. Along with a link to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship site I also forwarded UAE Golf Online's UAE course guide and National Geographic's 10 Cool Things About Abu Dhabi. I'm hoping this will get them up to speed.
When you think of how fast the development has been you can't help but be shocked. I spent two weeks in Dubai in 1982 and haven't been back since. Though I'm not as naive as the couple you met, I'm still continually amazed by the photos and videos I see coming out of the Persian Gulf countries these days.
ReplyDeleteI'm pulling for Poulter in Abu Dhabi this year. I think he's got his sights set on that falcon trophy and I agree it's going to be a really exciting tournament to watch.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about anyone else but I just have this feeling Phil is not going to do well in the Arabian desert.
ReplyDeleteincredulity ?
ReplyDeletepatricia,
i don't know what that means, but remembering back to the TV show "the beverly hillbillies", i see a lot of similarities between the clampetts and abu-dahbians
anyone who uses a dead goat as a ball in a national sport, well, in my mind, has a ways to go
but golf is a big umbrella, covering a multitude of peoples throughout the world, and in that spirit, i guess, they are heading in the right direction
anyway, wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season
frankD
ftliquordale soFLA
It's funny, when I think of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, I think ultra-modern. You still hear people refer to the whole Middle East as backwards but I think it's as you say people who knew it "back when". The golf, from what I can see is fantastic and I'm amazed at the number of courses.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great place to visit and with the money they have their, I'm sure golf will grow in popularity.
ReplyDeleteGreat article!
I hear Phil is bring the whole family. I'm pretty sure the kids will love the theme parks, zoos and aquarium. Amy will love the shopping too.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThis is a really nice post. Thanks for sharing this information.