With the HSBC Golf Championship just around the corner, now is a great time to get out on the greens, whether you just want to try out a game of golf or develop your swing with further training. Abu Dhabi Golf Club is set to host the HSBC Golf tournament, so we couldn’t think of a better place to develop our drive.
When we arrive at the course, preparations for the championship have already begun and you can feel the excitement in the air. The 27 hole championship course is described as a ‘super course’ which instantly intimidates us considering we have only ever stepped onto a golf course twice in our whole life. First we are shown to the driving range so we can warm up and have a bit of a practice. The driving range is packed on this particular afternoon and it’s good to see everyone out having a go, from beginners to the very skilled.
Our coach for the afternoon, Steve Munro who is the club’s PRO, instantly puts us at ease and gives us a few pointers while we are warming up. Steve explains that golf should be fun, especially when you are just beginning and just to relax and take it in our stride. He suggests that golf, like anything, should be practiced regularly in order to keep skill levels up. ‘People will not have played a game for ages and then pick up a club and expect to be at the same level they were at six or eight months ago, and it simply doesn’t work like that.’
Once we have spent about half an hour practicing on the golf course we jump into our golf buggy and set out to start a round of nine holes. Steve runs us through how to hold the club and how grip is key in getting your swing correct. He shows us the correct placement for our hands and how to keep the grip of the club as close to our natural stance as possible, and to make sure we can still flex our wrists. Next, he asks us to take an unguided swing, so he can take a look at our natural movement. Our swing is ok but not very powerful and Steve encourages us to use our whole body while we swing rather than just using our arms. Steve’s next piece of advice is to keep our feet shoulder-width apart, bend our knees and lean forward slightly, keeping our back straight. He places a ball in front of us, and after a bit more help and a few tips we manage to hit it out on the course.
Towards the end of our round, we are surprised by how much we’ve enjoyed ourselves. Having always thought of golf as a very long and boring game, and something that you need to be really skilled at to enjoy, we are really happy to have had a go. We’re pleased to hear that our technique is surprisingly good and that with some practice we will see improvement quickly.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club offers sessions of nine holes, 18 holes and at the driving range as well as night games all at varied prices. www.adgolfclub.com (02 558 8990).
Golf in Abu Dhabi
The capital has more than a dozen golf courses and five additional courses are open to visitors. Golf courses here have exquisitely manicured lush green fairways, are made of sand or can be a mixture of both.
Yas Links
An eighteen-hole course, a nine-hole academy course, clubhouse, golf academy and floodlit practice facilities, set against dramatic views of the Arabian Gulf. The course is aesthetically pleasing and will put even the best golfer to the test.
(02 810 7777).
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
The Gulf’s first ocean course, featuring several beach-front holes in a course that weaves in and out of nine five-star hotels lining the beach. Every hole has its own unique character and the course has been designed within strict environmentally friendly guidelines.
(02 557 8001).
Abu Dhabi City Golf Club
This golf course was originally a sand course which has recently been transformed into luscious grass fairways. Surprisingly for a nine-hole course, there are only two par threes, the fourth and the seventh hole.
(02 449 9600).
Al Gazal Golf Club
This 18 hole course presents an exciting challenge to both beginners and experienced golfers alike. The course has undergone many changes over the years and is regarded as an excellent sand course. As the players will discover, the sand offers an extremely true putting surface.
(02 575 8040).
