Top Dubai course benefits from major investment

Golfers playing the highly-acclaimed Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, are reaping the benefits of a multi-million pound investment, that pushes the conditioning of the World Top 100 course to new levels.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary next year, Emirates Golf Club has used a seven-month period, March to September, to install state-of-the-art, environmentally efficient irrigation systems that significantly enhance the quality and consistency of all playing surfaces on the Majlis Course, while at the same time reducing the course’s water consumption.

Craig Haldane, Director of Golf Course Maintenance at Emirates Golf Club, said: “The irrigation project, which took 208 days and over 150,000 man hours to complete, is another major milestone that allows us to maintain the course to the exacting standards that our members and guests have been accustomed to enjoying, ensuring that Emirates Golf Club remains the premier club in the region for many years to come.

“The previous irrigation system was almost 25 years old and technology has moved on considerably since this was installed in 1988. The new system, using over 8,800 metres of mainline piping and 33,500 metres of lateral piping, makes use of the latest technology and delivers water savings by ensuring increased distribution efficiency throughout the golf course.”

One of the key considerations for upgrading the system was to make it environmentally sound by improving the distribution of the golf club’s most valuable resource, water, and minimising all waste where possible.

As a result of the changes, golfers playing the Majlis Course will see an immediate improvement in the firmness of the playing surfaces, as the system reduces areas of standing water. Desert areas will also be noticeably drier, ensuring native desert plants reduce in size and are not over-watered.

Christopher May, General Manager of Dubai Golf, said: “This is an extremely important period in the history of the Majlis Course. This has not been a quick decision, but one that has been worked through and thought out over a lengthy period of time.

“We are investing in the next 25 years of our core product and the system had to offer measurable benefits to our members, our visitors, and the environment.”

The Majlis plays host to the Ladies European Tour Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, Dec 5-8, 2012 and the men’s European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Feb 9-12, 2013. For further information about Emirates Club and its sister course, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, visit www.dubaigolf.com