A globally-respected golf teacher, Claude Harmon, has pronounced Dubai’s evolving facilities “hugely exciting” during a visit to the UAE.
Harmon, part of the famous golfing dynasty that includes his father “Butch” Harmon who is building the golf instructional facility at Dubai Sports City, is a professional golf teacher who has worked with such noted golf pros as Trevor Immelman, Darren Clarke, Adam Scott, Bradley Dredge, and Graeme McDowell.
He has also been involved in the design and development of golf schools in Las Vegas, Portugal, and the Bahamas.
During his visit, he took the opportunity to tour Dubai Sports City, the world’s first fully-integrated sports city, and review the development work for the future Butch Harmon School of Golf, which will be the first such facility outside the United States.
“What is happening in Dubai is tremendously exciting for international golf. A decade ago, Las Vegas was a boutique golf destination, and it now attracts millions of golfers. Dubai seems to be developing along a similar path, with world-class courses, a passionate community of golfers, and a wide range of high class facilities,” said Harmon.
Figures from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing show that the number of courses in Dubai is due to treble over the next ten years, and the number of golfers traveling to Dubai continues to rise.
In addition, more and more international players from the professional golf circuit regularly play in competitions like The Dubai Desert Classic, and practice in Dubai during the winter season.
During his visit, Harmon was provided with a preview of the Dunes, the 18-hole Championship golf course designed by Ernie Els which is due to open soon at Dubai Sports City.
“We were delighted to welcome an authority like Claude Harmon to Dubai Sports City and to show him some of the exciting work we’re undertaking,” said Thomas Rubi, general manager, The Dunes.
“Given its global popularity, golf is a cornerstone sport for this development, and we’re doing everything to ensure that we offer the highest class of experience for golfers,” concluded Rubi.
About Dubai Sports City:
Dubai Sports City (DSC), the cornerstone project of Dubailand, is a $3.6 billion, 50 million square feet mixed-use development which will be the world’s first integrated purpose-built sports city.
The development will be built around five major sports venues:
• a 60,000 capacity multi-purpose outdoor stadium for football, rugby, track and field and other sports and non-sports events
• a 10,000 seat multi-purpose indoor arena suitable for all hard court sports as well as concerts and other events and also including a removable ice rink
• a 25,000 capacity cricket stadium, expandable to 30,000, with state-of-the-art facilities for players, match officials, VIPs, spectators and the media
• a 5,000 seat field hockey stadium
• The Dunes, a magnificent 18-hole Championship golf course designed by Ernie Els
In addition to the stadia, Dubai Sports City will feature a series of major sports academy facilities including:
• Dubai Sports City Football Academy, the home of Manchester United Soccer Schools, Dubai
• a David Lloyd Tennis Academy
• a Butch Harmon School of Golf, the first such facility outside the United States
• the International Cricket Council’s own ICC Global Cricket Academy
• the WorldHockey Academy, a first of its kind partnership with the International Hockey Federation
• top class multi-sport training facilities including gymnasium and a 50 metre swimming pool
• a world-renowned sports medicine and rehabilitation centre
Designed as a lifestyle development, Dubai Sports City will also feature comprehensive community facilities including:
▪ Next Generation Country Club and spa facility
▪ a large-scale shopping mall
▪ two retail hubs offering up-scale dining and boutique shopping
▪ a range of schools
▪ medical facilities
▪ community centres
▪ hotels
