UAE PGA's Al Naboodah Junior Series Bags New Initiative Award

The Middle East Golfer Awards, hosted by ITP and Middle East Golfer magazine, recently recognised the UAE PGA's efforts in developing the regions' Junior Golfers by awarding the UAE PGA's Al Naboodah Junior Series with Best New Initiative of 2009.

"On behalf of the UAE PGA Committee, its members and the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group we are exceptionally proud of the Junior Series, and are honoured to receive this award in acknowledgement of the implementation and management of this programme for the benefit of our Junior Golfers" said Stephen Hubner, UAE PGA Tournament Director.

Launched in 2009, the Junior Series is open to all budding golfers aged between 6 to 14 years who are currently enrolled in golf clinics and golf schools run by UAE Golf Clubs. Each tour... read more >>

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UAE PGA Chairman's 2009 Round Up

3rd Jan 10 at 02:00pm

It gives me great pleasure to launch two exciting initiatives from the UAE Professional Golfers’ Association, firstly the opportunity to view officially our new brand and also to launch our new website. As you can imagine this has taken a significant amount of energy and commitment from the entire team, so my hearty congratulations and thanks goes to the entire team.

We believe that the brand is the face of the association and as we improved the services and benefits of the members, so too did the need to re-identify the image and overall branding of the association become apparent. We have attempted and I believe we have achieved, to depict the energy, commitment and the business of sport to enable the association to sit alongside its peers both locally and international, and successfully take our leadership position in the development of the sport within the UAE. You will see the branding on each piece of collateral, every event on our calendar and also used widely by our patrons in their marketing collateral. The brand will also take the front page position on the Middle East’s Golf Digest magazine as a result of new relationship as our official golf media partner. This relationship will give our members, the professional game and our patrons a new, quality communication vehicle for the region of which we are very proud.

The demands on websites in today’s marketplace are significant and we have placed a priority on member information and services and also the ability for the general golfing public to navigate through the site to view in clear and simple terms our core activities from Order of Merit events, networking functions and business to business opportunities we deliver for patrons and members alike. These sites are no longer a snapshot of the organisation, but have become a portal to the heart and soul of the reason why the entity exists and a management tool for those doing business in some way shape of form and those who may be intending to do business in the future. These days we are judged not only by the visual and navigational aspects of the website, but also on the services it supplies to all stakeholders and what commercial value it adds to the business. I hope you all enjoy navigating your way through the site and trust you will join me in congratulating the team on yet another important milestone for the association.

In closing, over the past two years the committee have been working towards the goal of increasing the size of the prize-money for each Order of Merit, which is now AED10,000, doubling the number and quality of education opportunities (PD Program), working in partnership with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) and local sponsors to deliver sustainable junior development programs and continuing to give commercial value back to our patrons for their support. Having achieved many of our major goals during that period we now find ourselves questioning the direction and vision of the association for the next 10 years. The acceptance of golf into the Olympics effective 2016 is a significant step in the development of the game and one that the UAE PGA has embraced. As such we intend to support and develop in tandem with the industry stakeholders sustainable programs for the next generation of golfing superstars with the hope of creating 'home grown UAE talent' who can compete with the best in the world. I know you will agree this a tall order, but our team are committed to make this a reality and will take the first step very early in the new year to making this process a reality.

Finally, Seasons Greetings to you all, and may 2010 be free of the bogeys of 2009.

Safe travels and good golfing.

Jeff O'Brien
Chairman UAE PGA