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 >>

News > Tournament

Payne Dominates at 2009/2010 UAE PGA Awards Night

3rd Jun 10 at 01:52pm

Walking away with 3 first-place awards from the 2009/2010 Tournament season, including the highly-coveted Order of Merit, Tower Links favourite son, Simon Payne strengthened his accolade of being one of the best professional golfers in the region.

In receiving his awards, presented at the recent UAE PGA Gala Awards, Payne was full of praise for his fellow PGA-members as well as for the United Arab Emirates PGA body stating; “it has been both a challenging and rewarding season”. “The quality of player has increased dramatically over the past few years which is a credit to both the members of the Association, as well as to the PGA’s tournament committee of Stephen (Hubner), Malcolm (Young) and Luke (Cantelo). Their commitment and support in growing our professional talent is outstanding and appreciated” he added.

A formidable adversary to Payne’s domination came in the form of The Els Club’s Callum Nicoll who also, incredibly, walked away with 3 first-place awards as well as a 2 top-three finishes including second place in the Associations’ Order of Merit. A worthy achievement as Nicoll joined the UAE PGA mid-way through the tournament season.

In total, 21 awards were handed out during the evenings formalities.

Presiding over the evening, UAE PGA Chairman, Jeff O’Brien’s closed the evening with; ‘Congratulations must go to all the winners and of course to our committee, as without them none of this can be delivered. Thanks also must go to our Patrons who are the cornerstone of our association and will be vital in the structural changes we intend to make within our association to grow and support our members and the development of the game throughout the UAE. Finally we intend to embrace the Olympic spirit as we move towards 2016 and play an active role in the development of our Emirati talent pool throughout the country” he said.

The 2010/2011 season, which will start in October of this year, is certain to bring a strong element of challenge as a flourishing field of new talent continues to join the already 100+ member-strong Association.