A View From the Links with Steve Morgan Yas Links Pro

Steven Morgan: First of all, a very warm welcome to my new column “A View From the Links” here on UAE Golf online. I am very excited to have this opportunity to write about golf here in the UAE, a place that can only be described as one of the most exciting and diverse countries in the world.

What better way to start off by commenting on this year’s ‘Ryder Cup’ which was held last week at Celtic Manor in a very wet Wales. I can’t help feeling sorry for all the respective organizers ( and not to mention the Welsh Tourist Board ) that put months and months of hard work into setting up the tournament only for mother nature to interfere and to try cast a shadow on this fantastic event. Even when play finally got going in day 2, I couldn’t help but feel there was something not quite right. Having said this, what a marvelous finish to the event and a big congratulations must go to both sides not only for their impressive display of golf but their professionalism. I am obviously very excited that Europe won but all in all what a great advert for the game of golf.

Watching this year’s Ryder Cup I can’t help but think how lucky we are here in the UAE with the weather.  We have 8 months of the year that are arguably the most ideal playing conditions and this can only help improve our golf game or at least help our enthusiasm to get out there to play and practice. With ideal weather comes ideal golf course conditions too and it is worth noting the hard work that goes into preparing the golf course on a daily basis by the maintenance staff. This was also clearly evident at the Ryder Cup although their time was taken up mainly but brushing the numerous puddles off the greens and fairways, something that I think we will rarely see in the UAE this winter.

So with the inspiration of this year’s Ryder Cup and the cooler weather setting in for the winter, it’s time we all wipe the dust ( and sand ) off the clubs, head down to the local golf club and gets back into the swing of things.

I wish you all the best for the start of the Golfing season and I am looking forward to discussing more interesting topics relating to golf here in the UAE on “A view from the links”

Best Wishes,
Steven Morgan