Clubs must work together to stay competitive says The Address Montgomerie Dubai New GM Iain Mcinally

The Address Montgomerie Dubai’s new general manager Iain McInally has said that despite record round of golf being played in Dubai earlier this year, golf clubs in the UAE should work closer together rather than against each other to continue the positive trend. McInally, who has been in the role since March this year, was previously at the highly regarded Jack Nicklaus-designed Monte Rei Golf and Country Club on the Algarve in Portugal, and also held the post as Director of Golf in St. Andrews, Scotland as well as Barbados among other notable golf properties.

25 years of experience in the highly competitive golf market in Europe and beyond has given Iain a unique insight into the challenges of a successful golf course in a competitive market.
He brings the benefit of that experience to one of Dubai’s leading golf clubs.
“The Algarve in Portugal is a golfing hub within Europe so I understand the challenges of a small, highly competitive golf industry,” he said.
“However, the business mix of golf in the UAE is quite different to Portugal in that here we rely far less on tourist rounds, and more on the domestic market, but the principles remain the same.
“Working together as a group of golf courses is the way we will continue to attract the type of visitors, members and volume of local rounds that we saw in March, and become a more desirable destination for those travelling from overseas specifically for golf.”
The UAE recorded more than 54,000 rounds in March 2012, breaking the 50,000 mark for the first time in the sport’s 24-year history in the UAE.

The most recently launched being The Track, at Meydan Golf, which will not have any members and instead focus on attracting pay-and-play golfers to its nine-hole 3,700 yard course.

Rather than competing with each other, McInally says the golf clubs all have something special to offer in their own right and should focus on working together to further raise the region’s reputation at an international golfing destination.
“The UAE has a fast growing reputation locally and internationally as a golf destination of distinction and we all have a collective responsibility to uphold and strengthen that reputation.

“By coming together, championing each other’s uniqueness and offering something for every type of golfer, we can all seek to benefit from the growth – not just of golfing tourism but of the domestic golf market too.”

The Montgomerie has recently announced its rates for the summer golf season. ‘Beat the Heat’ Green fees between 10am & 2pm are AED 200, and summer memberships from June 1st until September 30th start from AED 3,750.
Members will receive 20% off food & beverage in any of the club’s three leading dining facilities, and 10% off apparel purchased in the Pro Shop and treatments within the Angsana Spa within the Clubhouse.