Keeping it Green with Peter Harradine part 3

Dear All, The HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship will be played from the 17th to the 20th of January and it is confirmed that it will remain at the “National”. There was some talk of moving the tournament from the “National” to Yas links. When I was asked to give my opinion I said that I did not mind but I would obviously prefer it to remain at the “National”. This tournament has become very popular and the number of spectators has increased every year especially with the participation of players like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. I warned the organizers that a move to Yas links would create logistical problems such as spectators trampling all over the sand dunes, crushing the tall grasses and breaking the drip pipes. I cannot really see the spectators gingerly waltzing around the bushes and drippers.
Furthermore, the “National” is the home of the unique falcon trophy and the organizers have shown that they can run the event very smoothly without encountering any teething problems that would certainly be evident if the Championship moved to a new venue. Yas Links is a fantastic layout and a very beautiful links course with a great setting but the player’s approach to the clubhouse does not match the iconic homecoming of the 9th and 18th at the National.

It is a great pity that they had to build a hotel next to the Falcon which overshadows that great building. In fact, when the Falcon was built, it was derided by everybody in Dubai as “rubbish”, “outlandish”, “stupid” etc., etc. (I cannot really mention the other comments they uttered) Frankly, I do not know of any other finishing hole in the world where the players are welcomed by such a fantastic bird and birdie opportunity!

I have been designing golf courses for a while now so I’m being invited to more and more anniversaries. I do not really mind the 10th and 20th anniversaries but it is really worrying when I am asked to go to more and more 25th and 50th anniversaries! (Fortunately, the 50th anniversaries are my dad’s courses) Anyway, I was invited last month to the 10th anniversary of a golf course I designed in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. I took a night flight and arrived at Geneva airport in the morning. I had it all figured out, my son Michael would pick me up and I would bring him to the course and would slip away to the hotel to have a nap. I would then be ready for my evening speech and the anniversary celebrations! We arrived at the golf course around midday and while we were having lunch the president said “Peter I have a cart full of bubbly and we will take a photograph at every hole with the 18 flights!” Well, that was the end of my nap as we downed 18 glasses of bubbly but fortunately over a period of 4 hours. This was followed by a compulsory “aperitif” which just gave me time to wobble into the shower, return to the clubhouse and deliver the speech! You should have heard the speech!

Bye for now. Peter