Troon Golf Abu Dhabi launches the second Schools and Clubs League in UAE Capital
The Abu Dhabi Schools and Clubs League (ADSCL), run by the region’s leading golf course management company Troon Golf, has kicked off for a second year. The league is run in collaboration with five other Abu Dhabi golf clubs across six months, all working towards the common goal of growing the game by offering juniors free tee times to play competitively.
The initiative is led by P-J Van Merch, Golf Professional at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, whose passion for the game saw him first develop the league in December 2011, after noticing the surprisingly small number of junior golfers playing competitively.
“I noticed a sharp contrast in the number of juniors being taught golf at our Academy, compared to those playing golf competitively. Despite more than 500 children receiving coaching through various lesson programmes in the Abu Dhabi area, only a handful of these were playing on golf courses.
“We wanted to launch a tournament that would work directly with Abu Dhabi’s schools and neighbouring golf clubs as part of a wider mission to encourage juniors to take to the course and play golf in a competitive spirit. At Saadiyat Beach Golf Club we are strongly committed to giving back to the local community, and the league is another activity which allows us to do this through offering free tee times to juniors who have signed up for the league.”
The ADSCL, sponsored by Rosewood Abu Dhabi, has grown from just 16 juniors enrolled in last year’s inaugural event, to more than 40 juniors today. Also taking part in the event are Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Al Ain Equestrian and Shooting Golf Club and Yas Links. The league culminates in April 2013 with the final round being held at the Troon-managed Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
“Golf is a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime,” said P-J. “As an industry we are continually looking for ways to try to grow the game, and junior golf plays a huge part in this. The Abu Dhabi Schools and Clubs League, as well as other junior golf initiatives Troon oversees, allows us to groom the future golf stars of tomorrow, which is highly rewarding.”
“At Rosewood Abu Dhabi, we are very proud to support Troon Golf and P-J in this initiative. We truly value and support healthy lifestyles for our guests and our associates and believe that good habits, fair playing behaviour and exercise discipline should be learned since the youngest age. Golf is the perfect game for that!” commented Roddy Gordon, Director of Marketing at Rosewood Abu Dhabi.
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s Junior Golf programme at the Academy caters to children aged between five and 13 years old.
