Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Golf is typical capitalist lunacy, according to George Bernard Shaw. One wonders what the late Irish playwright and ardent socialist would make of the Gulf states becoming an oasis of plush green courses and a magnet for overseas business executives looking for the best location to unwind from the stresses of the global recession.
This week work is in full swing on creating the new Ernie Els designed championship golf course at Durrat Al Bahrain located in and around the azure waters of the southern Bahraini seas.
The course is one of the main attractions of the necklace-shaped new city set across 15 inter-connected islands.
The GCC countries have recognised the importance of golf as a key tourism driver, according to Mark Sandilands, manager at international consultants KPMG's Golf Advisory Practice.
"The UAE and Dubai have been at the forefront of this development," he said. "Other GCC member states are also following suit, developing several courses and raising their profile by hosting international tournaments."
For example, the PGA European Tour has three stops in the region - Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai - which is now dubbed as the 'desert swing' on the sporting calendar and Bahrain has already unveiled its Royal Golf Club course at Riffa Views with a star-studded prize event featuring its designer Colin Montgomerie and other leading players.
The Gulf is heralded as one of the development hotspots for the sport and the relatively low participation rates across the region leave plenty of room for future growth.
With its attractive winter climate and supply of first class golf facilities, Dubai, in particular, has quickly emerged as a high-profile destination for golf tourists. Bahrain is keen to follow in its footsteps.
In a recent study, KPMG interviewed more than 70 tour operators - all members of IAGTO, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
When asked which countries or regions had the most potential to become significant golf tourism destinations, the tour operators identified Dubai as having the highest growth potential from a golf tourism perspective within the EMA region.
A group of UK businessmen calling themselves The Cottingham Parks Touring Party are a prime example of European golf fanatics captured by the allure of the Gulf.
More than 40 members last year travelled from the English county of East Yorkshire for a fifth consecutive year on an annual sporting pilgrimage to the Middle East and plans are already advanced for this year's adventure.
Originally instigated by Steve Start of energy services group ESG Dubai, the trip has been supported over the years by Al Mubarrack Overseas, Universal Logistics, Momentum Engineering, CS Logistics, Marine & Logistics Service Dubai and Janco Oilfield Services.
"The boys love playing out in Dubai," Mr Start said. "There is no better way to mix business and pleasure. While business deals may not be completed on a golf course many of them are instigated there. We are already looking forward to November."
The group includes a PGA golf professional, an array of company directors and keen amateur enthusiasts who enjoy playing on 'fantastic golf courses in some great surroundings coupled with ideal weather'.
Corporate sponsorship helps keep the cost of the week-long trip down to around $1,450 per member and they spend a minimum of $700 each in the bars and restaurants over the seven days, according to one source.
Chris Gray, an ex-European Tour player and now head club professional at the Cottingham Parks Golf and Leisure Club, said: "Over the five years that we have been touring to the Middle East we have played most of the courses as well as travelling out as far as Abu Dhabi.
"We have all enjoyed the different challenges that the courses present and this year we hope to complete our portfolio by sampling the test of the new Els course."
The Brits enjoy an annual charity challenge match against local advocates, aptly named the SODS (Society of Dubai Golfers), and raise thousands of pounds for children's charities and other worthy causes each year.
Hull nightclub owner and entrepreneur John Francis, said: "I love playing golf in Dubai, the courses are always in an excellent condition and the camaraderie and friendships we have built with the SODS over the years always adds a little spice to our matches with them - I hope they are keeping the trophy polished for us!
"The hospitality and service is always first class and I would recommend any keen golfer to make a trip to the Gulf at some point in their golf playing days.
"The projects in Bahrain also appear to be very exciting and we are keeping a keen eye on the developments there.
"The Royal Golf Club course alongside a new Ernie Els course makes it a very attractive proposition - and the Formula One Grand Prix adds to the sporting atmosphere of the island."
And there certainly will be plenty of courses to choose from soon. There are numerous golf projects in the planning, design, or construction phase with more than 20 golf developments in the pipeline in the UAE alone and 10 more projects in other countries in the Middle East. These projects, if realised, will more than double the current supply of golf courses in the region.
In terms of turnover, the most successful 18-hole golf courses in the EMA region are located in the Middle East, achieving average revenues of around $6.6 million. This is about three to four times more than the average of golf courses of the same size in Europe.
The Tiger Woods Dubai, an exclusive 55 million sq ft golf community development and a member of Tatweer Dubai, is keenly being awaited by golf players across the world.
Grassing work recently commenced on the 7,800 yard, par 72, 18-hole championship Al Ruwaya Golf Course, the world's first golf course to be designed by Tiger Woods Design.
Woods, the world's number one golfer, said: "It's exciting to see my first ever golf course design coming to life. My vision, and the work of my design company, is being realised."
Al Ruwaya will span over 13 million sq ft and feature dramatic elevation changes and lush landscaping with over 11,000 trees and 140,000 shrubs. It will also boast stunning water features, including 3.3 million sq ft of lakes and an overall design aimed to challenge and entertain golfers of all playing abilities.
Al Ruwaya is making significant progress, with the completion of detailed shaping on 10 holes, whilst 8 holes remain roughly shaped. Trees are being planted at a rate of 50 a day, with a total of 2,000 of the 11,000 required for the course having been planted.
Located at Dubailand, the developers of The Tiger Woods Dubai say it is 'fast taking shape' as an exclusive golf community encompassing 22 palaces, 75 mansions, and 100 luxury villas and community service facilities.
An opening date has yet to be announced and no doubt lessons will be learned from the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain which opened before the completion of a clubhouse and floodlighting and resulted in an offer of compensation being tabled to members.
The club hopes to be back on course shortly and despite the setbacks its membership continues to grow towards its 800 target.
General manager Michael Braidwood said: "When we opened the Riffa Golf Club in 1999, golf was played at an artisan level on sand golf courses. We have grown the participation in the sport and professionalised it. We will continue to grow and develop the game focusing on junior golf and ladies. We would love to see Bahraini ladies take up the sport and enjoy the success that their male counterparts have had in regional golf - Bahrain's national golf team has won the GCC Championships for the last 14 years and dominates Arab Golf."
The club hopes its championship grass course will also grab a slice of the lucrative golf tourist market and it is currently exploring a hotel option on the site.
The Gulf, however, must stay on its toes if it is going to continue wooing players from far afield in the current financial climate as competition to lure the tourist golfer's dollar hots up.
Asked about the changing demands of golfing parties, one member of the Yorkshire team, explained: "Due to the current fluctuations in the currency exchange rates more groups are looking at packages where golf, hotel accommodation, food and beverages are 'all inclusive' as this makes the budgeting, pricing and marketing of golf trips much easier. I think this is the reason why many are now heading for places such as Turkey. "As for us, at the moment we love the courses in the Gulf and have always been very well looked after."
