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NEW Awali Golf Club captain Steve Brown will hit the first shot to open the historic club’s 2013-14 season at 2.15pm on Friday.
The traditional ‘captain’s drive-in’ will be cheered on by members of the club boasting the oldest golf course in the Middle East, which last year celebrated its 75th anniversary, hosted the 50th anniversary Bahrain Open Golf Championship and marked the 25th anniversary Bahrain Ladies Open Golf Championship, all in the same season.
Brown, 59, a human resource specialist at Bapco since 2008, is thrilled and honoured to be taking over the captain’s responsibility. “I hope to have a successful season for the club and to enjoy myself,” he said.
The British expat will start proceedings on the 10th tee and following tradition, all members will place their signed drink mats on the fairway to try and predict where the captain’s ball will rest, taking into account the odd Awali bounce, or two.
Costing BD1-a-guess all money will be donated to the captain’s annual charity. Although undecided on the actual good cause, he plans to pass the money on to a local organisation caring for the nation’s labourers.
Brown, from Cheltenham, is married to Sian and has two children, Shane, 19, and Roxy, 18, who both live in the UK. He has a golfing handicap of 18, and said: “I’ve been playing for 15 years, but you wouldn’t know it! It’s the camaraderie, ‘the crack’, as the Irish would say, that I enjoy the most.
“Playing on sand is pretty unique in itself, but mainly it’s the people and the clubhouse atmosphere that makes Awali Golf Club so special.”
The course can be challenging too. “I once scored a 9 on Awali’s par three 6th hole. I went in to all three bunkers and one of them twice!” he admitted.
Golfers on the island, however, are urged to give it a go. “AGC is a really good members’ club, come and try it,” invited Brown.
Although AGC is a Bapco facility, membership is open to all. Full details of the club and membership is available by visiting www.awaligolfclub.com/agc.htm
Annual subscriptions are BD300, although green fees are BD7.500 for 18 holes.
