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THE Wee Ali, Awali Golf Club’s new par 3 course, was officially opened at the weekend to act as a stepping stone for newcomers to the game.
Ace player Ali Musbah and captain Steve Brown took the first shots after the Seniors lunch on Saturday afternoon.
The course can be accessed from the 11th tee box. So far there are six holes, varying from 62 yards to 192 yards. The total course length is 711 yards.
Brown said: “We hope the Wee Ali will be popular with beginners and for us ‘experts’ wanting to hone our short game.
“It is a big step for beginners to move from the practice range to playing on our main 18-hole course. We think this par 3 course will be an ideal stepping stone. Also, joking aside, it is a great way for the more experienced golfers to practice their short game.”
The Wee Ali has been named after AGC Course member Ali Musbah (who is no relation to Europe’s former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie who designed the neighbouring European Tour Royal Golf Club course and its 9 hole executive challenge, the Wee Monty).
Ali is Bahraini and first got involved with golf many years ago at AGC as a caddie. He now plays off a 2 handicap and his son plays off zero.
Musbah made the inaugural shot from hole-1’s tee, followed by Brown. Ali, Steve and a group of other players then played the course, with a consensus that it will still provide a challenge for all those that venture out as it forces a focus on a short-iron and putting prowess.
Further ‘firsts’ were recorded as part of the day’s event: being no surprise to anyone, Musbah set the course record at 18, paring all six holes. Onny Martin recorded the course’s first birdie, chipping-in at the 5th, and Maeve O’Tuama achieved the first ever ladies par score.
The Wee Ali is a separate course adjacent to the club’s main course and its driving range. AGC says it is welcoming visitors to come and play the Wee Ali and to take lessons with its PGA teaching professional Steven Gerrish. Visitors can also play the main course (on non-competition days) for a green fee of BD7.5
AGC is the home of the Bahrain Ladies Open and the Bahrain Open. The 51st edition of the Bahrain Open takes place this year on April 4-5, preceded by the 26th edition of the Bahrain Ladies Open on March 28-29.
The club boasts the oldest golf course in the Middle East, which last year celebrated its 75th anniversary, hosted the 50th Bahrain Open Golf Championship and marked the 25th Bahrain Ladies Open Golf Championship, all in the same season.
Brown, 59, a human resource specialist at Bapco since 2008, a British expat, says he is thrilled by the latest development. “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.”
Although AGC is a Bapco facility, membership is open to all. Full details of the club and membership is available on www.awaligolfclub.com/agc.htm
Annual subscriptions are BD300, although green fees are BD7.500 for 18 holes.
