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THE future looks bright in more ways than one at the oldest golf club in the Middle East with the formal opening of a floodlit range after significant investment in the sporting facility, writes Stan Szecowka.
Members of Awali Golf Club and guests met on Thursday evening to celebrate the switch on with a series of skill-testing and accuracy contests and a BBQ bash on the clubhouse’s newly-extended terrace.
The project, initiated several years ago, now provides floodlighting to members and visitors up to 8pm every evening, allowing practice to not be restricted by sunset, or by finances, as buckets of balls still only cost a mere 500 fils.
The club’s resident professional, Rory Young, demonstrated Trackman software as part of a longest-carry competition, whilst captain Paul Anderson took charge of a hit-the-gong contest and president Mark Hodgkinson guided a nearest-the-pin chipping competition.
“The aim is to carry on investing in our facilities and to continue to grow the social aspect of the club,” said Anderson, 54, who has only been a member of the club for three years.
The procurement and supply chain advisor at Bapco says he hacks around the course with a 19 handicap and loves the sport because ‘no two rounds are the same’ and believes his greatest golfing achievement ‘is yet to happen’.
Anderson is a prime example of the club’s enduring ability to attract newcomers to the game with its warm and welcoming stance to people wanting to swing a club for the first time and improve their skills alongside seasoned players.
“In my opinion, it’s the diversity of the club that makes it so special,” he explained, “and that it is run through the volunteer work of members.”
The installation of floodlights on the driving range came at a cost of ‘several thousand dinars’ and marks the club’s 80th anniversary.
A document confirming the date of the famous sporting enterprise’s creation was unearthed by the club’s historian Onny Martin, making the club one year older than living members originally thought, as reported earlier by GulfWeekly.
He found a document, held in an online library in Qatar, that shows the club, famous for its sand course, challenging ‘Awali bounce’ and unique ‘browns’ instead of greens, was founded in 1937.
Its 6,309 yard par-70 sand course of rock fairways and oiled areas around the holes, clubhouse and related facilities are maintained by its major sponsor Bapco as a recreational outlet for the oil company’s employees, with guest membership available for others.
It is believed Bapco golfers started playing in the vicinity of Oil Well No.1 near Jebel Dhukan, then moved to a course at Awali village for a short time before then moving to AGC’s current location close to the Royal Golf Club in Riffa Views.
The winners of Thursday evening’s Awali Golf Club’s floodlit fun were:
Phil Trueblood - Gong Challenge
Rami Ebraham Esbai - Nearest the pin
Susan Scott - Ladies Longest Carry 2nd
Darren Swain - Mens Longest Carry 2nd
Ahmed Al Noaimi - Lucky Draw
Viv Hillier - Lucky Draw
Andy Jopek - Lucky Draw
Marc De Winter - Lucky Draw
They all walked away with prize club vouchers.
