Chris White, one of the most popular figures in the UAE golf industry, has left Yas Links, where he was the General Manager and embarked on a new chapter in his career.
After 16 years of working with various UAE courses, the Englishman has taken charge as the Director of Operations at Ayla Oasis in Aqaba, Jordan, from this week.
Ayla Oasis is a mixed-use development, which when complete, will feature an 18-hole championship size golf course designed by Greg Norman and a nine-hole flood-lit course, a 200-berth marina, four hotels, residential units, retail space and entertainment centre.
White first arrived in the UAE in October 1999 as Director of Golf of Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton, three months before the facility was opened to public. He then went on to oversee the launch of two other clubs – Al Hamra Golf Club in 2005, followed by Yas Links, where he was once again involved from the conceptualisation stage.
“The UAE has been fantastic to me both personally and professionally and I will always be indebted to the opportunities that were presented,” said White who took a few days off with his family in the UK before moving to Jordan.
“It’s been home for 16 years. I arrived with no grey hair, a wife and a 10-week old baby girl and I left with two kids, two dogs, two cats and the same ever-supportive wife and lots of grey hair!
“I am very sad to leave Abu Dhabi. I love Yas Links and I loved what I was doing. It was just that I needed a new challenge. I start a new adventure in Jordan and I am really looking forward to it.”
Ayla Oasis will be the first grass golf course in Jordan and White is excited about the possibilities.
“There is a sand course in Amman, but this will be the first grass course in the country. The course is being grassed as we speak and we hope to have the launch in October 2016,” said White.
“Greg Norman is not just a legendary golfer, but also a very established and respected name in the golf course design business, so you can expect a very strong and challenging golf course when Ayla Oasis is complete.
“I am confident that golf will get a massive boost in Jordan when the course is launched. Of course, it will be great for tourism, but also for the development of junior and amateur golfers in the country.
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“I have worked with the UAE PGA when it was in a very nascent stage and have also been an advisor to the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), and I hope to put these experiences to good use in Jordan.”
Looking back on his years in the UAE, White said it was difficult to single out any one assignment as his favourite.
“Abu Dhabi Golf Club was a blur really. We worked extremely hard, and we partied even harder. It became very popular very fast. Most weekends we had to have two shotgun starts on both the 18-hole courses,” reminisces White.
“Al Hamra was different, a much more laid back lifestyle and a place where we really gained a deeper appreciation of the Arab culture. It was a huge responsibility, as I was responsible for overseeing the construction of Peter Harradine’s design and integration of both the residential community, Fort Hotel and Marina, while my wife did a great job as the interior designer of the project.
“And then there was Yas Links. The scale of the project, and Aldar’s vision with the entire Yas Island was mind-boggling. It was exciting and intense work, as we worked to the strictest of deadlines given that the first Abu Dhabi Etihad F1 Grand Prix was to be held in October 2009.
“I believe Yas Links is Kyle Phillips’ finest creation and I enjoyed each minute of my association with him. Kyle really is a perfectionist and it shows in the numerous awards the golf course has already won.”
