The Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club has once again been praised by the seasoned professionals of the
Craig Haldane, the Director of Golf Course Maintenance, said his team has worked towards providing firm fairways and fast greens, and hopes it will provide a fair test of golf during the Omega Dubai Desert Classic that starts tomorrow.
“The course is in great shape. We have tried to keep the surface as firm as possible, including the fairways and landing zones,” said Haldane.
“As always, our aim is to get the greens rolling fantastically true and having them as firm as possible and that’s the most challenging part of the job.
“As usual, it’s a very accessible golf course and we don’t try to set it up to protect a score. Conditions dare what they are. If the wind comes up, that will do what it does.
“But generally speaking, the greens here are genuinely considered flat compared to other greens, so if they get the ball rolling, the ball will hold its line and they will roll in the putts all week long.”
The South African agronomist’s superb work was lauded by his compatriot, four time major champion Ernie Els, himself a man with massive course designing experience.
When asked if it was possible to match his course-record 61 in such conditions, Els said: “I think it’s very possible. The course is in absolutely fantastic shape.
“The greens are going to be quite firm I think, and very fast. The fairways, they have kept the Bermuda and they have re-seeded the rough. So the rough is going to be tough.
“So a ball-striker, the guy that’s on his game, is going to do well and the guy that’s off is not going to do well, because you’re not going to be able to scramble. That’s great for tournament golf.”
Haldane felt anything between 18 and 20-under par could be the winning score, added: “The roughs are fair. If you’re there, you’re not going to able to hit the green, but you’re not going to be losing balls and hacking them out.
“I think that’s a fair test of golf without being too penal on all sides of the scale.”
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