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Gulf Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
FMAC wins SPIA Middle East 2025 Award for Best Sports Event of 2024
In a remarkable sporting achievement that highlights its organizational excellence and professionalism, Fujairah Martial Arts Club was awarded the Sports Industry Awards (SPIA) Middle East 2025 for Best Sports Event of 2024, in recognition of the outstanding success of the 11th Fujairah Open International Taekwondo Championship. The event attracted over 2,000 athletes from across the globe and stood out as a premier sporting platform on both regional and international levels. This prestigious recognition is a reflection of the visionary leadership of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah and President of Fujairah Martial Arts Club, whose strategic direction continues to elevate Fujairah's status as a global destination for elite sports events. The award ceremony took place at Space 42 Arena in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of key figures from the regional sports sector, decision-makers from across the Mena region, and representatives from leading media outlets. The award was supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, underscoring the institutional synergy in celebrating and empowering sporting excellence in the region. The category featured strong competition from globally recognized events, including the DP World Tour Championship, the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and the NBA Abu Dhabi Games, further affirming the prominence of the Fujairah Open among the region's top-tier sports organizers, and the growing global recognition of Fujairah as a leader in sports event management. Commenting on the award, Nader Abushawish, Director of Fujairah Martial Arts Club, stated: 'We proudly dedicate this award to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the visionary leader and primary supporter of sports in Fujairah. This recognition crowns years of dedicated work and seamless team coordination, and reflects the international sports community's trust in our standards of excellence.' The Fujairah Open International Taekwondo Championship (G2) is regarded as one of the most prestigious combat sports events globally, attracting top athletes and international referees to highly competitive matches. Each year, it offers participants the opportunity to push the limits of excellence and determination in the sport of Taekwondo. In 2025, the championship made history by entering the Guinness World Records, with a record-breaking 2,332 participants, earning the title of the world's largest international Taekwondo competition by participation. Founded in 2012, the SPIA Middle East Awards are held under the patronage of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and serve as the region's official platform to honor influential leaders, organizations, facilities, and initiatives that contribute to the development of the sports industry in the Middle East.
What's On
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
A guide to the best golf courses in the UAE
It's time to par-tee… The UAE's golf scene is unmatched – whether you're new to the sport or confident walking in the footsteps of golfing greats – there's a course for you. With summer fast approaching, book an early morning or nighttime tee (with some great discounted rates) and keep working on your swing all season long. The Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates One of Dubai's most iconic golf courses is found at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Designed by acclaimed golf course architect Greg Norman, the par 72 Earth Course is recognised for its perfectly manicured fairways, challenging bunkers and water hazards. It's the backdrop for one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the calendar – the DP World Tour Championship, and as such has been played by champions including Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton. Golfers make their way around an 18-hole course designed to challenge and delight golfers of all abilities, teeing off from and returning to the Clubhouse, where facilities include The Crafty Fox gastropub and refined Italian eatery, Bussola. Rates from Dhs1,050. Book via the Viya app The Majlis Course, Emirates Golf Club Emirates Golf Club set the gold standard for golfing in the UAE when it was established in 1988 as the first grass course in the Middle East. In the decades that have followed, it's drawn sporting elite from across the globe to try their hand at its challenging layout, backdropped by the iconic Marina skyline. The 18-hole Championship golf course is a firm favourite of those who come to the emirates to play golf, thanks to its world-class facilities, lush fairways and deliberately placed bunkers. Rates from Dhs1,500. Book via the Viya app Yas Links Abu Dhabi Adding to the thrilling array of attractions found on Yas Island – including Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Yas Marina Circuit and Warner Bros World – is Yas Links. Recognised as the first Links Golf Course in the Middle East, the Kyle Phillips-designed course is consistently regarded as one of the world's leading golf courses. Located on the island's west shores, its world-class facilities range from the floodlight practice ranges to the state-of-the-art Toptracer range technology. Then there's the course itself – fast fairways, challenging greens and scenic views that command your attention as much as the game. Rates from Dhs620. Book via the Viya app Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah Lending itself well to golfers of all abilities, add a round on the par-72, 18 hole championship golf course at Al Hamra to your Ras Al Khaimah bucket list. Designed by Peter Harradine, the course centres scenically around four interconnected water lagoons, with a collection of villas dotting the edges. Each hole comes with five tee options, and the whole course features 5 million cubic metres of sand that have been expertly shaped to create gentle elevation that ranges from one to eight metres across the course. With the region's short daylight hours, Al Hamra has created a composite 9-hole course combining holes from the front and back nines designed for night golf, perfect for an after-work game or simply enjoying a challenging environment to hone your skills. Rates from Dhs265. Al Zorah Golf Club, Ajman Since opening in 2015, Al Zorah Golf Club has established itself as one of the most scenic spots for golf fans in the emirates, nestled within the verdant Ajman mangroves. Golf legend Jack Nicklaus' company Nicklaus Design are behind the 18-hole championship layout, which features two lakes and 88 bunkers. Water levels shift with the tides throughout the day, paired with the stretching views of the mangroves, provides a serene location for a game with your mates. The two-teed driving range is the perfect place to warm up, while the golf club restaurant is the perfect place to fuel up after your round. Rates from Dhs375. Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club A shooting range, archery, escape rooms and paintball – there are lots of exhilarating attractions to blow off some steam at with a visit to this emporium of active fun. But the golf course is arguably the jewel in the crown. Another Peter Harradine-designed course, the fully floodlight 9-hole course is described as a pleasure to play but a challenge to par. There's an array of water features, generous fairways, and large, challenging bunkers to put you through your paces. Through the summer, off-peak, mid-week rates start from just Dhs95, making it one of the most affordable rounds you'll find. Rates from Dhs95.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Gregory stays cool under pressure to win OMA Emirates Medalford title in JGE heat
Under the blazing summer sun, the iconic Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates came alive as 106 members and guests teed off in the latest edition of the OMA Emirates Medalford, held in association with Unique Holding. The monthly tournament drew a full field eager to tackle the same fairways graced by the world's best during the DP World Tour Championship. Despite hot and testing conditions, the atmosphere remained upbeat and competitive as players of all ages and divisions rose to the challenge. Luke Gregory emerged as the day's overall champion, carding a stellar four-under-par net 68 to clinch the May 2025 Medalford title. 'The course was in fantastic condition this morning,' Gregory said after his win. 'I'm grateful to the team and sponsors for putting on such a great event.' In the Gross Medal Division, Jayson Hilton produced the standout round of the day — a composed level-par 72 — to claim top honours as the only player to shoot even par. Ronan Keating followed closely behind with a solid 75, taking runner-up on a back-nine countback. Narrow Miss for Stewart Division A (handicap index 10.4 and below) saw Martin Stewart match Gregory's net 68, narrowly missing out on the overall title via countback. David Marshall finished just a shot back at net 69, edging Callum Smithson through yet another back-nine tiebreaker. In Division B (10.5 and above), Alan Sheepwash posted a consistent net 70 to claim first place, ahead of Moustafa Shahin (net 73) and Gurpreet Shatra (net 75), who was separated by — yes — another countback. The Ladies Division was fiercely contested, with Jane Vorster delivering a brilliant net 69 — only one shot behind the overall champion — while the Juniors saw young talent Sam Robinson shoot a gross 77, impressing many with his poise and precision. De Mel's Winning Debut Newcomer Priyan De Mel made a winning debut in the Seniors Division, finishing with a net 71. Meanwhile, Evelyn Downham, 2023 Lady Captain, triumphed in the Stableford Division with a superb 38 points, just edging out Andrew Dzikowski on a back-nine countback. Following the day's play, players gathered in the elegant Ballroom at Jumeirah Golf Estates for a well-earned buffet and prize presentation ceremony, celebrating not just the winners but the spirit of the game. Cameron McWhinnie, Assistant Golf Services Manager at Jumeirah Golf Estates, summed it up saying: 'As always, we extend our gratitude to our event sponsors, OMA Emirates and Unique Holding, whose steadfast support continues to enhance these member events. "Additionally, our agronomy team once again exceeded expectations with the outstanding presentation of the Earth course.'
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Dubai is golfer's dream with luxury hotels overlooking scenic courses, stellar attractions & return flights for €669
IF you hear of someone going on a three-day trip, you don't automatically think of Dubai as their destination — but when Rory McIlroy is part of the deal, it all makes sense. Short stints of travel are usually connected to 5 Ann Mooney went on a three-day trip in Dubai to see Rory McIlroy play Credit: Journalist Collects 5 The golf courses are world-class and the good weather is guaranteed in Dubai Credit: Getty 5 McIlroy won the DP World Tour Championship at the Earth Course last year Credit: Getty McIlroy won the DP World Tour Championship at the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November and I was lucky enough to be in attendance. The beauty of going to a tournament of this calibre in I was able to follow Rory and fellow Irishman Winning such a major event certainly set Rory up to win the Masters and claim his fifth major title, finally achieving the Grand Slam with his dramatic win in the 89th Masters played at Augusta National. Read more in Travel It's easy to see why Dubai is a favourite for golfers of all abilities and not just the pros. The courses are world-class, the good weather is guaranteed and the 19th, which to non It's definitely an annual event to mark up in the calendar and even if one is not a golfer there is so much to see and do. Beyond the golf there is a host of entertainment and activities to keep visitors occupied including desert safaris, wonderful shopping and sightseeing opportunities. Being a keen golfer myself it was a dream come true to play golf on the Nick Faldo-designed Most read in News Travel I have never played golf at night and the fact that we were playing in late afternoon made me apprehensive about getting the full 18 holes in. But as you would expect in Dubai, the course is floodlit and it was such a great experience to golf and watch the changing skyline as the night drew in. Dubai hotel with world's largest waterpark This championship course was initially opened as The Wadi, which is the Arabic word for valley in 1996. But it was redesigned by Faldo and opened in 2006, bringing together stunning visual design and the exciting challenges of a championship course. For me, playing at night under the starlit Dubai sky added an exciting and magical dimension to an already superb golfing experience. For great family entertainment and a chance to play golf on simulators the place to visit is Five Iron, where you can enjoy hours of simulated games on many international courses. The other course we played was the JA The Resort Golf Course, which I loved as it is perfect for the amateur player. This beautiful and scenic course is spread over 50 acres and is a 9-hole par 35 championship standard course. SO MANY THINGS TO SEE It is a fair challenge for players of all abilities and there are four different tee options providing players with a dynamic and varied 18 hole experience. The hotel itself is luxurious and built on the After the round of golf, we dined in the Republik restaurant in the magnificent Lake View Hotel and enjoyed one of the best meals we had while in Dubai. The hotel is the ultimate in luxury with 348 guest rooms and suites with balconies, three pools overlooking the golf course while within close proximity to the beach and marina. GO: DUBAI GET THERE: Ann flew from STAY THERE: The price per night for a medium Bedouin room at the 25hours Hotel, Dubai is €84. DO THIS: Golf! The cost of green fees on the Emirates Faldo Course ranges from €114.50 to €229, and the JA Jebel Ali Course is €71 on weekdays and €90 on weekends and holidays. EAT HERE: Ann ate at Korean restaurant Hoe Lee Kow where she enjoyed a sampling menu including dishes like Chicken Mandu, Grilled Dak Bulgogi, and HLK Chicken. For more information, see There are so many things to see in Dubai — the So in order to get them all in, we spent a few very enjoyable hours on board a luxury Xclusive Yachts boat, setting out from Dubai Marina, enjoying a chat with the wonderful Captain Rama, who pointed out the many major sights and attractions. Time was too short to indulge in my other favourite activity — shopping, and so I didn't get to visit the Dubai Mall, which is the world's largest shopping, entertainment and leisure complex. Think of over 1,200 shops and facilities, including an aquarium, an ice rink, a multi-screen cinema and a huge children's play zone, along with a wide variety of restaurants and food outlets. LUXURY HOTEL I stayed in 25Hours Hotel, which wasn't exactly what I had expected to be staying in Dubai where most of the world's luxurious hotel brands are located. I admit I got a bit of a shock when I walked into my room, which had a glass surround shower sitting right in the middle of the bedroom. But that is part of the quirkiness of this hotel, which as the name implies, entertains visitors for longer than 24 hours. The hotel is full of books, antiques, with hundreds of mirrors lining the walls and excellent artwork, and for chilling, it has Dubai's first mixed-gender sauna, as well as its first Bavarian pub and hops garden. One thing is for sure, it all added up to a whirlwind trip I won't forget! 5 Ann boarded a luxury boat from Xclusive Yachts Credit: Journalist Collects 5 Irish golfer Rory always attracts a big crowd Credit: Getty
South Wales Guardian
17-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton express frustration during second round of US PGA
Lowry slammed his club into the turf and loudly exclaimed 'F*** this place' after being denied relief for an embedded ball on the eighth hole and dumping his second shot into a greenside bunker. The resulting bogey left the former Open champion battling to make the halfway cut and came hours after the latest outburst from Hatton, who was within a shot of the lead after covering his first eight holes in two under par before a costly triple bogey. After pulling his tee shot on the difficult par-four 18th into the creek which runs the length of the hole, Hatton could be clearly heard shouting 'piece of s***' at the face of his driver, followed by another word – seemingly beginning with the letter C – which was not 100 per cent clear. Following a penalty drop, Hatton hit this third shot into the rough short of the green and failed to find the putting surface with his fourth, before seeing his fifth shot trickle back off the green. The Englishman almost holed his next shot and tapped in for a seven before covering the front nine in 36 to complete a 73 which left him one under par, seven shots off the clubhouse lead held by Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas. Asked to clarify what he had said on the 18th tee, Hatton said: 'You tell me, you've seen it.' Told the first three words were clear but the fourth was not, Hatton replied: 'OK. Well either way it wasn't my finest moment on the course but I mean yeah, running hot in the moment I'm pretty good at sometimes saying the wrong thing. 'So yeah, I'll leave it at that.' It is far from the first time Hatton's explosive temper has been seen on the course, with the world number 20 labelled a 'terrible influence' by Sky Sports commentator Ewen Murray after snapping a club and complaining about course conditions during the DP World Tour Championship in November. Hatton reacted angrily to missing a short birdie putt on the 11th hole at Jumeirah Golf Estates, exclaiming clearly 'F*** you, f****** s*** greens' and banging his putter down on the green. The LIV Golf player then broke one of his wedges after missing the green with his approach to the par-five 14th. Clubhouse leader Vegas, who enjoyed a slice of luck when his tee shot on the 17th hit a rake and kicked onto the green, looked set to enjoy a sizeable lead before taking four to get down from a greenside bunker to make a double bogey on the last. The resulting 70 left him two shots clear of France's Matthieu Pavon, with Max Homa another stroke back adding a 64 to his opening 73. 'I feel like finishing so late yesterday, not getting a great sleep, and having to come back early kind of put me not in the best mood all day,' Vegas, who completed an opening 64 at 8pm on Thursday, said. 'Every chance you get to lead a major and play with the lead is never easy, so I feel proud of a solid round today. Even though it's never easy to give two shots away right at the end, [there's] a lot of golf left, so got to keep remembering the good stuff.'
