With the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship around the corner, the tournament committee is actively recruiting volunteers at various levels to assist in staging one of the most prestigious sporting events ever held in Abu Dhabi. . Various volunteer opportunities are available, from caddies to marshals, crossing stewards, scorers, spotters, TV spotters, to operating mobile scoreboards, hole by hole scoreboards and media scoreboards.
Volunteer support is pivotal to the success of any event and as members of the organising team that help to make the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship the most successful sporting event to have taken place in Abu Dhabi. At 68, the oldest volunteer Jack McGuiness celebrates his passion for the game with his wife Joan, and talks about his past experiences and expectations from the tournament.
“It’s an opportunity to give something back to Abu Dhabi,” says 68 year old Jack:
Jack’s past experiences have given him numerous opportunities to meet the world’s leading golfers, see top quality golf, total focus and true professionalism in action. It also gave him insights into a more ‘human’ side of the golfing stars, their interests, hobbies, and above all their dedication to charities and community involvement. “I had exciting opportunities to meet Tiger, Montgomerie, Garcia and other star players on many occasions. These unique experiences go beyond golf and there are always things to learn from such fantastic athletes who are also outstanding personalities - true lessons in life.”
“Being a volunteer will give us a unique opportunity to give something back to Abu Dhabi as a sign of gratitude for what Abu Dhabi has been giving us over the years,” says McGuiness. “During our time here we have seen tremendous growth of the emirate and we are thrilled to be a part of this unique event that will spotlight Abu Dhabi as a genuine jewel of the Middle East.”
He believes that the golf culture is developing rapidly in the UAE. “Sixteen years ago, we could only play on a sand course. When the first grass course was created in 2000, we were still a small group of enthusiastic expatriates. Five years later, UAE already has a professional national team – that is quite an amazing development in such a short time span.”
With recent efforts to boost incoming tourism to Abu Dhabi and the construction of new golf courses under way, the number of European tourists coming to Abu Dhabi on golfing holidays is on the increase. In the near future, Abu Dhabi is expected to open up to more Asian tourists and golfing enthusiasts, especially Thai, Japanese and Chinese.
Commenting on the challenges involved in organizing such a complex event, McGuiness said: “The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has done an amazing job over such a short period of its existence. Not only that it organized a world class event, but it also managed to gather the world’s best players to come and experience the national course. This means the whole world will see what wonderful facilities Abu Dhabi has to offer. In addition, opening of the Emirates Palace doors to the participants is an important step in promoting Abu Dhabi with its unique tourist offer. After being pampered in luxury for a week, the players will definitely want to come back next year!”
Jack’s advice for the next generation of golfers:
Advising parents who want to recognize golfing talent in their children, Jack says, “Golf is physically and mentally demanding – it is just you and the ball out there. It is a great sport for cultivating patience in children and an excellent opportunity to get them out in the fresh air.”
Micah Foster, 14, is the youngest volunteer who will be volunteering at the event with his family, brother Nick, 17 and parents Jim and Susan. “There is a wide scope of options that appeal to everyone,” says Nick. “This is the first volunteering experience for me and I am eager to see all the hard work involved in staging of such an event and everything that happens behind the scenes. It is a chance of a lifetime to be a part of a first-time event and one that will create its own history – something to look back at with pride. I think it will be a very rewarding and satisfying experience for the entire family.”
A chance to become part of Golfing history:
If you are inspired by this story, you can also become a part of the action and get a unique opportunity to get close to the world’s best players. All volunteers will receive volunteer uniforms and accreditation which will give them access to the course and the clubhouse facilities. They will also have the opportunity to participate in a Volunteer Golf Day to be held at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club in 2006 [confirm date]. You don’t have to be a member of the golf club, or an Abu Dhabi / UAE resident to become a volunteer – anyone with passion for golf can apply. While knowledge of golf is preferable, it is not necessary for all volunteer roles. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please visit www.abudhabigolfchampionship.com/volunteer
About Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), established by Ruler’s Decree in September 2004, is a statutory body with wide ranging responsibilities for building the Emirate’s tourism industry. Its Chairman is HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan. Director General is HE Mubarak Al Muhairi.
The ADTA’s mandate covers three main areas: destination marketing, infrastructure and product development and regulation, and, licensing and classification. While the ADTA assumes a leadership role in the international promotion of Abu Dhabi, it also represents the interests of, and coordinates with, a wide range of stakeholders – including the hotels, Etihad and other airlines serving Abu Dhabi, the destination management companies, exhibition and conference venues, golf courses, the retail trade, Government ministries and departments etc.
Owing to a thoroughly modern infrastructure of highways, telecommunications systems, five-star hotels, restaurants and entertainment complexes, Abu Dhabi has become an active tourist centre. Traditional Arab hospitality, inviting weather, well established infrastructure and crime-free environment have also contributed in recent years to creating an ideal atmosphere for the development of business and leisure tourism.
About IMG
IMG was founded by Mark H. McCormack in the early 1960s. The company is the world’s premier sports and lifestyle management and marketing firm, with an international staff of approximately 2,200 people in over 60 offices in more than 25 countries. TWI, IMG’s television division, is the largest independent distributor and producer of televised sports, managing a library of more than 150,000 hours. TWI annually produces and distributes 6,500 hours of original programming to more than 200 countries covering 200+ sports, as well as being a global leader in digital sports and entertainment.
IMG’s experience in golf and golf tournaments is unique. In addition to managing the top two men players in the world and the top woman player, IMG has been staging golf events for forty years and currently runs over twenty professional golf tournaments in ten different countries. IMG opened a regional office in Dubai in November 2005. Establishing a presence in the Middle East reflects the company’s strong commitment to the region.
