The Tiger Woods Dubai, a member of Tatweer, has announced that IMG Golf Course Management will operate and manage the Al Ruwaya golf course, the first golf course designed by the world’s number one golfer, Tiger Woods.
The 10-year pre-opening and operating agreement was signed in London by Abdulla Al Gurg, project director of The Tiger Woods Dubai, together with Ian Todd, president of IMG International, Patrick Bowers, vice president of IMG overseeing its golf course management division and Greg Sproule, vice president and managing director of IMG Middle East.
IMG Golf Course Management, a specialized division of IMG, which is the world’s premier sports, entertainment, and media company, was selected by The Tiger Woods Dubai following an extensive review of potential operators. The decision to partner with IMG was based on a shared vision for creating the world’s most superior golfing experience.
Abdulla Al Gurg, project director of The Tiger Woods Dubai said, “While partnering with IMG creates numerous synergies, we selected IMG because we believe that their highly tailored and ‘boutique’ management approach is the best fit for the management of golf operations and associated activities at The Tiger Woods Dubai.
“IMG’s experience has involved them in pre-operative consulting work for other golf courses in the region, but The Tiger Woods Dubai is the only development with which they have chosen to enter a long-term management relationship.
“Just as we do, IMG prides itself on quality over quantity and it is dedicated to providing their best people to The Tiger Woods Dubai. This will ensure a top-notch operation resulting in golf conditioning and services which are virtually unmatched anywhere in the world,” Al Gurg added.
With the golf club due to be completed and open for play by September 2009, IMG’s involvement at an early stage is seen as vital. IMG is on board to assure the strategic planning includes provisions for the hosting of world class golf events, the specialized grow in and development of the turf conditions and the academy and golf club operations development.
IMG will be responsible for managing all club operations which include resort guest programming, establishment and implementation of world class service levels and course conditioning, provision of state-of-the-art academy and instructional programming, offering a unique golf retail experience and integrating the golf club into the daily lifestyle of the residents of the gated community.
Ian Todd, president of IMG International said, “We are extremely pleased that Tatweer as developer of The Tiger Woods Dubai will be entrusting the management and pre-opening of Tiger’s first design to our team at IMG Golf Course Management. This is an incredible responsibility which our team will implement with the same professionalism and expertise IMG has demonstrated in successfully managing Tiger’s career for the past 10 years.
“We have a stellar track record of managing premium and exclusive golf clubs internationally and now we are very excited about partnering with Tatweer and The Tiger Woods Dubai to create what will undoubtedly become one of the most unique golfing experiences in the world. Golf course trophy hunters worldwide will instantly place this course at the top of their ‘must play’ list and we take the associated responsibility to deliver on this as a matter of utmost importance.”
IMG currently operates, or consults to 16 golf premium golf clubs worldwide and has worked with more than 40 additional clients since beginning operations in 1992. These include the Nirwana Bali Golf Club, Asia’s number one golf club in Bali; Amata Spring Country Club, in Bangkok, which was named Asia’s Best New Golf Club in 2006; Le Touessrok Golf Course, one of the world’s top ten golf clubs in Mauritius and the Sheshan International Golf Club, China’s number one private golf club, located in Shanghai.
The Tiger Woods Dubai, located on 40 million sq ft in Dubailand and due to be completed in 2009, will be a private residential community and resort that will include the world’s first golf course designed by Tiger Woods – Al Ruwaya. It will also include a professionally-staffed golf academy; a clubhouse; an 80-suite boutique hotel with 15 private bungalows; a well-being spa; a fine-dining restaurant; 22 palaces; 75 mansions; 100 luxury villas and applicable upscale community services.
Embodying Tiger Woods’ vision of creating a spectacular, challenging golf course, Al Ruwaya, will be a 7,800 yard, par 72, 18 hole championship course with dramatic elevation changes, lush landscaping, stunning water features and an overall design that will challenge and entertain golfers of all playing abilities. Luxurious residential and hospitality components will include 22 palaces, 75 mansions, 100 large villas, a boutique hotel, a well-being spa, a fine dining restaurant, a leading golf academy, and the Al Ruwaya clubhouse.
A truly exclusive address, this private golfing community is scheduled for completion in September 2009. It will occupy an area of 40 million sq ft in Dubailand off Al Hibab Road; a 30 minute drive from Dubai’s city center and the Dubai International Airport.
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