Yas Links Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s newest and highly acclaimed championship course, has bolstered its Golf Academy teaching team with the appointment of Craeg Deery as PGA Teaching Golf Professional.
Craeg, who started in his new role on June 21, brings eight years of golfing experience to the highly acclaimed Middle East golf club – the first links course in the region.
He arrives at Yas Links having previously benefited from spells in a combination of teaching and golf operations roles at Safaa Golf Club, situated within the campus of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and at Queenwood Golf Club in Surrey.
Craeg’s teaching experience covers a broad spectrum, encompassing group coaching and clinics, individuals, ladies and juniors, as well as developing short-game lessons for professionals and tailored tuition for single-figure handicap players. He earlier gained a BA Honours degree in applied golf management from the University of Birmingham (UoB).
On the course, Craeg boasts a fine pedigree having captained the UoB golf team to numerous European and national successes and represented Hertfordshire County at under-21 and under-18 levels.
“I am excited to be offered this challenging opportunity at such an exclusive golf club as Yas Links,” said Craeg Deery. “The club has earned a deserved worldwide reputation, thanks to its spectacular championship golf course and first-class Golf Academy facilities, and I look forward to helping my colleagues develop the club into one of the most prestigious, both in the Middle East and globally.”
He added: “Many of our visitors, including leading European Tour Pros, including Graeme MacDowell, Martin Kaymer and former World No.1 Lee Westwood, have shown their desire to benefit from our state-of-the-art Golf Academy and practice facilities – and I look forward to welcoming and working with golfers of all abilities to help fine-tune their game.”
Chris White, General Manager of developer Aldar Properties (Golf Division), said: “We are delighted to have recruited Craeg. He boasts an excellent golfing background, and will undoubtedly prove a major asset to our already outstanding Golf Academy team.”
Yas Links’ exceptional teaching and practice facilities include a nine-hole, par-3 Academy course, floodlit driving range, hitting bays, short-game chipping and bunker practice zone, and two indoor swing studios, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the Arabian Gulf.
Yas Links Golf Club www.yaslinks.com