Troon announces two important new appointments ahead of the opening later this year of the highly-anticipated Azerbaijan Golf Club, Quba near the capital city, Baku.
Philip Henderson has accepted the sought after role of General Manager, following a successful tenure covering the opening of the ground breaking floodlit nine hole course, The Track at Meydan in Dubai and earlier spells at Troon properties in the UK and Egypt and Simon Douglas has assumed the position of Course Superintendent. Both bring a wealth of Troon experience to their respective roles and work closely alongside the ownership group and The Azerbaijan Golf Federation in preparing for the opening of the country’s first 18-hole championship golf course, designed by John Hunt.
“I have no doubt that both Phil and Simon have all the attributes to bring a lot to the table in their new roles,” commented Bruce Glasco, Vice-President and Managing Director, Troon International Operations. “Azerbaijan is an ambitious destination, with developers committed to delivering a truly world-class product. We have worked closely on the plans for The Azerbaijan Golf Club since its inception and Phil and Simon will ensure our industry-leading standards of pristine course conditioning, first-class service, hospitality and best business practices resonate throughout what will be an exceptional golf resort.”
Henderson has eight years’ experience in the field with Troon. A fully qualified PGA Professional, Philip has worked all over the world with Troon at some of the world’s leading golf resorts, including WGC World Golf Championship host venue The Grove, London, Oceânico Golf, Portugal, The Els Club, Dubai, and The Allegria Golf Club, Egypt. With a broad knowledge of the golfing landscape, he will draw on his vast experience, implementing key strategies to establish The Azerbaijan Golf Club as one of the game’s most intriguing new destinations.
“I am extremely excited at the prospect of playing such a pivotal role in what will be a ground-breaking opening, not just for everyone involved with the Golf Club, but for the entire nation of Azerbaijan,” noted Henderson. “The project is progressing as planned and I look forward to bringing the owners’ vision to life. I am striving for excellence and believe that the quality experiences provided by Troon will ensure the satisfaction of our guests whilst also promoting the growth of the game in the country.”
Douglas brings with him 13 years’ experience in the golf industry and a passion for travel that has enabled him to gain invaluable experience working at high-profile golf courses all over the world. A graduate of the OhioStateUniversity’s Internship Program, he has worked at some of the game’s most prestigious courses, including Southward Ho and Scioto Country Club in America, Metropolitan Golf Club in Australia and The Kinloch Club in New Zealand and Loch Lomond in Scotland. Simon began his Troon Golf tenure in 2007 at The Grove in Hertfordshire and then progressed on to Assistant Superintendent at Castiglion del Bosco in Tuscany, Italy in 2009 where his knowledge of Troon standards and attention to detail proved to be integral during the construction and grow-in of this magnificent new course.
Azerbaijan Golf Club is conveniently located between the coast of the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains. With several dramatic changes in elevation, the site offers golfers breath-taking views over the surrounding mountain backdrops, while Troon’s experience in managing high-profile tournament venues highlights the championship ambitions of the developers and will ensure quality conditioning throughout. The resort features the country’s first 18-hole championship golf course, complete with extensive practice facilities and 200-bedroom five-star hotel managed by Rixos on-site. Developed by one of the world’s foremost construction companies, ZQAN Construction, Azerbaijan Golf Club has been designed by International Design Group and constructed by Total Golf Construction.
Troon Golf www.troongolf.eu