Inspired by the likes of tournament champion Henrik Stenson and last year’s winner Rory McIlroy, a party of young golfers aged from 5-16 were thrilled to receive a special behind-the-scenes insight at the DP World Tour Championship during a visit to the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Globally, golf has never been more popular with young people and this next generation of golfers – featuring several players from the UAE National Junior Squad – were thrilled with their VIP tour.
During the private trip, the youngsters visited the new European Tour Performance Institute (ETPI) at Jumeirah Golf Estates, toured the tournament’s busy media centre, watched players on the driving range, toured the Championship Village and were welcomed to the course by world-renowned golf coach Pete Cowen, who currently works with 17 European Tour stars such as World Number Three Stenson and former US Open Champion Graeme McDowell.
Organised by the DP World Tour Championship, the Emirates Golf Federation, Jumeirah Golf Estates and The European Tour, in association with the Emerging World Youth Golf Tour, the visit gave the youngsters the chance to experience life at a professional tournament both on and off the course.
“I’m so pleased Emerging World worked on this initiative at the DP World Tour Championship,” said Emerging World Director and former European Tour Chief Executive Ken Schofield. “I’m delighted with this initiative and the inspiration these young golfers are gaining as the opportunity will help them go forward. It is wonderful for the game to have rising talent as well as such interest in the game in the region.”
The group of 22 UAE-based youngsters were accompanied on the tour by Wayne Johnson, Director of Instruction, European Tour Performance Institute at Jumeirah Golf Estates and Jason Froggatt, coach to the UAE National Junior Squad.