Abu Dhabi: The argument for showcasing Arabian gulf’s first beachfront course - Saadiyat Beach Golf Club - has grown with four-time European Tour winner Matteo Manassero backing the idea to alternate the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship between Saadiyat and its current venue Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Last month, legendary golfer Gray Player who designed the course, also expressed his displeasure saying that the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club was being ‘wasted’.
The course design has been set up to cater for all types of players starting at 5290 yards, to the most challenging environment for the world’s leading tour players at 7806 yards. It has a spectacular view of the Gulf’s glittering blue waters fringed by pristine white sands.
However, the missing factor is that one major tournament and Manassero felt that can be sorted if both capital venues can split the Abu Dhabi Championships.
“Saadiyat can host any major tournament anytime. They have the technical side and the view is amazing. I think the only reason is that they are comfortable at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and that’s why they have not moved it around here. The three main courses here in the UAE are of different styles and are all of a really top level,” said the Golf in Abu Dhabi brand ambassador Manassero, who was present at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club to give an exclusive professional tuition to amateur players from UK, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea, India and South Africa.
The Italian, who burst on to the scene in 2010 by landing the Castello Masters title in Spain, becoming the youngest European Tour champion in history at the age of 17 years and 188 days, was of the view that golfers love and prefer to see something new and these top-class courses being in close proximity serves as a prefect opportunity to rotate the Abu Dhabi Championship.
“Golfers want to see something else all the time and all they want is it to be of high standards. I can guarantee you, Saadiyat is of high standards for any golfer on European Tour or PGA Tour. To be honest, they should rotate as Abu Dhabi can show the world what they can offer by alternating the major event here,” said Manassero, who felt that both courses post their own challenges and that will make it exciting.
“The Abu Dhabi Golf Club course style is parkland with thick rough and fast greens, while Saadiyat course has more bunkers and is longer with undulated greens. Being around the sea makes it windy most of the time. The style is clearly different with one having trees and the other wide open. So that’s the reason we should look to turn it around as the tournament is so solid that everyone wants to be here,” said Manassero, who flew down to the capital to beat the cold back home and prepare for the season ahead.
“The weather is prefect here at the moment and it is ideal for my preparation. Though I will be playing one tournament before the Abu Dhabi Championship, I would say that my season starts here,” said the 21-year-old, adding, “I can’t say what sort of a form I’m in at the moment but I’m in the middle of my preparations. There is still time ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championships but I want to come in January and compete here in the best of shape.”
Manassero has endured a frustrating time since winning the BMW PGA Championship two years ago and he was keen on regaining lost ground.
“I’m come out of a bad season and so I want to be back in the top 16 in the race to Dubai and that I think would be a great achievement for me,” said Manassero, who has plunged from 25th in the world rankings to 535th.
