Dubai: Like Jack Nicklaus, Esmail Sharif likes playing things out intellectually. He has the ability to form pictures and see them develop in his mind's eye. It is not a psychic ability or any special gift, but just the way he works things out.
The images that he is currently processing augur well for UAE golf. But like Nicklaus, the challenge is to turn this vision into reality. Esmail's objective is to put UAE sport on the world map by moulding a golfer who competes for honours in the Dubai Desert Classic and also flies the country's flag in the 2016 Olympic Games.
"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do," says Esmail quoting the legendary American basketball player and coach John Robert Wooden. "I believe that today's youth have all the physical attributes to become top sportsmen. We only need to develop their way of thinking, their mindset.
"I am totally confident that the UAE can produce a golfer who can compete at the highest level in the near future. That's my dream and I intend to bring it to life."
A former seven-time National champion in the Nineties who quit the game at the height of his powers, Esmail has recently been entrusted with the task of spearheading the Emirates Golf Federation's ambitious Junior Programme, a large-scale proposal aimed at unearthing golfing talent among young Emiratis.
And he is looking to the past for inspiration?
Esmail only took up playing golf to get even after being turned away from a golf course for not being a member. He was 33 years old at the time. A determined Esmail promptly learnt the game and, amazing as it may seem, won the National Championship two years later. He would go on to win the coveted honour six more times, losing just once in an eight-year spell where he totally dominated his rivals.
Late bloomer
As a late bloomer Esmail is determined to set a better example for today's youngsters.
"I want to target school kids — that's where talent can be tapped. I want to involve all the schools and clubs to help expose our kids to the sport and to give them the opportunity to make that decision for themselves," he said.
"I'm looking at numbers, the more the merrier. We will offer them all the facilities that they need, even free bus services to bring them from their schools and homes to the golf courses. We'll do everything we can short of taking the golf course to them, to give them the right exposure to the game.
"Through this programme, we intend to create an environment in which young Emiratis can grow, express themselves and realise their dream of representing the country one day.
"I am confident that we will find our future stars somewhere in there. Golf is still very much a new sport for our country and we need to be a little patient. But with the right planning and approach we can accomplish something sooner or later."
To understand his accepted wisdom you only have to ask him about his best golfing memory.
"I won the National Championship seven times, but believe me my biggest moment came when our Junior team won the Arab Golf Championship in Syria. It was a historic day and it gave me the greatest joy to be part of that landmark achievement. Nothing could have made me happier than to see these youngsters playing out of their heads and going on to the win the trophy. It gave me hope for the future," he said.
"Now I have the chance to give something back to the sport."
How does he hope to do it?
"The UAE has some of the best golfing facilities in the world and what better infrastructure do we need to help develop a golf culture among the kids," said Esmail.
That realisation, born out of one man's passion, could eventually become central to the UAE's golfing strategy. But, for the time-being, the process of developing that plan sits in Esmail's strong hands.
In his day he endeared himself to sports fans playing alongside golfing greats like Ernie Els and Tiger Woods. Now he has been handed the task of shaping the UAE's golfing future.
Is he up to it? "Yes," he responds without batting an eyelid.
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FACT FILE
Name: Esmail Sharif
Born: Dubai
Nationality: Emirati
Began playing golf: 1992
Playing style: Left-handed
UAE Champion: 1994, '95, '96, '97, '98, '99, '01.
Current position: Head of Emirates Golf Federation National Junior Programme
