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hold it right: EGF head coach Jason Frogatt imparts tips to a student from Rashid School for Boys supplied photos

Dubai

In a region that hosts three of the biggest European Tour events in the calendar, you’d expect a whole lot of Emirati golfers looking to follow in the footsteps of stars like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. That hasn’t quite happened with Ahmad Al Musharrakh being the first and lone Emirati professional currently plying his trade.

But all that looks to change now with The Track golf course in Dubai joining forces with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) to put golf on the curriculum at a local school.

Emirati pupils aged from nine to 11 from the Rashid School for Boys are being given lessons by EGF head coach, Jason Frogatt, and The Track’s golf professional, Will Bruce.

The one-hour long sessions are taking place weekly at The Track’s tuition facility, Academy by Troon, which is located at the course at Meydan.

Youngsters are learning about everything from health and fitness to the golf swing and etiquette.

Darwish Al Qubaisi, Board Member at the Emirates Golf Federation, said: “It is crucial that we as a federation do everything we can to give young people the opportunity to play this fantastic sport.

“Ahmad Al Musharrekh has recently become the first Emirati to turn professional but the work does not stop there.

“Facilities like The Track, which are open and accessible to all, are the perfect environment in which to develop and grow interest in the game among the local population – for whom the game is still relatively new.

“We want Emiratis on the professional tour and that works starts with initiatives like this.”

Dean Winders, Head of PE at Rashid School for Boys said: “We are delighted to work with The Track and Emirates Golf Federation in offering golf to our boys here at Rashid.

“Being able to being them to a real course where they can really understand the sport is a great experience for them.

“The sport teaches so much about discipline and fair play, which are exactly the type or principles we instill in all our pupils.”

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For information about lesson packages at The Track’s Academy by Troon go to www.meydangolf.com.

Stay up to date on news from The Track at www.facebook.com/thetrackmeydangolfclub .