Tiger Woods Dubai names IMG to manage Al Ruwaya

Dubai: The Tiger Woods Dubai yesterday announced IMG Golf Course Management will operate and manage the Al Ruwaya golf course, designed by the world's number one golfer Tiger Woods.

The 10-year pre-opening and operating agreement was signed in London by Abdullah Al Gurg, Project Director of The Tiger Woods Dubai, together with Ian Todd, President of IMG International, Patrick Bowers, vice-president of IMG overseeing its Golf Course Management division and Greg Sproule, Vice President and Managing Director of IMG Middle East.

IMG Golf Course Management, a specialised division of IMG, which is the world's premier sports, entertainment, and media company, was selected by The Tiger Woods Dubai following an extensive review of potential operators. The decision to partner with IMG was based on a shared vision for creating the world's most superior golfing experience.

Strategic planning

Abdullah Al Gurg, project director of The Tiger Woods Dubai, said: "While partnering with IMG creates numerous synergies, we selected IMG because we believe that their highly tailored and 'boutique' management approach is the best fit for the management of golf operations and associated activities at The Tiger Woods Dubai.

"IMG's experience has involved them in pre-operative consulting work for other golf courses in the region, but The Tiger Woods Dubai is the only development with which they have chosen to enter a long-term management relationship."

With the golf club due to be completed and open for play by September 2009, IMG's involvement at an early stage is seen as vital. IMG is on board to assure the strategic planning includes provisions for the hosting of world class golf events, the specialised grow in and development of the turf conditions and the academy and golf club operations development.

IMG will be responsible for managing all club operations which include resort guest programming, establishment and implementation of world class service levels and course conditioning, provision of state of the art academy and instructional programming, offering a unique golf retail experience and integrating the golf club into the daily lifestyle of the residents of the gated community.

IMG currently operates or consults to 16 golf premium golf clubs worldwide and has worked with more than 40 additional clients since beginning operations in 1992.

The Tiger Woods Dubai, located on 40 million square foot in Dubailand and due to be completed in September 2009, will be a private residential community and resort that will include the world's first golf course designed by Tiger Woods - Al Ruwaya.

It will also include a professionally-staffed golf academy; a clubhouse; an 80-suite boutique hotel with 15 private bungalows; a well-being spa; a fine-dining restaurant; 22 palaces; 75 mansions; 100 luxury villas and applicable upscale community services.