Faisal to use golf as a vehicle to attract tourists

Dubai: Shaikh Faisal Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman, Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone Authority, is hoping that the opening of the emirate's only golf course will one day produce an UAE golf champion.

Shaikh Faisal has big plans to attract tourists to the state-of-the-art Tower Links Golf Course and to develop top golfers for the UAE.

"Golf is not key in our emirate," he said. "But people are starting to ask how they can get involved. The interest is developing in the local community as well as among the expatriates."

Youngsters from local schools already attend coaching sessions with the Club's golf professional Gavin Chappell and special permission has been obtained to allow UAE girls to have lessons.

"This is a sport where you can become famous and it would be good to see local winners," said Shaikh Faisal.

Club pro Chappell uses GASP technology (Golf Analysis System Professional) which captures a golf swing on camera to help improve players.

"It would be great to get some good golfers from Ras Al Khaimah," he said. "The signs are promising. If you can teach them when they are young, then you get them before they can pick up any bad habits."

Set against a back drop of Ras Al Khaimah's famous mountains, Tower Links has been built around natural mangroves and is irrigated by a mixture of salt and fresh water to be more environmentally friendly.

And now that Tower Links is completed, Shaikh Faisal is turning his attention on developing more golf courses. "It's a nice thing to have," he said.

"It adds value to the real estate development and it's something that the community wants. Tower Links is a nice course and it has been well-received by the players. We will build more shopping malls, more hotels and more golf courses."

There are currently 150 members at Tower Links, many of whom drive out to the course from Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the cheaper rates offered at the club.

General manager Gary Constable says that news of Tower Links is spreading to golfing enthusiast all over the UAE.

"Interest is building gradually," he said. "The new Emirate Road has had a big impact for us and made getting here from Dubai very easy. Players come here because it's a course that all standards can play and enjoy in a more relaxed atmosphere."

For more information about Tower Links Golf Course call 07-2278552.