Head out for a cool family outing

Airports in the Middle East are bursting at the seams as they welcome summer vacation 2011. Roads are notably quieter and parking has never been easier while getting my daily grocery shopping done.

Most families in the UAE have left for the summer holidays in exchange for lavish family holiday destinations or simply gone back home to spend time with gran and gramps. Then there are of course a large number of us who will be staying behind. The good news is - exploring the Emirates is so much fun during the summer and cheaper of course.

There are plenty of summer camps where you can ditch the kids. But how about enrolling your child in a Junior Golf Programme? Many of the local golf courses offer golf instructions to kids during the summer, along with golf and non-golf activities, such as movies, games, swimming and night golf.

These innovative junior golf programmes are designed to introduce tiny Tigers to the fundamentals of golf in a fun and safe environment, with a view to encouraging children to pursue one of the few sports that can truly last a lifetime.

July is Family Golf Month in the US. We celebrate UK, Canadian, Australian, SA Mother's Day in the UAE all on different dates, right? I don't see why we can't celebrate Family Golf Month in July. Golf provides children with life lessons of discipline, honesty, camaraderie, sportsmanship and etiquette, and families can really capitalise on these benefits during ‘Family Golf Month'. Kids today are spending more time in front of computers and televisions, but golf activities provide a great reason to get them out in the fresh air spending quality time with family.

Personally, I like the idea of promoting family golf. I remember my father playing golf when I was a kid, but then golf was for daddies and uncles only. I'm having a hard time remembering ever seeing a family playing golf together.

Game for everyone

However, as more women became interested in golf, junior golf also developed. As popular young golf professionals such as Tiger Woods (and new favourite Rory McIlroy) became household names, children also became interested. So now golf is a game for everyone.

It is no longer unusual for the whole family to spend the afternoon together playing. Golf can be played by everyone and enjoyed by the family. Practice can be a lot more fun too with everyone participating. When it comes time to play, it is fun to compete with one another and enjoy each other's company. It's a great time for everyone to bond and do something enjoyable. Golf has become a great family pastime.

There are many golf courses that encourage family time by offering certain days and times at a discount for families. After golf, the family can enjoy lunch together at some of the fabulous restaurants at the golf clubs, an ideal, well rounded day out that the entire family can enjoy.

We want to see more families on the golf course in the near future and hoping that more golf courses in the UAE will promote and grow family golf.

Happy Family Golf Month!