Robert Rock
Robert Rock won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club in 2012. Image Credit: Gulf News Archives

Dubai: The Academy at Abu Dhabi Golf Club has announced its golf programmes for the forthcoming 2022-2023 season.

This includes the ever popular Junior Programme, which has been enhanced this year and will be skill based rather than age based.

The Junior Open Golf Day will take place on September 24 at 9am on the range at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The Ladies’ Programme will start shortly with both individual and group lessons from complete beginners to low handicappers and everyone will be paired with ladies of a similar ability and standard. Ladies Open Golf Day will be on September 19 at 8pm. Finally, Men’s Open Golf Day will be held on September 21 at 8pm.

Kieren Pratt

Kieren Pratt, Director of Instruction at The Golf Academy, said: “Our Golf Lesson Programmes at Abu Dhabi Golf Club have always been popular, but this year we are delivering an enhanced offering. We are focusing on our students having fun whilst learning and have committed to more access to on-course play and golf course strategy and management, with access to our nine-hole floodlit Garden Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. We will also add value to the Programmes with Hi-Tech Video analysis using the best in the business Video and Hi-Tech swing aids and technology equipment.

New initiative

“A new initiative for this season for our juniors is ‘The Robert Rock Junior Invitational’ to be held at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from April 11—13. It is a 54-hole event that is aligned with the R & A World Amateur Golf Rankings.”

Pratt continued: “We have introduced a skill-based certificated tier system for this season’s Junior Programme at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, which includes weekly Junior events and a Robert Rock Monthly Medal.”

Aspiring golfer

England’s Robert Rock, 45, who plays on the DP World Tour, is a respected golf coach with The Robert Rock Golf Academy at Silvermere, Surrey, England, as well as his Robert Rock Junior Golf Tour involving aspiring young golfers from all over the UK.

He is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, including the 2012 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, played over the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, where he beat Rory McIlroy by one shot and Tiger Woods, Thomas Bjorn and Graeme McDowell by a further shot. As a result Robert was invited to become an Honorary Member of Abu Dhabi Golf Club, which he immediately accepted.

“We will see Robert coming out to Abu Dhabi Golf Club two or three times a year to assist in the development of our Junior Programme, coach our Abu Dhabi junior golfers as well as mentoring the professionals within The Academy at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Award-winning team

“We have five PGA Qualified Professionals at The Academy at Abu Dhabi Golf Club creating an award-winning coaching team and we look forward to welcoming both existing students as well as complete beginners and newcomers to Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the forthcoming season,” concluded Kieren.

All golfers and non-golfers are welcome to join the golf programmes, but pre-registration is essential;

Email: academy@abudhabigolfclub.abudhabi

Phone: 02-8853555