Alison Muirhead, one of Dubai’s own making strides in ladies’ golf

I was born in Johannesburg of Scottish and English parents and moved to Dubai in 2006. I was schooled in Dubai at GEMS Wellington International School and Dubai English Speaking School. As a family we are members of Emirates Golf Club, we still live on the right-side of Hole 11, and I won both the EGC Girls Junior Championship, Ladies Emirates Amateur Open as well as Emirates Golf Federation Order of Merits multiple times. In 2019 I made the decision to turn professional off a +3 handicap and I went on the win Medalist Honours at the First Stage LET Qualifying School and I finished runner-up in the Final LET Q-School, at La Manga, Spain, which gave me full LET playing privileges for the 2020 season. I always call Dubai my home and I love being in Dubai with the great weather and the impressive golf facilities. I always practice at Jumeirah Golf Estates where I am looked after so well.

How has your 2021 season been?

I have had a decent season this year currently standing at 73rd on the Race to Costa del Sol Order of Merit. I started well early season with a win on the Women’s All Pro Tour (WAPT) in the US, the third tier of women’s professional golf in the US, behind the LPGA and the Symetra Tour. This gave me entry to Symetra Tour events, but I could not take up this opportunity as I was committed to play in Europe. My best finish in Europe this year was a tied 6th in the JABRA Ladies Open in France in June. I have not scored as well as I should have recently, but I feel I am hitting the ball well and hopefully the scores will come soon.

Who is in your Alison Muirhead support team?

My parents are always my biggest supporters, of course. Thank you Mum and Dad! I still have my coach Mark Gregson-Walters who taught me from the start at Emirates Golf Club and his brother Alan, is my long time Fitness and Strength Coach.

What is your playing schedule for the remainder of 2021?

I had to pull out of this week’s Spanish event under doctor’s orders, as I have recently had my second Covid-19 vaccine in Dubai and had a reaction, but I am now feeling so much better. My next tournament is in New York for the Aramco Team Series on October 14-16, and I am confirmed to play in the two Saudi events in early November — the $1 million Aramco Saudi Ladies International and the $1 million Aramco Team Series the following week, both being played at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Jeddah. I am not yet confirmed to play in the Dubai Moonlight Classic on the Faldo Course over the fence, as it is a limited-field event of 54 players, but I am hoping my local connections can help me get an invitation into the field. I finished tied 17th in last year’s tournament. We all hope that Covid-19 is mostly behind us as we now have to live and travel with it, but it is great to see golf tournaments around the world coming back with crowds and a new norm.