Lynda Raubenheimer - “I love my job, Abu Dhabi and golf”

Gulf News caught up with Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s Lady Captain – Lynda Raubenheimer, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Challenge on the Challenge Tour.

Lynda, congratulations on just beginning your year as Lady Captain at Abu Dhabi Golf Club for 2023 – 2024. Tell us about yourself?

This is my eighth year in Abu Dhabi - I am a Senior Nursing Operations Manager at Cleveland Clinic. I arrived in Abu Dhabi as a non-golfer with my husband. I used to come to the golf club with my husband and I enjoyed the social aspect. My job involves 12 ½ hour shifts - day or night. I love my job, Abu Dhabi and golf. I am now playing off a 29 handicap. This week I have been a Starter at the Abu Dhabi Challenge on the Challenge Tour and was invited to play in the Pro-Am with Dominic Foos (Ger) who has connections with the UAE – we had fun.

How did you become Lady Captain?

I have gone from a non-golfer to Lady Captain in about three years. I love a challenge and bought a set of golf clubs and joined in with the Tuesday Ladies at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. My journey into golf is hopefully a great example for others that it is never too late to take up the game. The Lady Captaincy was suggested to me by the former Lady Captain Sally Hardman – when she was Vice-Captain. My immediate reaction was that I was not a good golfer so was it for me?

What do you want to achieve in your year?

In my year, I want to promote ladies’ golf. My Vice-Captain is Korean, we have a very multi-cultural membership - I am in the process of arranging a South Korea v The Rest of The World event. We have approximately 20 regular ladies playing on our Tuesdays. The weekend club events are also available to both men and ladies which does not happen at all the UAE Golf Clubs. We support the ICC Ladies - I facilitate and support our ladies who represent the club. My aim is to get the ladies together, introduce some new ladies to the group and for the ladies to be competitive but also to have fun. Our ladies calendar includes Monthly Medals and some golf socials. I have recently named our ladies group ADGC Lady Falcons which links in with our clubhouse falcon!

Who is your Men’s Captain for your year?

I believe it is important to work closely with the Men’s Captain, Chris Rossmeisl. We are a good team with Chris succeeding Matt Dolan. We have a very good understanding with the club management as well as the owner. We have introduced some themed golf days, most recently a 1920’s Golf Day for the members where so many of us dressed up in the clothes of the 1920s. I was a bit worried about using old clubs and hickories, everyone made a huge effort, but we all had a fun day – which is what it is all about. We are planning Mixed Stableford Pairs in the summer, golf is all year round at the club – it does not stop with the summer heat and club events mean there is a reason to play golf and come to the club. In September we are already planning a 1970’s Disco’s Fever themed golf event. We are welcome to new ideas which we are working on for the year to come.