Gulf News met up with Dindy Macaplang, Superindentent at Al Hamra Golf Club, plus Clinton Southorn, Troon International, Director of Construction and Agronomy, on the sidelines of the Ras Al Khaimah Classic - after last week’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship, both on the DP World Tour.
GN: How long have you been in the UAE and with Troon?
Dindy: I have worked in the UAE at Emirates Golf Club, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Montgomerie, The Track and now at Al Hamra, having first joined Troon is 2006 and having been in the UAE for over 28 years. I met Clinton Norris, in 2009.
How are you and the agronomy team at Al Hamra coping with two tournaments back-to-back at the same venue?
Dindy: Having one tournament on the DP World Tour always involves long hours. We always felt that two weeks in a row was ambitious. Prior to the one tournament on the original calendar, there was always going to be a lot of preparation. Then we heard from the DP World Tour that they wanted to add a second week at Al Hamra with calendar adjustments in the Middle East region. Over the last year or so we have had some water supply challenges at Al Hamra, so we did a considerable amount of returfing. During tournament days we start work at 3.30am and all finish around 8pm. We have a team of 30 staff, including myself, at Al Hamra. We have appreciated impressive support over the last few weeks and months from Troon International, fellow Troon properties in the UAE as well as from the local golf industry. Our team is very appreciative of all the best wishes and positive feedback from the players, caddies and officials as well as on TV from the commentators. It has been a real team effort.
How have you kept the golf course, and greens especially so good this second week?
Dindy: That is perhaps going to remain one of our Al Hamra secrets. We did some significant renovations in the summer. The harsh treatment was not always well received by members and players at the time. It is always important to establish proper foundations (like building a house) in our agronomy industry and a long-term plan. The fairways are running firmer this second week, which is what the DP World Tour officials always wanted.
Clinton Southorn then added some comments about Dindy.
Clinton: Dindy is a tremendous asset to Troon and is an excellent employee and role model to so many within Troon and within the industry: where hard work, loyalty, energy and talent can achieve a career success story. Having started with Troon at Abu Dhabi Golf Club as an assistant agronomy guy, for the first Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Dindy then became superintendent at The Track, Meydan and now here in Al Hamra. Dindy has been very influential in us all establishing a tremendous relationship with the club ownership at Al Hamra Group with Chris Hewitt, Vice-President of Al Hamra Real Estate, Paul Booth, General Manager of Al Hamra and all the DP World Tour guys over the last few weeks and months, preparing for the two events. Dindy has done a tremendous job in helping to educate and manage expectations for all the stakeholders at Al Hamra as well as internally within the Troon managed golf club. He should be rightly proud of what he and his team have delivered. We at Troon are very proud of Dindy and his team.
What are the plans over the next few days?
Dindy: We will see off-site all of the contractors and DP World Tour cabins, TV equipment, temporary structures and all their staff, safely and cleanly, then a day off for the team and then back to our day job to look after all our members and guests at Al Hamra. We are determined to maintain the standards of the last few weeks moving forward, for our loyal members and guests and we hope to attract more business, both locally and internationally, from the media and TV exposure over the last few weeks of hosting the DP World Tour.
