With over 42,000 golfers in the UAE it is more than likely that you will get paired with a complete stranger when playing a round of golf, making it an incredibly social sport.
While attending a community BBQ in 2019, Indonesian expats Baldi Wardaja and Clement Suhendra bonded over their shared passion for golf. That was it, their friendship was made!
Clement: “Baldi has the reputation for being an avid golfer, while I am just an enthusiast! I actually used to play golf with my mother back in Indonesia when I was 11 years old.
“Baldi asked me to join him and several other people at the Meydan’s driving range back in 2019. At that point, I had to first find my golf clubs as they had been stored in the corner at the house collecting dust!
“After that session, I went to practice by myself several times. Then he invited me to play and tag along. From then on, whenever we get the chance to play together between our work schedules and personal commitment, we would set a time to play together at least once or twice a month.”
Hope for more Indonesians to get into golf
With Clement moving to Dubai for work in 2008 after studying in the USA, and Baldi making the move from Jakarta in 2007, their first encounter wouldn’t be until over a decade later. They’re now both hoping more Indonesians can get into the game here in Dubai.
Baldi: “So me and some colleagues from the airline actually started going to the driving range in Sharjah back in 2011 and before we knew it, we got sucked into it. We love the game now!”
“In Indonesia golf is very popular, and in Dubai, there’s maybe around 30 Indonesian golfers that I know.”
Clement: “Yeah, I would not say a large amount, but at least 25 Indonesians that I know play golf in the UAE. However, it is very difficult to get the majority of them to play together because of the time commitment.
“But still I have made plenty of friends throughout my time playing golf. You start talking about golf, then the personal questions come in naturally and you get to know more.”
Baldi: “Yeah, that’s what makes it a very good social sport. We have made friends from many games and sometimes with people from different lines of work, background and nationalities. There are many pilots, engineers, cabin crew and airline staff who play.
Golf with buddies is priceless
“To be out on the golf course is very relaxing, the smell of freshly cut grass and the views just to put your mind at ease and relieve the stress from work.
“Then to laugh and have fun with your buddies is priceless. And when it comes to that, what you scored doesn't really matter.
Clement: “Then also as a recreational golfer, being able to experience these courses which are designed and maintained incredibly and played by the professionals in DP World Tour tournaments are major perks for being a resident in UAE.
