All the latest news from Ernie Els Design and its portfolio of award winning golf courses.
1. Ernie’s Malaysian Masterpiece Scoops Prestigious International Award
Ernie Els Design is proud to announce that its recently opened Els Club Teluk Datai (pictured above) has just received a huge accolade in being named the region’s ‘Best Golf Course’ at the 2014 Asia-Pacific Property Awards. This magnificent layout, located within a centuries-old rainforest on the banks of the beautiful Andaman Sea, will now go on to compete for the prize ‘World’s Best New Golf Course’ against other regional winners from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, UK and the Americas at the glittering International Property Awards ceremony in Dubai.
Ken Kosak, General Manager of The Els Club Teluk Datai, was delighted that the golf course has received such significant recognition only weeks after its official opening in April, which also saw it collect the ‘5-Star Award’ as Malaysia’s top golfing venue. He said: “Anyone who is familiar with golf in the Asia-Pacific region knows that there is an incredible variety of golf courses of unerring quality here, so to be named the No.1 course in the region is an incredible achievement for The Els Club Teluk Datai. Our designer, Ernie Els, has created one of the world’s most captivating golfing challenges, taking advantage of the spectacular tropical landscape here on the island of Langkawi to create something truly unique, which has already received widespread critical and public acclaim. This prestigious award is testament to his vision and the expertise of his design team, as well as the unwavering conditioning and quality that can be found across Troon’s wide portfolio of leading golfing venues, and we’re sure this will be the first of many accolades to come in the future.”
Ernie last visited the golf course in October 2013. “The site here is one of the most unique I have come across anywhere in the world,” said Ernie, “and the end product is simply breathtaking. We thought long and hard about the location of our first Els Club in Asia and in DRH have found great partners to help create a course that will have worldwide appeal. The whole team is thrilled with this golf course and I’m excited to come back and play it some day soon hopefully, when my schedule allows.”
The first of two Els Clubs to open in Malaysia, Teluk Datai is without doubt one of the most intriguing golf course re-designs to open in recent times. Owned by the Malaysian Government-established Destination Resorts & Hotels Sdn Bhd (DRH), the course is nestled within an ancient rainforest featuring towering tropical foliage and blessed with unforgettable vistas overlooking the Andaman Sea.
The much-loved region of Teluk Datai is also home to the award-winning luxury resort, The Datai Langkawi, which is internationally recognised for its unsurpassed service excellence. Together with Els’ new masterpiece they will play an integral role in realising DRH’s vision for the development of luxury golf experiences. In addition, Els was selected by DRH to design The Els Club Desaru Coast, located in the southern region of Johor Bahru, completing The Els Club Malaysia portfolio.
Asia-Pacific has achieved considerable success at the International Property Awards in recent years, emerging as the best performing region at the ‘Oscars’ of the property and real estate industry, with an impressive 18 ‘World’s Best’ Awards in 2013.
Stuart Shield, President of the International Property Awards, is confident of further success for the region at the year-ending ceremony. He said: “We will all now wait to see if Asia-Pacific can not only retain the title of best performing region of the world in the International Property Awards but also beat its own record for yet another successive year. Each region is highly competitive and with levels of excellence within the property industry rising annually, this makes the competition hugely exciting as it heads towards the final conclusion in December.”
Further information on The Els Club Malaysia is available at www.elsclubmalaysia.com
Press Information and additional images are available from Jed Moore or James Lovett at Professional Sports Group:
Email: jed@profsports.com / jamesl@profsports.com
Tel: +44 (0) 1276 858930
Information
The Els Club Teluk Datai Course, an 18-hole championship golf course is set in a beautiful island in the northern state of Peninsular Malaysia in Langkawi. Marked as one of the most incredible courses within The Els collection, The Els Club Teluk Datai Course is nestled within a centuries-old rainforest with towering lush tropical foliage, offering the finest golfing experience to avid golfers. It is also located adjacent to the award winning resort, The Datai Langkawi that promises subtle elegance with best-in-class services and amenities that will be a perfect accommodation for golfers to unwind and relax.
About Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH)
Destination Resorts and Hotels Sdn Bhd (“DRH”) is a strategic owner and developer of world class premier destinations. Established by the Malaysian Government’s investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Berhad (“Khazanah”), DRH is a catalyst for the continued development of Malaysia’s luxury leisure and tourism sector by providing relevant expertise focused on investment, development, management and oversight of world-class premier resorts, hotels and attractions. Its current key investment portfolio comprises of Desaru Coast, the region’s first integrated luxury destination located at Johor’s Desaru coastline, Little Red Cube and Traders Hotel at the luxury waterfront of Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya along with Teluk Datai, Langkawi, a luxury eco-tourism destination surrounded by ancient rainforest and breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea, including the award-winning The Datai Langkawi. Working with world renowned and reputable partners that are the best in the industry, DRH is set to expand domestically and internationally as a premier luxury hotel, resort and residences investment, development and management company. For more information on DRH and its developments, please visit www.drh.com.my.
About Troon Golf
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Troon Golf EMEA is committed to developing Troon Golf’s presence in Europe, Middle East and Africa. This rapidly expanding division now oversees operations at 38 courses in 14 countries including Dubai, England, Russia, and Spain with further expansion planned across all regions. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf management company, overseeing operations at Troon Golf (daily-fee & resort) and Troon Privé (private) properties located in 31 states and 26 countries. Additionally, 47 Troon facilities enjoy a Top 100 ranking by national or international publications. Troon properties include The Grove, London, England; Classic Club, Palm Desert, Calif; Lumine Golf Club Tarragona, Spain; and Saadiyat Beach Golf Resort in Abu Dhabi.
About Teluk Datai, Langkawi, Kedah
Located to the north-west of Langkawi Island, set amidst centuries-old rainforest, sparkling limestone outcrops and serene beaches, is Teluk Datai. Aimed to be a premier eco-tourism destination, the Teluk Datai master plan includes the development of 6-star and 5-star luxury resorts and villas, cliff-top bungalows, golf-view and sea-view bungalows as well as 5-star condominiums and homes overlooking the Andaman Sea. DRH portfolio in Langkawi includes The Datai, an award-winning 5-star resort hotel that was awarded ‘World’s Best Luxury Island Resort’ at the 2012 World Luxury Hotel Awards and TripAdvisor’s 2012 Travelers’ Choice Award. Recent accolades include Country Winner for Best Luxury Destination Spa by the 2014 World Luxury Spa Awards and a nomination for the World Luxury Hotels Awards 2014 It offers world-class amenities, luxurious spas and boasts its own peaceful stretch of white sandy beaches overlooking the stunning waters of the Andaman Sea.
2. The stars are coming out to play at The Els Club Dubai
What do golfer Rory McIlroy and Hollywood actor Will Smith, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and football stars Peter Schmeichel, Teddy Sheringham, Andriy Schevchenko, Dwight Yorke and Alan Shearer, along with European Tour regulars Marcel Siem and Oliver Fisher all have in common? The answer is a simple one – they have all been regular visitors to The Els Club Dubai in recent months. They have all enjoyed the superb Ernie Els-designed ‘desert links’, together with the outstanding off-course facilities such as the Members’ Lounge and the multiple dining options that include the 261 Restaurant and the Big Easy Bar & Grill.
The Els Club Dubai General Manager Chris Brown said: “It has been a pleasure to host these people and the feedback we have had is that they have all had a great time. News is clearly travelling that what we offer here at The Els Club is world-class in terms of quality and hospitality, and for discerning people like these to choose us is an indication we are getting things right. It has also been great for our members, their guests and diners to get close to these big names; a real thrill, in fact.”
Two-time major champion and former world No.1 Rory McIlroy practised at the Club extensively for a month before the European Tour’s ‘Desert Swing’. During this period, he played the golf course regularly and set a sensational new course record of 62.
Meanwhile, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has been given honorary life membership of The Els Club Dubai. Tendulkar, who retired from cricket last November as the most capped player and the leading run-scorer of all-time at international level, received the award from Dubai Sports City Partner Abdul Rahman Falaknaz. He then took a golf lesson with Butch Harmon School of Golf (BHSG) Director of Instruction Justin Parsons and played nine holes of the Ernie Els designed ‘desert links’.
Falaknaz said: “On behalf of everyone at Dubai Sports City, I was delighted to award Sachin Tendulkar with honorary life membership of The Els Club. Sachin has given so much to the world of sport, both through his performances and also the way he has conducted himself over more than two decades at the very highest level. Therefore, it was fitting for us to have given him something whilst expressing our thanks and recognition for all that he has achieved.
The Els Club Dubai General Manager Chris Brown added: “Having Sachin Tendulkar spend time with us and receive his honorary life membership of The Els Club was a huge pleasure, and his presence extends the list of star names we have had here over the past few months.”
BHSG Director of Instruction Justin Parsons said that as some of the body movements of golf differed from cricket, making sure Tendulkar understood those differences proved to be the main focus of their two-hour lesson together. “The main content of his lesson was the concept of golf as a rotational sport against batting in cricket which, with the exception of the hook or pull shot, is not,” he said. “Sachin’s address position mirrored his cricket stance, so we improved that for golf and got him allowing his arms and shoulders to rotate the club around his body. He learned the movement quickly and made very quick progress. It is interesting teaching very high achievers like Sachin. They have the ability to quietly learn what you are asking of them and are very single-minded in their approach to improvement. Sachin has recently started to take an interest in golf and I am sure he will be able to attain a good standard.”
3. Ernie Els Design supports HSBC Golf Business Forum
The HSBC Golf Business Forum 2014 was the 11th staging of this annual event. Ernie Els Design has long been one of its supporters and, indeed, was one of this year’s key sponsors. Established in 2004 by KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice, the event is widely regarded as the most important business-to-business event in Europe, Middle East and Africa for golf industry professionals and took place this year at The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa from 28-30 April, with over 275 delegates attending from some 37 countries. Attending the event, President of Ernie Els Design, Thomas Rubi, commented: “Obviously we were very pleased and proud to be part of such a strategic and important industry event. Everyone at Ernie Els Design is looking forward to continuing their support for IMG and the Forum as it moves east to Shanghai in 2015.”
IMG, the global sports, fashion and media company, last year acquired the Golf Business Forum and plans to build on the success of the event by widening its global appeal and content while continuing to grow the extensive network of professionals focused around golf.
Golf has been the cornerstone of IMG since the legendary Arnold Palmer became IMG’s first client in 1964, a moment widely credited as marking the creation of the sports marketing industry. IMG continues to represent some of the game’s greatest players, including Ernie Els. Guy Kinnings, Global Head of IMG Golf, who was a key speaker at the 2013 Golf Business Forum at St. Andrews, said, “We are delighted to have acquired the Golf Business Forum and we look forward to working with HSBC to enhance what is a flagship event in the world of golf. This is a fantastic product, which we feel we will be able to build and develop using our global resources and experience in the golf industry.”
4. The Els Club Dubai supports Autism Awareness Month
Inspired by the activities of Ernie, Liezl and the Els for Autism team in Florida, the staff, members and visitors to The Els Club Dubai played a leading role in raising funds for charity throughout April, the globally recognized Autism Awareness Month. The Club donated Dh20 per green fee to the Els Center of Excellence, currently under construction in Florida, raising a total of 33,620AED (around $9,500). The Els Club Dubai also marked the start of Autism Awareness Month by bathing its clubhouse in a cool blue light, a nod towards the ‘GoBlue’ campaign in the US where the PGA TOUR designated a day at the RBC Heritage and Zurich Classic encouraging players, fans, tour officials and media all to wear blue.
Chris Brown, General Manager at The Els Club Dubai, commented: “At The Els Club we have always believed in leading and innovating in whatever we do, whether it is in the provision of outstanding facilities for our players or, in this case, seeking to raise awareness of ASD in the region. The issue of autism is a cause that is very close to our hearts here and we are proud to be showing our support for Ernie, his family, and more broadly, this cause.”
Meanwhile, managing director for Troon Middle East, Mark Chapleski, said: “Troon and The Els Club Dubai are firmly committed to supporting further research and programmes for Autism. Ernie made the brave decision years ago to openly talk about his son Ben’s autism and since then has been responsible for raising millions of dollars and significantly increasing awareness of the affliction.”
5. More big titles for South Africa’s No.1 amateur Bezuidenhout
Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout is busy reaffirming his status as the No.1 ranked amateur in the country by playing championship-winning golf on a consistent basis. The 19-year old shot an impressive 14-under par (70, 66, 70, 68) to win the Sanlam Cape Province Open in some style. He then followed that up with a six-shot win and successful defence of his Western Province Amateur Stroke Play title. It was his third significant amateur title of the year. In fact, that was an outstanding tournament for the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation with three of its members (Bezuidenhout, 15-year old Luca Filippi, and 16-year old David Meyers) finishing in the top four.
“I played some of my best golf ever over the first two days,” said Bezuidenhout, who was leading by nine shots after the second round. “The South Easter was straight into you or right from the back. The conditions were really tough. I kept my cool and it worked brilliantly.”
Bezuidenhout is spending more than two-and-a-half months in England this summer, mixing it with the best amateurs in Europe. He will be playing in 11 top amateur events while staying with one of England’s top players, Toby Tree. “We have become very good friends. Toby is part of England’s elite squad which has come out and played in our top tournaments the last two years,” Bezuidenhout explained. “The fact that I can stay with him made this trip possible. We will travel together to all the tournaments. This is an opportunity that hopefully will take my game to the next level.”
We wish him well on his adventures.
