Ernie Els Group Newsletter – March 2019

14 Mar

All the latest news from the world of golf, Ernie Els Design, Ernie Els Wines, and across Ernie’s various philanthropic interests, plus a dip into the archives for one of the standout moments in Ernie’s career.

1. Ernie Els Design in the Spotlight
The Els Club Teluk Datai, which Ernie officially opened in October 2014 in the presence of Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajjah Haminah, the Queen of Malaysia, is the first golf course in the Ernie Els Design portfolio to be ranked in the venerable Golf Digest magazine’s Top-100 Golf Courses in the World. Click here to see why this spectacular layout is making such an impact on the global golf scene.

Key dignitaries, media and VIP guests were also invited to witness the historic unveiling of Ernie’s first ever golf course creation in South East Asia. After playing nine holes with Her Majesty, Ernie said, “This is, without doubt, the most spectacular golf course setting I have had the pleasure of working on and I am incredibly excited about the prospect of inviting the first visitors to come and enjoy The Els Club Teluk Datai. The course is truly breathtaking and I am delighted with what we have achieved here. I endeavoured to make the most of this unique location and I believe that we have done just that.”

2. Ernie hosts 11th Wine Spectator & Cigar Aficionado Els for Autism Pro Am
As in previous years, a star-studded line-up of legends, major champions and tour pros teed-up in support of Els for Autism at this annual event which has raised around $11 million since its inception in 2009. “It’s an incredible effort,” said Ernie, “And there are many people who warrant heartfelt thanks from Liezl and myself. Firstly to the amateurs who took part, our hosts at Old Palm Golf Club and of course our inspiration and driving force at this event, Marvin Shanken of Wine Spectator & Cigar Aficionado. Last but not least, to the players who took time out of their schedules to tee-up for our great cause: Jack Nicklaus, Nick Price, Christie Kerr, Ian Baker Finch, Branden Grace, Anirban Lahiri, CT Pan, Charl Schwartzel, Morgan Hoffman, Marc Leishman, Luke Donald, Chase Koepka, Louis Oosthuizen, Cameron Tringale, Jessica Korda, Graeme McDowell, Li Haotong, KJ Choi, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Abraham Ancer. Once again thank you so much, guys!”

Els for Autism also announced that registration is now open for the 2019 Golf Challenge, one of the largest international charity-driven amateur golf tournaments in history. Since its inaugural 2011 series, over $21.5 million has been raised. The Golf Challenge is an event series held between April and October at some of North America’s finest golf courses. Winners and top fundraisers qualify for the Grand Finale at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, on October 13-14. This two-day extravaganza of golf and entertainment is hosted by Ernie and Liezl Els, and the Golf Challenge’s family of sponsors. Guests will enjoy a welcome party and awards ceremony, tournament golf and a fabulous gala celebration.

All teams have until 3pm EST on September 18 to qualify for the Grand Finale by raising $15,000. Low net teams will have until this date and time to raise $7,500 to become eligible to attend the Grand Finale. All teams that raise $30,000 or more will gain access to the Golf Challenge’s ‘VIP Golden Circle Club’ qualifying them for a range of unique privileges including an extra night of hotel accommodation and access to an exclusive VIP Reception with Liezl and Ernie Els.

“What a success The Golf Challenge has been,” comments Ernie. “Everyone who’s jumped on board has been incredible and it is so humbling for us. This year’s schedule has some wonderful venues, some iconic courses, and we’d love you to join us somewhere along the line.”

“As we kick-off the ninth year of The Golf Challenge, I extend a wholehearted thank you to our family of dedicated sponsors, players and donors”, Liezl Els, Els for Autism Founder and Managing Director, said. “Because of your support, we have a beautiful campus to serve individuals with autism spectrum disorder from around the world.”

For more information and to register, visit: www.e4aGolf.com.

3. Buying Ernie Els Wines, wherever you are in the world!
As the team at Ernie Els Wines busy themselves with the annual harvest, we thought you might like to be reminded how easy it is to get your hands on grapes that have already found their way into bottles! Indeed, wherever you are in the world, we have an agent that can source whatever you need from Ernie Els Wines’ award-winning portfolio. Click here to start shopping.

4. The Els Club Dubai announces fantastic new Leisure Centre
A state-of-the-art leisure centre is set to take The Els Club Dubai to the next level. The new facility will include a high-end gymnasium, large resort style pool, children’s only pool, a swim-up pool bar, children’s play area and an additional restaurant to sit alongside the already popular Big Easy Winebar & Grill and Restaurant 261.

“The addition of these leisure amenities is incredibly exciting in that they complete the club and greatly enhance its offering,” says Karl Whitehead, General Manager at The Els Club Dubai. “We believe it elevates us from being a great golf club to a great country club and very much a go-to leisure destination. Indeed, we are now without a doubt one of the Middle East’s leading clubs in terms of quality, the facilities we offer and also factors such as reputation, financial performance, sense of prestige and the type of clientele attracted here. As I said, it’s a really exciting time for the Club as we continue to go from strength to strength.”

The leisure centre is due to open in Q4 later this year and, as well as being a major boon for the existing Els Club members, it will be available on a ‘leisure club only’ basis attracting a whole new audience to the Club.

“It aligns to our overall strategy of growing the non-golf business segments, as we continue to enhance our position and reputation as a social hub for the local community,” adds Whitehead.

5. From the Archives
On this day in 2010 Ernie won the CA Championship at Doral’s famed Blue Monster layout, his second WGC career victory. He then won the following week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational for an impressive Florida Swing double. Ernie shot 29-under par for the two weeks, at a stroke average of 68.37. Ernie commented…

“Wow, what a week! This win means so much to me. I mean, that final round was a big day. No one puts more pressure on me than I do myself and there’s no better time to test yourself than the fourth round of the golf tournament with everything on the line. I wanted to prove something to myself out there, so to shoot a bogey-free 66 felt great. I was very calm, very confident. It was like I used to feel when I was winning a bunch of tournaments earlier in my career – you know, one shot at a time, one hole at a time. I’m going to enjoy this win and then get back down to more hard work, because at the end of the day that’s the winning formula.”

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