The UAE final of the International Pairs, now in its 16th year and regarded as one of the largest club golf competitions of its kind in the world, will be held at Yas Links Abu Dhabi on Saturday, June 7.
Following qualifying events across 17 golf clubs in the country, 17 pairs have progressed to the UAE final.
The winning pair on Saturday will have the unique honour of flying the UAE flag at the 2014 World Final, which will take place at Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort in Scotland from October 6-9.
At Mar Hall, they will lock horns with the winners of national finals from 30 other countries.
Three former UAE final winners have once again made it to the all-important finale – 2013 champions Alistair Purves and Jeff Glasgow from Tower Links and 2012 champion Walter Hall, who is paired with his wife Sharon.
The Halls are from Yas Links, and the local knowledge of a tricky golf course will give them a great advantage in the final.
Purves and Glasgow finished eighth at the World Final last year, but the Halls (Walter played that year with his son Ronan) were a creditable second, narrowly losing a play-off to a team from Portugal.
Not only do the qualifiers get to play in the final, but they have also been invited for an overnight stay and gala dinner at the RadissonBLU Yas Island.
Stephen Rutter, Managing Director of this year’s title sponsor and event organiser, OnCourse Golf, said: “This is a great event for all club members in the UAE. The chance for the winners to go on and represent the UAE at the world final in Scotland is not only a great prize but also a great honour.
“I travelled to Scotland for last year’s final and it was a truly memorable experience, and I am sure that this year’s winners will share a similar feeling in October at Mar Hall.”
Located just 10 minutes from Glasgow International Airport, the new 18-hole Earl of Mar championship course at Mar Hall was designed by respected golf course architect, Dave Thomas, who is best known for his work at The Belfry in England, as well as San Roque and La Manga in Spain.
2014 Pairs Finalists
Tower Links Golf Club: Jeff Glasgow, Alistair Purves
Jebel Ali Golf Club EGF: Rune Rasmussen, Thomas Wiberg
Al Hamra Golf Club: Paul Marriott, Annie Marriott
Els Golf Club: Bill Cahill, Judi Cahill
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club: Neil Heywood, Yvette Heywood
Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club: Henna Jodha, Ishwar Jodha
Al Badia Golf Club: Jenny Kim, Henric Carlsson
Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club: Malcolm Tennant, Marion Tennant
Yas Links Golf Club: Walter Hall, Sharon Hall
Jumeirah Golf Estates: Peter Bauer, Anne Bauer
Al Ghazal Golf Club: Richard Whiteside, Bernie Blanchard
Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club: Vinod Arya, Marty Brown
Abu Dhabi City Golf Club: Stuart Blan, Graham Clews
The Track EGF: Gaurav Verma, Surjit Namli
Al Ain EGS: Mihail Bucataru, Bogdan Schiopu
Arabian Ranches Golf Club: Alain Delacourte, Cam Irwin
Emirates Golf Club: Suresh Shewakramani, Manoj Kapur